Introduction:
Tall billowing clouds dot the evening sky over Great Forest and slowly fly along like large birds migrating toward some common destination. Many of the clouds release ice crystals in the form of dense storms of snow that gracefully falls in their paths. Some of the clouds embrace Grandmother Moon as they pass by, and some temporarily hide her completely in the perspective of those looking up from Earth Mother.
Snow clouds are very quite as they float by, since they usually do not make sounds or have voices. This is no reflection of their importance or of their power, but instead simply a part of what they are. In fact, snow clouds can fly vast distances without rest, can influence the activities of many folks in Great Forest, and are generally known for their grand stature.
Powdery swirling snow sprays across the surface of Great Forest's meadows and glows with a soft blue color as it reflects rays of light from Grandmother Moon. Deep snow forms a smooth satiny landscape as it fills in hollow areas, blankets streams and ponds, and mounds over rocks. Shimmering snow flakes falling from thin clouds or blown from ledges and tree tops refract Grandmother Moon's light, creating small moon-bows that sparkle against the dark starry sky.
When dry snow sprays against hard surfaces it makes a quiet brushing noise. If moist snow collects deeply enough on a fir tree's limbs, it can slip off and tumble to the ground with a thud. Usually, however, snow does not use its voices and is very quite as it falls to embrace Earth Mother. In fact, sound can be absorbed or muffled by falling snow and snow that has fallen. For this reason a hush comes over Great Forest during winter.
Snow is gently blown about by a steady wind that causes it to appear to dance through the sky. Wind makes noises as it flows along its path through Great Forest. It whistles in harmonizing pitches when it filters between barren tree branches; and whispers quietly past rock walls, as if spreading secrets.
Wind sings a soft melodic song that is usually soothing to the ear and is easy to sleep to for those who live in Great Forest. This is important, since Earth Mother is host to the long sleep of many creatures during winter. Those who sleep for several months and those who simply burrow for shelter from winter's cold temperatures depend on Earth Mother to cradle them comfortably.
Small amounts of water flow in Great River beneath a thick cap of layered ice. In some places Great River's icy cap is blown free of snow by winds. At night these patches of glassy ice mirror white riverbanks, a dimly lit forest, floating clouds, and a deep starry sky. Where the ice is thin or broken water can be heard making a gurgling murmur as it flows along Great River's winding path to the ocean.
Dust that has floated through space and descended into Earth Mother's atmosphere shimmers in the light reflected off of Grandmother Moon and in Grandfather Sun's light cast from the other side of Earth Mother. Thin vertical sheets of the dust form and drape across the sky gently folding back and forth as quietly as the passing clouds. Soft red, green, and blue hues sparkle from Grandmother Moon's veil as she slowly flies behind it and across the northern sky.
The noises of wind are joined temporarily by distant echoing barks of Fox when she warns another predator to keep away from her den. In winter food is scarce and even hunters sometimes find themselves being hunted. Survival during winter depends on one's defenses almost as much as successfully finding enough to eat. Other noises occasionally break the quiet rhythm of wind's song as a few of Great Forest's creatures move about in the night, look for each other, or even confront each other.
Rude Awakening:Winter had recently come to Great Forest and tonight Bear was still preparing for his long sleep by fishing for trout in Great River. Although he enjoyed the flavor of trout, at this time Bear was more earnest about volume than good taste. His joints were somewhat stiff and he felt particularly cold; but his desire to eat was his main priority tonight, so he endured the distractions and kept fishing.
Bear noticed Summer Thunder Wolf slowly approaching from up river toward where Bear was fishing. Bear threw a small brown trout onto a nearby sand bar and thrust himself from the shallows to place a paw on the struggling fish. He stared at Summer and watched for any sign of the wolf's intentions; but could see none.
Summer belongs to a clan of wolves who often hunt in Great Forest. The charcoal gray in his coat is nearly invisible night; but the silver fur that trims his coat makes Summer glow with a silver-blue outline in Grandmother Moon's radiant light. Tonight his head was hung high as he slowly walked along. His nostrils oscillated as they flared when he drew long breaths, and then narrowed as he slowly exhaled. This was his method of sensing many things that lingered in the air about another person including the condition of their health, what the other's disposition is, and even one's level of fear.
Bear couldn't tell if it was from the sight of such a beautiful creature or from the extreme cold of winter; but shivers began chasing up and down his spine. Bear quietly greeted Summer as the wolf came near and pushed the brown trout toward him and sat back. Although Bear did not know the wolf, he was sure a tasty snack would help make their first face-to-face encounter a positive one.
Summer hesitated, then lay down in front of the fish and started devouring it. He looked up at Bear occasionally; but avoided eye contact and centered himself on the meal. After finishing with the trout Summer rose again to all fours. He thanked Bear for the meal and then asked him why he had been so gracious with the gift.
Looking about, Bear indicated he knew hunting was now very challenging. He explained that meeting a stranger in Great Forest during early winter seems a good time for sharing food. Bear finished by explaining his notion of a positive meeting and that their relationship could be better than an arbitrary one.
Footsteps from other wolves nearing Great River's far bank became obvious to Bear and this worried him. Although one wolf was no match for a grizzly bear, a large pack could present a formidable offense. When one of the wolves began howling, Bear rose from where he sat and stood up on his back paws. In this position he towered over Summer and could see and smell things around himself better.
Summer indicated Bear should wake up to the fact that their relationship was already less than arbitrary. He mentioned that wolves sometimes howl to provide a penetrating avenue for their messages to be heard. The tones of Summer's words were becoming increasingly sharper, much louder, and emphasized with short rough growls. He again addressed Bear explaining he was not safe from winter's toll, and that winter could kill Bear if he kept sleeping through it.
During this unusual encounter Bear noticed Summer was not making eye contact, in itself a usual means of suggesting sincerity. Instead, it seemed to Bear that Summer was defensively watching Bear's movements as if looking for a bodily reaction to the words he spoke. The wolf's attitude appeared to be changing toward moods of aggravation and perhaps even desperation. Finally, Summer snarled and attempted to anger Bear by telling him he and others of the Wolf Clan had eaten Bear's grandfather!
Confused about Summer's tones, body language, and insistent nature, Bear wondered what parts of the wolf's words were warnings, and what parts might be threats. Adrenaline began replacing the cold shivers in Bear, and the hair on his neck started growing stiff. When Summer mentioned having eaten Bear's grandfather, Bear immediately lunged toward the wolf; and missing, slid across a stretch of Great River's icy surface. Repeated attacks toward Summer were to no avail, since the wolf was swift and more agile than Bear.
Summer started howling as he danced back and forth to avoid the furious giant. Nipping at Bear's hide several times, he finally got a good bite in. At this point Summer backed away quickly and kept his eyes on Bear. The bite had taken Bear off guard and had caused him to stop in his tracks.
Bear had tried over and over to grab, strike, or bite Summer. Instead, Summer had bitten into his calf and Bear's whole world had gone dark. At this point Bear had also become colder than ever before. Though groggy from being in his long sleep, Bear realized he was lying in a large pool of water on the floor of his den. Bear was shaking from top to bottom, and icy cold pain shot through his entire body as hypothermia was setting in.
Looking up, Bear could see the silhouette of a wolf inside and near the entrance of his den. He tried to raise up to confront the wolf as fast as possible; but lifting up was an overwhelming challenge and he stumbled across the floor of his den.
Summer backed up inching closer to the entrance while greeting Bear from his long sleep. He told Bear he should run to use his stored energy for building up some body heat. Summer, noting that Bear was now waking up, left the cave through the narrow entrance. Bear, getting up and struggling to maintain his balance, was not really listening to the wolf as he followed him outside.
When Bear came out of the den he blinked at the glare of Grandfather Sun's morning rays of light. He saw Summer had joined the wolf pack near Great River and was staring up at him. Bear growled and complained about not being left alone during his long sleep. Cold wind blew through Bear's wet fur causing him to wince and growl again.
Summer, not convinced Bear was awake enough to understand yet, yelled to him to come run for a bit to get warm inside. He told the other wolves about how slow bears are and other such nonsense in an attempt to get bear to start running. He even made remarks about how poor bears are at hunting because they are so slow on their paws. Hearing a sudden loud crashing noise along with other indications that the large monstrous mammal had taken the bait, Summer took off running as fast as possible without looking back.
Bear growled loud and long as he lunged down the hillside toward the wolf pack. The fury of a grizzly bear is unmatched by any creatures in Great Forest, and Bear was now evidence of this. Self-confidence swelled somewhat in Bear as the wolves took off running in a flurry. Their reaction to his charging after them was so immediate, however, that it made Bear wonder if there retreat was sincere. As Bear ran deeper into Great Forest after the wolf pack he had time to begin understanding what had taken place.
Things had changed in the den. A rock had moved in the walls, mud had eroded away, or a simple shift of Earth Mother had caused water to pool in Bear's sleeping place. The pooling water had absorbed much of Bear's body heat. Bear realized the wolf clan had discovered he was freezing and awoke him from his deep sleep to save his life. They had first caused him to awaken into a subconscious dream world, and then into the real world. Now they were simply trying to get him to run so he could renew his body heat.
Bear appreciated the efforts of the wolf clan, and knew they would have to share words on all this at some time. Now, however, there was a game to play. Strategy would have to be good enough to allow Bear a chance to catch up with any of the wolves. Their ability to run quickly and quietly, to organize as a single entity, and to keenly sense danger would have to be overcome if Bear were to impress them with his prowess. The only trend Bear had noticed so far was that the wolves were only running on paths easy for bears to navigate.
Leaping onto and up a set of small rock bluffs, Bear created a shortcut to a switchback in the path and, as predicted, he ran into the path in front of some old and very young wolves. A bellowing growl their way was followed by yelps and howls from the retreating wolves he'd surprised.
Running further into Great Forest, Bear made another shortcut to the pathway by running straight up a large hill. He knew that others in the pack would slow down to figure out what had happened to their kin. As he grew close to the path, Bear saw Summer and several other large wolves pass by. He slipped up to the edge of the path and then pounced out in front of a large group of the wolves. Bear growled loudly and walked toward the wolves on his back paws with his razor sharp claws extended. The wolves scurried for cover and made loud noises as if they were really scared of his presence.
Turning about, Bear started running on up the path until finally out of sight. He then left the path again and headed toward a rockslide he knew of that blocked the path ahead. Bear knew the few wolves that were still in front of him would have to work hard to get passed the slide. When Bear came closer to the rockslide, he stopped and looked over the rocks for any signs of the wolves. He found where the wolves had made a trail of paw prints in the fresh snow as they had arced around the rockslide.
A little disappointed, and not willing to go further, Bear turned around and ambled down to the path so he could easily return to his den. As he slowly walked around the last boulder between himself and the path several large wolves surprised Bear. While watching the wolves circle and block him from escape, could not help but notice they were not breathing hard. They didn't appear to have been running at all. Bear admired their stamina, as well as the fact that they had so easily fooled and trapped him.
Summer walked forward from the group and announced that Bear was looking much better now that he was warmer. He asked if Bear had built an animosity for the wolf clan, since they had rudely interrupted his sleep time. Several of the wolves Bear had startled along the path were now catching up to and joining the wolf pack.
Bear sat back and addressed Summer, first with eye contact, and then with his words. He thanked Summer and the other wolves for saving his life by waking him up, and by getting him to run so hard. Bear announced that he, Brown-Stripe-Father-bear, was honored for having met Summer Thunder Wolf, and his family. He then paid respect for the wolf's virtue of being able to be heard so well, by indicating it was good that summer's thunder can be heard even in the deepest part of winter.
Summer acknowledged Bear by saying that he was honored to have served on Bear's behalf. He returned Bear's compliments by complaining about Bear surprising the wolf pack by expressing his savvy and wisdom so soon after abruptly waking from his long sleep. Greetings and other words were exchanged with a few other wolves, and Bear knew he had made friends and allies with the Wolf Clan.
It seemed peculiar to Bear that the wolves, young and old, all had full names. Wolves carry the names they are given at birth throughout their entire lives. These names are never altered with achievements or other events that occur during their lives, with maturity into adulthood, or with any change of status within the Wolf Clan.
Unlike with bears, wolves' names pertain only to the individual, not to the wolf's rolls in society. It is their belief that a name should reflect one's destiny set by Great Spirit prior to their conception. For this reason they do not feel name changes are appropriate, since their destiny can not change. Wolves do not go through ceremonies when they endure a major event in their lives, but instead, they center wholly on the actual event.
Although Bear had figured these things out about the wolves, they were relatively new concepts for him to study and understand. Bear knew some of these concepts would be an intricate part of his dreams throughout the rest of winter.
Cleaning Up:Arriving home was good for Bear, since this was a time for rejuvenation, not a time for playing games with other folks. Home, however, had changed at some point, and was now less accommodating for Bear than before. This was the fourth winter Bear had slept in the same bed, and now a small pond of cold water covered it.
Bear looked around in the dimly lit room near the entrance to his den, and felt his way around other areas that were much darker. Eventually Bear found a spot where he figured his sleep would be comfortable in any season. Pawing at the ground with long claws to remove any stones or large sticks, Bear was finally satisfied with the base of his new sleeping place. He gathered dry leaves and other soft materials from near the new cave pond and spread them out in the prepared area to make a thin bed.
After settling down to resume his long sleep, Bear found that he actually liked his new bed better for several reasons. The old sleeping place was closer to the den's entrance, which allowed noises, sunlight, and cold air from outside to be more intrusive on his sleep. This new sleeping place was also on higher ground than the old one, and therefore would be less susceptible to being submerged with water.
Dreams and many lessons soon danced through Bear's mind as he began his long sleep again. His inner self, though always growing, develops better and more rapidly while Bear's mind is not distracted by conscious thoughts that he experiences during his waking time.
Renewal:Bear lifted his groggy head from sleep and wondered why things seemed all wrong about his den. His bed was very hard, the den seemed out of proportion, and as he looked around toward the den's entrance it appeared to have changed location. Bear lay there letting his sleep time wear off, and slowly remembered his waking during the early part of the winter season. He also started pondering the significance of the lessons he had received during dreamtime.
Getting up and ambling toward the entrance, Bear was startled a little as he walked into the edge of the den's new pond. Sniffing at the cold cave water first, he then drank quite a bit of the sweet substance. Bear lumbered on over to the den's entrance to find the exciting sounds and sights of spring greeting and beckoning for him to rejoin the outside world.
Emerging from his den, Bear sat down on a rock ledge and began observing the many activities that surrounded him. Grandfather Sun pierced through clouds that appeared to be building toward releasing a shower, yet the rays were intense enough to warm Bear and they sparkled on Bear's fur. Several beavers and otters were busy with work and play in a dammed up pond area in Great River. Hawk circled above and vocalized his estimation of when the approaching showers would be here.
Bear drew a long breath through his nose smelling the air and the natural incense of Great Forest. There was nothing unusual about anything he perceived here, except that it was his remarkable and well appreciated home. Bear stood back up on all fours and in a very methodical manner, ambled down to Great River.
Salmon leapt from Great River's water now and then, causing Bear's ears to stiffen and making him want to dash out into the rushing icy water. Bear, however, was a better hunter than this. He measured up his favorite sandbar from which to fish, noting changes it had gone through during earlier spring floods from snow melts in nearby hills and mountains. Bear also looked across the shallows of Great River to see where the salmon were schooling mostly today.
After getting out onto the sandbar, Bear soon found prey and leapt into action with a mighty splash. Swiftly tossing a good sized salmon to the sandbar, Bear marveled at how wonderful this fine day was that Great Spirit had created. Bear fished all day to nourish his body that was weak from living only on fat reserves all winter. When showers finally started pouring through Great Forest, Bear and many other grizzly bears in Great River simply continued their vigilance of self-renewal. Now and then Grandfather Sun flew from behind clouds and some of the bears would momentarily stop fishing to appreciate his penetrating rays of warmth.
Bear eventually laid down on the sandbar and took a short nap. It helped him digest his meals of salmon and an occasional trout, but it also helped him relax for the upcoming games. Bears, unlike many of Great Forest's creatures, never loose contact with their time as youths. Even the elder bears play with other bears in the games until they can no longer really compete. At that point they only teach, but still romp about as best as possible. Tonight's games, being early in the spring season, would not be as demanding as later in summer time, but Bear wanted to be as prepared as possible.
The crisp afternoon air woke Bear from his nap as a slight breeze began rustling through his fur. A small cloud was flying overhead, and its wind was even stirring the surface of Great River. Bear could not hear any challenges coming from other bears up and down stream, so he went back to fishing.
After catching another salmon, Bear went to it on the sandbar, gave thanks to Great Spirit for the bounty of Great River and Great Forest, and then started eating. While eating this supper, Bear started taking note of who was fishing in Great River nearby. He could see several friends and immediate family up and down the river. Any of them would be fun to play the games with, but several were as good or better than he, and would therefore make better challenges for him to learn from. Tonight he felt like answering a challenge rather than challenging others and defending his sandbar.
Spring Training:Bellowing challenges started being issued all up and down Great River. Grizzly bears who defended sandbars by challenging others, those bears who took the challenges, the few strong hearted woodland or aerial observers who lined the river banks or soared above, and the fish who darted away from movements and sounds could be seen interacting in and along Great River. Other folks left or hid in burrows, dams, and places where they felt safe from the oncoming darkness of evening.
Bear walked through shallows and over long non-populated sandbars up river from where he had been fishing. One bear in particular was issuing challenges that had so far been ignored. Eventually Bear began running along a path toward the chosen challenger and then started fiercely bellowing in attempt to make fear take a hold on his adversary's heart. Bear lowered his ears as if he was angry and spewed more audible venom into the air by roaring as loud as possible. He rushed passed other challengers who darted at him, swatted at him, and bit at him even though it was obvious whom his path was directed toward.
Yellow-Father-bear reeled when he heard the answer to his challenges. His cousin Bear, though smaller than himself, was an almost match for his prowess and therefore one of several respected and loved playmates. Yellow-Father-bear and Bear howled back and forth as Bear closed the distance between himself and the large sandbar Yellow-Father-bear sat on. Many other bears in the vicinity that were still not playing started gathering to watch the oncoming match.
Yellow-Father-bear waited till Bear was about to leap at him and then rose to his back paws. Bear, seeing his opponent was vulnerable to a low attack, dove for Yellow-Father-bear's lower legs and crashed hard as Yellow-Father-bear dropped onto his cousin before Bear had really made contact. Bear had fallen for the rue and was now buried and near blinded in yellow fur. His cousin struck Bear and bit his leg before Bear could manage to wriggle out from underneath Yellow-Father-bear.
As usual, the game between Bear and Yellow-Father-bear was well matched. Bear finally maneuvered himself in back of his cousin and put him into a hold Yellow-Father-bear could not get out of. Yellow-Father-bear squeezed and contorted his body in many ways, but his struggling could not help him lodge free. As he could not deal with Bear's new hold, Yellow-Father-bear also bellowed a loud cry of helplessness to let observers know he was open to any help.
Honey Haired-bear screamed for him to resist less and to hold out until Bear could grow weary. Bear knew this was a good possibility, and had made it look like all four arms and legs were in use at the same time. Now and then he would shift his strength from one appendage to another so as to only use two or three at a time.
Mother-Oak-Bark-bear yelled at Yellow-Father-bear telling him to jerk at Bear's left front leg, since it would be weaker than his right. Even Yellow-Father-bear knew this would do no good, since Bear had him oriented towards the strength of Bear's left rear leg.
Bear snorted in disapproval and his eyes widened as he noted his father, Blue-Moon-Father-bear advancing from the spectators. Blue-Moon-Father-bear and others who were very skilled at the games often assist those who appeal for help. In times before, Blue-Moon-Father-bear had helped Yellow-Father-bear find ways to get out of Bear's holds, some which he no longer even tried to use on his cousin. Bear acted like defeat was immanent, since he knew his father was seeing some weak point in the current hold.
Yellow-Father-bear still struggled occasionally, and Bear carefully started timing these movements of his cousin and the advances of his father. Just as Blue-Moon-Father-bear got close to the sprawling cousins, he jerked away but could not do so fast enough. Bear used all four appendages to hold and then release his cousin in an upward and outward push. Yellow-Father-bear popped up and away from Bear and went crashing into Blue-Moon-Father-bear.
Yellow-Father-bear bounced off of Blue-Moon-Father-bear and lost his wind as he crashed onto the surface of the sandbar. Bear lurched up and was on his surprised father faster than an army of mad bees, biting at his throat and face and grabbing at his fur to try to make a hold. Blue-Moon-Father-bear, already off balance, tumbled to his back onto the sandbar and he and Bear rolled on into the nearby shallows of Great River. They swatted, snorted, and splashed water at each other and now and then even made contact again. Bear was already too tired to be any match for his father, and Blue-Moon-Father-bear was too proud of his son to take advantage now.
By the time Yellow-Father-bear got his wind, he was really not in a mood or of sufficient strength to play anymore. Bear, his cousin, and his father stared at each other for a bit and then strolled through Great River's shallows toward its nearest bank where other bears were still making noises of amusement for the hold Bear had devised. Several bears soon strolled onto the sandbar to begin sparring and wrestling in similar ways.
The games are a social time for bears, but more importantly a physical training and strengthening time for them. In the games bears learn and refine many skills that help them survive rich living in a relatively hostile environment. Benefits of the games include learning to interact with their environments better, to socialize even with their opponents, and in spring to renew body strength that is lost during their long sleep.
Meetings in the Meadows:Showers that had begun falling throughout Great Forest in the afternoon subsided not long after the games. Grandmother Moon flew from between the parting clouds into a sky of shimmering stars, and added a glow to the ground-fog that had enveloped Great Forest's floor.
Cricket and many other little people were singing with sounds of rejoicing for a new spring season. Bear occasionally saw Grandmother Moon reflecting on small pairs of eyes as he ambled along pathways through Great Forest that lead to the meadows in a nearby valley. He knew when he could see shining eyes at night that they were trained on him and attempting to evaluate his demeanor, tracking his movements, or simply watching.
Upon reaching the meadows Bear greeted many friends in a brief way, but centered on trying to find his immediate family, Mother-Red-Bear and their daughter Wandering-Brook-Bear. Although he covered the whole of the meadows, neither could be found and Bear assumed they had not awakened from the long sleep.
Eventually Bear noticed his mother and father sitting together away from most other folks so he made tracks in their direction. Although Mother-bear and Father-bear were no longer guardians for Bear like when he was younger, they were still close to Bear in a family way. Both parents greeted Bear warmly as they noticed him approaching, but both also kept their attention primarily on something near the hollow trunk of a large fallen oak tree.
Bear was exceptionally curious about what could distract his parent's attention so well. As he came closer a small male baby bear rounded an end of the tree trunk and slammed head on into Bear's left front leg. Bouncing away, it then flopped over into a submissive position since it knew this was not the proper way to meet someone. The baby was way too small for the encounter to be a painful experience for Bear, and surprisingly enough to Bear the child seemed none the worse despite the blow to his head.
Sniffing at the cub and rolling it back and forth a bit, Bear looked the baby boy over very carefully. He noted that it was a little larger than most cubs its age, a little darker in color than he, and that it had already learned to respect other folks when they approached it for such an inspection. Bear looked up to his mother to mention those things most notable about the cub. He found a knowing look in her eyes he had not expected, but also had not forgotten.
Looking back down to the cub, Bear grinned a bit as he greeted the baby by telling him his name, Brown-Stripe-Father-bear, and by calling the cub little brother. When Bear spoke his greeting he heard a quite thump come from inside the tree trunk. Bear moved closer to the tree trunk and then slowly stuck his head halfway inside it. Once his eyes were acclimated to the darkness within, Bear greeted a young female cub in a similar way except that he called her little sister.
In his time of living on and in Earth Mother, Bear had met several other folks in the Bear Clan who were his brothers and sisters. They had helped teach him lessons, had shown him many things to eat in Great Forest, and had played games with him that helped him grow and realize his potentials. He loved them all, but there had always been something about them that was somewhat odd. Tonight Bear realized the oddness about his siblings had been the fact that they were all older than him.
For most of that evening Bear played gentle games or spoke of simple wisdom with his new brother and sister. Sometimes he was alone with them while his parents visited other folks. Sometimes his parents or other kinfolk joined him in caring for them. He found that his brother and sister shared some common traits, but also that they were very different about many things. His brother ran with his head cocked slightly down and actually enjoyed bouncing off of things that wound up in his path. Bear found his sister ran with her head up higher, and that for this reason she could out-run her larger brother.
Baby bear cubs are not respected with as much social regard as are older bears of the clan. Instead, their spirits and their personal development are of primary concern within those parts of the bear community that help raise them. In light of this, the young are usually included in all matters of the clan and of individual families in a manner of learning, and then later in a social manner of honor and rank within a rather large clan-wide hierarchy.
Bear noted the thrilling part of sharing time with younger bears was how easily they adapted to lessons, since their minds are so open and eager to learn. Their trust in a bear of more years was part of the early lessons they learned in the first days of interacting with their mother. Understanding this basic trust, Bear realized what a great responsibility it was to make sure any words spoken or actions taken around the cubs were only of a positive influence to them.
Honoring Names:After their evening of socializing was over, Bear walked with his mother, father, and two new siblings along a path from the meadows. He mentioned to his father what had happened between himself and the wolf clan and how they had saved his life. Father-bear stopped walking and asked Bear to stay behind with him.
Father-bear explained to his son that there are relationships between bears and other folks of Great Forest that are so deep in nature that they are not easily discussed. He went on to instruct Bear into believing the bond between the Wolf Clan and the Bear Clan as one of harmony and of Great Mystery's way. Bear discussed his awakening by the Wolf Clan with his father in detail, and knew from all his father said that Father-bear had more discernment on these issues than himself. He also knew he would have to meditate and dream on the issues more to understand them as well or better than his father.
Golden-Eyes-Grandmother-bear walked along the path from the meadows and stopped when she came to where Bear and his father were standing near the pathway. They each acknowledged one and another with greetings and then Grandmother-bear spoke to Bear abruptly mentioning it was nearly time for him to participate in his second ceremony, the Ceremony of Names. She pointed out, it was now time for Bear's status as a father within the Bear Clan to be recognized, since his daughter was healthy and would survive to maturity.
Bear's look of shock brought a grin to the elder who had long ago held him up to Great Spirit and had taken him through the Bear Clan's Ceremony of Acceptance. She hesitated for a bit looking back and forth at Bear and his father, and then slowly turned away and walked on out of sight.
Father-bear turned to his son and announced that because of Bear's daughter, Wandering-Brook-bear, Bear had rightly chosen a name that reflected his fatherhood. He also pointed out that his own name would be Blue-Moon-Grandfather-Bear, because of Bear and a sister of Bear now having children surviving their third winter.
It was very late at night as Bear and his father started walking down the pathway toward their dens again. Eventually they split up to go their own ways giving Bear time to think to himself about the things he'd learned tonight. His grandmother's words seemed to be weighing most heavily in Bear's thoughts. Her words about his daughter surviving to maturity were too metaphoric to treat as a simple set of words with only one point.
As he shifted about to find the most restful position in his new bed, Bear still had thoughts about the day's events racing through his head. He listened to the songs cricket was singing outside and thought about fishing for breakfast in the next morning, but deep concepts kept creeping back into the his thoughts. One at a time he dismissed the issues of his thoughts as things to give attention to at a later time. Soon Bear was uttering a slow melodic and restful snore after falling asleep and into pleasant dreams of fishing for salmon, foraging for berries, and even stealing a little honey.
Family Ties:One night Strong-Long-Tail-Father-beaver awoke to find that a wall of his den was severely leaking and a small stream of water was flowing across the floor near where he'd been sleeping. Diving into a hole that gave him access to the pond of water in back of his dam, he swiftly swam down and out into a rough current within Great River. Water levels had quickly risen tonight, since an increased volume of melting snow upstream had breached a natural dam or one made by other beavers.
Father-beaver went back inside and woke his family by slapping his tail on the den's floor. This action indicated to his family warnings of flooding. Mother-Sliding-Rocks-beaver and Father-beaver quickly gave their children instructions about an exodus from their home, and then dove into the icy water to begin helping the young beavers to safety on parts of the dam that were still above the rising water. Eventually the young beavers were led to dry land and told to stay in a place away from Great River's banks.
Both adult beavers then chewed away at a couple of birches they would systematically use as tools to destroy their dam. By dropping the trees in back of the dam their branches would rip away at it, and then their trunks would slowly add pressure to the dam and cause it to gradually unfold its structure of leaves, limbs, and mud. First one tree then eventually the other was added to the forces of Great River's currents and as planned, the beaver dam slowly came apart. By destroying their dam this way the beavers knew those who lived down stream would be impacted less than if the furious water currents destroyed the dam all at once and without control.
The young beavers huddled in bewilderment as their parents whittled on the lower trunks of the trees and then eventually dropped them into Great River. They knew their home was in peril as it was falling apart and pieces were floating away downstream. Father-beaver and Mother-beaver's actions added to the beaver children's confusion, since they didn't understand the hopelessness of attempting to save the dam when Great River flowed like it did tonight. One day they would.
Mother-beaver suggested to Father-beaver that they seek shelter in Bear's cave for the night. In affirmation about the idea, Father-beaver told his children they were going to get to sleep with their friend in the cave on the hillside. Already confused, fear overtook the young beavers at the thought of sleeping near the giant bear their parents called friend. They had already witnessed Bear's awesome strength when he pulled salmon larger than them from Great River with a single swat, and when he played furious games with other bears.
Sensing her children's fear, Mother-beaver told them stories about Bear and how protective he was of his neighbors, how playful he was with otters and beavers, and how he had helped their father adjust a log in the dam occasionally. She also mentioned that sleeping with a large bear was a very warm experience.
Nearing the entrance to Bear's den, Father-beaver chewed into an oak branch full of dead leaves that had broken away from a tree earlier in the winter. He backed into Bear's den dragging the branch with him, and then near to where his friend had prepared a new bed during the winter.
Waking from a deep sleep, Bear snorted a little as he adjusted to breathing through his nose and mouth instead of snoring. Stretching and loosening his limbs, bear rolled his eyes around to his far left to look at the entrance of his cave and see if Grandfather Sun was also awake and sending rays of reflected light inside. As he did this he noticed several small odd sounds coming from within his cave, and several small figures moving near and in the new pond.
Bear knew several of Great Forest's creatures had discovered the new pond of fresh cave water that developed in his den during winter. These folks simply came in for a quick drink and usually left right away. This morning, however, there were several folks who appeared to be doing much more than drinking. Bear looked around to his right abruptly to see if he could tell what the oddest sound he heard was. He came face to face with a baby beaver that was gnawing on an oak limb.
The baby stopped short when Bear's massive head came around toward him. It was as if he had been caught doing something wrong. Bear slowly reached out and snapped the limb from a larger branch, and then scooted it back to the baby. At first Bear thought the baby's fear would cause it to run away, but instead, it started chewing on the limb more furiously than before. The beaver's gnawing had the same effect on Bear as does Cricket's songs, and he soon fell asleep.
Eventually Bear woke back up. Hearing little splashes and the gnawing sounds again he began to piece things together about having baby beavers in his den. They would not have come here of their own accord, which meant something had happened to their dam and their parents had brought them up here from Great River. The oak branch and its leaves were apparently a gift from Mother-beaver and Father-beaver.
Bear called out to Strong-Long-Tail-Father-beaver and then to Mother-Sliding-Rocks-beaver, but got no response. He realized he was being used to protect the babies, while their parents were working on their dam or engineering a new one. Many creatures temporarily left their young near bears in Great Forest, since the shear size and fierce reputation of these giants usually kept predators away. Bears were also very gentle and protective of the folks they made friends with, and would never allow harm to come to anyone's babies. Hearing a tree fall outside somewhat confirmed Bear's thoughts.
For a moment or two Bear thought about how to address the beaver children so he could start relating with them in a positive manner. Beavers generally relate to each other with signals about events or about actions, and usually not in a one-on-one manner when dealing with their young. They do not even use individual names for their children, but instead only adopt names after assuming leadership in the family. Mothers and fathers are the leaders, and the children are led. This is because beavers don't herd, pack, or hold close ties to the whole clan. The Beaver Clan is more like a race instead of a unit like their families are.
Adult beavers may help each other with their craft of building dams, but they seldom communicate with words and even when they do it is an impersonal relationship. Bear attributed this impersonal life style as being due to their insatiable attitude of playing a little, eating a little, and working a lot.
Bear slowly rose up from his bed looking around in the dimly lit cave to note how many beaver babies there were. He counted two on land chewing on oak limbs, and five in the water splashing about and playing.
Bear noticed most of the oak limb had been chewed into fine shavings by the baby beavers. He spread the oak leaves and shavings over the thin bedding he'd previously matted together and realized how thoughtful his friend Father-beaver had been in bringing the oak branch into the cave. It had provided his children with something to chew on while Bear slept, and had ultimately supplied Bear with more bedding material.
Simply rising up from his bed was enough to get the attention of all the babies. Once he knew all eyes were on him, Bear announced it was time to go to work in Great River, and that the first order of business was to eat.
Slowly walking over to the den's entrance, Bear indicated for the babies to stay with him and then he emerged into the beautiful spring morning outside. Without hesitation Bear strolled down the hill and toward a large sand bar in Great River. He grinned at the sight other folks in Great Forest must be seeing with him leading seven baby beavers around, since he felt like a goose with as many goslings.
Salmon swam in the swift currents of Great River as he had never swam before. He had lived most of his life in vast oceans where such currents do not exist, and found it an invigorating experience to finally have used his swimming abilities at their highest potential. Still, however, Salmon felt an emptiness about his life in general. After swimming and surviving in Earth Mother's oceans until he could mature enough to spawn, Salmon then swam great distances up a river to the spawning grounds where he mated. Once the eggs were fertilized, Salmon began slowly returning down Great River toward the ocean where he would soon transcend from this material world he enjoyed so much.
Although Salmon was not ungrateful for having led a full life and for having fertilized the eggs that would hatch into a thousand more salmon, a feeling that he could do more than simply die now came over him as he swam down stream in Great River. At that moment he felt a fatal blow to his side and he was cast from the river and onto a sand bar where he found himself eye to eye with seven baby beavers. He then knew even in his body's death that Great Spirit would use him to nourish Earth Mother's people and he reveled in this honor as he transcended.
The baby beavers sat in a single file row and simply stared at the salmon that appeared to be staring back. They had already started sharing meals of fish with their parents, but had never been near a fish of this size. It didn't even smell like the small brown trout they had eaten before.
Bear calmly explained that it was time for breakfast and followed this with a stern indication that all beavers must eat to sustain their lives. Soon the babies were eating and playing with the salmon as if it was something they had been doing all their lives. It dawned on Bear that they had not eaten salmon before this morning, and that they would not forget who had taught them it was an excellent breakfast.
Slapping at the water again, Bear threw another male salmon onto the sandbar not far from the babies. Climbing out of the water and shaking droplets from his fur, Bear praised Great Spirit and proceeded to eat. He mentioned to the babies that it is the Bear's way to pray to Great Spirit and give thanks for the bounty provided. Looking up to see if the babies were paying attention he found they were. Bear also found there were only six babies looking back.
Dropping his salmon, Bear quickly rose up on his back paws and reeled around looking for the seventh baby beaver. Four of the six babies standing near Bear fell backwards and onto there backs at the sight of such a large amount of energy being released when he obtained the new position. Bear found the seventh baby was running out toward the end of the sand bar with a large chunk of salmon gripped in its mouth. The baby dove head first into the swirling and rushing current of Great River. Bear just stood there watching, since he knew it would not be right to try to hamper the child from trying to swim.
The baby beaver struggled to get across Great River and was moving downstream much faster than across. Much to Bear's ease of mind the baby beaver finally emerged on the distant bank. After the baby climbed to the bank it hurriedly scurried on down stream to where its parents were busy building a new dam. Once there, the baby beaver went to its mother and deposited the salmon next to a tree she was gnawing on. After making eye contact with its mother and then its father, the baby ran back up Great River's bank, way passed the sandbar, jumped back into the river and navigated the currents to get to the sand bar that its siblings and Bear were on.
When the baby beaver came closer to Bear it glanced into his eyes a few times and then indicated that now all beavers were eating to sustain themselves. From these actions of the baby beaver Bear learned there must be a more personal relationship between beavers than he had thought.
It satisfied Bear greatly that he had been given the opportunity to experience living with the beaver family for a day. He had learned that though they do not have personalized names, beavers are very individualistic in several ways. Their living away from the clan in small groups or families, their relationships with other folks in Great Forest, and their ability for forethought and consideration of others are all attributes expressing a unique individuality.
The Ceremony of Names:Showers and rain had fallen to Earth Mother from a small storm today, and now a cool gentle spring breeze followed in its path. This was important to Bear only because he knew how challenging some of the tests of the names became for folks in ceremony, and that a breeze could make enduring the tests more tolerable. In times gone by Bear had seen several large and very strong male and female bears succumb to the challenge of their tests and pass out. Bear had not eaten an excess of food today and had only watched during the games so that he would be in his best form for the name tests.
Bear and Mother-Red-bear carefully discussed with Wandering-Brook-bear the reasons for having the Ceremony of Names. Tests were not designed to evaluate one's worthiness for having a new name, for having a proper name, nor for maintaining a rank within the Bear Clan's hierarchy. One's name is considered personal and therefore goes unchallenged. Also, one's rank within the clan is not something that is maintained, since it is continually changing through the person's life.
Tests that bears are challenged with in the name ceremony are designed to gain the attention and blessings of Great Spirit and of the Bear Clan. This recognition regards a bear's internal identity or Self, and the bear's material identity that has been adopted as a name. To do this, the test includes challenging one's ability to survive, to live, and to love. One's manner in which the tests are approached and how one actually performs during the test are components that lead toward whether or not the recognition will be note worthy. Enduring the tests must be an event folks will talk about, but only within the limits given by one's grandmother.
In the Meadows of Ceremony, Bear noticed the typical mixture of different activities revolving around the Ceremony of Names. Many bears were already beginning there tests, others watched, and still others waited for instructions about the tests they would soon face. In one area a crowd was gathered where grandmothers spoke of and to their descendants, and also where tests were assigned. Bear and Mother-Red-bear lumbered along together toward the crowd, since they had no time to watch the other folks being tested like they had in ceremonies before this.
Sacred energy from all directions was flowing through the meadows and through its occupants. Like the keen sense of smell inherent to bears, their intuitive connection with Great Spirit is known to be extreme and of a discernment toward earthly wisdom. Bear had not worried about being tested tonight, since he trusted Great Spirit to channel strength through him when facing any challenge.
An elderly female bear, Golden-Eyes-Grandmother-bear, spoke from a mounded area in the middle of the crowd. She spoke of the generations of bears of whom she had grand mothered. With reverence she prayed to Great Spirit to help her family members who faced tests tonight to shine like the stars flying with Grandmother Moon. She eventually announced who in her lineage would be tested in the Ceremony of Names, including Bear and his mate Mother-Red-bear. Grandmother-bear then started describing tests, the associated tasks they would involve, and who would be performing which tests.
Some of the tests were centered on group efforts, some of partnerships, and others of an individual nature. One of Bear's cousins who now had two handsome twin boys was dispatched to the high mountains with the task of bringing back a plant he would have to forage from deep snows. Several of Bear's relatives were assigned to an area where they would participate in a sort of competitive game of team effort that involved strategy and patience. Bear and his father were called forward and told they would team up for their test.
Grandmother-bear explained to the crowd that for them to obtain appropriate attention and blessings Blue-Moon-Grandfather-bear and Brown-Stripe-Father-bear would lock legs at height. Bear and his father could not help but glance at each other in astonishment. Their grandmother had obviously been watching them more closely than they had ever imagined. Neither of them liked climbing in trees, and they had therefore never climbed one together.
After Grandmother-bear finished her announcements and assignments she descended from the mound and asked various bears to assist in leading those to be tested to the areas where they would spend the rest of the night in contest with themselves. Bear and his father were led to a mighty pine tree and told it was the one they would climb and be tested in until morning. Father-bear and Bear understood what they were to do once they reached the upper branches of the tree, since locking arms at height was a popular test.
Out on a Limb:Father-bear looked at his son and explained he felt this test would be easy. Bear, beginning his assent into the pine tree, looked down at his father quizzically. Father-bear grinned and further explained that everyone would be noticing by morning. If for no other reason, just to see if either bear had fallen. Only a few feet off the ground, Bear already felt the challenge of the test.
Climbing is not hard for young bears who have more energy and strength than weight, but much more difficult for older and larger adults. Younger bears also have more incentive to climb trees, as they find it very interesting to be able to watch their environment from a bird's perspective. Adult bears seldom have any incentive to climb trees, since there is no food to be had by doing so, there is every chance that the tree branches could give way and they would fall, and climbing through the branches is simply no longer any fun when one has gotten so large.
Half way up the tree Bear and his father stopped climbing momentarily to catch their breath. They discussed strategies they were considering and came to agreement on several obvious points. Remaining calm and still might help assure that no limbs would break away from the tree while being used for support. Keeping relaxed in locking arms would conserve their strength enough that they should be able to stay awake until morning. And lastly, concentrating on this honor of facing self with Great Spirit and the Bear Clan to witness could help them endure the long amount of time they would have to be in this tree tonight.
Father-bear was first to notice that the tree was moving back and forth. The gentle spring breeze flowing through the meadows was a strong gusting wind near the top of the pine trees. Both bears realized the points of their earlier discussions about strategy were now mute. By the time Bear and his father were signaled from below that they were high enough, they were swaying back and forth through the air as the pine tree they held onto danced in the wind.
Once Bear and Father-bear arranged themselves they reached out with one front leg at a time, crossed the other's front leg at the elbow, and then reached back to hold onto the pine tree's thin trunk. The locking of joints does not require much strength, since its general purpose is to assure that both bears are at the approximate same elevation in the tree. There was no struggling or competition in the bear's positions, but instead a drawing of each other together with only a thin pine tree trunk between them.
The wind howled as it blew cool air through the branches of the pine tree and against the hair and skin of the two bears. The added weight of two grizzly bears near its top caused the pine tree to sway in the wind more than usual. Now and then the pine tree bent over so much that one bear or the other had to hold onto the tree trunk with all fours simply to keep from falling backwards and to the ground.
Bear mentioned to his father that they must come up with new strategies in dealing with the mobility of the pine tree. Father-bear told his son that talking in general would help keep fear from creeping into their minds, and that they should discuss any matters of importance that could fully occupy their thinking.
It occurred to Bear that if he and his father were to lock all their legs together it would be easier for them to support each other in the swaying tree. Father-bear congratulated his son on his ingenuity and then one at a time they locked their other two legs together around the pine tree trunk.
Father-bear casually asked Bear if he intended to mate with Mother-Red-bear again this year. Bear's physical reaction of tightening up told his father he had been caught off guard with the question. Trying to regain his composure, Bear mentioned he had not given it much thought, nor had he approached Mother-Red-bear about the issue. Bear admitted to Father-bear he was not used to being a father yet, though he would certainly enjoy having more children.
Glancing in back of himself at the ground, Father-bear looked for where Mother-Red-bear was being tested. He noted she was participating in a log game where she was grouped with several other female bears including Bear's mother Glistening-Sky-Mother-bear.
The log game is not just a test of names; it is also one of the more popular contests the Bear Clan enjoyed in their meadow rendezvous at night. Using their front paws, a small log was batted around between two large teams of bears who were trying to get the log to one end or other of the meadow so that the respective team could score by hitting their designated tree with the log. There were no other rules. No set boundaries, no time limits, and no rules of conduct. Wolves had a similar stick game, but wolves only used one front paw to hit the stick. Both games were very rough.
Tugging slightly at his son's limbs, Father-bear pointed out where Bear's wife and mother were playing and being tested. Just as he looked down Bear noticed his mother strike the log and then watch as it was intercepted by a teammate who launched it away and toward their end of the meadow in the distance. As his mother had rose from the crowd to strike at the log, Bear noticed one of three bears guarding her from being assaulted by the other team was Mother-Red-bear. He mentioned to his father that they were lucky to have such good people in their lives, and even more so to have them as wives.
Changing the subject, Bear mentioned to his father that he had become more aware of the many differences between how people in Great Forest used names. He told his father he'd found folks who use names as simple labels, as a means of promoting philosophy or theology, and as a means of ranking themselves within their clan.
After discussing other observations he'd made about several tribes and clans, Bear told his father he could not relate to one type of name use at all. It was when a person was renamed by another of the clan in the wake of an event, union, birth or other event that affected their life. Bear mentioned that it seemed so much less personal to be named by someone else, than to find one's own name.
Father-bear snorted and told his son that he had noticed several things in general about the clans who promote naming each other instead of naming themselves in adulthood. He told Bear that those folks often seem to have less understanding of what they are truly about and that they often have less self-esteem. He also mentioned to his son that it seemed these folks sometimes revolt against their tribes or clans without understanding their reasons for doing so. Usually independence is the banner they fly when individuality is what they truly seek.
Bear thanked his father for this wisdom, as he contemplated about how some clans demand a person act and react to the needs of the clan above the needs of the individual. The Ant Clan was a good example of this, and also the Bee Tribes. Grinning a bit, Bear told his father he could really get into a bit of honey right now.
Trying not to be distracted too much by the test, Father-bear questioned his son about whether or not he had gotten use to the conditions of their test. The swaying of the pine tree, the altitude at which he and his father clung together around the pine tree trunk, and the howling of the wind all seemed somewhat natural at this point, so Bear replied to his father's questions in a positive way.
Telling Bear he felt Great Spirit was here with them and helping them cling to this pine tree, Father-bear said he felt that part of the test was a success. He followed this by mentioning that he felt the other tests were going so well that he and his son were not attracting enough attention from the crowds below. Father-bear told his son they would have to do more than just hang on to this lofty perch if they were going to get folk's attention.
Grandmother Moon's light was waning to the glow that Grandfather Sun bathed the eastern horizon with. Grandfather Sun would soon be rising and then flying across the sky in this new day. Father-bear explained to his son that even the poor of sight would now be able to see them, and that they should do what they could to get the clan's attention. Bear was a little leery of doing more than clutching to the tree, but he knew his father was right about getting more attention.
Agreeing to follow his father's lead, Bear asked his father for instructions. Father-bear told his son they must lock their front legs tighter, then unlock their back legs and lastly not hold onto the tree trunk with their back legs anymore. As the tree swayed back and forth, the lower parts of one or the other of the bears swung away from the trunk of the tree. This alone gathered more attention from the crowd below, but the fact that they were doing it made the pine tree bend even more. Bear and Father-bear had never experienced flying before, but they agreed this was as close as they wanted to get to it.
As Grandfather Sun flew over the horizon of Great Forest, he found two folks of the Bear Clan were being tested in one of his pine trees. He reveled at their bravery and also their cunning for having made the test one that was note worthy. From the large smiles on their faces, Grandfather Sun knew the two bears had received attention, blessings, and appreciation from their clan who marveled at them from the surface of his daughter, Earth Mother.
Alan
3-11-99
Revised 10-21-2000
