5600 words can be on the short side for a chapter, but this is a case where I only wanted to include a given sequence of events. We start here, we finish there, and we honor the natural break point because when the last sentence hits the screen like a dropped anvil, you stop and listen to the echoes. Oh, and when it's me, I probably jump around a lot while screaming because there's a good chance I dropped it on my foot.
...and you wonder why I don't post on consecutive days very often. Composition can be tiring and after a while, if you start to feel somewhat punch-drunk...
There's likely going to be one more chapter on this before the end of the month -- or two, because I may wind up posting a pair of shorter ones in a single session. (The next portion is probably going to be titled Nocturnal and unless I fold something else in, there's only so much I can expect from a centaur on Too Much Coffee.) But with an actual post charge now attached, February is even more officially under way -- and I only have until the 28th to reach five pledged postings.
I would wish for access to the 29th, but no one needs to get 2020 back.