bear filled him, that familiar awareness of muscles which were made to run and fight, his claws and teeth that could rend and tear.
He raised his head.
Cleo’s scent filled the sharpened senses of his bear so that a wave of delight rolled over him. It was like smelling the first patch of ripe blueberries of the season, or coming across a wild beehive dripping with golden honey.
She smelled like beauty and freedom and sunshine, and the heart of his bear that had for so long been restless suddenly couldn’t bear the thought of ever leaving her again.
“Oh my God…” Cleo breathed and staggered a few steps back.
He could smell her fear. He didn’t dare to take even one step in her direction. He could only hope that she’d remember what he’d told her.
Now for the door.
When he turned to look at it with the bear’s eyes, it did not seem so sturdy anymore. He sniffed at it, but could not make out any distinct traces of a scent. It had been too long since it was used.
But he could smell fresh air. From somewhere, a draft came in, and it carried with it the scent of water and leaves and the sky.
Steven huffed, then stood on his hind legs and attacked the door with a powerful swipe of his paws.
The door rattled in its hinges, but didn’t otherwise move.
With a soft growl, Steven attacked it again, using more force now. His claws found purchase on the door, digging deep scratches into the wood, and he struck it again and again.
Most of his attacks were now centered near the door handle. With every powerful swipe, his claws dug deeper into the wood, and at last it splintered.
Still the door did not open, but it was rattling now with every attack. At last, Steven ceased his attacks, panting open-mouth as he stared at the door. He took a few steps back and then pounced, his muscles propelling him forward with such strength that he crashed into the door with all his weight. The door gave in a shower of splinters.
Amidst broken wood, he crashed to the floor. His shoulder ached a little from the impact, but there was no other injury.
“Oh my God,” Cleo muttered again somewhere behind him, sounding dazed.
Slowly, he rose, then turned towards her and shifted back with a sheepish smile. “As I said. I can turn into a bear.”
He tried to keep smiling, even though worry rose in him when Cleo continued to stare at him, her eyes wide with shock.
After a moment, she began to tremble, her shoulders shaking. Finally, she erupted into sudden, shocked laughter.
“Oh my God! You turned into a bear!” she gasped. “You really, really turned into a bear!”
“I did.” Steven took a careful step closer, holding out his hands—just like the first time they had met. “You’re not dreaming, if that’s what you think. It’s real!”
“Can you turn into any animal?” Cleo watched him come closer. She still looked wary, although she didn’t back away further.
“No, just the bear,” Steven said, and then he was close enough to gently touch her arm. “See, it’s still me. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
“It’s all right—no, it’s not! You turn into a bear, how can that be all right? I want to know—” She broke off suddenly and took a deep breath. “Escape first. But you’ve got so many questions to answer now!”
Steven nodded, a little subdued. He’d known it would be different once she knew. But would she be satisfied if he gave her the answers she demanded? Now that she’d seen him as a beast—could she ever look at him with nothing but warmth in her eyes, or trust her life to his hands as she had in the water?
The light flickered again—and then it went out.
Cleo yelped when they were engulfed by darkness once more.
“It’s OK; I’m here,” Steven called out, taking another careful step forward.
Cleo’s hands found his arm. Her fingers tightened around him, and then they were in each other’s arms, both holding on tightly. Steven could feel Cleo’s terrified heartbeats against his
He raised his head.
Cleo’s scent filled the sharpened senses of his bear so that a wave of delight rolled over him. It was like smelling the first patch of ripe blueberries of the season, or coming across a wild beehive dripping with golden honey.
She smelled like beauty and freedom and sunshine, and the heart of his bear that had for so long been restless suddenly couldn’t bear the thought of ever leaving her again.
“Oh my God…” Cleo breathed and staggered a few steps back.
He could smell her fear. He didn’t dare to take even one step in her direction. He could only hope that she’d remember what he’d told her.
Now for the door.
When he turned to look at it with the bear’s eyes, it did not seem so sturdy anymore. He sniffed at it, but could not make out any distinct traces of a scent. It had been too long since it was used.
But he could smell fresh air. From somewhere, a draft came in, and it carried with it the scent of water and leaves and the sky.
Steven huffed, then stood on his hind legs and attacked the door with a powerful swipe of his paws.
The door rattled in its hinges, but didn’t otherwise move.
With a soft growl, Steven attacked it again, using more force now. His claws found purchase on the door, digging deep scratches into the wood, and he struck it again and again.
Most of his attacks were now centered near the door handle. With every powerful swipe, his claws dug deeper into the wood, and at last it splintered.
Still the door did not open, but it was rattling now with every attack. At last, Steven ceased his attacks, panting open-mouth as he stared at the door. He took a few steps back and then pounced, his muscles propelling him forward with such strength that he crashed into the door with all his weight. The door gave in a shower of splinters.
Amidst broken wood, he crashed to the floor. His shoulder ached a little from the impact, but there was no other injury.
“Oh my God,” Cleo muttered again somewhere behind him, sounding dazed.
Slowly, he rose, then turned towards her and shifted back with a sheepish smile. “As I said. I can turn into a bear.”
He tried to keep smiling, even though worry rose in him when Cleo continued to stare at him, her eyes wide with shock.
After a moment, she began to tremble, her shoulders shaking. Finally, she erupted into sudden, shocked laughter.
“Oh my God! You turned into a bear!” she gasped. “You really, really turned into a bear!”
“I did.” Steven took a careful step closer, holding out his hands—just like the first time they had met. “You’re not dreaming, if that’s what you think. It’s real!”
“Can you turn into any animal?” Cleo watched him come closer. She still looked wary, although she didn’t back away further.
“No, just the bear,” Steven said, and then he was close enough to gently touch her arm. “See, it’s still me. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
“It’s all right—no, it’s not! You turn into a bear, how can that be all right? I want to know—” She broke off suddenly and took a deep breath. “Escape first. But you’ve got so many questions to answer now!”
Steven nodded, a little subdued. He’d known it would be different once she knew. But would she be satisfied if he gave her the answers she demanded? Now that she’d seen him as a beast—could she ever look at him with nothing but warmth in her eyes, or trust her life to his hands as she had in the water?
The light flickered again—and then it went out.
Cleo yelped when they were engulfed by darkness once more.
“It’s OK; I’m here,” Steven called out, taking another careful step forward.
Cleo’s hands found his arm. Her fingers tightened around him, and then they were in each other’s arms, both holding on tightly. Steven could feel Cleo’s terrified heartbeats against his
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