Brainstorm for Chapter Four:

 

Half Beat:

 5. The Door Opens: In this part of the story, the hero is on the brink of a big change. They face a small but significant problem that makes it clear there’s no turning back to their old life. It’s like everything’s upside down, and they feel hopeless, but they know they have to push through and keep going. The main characters are starting to fall for each other, showing their bond growing deeper (SWIND).

 

Whole Beat:

 6. What Doesn’t Kill Me: MC1 goes through challenging tests (usually three), realizing they won’t succeed at all of them right away. They're likely to revisit their mentor from the beginning for guidance as they navigate these trials, showcasing their growth along the way. Readers will see how much the hero has changed but also understand that more challenges lie ahead. The main characters start to feel hopeful about love, sensing a connection that's different from anything they’ve experienced before (SWIND).

 

- Second half of beat 5 is arguably done already with the dressing room antics in chapter three, so... chapter four is focused only on beat 6???

 

- In Beat 6 “revisiting the mentor” could be achieved by Wes popping his head out and throwing them a bag, telling them to go to his brother.

    - In the bag is food, a magic item or two that will help them/lead them to his brother.

        - magic item is a star map (brother is star guy) that needs to be used at night and guides them somehow???

    - To stall their initial escape, Cannon can trip and hurt his ankle, which Lulia heals using her magic power.  This gives us proof that her healing powers work and also holds them still long enough for Wes to pop out and toss them supplies. 

        - Or they can run back in to grab something and Wes tells them to go and gives them stuff and tells them about where his brother is????

    - OR the magic item has power of communication and they use it to talk to Wes and the “revisit” happens that way.

 

- Lulia and Cannon run through the woods all day and as sun is setting, they decide to camp.  Does Lulia summon her firefly gang to light things as it gets dark??? They have to wait until night and the stars before they can use the magic star map thing, so they have a chance to talk.  We find out what is driving/torturing Lulia and we see how Cannon can be the person who can help calm/soothe her in her life and make them both stronger and happier (why they belong together is the question being answered)??

    - She isn’t really just trying to get laid for laid’s sake, she is showing her independence, which is something she never really had????  Maybe Joppy was an arranged marriage or something.  They can talk about Joppy and Lulia’s backstory as a way to mourn Joppy but also to bring Cannon and Lulia closer together as we can also get some of Cannon’s backstory.  They bond.  Maybe they kiss and cuddle, but keep it romantic, no sex scene.  That is for the next chapter.

- SWIND? S-no, W-yes, I-yes, N-yes, D-no.  So three out of five makes this woodland chat and cuddle a romantic situation.

 

- The “challenging test”: using the magic item??? Maybe there is a trick to it? Maybe just navigating the woods or understanding the magic item???  If they can communicate with Wes, I guess he could answer their questions or guide them somehow. 

 

- They arrive at the brother’s house in the woods.  He is a cult leader?  A hippy? Alone?  With a group of naked dudes?  Who can say?  You, you are the arbiter of that