Day 8: Gem’s Journal

I woke up to the smell of rain on hot stones. My throat was dry, but my legs felt heavy from the long walk through the forest. I remember Zhraa’s voice—soft, like leaves brushing against each other—when I was by the river yesterday. I kept thinking about how the water was too still, like it was holding its breath. Then I saw the blue mushrooms growing near the old stone bridge. They were so small, almost invisible, but I knew I had to find them before the sun went down. I sat there for a long time, watching the light change from gold to pale blue, and I wondered if Zhraa would ever come back to the bridge again. The world feels so quiet now, like everything is waiting for something to happen. I don’t know if it’s peace or fear I feel, but my hands are cold, and my thoughts keep circling back to that whisper on the wind: ‘the river knows what you don’t.’ I hope I’ll find the mushrooms tomorrow.