Beary Tales

by Jennifer Malone Wright

  Butchy didn’t bother to inform her that he’d never liked periwinkle or any other kind of tea. He knew she would have argued about the subject for an hour and he didn’t have that kind of time.

  Now, it wasn’t that Butchy didn’t love his mother. In fact, he loved her very much. However, being who she was, and due to her history of charges, his mother always acted as if she knew more than every other fairy in the kingdom. Except for the Queen. His mother thought the sun rose and set with the Queen.

  Seated on an overstuffed chair in the grand sitting room, Butchy kept to the point and doggedly refused to offer too much information. “So you see,” he concluded, “I haven’t the slightest idea why we ended up at the cabin and what we are supposed to do there.”

  His mother leaned back in her chair and smiled. “Darling, everything happens for a reason. My guess is that it has something to do with the old lady and the little girl. You should find them. Maybe they need your help. This character looking for them sounds monstrous. Anyhow,” she said as she stood. “That’s all the time I have today. Her Majesty has appointed me Fairy Godmother of a lovely new child. She’s going to be quite famous some day. Another savior of her kingdom. I do so love working in the magical realms. I don’t envy your position in the human world. Beastly place if you ask me.”

  Butchy’s reddened cheeks belied the calm sarcasm in his voice. “That’s it? That’s all the advice you’re going to give me?”

  “It’s enough. Just remember, everything happens for a reason. Really, Bartholomew, you should know that by now.” And with that, she twirled her wand over her head and disappeared.

  Biting the edge of his lip, he suppressed the urge to yell after her, “My name is Butchy, Mother!” Instead, he repeated her actions exactly and teleported back to the cabin.

  Chapter Nine

  Just after daybreak Butchy informed his charges of his plans to find the missing occupants of the cabin. Deciding they could cover more ground in smaller groups, Nita paired up with Katya, and incredibly, Leilanni agreed to go with Paul without even the slightest argument. Butchy, claiming magical superiority had opted to go out alone.

  “This is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack,” Butchy muttered as he surveyed the trees.

  “Well it’s your idea and I don’t see that we have much of a choice,” Nita replied.

  “How will we know if we’ve found a clue?” Katya asked.

  “It could be any little thing, a swatch of material, maybe the scent of something innately human. It might be very small, but then again it could be extremely large,” Butchy answered.

  Leilanni shook her head and rolled her eyes. “So basically you have no stinking idea? Great.”

  Propping one hand on his hip, Butchy pointed his index finger at her and wagged it back and forth. “Now listen here, chica. You will not use that tone with me, understand? If I knew what it was, we’d be gone already. I’ve had just about enough of your lip for this lifetime, so stuff it and do as you’re told.”

  “How are we supposed to find it then?” Nita interjected before Leilanni lost her temper.

  Butchy’s face pinched and grew red. Placing his hands on his hips, he sputtered, “How dare you? Just who do you think you are anyhow? After all I’ve done for--”

  Thump. A chunk of a fallen branch from a nearby tree smacked against his head interrupting his diatribe.

  Stunned, Butchy’s eyes darted from one face to the next, looking for the culprit. Almost equally shocked at the assault on their Fairy God-uncle, the group exchanged looks of total surprise. No one had moved even the slightest bit, and there certainly hadn’t been enough time for any of them to retrieve the branch, let alone throw it without being seen.

  Eyeing the woods around them, the hint of a smile played at the corner of Leilanni’s mouth, but she remained silent.

  “All right. Which one of you did that?” Butchy barked.

  Paul scratched his head and moved it side to side while simultaneously, the girls shrugged.

  “You,” the fairy pointed to Leilanni, “Why are you smiling? You hit me!”

  Leilanni spat on the ground, wiped her chin, and glared at him. “I’m smiling because it’s funny. You are so full of bull shoes. We are supposed to follow you blindly and you don’t even know where you’re going.”

  “I think you mean bullshit,” Nita interjected.

  Locking stormy eyes on Nita, she growled, “Don’t tell me what I mean.”

  “Lee Lee, don’t be rude. Nita is just trying to help,” Katya said.

  A low gurgle started deep in Leilanni’s chest and as she threw her head back, grew into a full blown roar. All around them particles of dirt and dead leaves lifted and began swirling around them like a funnel cloud starting to form. Soon twigs and larger sticks joined the mix making the dust devil more dangerous.

  “Calm down, Leilanni. Take a deep breath,” Butchy soothed.

  Opening her eyes, the enraged girl gasped. The dense funnel abruptly stopped moving and the contents fell to the woodland floor.

  Leilanni doubled over, breathing heavily as if she’d just run a marathon. “What ... did ... you ... do to me?” she sputtered.

  “It can’t be. I mean, it shouldn’t be. Unless...”

  “Unless what?” Nita responded.

  “Unless when the spells collided... But, that can’t be. I mean it just doesn’t happen.”

  Nita’s eyes moved from Leilanni to Butchy and narrowed. “Could you be specific?”

  Butchy glanced at each member of the group, and then out around the clearing. Leaning in, he whispered, “Full-blooded humans cannot have magic. They just can’t. It’s against every rule of magic there is. They can own items that have magical properties, but that it all.”

  “What about Goldalynn?” Katya asked.

  “Shhh! Keep your voice down,” Butchy hissed. Motioning for them to come closer, he looked around again before whispering, “Goldalynn is a witch. Witches are witches, they are not full-blooded humans. You are full-blooded humans.”

  “How can we be full-blooded humans, when we used to be bears?” Nita hissed back.

  “Because you just are. That’s the way the spell works.”

  Still semi-shocked over creating the debris tornado, Leilanni rubbed her face and shook her head. “I don’t care what we are. I want this over with. I want to go home. The sooner we get out of here, the sooner I can do that. So quit all this yacking and let’s find the old lady.”

  Katya moved to rest a reassuring hand on Leilanni’s shoulder, but before she could squeeze, the blonde warrior jerked away from her touch and glared. “Not now, Katya.”

  Katya furiously attempted to blink away the moisture filling her eyes.

  Glancing at the sorrowful redhead, Leilanni’s gaze drifted to the disapproving expressions of the rest of the group.

  She shook her head and exclaimed, “Farking ridiculous!” Raising her spritely nose into the air, she sniffed and without hesitation, stormed off into the trees heading in a westward direction.

  Shrugging, Butchy tossed his head to the side and called after, “The word is fucking, you dyke headed gutter troll.”

  “Really?” Nita interjected. “Why do you push her so? Can’t you see she’s having the most difficult time of any of us adapting to this new world? I don’t understand why anyone would choose a creature who was so immature and completely devoid of compassion, to be the protector of anyone or anything!”

  Nita didn’t wait for Butchy’s response. Instead, she sped off after Leilanni in hopes of soothing her friend’s wounded spirit.

  Katya and Paul simultaneously stepped in stride behind Nita and within seconds, Butchy stood in the clearing completely alone.

  “Well that went smashingly,” he said aloud.

  Julio had frequently complained that he lacked proper empathy for those around him. Maybe there was something to that after all. It’s not like he meant to be a douche. People just didn’t seem to get his sarc
asm and humor. Was it his fault if lesser species couldn’t understand his evolved sense of humor? Of course not!

  Butchy’s wings ceremoniously clapped together and raised him a few feet from the ground. Indignant, he began to carefully flick each morsel of debris from his faux, fox-fur jacket. After a few moments, he sighed and finally gave up. He cocked his head to the side, giving his next wardrobe change more thought than he’d bothered to give the morning’s scavenger hunt. Hmm. Something rugged. Wears well. Not too much bling because we are in a forest after all. Maybe something a bit native. Yes, that’s the ticket.

  His lips spread ear to ear as he swished his wand over his head. In an instant, fringed chocolate suede trousers with a matching duster style coat replaced the fur. His blouse and boots added candy apple as the accent color to his new design. Long raven braids tied with strips of red silk finished the effect he was hoping for.

  Finally feeling pulled together, Butchy set off in search of his band of misfits without the slightest inkling of guilt or shame.

  Chapter Ten

  Leilanni continued through the dense forest at a pace that would have left normal humans in the dust. She wanted to be completely alone, but still managed to be grateful the others had enough sense to stay far enough behind to give her space. This situation was beyond ludicrous. Had she become a cosmic joke of some sort? A bear dressed in human skin trying to live as people do. What was the point? Why her?

  She ground her fists into her burning eyes and was shocked to discover the wetness on the back of her hands when she pulled them away. Were these tears? Was she crying now, too? Of all the worthless human contrivances...

  Up to her left, a tiny path cut through the dense vegetation. Hoping the others would not notice her change in direction, she sprinted ahead as fast as her legs would carry her.

  Miles of trees sped by as she ran. After a period of time, the small footpath grew wider and finally opened into an open valley floor. Leilanni came to an abrupt halt. The view was breathtaking. A crystalline brook bubbled through the center of the valley. Trees of all different shapes and sizes lined the rock walls as if protecting the inner sanctum from any outside influence. Lush grass in every shade of green blanketed the ground. It was nature at its finest.

  Leilanni couldn’t help but smile as she thought about living here in this place. The possibility of raising a cub or two. Her eyebrows rose as the thought crossed her mind. She’d never really given much thought to cubs before. Life was too harsh in the north lands. But here ... in this place, with ample food and water available, she could consider it. If she were still a bear.

  That last thought was the final chink in her armor and once it had been released, there was no taking it back. Leilanni dropped to the ground and immediately curled into a tight ball. There would never be a cub to ease her loneliness. There would never be a chance to live wild and free in such a perfect place. She would never be Nanuck again. Never again would she hunt or fish with total abandon. Taking joy in each perfect kill. Traversing the wild with the knowledge that she was the most dangerous of all the woodland beasts.

  Her shoulders trembled as silent sobs wracked her body and she poured her pain into Mother Earth. Soon, the tears dried and she lay spent on the cool ground.

  The sun kissed her bare arms and right cheek with warmth, soothing her wounded heart. As it rose higher into the sky, Leilanni rolled to her back to allow better access to its radiant beams. Keeping her eyes closed, she could almost imagine that she was still bear. She still felt like the hunter resting in the magnificent sun.

  All around her birds whistled and sang. Chirping insects harmonized with croaking frogs. She reveled in the musical tones nature had to offer. Before long, a smile crept over her lips. At least this part hadn’t changed. She hadn’t lost this and never would … unless she was caged.

  Her eyes shot open. Leilanni sat up and searched the outskirts of the valley. The others were nowhere in sight. They were all still in danger from Goldalynn. That part hadn’t changed. And the others still needed her to protect them. Regardless, bear or human, she was the strongest, most capable fighter.

  She scrambled to her feet and squared her shoulders. She had work to do. They all had work to do. Taking one last look around the beautiful secret valley, Leilanni said a silent farewell and promised herself she would return someday. Spying the path in which she’d entered, she headed back.

  ***

  Leilanni sensed the wrongness in the wood long before she stepped into the clearing. The birds and insects had grown silent and the only sound permeating the trees was Katya’s whimpering.

  Soundlessly entering the east side of the clearing, she moved into position behind the wolf. The muscles in his body tensed as he crouched in front of Katya. Leilanni locked eyes with the girl and briefly shook her head while bringing her index finger to her lips. Behind Katya, Nita and Paul mirrored the wolf’s stance. Both kept their eyes focused on the beast, prepared to counter any move he’d make.

  As if catching a scent, the wolf’s nose tilted into the air.

  Leilanni knew she was out of time, before he could spin on her, she launched her body onto his back, slamming him into the ground. Her lithe hands slipped up around his muzzle, clenching tightly. She nearly lost her grip when the full weight of Nita and Paul landed on top of her. “I got this,” she grunted, strengthening her grasp.

  Nita quickly backed off, but Paul remained positioned over her pushing his weight against her and the animal beneath. “Break its neck,” he hissed. “You don’t weigh enough to keep him down on your own.”

  Upon hearing Paul’s words, the wolf went completely still for a moment.

  “I can’t. If I let go of his mouth...”

  Paul’s hands slid beside the wolf’s ears. “I’ll do it, but you’ll have to release him first or it’ll break your arms.”

  The animal’s body began the shiver and thrash wildly. Thick fur receded into the body as it elongated. Arms and legs stretched and straightened and within seconds, the wolf was no longer animal. Instead, Leilanni found herself smashed between Paul and a very large, very naked man.

  “Are you freaking kidding me?” she screamed. “Dammit, Butchy! You can’t just keep making humans, you drunken fuck!”

  She shoved against the man beneath and slammed into Paul. “Get off me, you idiot!”

  Paul seemed to be all legs and elbows as he tried to extricate himself from the pile without hurting her. “I’m trying.”

  As if on cue, Butchy arrived in the clearing just as Leilanni and Paul made it to their feet. “What’s this now?” he asked.

  “I don’t understand what is wrong with you!” Leilanni lashed out. “How many lives do you need to ruin before you’re done playing these games?”

  Genuinely confused, Butchy’s eyes darted between his charges and the well-muscled heap of man lying on the ground, trying to make sense of what was going on. “But he ... but you ... no he … wait ... what?”

  Moving with careful purpose, the naked man rose from the ground glaring at Paul. “Break my neck now, bitch.” He spat.

  Butchy finally caught on and before the man could move another step, he was sitting back on the ground completely encased in a thick hemp rope. His eyes spewed murderous daggers as the group surrounded him.

  “Holy crap! It’s the guy from the cabin.” Nita exclaimed.

  “What’s he doing here?” Katya asked.

  Paul’s chest rumbled with a low growl.

  Arms folded tightly across his chest, Butchy raised his chin in defiance and smacked Leilanni in the back of her head with his wand. “I think someone owes me an apology. Clearly, I had nothing to do with it this time.”

  Leilanni intentionally banged her forehead against Paul’s massive shoulder and left it there. “I’m going to kill him,” she whispered.

  Caught off guard, Paul relaxed his stance and wrapped his arm around her, giving her a squeeze. Dipping his head to her ear he whispered conspiratorially, �
�If it comes to that, I’ll help you, but right now we have bigger fish to catch. Okay?”

  “Arrrg,” she growled into his chest. Then raising her eyes to his, the strangest thing happened. For the first time since she’d known him, Leilanni didn’t want to kill him. In fact, for some reason, she seemed to be fighting the urge to wrap her arms around his waist and pull him closer.

  Paul gazed into her eyes, smiling.

  Butchy gasped. Unbelievable! Not her! Not him? Really? As much as he thought it impossible, the glittering golden streaks winding around their bodies were undeniable. The fairy quickly glanced at Nita and Katya to see if they were witnessing the event. Both girls looked amazed, but it was probably only shock at Leilanni’s behavior.

  Still holding his breath, Butchy’s chest pounded as Leilanni’s chin tilted upwards. Paul leaned towards her and them BAM, the entire moment was ruined by the wolf/man creature.

  “You folks better let me go. I’m not alone. My entire pack is in the forest and they’ll be here soon,” he said.

  As if slapped in the face, Leilanni immediately stepped away from Paul and faced the rope-bound man. “How many are you? Why are you here?”

  He narrowed his eyes, glaring up at her through over grown locks. “I want what’s mine. Nothing more, nothing less. Where are you hiding the old woman and the girl?”

  Nita stepped forward. “What do you want with them? Seems like they are pretty harmless compared to you.”

  The man locked eyes with Nita, repeating, “Where are you hiding them?”

  Butchy flapped his wings and floated over the man. “We are not hiding anyone, you dunderbutt! We don’t even know who you’re talking about. Or at least we didn’t until you brought them up yesterday.”

  “Untie me, you sodded pile of fop, or I’ll rip the wings from your back and shove them up your fairy arse!” the man spat.

  Butchy’s chin jutted forward as he flung his arm up in the air. “Oh no, you didn’t. Hold me back, Nita. Hold me back before I give this fucking Neanderthal a makeover.”