Wednesday: A Strange Sense of Normal
As the day went on, they continued to rest and recover. The silence around them persisted, as though the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. The chipmunk, now with a name—Zippy—was nestled in Jas’s arms, slowly gaining strength. Its tiny paws gripped the fabric of their shirt, and Jas couldn’t help but smile. It was a strange comfort in such an unsettling world.
“Maybe this is just... what happens when everything goes wrong,” Ivy Mae said, staring off into the horizon. “The world just stops, and we have to wait for it to start again.”
Jas shook their head, not quite ready to accept that. “No, I don’t think we’re just waiting. I think... something’s coming. Something’s changing. The birds, the animals... they knew something.”
Roman stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants. “We don’t have the luxury of waiting around. We need to figure out where to go. We need supplies.”
Jas nodded, gently setting Zippy down in their pocket, feeling the small warmth of the chipmunk against their chest. “Right. Let’s move. But I’m keeping an eye on him. Zippy’s coming with us.”