The Pook Bear.
Once upon a time, way high in the distant mountain there lived Pook Bears. These bears were not like other bears, for one thing no one ever really saw a Pook Bear and people thought they were a myth. Only a very distant village knew of the Pook Bear and knew that these were not cuddly looking bears, like the pandas or such. These bears looked safe enough, they were not very tall and their fur seemed very soft. Although no one ever got close enough to touch one and see. No one ever hunted the Pook Bear because they were very fast moving and when you were within their sight. They changed to a most fierce sight. Pook’s would rear up on their hind legs, stretch out their front paws and then their razor claws would extend out, nearly six inches long. That is nearly as long as my hand. They would snarl quite loud as their fangs came into sight. Growing longer and longer and change to dark red. Their eyes would look red as flame and they would make such sounds that would turn one’s hair white. So, whenever one saw one, they would run the opposite way. Pook Bears were kind enough not to give chase. They had a live and let live attitude, it seemed. Some hunters would try to catch one as a prize but foolishly never were heard from again. In the village, the elders told tales of the Pook Bears to keep the children from straying too far from the safety of their homes. One little girl whose eyes were as blue as the sky and so was named Sky, was not afraid of the Pook Bear like the other children. Sky would beg to hear the tales and sit with bright eyes listening to each word about them. She would say softly to herself, ‘I bet they are lonely. I bet that they would love a friend.’ Everyone would laugh at her when they would hear such words. “Just wait, one day you will see a Pook Bear and you will run just like everyone else and then you will know that Pook Bears are vicious and mean.”
As Sky grew older she would walk further and further, picking flowers or berries and enjoying the quiet beauty of the mountains. She would sit in her favourite clearing looking down at her village far below, eating her berries and bread she brought with her. One day she felt something near, watching her. She looked slowly around, thinking for sure that it was one of her friends trying to scare her pretending they were a Pook. There in the woods she saw a shape. “I know who you are, and I am not afraid. Come out.” She thought it was one of the other children. The shape moved closer and stepped into the clearing. Standing on it’s hind legs, there it was. A Pook Bear! It was scary and fully exposing it’s claws and teeth. Her eyes opened wide but she did not run or move. She stayed right where she was. The Pook looked surprised. He was sure this human child would run. They always ran. He growled again. She smiled at him. He looked shocked. She held out her hand. “Please Pook Bear, do not try to scare me, I have wanted to meet you for a very long time.” He sat back on his hind legs and stared at the girl. He was very puzzled. Why did she not run. He was sure he could not trust her, no more than the villagers thought they could trust him. He shook his head and then turned and went back into the forest. He stayed out of sight but watched. She came forward and set down the rest of her berries and bread. She blew a kiss into the woods in his direction and headed on home. She was singing and smiling. She had seen a Pook Bear, and she held the secret of it safe in her heart.
She went back the next day and waited once more. The Pook Bear returned when he scented her there. He came on his hind legs, scary and snarling again and yet she still did not run. He was very puzzled. She moved slowly towards him and put down half of her lunch and then moved back and sat and continued eating hers. He sat and ate what she offered. As he did, his teeth changed to normal size and white. His claws retracted and his eyes were deep brown. He looked at her with those deep brown eyes and she smiled. When she was done, she again blew him a kiss and returned home. Day after day they met at the clearing, sharing lunch and then returning to their homes. The Pook Bear came to expect her and she looked forward to seeing him. She knew him instantly and saw there were special markings on his fur that she guessed must be different from the other Pook Bears. This continued to the first snow fall, the Pook Bear was sleepy and went hibernating as all Pook Bears did and the young girl was unable to climb the mountain side so both waited until spring.
The first full spring day, Sky hurried up to the clearing and there was a very lean and hungry Pook Bear. She looked him over carefully and saw it was her friend and so she gave him all her lunch and sat and waited. He looked up and slowly said “Thank you.” She smiled and replied. “Your welcome. I didn’t know you could talk.” He shook his head “No human does as they always run from us.” She laughed and said “All but me.” He nodded seriously. “Yes, all but you and why didn’t you run?” Finally asking the question that puzzled him all last summer and all through his sleep. “Because I knew there was more to the stories than the elders knew.” Sky took a breath. “I knew that there was more to such wondrous bears than I was told. I knew that you were probably hiding that you have very kind hearts. After all, if everyone knew then they would be always after your kind.” The Pook Bear nodded solemnly. “Yes,” he said in his deep voice. “No one stays around long enough to know that.” Sky walked closer to the Pook, “May I touch your fur Sir.” She said a little breathless. He just nodded and she moved closer and snuggled into his fur, slipping her arms around him and held him tight. Her golden head laid against his chest and she closed her eyes and listened to his strong beating heart. The Pook looked down at her in surprise. She felt good holding to him, she was nearly purring in the softness of his fur. He quietly put his paws gently around her and they sat together, hugging. When it was time for her to go home, she pulled gently from him and kissed his nose. He looked surprised and then licked her nose and she giggled. “See you tomorrow Pook.” She said as she waved and went off home.
They met then every day and shared lunch and talked about the forest and things as Sky sat in Pook’s lap and leaned against him. It wasn’t long though before both villages started to notice the two disappearing each day. The other Pook Bears could scent something strange on Pook. The scent of Sky. The people of the village could not scent the Pook but their dogs and cats could and they would react when Sky returned from the mountains. It became the talk among both the elders of the Pooks and the villagers. Finally one day, both the groups decided to follow their strange young ones. When Sky and Pook met they acted as always, hugging in greeting and then having lunch and sitting and talking. The Pook Bear elders were in the woods watching in shock and it was funny because the village elders were doing exactly the same, staring in shock. Finally when they could stand it no longer both groups came from their hiding places, both groups looking as scary as they could. Pook turned to face the elder Pooks and Sky turned to face her elders. Both trying to calm their people. Being elders they were a bit wiser than most and actually listened to the two young people about their friendship. They looked at each other and the Pook Bear elders smoothed down their scary appearance and the village elders put their knifes away and smoothed themselves too. The senior elder from the village spoke first. “It seems our young ones have discovered that we have a lot more in common than we thought. I also think that we were mistaken in thinking that you were only going to harm us.” The oldest Pook Bear cleared his throat and growled. “You could be right, we too, were under the impression that you only wanted to hunt us and kill us.”
At that point the elder of both groups sat down and began for the first time to talk. They talked about things that concerned each of them. Sky and Pook just kept silent and sat together watching something very magical. Their people began to work out ways to help each other. To make sure that both groups would be safe from outsiders and the hardships of winter. Much was covered that day and in the weeks to come as everyone from the two villages got to know each other and became neighbours and friends. Sky and Pook became even better friends than before and even got to visit each other’s home. It became a wonderful time for all of them. Winters were not so hard for either group and in spring when the Pooks were in great need to feed because of hibernating in the winter, they were delighted to find that the villagers brought them food for a feast to celebrate the spring.
From that day on the Pook Bears and the Villagers lived together in peace and happiness. Learning the lesson that sometimes someone who looks different from yourself can be just a friend waiting to be met halfway.
- Witchy Godmother - February 5th 2005
