FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Seemingly unending forest had been wandered through. Everything looked the same to him. Not only did he not know where he was, but the young man didn’t know [i]who [/i]he was either. It was strange. He was aware that he was in a forest, able to recall various kinds of plants and berries that he came across. Even the common variety of birds flying overhead had a name that he recalled. For all the man knew, he could have been walking around in circles all day. Everything looked the same. On all sides was indistinguishable greenery and rows of trees that gave no clue or semblance of direction. At least there were some berries that he found. Being sweet and juicy, the fruits provided some nourishment and a small break on top of that allowed him to regain some strength. While walking aimlessly through the dense growth, the man’s clothing caught on the branches. They were in tatters for some reason, being little more than rags that barely covered him. He wore no shoes, walking barefoot on the soft forest earth. Occasionally he would wince from stepping on a sharp stone or even a thorn. The damage wasn’t that bad so he continued, hoping to find…something. What was he looking for? Something or someone? Perhaps a friend or family member? Did he even have any of those? Would he recognize them even? His memory went no further than a few hours ago. He stirred from the sunlight that beamed through the leaves high above. Upon waking up and looking around, the young man found himself in unfamiliar wilderness. Having no idea where he was or who he was, he stood and began to wander. At first he searched for any signs, like anything in his pockets that could provide clues. But they were empty. He woke up on the bare forest floor; no tent or any other camping equipment. Did he come here? Did something happen? Had he been living here? For some reason just sitting there in the clearing didn’t feel right. Knowing at least that he needed to find help, the man began to wander. But as he continued walking, going this way and that way, he began to get mixed up and had forgotten why he was doing this. He should have just stayed where he was before. At least the clearing wasn’t so dense and confusing. Things finally seemed to take a turn for the better. Another push through greenery brought him to a small riverbank. The foliage and trees were left behind for the most part. Not only was the man grateful for a new sight but there was also a fresh source of water right in front of him. Feeling a sudden thirst, he approached the narrow stream, feeling the silky earth under his feet. There were large rocks in the water, arranged like a bridge one could cross. Standing right at the edge, he peered into the slow moving water. It wasn’t overly deep, likely reaching up to his waist at most. The water itself was clear. So much so that he could almost see the bed of earth and various stones at the bottom. Kneeling down by the water’s edge, the man placed his cupped hands into the water. The slightly warm water rushed over them before he lifted them up again. Feeling the water trickling through his fingers, he was quick to refresh himself. He did it again but the third dip of his hands was for the purpose of washing his face. Having something to drink and a new landmark brought a sense of relief and hope to the man. He stood up and brushed himself off. His clothes were more of an annoyance than anything else. They hardly covered anything and the tattering had become even worse thanks to the forest’s snagging branches. Noting that he was alone, the man began to undress himself. The only thing intact was his underwear and that only counted if no one noticed the few holes in it as well. Groaning in frustration, the man undressed himself entirely. He could vaguely recall a story of people dressing themselves with large leaves. But the smaller leaves from the bushes and trees weren’t going to cut it… Having a source of water and knowing that there were fruits like berries in the forest, the man began to wonder if he could set up some kind of shelter here. From what he could recall, his own experience when it came to survival wasn’t much. It would most certainly be a challenge but it would be better than nothing… Having tied the shirt around his waist, the man surveyed the area. He felt it was best to stay in the open area. It only just occurred to him that there could be something lurking in the forest. There was potential for risk or reward. He could likely run into something that could provide him with food. Or just as likely was something large and much stronger than himself lurking around. It wasn’t a good idea to get himself in a dangerous situation without any help. As the man continued to ponder he was unaware of the scout watching him from a short distance. It was his job to survey the territory along with the others. They did so routinely to keep track of significant events within their territory. Having his body hidden behind trees with tall overgrown bushes between them, Dusty kept his eyes on this strange creature. He hadn’t ever seen anything like them. This and other parts of their territory were very familiar to him. Usually he would just do a quick scan of the land but this was something new and the sight kept him stuck in place. He was already meant to move along and check the next area along his route. In an event like this, he was tasked to report strange things like this. They were rare but not impossible. The bear tribe was one of the strongest in the massive expanse of forest and had little to fear… But all the same it was best to take matters like this seriously for the potential safety of their brethren. Dusty knew what he was meant to do but this strange hairless creature gave no signs of him being a threat. He stood and walked on two legs much like himself and seemed to speak the same language as well. After taking a drink, the…thing was just looking around, seemingly unfamiliar about where he was. Did this creature not know that he was trespassing on the Bears’ territory? Dusty had many questions, being the thinker. Rather than being fearful, he was intrigued by this creature. He just wasn’t sure what to do quite yet. From what he could see there were no weapons on him, no sharp claws either. Having nothing but that ripped fabric around his waist, the strange thing was clearly vulnerable. Possessing hardly any fur wasn’t helping the bear’s perception either. He wasn’t meant to do this but he dared to step out of the foliage and approach the thing while its back was turned. The man wasn’t aware of what was coming closer, but that changed when hearing a loud splash. Turning around he saw a large grizzly bear looking right at him. They both froze and just stared at each other. ”Uh, hello…” Dusty said. The man was at a loss for words, not only from the large furry creature but hearing words actually come out of his mouth. He wasn’t sure why, but that struck the man as extraordinary more than anything else. Something within him told that this wasn’t normal, at least not to him. What he did know was that bears were large and powerful animals, especially grizzlies. He wasn’t sure if a tall, broad-bodied grizzly on two legs much like himself was the kind of thing he wanted to encounter. The ursine noticed the panicked look on the creature's face and he put his large paws up. “Oh no… I’m not here to hurt you.” Dusty took a few steps forward, wading out of the stream’s water. Coming closer only made him bigger from the man’s perspective. Standing right in front of him, the grizzly towered over the furless creature, looking down with an expression of curiosity, which the human noticed. To make things better, the bear sat down, suddenly plopping himself down on his rump. The motion made his loincloth swing upwards and the man got a sudden glimpse of something underneath but only for a moment. Sitting down brought the ursine and man to a much closer height level though his body was still much larger. “H-hello,” the grizzly introduced again. This time he was more formal, having a friendly tone of voice. The man looked him over, this time really taking the time to observe the creature before him, sitting down casually while covered in brown fur from top to bottom. Their arms and legs were thick with a mix of both softness and muscle. His chest was built and its shape showed even through the thick pelt and underneath them was a rounded stomach. Even if he could walk and talk like a human, this bear was obviously large, strong, and heavy, an apex predator. And yet there was a soft look in his brown eyes that had the human feeling at ease. “My name is Dryfus but everyone calls me Dusty,” the bear introduced. “Who are you? And are you for that matter?” “I don’t know…” the human answered honestly. ”You don’t know what you are?” “No, I know what I am. I’m a human,” the man corrected. “Hoo-man?” Dusty repeated, the very word was strange on his tongue. Given the bear’s confusion and awkward pronunciation, it was safe to assume there weren’t any other humans nearby. “As for [i]who [/i]I am… I’m not sure…” the man said. “How is that possible?” Dusty asked. ”I…still know things. I know that you’re a bear, and I know that we’re in a forest, sitting by a stream, but I can’t remember anything about [i]myself[/i]. I know I’m a human but that’s anything about me that I can recall. Not my name, not what I’m doing here, or how I wound up here in the first place.” Finally being able to just talk to someone, the man explained as much as he could. Waking up a few hours earlier in a clearing and eventually making his way here was as far as his recollection went. Dusty first felt confusion and fear towards the human at first but after hearing his plight, he was now feeling sorry for them. It was clear to him that this otherworldly creature posed no threat to himself or the rest of the tribe. His kind was nearly two times if not three times bigger than this small thing. He had mostly flat teeth and no claws but things the human himself called “nails.” There was no way that he was going to fend for himself out here and it wasn’t likely the other tribes or groups would be eager to take this completely unique stranger in… The bear rose up and began to look the human over, treading a circle around him while pondering. The human got up and stood in place, looking over the bear as well. He was large, wearing woven bracers on his arms. There was nothing covering his chest or stomach. Around his waist was a loincloth but as the bear came around, the man saw that the cloth was much shorter on the back end, not doing a good job at covering the rather large rump. Feeling himself blush a bit, the man averted his gaze but also noticed that the bear was wearing sandals made with the same material as the bracers. While walking around the human, Dusty was sniffing at him as well. The scent was nothing like any other creature he was familiar with. It was rather light as well, not anywhere near the potency of his fellow bears. Along with that new smell were the clinging smells of the forest. Fertile earth, fragrant plants, and even the sweetness of berries that were eaten earlier. Something on the man’s back caught his attention. On the shoulder was a black tattoo, clearly made to be three claw marks resembling that of a bear. That struck him as odd but he didn’t pry. Once getting a good look at this creature, Dusty stopped in front of him and sat back down. ”What are you going to do out here?” Dusty asked. Perhaps this…human had a plan to survive out in the wilderness. ”I honestly have no idea,” the man admitted, revealing his little knowledge of survival in a place like this. Having his mind made up, Dusty stood once more. “Then I’ll take you back to my camp.” ”Your camp?” ”That’s where my tribe lives,” Dusty explained so that the human understood that there were many more walking bears like him. This was intriguing but it also made the man nervous. “Don’t worry, I’ll lead the way, just follow me,” Dusty assured. The human did follow the bear’s lead, walking beside him as opposed to behind. He couldn’t help but look over at the furry backside when just slightly behind Dusty. The grizzly had no trouble pushing past the foliage. While guiding the man back to his tribe’s settlement, Dusty was a bit worried about how they would react. An explanation would be required but would they even believe him or this completely unique creature? As they drew close, Dusty and the human could hear the voices of others. Deep and loud voices. They were close to the camp. Dusty took a deep breath but didn’t falter. He took hold of the human’s hand, feeling how much smaller it was compared to his own. It served to reinforce his beliefs and he was ready to face the other bears. Upon walking past the entrance, there were already a wave of gasps and some growls. The human heard words such as “intruder” and “outsider.” That worry he felt back in the forest was nothing compared to being in the heart of this tribe, having many larger creatures looking at him. Some had expressions of curiosity like Dusty while others appeared to be hostile. He kept himself close to Dusty but did look around. There were other bears that wore similar attire to Dusty, having woven bracers around their arms. They were wearing loincloths as well but some wore shorts. The bear’s size and the light fabric of the loincloths did little to actually hide what was underneath. The shorts covered more but they were just as thin and snug-fitting, making a prominent outline that left nothing to the imagination either. He also saw more varieties of bear species as well. More grizzlies but there were also black bears. Some polar bears and even pandas. Talking bears was one thing but seeing so many different kinds of them in one place added to the absurdity and yet they were treating [i]him [/i]as an oddity. They made their way to a large wooden hut. Standing in front were a polar bear and sun bear. Dusty spoke to them while still having the human at his side. While the bears talked, the human dared to look back. As he suspected, there were all kinds of eyes on him. They were allowed in and once inside the human marveled at the large polar bear that stood before them. He was even bigger than Dusty, built of pure muscle, standing both tall and wide. Dusty bowed before the polar bear and the human did the same, feeling it was best to not get on the towering bear man’s bad side. The white furred ursine actually snickered. “Showing respect upon the first meeting. This…creature is clearly smart but what is he?” ”He calls himself a ‘human.’” Dusty said and he explained further about the encounter and the things he knew about the man. ”Sounds like he’s lost his memories, but only of himself. Very strange…” the leader said, not only referring to the circumstances. ”Beric. I knew he couldn’t survive on his own out there. He has no means of supporting himself and is clearly helpless,” Dusty said. The human held his tongue. Sure he was out of his element, but he wasn’t entirely helpless. Beric noticed the human’s expression and he laughed again. “Alright, Dusty. You’re making him sound like a pitiful cub. But you may have a point. Look at his teeth and claws…” “If he stays here I will personally watch over him…” Dusty offered in a manner that almost sounded like pleading. But that was cut short by the leader lifting his hand. “I’ve heard enough. Usually unexpected visitors warrant a different response but I am willing to make an exemption for this…human. For his own good, you will look after him, Dusty.” Beric then looked at the human. The man felt even smaller under the polar bear’s gaze but he again just chuckled. ”J-just like that?” Dusty asked, sharing the same surprise as the human next to him. ”I sense something in him,” Beric said with a tone that carried more meaning. He was looking over Kit and noticed the unique tattoo on the human’s skin, of three bear claw marks. “His presence may carry more significance than any of us realize.” ”Rise, furless thing,” Beric said, his faze falling back on the human. “You’ll find I’m not as scary as I look, so long as you follow the rules and customs of my people. We are giving you refuge from the outside elements so you'd do well to not make yourself disliked.” The human understood and nodded. He was again forcing his gaze to stay upwards, trying his damndest to not look down at the plump furry orbs that were spilling out from behind the uniquely textured and patterned loincloth. He could see the edges of the white sack quite easily. He seemed to be the only one acknowledging this. Dusty was kneeling and likely had a clear view of them as well but didn’t react or seem to notice them. “Since you cannot recall your own name then I see fit to give you one, as your leader,” Beric said. Those last words caught the human’s attention. He really had been accepted as a member of the tribe. But that quickly and easily? He hadn’t expected it to go that smoothly or casually. Beric took a good look at the human, pondering aloud before he snapped his fingers. “How about Kittrick?” the polar bear asked. “I’d say it fits him well,” the guarding panda said from behind. “Especially since the shortened version would be Kit.” “Yes… Kit. It does suit you,” Beric said. The human wasn’t sure if that was a tease or slight against him. He couldn’t figure out what these bears were about. Being able to walk and talk. Wearing clothing just a bit too small for them. Some of them looked at him like an intruder but the leader had welcomed him without much pushback and now others were making jokes about it. But it was good to have a name, even if it was something that others would likely laugh at him for. “Thank you…uh…” Kit stammered. ”Beric,” the polar bear introduced. “You are allowed to stay until your memories return. But you are free to learn our ways if you wish. I admit I am interested to see what a…human can do.” Dusty and Kit were dismissed and walked away side by side again. The grizzly was in much higher spirits. “Well… All I can say is: Welcome to the tribe…Kit.” ”I didn’t expect it to go that well,” Kit shared. “We do take outsiders seriously but that’s if they pose a threat. I was worried at first but I also knew that Beric would understand the moment he took a good look at you,” Dusty admitted. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kit asked. “I’m a grown adult, not some helpless kid.” “Oh really?” Dusty noted. “Compared to me you’re pretty much a cub.” Dusty playfully smacked Kit on the back but his strength made the human stumble forwards. Wincing and slowly withdrawing his paw, the grizzly made a mental note to be more wary of his actions when interacting with the newcomer. While it would have been easy to dismiss Kit for not being a bear, that’s what kept Dusty interested. This unique being that matched nothing like he had ever seen before. He had so little fur, his skin and muscle completely exposed. It would be so easy for one to sink their claws or teeth in… Perhaps he did have the potential to be a good meal but that possibility diminished the second Dusty realized the human was intelligent, at least on the same level as himself, not like the ferals that wandered the forest. They were different to their wild animal counterparts, hunter-gatherers with connected communities and cultures and that was true for the other groups. Feral creatures like boars and deer made good eating for the tribe and they were hunted for the meat they provided. Dusty had a morbid thought; figuring that man wouldn’t make that much of a meal, at least not a filling one. Practically taking in this smaller and weaker being brought out something within Dusty. They barely knew each other and yet he wanted to protect Kit, especially when considering the other male’s background. Lost in the vast forest with no memories or ways of fending for himself. Kit could argue as much as he wanted but as far as the trained grizzly was concerned, he [i]was [/i]watching over a defenseless cub. Dusty took Kit’s hand again and led him past the staring bears. Kit again felt all of their gazes, looking him up, down, and all over. He certainly felt safer in Dusty’s company and was glad to be out of what seemed to be the more populated part of the settlement. It was a rather impressive place. While the bears were tribal in appearance their buildings were constructed of wood and stone. Some had doors but most were completely open in the front, very high and wide to let the hulking creatures in and out freely. Inside were various bears doing different kinds of things. Woodcarving, weaving, one appeared to be repairing another’s sandals. Kit surmised that this was an entire community. Not only a place to settle and gather. The tribe members were helping one another, providing services, or handling tasks. Dusty suddenly tugged him out of the way and two bears passed them by, hauling large portions of cut tree trunk over their shoulders. Kit marveled at how easily they moved with the large and obviously heavy chunks of lumber. Dusty noticed the human’s expression but didn’t say anything just yet. It was best to let Kit take it all in at his own pace and the bear didn’t want to interrupt that. But if there was a question asked of him he would be obliged to answer. Heading further away from the leader’s hut and the square, Dusty led Kit back to the residential area that was closer to the settlement’s entrance. Like the others, Kit saw many more structures and these were meant to be for housing. And just like the buildings meant to act as shops, these had large and wide openings that he could easily peer into. He saw other bears inside; some were lounging on simple furniture, some were even having a meal. Others were freely walking in to greet their fellow tribemate. Kit looked into another walking past it and felt his face heating up again. One bear was standing while the other was kneeling in front of them. Neither was wearing a loincloth, showing their bodies off completely. The standing bear was at an angle that only showed off his rump but his low huffs and the slight tilting of his head made it easy to imagine what the other was doing to him. Kit averted his gaze and sped up just a bit to now walk alongside Dusty once more. The grizzly was unaware of what Kit saw and figured the human was eager to see more of the settlement. Luckily, they were close to his own dwelling. ”I’ll show you where I live,” Dusty offered. That made the smaller creature perk up and Dusty couldn’t help but smile a bit. With a newfound pep in his step, the bear all but dragged Kit to his own dwelling, looking much like the others on the outside. It was very similar to a house, having a stone base and support pillars but the rest were made of wood. Being up close to the structure, Kit noticed just how big it truly was. Everything here seemed more suited to a giant, it made him feel small but that’s what he was compared to all of these ursines. None of this was made for him but it did interest him. Dusty led him inside but remained just past the entrance, letting the human look over the place. The inside was a lot more decorated and personalized than the outside. It was also rather spacious for him. The ceiling was so high and the furniture like simple chairs and the table in the center were oversized from his perspective. The chairs were made of a very sturdy looking wood and there was a pillow acting as a cushion. The “table” wasn’t the wooden one he expected but rather a large stone one that had a thick base and a flat surface on top. Kit looked it up and down, admiring how smooth the surface felt and how neat the carving work looked. There was another chair in a corner. There were tapestries and flat slabs of wood on the wall, standing out among the wooden walls thanks to the light color and the carvings made into them, depicting things like birds and nature. One wall had a shelf that had more carvings, these being full wooden figures. One was a bird, another was in the shape of a flower and painted over in a rather intricate manner. The craftsmanship just had to be admired. Another was what looked to be a feral bear, standing up on its hindlegs. It was a rather cute depiction, not capturing the ferocity it was also capable of. “What do you think?” Dusty asked. There was a bit of nervousness in his voice that Kit picked up on. “I wasn’t expecting guests so the place is a bit messy.” Kit hadn’t noticed until the bear pointed it out. There were some things on the floor, mostly leaves that blew in from the entrance and some wood shavings that likely came from one of the finished projects on the shelf. “I think it's nice,” Kit said, turning his attention to the shelf again. “Did you make these?” ”Well, it's just a hobby I picked up recently. Nothing that special…” Dusty felt his face growing warm. The human continued to look at his work and at first this made the bear feel self conscious. But the admiration was easy to see. It made him feel better but still a bit embarrassed from having to admit that it was his work. “How about I show you where I sleep?” Dusty offered. The human perked up and looked around. He hadn’t noticed there was another part of the already large dwelling. But there was indeed a large opening along one of the walls, covered by two large cloths that one could walk through. Kit did notice that the place meant for sleeping had privacy but the “main” area did not. Dusty led the way, pushing his paw in between the two sheets, pulling one aside so Kit could walk through and he followed. The bedroom was large as well and taking up the most space was the massive bed. It made sense that a bear like Dusty needed something big to sleep in but the bear would only take up half of it at most. There were smaller shelves, two chests, and a closet. By the bed was a cut log, made to stand up and on its top was a sheet of rock. That rock acted as a barrier between the simple log and the small oil lamp on top. The blankets on the bed were patterned and noticeably thin. That made sense as well. Being already covered in fur it must be easy for Dusty to get hot during the night. He also noticed that there was a panel on one of the walls. It could be pushed open to let a breeze in. There wasn’t as much to admire in the room. The smaller shelves didn’t carry figures, rather they had more of the bracers that Dusty wore and other accessories. The chests were closed and Kit didn’t want to pry. The closet was closed as well. There were more decorative carvings on the walls and a large blade that was lovingly mounted with care. ”My father’s,” Dusty explained rather quickly, likely wanting to put any possible worries to rest. The place looked comfortable but Kit had noticed something the moment he passed through the “doors.” There was a smell in the air. A rather musty smell that just seemed to be a part of the room itself. It came from no direct place in particular. The smell had been present in the main area as well but it was much lighter and noticed if breathing deep. But in here, Kit’s nose picked up this scent no matter how he breathed. Again, the bear seemed acutely unaware of the musky smell that permeated his own sleeping area. Perhaps he was just so used to it. It kept Kit’s attention but it wasn’t unbearable, he could get used to it. It was best to be grateful for the dwelling he was offered to share, it was a lot more than he expected. “I’d ask you to set up your things but you have none,” Dusty said with an awkward chuckle, scratching the back of his head. “Hmm…” he noted, looking the human up and down. He approached the closet and opened it up. Being able to look inside while Dusty rummaged, Kit saw there were clothes inside. Most of them were things like shorts and pants but he did see some things that could possibly cover the bear’s top half. Dusty dug around while muttering him to himself, clearly looking for something. ”No, not that…” Dusty said. He searched through his own clothing, hoping to find something suitable. “Ah, here it is!” Taking hold of it, Dusty pulled his body from the closet, only then noticing how far he had been leaning into it. Kit had certainly noticed, again finding himself looking directly at the bear’s wide rump. It swayed as Dusty had been searching and Kit had to avert his gaze, realizing that his looking wasn’t accidental at this point. He still couldn’t understand why the back half of the loincloth was so short, reaching down to cover just the start of the ursine’s backside. Something as simple as bending over or maybe even a breeze would be enough to render its “cover” ineffective. What Dusty showed to him was a pair of shorts, this one being much smaller. “Here, try this. It would work better than what you have on.” Kit took hold of it and moved it around in his hands. The fabric felt light and a bit thin. He couldn’t imagine how a bear like Dusty had something actually in his size. Of course it was likely that Dusty hadn’t been this size his entire life. Instead of questioning it, he thanked the bear for the shorts and intended to put them on but the bear remained standing there, watching him with those curious brown eyes. ”Um, could you step out for a moment?” Kit asked. Dusty reacted with an expression of confusion but then nodded and stepped back until he was past the two sheets. Their material was a lot more dense and they closed in a way that formed a proper wall, keeping one from seeing on the other side no matter which way they stood. Kit was glad to get something new to wear. He had been thankful that it had his underwear served well enough to cover his privates but having something more intact would serve him much better. They were comfortable when putting them on. Despite how it looked, the short’s material was just thick enough to keep him concealed down there. He had no longer had underwear on underneath as they weren’t that comfortable in the first place. Upon being called back in, Dusty took a look at the human wearing the shorts and nodded. “Yes. I’m glad they fit you. I’ll have to get you more attire, something actually suited to you.” Kit didn’t want to intrude but the bear clearly had his mind made up. “Now. Shall I show you around?” He offered his hand again. This time Kit felt a bit embarrassed to take it, remembering the earlier comparison to being a cub. Dusty withdrew his paw but still smiled. “We can walk around and I’ll tell you about the tribe.” Kit nodded and followed the grizzly. They were out of the dwelling and approaching the square again. By then word had spread and the human was no longer seen as a threat. Some were a lot more curious while others were more wary. He looked around and saw that other bears were dressed like Dusty. Having bare exposed chests and bellies. Loincloths covered their lower halves but simple things like walking made the fabric bounce so it was easy to get glimpses of their furry privates. Some wore shorts like Kit but they didn’t do much to solve the problem, instead showing clear outlines. At this point the bears might as well be nude… As if on cue, Kit saw two pandas walking by. They wore bracers and sandals but nothing on their top halves or lower halves. He didn’t mean to, but as they passed by, Kit was given a clear view of their sheaths and the balls that swung heavily with each step. They looked at him with interest and the panda closer to him sniffed in his direction while still walking. ”You’re already the talk of the tribe,” Dusty noted. ”Is that a good thing?” Kit asked, keeping pace with the larger male. ”Depends on what you do next. See, everyone in the tribe pulls their weight. And Beric giving you a name makes you part of the tribe in a way. The tribe is good to those who are good to them. There are various things to do while in the settlement like weaving, carpenting, or just helping those who need it. There’s also important tasks that require leaving the camp. Like hunting and gathering fruits. I also do scouting, making sure that things are normal outside of camp. That’s how I found you, being tasked to survey near the stream.” Kit listened to the bear explain more things about the tribe. He did his best to take in the information but he did get distracted by the bears just walking around, showing themselves off without meaning to. A rather large and darker colored grizzly walked by. His stride kept his loincloth moving and it was all too easy to see underneath. The bear actually winked and clicked his teeth at the human, openly flirting with him. Kit didn’t respond because he wasn’t sure how. Dusty showed him places like where they gathered to eat as a tribe, usually doing so when celebrating. He was already shown where the tribe leader was housed. The square consisted of services; places where various bears assisted one another, exchanging favors, food, and other valuable things to have their wants or needs fulfilled. Dusty noted that he would need a new pair of sandals soon and again noted that Kit would need some too. Being in the square, Dusty began to take the human to various spots. The bear conversated with other bears that were already stationed inside. Dusty wanted to get Kit some more clothing that would fit him. The tailor seemed wary while looking Kit up and down. “I’ll have to take some measurements...” The sun bear grabbed a large coil of rope that was marked for measuring. As he approached, the ursine asked Kit to stand still. Kit did so but still felt a bit nervous as the large carnivore first looked him over. The rope was first gently wrapped around his legs and ankles. The bear then moved higher and wrapped the rope around Kit’s waist… The measuring was rather awkward, with the sun bear using the rope in various places. At least the bear himself didn’t seem to be enthusiastic about doing so. When it was over the sun bear returned to his usual place and seemed to be thinking for a moment before he perked up again. ”I got stuff that can fit him. Other things will need to be altered,” the sun bear explained, talking directly to Dusty instead of Kit. “Shouldn’t take very long.” ”I’ll wait for them,” Dusty offered. “You can look around some more if you want.” Kit nodded and left the tailor shop to look around a bit more. He had no idea where to go next so just wandered about the square. The bears looked at him but didn’t approach him directly. Most just walked past or kept their eyes on him as he walked by. Kit also had to not keep his eyes on the bears for too long. He was curious about them but their lack of clothing continued to be something so distracting. One panda did call and wave at him and Kit realized it was the same one before, the nude panda that had given him a wink. He was sitting underneath a tree, leaning against the sturdy trunk. His legs were spread wide open, showing off his furry sheath and balls for everyone to see. Just like before, nobody was put off by this casual nudity. [i]Maybe this is all something they’re just used to…[/i] Kit pondered to himself. He would have to ask Dusty about this. But he wasn’t sure how to bring up the topic of bear nudity… Despite being given the chance to roam on his own, Kit actually felt it was best to not just walk about aimlessly at the risk of getting lost in a place that he was so unfamiliar with so he decided to go back the way he came which would lead him back to Dusty’s home. Before leaving the square he did make a point to wave back at the panda, making a point to be friendly and not offend. While making his way back, Kit did notice things about the camp. Its layout and construction appeared to be in tune with natural landscape. Paying more attention, Kit did notice that the main walkways were natural, simply stripped of grass by being tread over countless times. Trees grew freely within the settlement and structures were built around them. That applied to simple bushes as well, even the foliage was given the room it needed to flourish. For some reason Kit expected the structures to be built in a manner that would have pushed nature aside. If a tree was in the way it made sense to simply cut it down or remove the dense bushes that got in the way. But that clearly wasn’t the way that things were done here. Birds were flying from tree to tree, tweeting and going about their lives high above the bears, providing a rather peaceful ambiance when. Even better was the gentle rustling of the trees’ leaves. Noticing more about the settlement brought him a greater sense of reassurance, seeing that there was an unspoken care that the bears put into making this a home. Speaking of home, Kit did manage to find his way back. He felt rather proud of himself while standing in front of Dusty’s hut. Once inside the human took a moment to admire the carved figures again. He picked up the bear carving and looked it over while brushing his thumb over it. Unbeknownst to the human, there was someone else in the hut. He placed the bear back on the shelf and was about to turn around but he bumped into something. Thinking he knocked into something, Kit muttered and turned around. He hadn’t bumped into something, but someone. A bear that wasn’t Dusty loomed over him. He was shorter but that did little to comfort Kit. His stature was wider than the grizzly’s. Still having muscular arms and legs, this bear had a larger and softer physique with a bigger belly too. His pelt was black from head to toe. The muzzle and mark on the chest were a sandy color, standing out among the mass of otherwise consistent dark coloring. He would have been cute in a way; a wide soft looking chubby bear with rounder ears that were flicking on top of the ursine’s head and striking eyes. But the deep growling and sharp fangs did much to dial back the cuteness factor. Kit had finally gotten some sense and did his best to back away but that just made him trip. He could feel himself falling backwards but was caught by the bear grabbing his arm. Before he could thank the bigger male, Kit was pulled in again. Another low growl came from the black furred bear. He had the human in his grip and kept him close. ”What are you doing here?” he asked in a harsh manner. “This is where Dusty lives, right?” Kit asked. Despite fiddling with the familiar objects earlier, Kit thought that he had entered the wrong hut by mistake. “That doesn’t matter, what are [i]you [/i]doing here?” the black bear asked again. “Dusty said I could stay here with him,” Kit answered honestly. ”And who are you?” “Kit. My name is Kit.” The bear huffed but it was a sound of amusement. “That’s a name that certainly suits you.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kit asked. ”You’re nothing more than a walking twig. Not even fit for a meal,” the black bear said. “I think you’ve had enough lately,” Kit quipped. He felt a moment of satisfaction from the befuddled look on the black bear’s face. Obviously that kind of response wasn’t expected. “Why you-” the bear growled and balled his free hand into fist. Kit gulped and wished he could take back his words. He was still in the other large hand’s grip and couldn’t free himself. If the bear was to swing there wasn’t much he could do to avoid it. “Kit, I’m- Moss!! What are you doing?!” Dusty had returned with various things in his hands and had a smile on his face when returning but it faded when seeing the other bear handling the human roughly, looking ready to attack him. “Relax, Dusty. I was just…messing with him,” the black bear said. He let go of Kit and took a few steps back. “I don’t know what all the hype is about. He’s no bear like ever seen. Something so thin and hairless would be better suited as a pet.” “I’m not a bear, I’m a human!” Kit corrected, rubbing his slightly aching wrist. “And I’m not a pet either.” The bear apparently called Moss just scoffed and rolled his eyes, not being impressed or intimidated. He instead turned his attention to Dusty. The grizzly placed the things on the table. “I’ve gotten more things, all your size,” the grizzly said. ”You didn’t get me anything?” Moss asked. His tone of voice actually had some hurt in it. ”Do you need anything?” Dusty asked with some firmness in his voice, clearly not happy with the way the other bear had acted. “Not really but it’s the thought that counts,” Moss said. He started to pout by crossing his arms and letting out a huff. ”If you need something you can get it for yourself,” Dusty said in a roundabout tone. “I still need to get Kit used things around here.” ”Hey, you’re not thinking about letting him stay here, are you?” Moss asked while narrowing his eyes. “I do,” the grizzly said without missing a beat. “And for how long?” Moss asked, planting his hand on the table. ”For as long as he wants,” Dusty responded, his gaze and tone being just as sharp as the black bear’s. ”And when were you going to tell me this?” ”I assumed you already heard, everyone already has.” ”Not about that! I mean that you expect me to share a space with a...hairless!!” Moss growled. Kit stood by, feeling rather awkward as the bears began to argue about him. Moss was passionately protesting while Dusty had a calm rebuttal and answer for every one of Moss’ grievances. The grizzly had clearly planned a lot of this out in such a short amount of time. That was equally impressive and worrying. “Why not have him stay with the other cubs?” ”Because he is not a cub,” Dusty answered. “Do you expect him to be sent to another district? He just needs to become familiar with this place and our ways.” Kit was able to observe both of the bears as they stood side by side. Moss was definitely shorter in height but was wider. He also wore similar bracers on his arms and sandals under his footpaws like Dusty. His loincloth covered both in an equal manner thankfully. Around the black bear’s neck was a simple necklace with a sharp tooth of some creature. He also noticed that the both of them had the same symbol on their right shoulders, being some kind of tattoo that was etched into their fur. Dusty’s was black to stand out against his brown fur, and Moss’ was white to stand out against his black pelt. “By the way, how was hunting?” Dusty asked out of the blue. ”The usual,” Moss said, his irritated tone easing some. “But you’re obviously the one who got some excitement for once. I hope you don’t make a habit of bringing odd things home.” “He can hear you, you know,” Dusty said, laughing a bit as he noticed the annoyed tone on Kit’s face. ”Good. I hope you’re not gonna let him just sit around here either. Everyone here has to earn their keep,” Moss said. He turned his gaze to face Kit directly. “One way or another.” Kit noticed that the black bear had adjusted himself beneath his loincloth. ”Oh, stop it,” Dusty said, punching the other bear in the arm. Moss winced but Kit wasn’t convinced that the shorter ursine was actually hurt. With their size and strength it looked rather forceful coming from Dusty but Kit imagined himself being Moss’ size. A punch like that would have been more playful in nature. Moss did recover quickly but grimaced at Kit, seemingly blaming him for the outcome. Kit couldn’t help but screw up his own face. The human was well aware of the difference in sizes but he wasn’t just going to take the bear’s tormenting. “Fine, hang out with the hairless then…” Moss said. He got up and walked out of the hut without saying anything more. “Sorry about him,” Dusty apologized. “He’s pretty sensitive and doesn’t like sudden changes.” Kit still wasn’t sure what to make of Moss. He should have expected that some wouldn’t be so accepting of him, not like Dusty. They still knew so little about each other and yet the grizzly had gone out of his way to get him some new attire. They were mostly shorts and loincloths in his size but there was also a pair of sandals that fit comfortably. He was given a necklace that had multicolored beads arranged in a pattern as well. ”Wow. Thanks for all of this, Dusty.” ”You're welcome. I just wanted to help you feel like a part of the tribe,” Dusty said. His tone of voice had an uncertainty that Kit picked up on, as if the bear was hoping for something. Was the bear hoping that the tribe would embrace the human or was Dusty wondering if the human would stay after a while. Moss’ words did come back and they were pondered. What would he do after a while? Would he stay in the tribe until his memories came back? Who knows when that will be… There was silence in the hut that Dusty interrupted by clearing his throat. “How about I show you some of the territory outside the camp?” Kit nodded and followed the bear outside and out into the greater wilderness. He kept close to the bear as they walked along a beaten path. Kit got to admire more of the scenery and the surprising peacefulness of it all. Despite his large size, Dusty moved with a surprising amount of grace, ducking under branches and easing his way past bushes rather than forcing his way through and damaging them. As they walked, the two began to talk. Dusty told Kit that he would soon become familiar with all of this. It was going to take time but every landmark would one day be easily recognized. He would be able to navigate all on his own. Kit wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to get around on his own. The human felt a lot better with a guide, someone clearly knowledgeable of the area. “Hey, Dusty? Can I ask you something?” Kit asked, having a sudden thought. “Sure.” ”I noticed there are only guys in the camp. And they are all adults too. Are there no females or children?” Kit asked curiously. To his surprise the bear actually laughed. ”Of course there are. They are just stationed in other camps. The females are perfectly capable of handling themselves. There’s all kinds, some that are just males, like this one and those with both guys and girls. There are a pawful of different settlements and one is made up of various families all raising the young as one. Another settlement is dedicated to bringing up the young to become contributing members of the tribe. And all of these different settlements and camps are part of the entire Bear Territory. Hunters, scouts, markers…you get the idea. I’m a scout myself. Not only do I survey this stretch of territory but knowing the land is part of the job. It was daunting for me at first too. And that’s just our tribe. There’s a lot more in just this forest and a bit beyond.” Their walking was halted a few times because Dusty wanted to show Kit things they came upon. One of the first things was Dusty’s favorite scratching tree. He demonstrated how it worked, pressing his back against it before rocking his body up and down. A low groan came from the bear, clearly enjoying the feeling. Kit knew better than to press himself against the hard and rough bark of a tree, let alone to move his back as well. As the bear scratched various itches, Kit again noticed that his loins were moving. The loincloth was jostling back and forth, sometimes sweeping to the side, completely exposing the grizzly’s loins. His plump and brown furred balls were bouncing as the rest of his body slid up and down. That wasn’t the end of it. Dusty had stopped again to point out some mushrooms growing on a stump. He bent over to observe them, explaining something about picking out the right ones. Kit had been listening at first but it was hard for him to register much when his eyes settled on the grizzly’s uncovered rump. The small tail waggled a bit and the rump itself was swaying slightly as Dusty continued to explain. Kit still found it strange that the back was barely covered. He had no idea how to ask about it though… When Dusty turned around, the human did his best to look interested, as if he had been listening the entire time. “I’ll…make sure to pay closer attention.” They continued to walk together. Dusty kept himself particularly close, pleased to have someone to talk to. He had Moss to converse with but the black bear wasn’t very interested in the difference between mushrooms or the intricacies that created the perfect scratching tree. He was aware that the human likely didn’t fully understand but it was nice that Kit was still willing to listen either way. Their small talk was a bit one sided as Kit didn’t know much about himself. Dusty’s curiosity remained full blown but he was still happy to tell Kit about himself and the tribe. More small stops were made to point out more things like berry bushes and other common sights within the forest. Kit did manage to listen and take the bear’s advice, doing his best to remember which berries were safe to consume and which ones would make him sick. Luck had been on his side a few hours ago; those random berries he ate earlier were the same that Dusty had pointed out, deemed safe to consume. “I imagine it would take a lot less to get you full,” Dusty said with a laugh, patting the man on the back again. The contact was restrained this time, pushing Kit forward just a bit instead of knocking him completely off balance. After the pat on the back, Dusty pulled Kit in close to his body, having them walk side by side. With the significant height difference between them, Dusty being nearly twice the human’s height, Kit’s head reached up to the bear’s chest. Kit felt the soft and warm fur rubbing against his skin. It was a nice feeling but there was something else that he was focusing on. Dusty’s arm being wrapped around the human kept his arm raised a bit. Being so close and having his face below the bear’s underarm made it hard to ignore the musky scent that came from it. It was the same smell that permeated the bedroom but much stronger, now coming directly from the source. It wasn’t just coming from Dusty’s underarm; his entire body had an odor. To Kit’s own surprise, he wasn’t put off by it, at least not as much as he expected. Clearly these walking and talking bears still had the traits of their feral counterparts. Kit was aware that animals had scents in general so it wasn’t too offputting. Staying close to the bear, Kit continued to breathe in the other male’s natural scent, becoming more used to it as they ventured further down the beaten path. Kit couldn’t help but admire the much larger male’s body. It was so large and clearly much stronger than his own. Watching the bears move was a sight in itself. They moved about on two feet like him, being aware of their own size and power. Being among them made Kit feel small but with Dusty he felt protected. From what he could tell, the grizzly wasn’t the fighting kind. He was clearly knowledgeable about many things and his job as scout was a perfect fit. Kit wondered if Dusty had chosen the role for himself or had he been set down that path by another. “I prefer not to get my claws dirty if I can help it. I have Moss around for that,” the grizzly said with a chuckle. “Scout is a very important job. We’re not just hulking beasts.” ”Could have fooled me,” Kit responded. He and Dusty laughed at that but the human did think about Moss, who was openly hostile the moment their paths crossed. There was clearly more to the black bear, something that Dusty admired about him. So far Kit wasn’t a fan of the other ursine. Sure he was smaller and weaker but he wouldn’t stand by and be called a pet either. Kit wanted to prove Moss wrong but how would he do that? “Well, you have the wit of a bear at least. We love a bit of banter,” Dusty advised. Further down the path, Kit heard some voices. Dusty heard them too but kept walking, recognizing them as fellow bears. Kit was a bit wary but put his trust in the large ursine, now having his hand in Dusty’s much larger one. The human could see bushes rustling and deep huffs were heard as well. Kit’s first thought was of a fight happening and he was perplexed by how casual Dusty was about all of this. Dusty knew what was happening and approached the two bears in a simple manner. They were his tribemates and posed no threat to him or Kit, especially not at the moment. Kit was brought up to the moving bushes and was finally able to see what was going on. His expectation of a fight was completely off. He was left gawking at what the bears were actually doing and Dusty was just standing by, watching with a completely unfazed expression. In front of the human and grizzly were two other bears mating. But not in the way that ferals did. The two were of different species. There was a sloth bear, being more muscular and furrier than Moss. He was clinging to a wide and sturdy tree. His claws were digging in and he continued to groan. There was a bear right behind him, a shorter and scruffy looking panda. He was holding onto the sloth bear. Their bodies were moving together, huffing deeply together. Kit’s mind had drawn a complete blank. It hadn’t occurred to him at first that he was staring directly at two bears having sex out in the open. The panda was holding firmly to the sloth bear, rocking his hips roughly. He was smaller as far as bears were concerned but was still much bigger than Kit. The sounds of their bodies coming together and more of those deep snorts were easily heard. ”Hey. Hanyu. Kalo!” Dusty said, getting their attention. The pair looked over at Dusty but continued with their consummating. “Have you heard? We have a new addition. Meet Kit!” ”Uh, h-hello…” The human said, waving his hand in a shaky manner. ”Oh yes, we’ve heard,” Hanyu the panda answered, looking the human up and down like the other bears had. The sloth bear, Kalo, did the same while still clinging to the tree. Kit felt even more awkward and embarrassed. His instincts made him feel like this wasn’t something to be watched. For some reason he expected things like this to be done in a more private setting. Granted they were out of the camp and a good distance down the main path. But when up close, the bushes didn’t do much to hide the rutting bears and they weren’t being quiet about what they were doing either. Dusty continued to talk to the panda and sloth bear. They were going back and forth, chatting in an unbothered and casual manner. Kit wasn’t sure what to do so he just remained quiet unless directly addressed. To his relief, the conversation didn’t drag on for too long. Dusty wrapped it up and led Kit away, heading back the same way they came now. ”I think that wraps up the tour,” Dusty said, feeling pretty clever about his words. He was going to ask Kit what he thought but noticed the flustered expression on Kit’s face. “Is something wrong?” he asked. Kit knew he was going to have to address all of this sooner or later. So he told Dusty all about it; how often he noticed the bears wearing little clothing if any clothing at all. How they seemingly paid no mind to public nudity and now public sex as well. Dusty had been able to hold a full conversation, as if the two bears weren’t having raw passionate sex right in front of him. “Oh. I shouldn’t have assumed…” Dusty said, trailing off at the end. “Bonding and having a strong sense of brotherhood is an important value, especially for the bears in this camp. Warriors, hunters, scouts, we’re all working together and our singular efforts help with keeping the entire tribe strong.” “Most in the tribe are…sexually open. Even those who have mates often rut with others. We feel no shame towards our bodies and some go the extra step of showing themselves off around the settlement. I should have warned you much earlier that you would come across those with no cloth to cover them. Or pairs that have no problem “performing” even with those nearby who can see. It is a fairly common sight.” ”So since this is an all males’ camp, that means there’s a lot of mating…between all guys, right?” Kit asked, having some interest that Dusty picked up on. ”Well I don’t know about you humans but I haven’t met many bears that are all that picky. Sure there’s bound to be some that only like females or males but for the most part the most important thing of course is the mutual desire,” Dusty explained plainly. Kit took all of that into account and was glad that Dusty was upfront about it. Certainly, it was something he would have to get used to but now he was mentally prepared for anything else he would see in the near future. ”I know it's all a lot to take in,” Dusty said, providing reassurance. “But I’m sure you’ll get used to it all in time. I like to believe that there’s more to being a bear than hitting your head on branches.” Right on cue, the bear had to duck to avoid a rather low hanging one. The two laughed at that and Kit did feel better. He had no idea what was in store for him or if his memories were going to come back anytime soon. For the time being he was glad to have a place to stay and someone reliable that he could call a friend. “What do you think of him?” the question was asked by a 6 foot brown bear that was sitting outside his lone dwelling, slowly whittling a thick cylinder of wood at the end, gradually sharpening it. ”That thing…just what is he?” Moss asked with a perpetual frown on his muzzle. ”I’ve never seen anything like him,” the brown bear said with a more even, quizzical tone. “But he stands and talks like us. I’ve heard he has no memory. That’s a shame, there’s so much I want to ask him.” ”Am I the only one bothered by him being here, Perch?” Moss asked with an almost exasperation. ”I wouldn’t assume so,” Perch said with a shrug. “He is an outsider with supposedly no memories. But he’s also small and hardly has any fur. I don’t see how he could be much of a threat.” ”That’s not the point I’m trying to make,” Moss insisted. “He just comes out of nowhere, gets accepted by Beric and now he’s taking over my place.” Perch looked up from his whittling, having a wider smirk on his face, even snickering at the grumpy black bear. “So that’s what this is about. Feeling threatened are we?” ”Threatened? By that furless twig?” Moss snorted. His eyes drifted off towards the settlement’s entrance where Dusty had led him before disappearing out of sight. “There’s nothing to be threatened by! Besides Dusty’s just that kind of nice guy, looking after something he sees as small and cute. Not like the furless is gonna stick around long. His eyes look like they’re gonna pop out every time he looks at us.” ”It would be a shame to see him go so soon,” Perch thought aloud. “We don’t even know what he’s like or what he can really do. I wonder if he’s any good with a spear…” ”Ugh…” Moss groaned aloud. ”He’s got nowhere else to go and us bears aren’t the type to just foist someone off on their lonesome,” Perch pointed out. “Even if he doesn’t stay for long it would do him well to learn some things if he’s willing.” ”Doesn’t stay long…” Moss repeated under his breath. “Here’s hoping…” “Hey! You’re that hairless thing!” one of the bears said when Kit and Dusty were heading back towards the entrance of the settlement. ”He’s named Kit and he’s a…a hoo-” Dusty stammered. ”I’m a human,” Kit said. Though the dark furred bear that spoke and the two others close by were all so much bigger than him, Kit mustered the courage to stand before the ursines with a steady tone of voice. ”So you are,” the bear said, looking the young man up and down. “And what are you doing in a place like this?” ”I just woke up here,” Kit further explained and noticed that more bears were approaching. ”He's an adult, isn’t he?” ”Yeah but he’s still pretty small.” “Look at those claws. Or lack thereof. And no fangs either.” ”Still, he’s an interesting thing. Never seen anything like him in the whole forest…” Kit knew they were all talking about him but their words weren’t overly hostile. Sure he could see some wariness or distrust from some of them but for the most part they seemed more curious than anything else. So Kit dared to approach one of them and he even struck his hand out. The dark furred bear blinked and then extended his own much larger hand, it engulfed the humans as they shook. ”Huh…” the bear said. “Well it's not like we don’t have visitors here every now and then.” ”Visitors?” Kit repeated. “There’s other bears that don’t live here, right?” ”Not just bears but all kinds of animals. Foxes, rabbits, deer. We all live in groups of some kind. Some are based on species like us and there’s others that just have a lot of things in common like the Horned. They’re full of deer, mooses, elk, and even bison,” Dusty explained. ”Wow… This might be a strange question but aren’t there bears… I mean the kind that stays on all fours in this world?” Kit asked. ”Sure there are. But they’re not fully like us. Don’t live in hunts or use tools. They’re our simple cousins. Too bad they’re not that friendly towards us,” another bear explained, raising his voice over the others. “I see… And what do you all do around here?” Kit then asked. The bears that were a bit wary of Kit were already changing their tune, becoming rather open to letting Kit see the way that things operated in the place they called home. Dusty accompanied and gave further info as they passed shops and other facilities. Kit got to see for himself the variety of differing species that populated this place. For some reason he found it strange that all these species such as grizzles, brown bears, pandas and polar bears could be found in such close proximity. ”Actually we were all separated once. At least that’s how the stories go. Different groups of bears all living apart from each other. And then one day we just all came together,” a bear told Kit. ”What does a human eat?” one of them asked. ”I can eat just about anything. Fruits, meat, fish, bread…” Kit listed off. ”Just like us. Maybe we’re not so different then. You sure uh…hoomon isn’t a kind of skinny, furless bear?” ”I’m very sure,” Kit said but he couldn’t help but chuckle. ”Maybe he’s not eating enough. Give him plenty and he’ll probably fatten up and regrow his fur,” one of them playfully suggested. ”Hey, don’t give him the idea that we’re just gonna feed him willy-nilly. He’s gotta earn his keep like everyone else!” a different bear insisted. ”Ah, give him time,” another one said in a snarky manner. “Let him soak up the place.” ”I didn’t expect you all to be so nice for the most part,” Kit admitted as he looked around at the different kinds of bears that were mostly smiling at him. ”We’re nice to those who are nice to us. And our leader’s already said you can stay so there’s no point fighting it. Beric’s the biggest guy around and I’m not gonna go complaining to him…” Dusty had been worried that the others would put up a lot more of an issue about Kit being there but he watched as they were all becoming more comfortable with each other. It was true that the bears by and large had no ill will towards any other group. Collectively they were one of, if not the largest and strongest group in the entire forest. But they were more known for their friendliness more than anything else, even despite their large sizes and capabilities. The only one to show direct aggression towards Kit was Moss. But Dusty knew that he could handle him. The black bear was just caught off guard and likely felt threatened by the newcomer. Moss was both thick skinned but also sensitive in a way. Dusty expected the other ursine would want an apology for springing things on him so abruptly. But Dusty didn’t fully understand why he was acting in this way either. He too had been wary of Kit when seeing him from a distance but getting closer and talking to him, something quickly changed within the grizzly. This…human had pulled him in and Dusty felt a desire to look after him, even though he was old enough to look after himself. But Kit was also without memories and knew nothing of this place. He was going to need help to adjust and Dusty knew what anyone else could do. Someone like Perch was more than likely even more suited but Dusty wanted to take on the role all the same. ”Well, what do you think of the place so far?” he asked when he approached Kit again, looking down at the human that was looking significantly more comfortable. ”I think I can get used to this,” Kit said in a pondering manner. “I’m glad you brought me here.” Dusty didn’t show it but hearing that made him feel warm from his core and he was more certain than ever to help Kit adjust. The grizzly knew he was more than likely overstepping but he hoped that Kit could grow to truly like this place and eventually decide to call it home…