Ouroboros Spine Black as Soot, Cold as Ice

Charon had decided, after returning home to the Bay, to explore the nearest real mountain first. There were some other elevated areas around the Bay, but Ouroboros Spine was actually a mountain. Charon realised as he started his exploration that he'd never been here before. This was emphasised by the fact that he found the charred remains of what had once been a forest there. The young Naturalist was amazed, and even though he got the information he wanted -- Ouroboros Spine was not somewhere he and Amekaze could start their pack together -- Charon couldn't help but continue his exploration, driven by curiosity.

When Charon reached the frays of a large lake, he noticed a dot of white in the distance. What was more interesting than the unidentified dot of white, though, was an island in the middle of the lake that had been rescued from the merciless flames. Charon decided to follow the lake's edge until he reached the wolf in the distance, to make sure that he or she wasn't a threat, and then he'd check out that island to see what still grew there.

Upon his approach, the yearling immediately noticed the glazed eye and the scars around it, identifying her as Potema. His nose confirmed his suspicions, and so Charon approached neutrally yet cheerfully -- eager to see how she was doing, but even more eager to share his own news. His movements were still stiff as he approached her; on the outside, large wounds on his right shoulder and back were still visible, as well as littler scratches across his body. "Hey Potema," Charon said with a cheery smile that echoed his mood. "Were you gonna explore that island over there too?" The island still fascinated him and he also wondered how Potema's swimming had come along since he'd helped her take some of her first steps by Totoka River. He'd find a way to wedge his cool news into the conversation at some point.