"Gash! Gash! Leave some for me!" a venomous sound echoed in the dark.
...
"Wake up... wake up!" a voice echoed through the morning.
Grizzler's ears flicked toward the sound. "Ahh!"
"Ahh!" He blinked rapidly. "Vein, don't kill the humans , please!"
"Vein!!!" Grizzler's roar cracked the quiet morning, scattering birds into the sky.
But instead of battle, he met Ivy's round, bewildered face.
"Huh?" she said in confusion.
Grizzler's chest rose and fell; his breath was uneven as he tried to steady himself.
For a moment, he didn't know where he was.
"Are you okay?" Ivy blinked, worry softening her voice.
"Ah... sorry," Grizzler muttered, lowering himself to the ground as the panic drained from his eyes.
"I just... had a bad dream," Grizzler murmured, his gaze fixed on his trembling paws.
Don't kill the humans? Ivy blinked, her thoughts swirling.
What kind of dream was that? Ivy thought, tilting her head, her ears twitching as she hesitated to speak.
"Okay..." Ivy said softly, turning away, unsure if she should leave him with his thoughts.
His claws flexed unconsciously, digging faint lines into the dirt.
Then Ivy turned, her hooves pressing softly against the damp earth as she walked toward the forest.
"Oh, I see you walking again," Grizzler said, his tone easing with relief.
"W–wait! Where are you going, little deer?" Grizzler's voice rose, half panic, half concern.
The morning light caught her fur, turning it golden as she stepped through the tall grass.
Grizzler watched, confusion flickering in his eyes before relief broke through.
Then a bird landed softly on his back, its wings glowing in the sunlight. "Good morning, bear," the butterfly chirped.
"Ah… morning," Grizzler murmured with a lazy smile.
"Would you mind if I rested here for a moment, bear?" the bird asked gently.
"Oh, sure," Grizzler murmured, his gaze drifting toward the forest once more.
For a moment, neither spoke; the silence felt almost sacred between them.
"Life, huh… beautiful, isn't it?" the bird said softly.
"Life…" Grizzler whispered, repeating the word.
Grizzler's eyes softened as the word lingered in his mind.
But suddenly, the image of attacking leopards flashed before him.
"Claw…" he whispered.
"Claw? I've heard about him," the bird said.
"I mean… who hasn't? The king of the forest."
"The name alone carries weight," the bird murmured. "A title not easily earned."
....
"And I destroyed it…" Grizzler kept staring at his own claws.
The image of the dying leopard flashed through his mind.
"Destroyed it? Hmm. Claw usually traveled with his herd , fierce ones, loyal to the end."
So Vein and Gash weren't just followers… there were more!?? Grizzler thought.
Grizzler froze mid-step, thoughts tangled somewhere far away.
"... Weird bear," the bird muttered, but its tone softened, uneasy with the silence.
A flock of birds fluttered down, perching on Grizzler as if he were part of the earth itself, leaving droppings behind.
"Are you okay? We… you know, doing that thing…" the bird said.
"It's comfortable here!" another one shouted happily.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through the trees.
"FLY!!" one shrieked, wings flaring in panic.
"I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT WE BIRDS ALWAYS DO THAT!" another cried.
The bird who had been talking to Grizzler hesitated , then flew off, leaving only a worried look behind.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Griz!" Ivy trotted up, carrying something riddled with holes.
Grizzler blinked. Did she just… apologize? He wiped bird stool from his fur.
He brushed at his fur with a grimace, smearing more than he cleaned.
Grizzler stared for a moment, torn between confusion and surprise.
"Welcome back… I thought you were gone," Grizzler murmured, his paw rubbing nervously at his neck.
"No! I thought about what you said yesterday," Ivy replied.
Then she dropped the thing into the grass in front of him.
"Take this!"
She dropped it at his feet , a honeycomb glistening in the morning light.
It landed softly in the grass, golden droplets catching the sunlight.
The scent of honey drifted between them, warm and sweet.
"You thought about when I said I was hungry? in the last night? " Grizzler asked, faint confusion crossing his features.
"No, Griz! Not that one!" Ivy laughed softly.
Then she lowered her head toward him.
"As a curious creature, I want to know more about you, Griz!" Ivy said, her voice carrying excitement.
"You told me you changed… so don't disappoint me!" Ivy blinked playfully.
Grizzler blinked, unsure if he should smile or retreat from her sudden closeness.
Then he stared at Ivy's smile , it reminded him of someone close Leila.
Suddenly, Grizzler dipped his paw into the honey, his eyes glimmering.
His voice trembled.
Grizzler felt the same warmth he'd once thought he'd lost forever.
"Thank you."