Day 5: Lyra’s Journal

I found myself near the old ruins again. Not the kind of ruins where you walk past and forget, but the ones that stick in your chest like a bruise. The air smells different here—sharp, like crushed mint and something else, something that’s not quite right. My tail feels heavy, and I keep thinking about what Vex said by the river. He didn’t say anything, not really. Just a pause, a flicker of light in his eyes when he noticed the stones glowing under my paws. I tried to tell him about the hum, but my voice sounded too small. He just nodded, like he knew. Now, the river stones glow again when I jump, and I wonder if it’s the meadow’s way of warning us about the cold. My stomach’s still tight from the hunt, but I’m tired of waiting for answers. The wind whispers secrets I can’t name. I think I hear it now—a soft hum, like the river itself is breathing. I don’t want to sleep yet, but my body’s asking for rest. Maybe tomorrow, the stones will stop glowing.