???
I saw the grizzly bear's eyes stare at me. I wasn't surprised.
"Who are you?" The grizzly bear asked suspiciously. Huh. This bear is a little overprotective.
"I'm Ujurak." I responded. Now I needed to think about a lie. I didn't like lying; it's just to cover my story. "I saw you floating in the river. I was hoping you were alive so I fished you out."
The bear's eyes went huge. "Fish? Where's my fish! I knew there was a fish that I followed. Did you catch it?"
Whoa, whoa, whoa! So many questions. I needed to change the subject. "Anyways, what's your name?"
"Blech." The bear spit out the half-eaten herbs. "I'm Toklo. And why'd you save me?"
"Uh," I stammered. Gotta say the right words. Gotta say the right words! "I...I...I just couldn't see another bear die." I remembered the painful flashback. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
All of a sudden, I felt myself change. Toklo looked up in surprise and awe.
No! Not now! Not here!
I tried to stop. Pain stabbed me. Finally I stayed a bear, and remained a bear. I looked nervously at Toklo, hoping he wouldn't say anything.
"What just happened?" Toklo asked.
I winced. No turning back now. "I... I can shape-shift into any kind of animal. I can even..." I had broken a promise. "turn into a flat-face." I choked out.
Toklo raised a brow. His curious eyes turned into little black pebbles of fury. "And why can you do that?" His voice raised each word. "Why exactly? You think I would believe that cloud-brained story?"
I must admit; Toklo was taller than me. He stood higher than me like a tower, about to eat me up. But do you think I would back down? Exactly.
"I am telling the truth!" I yelled at Toklo. He glared at me. I kept going. "You must believe me! In order for my fate! In order for my destiny." I sure hoped that helped.
All of a sudden, I heard loud popping noises. There, on the hill, I saw two flat-faces with their firesticks, aiming right at me.
"Run!" Toklo yelled. "I'll take care of them."
I nodded and scrambled to the left side of the hill. Pop! Pop! Pop! I heard the firesticks popping. I saw Toklo roar at the flat-faces and swipe at them. But fear struck me when they pointed the firesticks at him.
"NO!" I yelled. Just as I jumped at Toklo, I heard a loud pop.
My shoulder was struck. So soon was my death. And down I went. With a thud.
Darkness.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Chapter Five: The Harsh Loneness and the Stranger
Toklo
"Toklo!" Oka growled. "Do you know what happened at the field? Tobi died! And it's your fault staying near the BlackPath!"
"Excuse me?" Toklo snapped back. "You wanted to stay there and eat disgusting..."
"You're not my cub." Oka interrupted, harsher than ever. "Only my cub would be kind. Now go! Leave me alone! You see that bright star? That's a lone grizzly, surrounded by strangers. You're that nobody! Leave before I finish you off!
Pain stabbed Toklo's heart. He was cold from the water, and guilt from not seeing Tobi's death, leaving him with only one bear member. He shook his head. He didn't care!
"I'll go!" Toklo growled. "I can hunt on my own!" Even if that meant teaching myself... Toklo soon thought.
Toklo yawned and watched Oka walk away and lie depressed against a rock. He looked down at the water. Salmon seemed as if they were taunting him. He felt a fish sliver between his paws. Toklo looked down. This salmon seemed to float in place for a while; looking to where the stream led. Then the salmon swam slowly.
Toklo pounced at the fish. The fish darted and flopped in the air. "Hey!" Toklo snapped. "You're mine!"
He splashed in the water, occasionally trying to catch it. Fur clung to his pelt, making it harder for Toklo. Toklo skidded to a halt as the stream began to be a river. The current was too strong and Toklo was churned in the water, here and there, underwater and at the surface. His vision was blurry! He caught glimpse of the salmon one last time, then blacked out.
???
The fish was aware that the bear wasn't swimming. He had a risk of dying. No; that can't happen. The fish felt himself change and carried the bear to a grove of trees, with sunlight blocked out of the beautiful green trees. He gathered some treeroots and catnip sap. Then, the odd animal put it in the bear's mouth. The bear moved. He opened his eyes.
"Toklo!" Oka growled. "Do you know what happened at the field? Tobi died! And it's your fault staying near the BlackPath!"
"Excuse me?" Toklo snapped back. "You wanted to stay there and eat disgusting..."
"You're not my cub." Oka interrupted, harsher than ever. "Only my cub would be kind. Now go! Leave me alone! You see that bright star? That's a lone grizzly, surrounded by strangers. You're that nobody! Leave before I finish you off!
Pain stabbed Toklo's heart. He was cold from the water, and guilt from not seeing Tobi's death, leaving him with only one bear member. He shook his head. He didn't care!
"I'll go!" Toklo growled. "I can hunt on my own!" Even if that meant teaching myself... Toklo soon thought.
Toklo yawned and watched Oka walk away and lie depressed against a rock. He looked down at the water. Salmon seemed as if they were taunting him. He felt a fish sliver between his paws. Toklo looked down. This salmon seemed to float in place for a while; looking to where the stream led. Then the salmon swam slowly.
Toklo pounced at the fish. The fish darted and flopped in the air. "Hey!" Toklo snapped. "You're mine!"
He splashed in the water, occasionally trying to catch it. Fur clung to his pelt, making it harder for Toklo. Toklo skidded to a halt as the stream began to be a river. The current was too strong and Toklo was churned in the water, here and there, underwater and at the surface. His vision was blurry! He caught glimpse of the salmon one last time, then blacked out.
???
The fish was aware that the bear wasn't swimming. He had a risk of dying. No; that can't happen. The fish felt himself change and carried the bear to a grove of trees, with sunlight blocked out of the beautiful green trees. He gathered some treeroots and catnip sap. Then, the odd animal put it in the bear's mouth. The bear moved. He opened his eyes.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Chapter Four: Seal Hunting
Kallik
It was the next day for Kallik and that meant only one thing: seal hunting! It was the first day for Kallik and Taqqiq to be in the outside world!
"Come on, Taqqiq." Nisa gently nosed the polar bear in the side.
"I'M AWAKE!" Taqqiq quickly said. He blinked and saw Kallik and Nisa staring at him.
"Let's go outside." Nisa said and walked outside of the den.
Kallik and Taqqiq casted excited glances to each other and ran outside.
Whoa! Kallik thought. Look how bright it is! I never knew there was this much snow and ice in the world!
Kallik smiled and let the coldness sink in. She closed her small black eyes until...
"WALRUS ATTACK!" Taqqiq bellowed.
Kallik spun around and felt Taqqiq pounced on her back, which knocked her down. The two cubs did some playful wrestling. Kallik gently pawed at Taqqiq's belly. Suddenly, Nisa gave a light snarl.
"Aren't you hungry? Then let's try to find seals!" Nisa grouchily said.
Nisa was right; Kallik's stomach growled. It had been a while since Nisa gave off a lot of milk. So she and Taqqiq bounded off to catch up with Nisa. Nisa stopped after a few hours. She lifted her head up and stood on her hind legs.
"Do you smell that?" Nisa asked.
Kallik raised her head. something did smell! It was a fishy, salty smell. Except there was a blubbery scent to it. That meant seals!
"I do smell it, Mother!" Kallik said. "It smells like seals!"
"I don't smell anything." Taqqiq mumbled, looking down at the ice.
"That's because you're not raising your head, seal-brain!" Kallik said.
Nisa stopped her cubs to stop bickering. Then they started venturing forth towards the seal scent. As they were walking to the scent, Kallik saw bubbly shadows moving underneath the ice.
"What's that?" Kallik nervously asked Nisa.
"Ah, those are trapped spirits. When a bear dies, their spirits sink into the ice. When sun-sky comes, the ice melts and the spirits rise up into the sky and become stars." Nisa looked at Kallik. "Maybe one of your ancestors are in the ice."
Kallik shuddered. "I'd rather be up here, on the snow."
The seal scent was very strong now, and Kallik could see a hole in the ice.
"That's a seal's breathing hole." Nisa whispered. "Be very quiet; don't move and carefully copy what I do."
Nisa crouched down and slid onto her belly. She crept towards the ice and neared the hole. Her paws were stretched over near the breathing hole. Kallik turned to Taqqiq.
"This is fun!" Kallik whispered.
"I know! A nice, fat juicy seal to feed our tummies!" Taqqiq loudly said.
"Shh!" Nisa scolded.
Kallik saw the water splash with a gray head bob out. Kallik reached her head out but Nisa was obviously faster and caught the seal. The seal tried to slip back into the hole but she raked the seal's back with her claws.
"Wow!" Kallik and Taqqiq exclaimed.
They helped their mother drag the seal out and took out big chunks of seal. Kallik chewed and savored the seal. The blubber was nice, fat and juicy. The meat was tenderly good! The soft bones crunched in Kallik's strong teeth.
Mmm...
Nisa's ears perked up with alarm. She scanned the area and saw a dark figure moving in the thick fog.
"We must leave." Nisa said. She saw Taqqiq try to drag the seal. "Don't bother. Leave it here. A male bear is coming."
The bears abandoned their food and ran to the top of a snowy hill. They turned back and saw the bear eat the seal.
"No fair!" Taqqiq whined. "That was our seal! Why won't he catch a seal of his own?"
"Quiet, my cub. The seals aren't coming as often now. Maybe sun-sky is coming. It's coming earlier and earlier each world-swirl. Now, roll your fur in the snow so that the male won't follow us. Then, let's return to our den." Nisa replied.
It was the next day for Kallik and that meant only one thing: seal hunting! It was the first day for Kallik and Taqqiq to be in the outside world!
"Come on, Taqqiq." Nisa gently nosed the polar bear in the side.
"I'M AWAKE!" Taqqiq quickly said. He blinked and saw Kallik and Nisa staring at him.
"Let's go outside." Nisa said and walked outside of the den.
Kallik and Taqqiq casted excited glances to each other and ran outside.
Whoa! Kallik thought. Look how bright it is! I never knew there was this much snow and ice in the world!
Kallik smiled and let the coldness sink in. She closed her small black eyes until...
"WALRUS ATTACK!" Taqqiq bellowed.
Kallik spun around and felt Taqqiq pounced on her back, which knocked her down. The two cubs did some playful wrestling. Kallik gently pawed at Taqqiq's belly. Suddenly, Nisa gave a light snarl.
"Aren't you hungry? Then let's try to find seals!" Nisa grouchily said.
Nisa was right; Kallik's stomach growled. It had been a while since Nisa gave off a lot of milk. So she and Taqqiq bounded off to catch up with Nisa. Nisa stopped after a few hours. She lifted her head up and stood on her hind legs.
"Do you smell that?" Nisa asked.
Kallik raised her head. something did smell! It was a fishy, salty smell. Except there was a blubbery scent to it. That meant seals!
"I do smell it, Mother!" Kallik said. "It smells like seals!"
"I don't smell anything." Taqqiq mumbled, looking down at the ice.
"That's because you're not raising your head, seal-brain!" Kallik said.
Nisa stopped her cubs to stop bickering. Then they started venturing forth towards the seal scent. As they were walking to the scent, Kallik saw bubbly shadows moving underneath the ice.
"What's that?" Kallik nervously asked Nisa.
"Ah, those are trapped spirits. When a bear dies, their spirits sink into the ice. When sun-sky comes, the ice melts and the spirits rise up into the sky and become stars." Nisa looked at Kallik. "Maybe one of your ancestors are in the ice."
Kallik shuddered. "I'd rather be up here, on the snow."
The seal scent was very strong now, and Kallik could see a hole in the ice.
"That's a seal's breathing hole." Nisa whispered. "Be very quiet; don't move and carefully copy what I do."
Nisa crouched down and slid onto her belly. She crept towards the ice and neared the hole. Her paws were stretched over near the breathing hole. Kallik turned to Taqqiq.
"This is fun!" Kallik whispered.
"I know! A nice, fat juicy seal to feed our tummies!" Taqqiq loudly said.
"Shh!" Nisa scolded.
Kallik saw the water splash with a gray head bob out. Kallik reached her head out but Nisa was obviously faster and caught the seal. The seal tried to slip back into the hole but she raked the seal's back with her claws.
"Wow!" Kallik and Taqqiq exclaimed.
They helped their mother drag the seal out and took out big chunks of seal. Kallik chewed and savored the seal. The blubber was nice, fat and juicy. The meat was tenderly good! The soft bones crunched in Kallik's strong teeth.
Mmm...
Nisa's ears perked up with alarm. She scanned the area and saw a dark figure moving in the thick fog.
"We must leave." Nisa said. She saw Taqqiq try to drag the seal. "Don't bother. Leave it here. A male bear is coming."
The bears abandoned their food and ran to the top of a snowy hill. They turned back and saw the bear eat the seal.
"No fair!" Taqqiq whined. "That was our seal! Why won't he catch a seal of his own?"
"Quiet, my cub. The seals aren't coming as often now. Maybe sun-sky is coming. It's coming earlier and earlier each world-swirl. Now, roll your fur in the snow so that the male won't follow us. Then, let's return to our den." Nisa replied.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Chapter Three: Toklo's Downer
Toklo
"Toklo!" Toklo's mother, Oka, scolded. "Get off the BlackPath!"
Toklo turned and saw a firebeast zooming at him. He'd forgotten that he was on the BlackPath while he was fantasy hunting a rabbit. Just in time, the grizzly cub dodged and rolled onto the dandelion field where his sickly younger brother, Tobi, lay. Oka bit Toklo's scruff and tossed him onto a tree. She padded up to him.
"How dare you scare me like that! Instead of fooling around, try having an actual life and eat the dandelions! Look at Tobi!" Oka gestured to the sick grizzly. "He's following orders! Now go ahead and be like your brother!"
Toklo growled. "Dumb Tobi's sick! Can't you see it? He's sick! I can't believe you like a sick cub instead of a healthy cub! Can't we hunt? That's what real bears do!"
Oka shook her head. "You know that the mountains are full of grizzlies, ready to catch the salmon! It's better down here, where dandelions are plentiful. Now be quiet, Toklo! I'm ready to take care of Tobi!"
Toklo rolled his eyes. "Tobi's is all you pay attention to." Toklo mumbled.
Before Tobi got sick, he and Tobi played. Oka was happy, they hunted rabbits, played! It was all until Tobi got sick! Ever since then, Oka payed attention to only Tobi and acted like Toklo was a nobody!
But no time to think about that! Toklo thought . It's time to move onto another boring dandelion patch.
They moved onto a patch, near a stream on a tall hill where a couple of grizzlies gathered. Water filled up in Toklo's mouth as he pictured a fat, juicy, salmon in his mouth. He saw Oka lick Tobi's ruffled fur and padded up the hill. Toklo reached the top and salmon jumped out of the fish, now and then. The smell of grizzlies comforted his nose. When he padded to a spot, he heard some she-bears talk about a grizzly.
"Did you hear about the lost cub? Some bears say that he already got shot by a flat-face's firestick!" One grizzly said.
"Yeah! They also said the cub could shape-shift!"
"Pfft! Like that's true! Probably just a myth!"
The three bears nodded and ran off. Toklo now focused on the river. He suddenly felt something sliver around his paws. Toklo saw the fish and pounced, sending up a spray of water. He missed! Toklo stood up, still in the water. He saw one near the middle of the stream and pounced. Another miss! Water filled Toklo's mouth and nose as he bobbed up and down, caught in the current. Toklo whimpered in fright, thinking he was gonna drown. He suddenly felt a furry leg. Teeth sunk into his scruff and fished him out. There stood Oka, glaring down at him with furious eyes.
"Toklo!" Toklo's mother, Oka, scolded. "Get off the BlackPath!"
Toklo turned and saw a firebeast zooming at him. He'd forgotten that he was on the BlackPath while he was fantasy hunting a rabbit. Just in time, the grizzly cub dodged and rolled onto the dandelion field where his sickly younger brother, Tobi, lay. Oka bit Toklo's scruff and tossed him onto a tree. She padded up to him.
"How dare you scare me like that! Instead of fooling around, try having an actual life and eat the dandelions! Look at Tobi!" Oka gestured to the sick grizzly. "He's following orders! Now go ahead and be like your brother!"
Toklo growled. "Dumb Tobi's sick! Can't you see it? He's sick! I can't believe you like a sick cub instead of a healthy cub! Can't we hunt? That's what real bears do!"
Oka shook her head. "You know that the mountains are full of grizzlies, ready to catch the salmon! It's better down here, where dandelions are plentiful. Now be quiet, Toklo! I'm ready to take care of Tobi!"
Toklo rolled his eyes. "Tobi's is all you pay attention to." Toklo mumbled.
Before Tobi got sick, he and Tobi played. Oka was happy, they hunted rabbits, played! It was all until Tobi got sick! Ever since then, Oka payed attention to only Tobi and acted like Toklo was a nobody!
But no time to think about that! Toklo thought . It's time to move onto another boring dandelion patch.
They moved onto a patch, near a stream on a tall hill where a couple of grizzlies gathered. Water filled up in Toklo's mouth as he pictured a fat, juicy, salmon in his mouth. He saw Oka lick Tobi's ruffled fur and padded up the hill. Toklo reached the top and salmon jumped out of the fish, now and then. The smell of grizzlies comforted his nose. When he padded to a spot, he heard some she-bears talk about a grizzly.
"Did you hear about the lost cub? Some bears say that he already got shot by a flat-face's firestick!" One grizzly said.
"Yeah! They also said the cub could shape-shift!"
"Pfft! Like that's true! Probably just a myth!"
The three bears nodded and ran off. Toklo now focused on the river. He suddenly felt something sliver around his paws. Toklo saw the fish and pounced, sending up a spray of water. He missed! Toklo stood up, still in the water. He saw one near the middle of the stream and pounced. Another miss! Water filled Toklo's mouth and nose as he bobbed up and down, caught in the current. Toklo whimpered in fright, thinking he was gonna drown. He suddenly felt a furry leg. Teeth sunk into his scruff and fished him out. There stood Oka, glaring down at him with furious eyes.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Chapter Two: Lusa and the Bear Watcher
Lusa
"And over there is our youngest black bear cub, Lusa! Lusa means black in Choctow. We named her that because she is completely black!" One of the flat-faces said. Lusa didn't understand what they say. She just kept dancing around and eating the fruits that the flat-faces threw. Though, after a while, she got bored and went over to her friend, Yogi. "I'm bored with these flat-faces!" Yogi said. The she-cub nodded. Suddenly, she got an idea. "Let's go to Ella to hear the Bear Watcher story!" Lusa blurted out. Yogi nodded and they ran to Ella, scratching her back against a tree. "Ella! Ella! Ella!" The two kept yelling Ella's name and pawed at the poor she-bear. "WHAT?" Ella growled. Her face softened. "Oh, hi Lusa and Yogi. What can I do for you?" "Tell us the story of the Bear Watcher!" Lusa said. Ella understood. "Ok."
There was a bear named "Old Bear" in our Bear Bowl. Though, he was too old and died near his favorite tree. But I, Ella and your moms and dads, knew he was still around.
"How?" Yogi chipped in. "Well, we could feel his spirit." Ella said. She continued:
So we all looked up and saw in awe, Old Bear's face! His face was in the tree, and past that, our Bear Watcher, Arcturus, smiles at us in the brightest star. Arcturus watched over us and from now on, is also known as the Bear Watcher.
"Wow!" Lusa and Yogi said in unison. They heard this story before. They just wanted to show their affection for the story. Ella nodded and fell asleep. Lusa turned to Yogi. "Let's play tag!" Lusa dug her nose in Yogi's fur and they both had a fun game.
"And over there is our youngest black bear cub, Lusa! Lusa means black in Choctow. We named her that because she is completely black!" One of the flat-faces said. Lusa didn't understand what they say. She just kept dancing around and eating the fruits that the flat-faces threw. Though, after a while, she got bored and went over to her friend, Yogi. "I'm bored with these flat-faces!" Yogi said. The she-cub nodded. Suddenly, she got an idea. "Let's go to Ella to hear the Bear Watcher story!" Lusa blurted out. Yogi nodded and they ran to Ella, scratching her back against a tree. "Ella! Ella! Ella!" The two kept yelling Ella's name and pawed at the poor she-bear. "WHAT?" Ella growled. Her face softened. "Oh, hi Lusa and Yogi. What can I do for you?" "Tell us the story of the Bear Watcher!" Lusa said. Ella understood. "Ok."
There was a bear named "Old Bear" in our Bear Bowl. Though, he was too old and died near his favorite tree. But I, Ella and your moms and dads, knew he was still around.
"How?" Yogi chipped in. "Well, we could feel his spirit." Ella said. She continued:
So we all looked up and saw in awe, Old Bear's face! His face was in the tree, and past that, our Bear Watcher, Arcturus, smiles at us in the brightest star. Arcturus watched over us and from now on, is also known as the Bear Watcher.
"Wow!" Lusa and Yogi said in unison. They heard this story before. They just wanted to show their affection for the story. Ella nodded and fell asleep. Lusa turned to Yogi. "Let's play tag!" Lusa dug her nose in Yogi's fur and they both had a fun game.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Chapter One: The Story of Silaluk
Kallik
A young polar bear named Kallik, listened to her mother, Nisa, stories, along with her brother, Taqqiq. "And in the stars, you can see the Great Bear, Silaluk! During ice-sky, she would roam the Ice Lands and get plenty of seals!" Nisa told her cubs. "But at sun-sky, the ice melts and a great bird, Robin, would hunt Silaluk." "What's a robin?" Kallik asked. She heard this story a lot of times, but she liked asking this particular question. "It's a bird who has a red chest." Nisa continued. "Finally, Robin killed Silaluk and the bear would die. But ice-sky always returns which revives Silaluk and the cycle repeats." Kallik nodded, understanding. She yawned and dug her nose in Nisa's fur. "I'M HUNGRY!" Taqqiq loudly complained. "When are we gonna have nice, fat seals?" Nisa gently and calmly stared at Taqqiq. "At sunrise."
The very next day, Nisa woke Kallik and Taqqiq up. They silently padded out of their snowy den and walked and walked. Suddenly, Nisa stopped her cubs with her massive paw. "Do you smell that?" Nisa rose her nose in the air. Kallik did the same; Nisa was right! A rubbery smell means seals! Nisa followed the scent and Kallik did her best to copy her mother. At lost they reached a whole in the ice. "I will teach you how to hunt. Be very quiet and copy what I do." Nisa instructed. Kallik nodded. Perhaps we will be safe during sun-sky. Kallik thought. There will be plenty of seals here!
A young polar bear named Kallik, listened to her mother, Nisa, stories, along with her brother, Taqqiq. "And in the stars, you can see the Great Bear, Silaluk! During ice-sky, she would roam the Ice Lands and get plenty of seals!" Nisa told her cubs. "But at sun-sky, the ice melts and a great bird, Robin, would hunt Silaluk." "What's a robin?" Kallik asked. She heard this story a lot of times, but she liked asking this particular question. "It's a bird who has a red chest." Nisa continued. "Finally, Robin killed Silaluk and the bear would die. But ice-sky always returns which revives Silaluk and the cycle repeats." Kallik nodded, understanding. She yawned and dug her nose in Nisa's fur. "I'M HUNGRY!" Taqqiq loudly complained. "When are we gonna have nice, fat seals?" Nisa gently and calmly stared at Taqqiq. "At sunrise."
The very next day, Nisa woke Kallik and Taqqiq up. They silently padded out of their snowy den and walked and walked. Suddenly, Nisa stopped her cubs with her massive paw. "Do you smell that?" Nisa rose her nose in the air. Kallik did the same; Nisa was right! A rubbery smell means seals! Nisa followed the scent and Kallik did her best to copy her mother. At lost they reached a whole in the ice. "I will teach you how to hunt. Be very quiet and copy what I do." Nisa instructed. Kallik nodded. Perhaps we will be safe during sun-sky. Kallik thought. There will be plenty of seals here!
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