Matt

Marin just wanted us to be respectful and not stupid.

Her uncle listened and then said, very flatly, don't go out at night.

Marin nodded like that was a normal reminder, like, wear sunscreen.

Jonah laughed a little, because Jonah laughs when he's nervous.

We're not trying to get lost.

Her uncle didn't laugh back.

Not about getting lost.

I watched Marin's aunt's face.

The way her eyes went down for a second, like she was putting a lid on something.

She said, "'Daytime is good.

Daytime is safe.

Nighttime is for home.'"

Lila said something like, "'We're city people.

We'd be asleep anyway.'"

and Marin, bless her, didn't let it get weird.

She said, We'll stick to day hikes, and if we camp, we camp smart.

We won't wander around.

You come inside.

Jonah started to say something, then didn't.

i think we all felt the shift the air didn't get colder but it got heavier the way it does when someone stops making conversation and starts giving rules i didn't ask about skinwalkers that night i didn't bring up that word i'd read enough to know that outsiders tossing it around is disrespectful at best