Whitefish River old friends, sat on their park bench like bookends

Everyone had scattered to the winds. He could not blame them for it, for hadn't he done the same thing, many seasons ago? Phocion nodded, sad to hear that Krypton had vanished. He had liked her very much. And Anita. . . What if she had gone to find him? Another wave of guilt washed over him once more at the thought.

"I'm heading east," Phocion said, thinking of what Grayday had told him about Silver--err, Easthollow's new location. "Perhaps I'll run into them there."

He dipped his head in a short bow. Grayday's time was probably valuable; he didn't want to waste it further. He himself had travelling to do--the night was still young. "It was good to see you again," Phocion said warmly. "I hope I see you in the future. Take care, Grayday."

With a wag of his bushy tail, he smiled and trotted off, the ghosts of his past nipping coolly at his ankles.