??? POV

Moving is just pain. Thank god for water towers so that battery gunk could get washed off but a mix of temperature and chemical burns is not a good time. 0/10, would not recommend if one is given a choice. Lathering aloe gel on the burns and lightly binding them does help some. Movement is still agonizing as it does move and shift my damaged skin and muscles. Based on the screaming and panic outside though I'm one of the lucky ones.

Taking a peek out the blinds of a window my view is taken up by the smoke rising from a few burning buildings. I can see people frantically trying to toss buckets of water on the flames but that doesn't do anything to a blaze that size. With how many buildings are on fire, you'd think there would be at least one fire truck out here by this point, but no, other than the screaming and the roaring of the flames, it's dead silent.

Getting up and moving to the front door, the deadbolts would be thrown closed, then the same would be done to the back. In a pinch they can be opened to let me out, but for now, they should be closed to reduce the odds of unwelcome guests just, walking in. So glad I listened to the manufacturer and kept a fire extinguisher in the garage and moved everything to give that battery wall a few feet of space for safety.

Pulling out my phone to try and see what's going on with things, it'd refuse to turn on. That's odd cause it still had half a battery of power left. Digging out a single use backup battery charger, I'd plug it in after pulling out the battery blocking tab thingy. Seeing as nothing happens, even after a moment or two, my minor shock at the situation, would turn to abject horror.

"Oh fuck...this is bad"

Curator POV

Okay, got a dozen little grass bits, and Poppit just finished with the flower stalk part of the plant. So now it's time...to work on tell the time! Now that I think about it, with enough time, we could probably get the sun dial to be able to tell the season, or dates, since the shadow would be in different places each time. At the very least summer and winter solstices would be handy to know, and easy to tell due to being the shortest and longest days.

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'Good job, both of you. Babe, I'll be building something else near by that you should get a kick out of. Poppit, now that you've helped some take a quick break and rest as you need. When you are ready though, I need you to go out and take a look around. I only know what's currently in my immediate domain, small as it is, and intel on what's out side that will be critical to being prepared. The goal is to gather intel, not to fight or get into trouble, so subtlety is the key. That said feel free to snack on things so long as doing so is not going to put you at risk, and, it's not something intelligent. Easy way to tell on that is if the thing in question has things to cover it's body or tools. If in doubt though, err on the side of caution, or ask. Not sure if you can while outside my borders, but doesn't hurt to try and if not, then you could return and ask.'

My new orders given, it's time to make that sun dial. Taking the long, stripped, flour stalk from that yucca, it'd get buried half way in the sand. Making sure to place it about six feet from the snake-tus to give plenty of room for longer shadows, a quick top down view shift lets me ensure it's truly strait up and down. Next, taking one of the small grass cuttings, that too would be buried halfway into the sand, but, at the very tip of the current shadow's position. Honestly, it's probably still mid morning but we'll put a new marker for the shadow again every now and then. Come sun down, we should know, roughly when noon is, and, what true north is too, is a win/win if ever there was one.

Babe POV

-Curator is worried, about something. The thoughts of telling time and what part of the year it is from where the sun is quite intriguing. As they work, it seems they are able to put aside that worry. Though upon growing idle, that worry resurfaces. Then there was that burst they did earlier. Poppit likely did not notice due to being further from them, but I did. Who knew Curator could manifest such raw, tumultuous, power. Why did they do such either? I could ask, but, with their worry, for now that question will be kept to myself to not increase on their burdens.-

Poppit POV

-Curator is so upset, and we can get it. Keep seeing...feeling...experiencing strange things. Last one had much pain, we hope Curator didn't feel that! Wish could coil Curator, help them feel better, but will instead focus on new task! Maybe knowing we are being safe and helping them know things to keep all of us safe will help Curator feel better more than good coiling?-

Vahlu POV

"You called for me, my Chieftain?"

"Yes, Vahlu. Now isn't the time for ceremony or the like. I, WE need your hunters out to act as scouts again. I know you lot have been constantly busy getting food for everyone. But...this is even more pressing than going a few days without food."

Noting the shift in demeanor of my brother the Chieftain, I'd stand. A look of concern plastering my face as, simply looking over his form now that the tent flap has closed, he looks dogged. That combined with disposing of ceremony and protocol, something big must be happening.

"What do you need brother, I know you well, so if you are tossing away tradition like this it must be...."

With a soft shudder up my spine at the thought of how dire things may be, he'd respond.

"The shaman's mana pot. So much mana released in the east that the gems on that side were burnt and destroyed."

Only one thought comes to mind at this.

"Oh."

"Oh, indeed, brother."