The Boy Who Rides Bears (An Older Fiction Story I Wrote)

           Such an untamed place birthing a most unlikely friendship where two lives changed. Two lives most would not have expected to befriend the other: a boy and a bear.

          On an ordinary day the two could be seen together, sometimes walking side by side, and others with the boy riding upon the bear cub's back. How such vulnerable innocence could peacefully bond with wild creation is the question at hand; one we will answer as our story begins here.

         This papa bear was strong, one of the strongest some might even say. This wasn’t merely a physical strength however, it was much more. After such a great loss though, he had to be. First, to the icy grasp of a frozen winter lake, ripping his wife down below it’s once thought fully frozen waters, to the life-altering fight that would change their family once more: that of lioness and her young.

          Around came the lioness, turning a corner with her cubs as they travelled the mountainous region. Both families tracking the same prey as they met each other, none willing to yield their much needed food from this hunt. The lioness lunging at the immediate threats she saw before her in these bears! Papa bear responding with an equal ferocity as he sought to protect his young also! Slashes of large paws and teeth-bearing rage ceased as quickly as they began at the end of such a vicious battle resulting in many deaths; in a moment both families realizing their need to retreat in hopes of saving who remained in their families. Both families leaving in opposite directions with heavy hearts at their losses, and great pain felt at their physical wounds.

         Travelling for days after in search of food, papa bear and his one remaining son came across a small family. Here, in this mountainous region resided a small family of goat herders. Upon an open field roamed the goats of this family of herdsmen, as father and son watched the nearby grazing animals upon the mountain; papa bear and his son catching sight of the animals, hungrily looking upon this readily available source of food.

         Scouting the terrain for any opposition (still wary after the lioness' attack), they made their move once all appeared clear, little knowing of the father and son herders nearby who were hidden from their view by a dense grove of pine trees. At first slowly then quicker was each

movement made as every goat they hunted was approached. Hearing the wind stir the trees, the goats looked up alertly. At the sight of their danger seen quickly they heeded the warning given them, and their hasty retreat was even quicker.

         Panicked cries escaped from the once serene creatures as they fled in a possession of terror, their fearful cries travelling to the ears of the father and son herdsmen nearby. Upon such danger heard, the herdsmen turned to see their goats being hunted by two bears! They sprang to action, running to their herd while reading themselves for a fierce fight! As father and son approached quickly, papa bear saw and turned to defend himself, forgetting briefly his son just behind. Rising on hind legs at the arrival of this father and son threat, he let out a deafening roar! The once hunted goat now freed from death, father and son now found themselves in death's sight as papa bear stood furiously before them, larger than life and ready to take theirs!

        At that moment, however, papa bear saw the son and rage began melting away as memories of his own family flashed before his eyes. Softening at this he began lowering himself to the ground, remembering his son that was still alive and how he must protect him. Turning back to look, his son still remained there as the dad in him emerged while remembering how their last fight went. In that moment, he gathered his son to him and began their retreat.

        The elder herdsmen watched pensively in wonder as papa bear left with his son, the two bears leaving slowly as they went. At this he noticed a heavy sorrow in papa bear’s body language as a sense of loss was received by the father and son herdsmen. Still unsure of how safe they were, the father took some dried jerky from his pack, nudged his son a little to get his attention, and handed it to him with a motioning to throw it to the two bears. The son nodded in understanding and obedience as he tossed it to the side of papa bear. At it’s landing, papa bear smelled it and went to where it was, eating some while making sure there was enough for his hungry son who was also approaching it.

          Papa bear and his son ate quickly, then turned around in curiosity to see where it came from. Noticing the father and son herdsmen standing there still, he suddenly remembered how he also smelled human scent on the food. Standing at a distance, papa bear and his son looked toward the father and son herdsmen, leery about trusting them, yet recognizing the kindness offered and need for food. Realizing papa bear’s hesitation, the elder herdsmen took some more jerky from his pack (for he stocked well for the day) and handed it to his receptive son who already knew now what to do. In great surprise to his father, the young herdsman tossed the jerky to the center between these two families, watching as papa bear went with his son close behind to gather the food.

           Approaching the food, papa bear ate first to make sure it was safe, then gave a signal to his son of no danger as son received it and also went forward to eat. Papa bear and son ate together while the father and son herdsmen watched, unsure of what to make of this as gratefulness rose in them at being able to help the small bear family.

          After more food was given them, papa bear and his son left the father and son herdsmen, content with that which was given.

          Days had passed and the two bears returned to the herdsmen after their search for food came up empty. Realizing once more their need, the father and son herdsmen gave food to the two bears, though this time it was given differently. The young herdsman walked slowly toward the bears, food given him by his father in hand, and set it down closer to them, backing away some after to give the two bears some space. While watching his son, the father went to stop him at first, then realized no evil intentions were present in the two bears as he looked closer. The two bears ate the food given them, without hesitation this time as they sensed friendship, and left once more when satisfied.

           The two bears' return visits were daily now to the two herdsmen, this time not for food only but friendship also. Upon each visit did the two bears approach the father and son herdsmen, closer each time, until these two wild bears stood not near them but next to them as friends do. Seen regularly now could the father and son herdsmen with the two bears, walking side by side in friendship.

         As their friendship grew it was during a time of play that something amazing, truly amazing, happened however! In their tossing and turning, the two sons of both families became lost in play and the young herdsman ended up on the back of the bear cub! At first they were both unsure of how to respond, when the young cub began walking with the boy on his back. They walked in this way as one, enjoying the experience.

            Upon seeing this, papa bear didn’t approve, fearing his son was either being attacked, or worse, taken advantage of. As he looked closer at more than the young herdsman on his son’s back however, he began seeing the acceptance and joy in his son. No longer were they strangers but friends as he kept watching and saw the young herdsman get off his son’s back, hug the bear lovingly and respectfully, then walk beside him. In such an act as this he began seeing the respect between the two sons. This started to put his mind at ease, and his spirit at rest.

           Papa bear and his son would still leave to explore, yet they'd always return daily to this family, to one that became theirs. The two bears and the two herdsmen families looked out for each other, to such an extent that papa bear and his son even protected the goats of the herders! In everything they were seen together, as one family. Sometimes the two sons would be seen walking side by side, while others the young herdsman would be riding on the bear cub’s back. In such ways were they known to bond, to travel, having adventure upon adventure as occasional on-lookers were surprised at such a sight; surprised in awe at the bond of this wild bear cub and young herdsman who could be seen riding upon the young cub’s back, the witnessing of such an unusual moment of the boy who rides bears.

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