Moonspear Life is like a ticking time bomb

Charon looked at the scenery, glad to be able to spend some time with his brother one on one. They didn't do that nearly enough, really. Charon remembered that he had felt a world of difference when he turned nine months — but then again, he had known about the upcoming promotion, because he had already talked it through with his adoptive mother and Alpha before the big day. He was giving Flóki what he himself had asked for specifically. Perhaps because he wanted to reward good behaviour, or because he wanted to show Flóki just how special he was to Charon and how much Charon thought of him to give him such great responsibility and power. He wasn't just his little brother; Flóki was practically his best friend.

When Levi had fallen away and their other young siblings, Flóki had somewhat filled the gap. In some ways, Flóki was a bit like Levi, too. Soft. Charon liked him for that, too. Soft wolves reminded him when to loosen the chains and when to drop the whip whenever his temper got the better of him. He wanted to lead, and he wanted others to respect him, but Flóki made sure that he stayed in line (even if he didn't do so consciously), just as Ame did. They were the two wolves in his life right now that made Charon want to be a better wolf (a thing that he had never before in his life aspired; because, let's face it, Charon was pretty cool as things were).

When Flóki thanked him for all he had done, Charon smiled broadly in a silent returning of the sentiment. "I'm glad you stayed," he said. Everyone else had left, or gotten lost. Levi was probably dead in a ditch somewhere, because he'd been such a homebody and so attached to the pups. He would never have just up and abandoned them. And Thistle Cloud, while she had been there, hadn't been very emotionally available at the time. The rest... They must've just gone away, or, like Kaylan (and Atreyu with his leg that time) gotten scared and ran. But not Flóki, and that proved that he deserved to stand here, beside him. "I don't want to get all soppy and emotional now, but you're like my best friend, Flóks. I'm glad to have you." Charon glanced sideways at Flóki while he spoke, an appreciative smile on his face all the while.