3

Arctus doesn't reply—not that you were expecting her to. Sighing, you give her a few more scratches and watch as she trots away from you again.

Whether or not the dreams have a meaning, the thing that fascinates you the most is where they're coming from in the first place. You've never had dreams like those before—dreams that take you down a single path, over and over again. Dreams that feel more real, more vivid than most dreams, but not quite like being awake, either. But if they aren't like normal dreams—if they're magical dreams, coming from somewhere else entirely—then where are they coming from? You know that magic exists, but can magic act on its own? Can magic…speak?

You let out a long breath and pick up your grandma's laptop. If the forest itself has nothing else to say on the day of the vote, you're not sure what the news will be able to tell you—but you think you should probably check it all the same.

When you do, you find that you were right to predict that the news site wouldn't tell you much you didn't already know. All you have is a black-and-white reminder that as of this morning, 58% of people in Silvertree oppose the developments that are being voted on today. Going off that number alone, you might have thought that would mean the council would have to vote against them—but as the first headline on the page clearly announces:

Town Council to Vote on Alberobello Developments at 2 p.m.—But There's Still Time to Have Your Say

Quickly checking the time, you're shocked to find that, if the headline is correct, there are only five hours until the vote is scheduled to take place. That barely feels like enough time to do anything that might influence the council's decision.

But before you have to wonder how you could possibly still "have your say" in so little time, you glance down at the article's first paragraph—and you realize it's telling you.

After what feels like years of waiting, the vote on the controversial Alberobello Developments is just hours away. Although the vast majority of residents seem abjectly opposed to the planned developments, which could see old buildings torn down to make way for new businesses, an influx of luxury services such as spas and gyms, and even the construction of a resort in the forest from which the developments take their name, this is only an estimated figure. And since the votes have not yet been cast, there is still time to have your opinions heard.

9 a.m. Update: Town Council Leader Dina Voche has just announced a last-minute Town Meeting, to be held from 10 a.m. this morning. In her statement, she informed us that the Town Hall will be open until 1 p.m. for anybody who wishes to attend, and that the Town Council will be present for the entirety of those three hours. Anyone who wishes to make their feelings on the developments heard should come to the main meeting room of the Town Hall, where they will have the chance to speak directly with the council.

So that's it. Just the same as on your first night in this house, there's going to be a Town Meeting. You're not quite sure where all the time has gone since the first one—but at the same time, you can't believe how much has happened either.

Looking at the article in front of you, the main thing you're thinking is: