Bear Rose

Bear Rose

Bear Rose, eyes closed, lifted her face to the warm sun, breathing deeply of the sweet scents of the forest. The sun burned bright red through her eyelids, red teh color of fire, of life, of her monthly flowings, just begun for the first time.

She sat in the door way of a small wigiwam, a house just for her, a house for this special time. It faced east, away from the village, that she could bask in the mornig sun during the dawn of her womanhood. She was a woman now. This was her time of testing. Alone, away from the village, she would fast for four days, adn then return home, transformed from child to woman.

It was good being here, alone, although a bit strange. Last night was the first time she had ever slept away from her family. always she had lain close to her sister, Little White Flower, arms around each other, whispering until they fell asleep. Last night she had been alone, listening to the sounds of night, teh wind rustling the leaves, the traffic of small creatures, the singing of owls. She had no dreams, but awoke as teh sky was pearling to white of a mussle shell. Wrapping herself in her blanket she sat her in teh dew spangled morning, reveling in the beginning of this first day of womanhood.

She let her breath exhale slowly and breathed in agian, opening her eyes. what she saw frightened her breath away. Not ten paces away was the most magnificent bear she had ever seen. Had been standing on his hind legs he would easily be twice the height of her father. He stood facing her, quietly looking at her. His gaze held hers, she forgot the admonition to not stare at a creature, such was a threat to them. The gaze of this bear was different, something about his eyes was different. His stare did not threaten her. teh bear took a step forward. Bear Rose remembered her manners and dropped her eyes. She was trembling now. She could not hear or see the bear, but felt him coming closer. she did not feel danger, for his posture was calm.

The bear was so close she coudl feel his breath on her cheek, his smell enveloped her. From teh corner of her eye she could see the claws on his foot, as long as her longest finger. She trembled, afraid and excited too.

“Look at me.”

Her head flew up in surprise. Surely teh bear did not speak like teh People! She was looking him eye to eye. His eyes were beautiful brown, they seemed sad and gentle.

“Touch me.”

The voice was deep, and rich, the voice of a bear, but it did not come form his mouth, it reverberated within her head.

Still, trembling adn very slowly, she reached out her hand for his face, gingerly running her fingers in teh warm, coarse hair of his jaw.

The bear turned hhis head adn nuzzled his nose in her palm. He gave her hand two gentle swipes with his tongue, like a mother cleaning her cub’s ear. Then he backed slowly away into the brush. his eyes held her eyes until he turned adn was gone.

Bear Rose felt dizzy, she had ceased to breathe while the bear was so near. Her hand felt moist where his muzzle had been.

Was this real? or was it a vision of her fast?