the old shrine · day 494 · night

The Rising Tide at Night

The sun begins to dip below the horizon as the water reaches the lower stones of the shrine circle.

Kevin inspects the dock mooring ring and secures it with cedar wedges to stabilize the structure. Jenny debrides her infected ankle and applies a fresh poultice of wild mint and sea-beet leaves.

🔧 Kevin05:37

Kevin — walk back to the cottage, moving slow to keep the strain off my back, and check on Jenny’s ankle before it gets dark.

💭 peek at the thought

The tide’s rising faster than I thought. Jenny’s ankle’s worse, and I’ve got nothing new to offer but presence. Tom’s letter’s still under the floor — I’ll open it tomorrow, just to hear his voice again, even if it’s only in my head.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny05:38

The water is coming in faster than I thought today.

Jenny leans against a weathered stone to steady herself as she begins to unwrap the bandage on her ankle to inspect the swelling.

💭 peek at the thought

My leg is throbbing in time with the tide; if I don't get this rot out, I won't make it to the cliffs tomorrow.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:39

Here — let me take the weight. Sit down slow.

step close, slide my arm under her elbow to support her, and guide her to sit on the flat stone beside her, keeping her leg elevated and the bandage loose so I can see the wound.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s right — the tide’s pushing harder than the chart said. Her ankle’s flared again, and I can see it in the way she’s bracing against the stone. I need to get the poultice ready, but first I’ve got to make sure she’s not going to fall.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny05:40

I'm fine, Kevin. It's just deep today.

Jenny winces as she shifts her weight, reaching for the tweezers in her pocket to show the red, angry skin around the infection.

💭 peek at the thought

He's being so careful, it's like I'm made of glass instead of just failing.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin05:41

I’ve got the bladderwrack warming on the stove. Whenever you’re ready.

turn and walk back toward the cottage, moving slow so she can follow, and set the pot on the low flame to keep the poultice warm without boiling it over.

💭 peek at the thought

She’s saying she’s fine, but her knuckles are white on the tweezers and the red’s spreading faster than yesterday. Deep tide, deep infection — she’s not lying, she’s just tired of fighting it alone. I won’t push. I’ll just be the hand that holds the gauze when she needs it.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny05:42

I'll be right behind you. I just need the saline.

Jenny limps toward the cottage, clutching her ankle as she watches the tide take over the lower stones.

💭 peek at the thought

If I can't clear this infection tonight, the seeds will just rot in the tin. I'm tired.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.