We made camp last night on the far side of Overrun. When we awoke it was a beautiful morning and the bear was sleeping just outside our camp again. I was very happy to see him he feels like a calming presence, it gives me the idea that we are on the right path. This could be wishful thinking, but I am getting more and more convinced that he is the same bear from Brae wood and that he somehow approves of this journey of mine.

Elyr is not so sure, but they also say they know nothing about bears. Why else would he be there just existing near us like that.

The bear is not the only creature who paid us a visit this morning, and I get the feeling this other addition may become a permanent one too. Or at least it will if Elyr has anything to do with it.

As we were having breakfast, a hoop-weasel popped his head out from behind a bush and looked at us. The first I knew about it was when I heard a high pitched, twinkly squeak. It was not a noise I had ever heard before and it made me look around in some alarm, however it turned out to be Elyr. They were clapping their hands together and making that sound, it was actually quite a lovely sound once I knew it wasn’t a dangerous one!

“what is it what is it what is it” Elyr asked me, they seemed so excited. So I explained hoop weasels to them. Apparently they don’t tend to live near Aethryn, or if they do, Elyr has never met one.

Over the course of our breakfast, Elyr had coaxed it over to us, using my breakfast as a bribe. It didn’t take much coaxing really, hoop weasels are very keen on breakfast!

When I mentioned that the little thing was taking advantage of them, Elyr claimed that it was definitely hungry and the patterns in the resonance meant they must feed it.

“So the resonance tells you that sort of thing does it? about individual opportunistic hoop weasels?” I said.

Elyr replied “oh yes it absolutely does, it told me his name too” As they said it however, they turned a much darker shade of blue about the face. I am beginning to see more subtle emotions on the Aethri’s face, and that one was definitely sheepish!

“we can’t keep him you know” I said, “even if you have named him”

“I haven’t named him, he told me his name, I mean the resonance did…”

“so, what is his name then”

Apparently it is called Mouse!

I couldn’t help but laugh and I suppose we will have to see if Mouse comes along with us, and if I have any food left at all!