Of bears and beans

[dionysus]

[ @elysian ]

Grizzlybug noticed the momentary pause and silently cursed. That little pause could be the difference between success and failure when it came to a bird. Beanpaw seemed to get back on track but missed just barely and the bird took flight. Cursing audibly this time, Grizzlybug bunched his muscles and leapt, batting the bird back toward the ground.

“Pounce, Beanpaw!”

[vellichor]

Grizz leaped above him and slapped the bird back down. It was as if everything was happening in slow motion — and the bird’s face was priceless. Anyway, that didn’t matter right now. He was given another chance! He wouldn’t mess up. Without hesitation, Beanpaw pinned the bird to the ground by its flappy little wings. He bit it’s throat a little and it fell limp.

He had done it. But Beanpaw felt himself shrink with shame. He’d messed up, and only redeemed himself with Grizzlybug’s help.

@Beau

[dionysus]

[ @elysian ]

Falling back to four paws, Grizz purred and rubbed Beanpaw’s head, not noticing the apprentice’s upset. He had caught the bird and that was all that mattered to Grizzlybug- sometimes a cat just needed a second chance.

“Good job, Beanpaw! Now you get to walk back into camp with two whole catches of your own! Let’s head back, we can have some prey and I’ll teach you a bit about the warrior code.”

Gross figured he’d catch a mouse or something along the way back home so that he wasn’t walking in empty pawed but it didn’t matter too much- he could always go out hunting later. As he walked past Bean he jovially bumped him with his hip, grinning still from the success of the lesson.

[vellichor]

Oh?

Grizz was — did he not see —? Or was he trying to make Beanpaw feel better? Well, he had to admit it was kind of working. He could feel a small smile working it’s way onto his features. His mentor’s joy was infectious.

He said nothing, just following Grizz with a smile and the bird dangling from his jaws. This had been a nice session, and he was more confident in his abilities. Next would be fishing... or maybe fighting. As much as he disliked conflict, Beanpaw couldn’t help but get excited at the thought of learning how to defend himself without claws.

@Beau