Sea Lion Shores with arms wide open

Floki had taken to wandering as of late. His ventures beyond the borders of Stavanger Bay had initially begun with the sole intention of finding Charon, but when that had proven to be near impossible, he had allowed that task to fall by the wayside. Of course, if he came across his older brother's scent, he would have jumped for joy -- but that just hadn't happened. So instead, he enjoyed leisurely walks along the beach, usually heading north. He often kept an eye out for his friend Hiraku, but hadn't seen the fox since their initial encounter.

On this particular day, he had traveled south. The five month old was steadily nearing the size and musculature of an adult, allowing his endurance to increase as well as his confidence. Today, he ambled through a wooded area, forgoing his typically sandy path near the ocean for a change of scenery. He moved slowly, nostrils flaring as he inhaled a variety of different scents. Suddenly, a howl rose up in the air around him, freezing Floki in his tracks.

It was Charon's voice that reached him, and he immediately threw back his own head and called out in return. His voice cracked due to his excitement as well as his youthful inexperience, but the message was still clear: "Charon! I'm here!"