No Way Out
Kenai was telling me a story. And as he was telling it, snow began to fall from the sky. It was the same story I told him and everybody else at the Salmon Run yesterday. But his story was a little different. I did not like it. Not at all. I told him this while backing up. He just looked at me. I could tell he didn't want to say what he had to say next, and it pained him to do so, but he did anyways.
"Your mother's not coming." Those words cut deep. It felt like being stabbed by one of those awful pointed sticks. I couldn't believe it. My so-called brother just admitted to the murder of my mom. He wasn't really my brother, just a bear I had helped out in a bear trap. And thank goodness too. After his confession, I didn't want any brothers at all.
"No." I said in denial, feeling the tears coming. I backed up some more. "No."
"Koda," He began, but I ran off, not wanting to see his face ever again. I ran and ran as fast as my little bear legs would go, trudging in the snow on the ground. I ran up a tree, out of breath. I then let the sobs out.
Kenai was still shouting my name. He seemed to be sorry, but I didn't believe it. How could I? If he was truly sorry, he wouldn't have done it. I was an orphan now because of him.
After he did something in the snow and said that he was sorry one last time, he left. After he was gone, I climbed down. But I didn't feel like moving, not at the moment. I was too ashamed of myself. Why did I ever trust Kenai? I should have just let him stay in that bear trap.
Rutt and Tuke then came up to me. Rutt had a missing antler. They were fighting about something too. They must have noticed me for Tuke spoke to me.
"Yeah, what's wrong, smallish bear?" He asked.
"Nothing." I lied. "I'm fine." I sniffed sadly.
"Oh good." Rutt said. "Now, where were we? Oh yeah. You're a big selfish, reckless hoofer and you're never gonna change." Tuke was shocked by this.
"What?!" He said.
"I'm fed up with it, eh." He sat down by me. "From now on, he's my new brother."
"You can't do that!"
"Sorry. You've been replaced by my dear brother…" He looked down at me. "Gee, I forgot your name. What's your name again, little bear?:
"I don't want any more brothers." I simply said, completely ignoring the question.
"See? He had enough of you too, eh."
"Aw, come on!" Tuke protested. "I promise I'll change."
"Trample off! You'll never change. Being a brother means nothing to you."
"Of course it does, eh."
"Oh yeah? Like what?"
"What about the time your hooves froze in that pond? Who sat with you all winter, eh?"
"You did."
"And who showed you where the good grazing is? I mean the real tender stuff, all covered in dew? Now why do you think I did that, eh?" He slumbered on his next words. "Because I, because I love you." His brother looked at him.
"Excuse me? I don't believe I heard what you said." His brother sighed.
"Because I love…you."
"I love you too, eh."
"Hey, I can change."
"Go away, eh."
"Come on, I can change." He playfully tapped him with his hoof.
"Go away, eh. Don't touch me."
"I can change!"
Tuke then began to tickle him with his antlers. Rutt laughed.
"Hey, not there. That's the spot." And apparently that was enough for him and forgave him.
"Like we'll see you later, smallish bear." Rutt said with a laugh.
"Yeah." His brother agreed, his hoof going over my head. "Good day, eh. Hey, do you know what this calls for…?" But I never heard the end of that sentence for the two had walked away from me.
This got me thinking. Should I forgive Kenai? No. Now I don't know what exactly caused the argument between those two moose, but I felt like what Kenai did was much worse. What Kenai did was much worse, I'm sure. I can't forgive him and I don't think I ever will. But I can't stay here and mope about it. Mom will want me to be happy and move on. And so, that is what I did.
I walked onwards. I didn't know where I was going, just somewhere. I just hope I don't see Kenai on my way. If I do, I'll just ignore him and walk away.
After a while on the mountaintop, I did see Kenai. I should've known that he was up here for that is what he wanted, I don't know why I came up here. Something inside my head told me to come up here and I listened. Anyways, he had horror in his eyes and was running away. Great, just ignore him, Koda, and continue on your way. Suddenly, I saw that it was a hunter that was chasing Kenai earlier. He had one of those pointy sticks. I froze. Mom said that you should always help a fellow bear in need, but did she also mean a killer? I didn't want to help him, but at the same time, it didn't feel right not to. I mean, he was a bear just like I was, and before I found out that he took my mom's life, he would do anything for me. And I suppose he didn't know that my mom was the bear that he killed. Still was that an excuse? I didn't know. I did feel bad for him though.
I don't know why, but I decided to help him. I ran up to the hunter and at the right moment, tackled him to the ground. I saw him looking at me and eying the pointed stick that was now on the ground. I ran and took it in my mouth and just kept on running. This might be the most bravest and the most stupidest, craziest thing I had ever done in my life. Mom will be proud if she saw me right now. I just know it. I heard Kenai shout after me and plead with the hunter not to hurt me. Suddenly, I dropped the stick for I tripped. The hunter grabbed it as I continued running like mad.
"Koda!" Kenai screamed.
Then something crazy happened. An eagle came down, swooped Kenai in to the lights, and the next thing I knew in his place, I saw the eagle put another human onto the ground, I ran for cover, scared for what this new human would do to me. Then another crazy thing happened, the eagle also turned into a human. What was going on? I never felt so confused in my life. And judging by the hunter's face, so was he. I watched this all enfold from my hiding place. I then did my little whimperings for some reason which had to sound like little bear growls to the humans. The human that replaced Kenai went closer to me.
"Koda." Said the human, sounding a lot like Kenai. Was it him? I was unsure. "Koda, don't be afraid, it's me." I moved closer, looking into his eyes. Then I knew, that without a doubt that it was in fact Kenai. I ran up into his arms as he hugged me. I asked about this and what was going on (which again the humans probably couldn't understand) as an exchange happened and looked at the humans. Kenai looked at one of them, the one who was an eagle earlier. "He needs me, Sitka."
"He did look better as a bear." The hunter said. I didn't know if he meant it or not. I didn't know what was even happening right now, so I guess I just have to accept it. Then Kenai put me on the ground as he was being transformed back into a bear. I then heard a familier voice, a voice that I thought I wouldn't hear ever again.
"Koda." I looked and froze. Mom? She was transparent, but I knew that it was her. "Mom!" We then cuddled. "Oh, Mom, I missed you so, so much! You wouldn't believe the adventure that I just had."
"I saw everything, Koda," I was surprised.
"Really?! You saw me grabbing the hunter's pointed stick and run off with it?"
"Yes. And I'm so proud of you. My brave, little Koda." I smiled.
"I knew you would be proud." She then said something that I never thought she'd say.
"You have to forgive Kenai." What!? Did I hear correctly? I looked up at her.
"Why?" I just asked. "He did an awful, unforgiving act."
"I know he did. But you have to look at his perspective. He didn't know. If he met you before, bonded with you, do you think he still would've done it?"
"I don't know. Maybe not."
"He was just trying to survive. He needs to like us, like every living creature on this planet."
"I suppose you have a point there. Of course you have a point! You're my mom." She smiled. "Okay, I'll forgive him, Mom. I love you."
"I love you too, Koda. I got to go now." I was shocked.
"Go? But you just got here. I don't want you to go."
"You'll be alright. I'll always be with you, Koda." She and the man went back into the sky, the man turning back into an eagle. "Mom, no, wait, Mom!" But it was too late, they were both already gone, leaving me disappointed. But my disappointment soon disappeared as I ran to my brother, all excited because I knew that Mom was right. She always is.
"Kenai!" Then all three of us played wrestled in the white stuff then went onwards.
A few days later, I then saw Kenai do his little ritual with his human tribe and put his paw print on the wall alongside other markings on the wall. Kenai had told me what all of this was and I couldn't be happier and prouder of my brother. And judging by the humans' applause, they were also proud.