Rising Sun Valley A Stray Ember

The black bear's gaze was steady, and almost inscrutable aside from a knowing sort of empathy. She did not apologize or make any attempt to soothe this grief. All she offered was a gentle, "My story is very similar," and the simply courtesy of looking him in the eye as she said it. There was no cure for this kind of hurt, and so she could only hope that he grew old enough for time to give him new memories to dwell on, and new ties to this plane of existence.

A smile replaced solemnity as the conversation moved on. She had come to a decision, and so she turned to carry on in the direction he'd been walking, her pace inviting him to walk alongside her.

"The prey is plentiful this year," she told him, pleased to report. "I haven't run into too many packs yet, but full bellies have made for peaceful encounters, so far. Do you seek a pack, then? A place to settle?"