For a week Johannes returned to the oak tree each night, but the Deva bear was not there. In his bed, just before sleeping, he stared for a long time at the necklace charm the bear had given him. It contained no moving parts. It did not slow or need rest. If he kept the charm tight in his grip as it morphed, it only pushed his hand back to reshape itself with a firmness always slightly stronger than his grip. It was pleasant to watch, like the stars. And, like the stars, it required no explanation.
