Bears Night Party - Spring Rites
Flash Fiction Story
By Angel Edwards
In the wee hours of the morning, something called to a young boy and lured him from his warm bed out into the night into the deep forest beyond his home.
Brent built a campfire and then watched very pleased as a trio of bears gathered around him.
The boy gazed in amazement as more and more bears of all colours and sizes appeared from the woods.
Ignoring him and adoring the fire, several bears sat down beside him. He began to clap his hands, and his visitors took no notice of him.
One large brown furry fellow growled his own song, and so many other bear voices joined the large grizzly.
The woodland clearing was soon filled with bears. They were gathering to celebrate the spring rites. Several bears formed into small circles, sweetheart bears tenderly cuddled growling sweet endearments to each other.
Just beyond the celebrations poorly lit by the slim moon was a trio of people.
Only four or five animals out of all the bear party crowd was aware of their presence.
A young caramel colored bear watched solemnly commenting earnestly to his girlfriend. She refused to look in that direction. Human beings always made her feel afraid and distressed. Tonight was the night to celebrate.
Rosebud did not want to feel sad or fearful this night. She tried to coax Blacktail to join the twirling dancers, but Blacktail would not tear his eyes away from the noisy trio.
It seemed neither bears or humans were aware of one another.
Rosebud loathed people. She had been taught that human beings collected dead parts of animals, including the bear and by and large people preferred a dead animal to a live animal.
Blacktail rejoiced in the beautiful moment pondering the ancient nights of his great great great grand forebears.
The dancing bears broke up into smaller groups and every bear feasted on honey wine, an assortment of berries, herbs, and nuts
The dance continued for hours and Brent although no bear spoke to him, kept the campfire burning brightly. He was having the time of his life watching the bears dance,
Piero, a large fat panda elder, tired of the party early and he was on his way home. His ageing bulky form staggered a bit under the weight of all that he had consumed, and he was drunk with fatigue.
The bear’s hostess Mrs. Silverbirch noticed Piero’s departure, and called out
“Merry meet again”
“Lovely evening really nice turnout this year” Ivy the panda replied
“Good night, Fennel”
Piero addressed Mr. Silverbirch
“The night is young “sang out Runner, a sturdy northern brown bear. “Where are you going you old…”
“Good night” said Piero firmly
“Merry meet again, my friends”
The young black bear Burlee closed her eyes and sighed deeply safe in her polar bear’s warm arms.
The pair danced to their own music intoxicated on love alone in their own world.
A group of loud singing bears gathered round the campfire.
Two teenage polar bears danced quietly into the forest away from disapproving parents.
A panda, Blueberry was in intense conversation with Greatcoat.
“Things could be getting serious” Blueberry said.
“The appearance of humans has never been good for the bear in the past”
Yes” agreed Greatcoat
“But on this night, we are invisible to the humans “
A bear spoke up “I cannot follow the singing”
“Yes, you are ruining the dance” agreed some other bear. “Be quiet loudmouths”
Then the bears all sang;
“We sing to you Moon
oh mother
Mother of every bear
tonight, you are a sliver
round shall you grow
oh mother
long shall you rule the bear”
Later, as dawn approached, the animals ambled back to their Woodland homes. The stars retreated and nothing remained but barefoot prints and bear footprints.
Brent fell asleep in front of the dying embers of the fire. When he woke, the boy slipped back through the forest and returned to his bedroom.
He arrived in time to greet his mother’s smiling good morning face.
THE ANGEL EDWARDS MUSIC ®
