Hello and welcome as I finally release the awaited fourth story in the main CB storyline: Book IV - Tainted Melodies. I do so hope you enjoy this story, as I'm taking my time with it so that it is perfect for you, my readers. There will be character death to begin with, as we last left off with the crash in the epilogue of book 3. There will be dark moments, happy moments, comedic moments, and moments of love. This story will be about how ties can be broken and possibly mended, and how even the strongest can break.

Thank you for taking your time to read this. Now then, down to business.

Any canon characters you see here [from the movie] do not belong to me. Everyone else belongs to me and two of my friends who created such characters - The Falcos, Gene Lee. All other non-canon characters belong to me. I've also decided that instead of telling you their ages at the beginning of the story, I'll give you their birthdays. :3

Big Al Williams - January 11, 1943
Raymond Falco - February 14, 1947
Henry Taylor - July 16, 1953
Ted Bedderhead - May 25, 1957
Fred Bedderhead - September 1, 1958
Tennessee O'Neal - June 19, 1959
Trixie O'Neal - June 15, 1960
Zeb Zoober/Alec Seillean - October 17, 1966
Jason Claybourne - November 23, 1968
Jade Falco - November 25, 1969
Mengmeng Chuntian - December 31st, 1971
Dexter Barrington - September 17, 1986
Roxi Barrington - November 15, 1986
Jewel O'Neal-Taylor - January 28, 1992
Beary Barrington-Taylor - May 25, 1992

Tempest Barrington - April 20, 2005
Erik O'Neal-Taylor - April 29, 2005
Kirstina Barrington - September 30, 2005
Rebekkah Taylor - December 23, 2005
Lyra Hymn Taylor - December 23, 2005

.~*Prologue*~.

The cries and grunts of a female giving birth could be heard throughout the maternity ward. Her curses and swears caused many to cover their ears. Such language from a new mother was understandable, given the pains of childbirth, but that did not mean that people had to listen to it.

However, the curses directed at the father left some people wondering just what the man had done to anger the woman so. Had he scorned her? Had an affair? Took off? Died? What could make a woman so angry? So hateful?

Soon, the cries of a baby were heard, there were a few more curses, and another baby's cry joined the first. The curses died out, and nurses and patients alike calmed down and smiled at the new lives that had entered the world. Soon, the babies would be moved into a nursery to be fully checked out and cleaned while the mother was cleaned up and had time to relax, and then the babies returned to her room, to sleep in a crib beside her.

Esmeralda Belleo groaned as she sat up. That had been one of her harder births, but it had left her with a feeling of joy in her heart. She craved the wonderful feeling the release of oxytocin gave her, and those moments were hard for her to come by. She knew of no way other than bedding her many partners and allowing them to get her pregnant to cause the blessed feelings. She hated babies, though, and would always either given them to the orphanage or send them to their fathers to be raised.

But the partner that had gotten her pregnant with her twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh children had been special. Thirteen-year-old Beary Taylor. She smiled at the memory of him. Such a sweet, naïve little bear cub. Who would have thought that a cub would be a better partner than most adults? Before him, the youngest she'd ever gone was eighteen, and that was years and years ago, when her first daughter, Caedia, had been born. After that, she had been careful to sleep with adults, if they were within her standards, and refused to sleep with perverts or those that looked down on females. Only the best in her mind had a chance at being with her.

She had even been married and happy once long ago to a sloth bear named Jack Swinburne. He was an amazing guy, and they were going to happily have a family together. Yet... After almost a year of marriage and raising their little daughter, Esmeralda had begun to feel distant from her mate and child. It was an emotional distance that caused her to cry and hate herself. She couldn't figure out why she didn't feel happy. She couldn't figure out why she didn't feel love. Why she felt so empty inside.

Ridden with guilt, she had divorced and left him, letting him take their daughter. She feared what she might have done if he hadn't taken the little pale peach colored sloth cub. She might have hurt the little cub.

Soon after that, she began to venture to clubs across the country, trying to find something to fix her. After a one-night stand, she discovered that it had made her happier than she had been in a long time. She started to frequent more and more bars, and went home with more and more guys. Once she even dated for nearly six months; and at that point, she was pregnant. She had tried so hard to love this child, but nothing worked. She found herself abandoning the baby and disappearing into the night.

And then she had met Ted Bedderhead. She had really thought she could make things work with him, but she still had her needs. Needs that he refused to fulfill until marriage. Needs that had caused her to seek out other members of the band, who all refused her. Needs that caused Helen Taylor to turn everyone against her like the bitch Helen really was. Needs that caused her to hate Ted so much that she left him and went to find someone else, vowing to never again get into a long-term relationship.

It wasn't that she was evil or cruel. What had brought her to get to know Thrasher. It had been a chance meeting at a bar, about six years prior, honestly. He had taken her back to his place and bedded her. He even told her about his program – though she was sure that was only because he was drunk at the time. For a while, she had even thought about joining the program. Endless males, pregnancies, and she'd never have to keep the cubs.

She wasn't sure why, but she had turned him down, yet had opted to stay on to help him out with other things, such as training fighters how to be merciless. A few times, she had gotten pregnant by the panda known as Derek, only because she had volunteered to take the place of a dying female until she could be replaced, and those cubs had gone up for adoption. After her third, though, she had completely pulled out of the breeding program and ventured off on her own, doing scouting missions for him, trying to find new prospective clients and breeders.

And then had come in Beary Taylor. Who would have thought her past would come to haunt her? That Henry and Helen Taylor would return in her life in the form of their child? Why had she been so drawn to him? She hadn't meant to bed him, really she didn't. It had just happened, and she had actually regretted it, having initially wanted to get him back to his family. To prove to Ted that she could be good. But now she had his cubs, Ted would never accept her back.

To learn that her brother Ivan had tried to murder the teenager had caused quite a squabble between the two siblings. She had never wanted Beary hurt. She had only had a need that she was a slave to. She had tried so hard to be a good girl. To not give into her urges, but finally, she'd been unable to take it. Yet, she didn't want him hurt, nor did she want to go to jail. She knew Ivan had only been trying to protect her, to get rid of the witness that could very well send her to jail. The way he had gone about it, though...

Esmeralda Belleo looked out the large window at the falling snow. She was in a small town of Honeyoeye, Maine, on December 23rd, 2005. It was a lovely evening to have given birth, and she felt happy. She hadn't felt quite like this in a long time. She was relaxed and calm. Was it because of these cubs? Because she hadn't had a child in nearly two years? She dared not get attached. She could not keep the cubs. She refused. Maybe for a month or so. She had heard that Beary and Ted had gotten into a nasty accident almost two months prior, but that's was as far as she knew.

She hoped that the father was still alive, as these cubs... these twin cubs she didn't want to send to an orphanage, nor give it to Thrasher. It just wouldn't be right.

"Knock, knock! I have a delivery for a Mrs. Jewel Taylor?"

Esmeralda looked up with a forced smile. She had chosen to put on the birth certificates Beary as the father, and Jewel as the mother. She had falsified her medical records – for one to hide her true identity, and another so that maybe, just maybe, the little ones would be accepted into the clan of bears and not be rejected like she had been. "I am she. Have you brought my babies?"

"Yes! Two fraternal females. Both are a bit small for a pizzly, but they're as healthy as can be. Are you ready to see them? We made sure that they received no other scents." The nurse, a human with plain brown hair and blue eyes, smiled as she pushed in the sealed bassinet with small air holes.

Esmeralda smiled. "Thank you. I can take it from here. I've nursed before, and I know how to make a bottle."

The nurse looked like she wanted to argue, but thought better of it and nodded. "Just press the call button if I'm needed."

"Thank you, Jennifer," Esmeralda smiled. She waited until the nurse left before getting up and picking up her suitcase, wincing a bit, and pulled out a ziplock bag. Inside it was a shirt of Beary's that she had saved for just an occasion. Sadly, she had nothing from Jewel, but this would suffice in giving the cubs the scent of him. She waited until she was at the bassinet, and looked in at the pink blanket wrapped thinly-furred newborns.

Their full fur would be coming in soon enough – within the next few days – and from the looks of it, would be different colors – one more white with brown patches and the other browner [almost a light ashen brown]. Both had a small black nose – the shape of a polar bear's – and the perfect mix of a polar bear and grizzly. A pair of perfectly beautiful pizzlies with large polar bear paws.

Smiling a little, she opened the bassinet and slipped the shirt in next to the cubs before shutting the lid again, going to let them soak up the scent for a good time. "You take in that scent, little Rebekkah Esmeralda Taylor, and little Lyra Hymn Taylor. I want you to accept your father right away. In just a few short weeks, you'll be going to him, little ones. I'm sure, no, I know he's going to love you far more than I ever could. You need to get big and strong for him, okay? You're going to be good girls."

Esmeralda backed away from the bassinet, thinking on just how she would introduce Beary to his daughters.

.~*Tainted Melodies*~.

Kathy Munson wept.

Rain fell from the skies in a heavy, loud torrent as the wind blew fiercely around her, whipping her normally perfectly kept hair into a ragged mess. She did not care that her expensive phone, clutched in her hand, was being ruined by the water.

How had something so simple gone so wrong? Why was her sister dead? Her son-in-law was only supposed to get rid of the bear that had brought her sister's family to sin! Why was her sister... her crazily beautiful, sweet, and loving sister dead from a bullet to the brain?!

"You bastard... How could you... How could you kill her?!" she screamed to the wind.

"You asked me to, Mother dearest," came a mocking voice.

Kathy whipped around to face the post-plastic surgery face of her now more age-appropriate looking son-in-law. Gone was the baby face his father had made him get, and back was his originally very smart look, spiky hair, and pierced ears.

"You son of a bitch! How dare you?! I asked you to deal with the bear, not my sister!"

"The bear you speak of was not the original sinner. He did not ask to be adopted. It was your sister that allowed it to happen. Your sister took him in. Therefore, she is the original sinner. I did what you asked of me." Joshua Thimple smirked and ran a hand through his hair, not caring about the rain.

"I should turn you in for murder!"

"And you would get arrested, too, for meditated murder, as you hired me as your hitman, and I won't go down without you, even if you are Eliza's mother. I don't give a crap. You try to book me for this, and I'll turn right around and burn you." His eyes narrowed at her, and brows furrowed. How dare she think that she could take him down? Did she think she was above him? No woman would ever be above him! Even his own mother hadn't been! His father had taught him that women were to remain as servants to the higher male gender.

"How dare you talk to me like that! You could never put me away. You have no proof other than your word that I did anything! And her name is Elise!"

"You know she changed her name to Eliza, bitch." He laughed. "You think I didn't record our conversations? Copied down your texts? Lady, I have everything on you. You may be smart, but you're also very stupid. If you weren't family, I'd kill you right here, right now, but where would that land me? Who knows who might see, and I don't have time to search for the bullet in this godforsaken rain."

Kathy screamed internally. She knew she should turn him in for what he had done, but what would that get her? Now that her sister was dead, when she stood before God on the final day, she'd be cast into Hell for working with this man! Maybe she could make things right, though, and turn herself in. "I'm going to the police. I don't care anymore if I go down with you. I will make myself right before God, and beg His forgiveness."

Josh's eyes narrowed. "No, you won't. Family doesn't betray family, and now that you have announced that you are going to betray me, you are no longer family." He moved to pull out his gun.

The short woman's eyes widened and she turned to run away, but didn't get very far as he grabbed her arms and pulled her in close.

Josh chuckled and grinned darkly. "You didn't think I'd shoot you, did you? No, no. That would draw too much attention! Then again, you love having so much attention. Someday, if they find your body, you'll get even more, but no one will know it was me who silenced your fat mouth. They'll praise your killer for finally shutting you and your bigotry up. I'll miss your speeches, but I'd rather stay out of jail." He moved his hands up to her throat and head and twisted mightily, snapping her neck cleanly.

"You should have kept your mouth shut."

He dragged her limp body over to the flooded and fast moving creek, and threw it in, standing on the shore to watch it float away. Once it was out of sight, he turned around and began walking back to his car. It was time to go home to his loyal wife and child. Maybe later he'd check in on those stupid bears, see which ones were left. Maybe even contact his associate, Thrasher, and hatch another plan in case they survived.

.~*Tainted Melodies*~.

Derek paused in front of the door to their room. No, he shouldn't call it that; it was more of a jail cell than a room. Cramped, no windows, a single toilet, and no bed. Only a rag for him and his wife to use. He knew he was in for far worse treatment since he failed to procure the Barrington-Taylor cub from Esmeralda Belleo. The panda just prayed Thrasher wouldn't hurt his beloved wife more than he had already.

After Alakalei and Derek had distracted the chasers who were coming for Beary, thus allowing the cubs and humans to get away, Thrasher had been furious and ready to kill them. Derek still wasn't sure what stopped him from doing so.

They had been chained to the wall in a cell in the caves leading up to the flight from Salt Lake City, and during the hours it took for things to be packed in the cargo plane, Thrasher had toyed with them mercilessly. He had used a white-hot iron poker to melt their fur and flesh, and even their more private areas. Derek and his wife would most likely never be together again, not after what that bastard did. The elderly panda was certain the only reason why they hadn't been killed was so Thrasher could continue to punish them.

After the iron, he had used a pronged whip to strip away a much of their flesh. He had then forced Derek to watch as he drilled into Lei's right foot with an inch wide drill bit. The elderly bear would never get her screams out of his head.

He had pulled free of his bindings and, despite the damage done to his own body weakening him greatly, had rushed to cover her body with his own. Thrasher continued to whip them, however, and only stopped after that foolish cub had launched himself at him. All that earned Beary was a severe lashing on his legs that left him unable to walk. The massive grizzly had then drugged and packed him up in a crate.

Derek and Lei were also packed up and loaded on the plane, but they never saw Beary again. Until a few days ago, Derek had been convinced that Thrasher had killed and skinned him. It would have almost been a better fate than the cub having been sold.

The duo, however, were kept in a cell in the new base.

Thrasher would let Derek out of the cell occasionally, only to beat him or force him to train his new breeders. Lei, he kept locked up.

Derek sighed and gently opened the door, hobbling into their new home, dragging the one hundred pound chain ball behind him. In the dim light, he saw his wife laying in the corner, covered with the ratty blanket. A six foot thick chain, just long enough to reach the toilet, stretched from the wall to the collar around her neck. He hated the sound it made when she moved.

"Al-Alakalei... I am ba-back," he softly called out to let her know as he shut the door behind him, hearing it electronically lock. He relieved himself at the toilet and flushed, thankful that Thrasher had allowed them at least that luxury.

Still, she kept her back to him. He knew why – she was a broken spirit with no hope at all for the future. She hardly spoke to him anymore and it was breaking his heart. She was more of a shell of her usual self.

He pulled the iron ball behind him and gathered her up in his arms, carrying her over to the toilet so she could use it herself. As soon as she was finished, he cleaned her up and took her back to the corner, letting her sit up, propped against the wall.

Her oily hair was ratty and unkempt, draping her head like a moth-bitten curtain. Derek frowned upon seeing this and picked up the brush, gently running the bristles through her hair, eyes growing ever sorrowful at the clumps he pulled out in the process. Lei complained not even once, though he was sure it hurt her. He then took a torn strip of the blanket and tied her hair up in a bow, and kissed her forehead.

A soft tap at the door announced that supper was here, and he went over as the small flap opened and a tray of mush and stale and moldy bread was sent in, along with a bottle of water. Derek thanked their guard and brought the tray back to his wife, cautious not to trip due to the ball. He sat down in front of her and picked up the spoon, dipping it into the mush, and began to feed her.

While he did this, he began to talk slowly and carefully, telling her how beautiful she looked. He spoke of their past, their dreams for the future, and how much he missed her laugh.

Maybe today she might respond. Every day he got his hopes up, and every day they were crushed. He still held onto his hope for a better future for them. Thrasher wouldn't keep them cooped up here forever, right?

"I m-m-mizz y-ya, L-Lei-Lei," he whispered as he finished feeding her. He set the bowl down and cleaned up the mush that was stuck around her mouth in her fur. He then picked at the moldy bread, trying to find some parts that weren't too bad, but in the end, he just threw it towards a small hole in the wall, where a rat promptly stuck his head out and snatched it up, dragging it back into his den.

Derek's own stomach growled and whined, but he paid it no mind. His wife needed the food more than he did. Maybe tomorrow he would have some. Alakalei was the one who was skin and bones. Then again... He glanced at his own bony arms, frowning slightly. Nah, he'd be fine, he reaffirmed himself.

"Need... to... eat..."

"No, I do-don't," he muttered, convinced the voice he'd heard was just in his head. "My L-Lei-Lei needz foodz mo'."

It wasn't until her silver paw came to rest on his black one that he realized that she had spoken. Looking up, he found her staring back at him, a trace of recognition in her pale blue eyes. "Lei...?"

She smiled weakly at him, squeezing his paw, but didn't speak again. She glanced down at the empty tray with a sad sigh.

He sniffled and pulled her close. "I will eat t-to-tomorrow," he responded, nuzzling her lovingly. He could hear her trying to purr, his ears flattening when he realized how bad it sounded from disuse. "Shh... Tomorrow... Eve'yting bettah tomorrow..."

Book Four – Tainted Melodies