Chapter 3

The First Guest

I did not realize immediately that the Bear would so drastically change our lives. He came to our door on a normal winter's evening, not long after Coedbryn's midwinter celebrations. Lyn was grumbling and sulking at the same time in the far corner of the kitchen. She was doing something with her dried herbs, as was her habit when the snowstorms prevent her from reaching the forest. I sat watching her with a smile, paying minimal attention to the evening's spinning while mother read from one of the aged history books father had lugged up the mountain to our isolated home.

Strangely, the wind seemed to change direction and blow more forcefully, making the walls buckle and creak. We all looked up from our work and turned to each other, marvelling at the strength of the storm. We quickly turned to the door as we began to discern a soft thumping. It was slow and rhythmic, as though someone were methodically banging their head against the thick wood in desperation.

I turned to Mother for direction but Lyn was already on her way to the door. "Rhoslyn," Mother's strained voice stopped her, "do not open the door until I tell you." She walked swiftly to the corner, near the fire where we kept our collection of pokers, choosing the thickest and heaviest of the bunch. "Rhoswen, stand behind me. We have no idea what is behind the door. It could be a lost traveler, but it could also be a beast of the wood driven here by hunger and the storm. Rhoslyn, move behind the door as you open it, that way if we are attacked you can protect yourself with it. Alright," Mother poised the poker at the ready like broadsword or club and I stepped behind her. "Open the door."

Lyn firmly grasped the door handle and pulled, but the wind blew it from her grasp. She stumbled back into the room as the storm deposited a pile of snow into our cottage along with a half frozen black bear. He nearly fell into the center of the room and almost nervously cast his gaze about him as Lyn and I stood rigid with shock and the cold that was still blowing into the room. I was starting to back slowly towards the wall when Mother's welcoming voice broke through my mounting fear, "Oh poor Master Bear, you have come a long way and are nearly frozen. Please, sit yourself near the fire and my two daughters will brush the snow from your coat. Rhoswen, Rhoslyn, help make the Bear more comfortable."

I looked to Lyn, and her brown pools met my blue, both filled with uncertainty, and we turned to our mother. "Mother," Lyn's voice cracked, "how can you know he will not attack at any moment? Like you said before, he must be driven mad by the cold and hunger."

"My daughters, look into this poor creature's eyes. He does not mean us any harm." And with that, she turned to the fire and set the kettle to boil as Lyn and I looked at each other again. It was I who broke our stare first and fixed my gaze on the bear. He was actually on the small side, maybe no more than a cub, and was indeed covered in snow. He turned his face to mine and as our eyes met something went through me, I could feel the changes he would bring into our peaceful lives, but it did not fill me with foreboding. Instead, I sensed the beginnings of something entirely new. This feeling encompassed me and I knew his eyes were its source. They were a deep blue, almost purple, obviously a very unnatural color for a bear. Beginning to feel lightheaded, I swayed on my feet but I could not tear my gaze from him. His eyes widened as if in surprise and I felt Lyn grab my arm, steadying me.

"Wen, what is the matter? Are you alright?" I leaned toward her for support and looked into her face as I righted myself.

"Oh, I am alright. It must have been the fright from his arrival." I lied motioning toward our guest. It was a poor explanation and I could tell that she did not believe me. But at that moment I did not even want to think of what had passed between the two of us. "We should probably get him dried off before he soaks the floor." I suggested and gave her our long ago devised "drop it" look before going to the closet for some old blankets. She followed me, her face still full of concern as we rubbed down the bear.

"We must name him something." I stated irrationally between his growls of pleasure at our ministrations. I knew Lyn was just about to ask the very good question of why we would name a beast that was only staying for the night when, to my surprise, Mother broke in. I had nearly forgotten her presence and I wondered about her lack of concern when Lyn had made such a fuss over me.

"Yes, my dears, give him a name. He will need one, for I would have him stay as long as he likes." I closed my eyes and searched my mind for something appropriate, but not before seeing Lyn's astounded gaze search both Mother's and mine.

I dimly thought She must not have looked him full in the face, before settling on, "Thanos." I spoke the name quietly and felt all the eyes in the room turn to me. Suddenly I was enormously tired so I bid them goodnight and slowly climbed up to the loft bedroom Lyn and I shared. I heard Lyn's earnest questioning of Mother and Mother's soft but curt answers before I drifted into slumber. Lyn will be up soon, I thought. Whether or not Mother knew anything about what had passed between Thanos and I, she was obviously as close-mouthed as ever and Lyn would not press her long.

Thanos slept before the fire that night and for many nights afterward. When the storm passed Lyn escaped the surreal situation in the cottage by staying in the forest and cultivating her winter herbs. She would leave for hours and not return until supper. If it had been any other winter I would have gone with her, but there was the puzzle of Thanos. I wanted, needed to understand him. I would help Mother with her housework and chores while keeping one eye on the Bear's movements. He would most often be resting near the fire, but every once in a while I saw him move to his feet and amble about the single room of the cottage, exploring. I knew that Lyn did not understand Mother's hospitality or my preoccupation with Thanos and resented his presence. I didn't understand either, but I was an active participant, although I could not explain my actions to her.

It took me weeks to gather my courage and approach him. He rose when he heard me drawing near, and I stood in front of him as he lay next to the fire. I knelt and looked at his face, but he would not meet my eyes. I now knew for certain he had felt the same as I had that first night, I had to know what it was.

"You are not afraid, are you, Thanos?" I had barely finished the question before his eyes darted to meet my own. The feeling was different than the first night. Before, it was sudden and unnerving, now it was peaceful and comforting. I could feel his concern that we had done something dangerous, and I found myself placing a soothing hand on the side of his snout. He softly huffed and I felt his warm breath as he relaxed and leaned into my palm. I looked closer at his eyes and saw that they were different somehow as Lyn threw open the door and stomped her frozen feet onto the entrance mat, Thanos swiftly looked away.

"You would not believe my bad luck, Wen," she cried. "Just when I thought this horrid winter was going to break it freezes over again. Now the spring sprouts are already turning brown. I shall have to…"

"Lyn, the plants survived just fine before you came to the mountain, you will coddle them and they will wither when you are no longer there." Mother's voice penetrated her frustrated outburst as I realized what was different about Thanos' eyes.

"Don't be silly, Mother. Why would we leave the mountain?" Lyn asked and at the same time I breathed, "They are turning brown." Thanos' startlingly blue eyes were slightly ringed with brown from the outer side, as though the brown was seeping in from his fur.

"Yes, Wen. I have established that the sprouts are going to turn brown." Lyn returned and I had the sudden feeling he would take me from the mountain, at least. I knew I would follow Thanos when he left, if only to solve his puzzle.