Part three of my summer story, Failte Baile, is here for you! I do hope you enjoy this story series, and if you have questions about the way Tyra and Ciaran Campbell [Zeb's aunt and uncle] speak, feel free to message me about it! I tried to keep the dialect as close to redneck Scottish as possible, while still explaining what it meant. I don't know if I did a very good job, though. Either way, enjoy!
Please leave a review, and thank you for reading!
Part Three - Welcome Home
About an hour and a half passed, and they were all sat down to a dinner of Scotch Pie, which was a bit like Shepherd's pie. The portions were small, about human sized, and Tyra apologized, stating that she would go to the market early in the morning, having not expected guests.
Zeb look appalled. "Aunt Tyra, the market is over two hours away!"
"Ah dae nae lik' servin` mah guests sic meager offerings, Alec. Ah wull gang tae th' merkat th' morns mornin'. Ah wull lea afore th' sun rises," Tyra stated in a no-nonsense attitude.
Ciaran didn't argue with his wife, but he did mention something softly the others didn't catch.
She also replied in the same tone, and both fell silent.
Zeb sighed, knowing what they had said - about the money being tight. Should he bring up the money now?
Jade looked at Zeb as she and Méngméng both wore the same expression: Do it and do it now.
He took a deep breath. "Uncle Ciaran? Aunt Tyra? I... I owe you some money."
Ciaran frowned and opened his mouth to speak, but Zeb interrupted him.
"Don't say I don't, because I know I do. And I have brought you that money. Got it exchanged for your currency and everything." He passed his uncle a box.
Ciaran and Tyra glanced at each other, at their nephew, and then at the box. Upon opening the box, they both gasped. With this, they'd be able to get through the winter with their bellies full! Be able to provide for their guests, and perhaps even fix the roof! And perhaps be able to feed Merida's newest foal that was on the way.
Tyra looked at her husband again, not sure what to say. Should they really accept this gift? It would help out a lot, but Alec probably needed it as well!
Ciaran looked at her and then back at the money. He, too, was conflicted.
Zeb nervously scratched his arm and glanced at Ted.
"He saved up all of that to pay you guys back for everything you've done for him," Ted explained.
The two older bears recounted the money and shook their heads. This was way too much.
Zeb watched them anxiously. "I added up the total, and made sure it matched with what I stopped sending all those years ago."
"We cannae," came the somber reply from Ciaran. "This is juist awfy much."
Tyra nodded in agreement. "Alec, wee yin, yi'll need this fur yer fowk."
"But... But you guys are my family..." he murmured softly.
"We hae oor home, oor horses, 'n' oor land. 'n' ye'v finally come hame. We dinnae need anythin' else."
"But I... You guys need it! Feed the horses, take a trip, something! Maybe get some hired help!" He was talking directly to his Uncle.
"Th' horses ur weel fed, 'n' huvin sic a wee croft means we dae nae need hulp."
"Uncle, you are getting up there in years. I want to be able to care for you guys. Why won't you let me? You've cared for me ever since my father tried to drown me."
Tyra's eyes widened. He still remembered that?
Even Ted stopped eating, his fork halfway to his mouth.
Both Jade and Méngméng shared a look, visibly startled.
Ciaran sighed and put a paw on Zeb's shoulder and spoke of how they took him in, and how he didn't need to care for them, as it was their duty to care for Zeb. He told him that it was time for Zeb to take care of his own family, yet he knew he'd argue about the money, so Ciaran agreed to take the money from him. "Alec, ye owe us hee haw mair than yer loue. Whin we teuk ye in, 'twas fur we loved ye. Ye dae nae need tae tak' care o' us. It's oor duty tae care fur ye, bairn. 'n' we did that. Noo it's time fur ye tae tak' care o` yer fowk. Bit, sin ah ken ye wull argie anyway, we wull accept yer gracious donation 'n' wull pat it tae guid uise." He pulled him into a tight hug. "Fáilte Baile, Alec. Welcome home."
Zeb burst into tears as he held his uncle.
Tyra smiled brightly, as did the others, though they had no idea what the older bear had said, but Zeb seemed to, and that was good enough for them.
.~*Fáilte Baile*~.
Three days passed.
Zeb laughed as he raced through the forest on Beau, pausing only to glance back and make sure Méngméng was following him on Merida. It had been so long since he'd ridden a horse, but it was like riding a bicycle - you never really forget.
He smiled as he looked at her. She was wearing a lovely, well fit green dress that showed off her shaped figure with slits on either side of the loose flowing skirt, allowing free movement of her legs from the fabric, and let her long hair flow freely, reaching down past her tail.
He pulled out his camera and got a quick picture as she trotted up to him. "You look beautiful, you know that?" he questioned, putting his camera back in the bag.
He then maneuvered Beau next to her, the two horses gently neighing as they greeted each other. The silver panda blushed furiously as he brushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Alec..." she murmured.
"What? It's true," he said with a smile. "Do you not like me complimenting your appearance?"
She sighed. "All my life, I was judged more for my beauty than my brains. I know I'm beautiful. I just want to know people see that I'm more than just a pretty face."
He frowned and examined her, focusing on her eyes. "I know that, honey. I wasn't commenting on your looks, but your soul. I can see it through your eyes. I see your gentle and kind nature, your intelligence, courage, and that you aren't without fear. You're beautiful, Mèngmèng, and nothing can change that."
"Aw, you two are so cute!" Jade laughed, riding up next to them on her own brown horse that she had rented from another farm a few miles away that had many horses. Ted wasn't far behind her on his own horse, a brown Clydesdale - they both rode the same horse.
Zeb sighed. Way to ruin the moment.
Méngméng blushed and looked at them. "I forgot you guys were coming with us. I'm surprised you kept up, actually, since neither of you ride."
"Eh, I used to when I was younger. Just needed a refresher course," Jade explained as she slowed to a halt. She then had to grab Ted's reins before he went flying. "Teddy, though..."
"Oh, hush. I'm doing fine," the singer grumbled, not at all comfortable.
"Hey, don't let him know you're not in control," Zeb warned. "He'll take over, otherwise."
"Pbbt. Whoa!"
"Told you," Zeb laughed when the horse bobbed his head. "Just relax, Ted."
Méngméng nodded. "Yeah, so I thought you and Ted would have gone off on your own. What happened?"
"Foreign country. Not about to get lost," Jade grinned. "Besides, you're our tour guide, remember?"
"Hm, true." Zeb sighed a bit, having wanted to spend time alone with Méngméng, but if this was what he had to do to have that time, so be it. "All right, then, uh... Oh, I know! Follow me!" He directed Beau on where to go and began walking.
The others followed, Méngméng wandering up to stay beside him while Ted and Jade stayed behind the duo.
The small group passed through a field with some rather peculiar standing stones, before Zeb finally stopped them next to a lake and got down off Beau. "This is Loch Ciaran. My uncle was born on this loch - literally. Loch means lake, by the way. His mother went into labor in the boat. That's how he got his name." He laughed a little before his smile died. "And... and this is where my father tried to drown me," he murmured.
Méngméng got down as well, reaching up and putting a paw on his shoulder. "Why?"
"Because I was a burden, I was told. Caused money problems, my mother got sick because of me and died - well, that's what I overheard my aunt and uncle saying... I... I wasn't wanted." He plopped down in the tall grass with a heavy sigh. "So... so he tied me up in a burlap sack with a large rock and, well, threw me in, just like you'd drown a litter of puppies or kittens." He pulled at the grass a bit.
"That's horrible!" Méngméng exclaimed, sitting down beside him.
Ted and Jade got down as well. "Oh, geez," Jade murmured, horrified. "I hope that bastard's in jail."
"Infernos, probably," Zeb muttered. "He went home and hung himself after Uncle Ciaran jumped into the water to save me."
"Well, at least you had an uncle who loves you like that," Ted replied. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, kid."
Zeb shrugged a bit. "Yeah... but I seemed to bring them a lot of trouble as well. There was a drought, a bad storm when I was five... They lost a lot, and I had to be pulled out of school because it was too hard to get me there - it was an hour away. I was only seven at the time. Aunt Tyra tried her best to teach me, but I was rather stupid and couldn't learn."
"You're dyslexic," Ted growled. "It wasn't your fault."
Méngméng and Jade blinked in surprise. "You are?" Méngméng questioned.
Zeb sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I am. One reason why I, uh, never finished high school?" His ears lowered.
"YOU DROPPED OUT?!" Jade exclaimed.
"Jade, hush. It wasn't completely his fault. We all tried helping him, even tried homeschooling for a while, but it just never seemed to work out," Ted explained.
"I've thought about going to night school, but I was always afraid of what people would say." The auburn bear sighed again.
"If you do, I'll be there to support you every step of the way," Méngméng stated, squeezing his shoulder.
"You don't have to."
"I want to. I want to see you succeed."
"Well, I... I suppose I could try... Pendleton offers it, I think."
"Well then, when we return home."
"Yeah, and if you need any help, just let me know," Jade smiled, tying up the horse leads to a sturdy log. "I'll be happy to help."
Zeb's large smile told them how happy he was.
"Besides, Mysty's right. You need to at least try. I think now that things aren't so crazy, you'd be able to."
Ted nodded. How'd be get so lucky to have somebody so smart?
Zeb looked at them all, almost wanting to cry, but he held back. "Y-You don't know how much that means to me."
Méngméng smiled, leaned over, and nuzzled him.
Jade smiled as well and looked at Ted. "Oh! I forgot to ask. How's it sleeping in the hay?"
"Bah. My back hurts, but whatever. No idea how we ended up out there, to be honest."
"Because Aunt Tyra wanted us separated from the females? It was either us two, or my aunt and uncle out there," Zeb argued.
"True, I suppose."
"Your back hurts because you're an old man." Jade flung her arms around her mate and grinned.
"What?! I'm not old!"
Zeb grinned, watching them. He then glanced at Méngméng and held out his paw to her.
She graciously took it and let out a startled yelp when he pulled her into his lap. Well, it was more like he had been pulling her to come sit down, but she'd tripped and landed face first in his lap.
Zeb let out a startled cry and helped her up, his body heating up in embarrassment, but it was no comparison to her pinking fur.
Jade wisely chose not to make fun of the awkward couple with a usual quip, and instead leaned against Ted.
Ted pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
Méngméng finally settled down between Zeb's legs, leaning back against him, still horribly embarrassed at what she had done, leading to an awkward silence between the two.
"So, because I really haven't been paying attention, where are we again?" Jade asked.
Zeb looked at her. "Loch Ciaran." He really didn't want to repeat the previous conversation.
"Okay. Anything... special Teddy and I should go check out to leave you guys alone for a while?"
"Alone?!" Méngméng gasped, not noticing Zeb had immediately taken on a hurt expression.
Ted bit his lip, not sure what to say.
"Or not," Jade blinked.
Ted sighed and looked at Zeb. "Do you want us to go or stay?"
"I... whichever you guys prefer."
"AKA, he wants us to leave, but is now to embarrassed to ask for the alone time." Jade laughed.
Ted snickered a bit. "Don't tease him, Jade."
Zeb looked at Méngméng, sensing how uncomfortable she appeared. He looked at Jade pleadingly, not sure what to do. Why was she so upset?
Jade sighed and sat on the ground again. "Okay, I guess we stay here, then."
Méngméng shot her a grateful look.
"Any place to go swimming around here? That I won't find Nessie?"
"Oh, she's not in this lake, but another," Zeb smiled slightly, bemused. "Loch Ness. Hence the name Nessie."
Ted looked at Jade and shook his head, slowly lowering himself down to the ground next to her.
"This is a great swimming spot. I used to come here a lot when I was younger... usually sat on the shore because of... you know..."
Méngméng squeezed his paw.
Jade glanced at Ted, and then at Zeb, frowning. "So, I guess we won't be doing that, then."
"You guys can swim. I'll just stay on the sidelines. Don't let me ruin the fun. Please. We came out here to have a good time."
The solid black she-bear looked between the panda and auburn bear. "We could always just relax and watch the clouds."
Ted nodded in agreement. "That sounds like a plan."
Zeb bit his lip and nodded. "Y-Yeah, let's do that." He leaned back.
Méngméng smiled a little and moved off of Zeb's lap and curled up by his side, blushing when he wrapped an arm around her.
Ted chuckled a little, seeing how awkward they still were with each other. He looked at Jade, wondering if she wanted to move a little bit away from them or if she wanted to stay put.
Jade looked at him for a second and waited a bit longer before they slowly and quietly inched themselves further and further away, until they were at last perfectly away from the duo.
Zeb looked up at the fluffy clouds, his ears filled with the sound of the water on the lake shifting back and forth. He smiled gently, pulling Méngméng closer, a purr in his throat.
"What are you so happy about?" the she-panda asked, turning head to look at him.
"Oh, just holding you in my arms. I've gotten accustomed to holding you in my arms back home at the Hall, so not being able to sleep by your side at night out here is kinda lonesome. I mean, I have Ted, but he snores." Zeb grinned, eyes twinkling when he heard her laugh.
"You are adorable, do you know that?" She shifted upwards and went to kiss his cheek happily, and laughed when he turned his head at the last moment, and her lips captured his. "Oh, you are certainly fresh," she giggled, giving him a peck on the nose as well.
"What can I say? You are so lovely, and every kiss upon your lips feels like I've gone to Favum."
"You are such a tease." She nuzzled him and moved back down, resting in the crook of his arm, her head upon his chest. "I'm so glad you're mine again. I've missed your quirks, and the sound of your heartbeat. It's soothing, and helps lull me to sleep, my love."
Zeb smiled, but closed his eyes, thinking back on the past, how things had gone wrong, how things might be better. "Méngméng? Is this worth it? I... When people find out what we've done..."
She frowned. "What do you mean? Alec... Don't. Don't say things like that. Things are going to work out. I promise you. No one is taking you from me. I will fight with tooth and claw for you."
"Méngméng..."
"No, Alec. Nothing is going to change how I feel for you. Do you think I would stay by your side, or be here now if I didn't love you?"
"I, uh, it's too early to be saying the l-word, isn't it?"
"L-word?!" She sat up and looked at him indignantly. "What is that supposed to mean?!"
"I, uh..." He frowned and sat up as well. "I..."
"Oh, don't even start!" She huffed and got up, walking over to the water's edge, and plopped back down.
"Oh, come on!" He crossed his arms and grumped a bit, not sure what to do now. Great. Now he had upset her. "Méngméng..."
She ignored him, keeping her back to him.
He sighed and got up, moving towards her. "Méngméng, honey... I... I just think it's too early in our relationship to say that phrase. I mean..."
"Too early?! You had no problems saying it while you were making love to me when I was thirteen! Don't give me that load of crap! What's so different now?! Is it because I'm older? Huh?"
His ears flattened, and he took off his hat, twisting it in his paws. "Méngméng, that's not what I meant... It's... So much has changed, and I'm still getting used to having you here with me again. It's so weird. I mean, I do love you, but..."
She looked back at him. "But what?"
"I can't decide if my feelings are true and I am in love with you, or just the thought of you. I just... I don't know anymore. I'm trying to figure this out, because I don't want to hurt you again."
"Alec..." Her ears lowered, and she held out her paw to him, inviting him to sit beside her, which he did after a few moments. "Why does it matter?"
"Why does it matter? It matters because I don't want to string you along, Méngméng."
"String me along? Alec, you could never. But fine. I will give you as much time as you need to figure out your feelings. But meanwhile, I... I will stay away if you wish. But for now, I'm going to meditate, if that's all right?" She moved a bit away from him and closed her eyes, folding her legs over one another. She rested her clasped paws in her lap, listening to the sounds of the water lapping the shore.
Zeb frowned, thinking as he watched her. He opened his mouth to say something. Anything. But nothing came out. He glanced around, looking for Jade or Ted to help him out, but saw neither. They had deserted them. He sighed a little and looked at Méngméng again, copying what she was doing to the best of his ability. She seemed to fall into a trance, shockingly enough. Maybe if he closed his eyes and focused on the sounds around him like she seemed to be doing?
He had no sooner done so than he was interrupted by a voice.
"Hey, aren't we going swimming?" Jade asked, wandering over, Ted not far behind.
Zeb groaned and opened his eyes, looking over at them. "Really? Can't you see we're busy?"
"Well, I don't see you two in each other's arms, so I don't know how busy you can possibly be," Jade snorted, amused. She let out a yelp when a pebble struck her between the eyes. "Oi! Mysty!"
Méngméng smiled a bit and giggled. "Ah, relax, Jade. I didn't hurt you. You were just being rude and interrupting my meditation again."
"You could have blinded me!" the black bear argued.
"Are you admitting that the mighty Jade is not as tough as she claims?" Méngméng laughed.
"Shut it."
The silver panda smiled and stood up, placing a paw on Zeb's head, scratching his ears a little. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going swimming." She stripped right then and there, and waded into the lake water.
Zeb quickly crossed his legs, much to Jade's amusement.
"Thinking impure thoughts, Zoober?" the black bear laughed, sitting down next to him. "I see you crossing those legs. Got something to hide?"
"N-No!" he squeaked, taking his hat off and putting it on his lap.
Jade roared with laughter. "You are ridiculous, Zoober. I'm well aware of what you're thinking. Hell, if I was bi or lesbian, I would definitely go after her. She's my cup of tea, in a sense. At least physically. But mentally, she is far too proper."
Zeb glanced at her oddly. "You're... odd."
"Meh. Ted, go swimming. I'll join you soon." She waited for Ted to leave – him wearing swimming trunks – and settled in next to Zeb. "So."
Zeb frowned and eyed her. "What are you up to, Jade? What did I do this time?"
"What makes you think you did anything?" She looked at him and smiled. "And who said I had to be up to something? Sheesh, you're all so suspicious."
"Well, you don't usually send people away just so you can talk to me. Wait, you're not going to hit me, are you?"
"What? After you brought us out here on this beautiful vacation? Hell no. But we don't talk anymore, Zoober. Zeb. I'm just... trying to catch up with somebody whom I was once pretty good friends with."
He shook his head. "And, yeah, I guess we should catch up. But, uh, on what? What do you want to talk about?"
"Are you okay?" She looked at him her tone suddenly serious.
"Uh, yes?"
"No, I mean, like, are you really okay? I promise I won't jump to conclusions."
He frowned and righted himself, now that the thought of Méngméng's naked body had left his mind. He looked out at where she was splashing around, having a great time with her hair flowing freely in the water. "I... Well, I guess maybe not. I'm just a bit confused and conflicted."
Jade put a paw on his knee, listening.
"About Méngméng and me. There's just... so many things... If the press got ahold of us, it would ruin her reputation, and probably cause boycotts of the band. I can't do that to these guys or to her." He looked over at Ted, who was just like a big brother, now that he'd returned to his old self. He couldn't cause more trouble for the band, now that things were... well, almost back to the way they were. "I wish I had never caused the trouble. If I had kept myself together and had not done what I did, things would be different."
Jade frowned. "You know, I can always take the heat off of you guys easily enough. Just, ya know, keep your business down low and I can cause enough mayhem that will completely forget about you guys." She snorted. "Because, ya know, I'd totally kiss her in front of a camera just for the hell of it."
He stared at her, slightly amused, and slightly jealous. "Uh, okay?" He shook his head. "But what of our son? Fēnglì? People will know right away what we did. I'm scared of what will happen, and what will happen if we don't stay together. I mean, I'd either get arrested, or I'd have my heart broken all over again."
"Don't you think I think about things like that with Ted, too? Sure, there's no kids involved, but there's still feelings and things to be broken. That's what love is. You take the chance. If you think about it too much, it means you aren't following your heart."
"And risk the band being boycotted? Them all being made to suffer because of the choice I made twenty years ago."
"Listen, if you have to think about it that much, you shouldn't be together. You're just going to end up hurting her instead."
"I'm going to end up hurting her either way. You know that." He put his paws on his ears. "I want to be with her more than anything! You have no idea how much I want to be with her, but is all the pain and suffering worth it?" He wanted to say yes, he really did, but he was worried about his family. He didn't want them hurt, too!
"You know everybody wants you to be happy, Zeb. You do deserve it, no matter how much you sit there and tell yourself that you don't. Do something for yourself for once, not because anybody else tells you to. I've seen how you look at her. I know there's love. Pure and true."
"You sound like a sick romance novel."
"Oh, I know I do. But you know that Ted and I will be here to support you in whatever you decide to do."
He bit his lip nervously, thinking it over. "I... I do want to... I really do. I... But how would I even go about it? I don't know anything about dating! We were just kids! Well, she was, and I..."
"Honestly, you want to know who is a ridiculous romantic and could teach you and help you do the things you're thinking about? Other than bedding her, I mean."
"Please don't say Ted."
Jade actually fell over from laughing so hard.
Zeb stared at her, perplexed. "I'm serious. Do you know how much advice he had to get from US? And actually... Henry is way more romantic than Ted. That might be who Ted learned some of his stuff from." He chuckled a bit.
"Someday you will have to tell me all about how unromantic Teddy really is, because I'm dying to know."
"Perhaps I will," he laughed.
He sighed and looked out at the lake, focusing his gaze on Méngméng, who was quietly floating along on her back. "When... when I first met her, she was spying on me in the garden outside the Chinese embassy in... San Francisco, I think. Our friendship started off in an odd way, I'll admit, but... once we got past the awkwardness of her being indebted to me - something I loathed - we became good friends. I started teaching her the violin, she taught me some Chinese. Then... then things began to change."
She looked at him. "Like what?"
"Well, I started noticing the way she wore her hair. The way she laughed, or how when she'd smile, how it would reach her eyes and make them sparkle. Her fur glistened in the moonlight, making her look like a goddess..." He closed his eyes, picturing it. "She made me happy, just by giving me a smile. I don't know exactly what it was, or when it began, but I started to fall for her, ya know? I knew it was wrong, and I tried so hard to stop and get rid of these feelings, but I couldn't. I just felt overwhelmed, and I had never felt that way about anyone before or since.
"Then, on my birthday, I discovered that she'd been using her claws to hurt herself. I was bandaging her up, asking why'd she do this to herself, and she told me all sorts of things... but what stuck out the most was when she said she wanted to kiss me without feeling ashamed." He stared at the ground. "I should have left the room right then and there, but I didn't. I... I kissed her and made possibly one of the worst decisions of my life."
Unbeknownst to them, Méngméng had gotten out of the water and had been coming towards them from behind the bushes, wanting to give Jade a message about Ted having gotten his feet stuck in the mud and her being unable to pull him out. However, upon hearing Zeb's confession, she forgot all about Ted as her eyes filled with tears.
Silently, she gathered up her clothes, moved back over to the horses, got dressed, hopped on her horse, and left, completely heartbroken.
She never heard Zeb finish his story.
"...but it was also my best decision, because I knew I loved her. I know it was wrong, but I was in love, and she loved me back, and that made all the difference. Everything was going smoothly until we found out she was pregnant, and, well, you know the rest. I never saw her again until a few months ago." Zeb sighed and looked at Jade, waiting for her response.
Jade chewed on her lip, digesting all the information she had just be given. "Well, that certainly makes things interesting. But sometimes, like you said, the worst decisions we make can also be the best ones."
"It makes me happy and sad, thinking about it. So, what should I do? Should I love her? Or am I just in love with the thought of her? I... I can't imagine my life without her."
"Do you love her?"
He didn't hesitate in his answer. "Yes."
"There you go, then."
"Huh?"
"That would be your answer. You love her. Not the thought of her. You're in love, Zoober. Even I can see that. Despite the chaos it might cause, you shouldn't deny yourself the chance of love, my friend. I don't want to see either of my best friends suffering like you have been."
"What about our son? Should I deny him so people don't know?"
"Uh, that's for you and him to talk about."
"That just sounds wrong, though, doing that." He sighed and shook his head. "Okay, okay. I guess we'll just take things one day at a time. If the press finds out, then they find out. We'll deal with it when it comes to it. Right?"
"Well, he is an adult now, and that sounds like the best idea."
"Not to mention I still have to deal with her father and that contract." Zeb sighed and rolled his eyes.
She frowned. "Well, they do say that love finds a way."
"Yeah, and if her father finds out, it'll be my head."
"She's a consenting adult."
"Tell him that. You know she's a princess, right?"
"Yes."
"So you realize the stakes, then?"
"Yes, yes, I get a good idea of the stakes. But whatever happens, you will overcome it."
"I hope so..." He shook his head and smiled, feeling a lot better. "So, uh, is there anything else you want to talk about?"
"Not really. Not unless you need something."
"Mmm... Nope. So, are you going to go swimming?"
"Well, yeah. I think I will. Wait. Where's Mysty?" Jade looked out at the water in confusion.
"Swimming, isn't she?" Zeb followed her gaze, looking around, his heart starting to race.
"Uh, I see Ted, but I'm not sure what he's doing, but no Mysty."
He frowned and got up, looking around. "She... she couldn't have just left! We would have heard her!"
Jade stood up as well, looking over at the horses. "Her clothes are gone, as is her horse."
His ears flattened and he strolled over to the horses to not spook them. "I... Why would she leave?"
"I don't know. Teddy, come on, we gotta go."
"I'm kinda stuck! Didn't Méngméng tell you?!" he called back.
Jade blinked a few times and wandered towards the voice. "No! How are you stuck?"
"Uh... I sunk in the mud?" he called back, giving her a sheepish look when she came around a bush and saw him.
Zeb followed her and just stared. "What...? Ya know what? I don't have time for this. Stay here." Zeb went back to the horses, brought Beau over, reached into his saddle bag and pulled out a rope. Despite Ted's protests, Zeb and Beau pulled the fatter bear free. "I'm going to go find Méngméng. Clean yourself up, Ted, and report back to the farm. Just follow the road and you'll be fine!" Once he had gotten the rope back in the bag, he took off down the road, trying to find his beloved.