Monday:
The months had passed in a blissful rhythm. Ivy Mae, Roman, and Jas had settled into their new home in the hidden cavern, a sanctuary from the chaos of the world outside. The weather had been mild, with the gentle warmth of summer bringing the lush landscape alive. They harvested wild fruits and vegetables, fished the streams, and basked in the serenity of their hidden paradise. Every evening, Roman would tell stories around the fire, and Ivy Mae would sketch and paint the beauty surrounding them. Jas, in turn, had become increasingly adept at documenting their survival guide, with notes about edible plants, shelter-building techniques, and even the curious behavior of the local wildlife.
But as the seasons shifted, so did the mood. Fall came quietly, with crisp nights and the colors of the leaves changing from vibrant greens to reds and oranges. Yet, as winter approached, the atmosphere began to shift, too.
Tuesday:
The first snowfall came earlier than expected. It wasn’t a heavy snow, but it was enough to coat the ground, turning their paradise into a winter wonderland. Ivy Mae wrapped herself in a thick blanket she’d sewn together from scraps, watching as the snowflakes fell softly from the sky. The cold was a reminder that the world was still unpredictable, that even in paradise, survival required constant attention.
It didn’t seem like a threatening winter, though. The cold was manageable, and the food they’d stored in their little shelters lasted them through the chill. For a while, it was easy to forget the harsh realities of the world beyond their peaceful retreat.
Wednesday:
Spring brought with it new life—flowers bloomed, and the air smelled fresh with new beginnings. Ivy Mae spent her days weaving baskets, while Jas worked on refining their survival guide, adding details about the seasons and how the landscape transformed. Roman worked on building new tools from the materials they’d gathered, a reminder that while things were calm now, survival was still paramount.
But it didn’t take long for something to feel off.
One morning, Jas was fishing near the stream when they noticed a subtle tremor in the ground. It was faint, barely noticeable. They looked up at Roman, who had been chopping wood nearby, and exchanged a glance.
“Did you feel that?” Jas asked, their voice low and cautious.
Roman nodded. “It’s probably nothing. Maybe just a minor shift in the ground.”
But as the days passed, the tremors became more frequent, the ground rumbling slightly beneath their feet. And soon, they realized that it wasn’t just the earth moving.
Thursday:
By the time summer rolled around, the temperature had begun to soar. The peaceful days of mild warmth had turned into intense, unbearable heat. Sweat trickled down their faces as they worked, the air growing heavy and oppressive. Something was wrong. The water levels in their streams were lower than usual, and the once-clear waters had begun to take on a murky, steamy quality. The ground itself felt warm underfoot, as if the earth had been holding a secret beneath its surface.
Jas stood by the stream one evening, looking at the changes in the water. It no longer ran as cool as it had in spring. Instead, it bubbled and hissed as if something was shifting deep below. Ivy Mae joined them, her brow furrowed.
“Do you think it’s a sign of something?” Ivy Mae asked quietly, almost afraid to put the thought into words.
Jas nodded grimly. “I think we’re near a volcano.”
Roman came over, wiping sweat from his forehead. “I’ve been feeling it too. The earth’s been shaking more, the water’s getting hotter… it’s not just a feeling. Something’s happening.”
Friday:
The tremors had turned into frequent, low earthquakes, small but enough to rattle their sense of safety. They’d felt the ground tremble beneath their feet as they stood by the fire, and the distant sound of cracking rocks had them all on edge. The air had grown hotter still, and the streams, which had once been their lifeline, were now a source of concern. Some of the water was boiling, sending up small plumes of steam.
Jas looked at Roman and Ivy Mae, their faces grim as they stood in the heat. “We need to get out of here. This place is unstable. We’re near one of the chutes.”
Roman swallowed hard, looking toward the distant mountain. “If it’s what I think it is, we need to move fast.”
The realization hit them hard. The paradise they had found, the one that had seemed so perfect, was now a ticking time bomb. The volcanic activity had started, and there was no telling how long they had before the eruption came. They needed to leave. But as they gathered their belongings and prepared to flee, a deep, resonating rumble shook the earth beneath their feet.
The eruption was coming.
The peaceful days had turned into a race for survival once again. The volcano loomed over them, a reminder that nature was still unpredictable, still capable of altering their fate. But they weren’t alone. They had each other. And, in the face of impending disaster, they would need to rely on everything they had learned to survive.