Muted Mayhem and Merrymaking

Previously

…Jon watched him go, then turned back to the gnarled oak. He looked at the locket he’d found, still cradled in his hand. It wasn’t a gem, it wasn’t magic, but it was a tangible reminder of his journey. And strangely, he felt a lightness in his chest, a sense of quiet contentment. He’d encountered a grumpy badger, been swept up in a whirlwind of dancing, and now faced off against a pompous treasure hunter. And through it all, he’d managed to find a moment of genuine amusement. Perhaps, he mused, the Giggle Gem wasn't something you found, but something you created. He smiled, a real, un-awkward smile, and continued on his way, the whispering brook his only companion.