Chapter 2
Black Bear, Black Bear
Night soon turned to day and day turned back to night. Horse stopped only to eat or to drink on his journey. He galloped past rivers, through canyons, over mountains and bridges until he reached a grand forest. His energy had finally dwindled to it's last bit. He would have to rest this night and continue at the cock's crow. Horse was about to drink from a small, nearby stream, when an agonized roar to the east of his position, got his attention. Normally, Horse would have fled, but for some reason he just had to find out what it was. Following the sound, he came to where a large black bear stood in a hunter's trap. Horse turned to flee but his eyes caught sight of blood dripping from the bear's wound.
"Help her." Came the voice of the stranger, ringing in his mind.
The animal bobbed his head in reluctance. "Help her? But she will eat me."
"Nonsense, look at her. She needs your help. You must help her. Trust me, she will not harm you."
Horse whinnied in uncertainty, but slowly crept forward. The Bear eyed Horse suspiciously, as he began prodding the trap gently with his hoof.
"What are you doing?" Bear asked.
"I'm trying to help you. Please stay still." Answered Horse.
After much concentration and persistence, Bear was free. She looked at Horse with gratefulness in her eyes.
"Thank you, Friend Horse."
"No thanks needed Bear."
Just then the click of a cocking gun was heard. Horse and Bear turned to face a hunter with his rifle aimed right at them.
"RUN!" Bear shouted.
Horse and his new friend took off with the hunter in tow. Unfortunately Bear's wounded paw did not allow for fast movement and it looked as though the hunter would get to her. Horse wheeled around and rose up on his hind legs against the offending huntsman. This gave Bear time to move out of range. Horse kicked with his front legs and sent the man backwards to the ground. Seeing the window of opportunity, Bear and Horse ran deeper into the forest and out of danger.
Later that night. . .
"I don't suppose this means that we are friends?" Bear asked hopefully.
"I don't mind. In fact I rather like the idea." Replied Horse. "How is your paw?"
They were now in a cave, ready to rest after their escape from the hunter. Bear was cleaning her wound, while Horse at of some hay that had been found conveniently in he cave, probably left by the previous owners.
"It will heal." Bear said.
"Does it hurt you much?"
"Only when I move it. I will be fine. What were you doing in the forest anyway? There are no farms around here."
"You're right. I'm from the south. I'm running away from my master.""
"What for?" Bear asked.
"He wouldn't feed me and he abused me."
"Makes sense then. How did you escape though? From what I heard, farmers keep their animals locked up at night."
Horse told Bear his story, beginning with the appearance of the blonde stranger.
"Wait did you say, platinum blonde?" Bear asked after a few moments.
"Yes I did."
"Did he wear all white?"
"Yes. He rescued me from my stall and told me to head north. And the rest as the say is history."
Bear cocked her black head. "This is odd. Only a day ago, I met a man of the same description. He told me that someone would be coming through soon. Someone I needed to meet and stay with. Now I realize that he meant you."
At this realization, the cave was illuminated with a bright light. As the light dimmed, the man of white stepped out. "And I'm glad that my efforts were not in vain." Said the white-haired man. "Now that you are together, this world has a chance."
Bear and Horse gave the man their full attention. "What are you talking about?" Bear asked. "Who are you?"
"I speak of your destiny." He stated.
Bear and Horse now looked at each other. "You said that before. What is this destiny? What do you want us to do?" Horse asked now.
"You will see in time. I can say this only, stay together. For together you are strong and only together can you fulfill you destiny. Now, before I depart, I have a gift to bestow upon each of you."
The stranger raised a pale hand and all at once the cave was brimming with the light. The light engulfed the two beasts. When the cave dimmed once more, the man was gone, but the evidence of his presence was left behind. Bear was no longer black, but a delicate beige with a tuft of pink and purple fur for hair, and her tail was the same colors. Horse was a majestic violet with a blue and teal mane and tail. Both stood on their hind legs, had heart-shaped noses, and opposable thumbs. They had been changed. But for what purpose? What was this destiny that the man kept speaking of?
End Chapter
Black Bear, Black Bear
Night soon turned to day and day turned back to night. Horse stopped only to eat or to drink on his journey. He galloped past rivers, through canyons, over mountains and bridges until he reached a grand forest. His energy had finally dwindled to it's last bit. He would have to rest this night and continue at the cock's crow. Horse was about to drink from a small, nearby stream, when an agonized roar to the east of his position, got his attention. Normally, Horse would have fled, but for some reason he just had to find out what it was. Following the sound, he came to where a large black bear stood in a hunter's trap. Horse turned to flee but his eyes caught sight of blood dripping from the bear's wound.
"Help her." Came the voice of the stranger, ringing in his mind.
The animal bobbed his head in reluctance. "Help her? But she will eat me."
"Nonsense, look at her. She needs your help. You must help her. Trust me, she will not harm you."
Horse whinnied in uncertainty, but slowly crept forward. The Bear eyed Horse suspiciously, as he began prodding the trap gently with his hoof.
"What are you doing?" Bear asked.
"I'm trying to help you. Please stay still." Answered Horse.
After much concentration and persistence, Bear was free. She looked at Horse with gratefulness in her eyes.
"Thank you, Friend Horse."
"No thanks needed Bear."
Just then the click of a cocking gun was heard. Horse and Bear turned to face a hunter with his rifle aimed right at them.
"RUN!" Bear shouted.
Horse and his new friend took off with the hunter in tow. Unfortunately Bear's wounded paw did not allow for fast movement and it looked as though the hunter would get to her. Horse wheeled around and rose up on his hind legs against the offending huntsman. This gave Bear time to move out of range. Horse kicked with his front legs and sent the man backwards to the ground. Seeing the window of opportunity, Bear and Horse ran deeper into the forest and out of danger.
Later that night. . .
"I don't suppose this means that we are friends?" Bear asked hopefully.
"I don't mind. In fact I rather like the idea." Replied Horse. "How is your paw?"
They were now in a cave, ready to rest after their escape from the hunter. Bear was cleaning her wound, while Horse at of some hay that had been found conveniently in he cave, probably left by the previous owners.
"It will heal." Bear said.
"Does it hurt you much?"
"Only when I move it. I will be fine. What were you doing in the forest anyway? There are no farms around here."
"You're right. I'm from the south. I'm running away from my master.""
"What for?" Bear asked.
"He wouldn't feed me and he abused me."
"Makes sense then. How did you escape though? From what I heard, farmers keep their animals locked up at night."
Horse told Bear his story, beginning with the appearance of the blonde stranger.
"Wait did you say, platinum blonde?" Bear asked after a few moments.
"Yes I did."
"Did he wear all white?"
"Yes. He rescued me from my stall and told me to head north. And the rest as the say is history."
Bear cocked her black head. "This is odd. Only a day ago, I met a man of the same description. He told me that someone would be coming through soon. Someone I needed to meet and stay with. Now I realize that he meant you."
At this realization, the cave was illuminated with a bright light. As the light dimmed, the man of white stepped out. "And I'm glad that my efforts were not in vain." Said the white-haired man. "Now that you are together, this world has a chance."
Bear and Horse gave the man their full attention. "What are you talking about?" Bear asked. "Who are you?"
"I speak of your destiny." He stated.
Bear and Horse now looked at each other. "You said that before. What is this destiny? What do you want us to do?" Horse asked now.
"You will see in time. I can say this only, stay together. For together you are strong and only together can you fulfill you destiny. Now, before I depart, I have a gift to bestow upon each of you."
The stranger raised a pale hand and all at once the cave was brimming with the light. The light engulfed the two beasts. When the cave dimmed once more, the man was gone, but the evidence of his presence was left behind. Bear was no longer black, but a delicate beige with a tuft of pink and purple fur for hair, and her tail was the same colors. Horse was a majestic violet with a blue and teal mane and tail. Both stood on their hind legs, had heart-shaped noses, and opposable thumbs. They had been changed. But for what purpose? What was this destiny that the man kept speaking of?
End Chapter