I am so sorry, this story is actually gaining plot. I might have to relabel it to not be one shots at some point, and go and rework the chapters I've already posted. Also yes I promised an update on Friday, but I was completely convinced that Friday was Thursday this week until late o'clock so you get an update now instead.

It has been a busy day, what with gathering ingredients, and the beach itself. There are very few people I would willingly spend a Truth Moon with, much less next to the forest, but Leah is one of the few. Our bonfire's light outlines the trees in a mass of shadows. It's both alarmingly peaceful and normal until a melody catches our ear on the wind.

We both begin to sing at once:

The fire shines with warmth and light

Yet out beyond it creeps the night

Its hackles raised its teeth are bared

Yet equally it is ensnared/

The fire drowns within your eyes

It reaches for the creeping lies

Yet still the nature will not turn

Not matter whatever sting or burn/

Yet fire still will burn again

In starlight or in pouring rain

A borrowed tool will at last

become your own as time does pass/

What transforms not will shrivel then

The glowing embers will bring in

And so the sea will turn to salt

When cut off from the ocean's vault

When we are finished we rise immediately to leave.

"Well that can't be good," Leah mutters but that is all we say as we part ways. "You didn't..."

I shake my head without letting her finish the sentence. Tonight is the truth moon, and I would hate to ruin a perfectly good curse now.

Every step is heavy with both curse and prophesy. Now I know why all those magic users don't get any wider from all the treats I bribe them with.

I watched the shadow that is all I can see of Leah now enter her cabin and make my own way home. I am not as lucky as she was. By the gatepost stands the Mayor.

"Hey it's my favorite farmer!"

I am suddenly very glad I have forgotten to farm in the last months. I try to step around him.

"You're a very important asset to our community, you know."

I avoid his eyes, even though they are only inches from my face now. His breath smells like vanilla mustache wax. Underneath that are creeping curling, rotting scents that are less pleasant.

"How would you like to help out your town?"

Now THAT is much more effective than I would have thought. A lie doesn't merit the truth. This is not my town. And yet I find myself answering:

"Not at all," I spit.

He draws a knife. "I could fell you where you stand."

"'Unfortunately' that would ruin everything for you, wouldn't it?" I grin, holding up my watch. "It's only a minute to 2. If I don't show up, then the Junimos..."

His face blanches. He tries to hide it by stroking his mustache. "We have an appointment at 6 AM sharp, then. I'll be waiting out here."

Tomorrow will definitely be a cooking, redecorating, and reorganizing kind of day. Anything I can do inside. I'll definitely be filling my chests with salt.