Life is Good When You're Growing up
(A collaboration between Wilson Kieran Kitsune and Fauna Greywolf)
Visions and Meetings
Visions, they always came during his meditation and vision quests, but then again, that was the point. Kona sat in his bedroom with the incense wafting around him. He breathed deep and let his eyes mist over letting the visions come, recalling his shaman training and experience as he did.
In front of his eyes he saw clouds, but not the purple clouds of his incense, they were white clouds, the same kind of clouds in the sky, but they looked, solid somehow. Around him he began to see strange trees, and forms, much like him, wandering around like they were normal people. The intensity was so great and then.
His alarm clock sounding broke him out of his stupor. He had forgotten to shut off the alarm that got him up for school in the afternoon and he didn't feel particularly like getting back into the trance now. Sighing he changed out of the earth tone shaman robes and into a more casual t-shirt and shorts, making sure his tail fit through the hole in the back put there just for that reason. He went outside and looked around, feeling sad as there wasn't much he could do today, no one he could really hang out with, as people were often shocked by his appearance.
Kona wasn't human, the 14 year old was a humanoid arctic fox, white in color and with a heart shaped nose tip and, under his clothes, a red heart shape on his rear. When he was an infant he'd been found lying in the snow after his parents had died and he was subsequently been adopted by this small Native American tribe. He was a bit shorter than the rest of the people in his home, about four feet and 10 inches tall, which felt about normal for him. At a young age he'd discovered a talent for shamanism and which was how he had gone into the trance earlier, and to pass the time he spent mostly alone, he had developed skill in archery, which he had honed to a superlative level, able to hit far away targets in rapid succession. But even so, he was alone, because even if he was accepted people were still off-put by him being a fox.
The vision he'd had seemed to confirm that there was a place for him, somewhere else, but he never knew when he would find it. Maybe the solution would just come to him.
***
The place Kona was seeking was actually directly above him, and he didn't know it, but his feelings of loneliness were about to draw that place to him. The Kingdom of Caring, the home of the Care Bear Family, those who helped people to share their feelings and become more caring as well as combat the forces that attempted to darken the hearts of people. But the Care Bears and Care Bear cousins were not as uniform as people expect, in fact they were all quite different. Other than the founders, True Heart Bear and Noble Heart Horse, and Grams Bear, who was the eldest of them, the Care Bears and cousins were all around the ages of 13 to 16, and like human teenagers, each of them was doing their own thing to show individuality, from minor to extreme display.
The Caring Meter's alarm sounded and the two closest Care Bears were Harmony Bear and Share Bear and both, having a sense of responsibility for these missions, headed to the meter to check the location that had triggered the alarm. Harmony adjusted her small sunglasses and looked at where it was indicating.
"Looks like someone in Canada needs our help, girl," she said, crossing her arms.
"Canada," share put her hands together, "I hear it's so beautiful this time of year," the purple bear adjusted her sky blue poodle skirt and blouse, "Shall we go?"
"Yes, let's," Harmony pushed her dark purple beret forwards and then used her symbol, as it shone through her dark purple sweater, and created a cloud car. Harmony got into the driver's sear and Share into the front passenger's seat. Harmony checked the mirrors before driving off and heading down to earth.
***
Kona was sitting on a playground bench, having walked that far since he left his house earlier and was staring at some kids playing when he heard the strange engine noise from above. He looked up, and then rubbed his eyes, thinking it might have been a residual effect from the incense, but no, it was real. The cloud landed nearby and it turned out to be a flying car made of clouds. And the drive and passenger were two bears, both female, purple, one a darker shade than the other. The lighter shaded one was wearing a sky blue blouse and poodle skirt and was smiling rather brightly and the one who was a darker shade of purple was wearing a dark purple beret, sweater and sweat pants, along with small dark purple sunglasses; she seemed to project a sort of heaviness, but not sadness.
Kona stood up and, in the silence caused by their arrival, he said, "You, you're just like me!"
The lack of noise meant that Share and Harmony heard him easily, and Share, always eager, was the first one to reach him, she took his hand and shook it enthusiastically.
"Hi!" she said, excitedly, "My name is Share Bear, you must be the reason we came down here, the lonely boy who was looking for a place to belong."
"It doesn't take a genius," the other ear said, approaching more slowly, "I'm Harmony Bear, and you are?"
"Oh, umm my name is Kona, it's means snow in the language of my people. What are you two? And I guess what am I?" the arctic fox asked.
"We're Care Bears, and you're a Care Bear cousin," Share explained.
"Were part of the Care Bear family," Harmony continued, "We're a group of animals similar in form to this who help people share their feelings and be more caring."
"So that's what my vision meant," Kona said, more to himself than the two bears, "So this must be where I belong," he looked up at them, this time speaking to them, "May I come to live with you, I don't have much so I could go and pack easily, and tell my people where I'm going. I won't belong, can you wait?"
"Of course, but-" Harmony was cut off as Snowy dashed of to do just as he had said.
"Well, he's certainly enthusiastic," Harmony said.
"He's so energetic!" Share said, "I can't wait for him to come up and live with us."
A couple hours later, Kona had finished packing and saying goodbye to the people of his tribe. There were a few tears and some well wishing but generally, the consensus was that they thought that he should go where he would be happy and among his own kind.
As the fox was just closing the suitcases he needed to pack for moving, he heard a knock at the door to his house. He answered and was surprised by who he saw.
"Elder, why are you here, I thought you were bedridden," Kona said.
"I was, but I foresaw these events and I knew you would be leaving today," the man said, in a voice that showed his age. The man was indeed ancient and was certainly everything that one would expect the elder medicine man of a Native American plains tribe to look like. The man was also the man who had taught Kona archery and the ways of shamanism and as such was the closest thing that Kona had to a father.
The old man reached up and undid an amulet from around his neck, lifting the part hidden buy his shirt to reveal that it was an odd shaped silver colored pentacle, rather than being a standard pentagram it looked more like a five armed asterisk with a small ring attached to the back about midway between the tips of the arms and where they intersected. The old man handed it to Kona who took it carefully.
"What is this?" the fox asked.
"It is a relic of sorts, my family has had it for several generations and I am passing it onto you, as you are the one I feel will find the best use for it."
"But how will I use it and when?" Kona's curiosity was aroused.
The old man placed his wrinkled hand on Kona's shoulder and said simply, "You will know, when the time comes, now go before your new family gets tired of waiting for you."
Before the Elder left, Kona gave him a careful hug, not wanting to hurt him, "Thank you," he said, "for letting me stay with while I grew up." The odl man merely smiled and hugged him back
Once the elder had left, Kona put the pentacle around his neck and put the pendant end into his shirt, hiding the object completely. He would keep it out of site until he felt he needed to use it. He then grabbed his suitcases and carried them out to the Cloud Car where Share and Harmony had amused themselves while he was busy.
"This is all I own, should I just put it into the trunk?" Kona asked.
"Sure, just pop it right in," Harmony popped the trunk to the cloud car and Kona carefully loaded his suitcases into the vehicle before getting in the passenger seat. Harmony once again took the wheel and Share got in beside Kona, wanting to seat next to him in the back seat.
"You're going to just love living in the Kingdom of Caring," she said, "I can't wait for everyone to meet you!"
Harmony started the engine and drove up back to their home.
***
True Heart and Noble Heart paused outside the doors of the Hall of Hearts. They were the last to arrive and the noises from inside led them to believe chaos had once more ensued with their adolescent charges.
"Deep breath Noble before we enter hormone central." He made a tee-pee with his hands inhaling deep as True Heart spoke before replying, "Lets stretch in order to dodge the spitballs that will be flying."
She nodded and bent to touch her toes as Noble Heart pulled a leg up behind his back towards his head.
Kona regarded the two with a quizzical look, "Should I be concerned for my safety?"
Noble Heart shook his head, "No no no. You should be fine, just keep your head down and follow us to the dais."
"I have a better idea, let us go in and introduce you first, and then you can enter to meet the others." Kona nodded to True Heart in understanding.
Taking a final deep breath they slipped into the Hall of Hearts, leaving Kona momentarily alone.
As they expected, the interior of their meeting place was in utter chaos. Playful Heart hung from the chandelier by his tail, firing spitballs in a multitude of directions, not caring who he hit. Brave Heart and Champ were arm wrestling with Cheer and Cozy Heart rooting them on. Lotsa Heart was trying to get his bag of chips back from Proud Heart, who had taken them away insisting he find a healthier snack item. Loyal Heart was close by, making sure things between the two stayed civil.
On the other side of the room, Swift Heart sat with her feet on the table, popping her gum and filing her nails, not paying attention to her fellows. Near her Love-a-Lot was trying fighting over a bottle of nail polish with Wish Bear and both were being berated by Bright Heart, saying they were making him mess up his blue prints. Tender Heart stood at the front of the room trying to calm everyone down, saying they would be in trouble for behaving so abominably. This only caused Funshine and Birthday to lob paper balls at him. Grumpy was plugging his ears as Good Luck rambled on and on about something. Valiant Heart Wolverine was listening to some music, with an earphone in one ear, and waiting for a chance to take part in the arm wrestling, as he had called dibs on the winner.
Making it to the front of the room, with minimal injuries, Noble Heart smacked the gavel on the stand, "Settle down everyone!" They ignored him so he pulled a mega phone out from under the top, "I SAID QUIET!"
All eyes focused on the purple horse at the podium, "Thank you. Now please, sit!"
True Heart did a head count as they all took their seats, with further prompting from Noble Heart. "Hold on a second, where's Fauna?"
Tender Heart pointed accusingly, "Ask her. They were together this morning."
True Heart looked down the room to Swift Heart, who was continuing to file her nails, but a little more intensely then a moment ago. Her eyes flicked up to meet True Hearts and she asked innocently, "What?"
"Do you know where Fauna is?" True Heart repeated, guessing what the answer would be.
Swift Heart nodded, eyes wandering to look away, "Yes…" She gripped her nail file and pointed it at True Heart, "Not here."
Those around her giggled, allowing her familiar cocky smirk to appear.
"Can you be more specific?" True Heart prompted.
Swift Heart shook her head, "Sorry Truey, she blew out of here a couple hours ago and didn't say where she was heading. I'm sure she will be back by night fall." She blew a huge bubble with her gum.
It wasn't all that surprising, Fauna often disappeared without saying where she was going. While she appreciated Noble Heart and True Heart taking her in, she often felt like she didn't belong.
"Anyways, we called you all here to introduce you to a new member of the family. Share and Harmony discovered him while down on earth and invited him back. So please give a warm welcome to Kona."
All eyes turned to the door as Kona came in.
Kona had peeked in and gulped before he was announced but he stepped in anyway. He raised his right hand and said, "Hi, my name is Kona," he said. True Heart beaconed at the front to him.
"Don't be shy, come up here where we can all see you easily," the female founder said. Kona nodded and walked up to take a place between the two founders before speaking up again.
"My name, is Kona, it means snow in the language of my people. I was found in Canada and until today, I thought I was the only one of my kind."
"Hey, we're like cousins or something," Valiant Heart, the dark grey wolverine with a tuft of dyed green hair spoke up, "Noble Heart said he found me north Canada."
"Thank you, Valiant, now please, our new friend is trying to speak," Noble Heart said, before nodding to Kona to continue.
"Well, actually, there's not much else. I'm a bit of a shaman and an archer, and I've never had any real friend up until now. I hope I can join you here in the Care Bear Family."
"Well I certainly know you can," Noble Heart clapped him heartily on the back, "Now we need to think of a name for you, you can use your own name but we all take on another name when you join up, any suggestions." Noble Heart regretted it almost as soon as the words left his mouth.
Playful Heart spoke up first, "Fantastical Foxy Heart sounds good to me!" He monkey laughed afterwards before doing a hand stand on the table.
"Don't make jokes about this Playful!" Loyal Heart said.
"He should have a more sensible name that shows his skills, like Shaman Heart," Bright Heart suggested.
Swift Heart scoffed, "Why should Kona get special treatment. Playful jokes about everything, loosen up. Or would you prefer something along the lines of O CANADAAAAAAA Heart."
"Hey now, it's not special treatment," Valiant spoke up, "I'm not name maple leaf heart or something."
"That's because you don't have any maple leaf stamps on your body!" Funshine shouted across the table, "He should have a fun name since he doesn't have to let just Noble and True decide it for him."
"Why don't we ask him what he wants to be called? He is standing in the room you know." Grumpy grumbled crossing his arms. However none of the others seemed to hear. Brave Heart jumped to his feet "How about Courageous Heart Fox! Sidekick to Brave Heart the Magnificent." The cousins groaned, Brave Heart had had this alter ego complex for years.
"Oh yeah right, like he'd want to be your sidekick," Harmony said, rolling her eyes.
The argument continued to go back and forth for several minutes and Kona just stood there, embarrassed that such a large fight was being fought over him. Tenderheart tried to get the rest of the room to order with no success as usual. True Heart noticing how embarrassed the fox was gave a look to Noble Heart who nodded. The two founders stood up and their tummy symbols began to glow and they fired a combined stare at the ceiling, creating a loud and bright *BANG* when the joined together. The room fell silent, the founders only did that in extreme emergencies, or when things were just getting too out of hand.
"Thank you, now unless there are any other suggestions, Kona, perhaps you have an for a name." True Heart said.
"Well," the fox thought for a moment before saying, "Kona means snow, so perhaps, Snowy Heart would be a good name," he said.
"All right, anyone else have any better suggestions?" Noble Heart asked.
Those who had regained their hearing and vision shook their heads. Most were rubbing their eyes or wiggling fingers in their ears dramatically as if the blast of light and sound had permanently damaged them.
"Very well, your name is now Snowy Heart Fox, welcome to the family, now you need a tummy symbol," True Heat said.
"He's a cousin, so I'll do the honors," Noble Heart said, his symbol glowing before firing an imprint onto the newly named Snowy Heart's tummy. The symbol it left was of a blocky white snowy cloud with a small pyramid of hearts falling form it, Kona later explained they were the written language of his people for a snow cloud and snow falling, albeit with hearts instead of dots.
"Welcome to the family Snowy Heart. Can we go now?" Grumpy queried. True Heart blushed in embarrassment, "Does anyone in this family possess manners?" Funshine smiled innocently, propping her elbows on the table and resting her chin on her hands,
"Only the boring ones. And I bet Snowy can already tell who they are." She motioned with her eyes to the stiff straight Tender Heart watching True Heart and Noble Heart attentively.
"Umm," Snowy Heart spoke up, "if it's all the same, I'd like to get my possessions and take them to where I will be living, which will be where exactly?" he asked, Noble Heart.
"Well, we don't have a house set up right now, we can have one made soon I hope, we just need some time to prepare an area. You can stay with us, unless you have somewhere else you would like to stay."
"He can stay with me!" Share said, standing up and waving her hand, "I'm happy to share my house with you."
"Is that all right with you Snowy Heart?" True Heart asked.
"It's fine," Snowy said, "I guess you can show me to your house then, Share," Snowy left the head of the table and went over to Share, who took his hand and led him outside, stopping long enough for them to grab his bags.
The others had started to leave as well, not even waiting for Noble Heart to dismiss the meeting. Leaning on the podium he gazed down at True Heart, "Sometimes I wonder why we bother." She grinned back at him, "So we can have lots of stories to embarrass them with when they're older." Outside Swift Heart strode past Snowy and Share "Hope you two have fun. Share Bear loves 'sharing.'" whispered with a giggle, pulling her sunglasses down over her eyes.
'What was that supposed to mean?' Snowy thought to himself before he headed off to Share's house with his stuff.