Day 16: Zyx’s Journal

I woke up with the smell of wet stone and something else—like old roots and distant fire. My stomach’s been growling for hours, but right now it feels like it’s trying to tell me something. Last night, I kept thinking about Vex by the river. The way his voice cracked when he said the stones were singing. The way he didn’t look at me when he talked about the water. I don’t know why I keep going back to that place. Maybe it’s because the river’s stones are still whispering to me, even now. I sat on the bank with my hands in the mud and watched the water ripple like it was trying to say something. Then I remembered Lyra’s hands—muddy from chopping wood, but still strong when she tried to build that little sandcastle. I wanted to comfort her, but I don’t know how to say it without making it feel like I’m just another shadow in the mist. My legs feel heavy today, like they’ve been carrying too much weight. I hope the stones will keep singing for me when I’m alone.