Dale Thacker Aurthor

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  • Chapter 7 / Late Summer Time

          Late Summer Time

    Late summer is here, it is hot and sticky, and it has a feeling of love in the air. Whatever that means, the love bug hasn’t hit me yet. But lucy on the other hand is just glowing all the time. Her, and James finds every excuse they can to be together. If she not going over there, James is coming over here. I love my blood brother coming over, but he has no time for me. The problem is he wants to spend all his time with Lucy. I’m glad he has Lucy to spend time with, but it gets a little lonely here.

          I decided to go over to Samuel’s and Maverick’s to see how they are doing. It’s so nice seeing them not angry and mean now. Samuel says he is so thankful, that I had the idea, of getting the marijuana from Cesear, and for Maverick to make the switch. Samuel still misses Charlotte and Emma, but it is getting easier for them to deal with daily. Myself and Maverick have become close friends and blood brother’s now. We love to go forging for food, hunting, and fishing together. It’s nice having him as a friend, since James is in love, he doesn’t have time for his blood brother.

         Samel says hey let’s go over to Angels, so I can thank her for her Cesear’s marijuana. So, we all head over to Angel’s. I said I’m going to stop by and tell Oliver and Sophia, where they were going. As he enters the den, he hears the bed creaking, and Sophia was breathing hard and making some very strange and loud noises. I decided best not to interrupt them. I’m old enough to know, they are making myself and Lucy some brothers and sisters. I find this to be exciting news.

         So, we head on over to Angel’s, Samuel says there is still some fruit in the meadows and forest, we can pick to take to Angel and Luna. We also can get her a deer, and maybe some small game. I want to repay her for all the bad deeds I’ve done. We gathered a basket full of fruit, then it’s time to go find a deer, we go down into the holler, 2 deer are standing there. The 3 of us run them into the steep rocks, we able to harvest both. Myself and Maverick stay back to drag the 2 deer to Angel’s den. Samuel is carrying the basket of fruit, well in front of us, he happens upon a turkey which he harvested. Samuel is thinking that is a pretty good start on repaying Angel and her family.

         Samuel gets to the den first, only Angel is there. Samuel gives Angel the basket of fruit, and the turkey and says that was for her family. Angel says that Luna was down at Ceasar’s, and spending some time with Cesear. Samuel is now in tears and starts apologizing to Angel, he said I know my behavior was totally inexcusable, she agrees with him, but then she says, I understand why you were so horrible. Losing your mate and young daughter, all at the same time, is more than any bear should endure. I know how hurt I was losing George; it was almost unbearable. I was able to get through my lose without turning to marijuana. I know you turned to Caesars marijuana, you were doing better, but you were still hurting. Then you happened to run in to another dealer, that was a very bad and evil dealer. You started using his laced marijuana, as did Maverick. The PCP laced marijuana changed your brain, and the way you were thinking. With all this said, I’m not holding you responsible for your actions. All this started because a bear hunter took your young daughter cub illegally, I believe if you had only lost your mate, as I did, you could have gotten through this, without turning to the laced marijuana. I can tell you are very sorry, for what you have put our great forest though. With all this said, I totally forgive you for everything you did. Samuel gave Angel a big bear hug. This took Angel by surprise, and she had a little fuzzy feeling when he hugged her.

         Maverick and Ben are now at the den, Angel says what do you have here. We were able to get you, 2 deer this should help feed your family for a while. She said yes, and she thanks them for the food. Maverick says where is Luna at. Angel says she is over at Cesear’s. He then said great Ben and myself will go over there. I want to thank him for the deer and possum bags of marijuana he had given us. I also want him to know, just how much this has changed our life. I also want him to know that we are weaned off of it now. But most of all I want to thank him, for giving me my dad Samuel back.

         They headed on over to Cesear’s, when they get there Luna said, hi Maverick, and then she said oh you to Ben. For the first time in my life, I felt a little jealously towards Maverick. She has always acknowledged me first, could she be having feelings towards Maverick. I’ve never had any feelings other than friends towards her. Why do I feel so hurt now? Could I now be beginning to have more serious feelings towards her? I’m confused with this, I don’t want to say anything about the way I’m feeling now. I will just pretend nothing is bothering me. I don’t want to do anything, that will cause any contempt with Luna and also Maverick. They are my friends, so I never told either one of them, the way I was feeling.

         Back at the den Samuel and Angel, has just been sitting and talking. Angels tells him, she was so glad they all came over, and I’m even more glad we have had this talk, it means so much to her. Samuel says I’m so glad we had this talk also. This helps even more, with my healing of losing Charlotte and Emma. Meanwhile Angel is thinking to herself damn, he is a very sexy bear. This is the first time since losing George, she has had these warm and fuzzy feelings. She wasn’t ready to let Samuel know yet, how she was feeling.

          All the cubs are now back at the den, I can tell for sure that Luna and Maverick are beginning to have feelings about each other. Coming back from Cesear’s they were having that same giggly giggle and laugh that James and Lucy have had for a while now. I do feel left out but they are my friends, I’ll support them if they decide to be a couple. I know Mrs. Right will come to me, when I lease expect it. I guess I’m growing up a little, I feel a little silly that I’m having these thoughts now. 

          Angel tells us all that we can spend the night. Maverick and Luna tried to down play their feelings; they did not want to let anyone know, they are having feelings towards each other. The cubs all decided to play some cards. Angel and Samuel stayed in the kitchen and talked until time for bed.

         We all went to bed or at least I thought we had, until the next morning when I woke up, Luna and Maverick were nowhere to be found. I go outside and walked around, I found them rolling in the leaves, with Maverick on top of Luna. I felt hurt but I can’t blame anyone but myself. I had never had feelings for Lucy until now. Looks like they will be starting their own family. I didn’t let them see me so, I went back to the den and sat there until Samuel and Angel were awake. They asked where Luna and Maverick were. I said I havn’t seen them, I guess they are outside somewhere. They were gone when I woke up. Why do I feel so alone now?

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  • Early Summer Time

    Early Summer Time

    Its summer time now, the flowers have now turned into fruit. In the meadows there are so many delicious strawberries, so thick you can’t walk without stepping onto them, and along the woods line are the blackberries and raspberries bushes, covered in lush black and red fruit, while deeper in the woods the blueberries are growing on low bushes, that’s at just the right height for a bear to forage on them. With so many choices, I don’t know which ones I like the best. Lucy and myself eat until our bellies look like that we may pop.

            I’ll help you Lucy to pick a basket full of all the different types of fruit, so we can take the basket over to Angel’s. I’m giggling as I say I don’t think you would mind seeing James. I mean y’all were just together yesterday. Lucy says, can I tell you something Ben. Yes of course. Lucy says I’m falling in love with James. Yeah, I know, that’s been very noticeable here lately. Lucy says I just feel so much joy. when we are together. Nothing else matters when we are together. Ben giggles and says yep, the old love bug has bitten the 2 of you, I’m very happy for you sister. I tell lucy that I’m happy that James has become my blood Brother.

    We have a large basket of berries, and off though the woods we go. We are just walking along all happy and joyful when what do I hear, in a gruff voice, fuck you, Ben. Oh no its Samuel and Maverick, but Maverick doesn’t seem to be in his horrible mood, so that’s a plus. Samuel says to Maverick, is there something you want to say and do. Maverick says, “no I told you I don’t want to live like that anymore.” Samuel then states “I see you picked me a basket of berries hand them over to me, and we will have no problems.” So, our berries are gone, as Samuel and Maverick heads off, I hear Samuel say, damn-it Maverick, “I told you was to handle this.”  Maverick says “I told you I don’t like being mean to our fellow bears anymore.” Samuel says “fine this basket of fruit is all mine as he walks away from Maverick.”

    Maverick is now in the woods all alone, I can hear him crying, I walk down to him and Maverick says “I stood up to my dad it really felt good. But I also feel so empty now, with him walking away from me. Maverick, I know your dad Samuel loves you deep down. He hasn’t been the same since y’all loss Charlotte and Emma. I’m telling Maverick how I remember how hard it was for y’all, Oliver and Sophia tried for several months to help y’all out. Then Caesar had given y’all a possum bag of marijuana for a couple of months, y’all were doing so much better but not great. Then when Samuel got hold of that laced marijuana, it hasn’t been good for y’all, or anyone else in this neck of the woods since then. About then I had a light bulb come on. You know when y’all was doing the best, was when Y’all was being supplied with marijuana from Caesar, what if I can get y’all some. Maverick speaks up and says, I wish it would be that simple, Sameul has gotten used to this way of life, and he doesn’t want to change. He just told me the other day that he loves being the worst bear in the woods. I said, Well that’s is so sad. I then get another idea. I think if he was off the laced marijuana, he wouldn’t feel that way. I told Maverick to come with them to Angels.

    Upon getting to Angels, James is just smiling to see Lucy. James says “I see you brought Maverick; I’m surprised about that.” I fill James in on what happened this morning. James says that so sad, I wish we could help Samuel out, it sounds like Maverick is ready for a change. I then tell James and Maverick of my new plan.

    Sameul doesn’t want to change on his own, so what if we help him change. They said how can we help him if he doesn’t want to change. Well, our first step is to get some marijuana form Cesear your granddad. We then get maverick to replace all the laced marijuana that Samuel has, with Cesear’s marijuana. Upon getting the laced marijuana out of his system, and Caesar’s in his system hopefully Samuel, will stop being mean and nasty. Keep your paws crossed that this works. Maverick says that he now has hope. I haven’t had any hope since we started smoking the laced marijuana. When they get to Cesars he asked how much does Samuel have right now. Maveric said Samuel had just has bought a deer bag and had on hand maybe 2 possum bags. Cesear said “OK he wasn’t going to charge anything for this. If it is successful just the forest being at peace again is all the pay I need.”

    Ben, James, Lucy, and Maverick heads back to Angel’s den. Luna is now awake and getting ready to help Angel prepare supper. Maverick said “wish him luck with the trade.” I told Maverick to hold up, that I would just be a minute, and they would walk back with him at least to our den. I went in and told Luna, and Angel our plan, Luna said she hopes that all goes well. I tell Angel and Luna bye. I said I’m sorry he had brought over Maverick over, but I saw a chance of helping out Maverick. Angel said with any luck due to your generosity, you will have helped the whole forest. I tell them bye and say I sure do hope so. James is giving all kinds of sickening bear kisses and telling Lucy bye.

    On the way back to my den Maverick appears joyful, he says he hopes he gets his dad back. We both was very depressed and were doing better, until we got on the laced marijuana. I never liked what it did to me, but I wanted to please Samuel. I hope he doesn’t catch me making the switch. Ben says he was proud of Maverick and wishes him luck. Maverick shed a tear or two. He said that’s the first time in a long time, that anyone has said they were proud of him. The closest to this was my dad saying, he would be proud of me doing something bad, to the other bears. I tell maverick about how James and myself are blood brothers, I would love for him to be also. I had to tell Maverick what and how you became blood brothers. He was excited, I lost my sister, I would love to be your blood brother. So, we cut each other paws and held them together.

    We are now at my den; we say goodbye to each other. Maverick thanks Ben and Lucy for their help, and being a good friend to him. Maverick heads on to his den, he is worried he might get caught, changing out the marijuana. When he gets back to his den, he apologizes to Samuel. Samuel says “I hope you got your damn shit together now, and you will be by my side in the future.” Maverick said “Yes sir I plan to stick by your side.” Maverick goes throughout the den and as replaces the exact amounts at each area of the marijuana stashed. He is at the last stash that was in a cookie jar, he has taken the old marijuana out, and is putting the new in, when Samuel hollers “what the hell you doing in that cookie jar.” Maverick got scared but then he said “I’m getting me some of your marijuana, so we can go out and do some devastation tonight.” Samuel said “oh good bring me a large cigar over, I want to celebrate because you are going to make me proud.”

    This is the first cigarette that Maverick had smoked in about 2 weeks, and absolutely the 1st he has smoked that wasn’t laced in months. He was very nervous, as to the outcome with Samuel. Will there be enough residual laced PCP, that this huge cigar won’t calm Samuel down, and he will expect me to do devastation, after smoking the marijuana. Well after about the third deep puff I was already feeling less anxious, it’s working on me. But will it have the same effect on Samuel. About then Samuel states for some reason this cigar, doesn’t have the effects it normally does. Samuel says “I’m calming down just a bit.” Go ahead and roll me another double cigar, and get you another cigarette, so we will be ready to rip these woods apart. He is calmer but still having bad thoughts, Maverick is worried, but also a little optimistic since Samuel is a little calmer, than he has been in months. After they had finished their 2nd smoke Maverick, is calm as a cucumber, he doesn’t have any angry thoughts and couldn’t even hurt a spider right now. He looks over at Samuel as he hearing a snoring noise, he is out cold.

    The next morning Samuel wakes up, he says son I haven’t felt this good in a long time. But I don’t get why I’m so calm, and I didn’t want to go out and do devastation last night. Maverick says I’m very glad you are feeling so well. I’m going to fix you another Cigar for you to smoke. It was after those two cigars last night you felt so good. Samuel said “Well just roll me 2 cigars” Maverick said let’s just try one for now dad. We should try to wean ourselves off this marijuana, says Maverick. I believe we are both strong enough now to wean off it.  Samuel says “Ok I’ll try the way I feel now, I feel stronger than I have for a long time, but I can’t quit cold turkey.”

    For the next 2 weeks Samuel is smoking less each day, but is running a little low.  He tells Maverick he needs to go out, and get some marijuana. Maverick says, “I’ll go and get it Samuel, you are doing amazing just sit here, I’ll be back shortly.” Maverick rolled him a little cigarette to smoke while he was gone. He returns with a possum size bag, and tells Samuel he had only gotten a possum size bag. Samuel says perfect I’m not going to smoke any of it, unless I get feeling so depressed I have to. But you know having you here with me, is really the only thing I need right now. Maveric said, “I’m proud of you dad, of all the hard work you have done,” Maverick not wanting to continue lying to Samuel, told his dad how he had replaced all his marijuana. Maverick was very apprehensive telling him this. Samuel states I have only one thing I’m going tell you right now I’m so very proud of you, I’m so sorry how I’ve been acting. Dad, I’m so blessed to have you back, I’ve missed you so much, you used to the best dad, in the Appalachian mountains. I did not only lose Charolette and Emma, but I loss you also dad. They sit there and bear hugged each other rest of the evening before falling to sleep. Maverick is praying that this will last, and that Samuel doesn’t start using the Laced marijuana again. Will this last?

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  • Chapter 5 / Spring Time

    Spring Time

    It’s now spring time and the weather is beautiful, there is a slight crispness to the early morning air. The trees are no longer bare, they have different shades of green showing up everywhere. These fresh new growth leaves are so delicious Ben says to Lucy. Yes, the leave is delicious, but yum these flowers are so sweet and delicious.  They are enjoying all the fresh leaves and flowers, then Lucy happens to find a honey bee hive. She tells me to come over that she found some deliciousness. I come over and she has already dug in, the bees are all over her in a swarm. Fortunately, bees don’t have the same effect on bears as humans. They are more of an annoyance for them, then a true pain in the ass. I said, save me some, she said it’s a very large hive it’s plenty for all. They eat to their heart content, Lucy said, we will go get a large container, we will take all the deliciousness back to the den. They were cautious, not to harm the bees, so they can start producing more honey for them.

    As we get back to our den, Sophia is so happy seeing that we have 10 gallons of honey and honeycomb. We tell her we probably ate a gallon a piece. She said y’all will probably be sick, from that much honey. She was right we both just felt blah, the rest of the day. Sophia places the honey, in smaller containers to keep for future use. She has some frozen berries, so she made four large cobblers, with some of the honey, and fried us some possum for supper tonight. She had collected some morel’s mushrooms that were so delicious with the possum.

    The next day Sophia says let’s go visit Angel, and her family, she wants to take her some of our deliciousness’s, she had a gallon can of honey, she filled up for them. Lucy and myself are overjoyed; it’s been a couple weeks since we have seen James and Luna. Lucy and myself decided we would take them a basket of fish, so we grab the basket and head down to the stream. The pools were loaded with native trout, it only took us less than a half hour, and our basket was overflowing. We took the basket back to our den, and cleaned all the fish, and placed them in a large bag to take to Angel.

    The next morning, we get up and have breakfast. Then grab all the fish, we are headed to see our friends. I’m very excited it’s going to be such a great day. Oliver tells us to go ahead of him, he would be following, he is going to try to get a deer, to bring to Angels family. I asked if I could stay back with him, so he could teach me, to be a big game hunter. Oliver was happy I wanted to stay with him, and participate on the hunt. Bear country is steep, Oliver tells me he has found if he runs a deer up into the steepness, he can catch the deer at the rock cliffs.

    We find 2 yearlings, he pointed at which direction, we should start this entrapment of these 2 yearlings. He said he would be right behind me, but this was my hunt. Oliver, I’m afraid they will get away from me. Oliver then said that’s why it’s called hunting. There has been a many deer that have outsmarted me, said Oliver. I take the lead; the deer is headed straight up to the steep rocks. One of the deer cuts to the right, Oliver said he would take the one to the right. I continued chasing mine. He got up to the rocks, I swiped at the deer with my paw. It didn’t kill it, I swiped again, then I bite her in her head, with my jaws the deer was now dead. A few minutes later, Oliver comes over to me, he congratulated me on my first big game kill. I said, Well guess we will take these deer to Angel. Oliver then said we only have 1 deer; he said, his deer had gotten away from him. I was surprised that Oliver didn’t get his deer, but that’s hunting, I guess.

    Upon entering Angels den Sophia, Angel, James, Luna, and lucy was sitting around talking. Angel said she was so glad they had come over, we have been a little down, y’all have given us the pickup we needed. She said that Samuel and Maverick had come by a few days ago, they had taking some of her food. They didn’t rummage and tear anything up, they only said a couple cuss words. She said it was the most pleasant meeting; they have had with them for the past year. But it sucks they took some of our food. Ben speaks up, look here Angel I got this here yearling doe, for y’all all by myself. Sophia said What son I’m so proud of you on your first deer kill.

    Ben spoke up and said all us cubs, will go out hunting and find some game for y’all. Lucy, Luna, and James were all for this. Let’s go to possum holler says James. Once out of the den Luna says, I know where there are several yearling deer. Ben, you got your first deer, maybe we all can go and try to get a deer or 2. All the cubs were happy about this. Luna said Hey Ben you come with me, over to next holler and James and Lucy can go into this holler. Ok sounds good James speaks up, I’ve never killed a deer, tell me Ben how you did it. Ben says just get down below the deer, then try to run them up to the steep part of the mountains. When they get up to the rocks, they will have a hard time getting though them, that when you go in for the kill. James says that sounds easy enough. So, James and Lucy go down into the holler, before long they see a yearling, the chase is on. They pursue it all the way up to the rocks. James gives it a powerful blow knocking it down, he tells Lucy to go in for the kill. She goes in and bites the head of the yearling; the deer is dead. Lucy tells James how strong and awesome he is. Lucy, as she is telling James this, is looking at James all google-eyed.

    The two of them begin dragging the deer back to the den. They both are laughing and giggling and acting very differently, from the way they usually do. James ends up telling Lucy that she is a special bear, he is glad they have come to be such good friends. Lucy tells James, hey why don’t you come over to my den sometime, I have this special place to fish, the native trout is so much fun to catch, and is a delicacy. Fresh sushi is the bomb she said. James was all for this, as his parts of the woods, have good big game and small game hunting but no place to fish.  

    Ben and Luna over in their holler, they see 2 yearlings, Ben says I’ll take the one on the left, you try to get the one on the right. Luna says I don’t think I can do this. Ben says you got this I know you can do it. Just remember to get in below the yearling, then chase it up into the rocks, then you can go in for the kill. She said OK if you know I can do it, I can do it. We head down in the holler, we get below the 2 yearling deer, then the chase is on, Luna is fast, she is catching up with her deer, even before she gets to the rocks, with a big smack of her paw, she breaks the deer neck and the deer is dead. Ben is now chasing his up into the rocks, with a blow to the head, his deer is dead also. They begin to drag both deer’s back to the den. This was such a good day, Luna says I don’t feel depressed any more. You showing me I’m stronger than I thought I was, means so much to me. They begin to hear James and lucy in front of them. They are just giggling and laughing, they were not acting their normal selves. Luna tells Ben she thinks they may be falling in love, the way they are acting. She says she loves reading romance novels.

    The cubs get back to the den and shows Angel and Oliver the 3 deer, Oliver and Angel was so surprised. I thought y’all was going small game hunting. Ben says they were, but Luna thought she knew where some yearling deer was, since I knew how to big game hunt now. They decided it was time; they all try to do some big game hunting. Ben tells Lucy that he had heard, her and James laughing, and giggling, unlike he had ever heard them before. She began to blush and says yeah, they had fun together today.

    Oliver said, well it is time to head back to our den, James speaks up and said, Y’all stayed last time you were here, you know y’all always welcome, y’all might as well stay. Oliver says, he didn’t want to wear out their welcome. Angel said that could never happen. Well ok, if you sure it’s no bother. Lucy yells out thank y’all, I didn’t want to go home tonight.

    The next morning after having breakfast, we tell Angel goodbye. James and Luna are going to our den for the day. James was looking forward to spending some time with Lucy, he wanted to learn how to fish with her. As they are walking back to the den, James and Lucy are going at a slower pace, they have this love sick giggle. Ben tells Sophia, that is just sickening. Sophia says well one day you will understand.

    Once back at the den, everyone goes in except for Lucy and James. Lucy says this path here that goes to the stream; would you like to go down to the stream with me. Yes, I’m looking forward to it, says James. They walking down to stream side by side. This is the deep pool I’ve been telling you about, that’s loaded with native trout, are you ready to learn to fish now James. James states you know I’m a little tired right now, can we just sit here on the banks for a while, before we start fishing. Lucy said yes, that sounds like a perfect plan.

    As they set there and telling each other stories, holding paws, and giving bear kisses, by rubbing each other’s noses. They tell stories and are just laughing and giggling. Then Lucy was telling about how Oliver, had taught Ben to deer hunt, and how much he looks up to his dad [Oliver]. At this point James gets quiet and is a little withdrawn. I asked if he was ok, he said no he misses his dad [George]. I felt totally horrible, and was at a loss for words. James said it was ok; it wasn’t anything she had done; and that he has these moments. He said just hold me tight that will make me feel better. They gave each other a huge bear hug and just held onto each other.

    After we talked, we were getting hungry, and we decided it’s time to go fishing. Lucy dives in the pool and comes out, with an 8-inch native trout. Here James, is some of the best sushi, you have ever eaten. He said, it will be the first sushi, that I have ever eaten. James takes a bite and says yummy, but that is just an appetizer. Well, come on in, it’s easy just dive in, then swat at the fish with your paws, your claws will catch and hang onto the trout, as you swat at them. His first try was a beautiful 10-inch trout. Wow that’s fun James said. They fished and ate for over 30 minutes. James says this is so much fun, but I couldn’t eat another trout if I had to. Lucy says well let’s head back to the den.

    At the den Lucy and James are telling to Oliver and Sophia about how much fun they had fishing, down at the stream. They tell how they had just sat there and talked prior to fishing. Then Lucy says that she had mentioned to James, about you Oliver, and how you taught Ben to hunt deer, and how he had gotten quiet. James explained how much he misses his dad at times. Sophia asks for Lucy and Luna to come in the kitchen, to help her for a few minutes.

    While the girls were in with Sophia. Ben and James begin to play some games. Oliver goes in where the boys are playing and says to Ben and James looks like y’all are having the best time playing together. He says it almost like y’all are brothers. Oliver said when I was young bear, my best friend and I, we became blood brothers. He goes on to say, that they had made a small cut on their paws, then held their paws together and they bleed into each other. James says I would love to be your blood brother Ben, as James agrees. After becoming Blood brothers James is telling Oliver, thanks as he is talking to him, he says you know since we are brothers, that would almost make you, my dad. Oliver says you know I would love that. James says, me too.

    James and Luna spend the night, with their new family, the next morning, Ben and Lucy walks them home. James is singing in the woods, I haven’t been this happy since losing my dad. It’s all because of you Lucy and your family. Y’all are the best, I just feel at my best when I’m with you Lucy. Thanks for walking me home, I can’t hardly wait until I see you again. Well James, you make me smile, I’m the happiest when I’m with you. What you think about us being boar cub friend and sow cub friends. With that she said nothing, she just gave James a big bear kiss by rubbing noses. Ben and Lucy then walk back to their den. Ben says I guess Y’all are becoming a thing. Yes, I believe we are brother. How about you and Luna. Ben says we are just friends I do like her but just as friends. Well sis I’m happy you and James have hit it off so well.

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  • Chapter 4 / The Bad News Bears

    The Bad News Bears

    The next morning after awaking, Angel was already awake and had prepared two possums and porridge for breakfast. She was singing and humming while preparing breakfast. Oliver and Sophia were so happy seeing her prepare breakfast, and she appeared to be much happier than yesterday. All the cubs were up and setting the table, getting ready for some delicious possum and porridge. Oliver said the blessing, we all started eating like a bunch of hungry bears. We all chipped in to help clean up the table and tidy up the den. Angel thanked us again as we were off to our den.

    As we were trudging through the snow back to our den, we are seeing a plenty of game. I was able to harvest us a couple of possums and Sophia gets another turkey and rabbit. Oliver comes across two yearling deer, one a small doe the other a button buck. He was able to harvest both. Lucy says she likes fishing better, so when we get back to our den, she will go get some native trout. Sophia oversees getting the turkey and two possums back to our den. Lucy and myself have the doe, Oliver is taking the button buck back to our den.

    As we are getting closer to our den, we hear a lot of commotion and cursing. I’m hearing words I have never heard before. I’m heard a gruff sounding bear voice say fuck you bastard, then I heard a younger sounding voice say Oliver is a son of a bitch. I also heard the younger voice say shit. Well, we all know what that is, bears shit in the woods every day. I asked Oliver about all the other words and who is saying all this. He said that Samuel is about a 300-pound bear and is the older voice, and that other voice is Maverick the younger voice, he is the son of Samuel, and Maverick is a two-year-old bear. He went on to say that a year ago that some bear hunters had killed Charlotte, Samuel’s mate and had illegally killed his daughter Emma, she was still a cub and didn’t meet the weight limit, to be legally harvested. He continues to say that Samuel and Maverick were just like Angel and her family. They were very depressed and sad. Oliver continues, I tried to help them out just like we did Angel and her family.

    We were helping them out for over 2 months, but they never really seemed to be appreciative the way Angel family just showed us. Then things started to go a little better. Oliver said he had been in touch with Angel’s granddad Caesar, and Caesar had giving him what was called a possum bag of marijuana. He sales marijuana by different size bags. The smallest is rabbit then it’s the possum bag, turkey bag, followed by deer bag, and the largest bag is the bear bag which is enough to keep you supplied for a 3-month period for a normal user. After Caesar had giving him the marijuana, they seem so calm down and chilled out. I have never believed in marijuana, but after witnessing this I can see in extreme circumstances it may be helpful.

    A little on Caesar he lets everyone know that he only sells the highest quality of Marijuana, and is never are laced with anything including but not limited to Fentanyl, Ketamine, Cocaine, or PCP. Any of these can be very hazardous to your health. He also will not sell or give any of his Marijuana to anyone, that just wants to use recreationally. He will only let you have it, for severe depression or for medical reasons of extreme pain. He cautions everyone that if they don’t get it from him, that there are others that will sell marijuana that is laced, and can cause severe medical issue from psychosis to extreme breathing difficulties to death depending on what it is laced with. He also recommends if you are getting any marijuana, from an unreliable dealer to have some Narcan in case of breathing compromise. This Narcan can save a life by squirting some up in the nose.

    Samuel, after a few months of using Caesar’s marijuana, found some that was much cheaper to use, from another bear selling it. Boy, does the forest remember that night. Samuel was going around whoop and hollering every breath, and was psychotic. Nothing he said or did that night made any sense. An example of what was said is I’m the purple alligator that the dragon slayed, I will put the sky into the lake. If anyone confronted him, he would yell and curse and say he going to kill them. After that night any bears that heard him coming, would just stay in hiding, and let the dang fool go about his way.

    Benjiman quickly spoke up and said Oliver we need to do something to help him out. Oliver said, I know your heart is in the right spot but there is no helping, Samuel. Samuel will have to come to rock bottom and be willing to reach out for help. Until then we just need to ignore him and try to stay out of his way.

    We stayed in a small gully until we could no longer hear them anymore. We then began to take our fresh game back to our den. As we are headed to our den, we are now hearing Samuel again, he is now behind us but is headed our way. Oliver said to me that is bad news, it looks like he saw where we have been dragging these deer back to our den. Samuel will want our game for himself. We will have to forfeit it to him. Ben says but you so much bigger, why not fight for our food. Oliver said Well that’s true but I can tell the way he is acting, he has smoked some marijuana that has probably been laced with PCP. That is some bad stuff, it will give him super bear strength. I’ve seen him shot 5 times before, and it didn’t stop him. I may be able to take him due to my size, but it’s just as likely or even more likely that he could defeat or even kill me. I told Oliver that is not fair, it’s our food, Oliver agrees it’s not fair.

    Samuel and Maverick are now right here with us. Samuel says you damn son of a bitch Oliver; it’s been long time since I fucking saw you last. Oliver standing there says not long enough, what bring you by today. You bastard you know what brings me by. Those deer’s, possum’s, rabbit, and turkey, I’m here to take them off your hands. Oliver says that we had harvested them and they was ours. Then Samuel says don’t make me hurt you today, you know what I’m capable of. Ok Samuel, the game is all yours. As they walking away with the game Samuel tells Maverick, you see how it’s done, one day you will make me proud, when you confront those bastards and take their food.

    Sophia is now crying as they are walking away. She says I remember before they had loss Charolette, and Emma, they were just as good of friends as Angel and her family. She continues its all that marijuana that’s been laced, that makes them act like this. She said Oliver, I’m glad you didn’t confront him. I remember Lucky that confronted him when he was in a rage. He just slaughtered Lucky. I miss my good friend Lucky, he was a great bear friend.

    They continued back to their den, Sophia is the first to go in the den, they heard her scream. We came in and found that our den had been rummaged through. No doubt Samuel and Maverick had visited our den, since we been gone. There was no food left in our den, everything has been turned over and broken. Sophia said she was going to clean up a little. Oliver and Lucy say I’ll help you clean this mess up. I told them I was going down to the stream, to catch us some fish for supper. I took a basket down with me to load up with trout. The fishing was good and I filled the basket with fish to take back to the den.

    Once back at the den it was all cleaned up and Sophia says wow, that is a basket of fish I hope everyone is hungry. She said that she would fry up the best fish dinner they ever had. After dinner, everyone agreed it was delicious. Oliver lets out a big yawn, I didn’t realize how tired I was. Everyone agreed and said it was nighty night time. I said a prayer as we got ready for bed, I prayed that Angel and her family would heal and be ok, I continued my prayer and prayed that Samuel and Maverick could find some peace and joy. Everyone said Amen and goodnight.

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  • Chapter 3 / Our Neighbors

                                                              Our Neighbors

    After our little snooze, we now have a little fuller feeling belly, after we devoured all the fish yesterday. Oliver and Sophia have been talking, prior to Lucy and myself waking up this morning. They want to go over to the closet bear den to us, to see if they are awake yet. Today seems a little warmer, we are walking through the snow, it doesn’t have as hard of a crust as it did yesterday. I’m breaking through the crust on most of my steps. All the trees are bare, in this white oak forest, you can see several hundred yards. The trees have a gentle sway to them, the sky is a pale blue. I’m watching all the wildlife as I walking there are many squirrels, which are hard for us to catch, they are so fast, they run up the trees, before we can get close. We also saw a red fox, along this mile and half trip. There are several deer, a couple very large bodied deer, but no antlers. Oliver says that this time of year, the bucks have lost their antlers, and those two large body deer were probably bucks. We then see a turkey only fifty feet from us. Sophia says y’all stay here, I’m going try to stalk over and harvest this turkey, to give to our neighbors. I remember Oliver and Sophia telling me, That George the dad of the family of bears we are visiting, was killed last bear season. So, Sophia really wants to take Angel the mother bear, Luna her daughter and James her son, a little meal to eat. Sopia sneaks right up on that 25-pound tom turkey, 1 smack of her paw to the head, the tom turkey was dead.

    We are getting close to the other den and Sophia, was so happy to see that Angel, was awake from her hibernation. We all walked over to her and Sophia says I got y’all a fresh meal. She said they been awake for 2 days now, and havn’t been able to get any meals yet. She was so happy to get this turkey. Sophia says that Luna and James left early this Morning, looking for some food, they haven’t returned yet. Angel points at the track they left, Lucy and myself couldn’t wait to go to find them. Oliver and Sophia stayed with Angel. Oliver said he will dress the turkey [gut and remove all the feathers] for Angel. Sophia and Angel are talking and Angel is very sad. She says that she misses George now more than ever. She explained that it was hard for her to go out and hunt, due to being so sad and depressed. Sophia said that her family, will help her out for as long as she needed them.

    Lucy and myself have caught up with James and Luna, they both are feeling very sad. They said they miss their dad [George] so much, they just wanted to get away from the den a little, to clear their minds. We decided to play some bear games. We played rough and tumble. This game is where they draw a large circle on the ground with a stick, and everyone starts inside the circle, where the wrestling match begins. The object is to try to get the others to the outside of the circle. The last one left inside the circle is the winner. We all are the same age and evenly matched. The 2 girls begin wrestling and us 2 boys are wrestling. Lucy is the first to be pushed out, then myself was next. So, James and Luna are now wrestling, James is pushing hard and Luna is almost out of the circle. Luna outsmarts her brother, she falls to the ground and the force, of James pushing so hard, when she fell to the ground, pushes James outside of the circle. Luna had a big smile, having won the game; James was also smiling by having the game, to help take his father off his mind.

    James then said, you know we need some food, that turkey we do appreciate, but for the 3 of them is more like an appetizer. The next holler over from us is named possum holler, due to it always an abundance of possums. I get a big grin on my face, I’m so good at catching possums. It’s like shooting fish from a barrel. Just scare them a little, they roll over and play dead. All of us went to different areas in the holler, we all caught 2 apiece. We take the 8 possums back to Angel, and she gets a big smile on her face.

    I ask Sophie where Oliver was at, she said he had gone out big game hunting, he hoping to come back with a deer. We were all sitting around and dressing the possums, getting them ready to cook. They are almost as good as a cup of porridge. As we are finishing up the dressing of the possums, her comes Oliver and he has a big body deer but no antlers. But you can see the circles, where it was a buck that had dropped his antlers. He says smiling to all us cubs that he also had gotten a doe, its over in the next holler. He told us all to follow his tracks, that we would find the doe. He said it was our job to get the doe back to the den. Last year Oliver didn’t give us responsibility like this. I guess we are growing up a little and have more responsibilities now.

    As we headed down to get the doe, we all was rough housing with each other, and for at least a moment in time, James and Luna are happy and not feeling down, about the loss of their dad. We get down to where the doe is at, it a mid-sized doe and two of us at a time, grab the doe with our mouths and start dragging her back to the den. This is the first time any of us, had drug any type of large game. It was exhausting but was fun also. When we get back to the den Oliver says, ok boys and girls y’all did a great job, getting the doe back to the den. The work isn’t done yet, we will cook and have this doe for super. Sophia, Angel, Lucy, and Luna will cook the meal. Oliver says I’ll watch you Ben and James, dress the deer, to get it ready to be cooked. All us young cubs felt proud, that the adults were letting us have so much responsibility. After the meal Oliver said, I guess it’s time to head back to our den. Angel insisted that we stayed the night, she said they have a large den and plenty of room for all.

    We stayed up late, all the young cubs sat around and played cards and board games. We all was laughing and having the best time. The adults set and talked, Angel said this has been the best day their family has had, since losing George. Angel shed some happy tears, as she was seeing all the cubs sit around the fireplace and laughing and just having the best of time. Sophia was wondering how long this happiness would last once they leave?

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  • Chapter 2 / Introduction to Benjiman

    Introduction to Benjamin

     I’m Benjamin [Ben] I’m now a little over a year old and I have just come out of my den this morning.  The trees are swaying, it’s still over a foot of snow, here in Virginia. We have been denned up, now for over 3 months. I’m looking forward to adventures this year. Last year I was a young bear, I had to learn all things that bears do. I learned how to find food to eat, a lot of our diet is plant based. The black berries and raspberries were so delicious, as is the blue berries and strawberries. Acorns are a great food source in the fall and the white oak acorns are the best. Corn wherever we can find a large corn field, is so filling and delicious, but could be hazardous to our health, if a farmer sees us eating their corn. I also learned how to hunt and scavenge for food. During the fall it was so scary, when hunting season came in. I was hearing lots of bangs of deer hunters. We would wait at least an hour after the shots, we would then go to where we heard the shots. The deer hunters leave us bears, the gut piles, the hearts and liver are probably my favorite food. Then came bear season, the hound hunters hunting for bear. I’ve never been so scared in my life. One time the hounds almost caught me, before I was able to scamper up a tree, where I was out of reach of the hounds. My dad Oliver, then showed up, and smacked the dogs a few times, they left with tails tucked.

    My Mom Sophia, was excellent at catching small game, with rabbits being her preferred game. The rabbits taste so delicious, they just do not go far for a family of four. Other game she captures are possums, they are so easy to catch when they are scared they just play dead, such easy pickings. I got pretty good at capturing possums myself. She would also capture some raccoons which are pretty good eating with lots of fat, us bears loves fat. One fun fact most people think, that bears eat their pray raw, we cook our food, just like people do. The streams around here, are loaded with native brook trout. They are also delicious, but they are more of an appetizer, due to our average size we catch is seven inches, our largest last year was a whopping 13 inches. Well Sophia is still sleeping in the den, with my dad [Oliver] and my sweet little sister [Lucy]. Lucy and myself are inseparable, we have so much fun together. We would play fight, and sometimes I would even let Lucy win. I can say that because she is still sleeping. We are very evenly matched at the wins.

    I hear someone stirring in the den, let’s see who is now awake. Lucy is coming out of the den; we both are very happy seeing each other again. Lucy is so excited, seeing the snow, it was just beginning to snow when we went to den up. We decided that we were going on an adventure. We start walking down the hill as we were walking on top of the snow, it has frozen over with a hard crust. Oh, wow look at Lucy go, she is sliding so fast. I decided to join into the fun. This is like sledding with no sled. We were lucky as we missed all the trees, but we found the deep pool in the stream below. Fortunately bears don’t feel the cold very much. Oh, I just got an appetizer, a nice nine-inch native trout. It was so yummy sushi is very good. I didn’t realize just how hungry I was, until just now. My waist has gotten skinny after a 3-month hibernation. I’m now laughing at Lucy; she is going from one side of the pool to the other trying to get her appetizer. Wow I’m impressed well, maybe a little jealous she has caught the biggest native trout, I have ever seen. It’s at least 18 inches long, she has caught a meal. I was happy with my nine incher it was larger than the average size last year. Ok I’m hungry so I dive in and catch two more seven-inch trout. Well, it’s time to go back to the den and see if Sophia and Oliver are awake yet.

    Oliver is now coming out of the den, he looks so thin, last fall he weighed over five hundred pounds, when we denned up, but be it be lucky, if he weighs four hundred pounds now. First words out of Lucy’s mouth were dad, I wished you saw the native trout I caught, it was huge, it was over 18 inches, she was just gawking as she was looking at me, telling our dad. I was so mad as she was telling it, I started a fight with Lucy, this was a serious fight, last year we never had a real fight, we always were just playing. Oliver had to step in and break this fight up. Oliver asked that we both apologize to each other. We really love each other, it felt good telling her, that I was sorry. I then said that I was proud of her, catching such a large native trout. But I was also thinking that someday, I plan on catching a fish larger than hers. Our dad was proud that we had made up to each other. I told Oliver how hungry I was, that the trout tasted so good. He said welcome to the life of bears. When we go into our den’s, we are fat and happy, but we come out hungry enough we could eat a moose. My dad last year was the big game hunter, he would go out hunting by himself, he would mostly bring back does, and fawns for us to eat. On occasion he would bring back a buck, he would say you can’t eat those antlers.

    Sophia is now stirring and coming out of the den. She says I hope y’all have been behaving. I speak up and tell her how we had gone sledding down to the stream, and how proud I was of the 18-inch native trout, that Lucy had caught. I then tell her how I was mad and jealous over this, but that Oliver had us to apologize to each other. I tell her how much better I feel now, that we made up to each other. I didn’t tell her, that I know at some point, I’ll catch a bigger fish than Lucy’s. My mom also looks thinner, she was at 250 pounds when we denned up and now maybe 200 pounds. We decided we will make our way down to the stream, and find different pools to fish in, we will try to get a good meal. I go the farthest up stream; I catch several six-to-eight-inch trout. I see a huge one and I dive in, I come out with a 20 inch beautifully colored, it such a delicious native trout. It was at this point, I decided to be humble, I had decided no one needs to know of this beautiful catch, the sushi was delicious. We all met back up with a full stomach, we decided it was time to go back to our den for a short snooze. What will we get into next?

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  • Revenge for Dottie

    Revenge for Dottie

                Benjiman had a sleepless, bitter-cold night, in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, and I have finished the deer bag marijuana, but I must replenish my marijuana. My heart has been ripped out from my body, but I must take care of Bud and Lucille now. I must get hold of my feelings, so, I can protect them. I must have more marijuana; I must remain calm. Yes, I’m thinking about the PCP laced marijuana, but Bud and Lucille need me. I must use the regular marijuana. I know it will be dangerous, but I must cross the road, to get me some marijuana. Luna begged me not to go. I said I must, I promised her, to only to get the regular marijuana. She said please be careful of, that awful group of hunters, no she said they are not hunters, they are POACHER’S.

                I crossed under the road, going through a culvert, I stayed in the creek to hide my scent. I’m almost to my den; when I hear a truck down on the road! Will the hounds get my scent? I hope not! Right where I crossed under the road, I hear the hounds as they blow up, they have my scent. But they are not getting closer, they are getting farther away. They are headed straight towards Luna’s den; they are on my backtrack. I must do something now. But what? I rushed to my den, as I go straight to my secret hiding spot, I grabbed four cigars, I smoked one as quickly as I could. I’m ready to do battle with those DAMN POACHERS. I will get revenge for Dottie. I hope all will be well, with all my family, I hope they kill all those dogs. My job is down on the road now. I am off in a rage to the road. Those poachers will die today. I’m just in the mood to make that happen. When I get to the road, which is very quickly, you would be surprised how quickly I can move, after smoking the laced marijuana.

                There are 3 trucks with dog boxes on them. There were 4 hunters standing in the road. I hear one of them say, that damn bear, won’t get away from us today, we had 2 hunters go in before daylight, they are already on top the mountain. The hounds will run that bastard bear to them. I was terrified as to who, or how many of his family members, the hounds are chasing. Will any of my family die today. I have had too much loss already.  It sounds like 12 or more hounds are running towards the top of the mountain. The hounds seem to be close together, not spread out, seems as though they are just chasing 1 bear, or may be a group of bears that’s close together.

                It’s time to end those poachers lives, but first, I lit up one more marijuana cigar, as I calmly smoked it. I then take off in a sprint going as hard as I could. When I encountered the first hunter, with only 1 swipe of my powerful paw, off goes his head, blood went flying everywhere, his head was flying through the air. The other hunters heard this, they turned to see what has happened. They saw his head flying, right into one of the poachers. They were all screaming, at the top of the lungs, as they started running for their guns in their trucks. I closed in quickly, as I disemboweled the next poacher, the guts went everywhere, the bowels landed on 2 of their trucks. I reached over and grabbed his heart as I ate it. I then felt a little fly land on my right shoulder, as I heard a loud bang. Oh no I’ve been shot again. I took off full speed, as I hear another bang, but I think he missed, I didn’t feel any fly’s this time. The poacher turns and runs, as he is running, there is shit, coming out his pants legs, every step he makes. I chased him and I made a swipe across his body; his body is separated in half; the top half is headed towards the last poacher. It hits him and knocks him down. I walk over to him, I started at his feet, having myself a meal. The bloody screams he made, for the next 10 minutes, as I devoured his body. I saved his heart to eat last, then I went to get the only 2 hearts I haven’t eating yet. I’m finding poachers hearts to be a delicacy.

                As I start back to the Luna’s den, the shot that I had received, seems to be only a flesh wound, on my right shoulder. I rub dirt in it to stop the bleeding. I hope everyone is OK back at the den. When I get there Luna sees that I’m bleeding, she said Benjiman; I am so worried about Maverick. We heard all the hounds coming straight at our den, Maverick ran down and confronted them, he made sure they all followed him, before running straight up the mountain. I’m very concerned for Maverick now, knowing that 2 poachers are on top. I said I must go, to try to help Maverick. Luna said you are bleeding, let me at least place some yarrow on your wound. After she placed a bandage of yarrow on, I had myself another cigar, because I know this isn’t over yet. Luna said is that the laced marijuana. I told her I will let you know everything later. But right now, I must try to help my brother out. She said OK, be safe.

                I’m loaded now for the poachers, as my head is in a psychotic spin, and prayers for my brother that he is OK. I can hear the dogs, they sound stopped on top of the mountain. But I’m almost a mile from them. Can I get there to save him? I’m going as fast as I can, I am closing in on the hounds, that’s when I heard 3 shots. My heart sank! I know my brother is dead! I continue up to where the dogs are at. I’m now at a slower pace to be quiet. I don’t want the poachers to know I’m coming. I get up to where they had killed Maverick. The poachers are squatting over his body and ripping his guts out. Guts are about to fly. All the dogs there, are pulling on Mavericks lifeless body, they never saw me coming. I smacked the first poacher in his head, his head exploded. The second one looked up at me, he said Oh My God I’m going to die. His gun was lying about 25 feet from him; I go over to the gun, I grabbed it, slammed it into a tree. The dogs are now chewing on me, I take them out one or two dogs at a time, until they were all dead. I turned for the last poacher, he was no longer there. He had left me a great trail of shit, that I followed for 200 yards. I slowly started at his feet, as I started ripping flesh with my claws, I was too full to eat him, but a slow death it would be. Once he was dead, I did eat both of their hearts. I now must go and tell Luna that Maverick is dead. I’m concerned what reactions she will have. Is our forest safe now, that the poachers are all dead?

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  • Marijuana Bear

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  • Back Cover

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  • Tales of a Bear Hunter

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