FSE

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He glared at the bears standing before him. They were unsure about attacking again or not, now that he had their chief and one of the others pinned down by their throats with the spikes created by his black robe.

'Evil magic..' muttered one, gripping his axe tighter.

'Yes.' Kahru said. 'Magic so evil I could slice and kill you all at once if you dare to hurt me.' He demonstrated by willing his robe to produce a blade and cut the handle of the axe in two with one thrust.

The bears took a step back but kept their eyes on him.

'So, now that I have your attention, care to explain why you attacked me and destroyed my property?' he said, letting his robe flutter like a fire made of black flames to impress them further.

'You know damned well.' said the chief, growling deep. 'You've poisoned our wives!'

'Excuse me!?' Karhu said. 'I did what!?'

'You did something at the valley!' said one of the other bears, baring his fangs. 'When our wives went there to gather they became sick that evening!'

'The valley!? I only went there to see if I could find certain plants! I did nothing there to harm your wives! I didn't even know you lived around there!'

'Then why are our wives suddenly sick after you've been there when that never happened before!?' the chief growled.

'I don't know! Did they eat something bad!? Did they find something unknown!?' Karhu said, then sighed deep. 'Don't you have knowledge of medicine?'

'My wife does, but the cures she tried didn't work, and now she's too sick to do anything! And they're getting worse by the day!'

Karhu weighed his options. His master, who had left him this special robe, also left him all the books of knowledge which included medicinal books. He had learned most common cures and might have a shot at helping this bear clan. Or he could continue the pointless fight.

'Fine.' he said to the chief. 'Maybe my knowledge of medicine can cure them.'

The chief eyed him suspiciously. 'How do we know we can trust you not to poison the rest of us?'

'You don't! But their only chance is my knowledge so you don't have much choice, do you!?'

The chief gritted his teeth, glancing at his men. 'Can you really cure them?'

'I can't promise anything because I need to know the cause of their sickness and check the books. I am not experienced in treating people, especially not your kind. I can only apply the most logical cure, so take it or leave it.'

The chief stared at Karhu for a few moments, then nodded.

Karhu withdrew the spike slowly into his robe and stepped back while the two bears stood up from the ground. 'I'm going to pack the things I'll need so I need help carrying the cases. And assign someone to fix the fence you broke.' he said, looking at the wooden fence they broke during the attack and gestured at a wooden shed build against the hollowed rock he used for a home. 'There are tools in the shed over there.'

He went inside, hearing the chief talk to his men. Inside in the room he used as library and study he gathered the books he thought he needed, then placed them in two leather cases with various ingredients he stored to make medicines. When he came out with the cases and a bag with some personal items he found the chief and two others handling his tools which they've never seen before.

'I'm ready to go.' he said and the chief told two of his men to carry a case each. Karhu could see the exhaustion in their faces. He understood they were desperate to find the cause of their wives sickness.

**

'Did you look around the valley?' Karhu asked the chief while they walked to their village.

'We looked, but we found nothing strange except your footsteps in the sand next to the stream.' he said, his voice showing he was still suspicious of Karhu.

'I'll need to see every area they have been the days before they got sick.'

The chief nodded.

'What are the symptoms?'

'They feel hot or cold, pain all over their body and lost a lot of weight.'

'What were they doing?'

'Gathering food, herbs, wash our clothing. They go there often.'

Karhu glanced at the loincloths they wore, thinking they don't need the amount of clothing he needed to keep warm.

**

After a long trek the group arrived at a collection of huts at a clearing in a forest. They were made from logs and reed roofs, forming a crude circle. The few bears walking around seemed older males, who stared at the human walking along the chief into their village.

'You've never see humans before?' Karhu asked.

'A long time ago we found one, dead.' he said.

Karhu nodded. 'Show me your sick.'

He was led to an older female who seemed the most sick. He checked her pupils, smelled her breath and took out a thin glass tube from one case, handing it to the chief. 'Here, keep this in your ear until I say you can take it out. Be careful with it so it won't break.'

The chief looked at the tube covered in markings and a black thin line in the centre. 'What's this?'

'A thermometer. It allows me to compare your normal temperature with hers.' Karhu said, sticking another tube into the female's ear and started counting.

The chief stuck it in his ear, feeling silly with that thing sticking out.

When Karhu reached fifty he took the tube out of the female's ear and held out his hand to the chief for the other. He held them side by side and saw a difference of four markings. 'Her temperature seems much higher.' he said and wrapped the tubes in a cloth, putting the bundle back into his case. 'I want to see where they've been before it gets dark.'

**

Karhu followed Bast, a younger male bear who had been at the valley for a moment that last day.

'There was nothing unusual that day?' asked Karhu.

'Not that I heard.' said Bast.

They searched the bushes where berries had been plucked, the high grass and the edge of the forest without result.

'How long were they here?'

'Soon after sunrise, until the sun was high in the sky.' Bast said.

Karhu looked around the grass field, imagining the bears going about their business.

'I'm going to take a drink.' said Bast and walked to the stream.

Karhu nodded, then turned around quickly. 'Wait!'

Bast looked back at him, puzzled.

'They must have drank the water during that time.' Karhu said, walking to the stream. 'Don't drink it, we're going to have a look first.'

He checked the clear stream, walking upstream along one edge while Bast walked on the other. At a spot with rocks blocking part of the stream he found what he was looking for. 'Bast!' he said, beckoning him to have a look.

'Looks like a deer leg.' Bast said, examining the broken bone with rotting flesh, stuck behind the rocks in the water.

'Let's go further upstream. We might find more.'

Soon enough they came upon what was left of several deer who had been slaughtered and left at the edge of the stream, their rotting remains half submerged in the water.

'We've found the cause.' Karhu said, holding his nose shut to keep out the foul smell.

They hurried back to the village where Karhu consulted the books and started mixing herbs and fungus according to the recipes in them.

'Can you make a light soup?' he asked the chief. 'We'll need it to feed to the females with this mix.'

'I'll have it made.' the chief said and went around to each house.

Karhu took the first batch of the mix to the house with the female he had examined before. Her husband was heating a pot of water and adding ingredients to it.

'Here.' Karhu said, handing him the sachet. 'Pour this in when the soup's ready, then feed her as much as she can eat and repeat it several times until the morning.'

The husband nodded and Karhu went back to his cases, collecting the rest of the mix and visiting each house, examining the sick and leaving a satchel and instructions on how to use it. He visited the chief's house last.

'If I'm correct, they should slowly get better with each day they keep eating. I'll gather more ingredients tomorrow.' he said and yawned. 'It'll take some time though before they're really cured.'

The chief nodded. 'There's an empty house where you can sleep. The one who lived there died from fatal wounds last winter. I'll have my daughter prepare it for your stay.' he said and went to the back.

Karhu took his cases and went to the house the chief had pointed out after checking up on his wife. A light could be seen from under the door and between the window blinds.

When he walked in he found the chief's daughter lighting a fire.

'Hi.' he said as she turned around. First thing he thought was how cute she looked. Her beige fur matched her mother's but she had the almost white muzzle and chest marking from her father. She wore a long loin cloth and wrapping around her breasts, with a couple of bright coloured feathers stuck behind her round ears.

She bowed to him. 'Thank you for saving our clan.' she said.

'Wait until I actually cured everyone.' he said, putting his cases and his bag aside. 'I haven't done anything to deserve thanks yet.'

She shook her head, trying to smile. 'You're trying for our sake after we tried to kill you.'

'Right.' he said, having forgotten the fight during the search for the cause and cure.

'You could have killed or left us after the attack.'

'I don't like to hold a grudge and let innocents die.'

'I have brought some meat and fruit, hope you like them.' she said, gesturing at the table behind her with a couple of bowls. 'And I brought fresh water if you want to wash.'

He realised how sticky he felt from dirt and sweat. 'Thanks, just what I need.' he said and let his robe slide from his shoulders, then used the large bowl of water on a log in the corner to freshen up.

'Let me help.' she said and soaked her hands in the water, then started on his back.

Her soft hands moved down his back and he closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling while she washed his back, shoulders and arms.

'Is that better?' she asked, using a soft cloth to dry him.

'Much.' he said. 'Thank you.'

'I'll grill some meat if you'd like some?'

'Please.' he said, wrapping his robe around his shoulders again.

He sat down on one of the cushions on the bench made from thin logs. 'I'm Karhu. What's your name?'

'Hana.' she said while she put slices of meat on the flat stone on top of the fire.

'And your family?'

'Father's name is Durma, mother's Kama.'

He saw her wipe her eyes quickly and a wet spot on her muzzle. He went to his cases, got a dry piece of cloth out of it and went to her, wiping her wet muzzle. 'If their health is good enough, the cure will help them get well again.' he said.

She turned to him and hugged him, whining softly in his neck. He held her and stroked her back. 'It's going to be okay.'

'I don't know what I'd do if mother died..' she cried.

'I won't let that happen if I can help it. So have faith.'

She pulled back and nodded. I wiped her muzzle again, making her smile softly until she remembered the meat grilling on the stone. 'Oh! Your meal!' she said and quickly turned the meat over.

He sat back down and waited for her to collect the meat and handed him the bowl. She smiled more as she saw him enjoying his meal.

'I'll come back in the morning.' she said as she went for the door.

'Thanks for everything.' he said. 'Sleep tight.'

She gave him a nod and left. He finished his meal and laid down on the large sack of straw used as a bed, closed his eyes and the memory of her soft body in his arms guided him to sleep quickly.

***

Sounds of water and wood woke Kahru up and he found Hana cleaning up the fireplace. 'Morning.' he said, sitting up and yawned.

She turned back to him. 'Morning. Did you sleep well?'

'Yeah.. Seen any progress with your mother?' he asked, walking to the bowl of water to wash his face.

'Not sure.' she said, looking down. 'I thought for a moment there was.'

He dried his face and gave her a friendly squeeze on her arm. 'Don't lose hope. I'll have to clean my gear, then I'll see if there's any difference with yesterday.'

She nodded and unpacked a batch of fruit. 'I brought something to eat, if you'd like.'

'Thanks.' he said. 'I could use a quick bite before visiting everyone.'

**

With cleaned thermometers Kahru went with Hana to her house, finding Durma sitting next to his wife.

'Has she been eating the soup during the night?' Kahru asked.

Durma nodded. 'Although not much.'

'Most important is that she did eat.' Kahru said and inserted a thermometer into Kama's ear, counted to fifty and checked it with the notes he had made yesterday on each patient. 'Her temperature has gone down slightly. She needs to keep on eating and she'll get cured if this keeps up. I'll need your help in gathering herbs to give her more energy, Hana.'

Hana nodded, daring to smile at the better news.

'Let's go see the others.' he said.

**

They all appeared to make a little progress apart from Gremma, the older female. Her temperature stayed the same and Kahru gave Kaku, her husband, a double dose of the medicine. 'Try to make her eat as much as possible, her temperature has to come down. We'll be back with more.'

Kaku nodded and started on a new batch of soup.

'You're worried.' Hana said as she and Kahru walked into the field to look for specific plants.

He nodded. 'Because she's older she's weaker than the rest, and if she doesn't show progress I'm not sure if she'll survive.' he said, opening the book he had taken from his case and showing her a couple of drawings. 'I need these, can you look on this side?'

'Yes.' she said and started on her search while he went into the forest to look for other plants.

Some time later he met up with her, glad she had gathered plenty of everything. 'Good work.'

Back at his temporary house he took out chopping boards and bowls out of his cases and arranged everything on the table.

'Can I help?' asked Hana. 'I've helped mother before when she made medicines.'

'Please.' Kahru said and instructed her on what to chop up and grind.

When they were done he had made several sachets and they distributed these among the houses. He measured Gremma's temperature once more and gave Kaku a double dose of herbs to give her strength.

'I'll come back later to check on her again.' he said before leaving Kaku.

At Durma's house he discussed the patient's status.

'The extra herbs should give them extra strength.' he said. 'If all goes well we can increase the dosage for the next couple of days and see some real progress.'

'Gremma?' Durma asked.

Kahru shook his head. 'I don't know. With her age..'

Durma nodded. 'We'll hope for the best.'

**

Kahru took a walk around the village to see if he could find more interesting plants and roots. Hana joined him, taking some of the fruit from the morning for them to eat in the meantime.

'You didn't know we lived here?' she asked as they sat down for a moment to eat at a field further at the back of the village.

'No, It hasn't been that long since I moved here after my master left the home where he taught me everything I know.'

'I heard the men talk about the tools you have. And I've never seen those thermometers before.'

'Those are things build with the knowledge from the books. His master has given these to him, just like the masters before. Also this.' he said, holding up his arm to indicate his black robe.

'They said it's evil magic.'

He smiled. 'Maybe it is. But what it is, is so far advanced for anyone but the masters and their pupils to know.'

'I don't think it's evil.'

He looked at her. 'How do you know?'

'Because I know the owner is a very good person.' she said, smiling.

He blushed a little seeing her cute face. 'I only inherited a lot of knowledge to keep safe. I don't know whether I'm good or evil.'

'I know.' she said, smirking a little.

He chuckled and tossed his apple core aside. 'You've never seen anyone else? Humans?'

'No. Nobody from the village has ever been far away. Maybe just one day walking when hunting.'

'I guess I'm the first person to have visited your village then. There'll be stories to tell for ages.'

'Yes. About how a strange saviour came to help us in our time of trouble.'

'I hope that'll be it.'

She laid her soft hand on his. 'I'm sure.'

He laid his other hand on hers and nodded, smiling softly across the field.

**

Kaku looked dead tired at the end of the day and Kahru told him to sleep, taking over the duty of feeding Gremma. He checked her again, cursing at the lack of progress.

'Please, Gremma.' he whispered as he poured a little amount of soup down her throat. 'You need to get better.'

She coughed weakly and he sat back. Hana walked in after checking up on the rest of the patients. He had taught her how to use the thermometer and note it down in his notebook. She had looked surprised at how the tiny piece of black wood left marks on the thing square leaves, but took her task seriously.

'I think it has gone down again.' she said, handing the notes to him.

He nodded as he checked them. 'I'm glad.

'Gremma?'

'Still not better.' he said, looking at the grey face. 'I've given her a stronger dose again.'

'Kaku?'

'Told him to sleep. He wouldn't be able to take another night staying up. I'll stay here with Gremma.'

'Then I'll stay as well.'

'What about your mother?'

'Father will not leave her side or sleep. He'll keep caring for her, even if I'm there.' she said, sitting down next to him. 'And I'm less worried now that it looks like she'll get better. I'll keep an eye on you.'

He chuckled. 'Thanks.'

Hana had expressed an interest in the writing he used and Kahru started teaching her the beginnings of the alphabet while they cared for Gremma. Hana told him stories about when she was little and Gremma helped her find feathers and flowers to put behind her ears.

'I'll bet you were the cutest girl in the village.' he said, smiling at the image.

She gave him a nudge and giggled. 'I'll see if Gremma can eat more.'

He was glad Hana was here with him. Being alone with Gremma, who might not make it scared him.

When Hana started to yawn he told her to get some sleep. She refused at first but when they compromised on her sleeping next to him so he could wake her up right away if something happened, she gave in. He watched her sleeping face, then tended to Gremma again.

It was late at night when coughs and rasped breathing grabbed Kahru's attention. He moved quickly to her, checking her dilated pupils and felt her fur soaked in cold sweat. 'Gremma! Hang on!'

Hana woke up at once. 'Gremma?'

Kahru held up Gremma's torso and head, trying to relieve her difficulty in breathing. 'Don't give up Gremma! Don't you dare die on me! You need to get better!'

'Gremma!' said Hana, stroking Gremma's cheek. 'Don't go!'

Kaku had woken up as well and moved by his wife's side. 'Honey. It's me, Kaku.' he said, seeing his wife open her eyes slightly. 'Stay with me.'

Gremma coughed a couple of times, gave her husband a gentle smile, then closed her eyes and stopped breathing.

Kahru looked into Kaku's eyes, then let him take her in his embrace and walked out the door.

'Damned!' he yelled, kicking half the leaves out of a bush. 'Damned! Rotten piece of..! Damned!'

Hana walked out of the house, seeing him stomp and kick another bush. 'Kahru..'

'Why couldn't I have been in time!? Damned!'

Hana heard doors opening and saw others coming out of their houses, seeing what was going on.

'I could have given her a higher dose! Maybe then she would have had a chance!' he yelled, breathing deep and shaking with anger.

Hana moved over to him. 'Kahru..?' she said, putting her hand against his back.

'Why couldn't I save her..?'

She put her arms around him, hugging him gently from behind while he wiped tears from his eyes.

Several men had gathered at Kaku's house, then carried Gremma to a clearing next to the village. Kahru saw Kaku look at him when he followed the men.

'Thank you for trying.' Kaku said softly.

'I'm so sorry..' Kahru whispered.

Kaku gave him a nod and continued to the clearing. The men build a funeral pyre and laid Gremma on it. Durma spoke a few words, and Kaku lit the pyre as a farewell to his wife.

'You did your best.' Hana whispered. 'It couldn't be helped with her age.'

'I know, but it's so frustrating.' he said, breaking her embrace to turn around. He saw the tears rolling down her cheeks and wiped them with his thumbs. 'I just wish I could have been here sooner.'

She nodded, showing him a soft smile. 'Thank you.' she whispered, then hugged him again.

He caressed her back and head, her presence giving some comfort to fight his anger and sadness.

***

He woke up suddenly, disoriented for a moment before realising where he was. A headache stung his head before fading away.

'Damned..' he said, crawled off the bed and splashed water in his face to wake up. Outside he went to the remains of the funeral pyre.

One of the men said they had just buried the remains of Gremma at the burial field in the back. Kaku had stayed with her until then and was now sleeping. Durma walked up to Kahru and his men and put his hand on Kahru's shoulder.

'She was very old, but you have given us at least a little hope.'

Kahru nodded. 'I don't want to lose anyone else.'

'Hana has checked up on the others already, looks like they're getting better. Most are eating more now.'

'Glad to hear that.'

'Hana will bring you breakfast, so take some rest.'

When Hana came to his house she showed the notes she had taken and he felt better, seeing the temperatures go down and hearing the patients were eating more bit by bit. He used the rest of the morning to teach her writing, and after eating lunch at her house they made their round, seeing two of the patients getting more active.

'Congratulations. You've saved our village.' Durma said, shaking Kahru's hand firmly.

'I'd rather wait to see everyone really getting better.' Karhu said, trying not to show the discomfort in his hand.

'I have faith all will be well now.' Durma said. 'I don't even know how to thank you. If there's anything you want, tell me.'

'I don't have any idea.'

'Just let me know when you do. I'll try my best to give it to you.'

***

During the next days all the patients became active, felt better and started eating more than the soup. Kahru told them to keep using the medicine until another ten days had passed to avoid the chance of relapse. He had received so many hugs one day, Hana had to massage his sore back.

'One thing's for sure, you bears sure can hug.' he said, moaning a little while Hana pressed her hands up his back.

'And that's just when we like you. You don't want to be hated.' she chuckled.

'Remind me to be nice to you.' he groaned while she pressed on his shoulders.

'I could never get mad at you now. Not after all you've done.'

'That's a relief.' he said, enjoying her soft after massage.

Hana made good progress at writing and reading and they spend a lot of time together. She took him to a river a bit farther away from the village where they went to get fish.

'I'll show you how we do this.' Hana said and took off the wrapping from her breasts and her loincloth.

The sight of her uncovered body made his heart beat stronger. Despite her clothing covering a little more of her body, without it he suddenly felt something stir inside his chest that made him feel hotter.

'Come, join me in the water.' she said.

'Okay.' he said and let his robe fall down, walking into the water behind her in the hopes to cool off.

He walked in far enough to have the water reach his stomach.

'Now stand still so you won't scare off the fish.' she said and moved a bit back to the bank.

He watched her wet fur cling to her, her short tail covering only part of her curvy buttocks. The stir in his chest was joined by a stir in his abdomen. She turned around, bending over a little to peer into the water. Her round breasts kept their nice shape, nipples showing partially between the fur. He had seen human women, learned about their basic anatomy from the books, but this humanoid bear girl was something else. All the time they had spent together he hadn't really watched her and noticed her curves.

A big splash startled him.

'Got one!' Hana said, a proud grin on her cute face as the fish she scooped out of the water flapped it's body on the bank.

He smiled at her. 'Well done.'

'Now you try.'

'I don't know if I can.'

'If you can't, no food for you.' she said, grinning deviously at him.

He sighed. 'Fine. I'll take a shot at it.'

She watched him as he missed the fish, cursing each time, and laughed. His face was serious and it made her feel comfortable. He tried his best at everything and she wanted to experience more things with him. A cheer from him grabbed her attention.

'I did it!' he said, pointing at the small fish on the bank, struggling to get back to water.

She chuckled at the wide grin on his face. 'You call that a fish?'

'Hey, a fish is a fish!' he said, then splashed water at her.

She laughed and splashed water back at him, moving closer until they were both laughing hard and ran out of the water. They sat down, chuckling.

'That was fun.' she said.

He nodded. 'Yeah..' he said, thinking it would be great if they could continue like this.

The flapping of her fish reminded them they wanted to eat.

'I'll get the fish, you set up the fire.' she said.

'Deal.' he said and watched her get back into the water, her movements attracting his attention and stirring up his blood. He knew what it meant, the effect she caused to his body, he had learned about it after all, and his old master had told him about the half canine woman he had lived with, before she passed away and took him on as a pupil. He had seen the love and sadness in his eyes when he talked about her.

He shook his head and got up to dress and make a fire. He wasn't sure if he wanted to go through the hardship of losing someone he loved dearly.

Hana had snatched several fish and Karhu skewered them to roast at the fire. While waiting for them to be done she asked more about the books and he told her they contained knowledge from another world, far more advanced than them and how each master only revealed enough knowledge to protect all life in this world to prevent the abuse that destroyed the world the books came from. He told her how he learned to control the cloth of his robe with his thoughts, and that only few people could do it.

'You master was a good man.' she said.

He nodded. 'Yes, he was. The people from villages nearby loved him. When he left one night without saying farewell I knew he wanted to hide the pain he felt of leaving forever.'

She pulled up her knees and hugged them. 'I can't imagine saying farewell to mother or father. Or to the village.'

The smell of the fish made her stomach growl and he chuckled. 'Let's say farewell to hunger.'

He had gathered a few herbs to add to the fish and they ate until they were full.

**

When they got back to the village they saw a couple of the females walking about to their delight.

Durma hugged Karhu, slapping his back. 'They're all going to be better!' he said. 'We'll have a feast tonight to celebrate.'

A fire was lit in the centre of the village and benches were placed around it. A couple more fires outside the circle were used to grill meat and fish and everyone was present. The women who were only just feeling better were served by their men, and the ones who felt good served their caring husbands and Karhu as thanks for saving them. Hana and her mother laughed at the attention he got from every female in the village, stuffing his mouth with meat and fruits before he barely swallowed it all down.

Durma stood up and clapped his hands to get attention. 'I want to thank Karhu for giving us a second chance to life, despite the fact that we blamed him for no reason and tried to kill him. From now on, I pledge our village to him, that he may call on us in times of need.'

Everyone cheered, causing Karhu to blush. Hana nudged him to say something and he stood up reluctantly.

'Thank you, all.' he said, clearing his throat. 'When I heard the reason for.., coming, to me, I understood why it all happened and I never tried to blame you for it. If I had been in your place I might have done the same thing. I'm glad I was able to help. although I deeply regret one loss.' he said, choking on his words as he looked at Kaku. Kaku gave him a gentle smile and nod. 'I'm also glad I got to meet this fine bear clan and its people, making my life a little richer. Thank you.'

They all cheered as he bowed and he felt embarrassed as he sat down, receiving a big hug from Hana.

Durma stood up again and tried to calm the crowd. 'There's another thing I want to announce. Since Hana has reached maturity, we will have a suitor competition in five days!'

There was another cheer and Karhu looked puzzled at Durma. Durma explained. 'This is a tradition in the village since long ago to keep our people strong. When a female comes of age, all eligible men compete with each other for her, the winner becoming her husband. It has become a feast since then.'

'Ah.' said Karhu. 'I see.' He glanced at Hana who received shouts from several young men.

***

His stomach still suffered from the amount of food stuffed into him by the women of the clan. With some difficulty he got up and walked to the bowl with water. 'Damn..' he said and sank his face into the cool liquid. When he had to breath again he stood up. He leaned on the log, knowing what he had to do. He sighed deeply, wishing things had been different.

'You're leaving?' Durma said.

'Yes.' Karhu nodded. 'I need to go back home. You've got all that you need now to finish the treatment, so you won't need me around.'

'You're welcome to stay, you know?'

'Thank you, but I have to attend to my own home. See if your men have fixed my fence as good as new.' he said with a wink.

Durma gave a laugh. 'If they haven't I'll send them back and do it over until you're satisfied.'

'Karhu!'

Hearing Hana's voice call out his name gave him a guilty feeling.

'You're leaving already!?' she said, hurrying up to him after her check on the patients. 'What about this?' She held out the thermometer she had used.'

'Keep it. It could be useful in the future.'

She looked down. 'You really have to go?'

'Yeah.. I have my own home to attend to. My vegetable garden will be overrun by weeds by now.' he chuckled.

'I would have liked to learn more.' she said, fiddling with the thermometer.

'You can always come by, and I'll lend you any book you'd like to.'

She nodded. 'Okay.'

Durma hugged him tight. 'You're always welcome here, and if you ever need us.. You still haven't asked for anything.'

'I know, maybe I'll come up with something later.'

Hana, Durma, Kama, and several others including Kaku waved goodbye as he went on his way home. He looked back before he would lose sight of the village and saw Hana still standing there. He gave her another wave, which she returned, then continued on his way home, a tightness filling his chest.

***

The bear men had done a good enough job on the fence. The garden only had few weeds so that wasn't too bad either. He unpacked his cases and made a note on which things he needed to refill, then sat back into the pillow filled chair in his living room with a mug of wine from his own garden.

'Home..' he said, glad to be back, but not really happy.

***

'Friends,' said Durma, standing on a log on the clearing. 'I'm happy we can have this competition in good circumstances. And I'm proud to see my own daughter become a full woman!'

The village cheered while Hana didn't know where to look. Every single young man had come to compete for her. Her mother nudged her. 'Well, what do you think? Any favourite?'

Hana shook her head slightly. 'I don't know..'

'I can see we have good, strong young men here. With them the future of our village is secure.' Durma said, receiving more cheers. 'I wonder who I will call upon at the end, because I think the competition will be fierce.'

Several fathers slapped their son's backs, cheering them on.

'Now, it's time to get things started.' said Durma, then noticed a movement in the crowd at his left.

'Excuse me.' Karhu said as he broke through the circle.

Hana's heart jumped at his sight.

'Karhu!' Durma said. 'I'm happy you came to watch the competition.'

'actually..' Karhu said, scratching the back of his head. 'I came here to claim my reward.'

'Oh?' said Durma, then spread his arms. 'What can we do for you?'

Karhu cleared his throat. 'I want to take part in the competition.'

Hana grabbed her mother's hand as everyone went silent.

'Wait,' said Durma after a moment. 'You want to take part in this suitor competition?'

Karhu nodded, glancing for a moment at Hana. 'Yes. That's the reward I claim.'

Durma looked at his wife, who gave him a quick smile. 'Well, do you know what you have to do?'

'Not really, but I'll take the challenge.'

'But he has that magic robe!' a young bear said.

Karhu stepped forward and let his robe drop to drape his arm, revealing a regular tunic. 'I will lay down my robe and compete with my own strength.

A wide grin formed on Durma's face. 'I guess we're having the first suitor competition with an outsider. And not even a bear!'

The crowd cheered at the surprise. Karhu recognised the bear moving closer to him as Bast.

'Well, it's a surprise, but I'll have to tell you you have no chance. I'm the strongest around here, and Hana is a very good mate to have.'

Karhu nodded. 'I know, but I have to do this.'

Bast slapped his hand hard on Kahru's shoulder. 'This is going to be interesting.'

**

'The first challenge is to provide food for the mate!' said Durma. 'So go and bring back something that will satisfy her!'

The young bears grabbed their spears and went out to the forest to catch prey. Karhu received a spear from one of the women and a rope from another. 'Go and bring back something she can be proud of.' they said, smiling at him.

He thanked them and went on his way. The men spread out to hunt for the wildlife inhabiting the forest. He wasn't sure what he could do but he walked around, looking for any sign of a deer or boar. He heard a shout and the dying call of a deer nearby. Getting curious he moved closer and saw a young deer run away. He watched where it ran to when he heard footsteps.

'Hey, got nothing so far?' he heard a familiar voice ask.

He turned to see Bast carrying a doe on his neck.

'That was fast.' he said.

'Well,' Bast said. 'I have to admit I got lucky by catching one with a young. 'Although it got away.' He grinned. 'Maybe you'll get lucky and find a squirrel.'

'Funny.' Karhu said as Bast went back to the village with his catch.

Karhu heard the young one's call to it's mother and felt bad for it. He had to catch something though, and by now the forest would be clear of other prey he figured he'd have to do with what he could get.

He found the fawn soon enough, frozen in fear and staring back at him, confused about what had happened. He raised his spear to throw it.

'Well, the hunt looks great this time.' said Durma, nodding satisfied at the catch brought back my the young men.

'We're just missing Kahru's catch.' said one of the men.

'Well,' said Bast. 'One mice won't make much of a difference.'

The men laughed.

'Is he even fast enough for that?' asked another, receiving more laughs.

'Hang on, I think he's coming.' someone said.

They watched as Karhu walked up to the village, carrying the fawn in his arms. When he entered the circle they saw it was still alive.

'Sorry.' he said, holding it tight. 'I just couldn't kill it. It's just so young and innocent.'

Hana moved up to him, carefully petting the nervous fawn. 'Then let it go and live it's life.'

He moved back, then let it stand down on the ground, releasing it from his embrace. It ran away, stopping once to look back before continuing. 'Good luck.' he said as it ran to the forest, receiving approving nods from the women.

Durma cleared his throat. 'Well, since everyone did come back with prey, we'll go to the next task, fishing. If there's no wildlife to catch, there's food to be found in water.'

This time all the competitors had to go to the river and catch as much as they could within a certain time. The young males picked their spots along the river and went about swiping fish out of the water. Karhu looked around for a spot he could use and saw a opening in the bank. Cutting two big branches from a bush, he used them to stand in the middle of the river and coerce the fish to swim into the enclosed space. He blocked off the opening with the branches and scooped out the fish with more ease out of the water. Some still did get away, but he managed to catch a dozen fish. He killed them quickly and laid them on a mat made from the branches he cut so they wouldn't fall out of his arms as he brought them back.

'Interesting.' said Durma, looking at the catch of each competitor. 'You all did very well. So then we'll get on with the next task, making sure the mate stays warm.'

The crowd cheered and Durma gestured at the forest. 'Go get firewood.'

The young men grabbed their axes and hurried to the forest to cut down the nearest tree. Karhu looked helpless as he had no axe.

'Shit.' he said to himself.

'Here.' Kaku said, handing him an axe. 'I'm too old to use it anymore.'

Karhu gave him a smile and a nod. 'Thank you.' he said and went into the forest.

The others were well underway to chopping down their trees, but when he looked up at several he found birds and squirrels among them. Feeling guilty of taking away their homes he looked around further. He found an old dead tree and decided that one was safe to take down. He took a deep breath, then started chopping.

He was last once again when he came back with the wood.

Bast grinned. 'You're just no match for a bear.'

Karhu pulled up one corner of his mouth. 'I doubt humans ever will.'

'Since we have food and heat, all we need to worry about is dangerous creatures.' Durma said. 'So let's get to the part where we prove we can defend the ones we love.'

The eight competitors were separated in pairs and moved to a circle drawn in the clearing. Karhu had a feeling what the next task was going to be.

'Let's see who's the strongest.' Durma said.

'Shit.' Karhu said, looking at the big bear he was paired up with, knowing he would lose badly to him.

'No lethal moves! Now fight!' Durma said.

Parents cheered for their sons as Karhu watched the other three pairs growl and roll on the ground. He looked at his opponent and swallowed.

He grinned, showing his big fangs. 'You think you'll be able to defeat me?'

'I doubt it, but I will give it a shot.' Karhu said, preparing himself for the assault.

'Willing to take on someone as big as me?'

'Yeah..'

'Since you're willing to take on any kind of threat, I will give up.' the bear said and bowed to Karhu. 'You have won.'

Karhu looked puzzled at him. 'I have?'

He smiled and gestured at one of the females outside the ring. 'You defeated a deadly enemy I could never have.'

He recognised her as one of his patients and she smiled at him.

'You have my eternal thanks.' the bear said and held out his hand.

Karhu smiled as he shook his hand. 'I'm just happy I could help.'

'I wish you good luck with the rest. I've had fun in this competition.'

He saw the bear getting hugged by his mother and punched playfully by his father, and smiled. He caught a glimpse of Hana smiling at him and felt good. Then saw the three bears who won their fight and got nervous again. 'I'm not getting lucky again..' he said to himself.

During the break for the remaining competitors to freshen up Kama came up to him. 'So, what made you decide to enter this competition? You know how strong our men are.'

'I know I'm just a puny human, but I can't deny wanting your daughter at my side. I want her to know how I feel, and I would regret it for the rest of my life if I did not try to fight for her. Even when I have no chance.'

Kama took his hand in hers, patting it. 'And if she's not interested?'

Kahru felt a jab through his chest. 'Then I'll quietly go away and never bother her again.'

Durma stood on his log again. 'All right! Time for the next round!'

'Well, good luck.' Kama said and left.

'Thank you..' Karhu said, feeling much better from her words.

The opponent wasn't that big this time, but he didn't look like he would give up his place in the competition.

He grinned at Karhu. 'You got lucky so far.'

'I guess I did.' Karhu said. 'No chance on you having an injury that prevents you from fighting?'

'Afraid not.'

'Damn.'

'Fight!' said Durma.

The bear jumped at him and he barely dived out of the way. another move made him almost fall out of the ring and the next brought him too close to the bear.

'You're done for.' said the bear and wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him tight. 'You can't get out of this.' he growled.

Kahru groaned from the tight hold, having to accept he had been defeated, when he saw one of the female bears scratching behind her ear and winking at him. He tried to understand what she meant, then got it. He grabbed the bear's ears and felt him freeze. Then he tickled behind his ears and the bear chuckled, shaking his head to ward of the tickling.

Karhu kept at it and soon the bear's hold loosened.

'Stop that!' he said.

'Can't do that.' Kahru said. 'Have to defeat you any way I can.'

The bear tried to shake Kahru's fingers off, then let him go and covered his ears. 'Damn you.'

'Come on, I'll bet you like to be scratched there.'

'Fine, I give up.'

Kahru smiled. 'Thank you.'

The bear got hugged by his mother and growled softly. 'You had something to do with it.'

'I have no idea what you mean.' she said, smirking a little.

'You won't have that luck with Bast.' he said, nodding at the other ring where Bast just defeated his opponent.

'Yeah..' Kahru said.

He sat on a log, waiting for the break to be over and trying to clear his mind when Kama sat next to him again. 'You got this far, I'm surprised.'

He chuckled. 'So am I.'

'Have you thought about a future with the two of you? What it will look like when two different species get together? Children seem impossible. That will be something you'll never have with her.'

Kahru looked down. 'I admit I thought it would be better if I forget about her, but then I recalled the fondness my master used to talk about his wife, and how she never regretted being with him. I want to have at least that choice.'

Kama nodded.

'Time for the final round!' said Durma.

'Bast would be a better choice for the clan.' Kama said, leaving him to get back to her place next to Durma.

Bast grinned at him as he entered the ring. 'You know there's no way you could defeat me. Tickling won't work with me.'

'So you found out.' Kahru said. 'Guess I'll have to try other tactics then.'

'There's only one tactic for you, play dead.'

'We'll see.'

'I'll make it fair, we'll only use our fists.'

'Fine by me.'

'Fight!' Durma said and Bast walked up calmly to Kahru.

Bast wasn't that much taller than him, but Kahru knew he was heavier. He had to try to be faster.

He evaded the first punch from Bast, parried with a jab to his chest, then evaded a punch from Bast's other fist. Bast attacked him continuously, forcing Kahru to defend and only attack on occasion.

The crowd seemed to be divided evenly between them. Cheers came for both Bast and Kahru. Kahru's thoughts turned to the words her mother said, and the logic pushed by his education. He didn't want to give up on her, as stupid a decision it might be.

He saw an opening as Bast tried to punch him with his left, he turned to give Bast an uppercut with his right when Bast moved aside and swung a wide right at his head.

**

Kahru moaned as he felt his chin throb. The split second image of Bast's fist coming at him permanently engraved in his mind.

'How do you feel?' asked Kama.

'Like being hit with a tree trunk.'

She chuckled. 'He does have a strong punch.'

He tried to sit up and felt dizzy.

'Careful, you've been out for a short while.'

He shut his eyes tight, blinked a few times and tried to get a clear focus again. 'No slight chance I won, is there?'

Kama shook her head. 'Total loss.'

Kahru nodded.

'I have to get back to make sure my husband doesn't make a mess of the feast.'

'Yeah. Thanks for being here.'

He sat for a little while after she had left, hearing the cheers and laughter outside. His robe was laid down on a table next to him and he reached out for it, making it flow towards him and embrace his body, supporting him. He stood up with a little difficulty, kept still until he regained his balance, then sneaked out of the door without being seen.

**

He managed to come back home and crashed down on his soft bed, falling asleep at once. then woke up from a voice calling out to him.

'Kahru!'

He rubbed his eyes, his limbs stiff like they never had been before. 'Wha..?'

'Kahru!'

He finally recognised Hana, who loomed over him. 'What are you doing here..?' he asked, suddenly unsure if he was at the village or at home.

'What do you think!?' she asked, looking at him with angry eyes filled with tears.

He reached up to her cheek. 'You're crying..'

'Of course I am!'

'But, why?'

'Idiot! Mother told me everything!'

He tried to recall the memories of the past day. 'But I lost the competition.. The tradition..'

'That tradition is only an excuse for the young men to compete, it doesn't decide who gets the woman anymore for a long time!'

He had to process that statement in his brain. 'So, it didn't matter who won..?'

'If you only had come out you would have known you did the best at the first three tasks! Everyone thought setting the fawn free was so sweet, and herding the fish to easily catch them was so smart, and clearing the dead wood from the forest first better for young trees to grow! They all were surprised to see you come that far in the fights.'

Kahru smiled softly. 'Then, I have a chance at becoming your husband?'

She growled at him. 'If you don't become my husband I'm going to tear you to pieces myself!'

He pulled her face closer and kissed her softly. 'I love you, my dear cute bear.' he whispered.

She kissed him back. 'And I love you, silly human.' she chuckled, feeling relieved as they confirmed their love for one another.

He pulled her on top of him, running his fingers across her back. 'You feel so good.' he whispered and kissed her again, pulling gently at her lips with his.

She caressed his face, opening her mouth a little to lick his lips. He responded with his tongue and invited hers to play. She let her tongue slide along his, turning her head to let him move his mouth deeper against hers. She moaned softly as they kissed and licked each other, surrendering herself to him, a male who wasn't even a bear himself.

There was at least one thing in common between him and bear as she felt something hard poking her abdomen. She pulled back and smiled at him. 'I never imagined someone other than bear would react like that to me.'

He caressed her soft cheek. 'It's because you're so very cute.' he whispered and felt at the base of her tail that it was wagging fast.

She kissed him and pulled him up to remove his tunic, he found the knot tying the wrapping around her chest and loosened it while they kept kissing and playing with their tongues. When the hide fell away he moved his fingers around her full breasts, receiving soft moans from her.

She loved to feel his fingers crawl through her fur, teasing the edge around her nipples before caressing them into becoming rock hard.

He pulled away gently form her lips and lower his head. She understood what he wanted to do and lifted up her chest to give his mouth access to her nipples. Tingles rushed through her breasts while he kissed and licked softly, almost worshipping her nipples.

The urge between her legs grew while she hummed in pleasure and she pushed him on his back before pulling down his pants and admiring the effect she had on him. She caressed his shaft with her soft hands, making his erection grow even more harder and imagined how it would feel inside her, if it would hurt the first time, like some of the other females mentioned.

He saw the slight hesitation in her and remembered reading about first time experiences in the book about sexuality. He wouldn't make her hurt if it was up to him and sat up, kissing her and pushing her gently aside and on her back.

She looked a little nervous when he pulled back and slipped off her loincloth. Even if it would hurt, she would not refuse the mate she wanted.

He admired the sexy curves that occupied his bed and smiled at her, then ran his fingers slowly through her fur to relax her. Soft moans escaped her as he massaged her breasts again, then went up stroking her neck and cheeks. She pushed her head into his fingers, then kissed and licked his hands before he moved his fingers down her chest to her thighs.

He could smell the scent from between her legs becoming stronger and it made his dick twitch. She opened her legs slowly while her massaged her thighs from outside to inside and pushed up her hips a little when his fingertips came close to her sensitive spot.

He hoped that what he had read was correct and moved his head between her legs, inhaling the sweet and musky scent before kissing the wet folds in her fur.

A shudder went through her spine the moment his lips touched her. With every gentle kiss she let out a soft moan and he knew he was doing right. He wanted to taste more of her and licked her folds with the tip of his tongue, extracting more moaning and shudders from her. Her taste was intoxicating to him and he pressed his mouth harder on her, licking up and down between her wet and hot flesh and lingering on a hard knob which increased her moaning.

She never heard of a male doing this to a female before and she loved it. The pleasure he gave her washed over her and she felt so happy to be loved by him. The itch between her legs increased with every lick of his tongue and soon she felt like she couldn't hold her pee. She moaned for him to stop but the words didn't come out of her mouth and with several hard licks more she lost control of her muscles in the most satisfying way she had ever felt.

Panting from her first climax, she was afraid she had peed all over him and looked between her legs. He smiled softly at her, licking the juices from her folds and let her head fall back, confused by the feeling but happy she hadn't drenched him. 'That was weird, but wonderful..' she whispered.

He moved up between her legs and kissed her belly while he lifted up her legs. She looked down at him when she felt his dick rubbing between her flesh.

'Ready, my cute bear?' he asked.

She smiled at him and reached out to his dick, gently stroking his already slick head. 'Take me, my sweet human.' she whispered and guided him to the right spot.

She let out a soft hum as he slid slowly inside. He sensed her tightness and waited for a moment, watching her face. She smiled at him and pushed her hips a little up to him and he slid his dick further inside her until it was entirely engulfed by her. She hummed in the pleasure of the heat inside her and moaned softly as it increased by his moving inside her.

He moved slowly in and out of her wet heat, already feeling the pressure building form the tip of his dick to his balls. She moved his hips to match his rhythm and grabbed his sides to pull him tighter, moaning for him to give her more.

He was happy to oblige and pumped harder inside her, the sensation of her flesh running along his while hearing her moans of pleasure making it difficult to keep steady.

'I'm so happy with you..' she moaned. 'Please don't ever leave me..'

'I could never leave you from now on..' he groaned, quickly losing control. 'You're the one to share my life with.. The one I love..'

She felt the heat exploding inside her as he let out a deep groan and shared his exctacy, moaning 'I love you..'.

He tried to catch his breath while his dick throbbed and squirted his seed deep inside her. Smiling at him she pulled him tight against her with her legs and he smiled with satisfaction back at her, reaching out and caressing her cheek.

'I still can't believe we're together.' he whispered. 'It's like a dream.'

'If it is, I'm glad we're dreaming together.' she whispered. 'And I hope we won't have to wake up.'

He moved down to kiss her and she pulled him into her passion until they fell into a satisfying sleep.