Arbor Day/2023/Story

## Introduction

**"Withered Leaf"** | ...
Who, who's there?!
What do you want?! Are you going to rob me?!
Please... please leave. I beg of you.
...
I, I'm sorry. My name is "Withered Leaf."
I haven't seen another human around here for a long time. Everyone has gone to the shelter.
It's been there three months. I've been searching for three months and I've finally found a clue about "it" — an experiment file from that research facility.
That's right. Just wait until I locate "it" from the clue. Then I can rest for good.

### Daily Log-In Introduction

**"Withered Leaf"** | People always sat the stars never change. They remain eternally beautiful and mysterious.
However, sometimes I feel like... the stars look like eyes.
They stare at me in the dark and their gaze follows me around, quietly watching everything heading to extinction.
It always seems like those eyes are holding secrets

### Withered Leaf's Request Introduction

**"Withered Leaf"** | I, I have a favor to ask...
Please consider these my small token of gratitude.

### Botany Notes Introduction

**"Withered Leaf"** | Whenever I find new seeds, I discover a page of information about them.
Perhaps I can copy this information here... maybe they'll be useful somehow.

## Exploration

### Day 1

**"Withered Leaf"** | This, this isn't the seed I wanted...
Someone told me that, many years ago, after most of the plants in this world had disappeared, only this research facility kept samples of seeds.
And so... I found this book. It recorded the locations where the last seven seeds were buried...
But "it" is all I want...

### Day 2

**"Withered Leaf"** | What is the Chinese yew?
All I know is that plants went extinct at the beginning, followed by animals. People died of hunger... or got caught in floods and sandstorms...
When my family died, I lost my home as well.
But it's okay. Those who robbed me went into hiding at the underground shelter...
Hmph! They are the ones who should live underground like bugs!

### Day 3

**"Withered Leaf"** | When will I find "its" seed? Those beautiful, sacred, purple seeds...
Ahhhh, I must have it! Only then am I able to lay underground at ease.
I can't take this sunshine much longer... and the sand... \*Coughs\*
Haha, "it" is our last hope, and I'm the only one who cares...

### Day 4

**"Withered Leaf"** | Hmph! Those hiding in the research facility have no idea what we went through.
How many days has it been? Never mind food, there isn't even much water left.
This ridiculous world should be destroyed already. I found my final resting place a long time ago.

### Day 5

**"Withered Leaf"** | When I walked across the wasteland yesterday, a half-collapsed building came tumbling down.
I spent all day searching the ruins and found a can labeled "sugar" on it.
It's sugar! Be it natural or artificial, I've never seen sugar after the seventh mass extinction!
Regrettably, as I opened the lid, all I found were ants.

### Day 6

**"Withered Leaf"** | There's only one more page of clues left.
Once I get my hands on the last page of the record, I'll be able to find "it".
It's getting darker and darker. You can smell a storm coming...
These buildings and this dirty river are no doubt "their" revenge against us.

### Day 7

**"Withered Leaf"** | That's, that's it!
All I'll need to do is to bury it in the soil and those sacred, beautiful purple flowers will grow. If I wear it, I can sleep eternally in heaven!
...
No, no, I won't plant it.
Look at the soil. It's not worthy of these seeds.
...
I'll keep on going. Taking these last hopes, taking "it" with me.
How ironic, until the storm swallows me whole...