Caspian didn't know what to make the most of from this as he and Oak sprinted out into the moon craven, their hearts thumping in their chests. It felt like the spirits were watching them even as they raced through the trees. The forest seemed to come alive around them, ancient trees towering overhead, their branches

"This is crazy!" Oak panted, her breath coming in ragged gasps as they dashed through the forest. "I can't believe we're actually doing this!" Caspian shot her a sideways glance, managing a weak smile as he, too, tried to catch his breath. "It's just another adventure, right?" He asked, trying to reassure them both.

"This wasn't the first time!" Oak scoffed, wiping the sweat from her brow. "Remember when we went near the dark moon pack and they almost killed us for wondering on their grounds? Or when we climbed that giant tree and almost fell because Soren got too carried away with that maiden? We've been through worse, remember?" Caspian nodded, trying to catch his breath. "Yeah, but this is different, Oak. This is the first time we're doing something like this on our own. Without Soren or anyone else to help us."

The fact that they have completely forgotten about Soren and Aurora and are out there by themselves sends shivers down Caspian's spine. He wipes the sweat from his forehead and then looks around and says, "Well, it's not like we can back out now. Let's just focus on getting those items and finishing this ritual." Oak nods, determined to not let fear or doubt get the best of them. They continue their search, gathering the mistletoe and river stones without much trouble. However, when they reach the hearth, where the charcoal is located, they come across a small group of faeries dancing around a bonfire.

"You have got to be kidding me," Caspian says sarcastically as he and Oak see the group of faeries dancing around the bonfire. "Great, just what we needed." Oak sighs, rolling her eyes. "Let's just try to get their attention quietly." They approach the fire carefully, trying not to startle the faeries. As they draw near, one of the faeries notices them and flies over, hovering in front of Caspian. "What business do you have with us, wolf-shifters?" she asks in a musical voice. "We require some charcoal from your fire for a sacred ritual," Caspian explains, trying to sound confident and respectful at the same time.

The faerie nodded her head, her wings shimmering in the firelight. "Very well," she said, her voice softening. "You may have our charcoal. But first, you must prove yourselves worthy. You must complete a task for us." Caspian and Oak exchanged glances, unsure of what the faerie meant. "What sort of task?" Oak asked hesitantly. The faerie smiled enigmatically. "You must find a human child who has been lost in the forest and return them safely to their parents." The two shifters looked at each other, feeling a mixture of trepidation and determination.

Caspian and Oak gave each other an exhausted look. They knew they had to do this, but the thought of finding a lost human child in the middle of the night in the middle of the forest was daunting, to say the least. They nodded in agreement, and the faerie smiled. "Follow me," she said, flying up into the air and leading them deeper into the forest.

Caspian and Oak braced themselves for what was about to come as they followed the faerie deeper into the forest. The further they went, the thicker the foliage became, obscuring the starlit sky. The air grew cooler and the ground more damp as they ventured deeper into the heart of the woods. They came across a small clearing where they could hear the distant wailing of a child. The faerie landed gracefully on a branch above them and pointed toward the sound. "That is the child you are seeking," she whispered.

"Is the child human or a wolf-shifter?" Caspian asks the faerie as they carefully approach the clearing, where they hear the child's cries. The faerie gives him a look of disdain before replying, "Of course it is human, foolish boy. Now hurry and find the child before it comes to any harm." With a sigh of frustration, Caspian turns to Oak. They share a brief, silent exchange before nodding in agreement. Together, they cautiously venture into the clearing.

The infant was in a bundle of rags, lying next to a tree. It was crying hysterically, its tiny hands and feet twisted in distress. Caspian and Oak exchanged glances, both of them feeling a mixture of pity and fear for the poor child. They kneeled down beside it, careful not to startle or hurt it further.

"Poor thing, why is it out here all by itself?" Oak cooed, gently brushing the child's hair away from its face. The infant, still terrified, continued to wail. "It must have wandered off from its parents," Caspian suggested, picking up the child and cradling it in his arms. "We should take it back to the village and see if anyone recognizes it." They stood up, supporting the child between them. As they started to walk back toward the village, they glanced at each other, both relieved and anxious.

"We shouldn't be anywhere near humans; they lack musk," Caspian whispers to Oak, "but this time, I don't think they'll notice." They carefully make their way through the forest, trying to avoid any direct contact with the villagers. Finally, they reach the outskirts of the village and spot a small cottage with a flickering light. "That must be it," Caspian says, nodding toward the cottage. "Let's go and see if the child belongs to anyone there."

Oak nodded her head mutely, her golden gaze fixed on the cottage. As they drew closer, they could see a woman pacing frantically back and forth in front of the door. Her dress was disheveled, and her hair hung loose about her shoulders. "That must be the child's mother," Caspian whispered, fixing his heart heavy with sympathy on the small. cottage. They crept closer, making sure not to make any noise that might wake the villagers. When they were only a few feet away, Caspian knelt down and gently set the child on the ground. "Hello?" he called softly, cupping his hands around his mouth. There was no answer. He glanced at Oak, who shrugged. Together, they crept up to the door of the cottage and peeked inside. The dim light flickered over a small fireplace and a few simple furnishings. There was no sign of anyone else.

"Well, this is cozy; I never went inside a cottage before," Oak mused, peeking her head inside the cottage as she spoke. The dim light flickered over a small fireplace and a few simple furnishings. There was no sign of anyone else. "I wonder where they could be," she continued, glancing around the room. As they stood there, debating what to do next, they heard a faint rustling coming from the back of the cottage. "Someone might be here," Caspian whispered, and together they crept toward the sound.

Oak and Caspian tiptoed through the dimly lit cottage, following the faint rustling sound. They finally came to a small bedroom at the back, where they found a woman huddled on the floor, rocking back and forth. "Mother?" the faerie whispered, gently nudging her. The woman looked up, her face a mask of despair and exhaustion. "Oh, thank the gods, you found him!" she cried, reaching out to grab the child. "I thought I'd lost him forever."

The woman cradled the baby in her arms, holding him closer to her warm body. She looked up at Caspian and Oak, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I don't know how to thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You have no idea what this means to me."

Oak smiled at the woman gently, her gaze softening. "Oh, please, you don't need to thank us. We're just glad we could help," she said, laying a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "Here, let us help you get back to your bed. You must be exhausted." Together, they helped the woman to her feet, supporting her as she stumbled back to her bed. They tucked her in and made sure she was comfortable before tiptoeing back out of the room.

"What about my baby? I can't just leave him here," the woman protested weakly, reaching out for the child. Caspian nodded understandingly and gently placed the child in her arms. "Of course, you must take care of him. We'll make sure no one disturbs you." They stepped back, giving the woman some space. As they left the cottage, Oak glanced over her shoulder, making sure the woman was settled.

"I'll love to see her again, even though she is human," Oak said softly, her gaze drifting back to the cottage. "The child is lucky to have a mother like her." Caspian nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful. "Yes, and we must make sure she knows that we are here to help her in any way we can. Even if it means keeping her secret safe." They walked back to the village, lost in their thoughts, each aware of the weight of the responsibility they had just taken upon themselves. As they reached the center of the village, they saw the other children playing tag around a tall tree. "Shall we join them?" Oak asked with a small smile, gesturing toward the group. "It's been a long night, and I'm sure they could use some more friends."

Oak remembers being a pup and playing in the grass with her siblings and other pups in the Lunar Pact. It was one of her favorite memories, and she was happy that she could share it with Caspian. They walked over to the group of children and joined in on their game of tag. The children seemed to be quite excited to have two more players, and soon they were all running around the tree, laughing and having fun.