Koda awoke to find Tug not by his side. He looked outside the cave to find Tug with two fat salmon in his mouth. He dropped one out and said kindly "Breakfast is served."
Koda immediately tucked into the salmon and Tug watched in amazement at the young cub's appetite.
Koda licked the bones clean, sighed in contentment and let slip a burp. He looked at Tug embarrassed.
"Better out than in," chuckled the bigger bear.
When he had finished, they went out of the cave, Koda eyeing the meadow in daylight for the first time.
The meadows were beautifully green, birds were singing and there were many trees giving promising shade.
"This your home?" said Koda.
"This and nothing else," said Tug proudly. "The bees in that forest promise some sweet honey for me - well, now us."
"I could eat honey until I hibernate," boasted Koda.
"Same here," smiled Tug. "Honey is my life."
Tug took Koda to a huge lake.
"This hear is my dream lake. I just swim or float and in my own world."
"Just like me!" exclaimed Koda jumping up and down excitedly. He always thought back on when he would swim and play in the water with his Mom.
Tug then took the cub to a big hill.
"My favourite hill with the patch of sun," said Tug. "Nothing like relaxing in the sun on a day like this, and -" he continued. He went to a tree in the middle of the hill and revealed a hole. "some good honey to feast on."
They soon found themeless licking the sweetness until they couldn't move.
After their nap, Koda got to his feet as did Tug. He started to walk but the honey weighed him.
"May I ride on your back please?" said Koda. "I'm full."
"Certainly," chuckled Tug. "Hop aboard the Tug Express."
They walked through a glade which soon began to smell of water. They walked to a cliff revealing a huge pool of jumping salmon and strong waterfalls cascaded to the water and several other bears were playing and feasting.
"Welcome to the Salmon Run," Tug introduced.
"How do we get down there""?" asked Koda.
Tug sat on his bottom and slid down the waterfall like a slide. Koda followed and landed with a splash. He rose from the water to find Tug with three salmon in his paws. He began to juggle, throw the, in the air and gulped the, down. Koda clapped but turned to laughter after Tug's bow was I interrupted by a burp.
After the other bears left, they spent a happy time chasing each other, feasting, splashing and water wrestling with Tug eventually falling on his back in front of a waterfall while Koda jumped onto his huge belly.
"You know," said Koda to Tug. "It's like being with Mom again. She was always this playful."
"Well at least your new dad inherits everything a mom would have," laughed Tug. "It's nice to finally have a cub of my own."
Koda hopped up to his chest and nuzzled under his chin.
Tug addressed the same. Unexpectedly, Tug gave Koda a huge lick making him giggle. They frolicked some more until they returned home to the cave snuggled well up against each other.