Page 31 of Polar Destiny
Okay, I've completely lost the plot now. Hopefully death will come soon. I don't want my last moments filled with crazythoughts.
But something is changing. I feel better. Stronger. How the hell is that happening? I'm still in the snow and despite the panda warming me, I've been in the snow for too long to recover suddenly. No, it's somethingelse.
He's coming, the voice in my head says cheerfully.I'm finally going to meet mymate.
She sounds just as excited as I am horrified. Mate? Torben. He's coming. He's supposed to leave me alone. He's done enough damagealready.
I open my eyes again and it's easy this time. Bertrand notices it and nudges me with his large paw. I move and he lets out a happy growl. If a bear growl can be happy, that is. It could mean a lot of other things aswell.
No, he'shappy.
I'm getting warmer and the cold is slowly pushed out of my body. I can feel my muscles soften and the shivers stop. I no longer feel like I'm dying. On the contrary, I feel very much alive. But that shouldn't be possible. The book said that an incomplete bond would kill thehuman.
You should have read the wholechapter.
How was I supposed to be able to read on after it told me that Torben had killedme?
Not just you. Himself too. Look athim.
Muffled noises are coming closer. The snow swallows most sounds but when I sit up a little, I see five bears running towards me. Torben is behind the others, having trouble to keep up. The closer he gets, the more I can see the change. His pure white fur has turned yellow and dull, his movements are slow and unsteady. He's running, but it looks like he won't be able to do it for much longer. He's becomeweak.
Just like me. Is the incomplete bond hurting him aswell?
That thought makes my head spin. It means things are very different from what I thought. I close my eyes and sink back to the ground. I want to understand, but nothing makes sense. Thebook...
They shouldn't have given that to you. They should have let meexplain.
You? You're my mind which means you know just as much as I do. And now that I'm feeling better, could you please disappear? I already talk to my ovaries, I don't need an imaginary friend aswell.
Don't worry, you don't need to come up with a name for me. I already haveone.
I sigh.Seriously?
I'm Alis, nice to meetyou.
Yeah, right. My brain has given itself a name. Realmature.
A wet bear snout touches my cheek and warm breath is blown over my face.Yucky.
I look up into Torben's black bear eyes. They are so full of emotion, even in his shifted form. I don't know what to think. He looks weak and exhausted, I want to cuddle him, but no, that would be wrong, I'm angry at him. Furious. I should stick to my anger and stay away from the pity and sympathy that's creeping up onme.
What have you done to him?My inner voice has turned shrill andpanicked.
Me? Nothing. The question is, what has he done to both ofus?
You need to complete the bond, he's closer to death than youare.
And whose fault is that? I kind of want to scream that question, but then they'd think I was even crazier than they alreadydo.
Torben nuzzles my throat, sniffing me as if to make sure that I'm still here. That I'm still alive. Sillybear.
"You shouldn't have come," I whisper. "I'm still mad atyou."
Hesnorts.
He says he's mad at you as well. But he likes me... Oh my, he really likesme!
"Don't look," Finn says from behind me. "I'mnaked."
