VESPER

 

There was no threat of hunters in the Timberlands. The weather was cold but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky to cover the sun. It was a beautiful day to get out and enjoy the wilderness.

With a small group of my brethren to protect them, the young Omegas had nothing to concern themselves with during the journey back to the herd.

I walked side by side with Rudy the entire time. The two of us observed the groups of bears and deer mingling with one another as we made our way through the forest. It was nice to see such big smiles on everybody’s faces. Faces without a care in the world.

The journey was longer than it usually would have been because there were so many of us. By the time we arrived back at Rudy’s camp, the sun had gone down.

“This way,” Rudy said.

I followed Rudy through the trees until we came upon the small clearing I’d been to once before. There was still evidence of some of the destruction that the hunters had left behind but nobody in the clearing seemed upset. Bonfires were scattered throughout the camp as the men and women huddled around them for warmth.

As soon as our group stepped into the camp, everybody turned toward us. The young Omegas rushed up to their loved ones and wrapped their arms around them. Nobody could believe that they were still alive. I looked at Rudy and saw that he was holding back tears of happiness.

“What is this?”

Knox approached us, confusion on his face as he held his arms out.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“I’ve returned,” Rudy said. “I told you I would.”

“The Omegas—”

“Vesper rescued them. The hunters had no interest in killing them. They were only used to get Vesper’s attention.”

“I see…”

Knox stepped forward and looked at the men and women who surrounded me.

“And who are these people?” he asked.

“They’re from my sleuth,” I said. “These are my brothers and sisters. They’re bears just the same as me.”

“And I suppose you brought them here so I can thank them for what they did?”

“That’s part of it. But I also brought them to show you that you have nothing to fear. Not from hunters or anybody else.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’ve come to extend an olive branch. Peace between our two peoples. You don’t have to hold any animosity for us.”

“I have no animosity toward you, bear. I only want what’s best for my people.”

“What best for your people?” Rudy said. “Am I not one of your people? What about what’s best for me? What about what’s best for my child?”

Rudy looked at Knox pleadingly. He stared back at Rudy with no emotion on his face.

“I suppose tonight is appropriate for a celebration,” Knox said. “Rudy. Get the others and tell them to prepare some food for our guests.”

“Of course,” Rudy said with a nod.

“You, bear. I need to speak to you.”

Rudy left me alone with Knox as he tended to the bears. Knox and I watched as Rudy introduced his guests to some of the others who were watching curiously.

“Walk with me,” Knox said.

Knox walked forward through the clearing with me right next to him.

“You’ve done a good thing,” he said. “Losing someone from the herd is more painful than I’d like to admit. I thought all was lost.”

“It was the right thing to do.”

“Then again, they would have never been lost if the hunters weren’t trying to get your attention in the first place.”

“I’m sorry the Omegas had to go through such an experience but it’s over now. There’s nothing to fear from the hunters.”

“Are you certain?”

Knox stopped in his tracks and looked up at me.

“What do you see when you look at me?” I asked.

“What?”

“What do you see?” I repeated.

Knox shrugged.

“I see a man,” he said. “A bear, I suppose. I haven’t encountered many in my life.”

“Are you threatened by me?”

Knox hesitated for a moment before shaking his head softly.

“No.”

“You’ll find that many of those living in the Timberlands are just as peaceful as me. We mean you no harm. Relations with some of the other groups would only foster support for the herd.”

Knox sighed a deep breath and looked away from me.

“We’ve been living in peace for so long,” he said. “We are isolated but it’s our way of life. I see no reason to change it.”

“There’s a reason to change it right in front of you.”

I pointed at Rudy.

“Look at him,” I said. “Fostering a peace between two groups who never met each other. Are you telling me that is something bad?”

“I don’t see what good can come of it.”

“Rudy is an Omega in your herd. Making peace with the bears… Making peace with me would make him happy.”

Knox slowly turned back toward me.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that Rudy is one of your own. He may get into a lot of trouble. He may cause more mischief than you’re used to dealing with exploring the woods. But he is still one of yours. Nothing would make him happier than to have me by his side.”

“I see… So you want me to accept you into the herd as well.”

I shook my head.

“I’m not a deer. I will never be a part of your herd. I will never look up to you as lead Alpha. I don’t even do that for anybody in my own sleuth.”

“Then what are you asking of me, bear?”

I sighed a deep breath through my nostrils before I said it.

“You gave Rudy your blessing when you let him leave to be by my side. Now I’m asking you to give him your blessing so that we can be together, here, in your camp.”

Knox looked away from me. He stared at Rudy in the distance. He twisted his lips as he thought about it.

He shook his head when he turned back to me and smiled.

“We’re living in strange times,” he said. “I suppose it’s inevitable that we deal with some of the others living in the Timberlands.”

“You don’t have to deal with anybody. I can assure you that peace with the bear sleuth to the west will make everybody happy. Perhaps you’ll even find the one you’re destined to mate with.”

Knox widened his eyes at me. Then a smirk slowly formed on his lips.

“Perhaps,” he said.

He started walking away from me toward Rudy and the others.

“Come along. We have much more to celebrate now.”