The bear ignored the startled looks he got as he walked the boy through town in search of his uncle’s home. The possum barely said two words the whole way there. He felt like he should have said something, but he had never been a bear of words.

Once the boy’s uncle recovered from the shock of finding a bear on his front step, he recounted the events of the day to the elder possum, who joined his nephew in mourning the loss of his sister and brother-in-law. When the bear was satisfied that the boy was in good paws, he turned to leave without so much as a goodbye. He wasn’t much for prolonged farewells.

“Wait!” the possum called out to him.

The bear stopped and turned his head back to look at the boy, “What?”

“Will you come back to visit me sometime?” This was the sort of experience that bonded two furs.

The bear shrugged. “I live in the woods.” Words that said it all, he felt. When he saw the disappointment on the boy’s face, he relented. “I come to Vawsing once or twice a year. When I do, I could come by and see if you’re around.”

It was enough of a promise for the boy, “I never got to tell you my name. I’m Darron.”

“Nice to meet you, Darron,” the bear replied. “My name is Barnaby.”

“Help! Help!” The young possum cried out from the top of a tall spruce. He hoped to catch the attention of any animal in earshot.

Two wolves circled the base of the tree. They eyed him voraciously. They were practically drooling. He would make a tender morsel. They were just about to make a move when a booming voice echoed through the woods.

“What’s going on here?”

All three animals turned to see the enormous bear standing on the edge of the clearing. The wolves wavered for a moment, but quickly decided the possum was much more interesting and turned their attention back to their trapped treat. They had found it first. The bear could just move on so far as they were concerned.

The young possum made an impassioned plea to the bear, “Please don’t let them eat me!”

The bear frowned. Normally, he would have let the wolves finish their hunt. Wild hunted Wild. That was the way of things. But this was an awakened animal and that changed things. He had largely renounced Pelarian society, but there were some things that he still held to. Like not letting an awakened animal get torn apart by the Wild. It was clear then that he would have to act. He bared his teeth and growled to the pair of wolves, “Be gone!”

The words themselves were lost on the wolves, being of the Wild, but the meaning was clear. They eyed the big bear warily for a moment, sizing him up. They were hungry but not crazy. Their instincts told them that even two on one, this would not end well for them. They chose therefore, to run. There would be other morsels for them.

When they had travelled a fair distance, the bear turned his attention to the tree. “You can come down now,” he barked to its occupant.

The young possum however, was not so certain that his situation had improved. “How do I know you didn’t just scare them off so you could eat me yourself?” he asked.

“Don’t be foolish,” the bear growled. “Awakened don’t eat awakened.”

The possum was not so easily convinced, “You don’t look so awakened to me!”

The bear harrumphed, “I speak, don’t I?” He wore no clothes and had a ferocious expression even when calm. He knew this. Still, the young possum’s comments rankled. He had stepped in and saved the youngster and now he had the audacity to question his intentions? He wouldn’t stand for it.  “You know what,? Forget it! You can stay in that tree as long as you like. Maybe you’ll be lucky and the wolves will circle back.” He turned to leave.

“Wait!” The possum called out. “Please don’t go! I believe you!” He scampered back down the tree and over to where the bear stood. He had to crane his head way back to be able to look up to the bear from this close, “Will you help me look for my parents? We got separated when the wolves attacked!”

The bear again frowned. He had gotten more involved than he liked already. But he knew that the possum was too young to be left to fend for himself. “Fine,” he sighed. “Where did you last see them?”

The possum looked around. He had lost his bearings scurrying around in the tree. Finally, he pointed east, “Over that way…I think.” He bounded off.

The bear rolled his eyes, “Great.” Still, he followed.