Stavanger Bay not broken

Charon's heart pounded in his throat while he waited silently in the shallow den he'd found. He didn't dare move, afraid that the bear would find them. After what it had done to Atreyu, he didn't want to go near it, nor let his little brother go near it. He just wanted to forget that it'd ever happened at all. It sounded like his heart pounded loudly, and he was afraid the bear might find them through it for a moment, unaware that it only pounded this loudly in his head, and not to anyone else.

When Flóki spoke, Charon swallowed and look at him. Charon knew he needed to do something, and he would, once he could stop picturing the moment when Atreyu's leg was torn from his body so effortlessly, over and over again, sound effects and all.

"We'll find them," Charon said confidently, even though he wasn't sure if they would. "And they'll be alright, we'll fix them if they're hurt." Charon licked his brother's cheek, hoping it would calm him bits and pieces. He remained in place, still scared the bear might come after them, and feeling dumb for letting himself be deterred by a dumb old bear, when he fancied himself quite the bear hunter. "It's gonna be okay, Flóks... It'll all be okay."