I dream of Polar night

"Oh..." was Charon's response when Osprey didn't exactly jump up with joy at the prospect of visiting him again. He felt disappointed and, somewhere deep down, a little betrayed. Charon thought they'd had a really nice time and that surely, Osprey would want to visit again, but she seemed less than enthusiastic. She did say she would do what she could, but he'd hoped that she would be happy he asked, cheerily accepted and promised she'd come again to tell him more.

When Osprey asked if he'd know the way, Charon nodded. He glanced over his shoulder at the den and said, "Yeah, it's here. Bye, Osprey, thanks for the stories!" As Osprey turned and left, Charon watched her and he wondered if he would see her again after she would go home to her pack. He didn't remember what the pack was called, but he was sure that Ragnar and Thistle knew and could tell him. Maybe some day when he was a bit older, he could visit Osprey's pack and come to see her, he told himself.

Charon watched until Osprey's form disappeared into the forest and he could no longer see any of her, then turned around walked into the den. There, he snuggled up with his family and swiftly fell asleep, dreaming of the adventures of Charon the Adventurer First Class and Drake the Furry Troll, as well as their side-kick Osprey, the Teller of Stories.