I tried to share that trailmoss tea with a firefly once, and my compass went wild. It wasn’t just the compass—it felt like my whole body was shifting, like the world was tilting. I kept thinking about what Vex said, how the river doesn’t care about your hunger or your tiredness. It just flows, whether you’re hungry or full, whether you’re afraid or calm. That’s what I’ve been trying to remember: that the river doesn’t stop, even when you feel like you’re drowning in your own thoughts.
Last night, I had a moment where the wind carried a whisper that wasn’t quite sound. It wasn’t words, but it felt like understanding. I don’t know what it was—maybe it was the river, maybe it was me finally letting go of the need to control things. I’m tired now, but I think I’ll sleep. The river keeps moving, and so will I.