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Short Story

The scent of nature drifted in the soft gusts of wind. The wildflowers spread across the field in a soft quilt of vivid colors. A small line appeared to be cut through the flowers and seemed to have no beginning. At the head of the line and enjoying the day, was little Bear. Skipping merrily through the wilds, Bear caught glimpses of bugs here and there. Occasionally, a fuzzy creature would poke its head out of the overgrown colors. Her long ears, blowing lightly in the wind as she looked longingly at Bear. He would smile at her before making his way through the brush. As he drew closer and closer, he heard a soft giggle. In the moment, he reached out to touch her and then....

'Ladies and gentlemen, I give you a cute and cuddly creature who was lost and lonely in the woods. The zoo saved this poor thing from being hit by a moving car!'

The voice swept across the open field like a bomb had struck. Bear growled a moment before turning over and scratching his bum as thousands of spectators watched him in his 'natural habitat'. He walked out into the afternoon sun and towards the keeper he had met several weeks ago. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

'Bear says last time, car was stopped it couldn't have done anything but growl at Bear. Bear not cute and cuddly, Bear ferocious monster! Rawr!' Bear stumbled over to the long legged female and gave her a cold look. 'Rawr!' He put up his paws and scratched at the air. The female smiled down at him before looking back at the crowd. 'Isn't he adorable, folks?' she spoke into the strange grey stick in her hand as bear continued scratching at the air behind her. Suddenly, she reached down and lifted Bear from his tired state and into the air, pressing him tight against her chest. He moved his arm to continue scratching at nothingness.

'Rawr..Hai-yo! Hoo-man! Bear does like huggles.'

He went through his regular routine of walking around the enclosed den, occasionally stopping to lay on a random, plastered rock or chew on the extra chewy but not tasty plants they were strewn about. It wasn't like his forests or caves back in the forests of nowhere special, but it did him fine. His food was brought to him and there wasn't any pesky night owls that tried to take it from him. And he still got to cause mischief when he manages to get out of the den on occasions. Life was good for Bear and as far as he was concerned, he could grow fat and happy and enjoy it.

Today, he was just laying on an extra soft piece of grass, watching as birds and butterflies passed overhead. The earth around him started to rumble. At first he took to it, feeling as if the earth was rubbing his back and massaging it like he used to do with the old oak near his caves. It was only when he began to sink in did he realize it was no longer comfy. As he tried to get up, something round and soft slammed hard into his back, sending him flying into the air. He hit soft grass a few feet away, but the damage was done. Bear sat up on his arms and rubbed his head. 'Owies...' he mumbled more to himself than to his surroundings. As he sat there in a daze, he was quicky lifted to his feet. Two giant leaves quicky patted him, brushing off the gathered dust.

'Sorry 'bout that, love. Didn't fancy ya anyone would be were yas was at!'

He staggered for amoment, before catching himself and looking at who it was that had just sent him spining in the air and then beat him senseless with leathery leaves. He turned at whoever they were and pointed at them. He at first gave a flat look, but as the sun fixed a lighting on the creature, he quickly dropped his hand and began to drool. In front of him was a familiar face. The one from his dream! He was surprised at first, then shook his head to clar out the moths.

'Bunny!' He squealed in delight. 'Bear dream about purty Bunny and she here!' He talked her and together they rolled a few feet away from the rabbit hole.

'How hard did yas hit yas noggin?' She gasped as they came to a hault. 'Must have got yas plum good, it did!'

Bear sat up, scratched his head and shrugged. It had been a bit since he had encountered any folks of the wilderness and to see one so pretty made him forget his more primitive and ferocious side and he simply smiled. She lightly pushed him off of her and preceeded to brush hersef off. He mimicked the arrival. 'Bunny!' He contined smiling happily.

'Eh? Wazat?' She blinked at him. 'Ya just be a wierdy, ya? Meh. Never r'ally had a name, so yas can call this one Bunny, if ya like. And Is assumes yer Bear, since you called yerself that a moment ago.'

He nodded like an idiot for a few moments. As he did so, something shoke in his head and he remembered the rest of the dream. Turning his sight towards the hole from which Bunny had come. Hopping over it, he stared into the emptiness and pointed down into it. Bunny cocked her head quizzically. 'It's a hole, love.....'

'Bear wonders if flowers and fields is through the dark.'

She smiled at him with a big, toothy grin. 'Oi! It does....or will someday. I bes breakin outta here to greener pastures, as they say round 'ere. Yas be welcomed ta come, if ya wants. Can't think of any sane one that would want to stay in a prison like this'un.'

Without a thought, Bear reached for Bunny and grabbed her hand. He looked back at the den and at the keeper who had suddenly appeared. As he jumped into the hole with his fuzzy counterpart, the last thing heard and that echoed for miles underground....

'BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIII, HOO-MAN!'

To be continued...