Hey, so here's the next chapter. I DO NOT OWN SEEKERS, ERIN HUNTER DOES! Oh, and please don't complain that the bears' names are like mine, thx. R&R…smiley face! (oh, and Takoda is supposed to be like that moody type of character, like…Kovu from Lion King when he finds Kiara annoying, but then they marry!) AWKWARD.
Luka
The other cub stared at her for a moment, before lunging at her.
"Hey! Gerrof!" she huffed through muffled breaths.
The brown cub pushed off of her. "What's your name?" He sat down, licking his shoulder.
"My name's Luka. What's your's?" she searched, looking at him.
The cub hesitated. "Why should I trust you?"
"Because," Luka began. "You have to."
The grizzly bear snorted. "Great reason," he puffed.
Luka looked at him. How did he live with his siblings? She straightened up. "Pleeeassse?" she pleaded.
"Fine, my name is Takoda, from the other side of the forest." Takoda headed into the bushes, his ears twitching.
Luka looked over her shoulder. "Wait, maybe we should get food first."
Takoda stopped in his pawsteps and turned. "Not with you, noisy bee-brain! You'll probably scare off all the prey in the forest, even the firebeasts!"
"Isn't that the best power in the world to have? To scare away firebeasts?" Luka questioned, tilting her head to one side. Oh how she longed to be traveling with Adoette and Igasho again. She looked into Takoda's eyes. "Come on, it's not that bad."
Takoda sighed. "Fine, we can go."
"Yipee," Luka shouted, almost leaping off her paws.
"Shut up!" Takoda swatted her on the head.
Luka just laughed. "Come on, I'll show you around." She was teaching a brown bear! One of the strongest bears in the forest! She headed back to the same flat-face den, sniffing the silver cans. "I think there's food in here. Take a whiff."
Takoda reluctantly smelled it, his eyes brightening with hunger. "What's in there?"
Luka shrugged. "I don't know, but it smells pretty good!" She nosed the top of the can off, which landed with a clang on the asphalt next to her.
"Be quiet, the flat-faces will come out with their death sticks," Takoda growled, pulling Luka by the scruff.
"But we're here to get food, remember?" Luka couldn't believe that Takoda was doing this. Did he want them to starve to death? "If you're so scared, then why don't you just wait for me while I get the food?"
Takoda shook his head. "No way, I'm not risking you getting hurt."
He cared for her? Luka couldn't believe it. "In that case…ok then," she grunted. The black bear cub placed her paws on the tin, and slowly knocked it over. "There. Dig in," she barked happily.
The brown bear cub wearily stepped forward, looking as if a flat-face were to pop out everywhere with a death stick.
"It's ok Takoda." Luka padded over to him, nudging his shoulder affectionately.
He relaxed a bit, stepping forward. He bent down, digging out some food with black material wrapping around it. "What is this?"
Luka shrugged. "I think it's something called plastic. Just rip it open with your teeth or claws."
Takoda did as she said, ripping the material open easily. Luka joined him, lapping up some delicious white grain. It was quite sticky, so it stuck to her muzzle in chunks. She licked herself clean, watching Takoda chew intently on some chicken.
"So, now what sh-"Luka was interrupted by a door slamming open. A flat-face cub emerged, its eyes wide. It screamed, hurting Luka's ears. "RUN!" she huffed, bounding away into the trees. Takoda was now ahead of her, his head turning onto his shoulder every second. Suddenly there was a bang and Luka felt a pain on the back of her head, blood trickling onto her shoulder. She slowed down, her vision blurring. She heard Takoda call her name, but it faded away quickly.
Adoette whispered in her ear. Be strong, my Luka. Be strong.
…
Luka awoke to Takoda's eyes staring down at her. "I brought you some herbs," he murmured. Next to him lay small white flowers; the petals seemed dark in the night.
"Thank you," Luka rasped, getting up to eat them.
Takoda stopped her. "No, I'll chew them and then I put the paste on your wound." He grasped a flower with his paw and picked the petals off one by one. When he finished, he chewed them up and spit them out on Luka's neck.
"I never knew someone so stubborn could be so caring," Luka mumbled, smiling a bit.
Takoda looked at her with soft eyes. "Everyone has moods for different bears."
Luka realized what was happening, so she changed the subject. "So…how'd you learn all this medical stuff?"
"I don't exactly remember, but I know my mother taught me and my sister, Kaliska all the herbs that healed wounds." Takoda looked at his paws. "I remember them very well."
Luka gazed at the roof of the shelter, recognizing it. "I was resting here earlier," she shifted her stare to Takoda. "How'd you find it?"
"I-I followed your scent," he admitted.
The she-cub grunted with laughter. She licked him on the muzzle, causing Takoda to flinch. Luka lowered her head shyly.
"I…I guess we should be going to sleep now," she suggested.
Takoda nodded. "I agree."
Luka closed her eyes, happy to feel another bear close to her. I'll find Igasho for you mother, I will.
