No den??

He peered curiously at this mystery fighter, who had won his dad’s respect and taken on a bear with him. “I’m going to. I’m going to take on every kind of beast and bring their pelts back to the Armada” he declared fearlessly, having never had that idea before that moment, but instantly clinged to it as an absolute.

She answered all his questions, bringing an intense feeling of joy to the young pup. He looked up at her with big wide eyes, loving every moment of her very short stories. “Hi Hester, I’m Mortis” he said, realising he had laxed on introductions - he had already known her name, but she didn’t know his.

“I heard Bast got hurt, she’s in Auntie Io’s cottage now healing” he explained. He could only imagine his titan father bringing down the killing blow to the bear. Ghee whizz!

She admitted fear in the face of the bear, and he liked to think he would be fearless. She flicked her ear and pointed out the injury, and he leaped forward, almost knocking her over again. “Oh, oh, I wanna see!” he said breathlessly. A real battle wound!