~7~

The Ursine trudged through the snow in near silence. The sun began to creep below the horizon, allowing the brightest stars to shine in the dusk. Hinto looked up sky and smiled, then looked back to Alo, who was completely immersed in the buck’s tracks.

“Hey, Alo?” Hinto asked, trying to strike a new conversation.

“What? Can’t you see I’m trying to focus?”

“It doesn’t necessarily take all your attention to track a buck,” Hinto looked back up to the stars, “do you know any of the constellations up there?”

Alo abruptly stopped and gazed upwards.

“No. I’d rather focus on the things here than in the skies. The gods aren’t too fond of me, so I seldom look up to them.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because if they were, I would’ve frozen over by now.”

“I’m not sure what gods you believe in, but if they were the kind to deliver death onto a cub like you, they would be more along the line of demon.”

“Gods can be whatever they want. They can’t be all good; I wouldn’t be surprised if they were all evil.”

Hinto laughed as they continued to walk.

“What’s funny, Hinto?”

“Nothing, nothing. You just remind me of the philosophers from back home.”

“I’m nothing like anyone you’ve ever met.”

“Easy there, I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just thought you might get along with the Ursine there.”

“I don’t need to get along with anyone, but myself.”

“But it seems like you have a hard time with even that, Alo.”

“I’m not sure why you are so invested in me,” Alo snapped back, “if it’s a tactic to get me to like you, it won’t work.”

Hinto shook his head and looked back to admire the heavens that steadily grew darker as the moon began to glow. He began looked around to find a place to rest for the night.

“Alo, it’s getting late. We need to set up camp.”

“Set it up if you like. I have game to catch.”

“Alo…are you, alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Hinto began to clear a place in the snow and sat down in the damp grass.

“Alo, you must’ve had a rough childhood, but there’s no need to displace it onto me. In the east-”

“I don’t care about what you did in the east!”

Hinto let out a frustrated sigh as he continued.

“In the east, we talk about our problems. I know you may not care too much about yours, but do you mind if I talk to you about mine?”

Alo turned around in slight curiosity. What was it with these foreign Ursine? He wondered if all of them were this strange and talkative. But at least it would be a good excuse to sit down for a moment, he was quite exhausted. Alo walked back and cleared a spot across from Hinto, flopping down to his place.

“You sound as tired as you look, Alo.”

“I’m not tired at all.”

“Ok, if you say so. Before I start, I’m going to fetch some kindling; I’m not as tough as you are. I get cold easily.”

“Oh, alright.” Alo said as he began to settle down.

Hinto went off to find something to set ablaze and left Alo alone for a moment.

“You’re starting to like him, aren’t you?” he muttered under his breath.

“No I’m not. If I wasn’t forced to hunt with him, I wouldn’t have even spoken to him.”

“Yes, that may be true, but that doesn’t mean you don’t like the attention. You aren’t a very social Ursine, but even you get lonely.”

“I get very lonely…but there’s nothing wrong with that. Being alone lets you think without others ridiculing you.”

“It also stops you from finding a mate. You’re about at that age when you feel the need to have a life partner.”

“Yes I know, but none of the females even give me a glance. And they probably wouldn’t even think about mating with a runt.”

“Hey Alo! I’m back!”

Alo was startled as he looked behind him to see Hinto; His paws filled with twigs and a few bird nests.

“Oh, I didn’t know you would be back so soon,” Alo said, looking down to his lap, “how long have you been there?”

“Not long. Don’t worry, I usually announce my entrance. You’re about at that age, if you need some privacy I-”

“No, it’s fine.”

Hinto gave him a warm smile as he began to start the fire. He created a small ember by spinning a branch against a piece of bark before leaning in to gently blow into it until the fire flickered to life. He went back to his spot and looked to Alo.

“Alright, are you ready to listen?”

Alo nodded his head as he warmed his paws.

“Well, in all honesty, I really think we could be good friends. I’ve never met someone who didn’t like me at first; it bothers me a bit.”

“Hinto, you barge into my lodge and are trying to take my job. How could I ever be friends with someone like that?”

“I’m not trying to take your job, really I’m not. I’m just looking for a new start.”

“Hinto, enough.”

“But…I just started. I have a lot I want to tell you about me; maybe it’ll help you see we aren’t that different.”

“We are extremely different.”

“Well, we are both hunters and we are both smaller Ursine living amongst bigger ones. It must be frustrating having to look up to everyone all the time.”

“You get used to it. But they will never look down to you, Hinto. They like you and all your fancy gear. They never sent me off onto my hunts or even thanked me for the food I provided for them. The only ones that even talk to me are the people who have to, like the chief, Bono, and sometimes Patwin.”

“That must be pretty tough. But, for what it’s worth, I think you’re an excellent hunter. You just don’t fit in, and that’s alright too.”

“I know I don’t fit in, but I don’t need or want to. The more I try to blend with them, the more I’ll act like them. And I would never want to be like that towards anyone.”

“Well, who do you want be like?”

Alo looked down into the fire. He had never given it much thought; there was only one Ursine he truly looked up to, but he could never amount to him.

“It’s alright if you don’t know, Alo. I, myself, believe that the journey of self exploration is one you shouldn’t rush. Rather bask in the slow moments and reflect on who you are and who you want to be.”

“What are you a sage? You aren’t that much older than me, what makes you think you’re so wise?”

“Well, I did live around philosophers. It would be impossible not to pick up a thing or two.”

Alo looked up to the moon and stars, admiring them in a way he hadn’t for many years. He wanted to learn of the story behind the constellations, but feared they would reveal a sick fate the gods had hidden in plain sight.

“Hinto, do you think the buck is dead by now?”

“Probably not; didn’t you see the size of it? It must be the largest I’ve ever seen. And his antlers were magnificent.”

“Yeah they were…what about the wolves?”

“It’s possible that they will try and beat us to it, but I trust the powers guiding our hunt.”

“I didn’t think you were very religious.”

“I’m not, just optimistic and a bit spiritual.” Hinto looked around and noticed the night had fully set in. “You should get some rest; we both should.”

Alo almost immediately curled into a ball, and drifted to sleep. Hinto watched him as he did; he was such a stubborn Ursine, but there was no denying that he was tired. Hinto set his gear aside and laid down as well; just as he closed his eyes, he heard Alo whisper something.

“Please…keep the dreams away tonight…”

~

“Steady now, and don’t forget to breath.”

The cub drew the bow and aimed at the target. He let out a deep breath and shot. The arrow sailed through the air, hitting the outermost ring.

“Don’t be discouraged, Alo; it was just one missed shot. Now take off that jacket, I’m going to teach you something.”

Alo slid off the thick wool jacket and set it on the ground.

“Good, now you feel that? That’s the wind blowing through your fur.”

“It’s cold.”

“I know, little bear, but that’s just nature’s way of keeping you sharp and focused. You need to pay attention to the direction the wind is blowing. It can be a hunter’s greatest ally, carrying our arrows and blowing the scent of game to us. But, it can also been our enemy if you ignore it. Do you understand?”

“I think so.”

“Don’t worry, give it time. Soon it will become as natural as sleeping. Now, try again.”

~

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