Page 8 of Ash

With a ponderous sigh, the bear stretched and groaned. I want you to try.

Try what?

Try something!The bear dropped a heavy paw over his eyes and huffed.Staying up here day after day won't bring us any closer to finding a mate. Up here,he continued on, the likelihood of finding a mate is less than nothing. It would take someone dropping a woman from heaven for that to happen.

There's no mate for us in town! You can see and smell as well as I can when we go to town. Have you ever found anyone that caught our attention?

Anyone?

His bear turned away from Ash's inward gaze.

Ash's silent harrumph echoed through their connection.

His bear's answer rose up like smoke from a distant fire.

So are we to give up?

Are we to be lonely for the rest of our lives?

Ash looked up at the wall and saw a picture of his mother and father looking back at him.

The way they sat together on the front steps of the house, his father's arm around his mother.

His mother's cheek resting on her husband's shoulder.

They were in love.

That's what he remembered.

Their joy and love.

Now, he was here... alone.

Alone?

Ash rolled his eyes at his bear's huffing protest.

Yes, alone,he growled back at the massive beast.

You're not going to keep me warm at night-

You keep yourself warm at night. We can do that for ourselves.

Don't you want a mate for us?

The chance of cubs?

The bear rolled back over, touching him with a pointed look. Why do you think I want you to go to town?

Up here, we're going to be exactly what you think. Alone.

In town...His bear's voice seemed to slow and lose energy, at least there's a chance.

Another drawn out sigh reached Ash's ears, and the sound weighed heavily on him.Does it have to be today?

He felt the resigned shrug of his bear.I never expected that you would do it today. I just... I feel like we need to go to town. Soon.

Soon.

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