Chapter 2:

Stella leads you deeper into the woods. Even though you just met her, she's chatting away amiably as though you were childhood best friends. Then again, your cousin was apparently her childhood best friend, so maybe that explains it.

"Tonight's the night we're finally going to catch up to Skunk Ape, I can feel it!" she says, optimistic as always. "Remember when we first met, how I dragged you out here on these trails to find him?"

You nod your head as memories of the past week and half flood your mind. You were a different person then, new to the Hollow and uncomfortable around everyone, especially your cousin. Thinking back now, you realize that in a very short time these people (even the taciturn Tabitha) managed to become incredibly important to you. Then again, solving a supernatural mystery and sharing life-threatening adventures will tend to break down barriers quickly. Fortunately, using your keen eye, book smarts, street smarts, raw physicality, smokin' hot bod, and ill-defined mystical abilities, you managed to keep everyone safe.

Gretchen pipes up now, interrupting your reverie: "Well, I can certainly smell something," she barks. Because she's a dog. You almost forgot to mention that, in addition to the six traits mentioned earlier, you can also talk to animals. You don't know why you're framing this revelation in the format of a narrative. Who are you talking to? Why are you asking yourself these questions? Is it possible to break more than one fourth wall at once if a character in a story is playing a game where they control a character?

Your self-indulgent line of questioning is interrupted by a prompt to reply to Stella:

"How could I forget? These trails feel like home now."

"How could I forget? That was an incredibly creepy night, and I still remember how my heart pounded as we ran from the ditchlings."

(hot) (flirt) "How could I forget? That was the night I realized I had feelings for you"

(keen eye, talk to animals) "Oh yeah, I remember. Say, Gretchen says she smells something and I think I do too"