Page 39 of Polar Destiny
There are scars beneath Ràn’s fur that Isla has yet to discover. Not that Húnn is completely undamaged. I can feel his sorrow whenever he looks at Isla. He’s been disappointed before and I’m not sure if he will have the courage to try and get close to her. I hope he does. He’s beautiful with his dark, shiny fur and his bigeyes.
Finn is the youngest of the sleuth and the most playful. I’ve not yet been able to see beyond his jovial behaviour, but I’m wondering if there’s more to him than the easy-going boy I’ve seen so far. I hope that there is. Isla needs more than just a player and joker. He’d be too small for me, but luckily he’s average sized as ahuman.
Torben is the first to approach me. He bows his head when he’s in front of me, and when I nod, he rubs his cheek against mine. I shiver when I notice that this is the first time I’ve been touched in a long time. He walks along my flank and I feel his muscles as he presses against me. We’re exchanging scents; something that’s strictly speaking not necessary, but an ancient ritual back from the days when we were less conscious and moreferal.
Satisfied, Torben steps back and I shake my fur, bringing it back intoorder.
The brothers approach at the same time, walking past me one on each side, their touch surprisingly gentle. I smile inside as it reminds me of these car washing machines I saw Isla explore before the Drowning. It’s like I’m stuck between two giant, furry brushes justnow.
Isla chuckles in my mind. Looks like she’s getting used to the idea of being stuck inside, using my eyes to see the world. When she notices that I’m focussing on her, she starts shouting immediately. I smile and ignore her again, turning my gaze to Finninstead.
This time, he’s not as playful as he was earlier. Instead, he walks towards me slowly, almost reverently. I wonder if he realises who I am. None of them should know… yet. I’m going to tell them in a moment, once Finn is done exchanging scents. His fur is the softest of them all and I know now why Isla likes to stroke it. He does a full circle around me, never walking far enough to stop touching me. When he’s done, he rubs his nose against mine in a version of a human hug. I give him a gentle nudge to retreat. He shouldn’t get any wrongideas.
I lie down in the snow, licking my paws. The four bears are looking at me hesitantly. As the female, I’m the one who needs to initiate communication. First with the alpha, then he can pass on the connection to the rest of his sleuth. But I’m in no hurry. The longer I prolong this, the longer I can stay in my bear form. I know Isla is getting impatient, but she needs to learn how to deal with it. I’ve been in her mind for long enough, now it’s myturn.
Torben exhales loudly and snow blows up from the ground. He’s gettingimpatient.
I sigh and reach out with my mind until I find his bear. As I assumed, he’s merged with his human. I shudder. I wouldn’t want to be in such close quarters with my human, as nice as Isla is. I like my own space, much to Raoul’sfrustration.
I’mAlis.
I’mTorben.
They share a name. I shudder again. I’m glad I’m not an alpha. Females never are, even if they are more dominant. We live on our own, sometimes sharing our life with an alpha and maybe even the rest of his sleuth, but always staying independent. We’re only loyal to our cubs. I get a little sad at the thought of how I’ve never had cubs of my own. Raoul and I were separated before we ever got that far. It was me who wanted us to wait. Now I regret that immensely. Maybe I should tell Isla to get some, for both ofus.
Introduce me to your sleuth,I demand. Torben resists a little but opens a channel to the other bears a moment later. He knows I’m stronger than him, even if he’s having a hard time getting used to the thought. He’s been the most dominant bear for such a long time that it’s a new thing forhim.
Well, not myproblem.
My lady.My ears twitch. Finn’s bear is more aware than the others, apparently. I smile. Finally I get the devotion Ideserve.
What may I callyou?
Mahon, my lady. It is an honour to meetyou.
You know who Iam?
I do. My father used to tell stories of you. When you shifted, I knew immediately that it had to be you. I don’t know of any other bear with eyes like yours. Eyes like starlight, my father used to say. Like the universe is trapped within awoman.
I smile at his flattery. I’m glad that my eyes have stayed the same. I wasn’t a polar bear in my last life, but at least I still have the eyes that made me famous. Raoul wrote poetry about them and his poems were shared widely. But that was long after I had first come to fame. Back then I was known under another name, but that old me is gone. Now I am Alis, the bear with the beautiful eyes. The bear who only comes to Earth occasionally when there's work to bedone.
Húnn's bear steps forward andbows.
I am Pelja. I don't know why Mahon calls you lady, but I'm sure he'scorrect.
I send him a mental smile and he growls in pleasure. These bears are needy and want to be recognised by their new female. They want attention and I will give it to them. Not sexual attention, of course. There's only one male in my life. I've been seduced before and that ended in disaster, so never again. I'll stay true toRaoul.
Ràn's bear is the last one to introducehimself.
I'm Orson, nice to meet you. We've been waiting for some company for ages, so it's great to see our sleuth grow. Even though it was in these unfortunate circumstances. It's good to have someone new around, it's boring to always just be with the otherthree.
He talks quickly, quite the opposite of his human who almost never says a word. Curious how they can be so different. But that's the beauty of us bear shifters - we are two souls in one body who coexist peacefully. Most of the time, that is. If we don't, at least one of us goescrazy.
Isla is starting to hit me now and I can feel a headache coming on. I need to talk to her about giving the other some space. I let her have sex with Torben undisturbed, so why can't she let me have some funnow?
Isla, be quiet,I hiss at her and to my surprise, she stops. Maybe we can become friends after all? With me being the one who tells her what to do, ofcourse?
I shake my fur again, revelling in the sensation. Beautiful. I hope the boys appreciate the sight of a polar bear female. I'm a magnificent specimen. Not that they are bad looking, but I am certainly the most beautiful. No wonder Zeus fell for me all those yearsago.
