Monday: The Journey to the Tree
The tree loomed larger as they approached, its enormous branches reaching skyward like a cathedral of nature. Jas, Ivy Mae, and Roman walked in silence, each step heavier with anticipation.
“It’s beautiful,” Ivy Mae whispered, craning her neck to take in the tree’s towering majesty.
“Feels more like a monument than a tree,” Roman said, placing a hand on the rough bark.
Jas noticed something strange about the trunk—a faint seam running vertically. They pressed against it, and the wood gave way slightly. “There’s something here.”
Together, they pushed, and a hidden panel swung open, revealing a hollow space within. A weathered journal rested inside, its leather cover etched with celestial symbols.
“This feels... ancient,” Ivy Mae said, carefully picking it up.
“Open it,” Jas urged, their voice tight with curiosity.
Inside, the pages were filled with intricate astronomical drawings, shelter designs, and notes on medicinal herbs. Ivy Mae traced her fingers over the sketches of plants and their uses, while Roman studied diagrams for water filtration systems.
“Whoever made this knew how to survive,” Roman said, flipping through the pages.
“And they wanted someone to find it,” Jas added, a chill running down his spine.