Shortly after the Holy War and the graduation of Zoo Phoenix Academy's most recent class of seniors, the residents of Safe Haven are more than ready for a summer of rest and relaxation. For some, that's exactly what they'll get; for others, things a...
I've probably mentioned this in some other Author's Note or Afterword, but I've been wanting to take a trip back to the past for a while now, just to get away from the main story for a bit and explore the characters before they got all traumatized by war, murder, existential dread, eldritch horror, and the like. Having the main cast back in a relatively-mundane setting was cathartic in a way, and it's definitely helping me get over the little bit of writer's block I was having regarding the continuation of the "Safe Haven Saga".
So without further ado, let's get into analyzing the actual story.
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CHAPTER I: We start off with Gustav and his family, and it quickly becomes evident that Gustav is still reeling a bit from his breakup with Addison. The latter's constant texting doesn't make things any easier, either, showing that maybe Addison is still struggling to balance his lingering feelings for Gustav with his and MacKenzie's new romance.
Most of you will probably have noticed a change to the Director being carried over from "Dreams" as well, as the entity is now referred to as female as opposed to male. Fret not; the inconsistency shall be handled in due time. When it is, this section of the Afterword will be removed.
The Director bursting in and belting "Memory" from Cats at the top of her lungs is a reference to Laine MacNeil's incomparable, heartfelt rendition of the showtune as Patty Farrell in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rules. It's better than any other version out there and no one will ever be able to convince me otherwise. Argue with a wall.
The Director's mood in this scene is a stark contrast to her mood in her other appearances, showing that how she acts is mostly based off whether things go well or not at her theatre. She's a bit bipolar in that respect.
The Director's interaction with Gus (namely when she puts an arm around his shoulder) is based off this piece of art by Vivziepop (bottom right):
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D'kala is seen training with Knox Sky in a gym, trying to let off steam as he waits (and hopes) for Kia's return to Safe Haven. He doesn't explode, per se, but he's obviously struggling to hold back the old temper he used to have growing up.
