Bear Facts

Manbear Synizn

"Child," Alicia says softly. "Forgive us for questions so soon upon your return, but alas needs drive us to be so rude."

....

So understanding and loving, she is, to be able to do this for this . . . traitor.

Sigh, must admit that I am not as forgiving as she. Yes, in the end this "Edmund" straightened up, however I must admit he did almost ended up betraying his own family for pretty petty reasons. Only reason why I'm not being MORE judgemental over Edmund (IF that is who this is) is that he IS still a child (and thus I make allowances for bad behavior).

...

Yes, I am very much a bear in character. 'Tis how I am, I fear. 'Tis why, upon my induction into the Manimal ranks (re: 1309) . . . the form I took was just the nearest animal analogy of that.

Most of the folks of the Bearclan of the Pack are like that (at least the firstcomers) are like that. Later generations (children of the firstcomers) can develope personalities that differ from the body, but that's a given.

All that said about bear . . . er . . . . bare facts about me are not important right now is this boy.

"Ah, could that . . . wait for a bit, please?" the boy says softly. "I mean . . ."

Yes, of course we wait for him to finish this "business" before we talk with him. What? You think we'd make him....

Nevermind. We let him off to the bushes, but not without escort!

Artizza

"Hey now!" the kid protests, almost pouting. "I'm not some kind of infant who needs his hand held whilst he has to pees here! And I absolutely refuse to go while a girl is watching, much less for people who haven't bothered to tell their names!"

"Ah, I see," I say softly. "But I fear you're failing to see a few facts. Fact, if I and my husband and I can sneak up on you and your captors without being seen, then your 'friends' could do the same to us and grab you secretly while you're doing your busines alone. Fact, until we are back in Aslan's camp, nobody in our group--including you--goes off on their own without a partner. Fact, this means right now it's my and my husband's turn with escorting you so you will get over it, despite your Victorian sensibilities. I'm sorry, but that's the way it's going to be, kid."

Right now my sister and the others had other tasks to do. Tasks needing doing in order get away from any stray patrols we don't want to meet. Things like mages going about modifying a few articles of clothing so this boy will have something cleaner to wear (stuff he has one is rather dirty). Things like the trackers of the group going about hiding our trail, so that when/if the evil army folks find their stoned boy missing, they cannot track us. Things like that.

"I'd like to go into this relationship more kindly and less abrupt than this," I add. "But we have not the time or resources! Right now, as I know you know, there are forces about that will attempt to kill us if we are unlucky enough to meet them! Kill us and put you back into the ground in a stoned out mess. That means you do things our way, without question and maybe we all shall get to some kind of safety."

Indeed, if nothing else has proven so far to be true, things have not been like in the book. Very dangerous, here about right now. Sooner that this child understands, the better for all of us.

The child blinks, as this filters through and his scowl . . . fades as he actually thinks about all that has happen. About what I've said and what his "friends" did to him.

"Alright," he says softly. "But could you at least . . . well. . . not look while I'm doing my business, for goodness sake?"

.....

"Isn't like I have not seen anything you have," I say, smiling a small smile with a trace of adult humor. "But yes, I'll 'look away'."

"Right," he sighs as he quickly undoes his trousers and gets relief.

After that business is done we do finally get around to introducing ourselves.

. . . .

And we learn that this is indeed he is Edmund. That and he adds, thinking that somehow we'd "found him out" over Jadis, adds that he hadn't thought that . . .

Well, we and he now know that he hadn't really thought things through when he'd gone over to the other side to try and betray Aslan.

Somehow, despite the fact that our group is rather different than the run of the mill minions of Aslan, he's mistaken.

And after Alicia takes him aside, sensing that the guy is rather wrought over this whole business take him quietly over aside and they both . . . talk.

Don't know what they say and it is frankly none of my business what they say, but Edmund (for the moment) looks . . . better somehow. Having empathy (as well as Alicia being rather wise, if I may add) sure has advantages. If nothing else, I do hope that that little talk has started something good!

1. "Just think about it," Alicia finally finishes. "Older brothers and younger sisters can be very trying at times, but still in the long run they are family."

Go Back