As audacious Calypso thought the name of “Main Vein” was, it was being in the middle of the street of shops that made her realize why.

The skeletal monster girl stood at the back of Sal’s car, witnessing panic purchases in various stages and forms. And yet, in typical Willow Reverie fashion, the frantic and desperate actions were portrayed in the most slow, small-town way imaginable.

Calypso watched families relay their plans for the night as they passed food and boxes to load into their cars. Friends and close allies who worked or ran stores provide details on when the next supplies will be restocked, or not-so-subtly giving them what they claimed to be sold out for others. Even with the law enforcement that weaved themselves about these scenes, people still took the time to make small talk with them, or vice versa to calm the public’s nerves.

She fought against the urge to roll her eyes at this display. The Calypso of old wouldn’t have remotely looked on, would’ve buried her nose into a book while sighing the pain of being so alien out of her aching chest. The fact that she’s not only resisting but commenting internally of how much of a drama queen she was without dipping into total self-loathing after… It still felt off. Wrong. Still lacking the context of how she’s managing to do this now.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

It was far in the distance… The sight of the fight she and the others barely won. “Won” in very bold quotations.

The main buildings and some surroundings were destroyed by the “reported” wild flames that nearly engulfed the town. Now entering Willow Reverie was scarier, if the vibe didn’t tip the perspective vaster, seeing burned, almost twisted condemned structures framing the entrance did so much better than what the town’s sign could ever do.

All of this, no fault of any of these people Calypso could guess that were innocent. All due to the terrible world they live in, and the shady—monstrous bastards that wanted to control it.

But Calypso was going to deal with them. In both senses of the word, this day and the coming weeks.

“Ready fer our lil’ campin’ trip, Cal~?” Sal chirped from the side of Calypso.

Calypso looked over, rising from the truck of Sal’s car. “Indeed. Into the woods we go…”