"We have no clue where Caspian or Oak even are; they could be anywhere by now!" Aurora said, her voice laced with worry. Soren felt a knot form in his stomach, his mind racing with all the possibilities of what could have happened to their friends. They continued to search, calling out his name and Oak's, but their voices were swallowed by the dense forest.

Soren stopped in his tracks, a sudden idea forming in his mind. "Aurora, do you remember the grassy plain where we first rested before we started this journey?" Aurora nodded with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Maybe Caspian and Oak will be there after they have found the charcoal," Soren suggested. They both hurried back the way they came, anxious to find their missing friends.

The trees finally gave way to a vast, rolling, grassy plain dotted with wildflowers. The sun was setting in the west, casting a warm golden light across the landscape. Soren and Aurora scanned the field, their hearts pounding in their chests. They spotted Caspian and Oak standing in the middle of a open grassy plain, waving frantically at them. Relief washed over Soren as they ran towards their friends, their legs burning from the effort.

Soren winced, the sharp pain in his twisted ankle making every step difficult. He limped his way toward Caspian and Oak, feeling a bit embarrassed about his injury. As he drew closer, he noticed that Caspian and Oak didn't look quite as triumphant as he had expected. They both had downcast expressions, as if something was bothering them.

"Guys, what's wrong?" he asked, his expression concerned. "Did something happen?" Caspian glanced at him, then quickly looked away, cheeks flushed. "Nothing, Soren. It's just...well, you see, Oak and I found the charcoal, but..." His voice trailed off, and Soren could tell there was more to the story. "But what?" he prompted, not wanting to push his friend but needing to know.

"but what?" Soren repeated, his voice filled with worry. He glanced at Oak, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze. "Guys, you can tell me. Whatever it is, we can figure it out together." There was a long silence as the four friends stood there, the warm summer breeze rustling through the grass around them. Finally, Caspian let out a deep sigh and began to speak.

"You know those stories we used to tell each other about the great heroes who saved the day?" Caspian began, looking first at Soren, then at Aurora and Oak. "Well, it turns out that not all of those stories are true." He paused, swallowing hard, and then continued. "I have spoken to a guardian of ancient knowledge, and he has told me that the charcoal we sought does not exist. The legends of its power are simply that—legends," he explained, blinking away his tears.

Soren and Aurora couldn't believe what they were hearing. They just spoke with the panther, and she told them to gather the rest of the items. The guardian of ancient knowledge had lied to them, or maybe there was another way to complete the task. They exchanged glances, their minds racing with possibilities. "Caspian, what did the guardian say we should do now?" Soren asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Oak spoke up, her voice shaking with emotion. "He said that there must be some other way for us to save our people. Perhaps there are other items out there, hidden away in legends and stories, that hold the power we seek. We just have to find them." Soren nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "And that's why we came back here, right?" Caspian asked, looking around at them. "To tell you what we found out and to ask for your help in figuring out what to do next," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But all four of us had risked our lives for these items!" Aurora exclaimed, her voice filled with anger and frustration. "And now we're just supposed to give up and find some other way? I don't think so!" Caspian and Oak exchanged glances, understanding where Aurora was coming from. They had all put so much into this quest, and the thought of giving up was almost unbearable.

"We are going back to that moon craved with the items and show the spirits what we have done for them by their request." Aurora said it with determination. "We will not give up on them, on our people." Caspian and Oak nodded in agreement, their eyes shining with determination. "And we'll find a way to make sure the spirits hear our message," Oak added. "We'll find a way to make sure they know that we are not giving up hope," she said firmly.

"So we're heading to the moon, craven?" Caspian asked, his voice wavering between fear and determination.

Aurora, Soren, and Oak nodded their heads in unison, a sense of determination filling the air around them. "We have no other choice," Aurora said, her voice steady. "Our people need us." With newfound resolve, they began to make their way back toward the moon craven, their steps firmer and their spirits lifted.