Desmond had always been the odd one out. He was an explorer and explorers didn't have the best of reputations. He was the first one out of the cave in the morning, running as far as he could before his mother called him back. He was also the last one to go to bed for the winter. He tried finding the most exotic foods to fill his stomach before heading off into the lengthy slumber of hibernation. Yes, Desmond was in fact a bear.
The bear lifestyle was too simple for Desmond, he desired, more than anything, to experience more than eating and sleeping. Sure swiping salmon from out of the stream was amusing, but it was also redundant. All he wished for was the chance to wander far enough into the forbidden hills to discover new meats and berries, more flavourful delicacies that would dance happily on his pallet. Unfortunately, he had to settle for tasteless salmon and dull berries.
Desmond, despite being an outcast, did have one other bear which he was able to call "friend". Oursa was a little younger than he but had a deep admiration for Desmond. Her father had been overtaken by disease a few years ago since food was growing scarce and Desmond had become somewhat of a mixed figure between a father, brother and companion for Oursa. Though Desmond was only older by a couple of years, he guided Oursa when she was confused, rejoiced in her accomplishments, and snuggled when evenings were cold. The bear pair had become inseparable, and the rest of the sleuth knew it all too well.
Oursa's mother was happy that her daughter finally had someone with whom she was able to be comfortable with. They watched the duet play for hours but never get tired of each other's presence. She enjoyed Desmond's presence almost as much as her daughter; he really was a very good bear.