41

Arctus flicks her tail through the air, her eyes wide and questioning. After a moment, however, she seems to pick up on the note of apprehension in your voice, and she makes a low, reassuring sound. Smiling gratefully, you pet her a couple of times and turn back to the laptop.

Strangely, however, as soon as you log in to your profile, you see some sort of notification telling you you've already received an email. Clicking on it warily, you're surprised to see that it's a message from Tobias.

Hey, it's just me. After I gave you my email, I decided to see if I still had yours, and I managed to find it in my contacts (weird because I haven't used email in 100 years (jk lol)). I don't know if you still check this account, but I thought I'd give it a shot. If you get this, how about coming along to the fair tomorrow in the park? I have to go (parents), but it would be cool if you could make it too. See you then, maybe—T.

As you read the message, the mention of a fair rings a bell as one of the many things that was announced at the Town Meeting. You decide to reply right away, though you don't say much more than "I'll let you know in the morning." You don't feel up to making any more decisions tonight.

Right as you turn off the light, however, you're struck by one last thought. You mull it over as you get into bed, and you're still thinking as you close your eyes, Arctus's gentle breathing the only sound you can hear.

The one thing that lingers in your mind just as you're about to fall asleep is: