|Chapter 10| Moss and Fish

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I woke up, but this time at a regular time to wake up, at least by the looks of it outside. The sun has already risen. Spitfire and the small fox pup were both gone. I wasn't too surprised about the fox pup because of last night, but Spitfire should be here at least from my understanding. I don't know him that well, but I already feel like we are good friends. He may be my only friend at the moment. I took my blanket and folded it neatly. I looked at my clothes and sighed. I can't fix them, but I can at least clean them. I know there's a river nearby. It would probably help me feel more comfortable. I could also clean my wounds and better see the condition of them. I got up feeling my leg sore from all the walking I did yesterday. I should probably limit myself... I wonder what Time would have done if I was in this condition.
"Too late for that now." I mumbled and made my way out of the house making sure to grab my bag. I took my time to get to the river. This house was close to the top of a hill making a small valley beneath. I soon far east of the house, a large river that made a waterfall into the valley. I looked around to see no animals in sight. I took off my spait suit and used the cold water to clean off the blood and dirt. I ringed out the water once they were cleaned and put them to the side. I took a look at my wounds more carefully to see they aren't infected. Well they are infected with darkness, but they aren't infected with desis wise. I cleaned them carefully. Mostly my legs, arms and stomach which gave my clothes some time to dry off. I can't open my wounds becasue I'm out of bandages. I was also bruised around my chest from where the horse kicked me. Thankfully, it doesn't feel like I broke any of my ribs.
Once I was done I put my clothes back on with a cold shiver. The darkness still leaded on my skin, but it seemed to be fasting slowly and steadily. It's good, but I'm not sure why that darkness has been holding onto me for so long... A low growl echoes nearby and I get up quickly looking around. I saw a large bear with two cubs gathering near the river.
These bears didn't look normal. The bears seemed to be made of dirt and soil. Moss growing on their backs. Only one cub had grass on their back. They were very large, the mother being twice the size of a normal black bear by the looks of it. They haven't noticed me yet so I slowly gave them more space not sure if she would attack me or not. The Mother bear soons looks at me and stands on its hind legs. I was ready to run, but instead it went back down on its feet and went back to looking at the river. It looked as if it was hunting.
I don't see any fish in the river though. All I see are river stones and water like plants. The Mother bear didn't seem to take any mind of logic and went into the water looking for prey. I sighed and took out the book I had started to draw them out. Might as well take note of what I'm seeing right now. I added some side notes to details about the bears while I watched the Mother bear hunts for nothing.
I took a glance over to see that the bear caught three fish. I looked at the bear in confusion. How did it catch any fish when there are no fish in the water. I put my hand in the water in confusion trying to see what It can. No fish anywhere. I sighed and took my hand out of the water shaking it. I looked back at the mother bear to see she was giving one fish to one of her cubs, but not the other. Where is the second cub? I looked around on the shore and couldn't see it anywhere.
The mother soundly called out in a panic in theri low deep voice. I see the small little cub also calling out in a certain direction. I looked to where they were looking to see the second cub floating away in the deepest part of the river desperately trying to keep its head above the surface. The mother went into the river to get the cub, but the cub was being moved with the current the mother bear had to wade across being too big and slow to catch up.
I moved before even thinking. I jumped into the water and started swimming to the cub, knowing that if the mother doesn't get this cub it might go over the waterfall. The cold shock wasn't as bad as it should have been thanks to my clothes already being wet from earlier. I was a bit ahead of the bear cub so had to do my best to get myself in the same position. The deepest part of this river went to my neck, the floor below was uneven and my feet dragged with the current as I tried to stop myself from moving. This now not so small cub was close to me and I grabbed them pulling them close to my chest. The bear cried out in surprise, it surprised me, causing me to lose the weak grip I had on the stone river bed and we both were caught in the current. I swam with the current to the side to use as little energy as possible to get both us back on shore on the side the bear family was earlier. Once we got to the shore the cub ran out of my arms and towards the other cub. I collapsed on the river bed exhausted.
So much for taking it easy today huh. I took deep breaths and was a bit surprised how tired I felt from a short swim, usually I wouldn't be drained so quickly. I laid on the ground for a while and breathed deeply feeling a bit of pain when I did. I suddenly felt something hovering over me to see the big mother bear hovering over me, their breath on my face when I turned onto my back. I didn't move a muscle too scared of what this bear could do to me.
She huffed and walked over me and went to her cubs licking the wet one with her green tongue. The little cub bears seemed pleased and started to eat the fish she caught. She went over to the river while I slowly sat up making sure none of my wounds, especially the one on my leg, opened up again. No blood as far as I can see.
The mother bear seemed to go back to hunting for fish. I watched her carefully to see she was trying really hard to get her shadow over the water. A figure was shown in the water shining brighter in the shadow. She grabs it with her teeth and gets it out of the water. Just as she tightened her jaw to kill it a fish was revealed. It camouflaged perfectly in the water, but now is in its true form a fairly large green and blue fish now dead in her mouth. She came over to me and put the fish in my lap. I looked at the bear confused. It sat down and waited. I picked up the fish looking at the cubs who ate the fish leaving nothing but its bone. Does it want me to eat it?
I was a bit nervous since I've never noticed the taste of fish. I took some time getting the beautiful reflective scales out of its flesh and eating a small bit of it. Not that bad. I looked at the mother bear who seemed pleased that I ate a little bit of the fish and looked back to the otherside of the river. I'll need to go back over to get to the house again. I sighed getting ready to cross over. I started to walk into the water when the bear grabbed me from the back of my suit and slowly carried me across the river.
My waist and everything down was dragged in the water while the rest of me was above water. I didn't really understand why the mother bear was carrying me, but they got me to the other side of the river. They put me on the ground and waded back to their kids. I got up and watched as these bears slowly walked away deep into the forest. I still had the dead fish in my hands. I picked up my bag and walked back to my house.
Spitfire still wasn't here which worried me. Maybe he is just doing his own bird thing, but I worry. I went inside and cut up the fish so I could eat it properly. I would rather not spend my time cooking the fish right now. I just needed to eat for now and see what the rest of the day will bring.
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