Hey Diary,

  I figured out why there are so many animals around here! It’s because they’re all migrating away from the mountains! I bet there aren’t hardly any big animals left up in the mountains right now.

  When everything is over, they might need to be convinced to go back. That… will be difficult.

  I haven't written in a few days because I'm just exhausted. I’ve been spending so much time telling animals to not get into fights over territory that I hardly have time to breathe. I can hear them yelling and screaming at each other constantly.

  And the worst part is, I don't hear them with my ears. Nope. One of the “perks” of a high charm level is I can detect strong emotions within range. And being a Beastmaster, I can detect strong emotions of animals.

  And they're all mad at each other! All the animals within two hundred miles of the shore have all come down here to get away from the bad ground by where the volcano is about to erupt, meaning the population of every animal per square mile has like quintupled!

  Wild animals tend to be very territorial, so this is going incredibly badly. It’ll be a miracle if the wildlife population in this country isn't halved by the time this whole thing is over.

  And yeah, I can tell them all to go home, but with their instincts screaming at them to not go home, odds are that for most of them, the charm will fail! It’s not like the “sit down during earthquakes” charm, which just sits in the back of their minds and doesn't do anything most of the day. That would be actively going against what they know is good for them constantly.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  I told the Guildmaster in Eightport, but I don't think I was able to explain it. I should have explained it to Maeve and had her tell the Guildmaster. I don't know. I'm sure every Beastmaster in the country knows what’s going on, and they’ll be able to deal with it. I'm not the only person around who can talk to animals, after all.

  Yeah, Beastmaster isn't a common class, but there are enough of us around. It’ll be ok.

  We’ll get to Innsnose tomorrow, and I’ll be able to sit down and focus, and make sure all the animals in my insane range are safe. Maybe someone will come by with official instructions for dealing with animals. I’ll do that, and it’ll be ok.

  I don't have to save all the animals in the whole world. I just need to focus on doing what I can do.

  …

  I want my dad.

  He’d know what to do. He always knows what to do and how to do it.

  I’m sure he’s out in the forest around Fish right now, making sure all the wild animals are ok, even the ones that don't like him. Because that’s his job.

  And it’s my job, too. I know what I'm doing; I’m good at this.

  I just… wish I could talk to him. And Mom. And even Wisp. I don't want to be an adult any more. I don't want to be responsible. I can't do it.

  Yes I can.

  I'm so tired.

  Signing off,