INKTOBER 2023 "MAP"
   It is a few minutes later, and Zachary bought them a map of the entirety of Whitton district. Clock Island was divided into five district; these, in turn, were divided into counties, then into towns and the like. They found Snowflower, and from there, located Silverpaw. It was in a different county, nearing the coast. It was well over two-hundred miles.    “You can’t travel that on foot. Not safely, at least.” Zachary said. They were sitting at a park bench, John’s paws holding the map down at the table, while Zachary leaned on one arm and watched him through tired eyes. “Are you certain you’d rather not go back to your family?”    John looked ready to argue. He stared up from the map- bit his lip, and looked back down. Trying to reason a path through. But there it is, on the map, far away- clear as day. He says. “I- I can take a train. Or something.”    “With what money?”    John continued to stare at the map. Zachary suspected that, if he had had any on him, it was all gone now. John mumbled. “You… could… lend me some?”    Jeremy had asked him the same thing, and Zachary had done so, willing that his friend would succeed. And no one ever heard from him again. Who knows what fate befell him; John is so much younger, too. Zachary answered him. “I’m sorry. I can’t afford to.”    “Why not?” John answered, ears flattening on his head.    “I’ve only so much left…” Zachary shrugged listlessly. “And I do not have any work to supply me with more.”    “Get a job then!”    Zachary scoffs. “Oh. If it were so simple, I would have gotten one already.”
