Page 11 of Bear Creek Father's Day
“Well, I think only shifters can growl. But, you can do other things that shifters can do, I’ll bet. Lets’ see… can you smell things from far away and know what they are?”
Rayn nodded.
“Can you see things that are far away without squinting?”
Orrin demonstrated, and she nodded again.
“Can you hear things across the street that no one else hears?”
Rayn cocked her head to think.
“Sometimes, if it’s quiet.”
Orrin smiled and bopped her nose.
“There you go! That’s three things shifters are good at and humans are not. There might be other abilities you don’t know about yet, and the more you learn about us, the more you will know about yourself. I’d say that’s special, wouldn’t you?”
Rayn leaned against him and handed him the book he’d brought up.
“Will you read for me, Orrin?”
“I sure will, and no snoring until I’m finished.”
Rayn giggled as Orrin opened the story book. His bear chimed in again with‘ours,’and while Orrin didn’t disagree, he found the idea both comforting and unsettling.
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Sometime later…
All was quiet.
Rayn lay in the center of the circle surrounded by bears—clutching her pink hippo and tucked into a sleeping bag. Kip had settled by her side before anyone else could claim the spot, with the other cubs sharing warmth all around. She’d certainly never slept with bears before, but they were sweet, soft, and loved to snuggle. Despite the emotional day, she’d nodded off quickly with Kip pressed against her belly, purring away like a little motor.
Orrin and Tasha had stationed themselves on opposite sides, protecting their charges while they slept. Both believed they were off to a good start with this group, though there were no guarantees. Rayn’s first day had been something of a roller coaster, taking Orrin along for the ride, but she appeared to be slightly less fragile compared to this morning. Perhaps in a few months she’d be ready for her forever family—wherever they might be.
Chapter 6
Tuesday
While Tasha watched the cubs, Orrin went to the elementary school building to register Scout and Birdy for kindergarten. Since they’d had each other all along, the littermates had endured less trauma than some orphans, plus they’d spent the last year adjusting to city life and learning how to communicate and interact with others. Under Orrin’s care, they would be exposed to formal schooling and the basics of family life before an attempt was made to place them.
Having Griffin and Fort in their class would make school that much easier for the pair, which was one reason they were sent to Bear Creek. Fortunately, there were a number of shifter teachers and aids at the school who understood the unique needs and behavior patterns of shifter cubs. They worked closely with Orrin to help the orphans adjust, learn, and grow along with their human classmates, and he was grateful for their compassionate dedication.
Orrin was warmly greeted at the main office and given the proper forms to fill out for their records. Once that was done, he met one-on-one with Principal Orlanda Shipley to discuss any particular needs or issues the cubs might have, creating a general plan for success. She assured Orrin that Scout and Birdy would be placed in the same classroom as Griffin and Fort, providing familiar faces and mutual support.
Instead of returning to the Cub House immediately, Orrin took advantage of a rare opportunity to sit quietly by himself and contemplate his personal situation. Until Kip and Rayn came along, neither he nor his bear had developed parentalfeelings for any of the cubs under his care. He’d loved them all equally and rejoiced when they’d found their forever homes somewhere else. The BSA (Bureau of Shifter Affairs) regulations didn’t forbid their workers from adopting orphans, though they cautioned against showing overt favoritism.
While he had always hoped to have cubs of his own one day, he’d assumed that a mate was a natural prerequisite. If Kip and Rayn were truly his, as his bear insisted, did it mean solo parenting on top of all his regular duties? How would that work? Could he strike the right balance between parent and caregiver without causing problems? The only people who might understand his predicament were his parents.
Wendel and Galina Crosby had been running a private orphan home for shifter cubs since before his birth. While Orrin didn’t have any true littermates, he’d grown up with several long-term residents that he considered his siblings. His parents, who weren’t fond of the BSA’s bureaucracy, ran the facility their own way while still cooperating with the agency to occasionally provide services.
Since Orrin had intended to ask them about Rayn’s situation anyway, he may as well kill two birds with one stone and dialed their number. His father picked up after several rings.
“Hello, son. Your mother and I were planning to give you a call later tonight and see how you’re doing with the new cubs.”
“Hey, Dad! I have a couple things I want to run past you and see what you think. One of my new arrivals is a quasi-shifter—a little girl named Rayn. On top of that, Rayn and Kip, our little three and half year old from the last group, are supposedly‘ours’, as far as my bear is concerned, and I’m not sure how to handle it.”
Orrin filled him in on the details, including his presumption that he’d be mated before welcoming a family. His father listened carefully, growling now and again which was his habit when thinking through a problem.
