Maybe do an epilogue for Otter?
Also, I get you on feeling one's online peeps are friends and missing them when you are away. Just as you would any other friend. I don't know why society disses that, but it's a shame we do. You're all real people, with wants and hopes and dreams, fun to hang with, and as important to me as my friendships in my local life. So confirming that, yup, you're not alone in your friendships here. They're real things.