The next few days passed by in a grey haze. The green pastures and rolling hills of Mei's home were beautiful as ever, yet they looked colorless to him. He spent most of time sitting in the cave, sometimes resting his head on the ground and closing his eyes, sometimes staring off at nothing in particular. During this time, his new friend, the owl, kept him company, providing food, and attempting to make conversation. Usually, he would only so much as nibble on some grass a few times a day, only when his starvation grew greater than his despair. When the owl spoke to him, he replied in single words and listless grunts.

One such evening, the owl stopped by, dropping of a pile of clovers from its talons at the foot of the cave. Tonight, he was lying motionless on the cold floor. At first he seemed not to notice the owl, but after a few seconds acknowledged his companion with a half-hearted nod.

"Quite a pleasant evening, isn't it, Mei?" the owl greeted.

The goat's eyes looked out at the sky for a moment. "Mm-hm," he grunted.

"I always feel marvelous flying at sunset," he continued. The sky becomes a new world of beautiful colors. Why not come out of this dreary cave and see for yourself?"

"Hm, maybe later."

"Perfectly fine, my friend. Later tonight will be beautiful as well. You see, there will be a full moon tonight."

"Full moon …" these words echoed in Mei's mind. A full moon tonight. This was enough do break his daze, as he got up and looked at the owl furiously. "I don't want to look at a full moon! Not with you, or anyone else but Gabu. I don't care if I never see the moon again!"

Slightly taken aback, having forgotten about the significance of the full moon to Mei, the owl responded, "I'm sorry, Mei. I didn't mean to bring back painful memories."

Mei realized his outburst was uncalled for. This owl had done nothing but taken care of him selflessly, and here he was, blowing up at it over a kind invitation. He felt ashamed.

"Sorry," he said. "I know you're just trying to help me." He took a breath, "but I don't think that will be necessary much longer."

"Pardon me?"

"These past few days, I've been thinking. About Gabu, my family, you… I've realized that there is no longer any place for me in this world. When Gabu and I jumped into the river, long ago, we hoped that wherever it took us, we would be able to start a new life together there. We went through so much together, the Emerald Forest was supposed to be the reward for our suffering. But now I realize it was never meant to be. The night, I was supposed to get eaten by my best friend, but he sacrificed his life so I could make it there alive. But this paradise means nothing to me alone."

Mei stood up with new resolve. "Ever since I've gotten here, you have watched over me. Though I have given you nothing in return, I have burdened you with my weak body. And though I deeply appreciate everything you've done, I must ask that you burden yourself no longer. When we were in the snowstorm together, Gabu and I agreed that it would be pointless to live on without one another. Well, I still stand by that. Now, if I can ask one last favor of you, I ask that you let me die.

The owl was visibly touched, as well as startled. "Mei…" he started, trying to find the right words. "Surely you can't mean this. You must have something else to live for! What about your family?"

"My family?" Mei's eyes began tearing up. "I can't go back to them. They wouldn't have me back."

"Your own family wouldn't have you back? What makes you think such a thing?"

"The day Gabu and I left, the elder of my clan allowed me to remain one of them on one condition. I had to trick Gabu into giving me information about his pack's plans. Of course, I could never do such a thing, so I had no choice but to leave my old life behind."

The owl pondered this revelation. "But there must have been someone in your clan that would love you no matter what."

Mei was silent for a moment. "My grandma would. Ever since my mom died, she was always fussing about my safety. My wellbeing was always the most important thing for her."

"I'm sure you meant the world to her," the owl assured.

Mei imagined his grandmother, distraught at the loss of her beloved grandson. The thought was too much to bear. He directed his thoughts elsewhere.

"I had friends too. Good friends. Their names were Mii and Tap."

"Do you think they would still want you back?" asked the owl.

He tried to envision what the two of them were doing now. Did they ever wish he was back?

"Well… they seemed shocked when they discovered that I was friends with a wolf. They just didn't understand! Goats are too stupid to understand anything but food and fear. But still, I wish I would have had a chance to say goodbye to them."

"When did you see them last?"

"It's hard to remember, but I think I remember seeing them after we jumped in the river. I seem to remember them gathered on a hilltop watching us." He racked his mind, "Yes, I even remember Mii shouting my name over the roar of the river."

"It sounds like they weren't ready to get rid of you."

"But what can I do now? I'm dead to everyone. Even if I came back, and my grandma and friends accepted me, there's no way that the elder would."

"But don't you think your grandmother deserves to know that you're alive?" the owl asked.

"Y-yes, I suppose." He thought for a few seconds. "Maybe you could fly over and tell her."

"Now Mei," it objected, "I couldn't tell her that if you're planning on dying before I reach her."

Mei sighed. "I guess not. But where can I go? All paths lead nowhere for me."

"What does your heart tell you?" asked the owl.

"My heart?" He pondered for a moment. What did his heart tell him? He had no desire to stay in the meadows or the forest, as they held too many memories. Likewise, he did not wish to return to his old clan and try to forget that any of this ever happened. However, there was still one hope that held out all this time. One dream that could keep him alive longer, however unlikely it was.

"My heart wants to believe that Gabu is out there somewhere waiting for me. I just have to find him."

The owl did not expect this answer. "Where do you think he could be?"

"I don't know, maybe back on the mountain, maybe elsewhere, but I owe it to him to find out what happened to him, dead or alive."

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?"

"Yes," Mei assured. "I have decided that I can't die until I know the true fate of my best friend."

"You are brave, child. But know that the mountains are beyond my territory. You will not have my protection if you venture out into the mountain pass."

Mei gazed out into the distant horizon, back at the desolate mountains he came from. He turned back at the owl and smiled. "Like I said before, thank you for everything you've done for me. But now I must find my friend by myself, since it was always the two of us."

The owl, relieved at Mei's decision to keep living beamed with assurance. "Good luck, Mei. You will always be welcome back in the Emerald Forest if you choose to return."

"Thank you. I will never forget your generosity."

The great owl took one last look at Mei, and spread its wings to take flight. In an instant it was up in the sky, a shrinking silhouette against the rising full moon, until it became just a speck. Mei found himself, for the first time, truly alone.