My bear and I amble-roll back down the road, onto the path, and then back into the forest.

I can’t be sure, but I think my bear has scared all the birds, tree-rats, and basically anything that has sense. I am not sure if it’s the bond, or the knock to my head, but I am way too calm. It seems like I have been connected to this bear for a lifetime, seen everything that has happened today…before…and it’s nothing to be freaked out about.

As we break though the forest and into the field the patrolman had indicated, I look around and quickly find a circle of rocks surrounding an old fire. Walking up, I take a seat on a nice flat one, looking out towards the tower, and cross my legs…lost in the thoughts of my calm.

The bear moves opposite me and sits down facing me. His large eyes steady and waiting.

“Confusion?” His statement is simple and short, but the tone holds the weight of understanding.

“Why has this been so easy for me? You are the largest, scariest, bear I have seen. I don’t think the patrol or even my dad has seen something of your power…and yet you came searching for me? And…I am ok with it. I somehow I feel like this was expected, natural. How is this possible? Why do I feel like this? Is this the knock to my head”. My voice is whispered, but it’s solid…like my dad’s voice…like I have faced more trials than the seven years I have lived here.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“You may be young, little one. You have an old soul. I have travelled long and far to find you. Many seasons have passed since I started. I heard your birth on the strings of all essences. They called me, directed me. You need protection. So I am here.” Unlike his previous statements, this didn’t hold the depth of a mountain, but deep volume of all nature. Tones overlapped and reinforced each other.

“When I touched your soul essence with mine, I stirred the old soul in you. I did not do this intentionally. I did this to help protect. We share this power now. But you are young. You have not grasped the depths of your essence. So you will borrow mine, until you learn your own.”

“Do you have a name? My name is Harry. I feel bad just calling you bear.” As we talk, my vision begins to haze over…my focus moving from what is visually around me, to just the bear, surrounded in light.

“I have no name, little one. Although I have met a few of your kind, I know very little of your kind.”

“You have met humans before? Did they attack you, did you attack them?” The excitement and fesar in my voice translates into fidget of my hands.

“No little one. I can not be found by your kind. Unless I want them to find me. Those I find with harmony in their essence, I will talk. Those without harmony, there are others that will attack. No need for me.” He chuffs at the last statement, like a memory rolling across his mind as he talks.

I look at the bear and the haze begins to grow, my mind going from calm, to sleepiness.

“Sleep little one. I will watch.” And as if my mind was a candle being blown out, I sleep.