Muted Mayhem and Merrymaking

Previously

…The hermit offered a final, deep “Hoo-hoo-hoo,” and the owls began to disperse, taking to the darkening sky like feathered stars. Jon watched them go, the symphony of hoots fading into the night. He turned to descend Hooting Hill, his steps lighter, his heart fuller. He still didn’t have a glittering gem, but he had something far more valuable: a new perspective. And a truly excellent story about a hermit who communicated primarily through owl noises. He wondered if Barty Bumble had managed to dislodge the gnome from his skull yet. Probably not. That, Jon thought with a chuckle, was the real Giggle Gem.