Caidoz

Chapter 37

   "What?" His cry was a dying croak. Ursa Minor's confidence dropped like a bird hit by a stone.
   Ursa Major had immediately turned in surprise, a look of fear and an unexplainable sadness upon her face.
   "No... D-dodge, please don't leave..." Minor said. I could see him furiously fighting despair as he bit his trembling lip. "I forgotten how wonderful it was to have a best friend all these years without you. Up until now, I haven't been able to really be happy."
   "You sure seemed consented with your gi--"

   "Muscida!" Ursa Minor hissed, his fangs bared as he looked at her sideways. "Don't tell our guests information that is strictly on a need to know basis, okay?! Believe me, they don't need to know!"
   Her features became icy, and her hazel eyes narrowed. Her hands crept down to hips like spiders down a line, reaching for her weapons instinctively.

   It was, of course, second nature to all Simehians. When threatened, look for your weapons. Friends don't care about you; they will not save you from combat. Your life is in your own paws; only you could protect it. That is what all Simehians believe. It is simply a part of us that will never change. Our greediness. Our selfishness. Our defenses will never be lowered. Even in the sweet-hearted people such as Ursa Major, the evidence of her true race was still evident in her demure.

   "Are you telling your mother what to do?" she asked, her tone lethally quiet. But it was like she was raging a stillness of mental fury. Ursa Minor became frozen. Similar to if he had been turned to ice. Or at least, for that moment. Before a second had passed, he was again fidgeting with his arrows. When he refused to answer, his mother gave him a stony silence which filled the room.  "Lady Luck must be on your side today, Minor," Ursa Major finally said before giving a large sigh. She turned her gaze back towards Cancer and myself. "Because honestly there are simply too many things on my mind to bother with you today."

   I instantly shot my eyes towards the ground, avoiding eye contact. I imagined that if I were still a dog, my ears would be perked on my head and my tail would be up. To think thus at such an odd time may seem strange, but it was only another language. Lowered head, perked ears, raised tail; I feel bad about my actions, but I will not back down. However, there human action that could be used to dismiss conversations without a conversation occurring.

   "But Dodge," the whine was low and pleading similar in tone to a cornered bear cub. I looked over to see Ursa Minor looking at me, his eyes begging. "We had such an awesome friendship when we were younger. Though I teased you a lot and, yeah, I did pull a number of pranks over you, and sure, there were a few moments that I really crossed the line-- but the point is!" He said, hurrying onwards as I had began to scowl, the fowl memories resurfacing like volcano eruptions in my mind.

   "You never  deserved any of that! You never deserved my pranks, my teasing, or-- or even me!" He said, both fists on his chest. He was now holding back tears again. "I'm sorry if that's the  reason you want to leave; me. But don't allow that to affect your decision!" He said, his tone again rushed. "I promise I'll work to be a better friend, but I can only do that if you promise to stay here! I swear  that you will never ever have to worry about a single thing. You want something, the Ursinians got it covered. All we really need is a big torch, talk about moths to flame..."

   I had to say something. My choice had been made from the moment Cancer had taken my offer to find the Great Bears. That, no matter where they lived or what they did for a living, I would not stay with them. Why? The entire matter would have once been heart-warming. To see my old friends. To be with them once again reunited. Something like thus would have been a dream come true. And they wanted me to stay!

   My eyes scanned Ursa Minor as he continued on, shutting his voice out of my head, watching his mouth form pleading words. To stay with the best practical joker and buddy a friend could ever wish for, alongside the protective, but nurturing, Ursa Major who always had the sweetest bear-hugs that made you feel like all your problems could fade away... thus would have been the best day of my life.