{"sf1_id":1420466,"sf2_id":"V1YdGP0n","title":"\"The Gift\" Stephanie's Storyline, Chapter 9.1","author":"comidacomida","words":1530,"posted_at":"2019-02-11T08:12:48.000Z","tags":["Bear","Cuddling","Family","Friendship","Human","Kissing","M/F","Romance","Size Difference","Teen","no sex","spirit"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1420466-the-gift-stephanie-s-storyline-chapter-9-1","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/V1YdGP0n","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/2f/94/2f946396-cdd6-4119-92f2-ac8305b7d954","description":"Hello, readers, and welcome to the first post of Stephanie's Chapter 9 of \"The Gift\".  \n  \nHaving elected to get some sleep after tiring herself out helping Anapa with the rituals of protection, Stephanie awakens in the morning to find that all of her Spirits had returned during the pre-dawn hours; Medved, in fact, was there in her room when she awoke. The two share some time together, exchange words, and more. At this point readers will need to help Stephanie figure out what to do next, and there are some pretty significant options. Here is what readers chose:  \n  \nb) -- leaned forward and gave him another soft kiss on the muzzle. \"I love you, my Bear... let's finish up here so we can get back home.\"","content":"The Gift  \nStephanie's Storyline, Chapter 9.1  \ncopyright comidacomida 2019\n\nHelen Keller was the first person who was both deaf and blind\u0026nbsp; to earn a bachelors of arts degree.\u0026nbsp; She was a prolific author and incredibly outspoken when it came to her convictions in humanitarianism.\u0026nbsp; She is also quoted for having proclaimed \"The best and most wonderful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.\"\u0026nbsp; As a woman who relied on touch as her only real means of communication, the thought that something existed beyond the realm of such an important sense is mind blowing.\u0026nbsp; During my visit to my parents' home I was starting to understand what she meant.\n\nThe night of working through protection rituals with Anapa and getting to understand him for that short time showed me what dedication meant to him; Kyle's willingness to help me even after I accidentally offended him showed me what devotion meant to him; awakening in the morning with the enormous, furry form of Medved laying behind me on the mattress and the comfortable way his massive arm held me so gently showed me what I meant to him.\u0026nbsp; Medved had known me my entire life but, until the recent days I had neither seen nor touched him.\u0026nbsp;\n\nSlowly rolling around in his grasp I turned onto my shoulder so I could face his chest and, looking up into his warm, brown eyes, I smiled.\u0026nbsp; \"Good morning, Medved.\"\n\nEnveloping me just a little tighter with his arms, Medved responded with a good morning hug and he nuzzled the top of my head. \"Good morning, Dusha moya.\"\n\nI buried my face into his chest fur, barely even registering that his usual vest and shirt were completely absent, simply enjoying the quiet moment of the early morning in his embrace. \"Anapa and I finished the rituals last night.\u0026nbsp; How did you do?\"\n\nMy Bear let out a soft rumble, burying his broad muzzle into my hair in much the same was as I had done with his fur. \"We shall speak as a group when you are ready, Lapushka; the rest wait for you to awaken.\"\n\nI stretched in his grasp and he took the opportunity to nuzzle my neck right beneath the curve of my jaw, and I couldn't help but giggle when he offered me a soft lick.\u0026nbsp; It took both of my hands to push his head away but I still smiled when I saw the goofy, contented-look on his face.\u0026nbsp; Although I knew I could have laid there all day, I also realized that time was even more limited than before.\u0026nbsp; \"When did you get in?\"\n\nMedved slowly disengaged, giving me the freedom to get out of bed as he explained \"Anapa stayed here with you until early this morning. I arrived just after 4:00 and he took his leave then.\u0026nbsp; He may not be a Guardian, Lapushka, but he is devoted to your safety nevertheless.\"\n\nI smiled back over my shoulder at him as I picked out my clothes for the day. \"I guess your opinion changed since you first met him then?\"\n\nHe sat up but remained on the bed as I went to the closet to change out of my nightgown and into my clothes for the day.\u0026nbsp; The Bear spoke to me from out of view. \"I am your Guardian, Lapushka; as such it is my place to doubt anyone and everything that could cause you harm.\u0026nbsp; I understand now that he is not a threat to you.\"\n\nFor some reason I couldn't help but poke the Bear with my next statement.\u0026nbsp; Pulling my blouse over my head I inquired \"And what about Kyle?\"\n\nThe snort was an unmistakable sign of Medved's disapproval but his follow up statement caught me by surprise.\u0026nbsp; \"I still do not trust him, Lapushka, but I also do not believe he means to cause you harm.\u0026nbsp; He is a worldly spirit and known to most.\u0026nbsp; He is a trickster and he has been known to hurt people without meaning to, so I still believe he is a threat even if he does not mean to be.\"\n\nIt was disheartening in a sense since I'd hoped that my Spirits would be able to work together a lot better than the statement implied but, at the same time, I was encouraged to know that Medved was willing to tell it to me straight and didn't hold back.\u0026nbsp; At the same time, I felt compelled to do the same.\u0026nbsp; Zipping up my jeans, I admitted\u0026nbsp; \"I think I accidentally hurt him last night.\"\n\nThe Bear didn't respond to my statement and, as I stepped out into the room to repeat myself I saw that he was looking my way with his round, fuzzy ears standing up as much as possible for a bear with an expression that hinted at 'tell me more'.\u0026nbsp; His follow up question made it much more direct. 'How so?\"\n\nIt wasn't a comfortable topic but I explained what had transpired-- how I'd asked Kyle to help Glamour me so I could understand Anapa and, after finding out how tiring it would be, offered to provide the Raven Spirit some attention via a kiss or two so he could regain some Spirit Energy.\u0026nbsp; As I spoke I could tell that Medved was doing an excellent job of remaining neutral and separated judgment as I explained the situation.\u0026nbsp;\n\nOccasionally his head would nod in understanding or an ear would flick or his nose would flinch in response to something I said but, for the most part, he just listened.\u0026nbsp; Regardless, he said nothing as I finished with \"And so I think he was offended that I'd offered him affection for his help... like he thought I was only being nice to him so I could get something in return-- and, before you say it, I know you probably have some harsh words about me letting myself be Glamoured because it's dangerous or something, but I DO trust Kyle, and he was just trying to help.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;  \nHe offered a calming, knowing smile. \"If you knew what I was going to say before I said it, Lapushka, why bother seeking my council?\"\n\nI shook my head. \"That's not it-- I'm just... letting you know what happened... and that it doesn't sit well with me.\u0026nbsp; That's all.\"\n\nMedved slowly straightened his back then stood up, his expression one of neutral acknowledgement.\u0026nbsp; \"I see.\u0026nbsp; Well, thank you for telling me, Stefanika.\u0026nbsp; We should go speak with the others now that you're ready.\"\n\nReaching out, I grabbed the Bear by his wrist; he'd called my bluff and we both knew it.\u0026nbsp; \"Do you think he's angry?\"\n\nTurning around to face me, Medved rested a paw on either of my shoulders as he knelt down so he could look me in the eye as he spoke.\u0026nbsp; \"Dusha moya, the Raven is fine.\u0026nbsp; I believe he wished to do for you without repayment; he wishes to do right by you without repayment.\u0026nbsp; This is a good thing, not a bad one.\u0026nbsp; Spirits do not act as Humans do, and do not respond to affairs of the heart in the same manner either.\"\n\nEven though I didn't know whether to believe my heart or my Bear I decided to go with the one that probably knew better and thought with logic rather than feeling. \"I wanted to find him last night to apologize, but I guess that's just a silly Human concern?\"\n\n\"It is not silly, Lapushka... you are a good person and do not want to wrong anyone.\u0026nbsp; Spirits do not know rebuke or jealousy in the way Humans do...\" H leaned forward and touched my nose with his large black one and winked at me.\u0026nbsp; \"...were that the case, I would be completely useless to you with the others around.\"\n\nI knew there was some truth, both spoken and unspoken in that statement and, at the same time, it gave me the impression that Medved was contradicting his own statement.\u0026nbsp; Was he really jealous of me spending time with the other Spirits?\u0026nbsp; No, of course not-- he just said he wasn't.\u0026nbsp; Even so, I cared for all of my Spirits... but in different ways.\u0026nbsp; I couldn't say why, but at that moment, I could only think of one thing.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you for being here, Medved.\"\u0026nbsp; A moment later, my lips met his muzzle.\n\nHe stood in surprise, actually carrying me with him since I'd managed to wrap my arms most of the way around his neck.\u0026nbsp; To keep me from dangling, Medved quickly wrapped his arms around me and a split second later he returned the kiss.\u0026nbsp; There was pure and unadulterated emotion to it but it was proper and meaningful without any gratuitous lust or carnality, but there was also a longing there, burning as hot as his eyes gleamed Gold.\u0026nbsp; In that moment, I realized that he desired me in so many ways that it was almost overwhelming; I also realized that the feelings weren't just his alone.\n\nHe let me break the kiss, quite obviously content to let it last as long as I wished it to.\u0026nbsp; Still in his arms, I--","series":{"name":"The Gift","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1416933-the-gift-edward-s-storyline-chapter-8-5.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1420851-the-gift-edward-s-storyline-chapter-9-part-1.json"}}