It is definitely quiet, aside from the gentle lap of waves on the lakeshore now that the water has sunk back into place.

"I don't hear the spirits," he confirms. "Not used to that. I wonder if they're all right?"

No birds or insects, or the creatures that mimic them. No far-off hoots and howls and whistles. They'd banded together to sing, and then all fallen quiet. "Maybe they're just as shocked as we are," he proposes.