Bear Fursuits Books 1-4: Bear Fursuits

by Montrose, Isadora

  The sleeper was reassured. This big uncle would keep him safe. It had been a long time since Mama had put the tag around his neck and handed him to the woman on the plane. He was very tired. He closed his eyes and fell asleep with his arms around Uncle’s neck and his pale cheek pressed into his uncle’s thick hair.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Two days later Gabriella and Vanya were deep in the back country. They had taken Vanya’s two-person ATV along trails that had been old when the first Europeans set foot in America. But eventually those old pathways narrowed and became impossible for the ATV to navigate.

  Vanya had shown her where to park the ATV safely, and he had put on his own backpack and she had buckled herself into her big exterior framed pack. It towered high above her head. She had her tent, her camp stove, her bedroll, and food. Vanya claimed to have only clothes for Roman, but his sleeping bag dangled from his pack. And Gabby was pretty sure he had a supply of vodka.

  They hiked in until Vanya said he thought they were within Roman’s domain. Gabby followed, impressed by his ability to retrace his steps in the vastness of the temperate rain forest. For their campsite, he selected a high, dry place. Gabby cleared the forest floor of rocks but left the pine needles and moss. It didn’t take long before she had her tent up and the bedrolls set out.

  Sleeping in the little tent with Vanya was weird. He was renowned for his lascivious remarks, but last night he had treated her with the utmost circumspection. She had found his presence beside her oddly reassuring and even his snoring didn’t bother her. But strangely, her nocturnal lover hadn’t visited her.

  Vanya had got her camp stove going. He was making coffee. He looked up cheerfully. “We have lunch,” he announced and then we go find Roman.”

  “Just like that?”

  “He mark his kingdom. Many places. We go look. Maybe we find. We go in bear.”

  Gabriella loved being in bear. She had taken her bear heritage for granted her whole life. Her moms were both bears. She assumed her father had been one too. Ma—who was her birth mother—had told her frankly that she neither knew nor cared who had fathered her twins.

  “He was a big bruiser,” Winnie Malcom told Art and Gabriella cheerfully. “Handsome and happy to get a sow with cub. I was a lesbian without much hankering for men, but in mating season he looked good enough for a few rounds.

  “Just so you know,” she continued. “I wanted some babies. Very much. Just not a man. And I choose a nice healthy specimen to be your father. Did a good job too. You’re both smart and strong—good looking too—but you get that from me.” Since Winnie kept her hair short and had a big masculine face and was built like a fireplug, they had laughed as they were supposed to.

  Gabby was proud of her own hourglass figure and opulent bosom. She liked her broad hips and lavish backside. She knew her five eleven frame rippled with muscle and that she was strong and supple. Her earliest memories were of hiking and camping in the woods. Long before her first shift she had seen both Ma and Mom take bear and romp in the forest and swim in the river.

  When she had become a bear in her teens the transition had been long awaited and perfectly normal. She had transitioned into a shifter without a hiccup. She loved the additional sense of strength and sensitivity to nature and her surroundings that her ursine nature had bestowed upon her. Never had she wanted to be anything other than what she was.

  She found it inexplicable that Roman had resisted his bear. If that was not just another of Van’s fairy stories. He had grown up in a big, close knit shifter clan. How could he not have eagerly anticipated puberty when he would finally be able to take bear himself?

  Padding through the forest after Vanya in bear form felt both natural and right. He was clearly enjoying himself too. His bear was old and his fur was streaked with grey and ancient scars were gouged deep into his head and back. But he exuded strength and purpose.

  Her own bear was frisky. It was spring, and taking bear was making her mating hormones rage. She loved the feeling of feminine power and zest they gave her. Vanya was checking every tree and bush and she was too.

  They found a patch of forest were the floor had been opened to the sky by the felling of ancient trees. Their enormous stumps were covered in moss and the gaps left in the canopy had invited salmon berries to grow lushly. A small black sow was gorging herself in company of her two cubs. She raised her muzzle from the bushes and threatened them.

  Gabby and Vanya made placating gestures of submission and backed away. They continued their search for sign of Roman. The shadows were long when they reached the aspen Van had been looking for. They sniffed it and she knew. Roman was alive. This was his fragrance.

  Van looked as smug as a bear could look.

  * * *

  Vanya was sunk in thought and tippling. He had a gulp of vodka and politely offered his flask to Gabriella who declined it. He belched.

  “So is that tree in the middle of Roman’s territory?”

  He rocked his big hand back and forth. “The edge. The female with the cubs, she was on his land.”

  Gabriella’s shock must have shown on her face because Vanya put his hand on her leg and patted it without a single lascivious look. “He has big territory. He don’t allow no boars, just sows. So the ones with babies they feel safe, they stay.”

  “Because the cubs are his,” Gabriella said.

  Vanya shrugged and looked even cagier than usual. “Maybe so, maybe not so. My Roman not kill two of cubs so the mama will come into season. And I don’t think he so much bear now that sows he is keeping. My boy still human is.”

  To Gabriella, Vanya sounded as if he was trying to convince himself. For her part, she wasn’t ready to accept that her true love might have been making bear cubs—real bear cubs—for three years. And keeping a territory full of females, like a, well like a real bear. Eww. Talk about your deal breaker.

  * * *

  The Black Bear watched two of the tall animals with sticks approach the clearing where he was feeding. He had driven off the cinnamon colored bear again and was enjoying the tender leaves of his sedges. He felt no panic, no urge to hide from these particular animals. It felt almost as if he had been waiting for them.

  But the trespassing cinnamon colored bear was back, tracking these animals, clearly intent on attack. The big black could see him padding through the trees a silent and deadly predator intent on his prey. This did rouse the black. He didn’t know why, but he had to defend these two unwary animals.

  He charged the adolescent interloper and hit him broadside on his undefended flank. The smaller bear was knocked off his legs and lay on his side panting and puzzled. The black threatened him with low growling rumbles and an open mouth. The younger bear rolled quickly to its feet and bolted back the way it had come.

  The tall animals were afraid. He could smell their fear. But they did not point their sticks at him. Before his eyes the smaller one was gave its stick to the bigger animal. It began taking off its skin.

  Gabriella stripped, trying not to think of old Vanya’s lascivious eyes on her. These hunting clothes had to be wearable when she took human form again. She stuffed them into her backpack and zipped it tightly shut and handed it to Vanya. To his surprise he was not really looking at her. His blue eyes were fixed instead on the Black Bear observing them from fifty feet away.

  Gabriella was glad to drop to all fours and complete her change. She was proud of how quickly she could accomplish it. Within seconds a small, plump black sow was standing beside Vanya who had strapped Gabby’s backpack on his front and had slung her rifle over one shoulder.

  The big black could smell the little female now. She was ripening. She was beautiful. And she was his mate. Her delightful, absolutely unforgettable aroma was the one he had been seeking. His big limbs ate up the distance towards her. He was unaware that he was uttering the moaning mating noises of an American Black in rut. He only heard the matching moans from the beautiful female.

  Unexpectedly, she turn
ed tail and glancing back at him coyly she ran from the clearing with its delicious spring forage and headed for the river. He rumbled with satisfaction and barely sparing a thought for the other animal and its sticks he gave pursuit to his mate.

  Vanya chuckled at the children’s antics and followed them, taking his time to sweep the area with his gun. He didn’t want to be taken in ambush again. He had already been surprised by the young bear. He took his time. Those two had made a trail of crushed vegetation anyone could follow.

  He didn’t particularly want to be there when Roman seized his little mate. Likely little Gabby was in for something of a surprise. He made a slow circuit of the clearing giving them some space for their courtship.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Gabriella knew she was fizzing with the cocktail of hormones in her system. First there had been the buzz of adrenaline that followed the terror of being tracked by a hungry bear. Vanya had indicated that he had a plan but it had taken all her self-control not to run screaming. Being saved by Roman had been an utter surprise that had ramped up the adrenalin still further.

  And now she was racing through the woods in bear form followed by her lover. She could feel the hormones induced by the lengthening days rocketing into overdrive under the impetus of her mate’s androgens. She felt powerful, sexy, desirable, ravenous. Exhilaration drove her to follow the scent trail laid down by Roman’s patrol of his domain.

  Behind her she could feel as well as hear Roman’s thunderous pursuit. He wanted her. Well of course he did. She was the most bear he would ever get a whiff of. The rocky bank of the river was a surprise, but she scampered joyfully over the boulders and into the freezing water, certain her mate would follow.

  The big black could not believe his luck. He had found his mate. She was as he had remembered. Fat, fertile, frolicsome. He had a sense that this playful preliminary with this beauty was essential to the success of his courtship. He plunged into the river after her luscious form and headed upstream behind her.

  When she dove down to snag a fish, he followed suit. They emerged with silver trout and shared a snack. Then with a twist of her powerful torso, she was off again still making for the deep whirlpool. He had a momentary doubt that this was a wise destination for his pretty consort, but lust drove this caution from his ursine brain.

  Gabriella hesitated when she came to the place where the river’s pace quickened. The water was even colder here. There would be rapids shortly and maybe dangerous currents too powerful even for her in bear. She flipped onto her back and let the river carry her back down to where Roman was stroking his way toward her.

  She clambered out onto the bank and looked up and down for Vanya. She had no doubt that the old bear was tracking them. She sniffed. No men. No shifters. Just us bears she thought happily as Roman climbed out and sat beside her clicking hopefully.

  She rose and ignored him with regal unconcern. She shook and half the river sprayed the rocks around her. She was now mostly dry. She turned to face her lover and his energetic shake dampened her startled face. She made a huff of shock and amusement and her feet carried her into an instinctive dance she had never performed before.

  The black was enchanted. This female was perfect. He matched her flirtatious gyrations with a masculine version of his own. Deep inside he was sure that he had finally found his match. Around and around they cavorted with ursine grace each telling the other how muscular, desirable and healthy the other was.

  This jig could end only in one way, Gabby thought. And she was so not going to mate even with Roman in bear. Nor in human, come to that. Thank you very much. Not with Uncle Van just around the bend of the river.

  She sat down abruptly and clicked at her dance partner. He looked surprised. But he sat down too and returned her clicks. As clearly as if he spoke, she could hear his thoughts. Had she been in human form, she would have blushed. As it was, it made her hope he could read her mind too. She focused on projecting a plea to change.

  Ignoring her danger from this huge animal that could eviscerate her with a casual swipe of one forearm, she took human form. The bear was beyond startled. He had of course seen her change into a bear, but cupidity had erased the disturbing fact from his masculine brain. He jumped backward and moaned at her.

  Gabby took bear again and kept her thoughts entirely of Roman in his Air Force uniform. The bear came forward again and sniffed Gabby. He walked around her and put his muzzle up to her face and then her flank and rear and around again until he faced her once more. She clicked at him and he sat down as if perplexed. He shook his head as if it pained him.

  Gabby put a little space between them and took human form once more. She was growing tired now. Shifting took energy and she had been back and forth rather a lot in a short time span. She stood before her bear feeling a little foolish in her nakedness.

  But she thought of all the movies she had watched and posed herself for him, placing her right leg in front of her left, and raising her arms to pull her hair off her shoulders. This elongated her torso and threw her breasts forward. The cool April breeze on her damp skin made her nipples stiffen into points. Like a goddess of love she displayed her lush curves for his delectation.

  She was going to have to take bear soon if she didn’t want to freeze. But her styling seemed to have an effect on Roman. He backed away and shook himself as if he was waking up. As she hoped he was.

  Slowly, agonizingly he shifted. Soon he was a tall man with bear forelimbs and a golden snout. But gradually his face became the black bearded face of her phantasmal lover, and his arms resumed their human form. Now they were the muscular, hairy forearms of a strong and robust man.

  “Gabriella?” said Roman in a voice that was guttural from disuse. “Gabriella?”

  She nodded. “Yes, it’s me.”

  “What’s going on?” he asked looking at her in something like awe and down at himself in something like horror. His bent head caused his bushy beard to tickle his chest and he rubbed his face with a bewildered gesture. He pulled at the long mass of black in disbelief.

  From downstream they heard the happy whistle of a kingfisher. It repeated three times and then turned into the sweet babble of a thrush. “Uncle Van,” said Roman. He looked aghast and bewildered. He looked at Gabby and clutched his head. He groaned and said, “You’re naked. Do something.”

  She had to laugh at his sudden sense of propriety. But, as she didn’t want to face Vanya in her birthday suit, she drifted behind a chokeberry bush to conceal her nakedness from the old bear.

  Vanya came into view. When he saw Roman he nodded in satisfaction and picked up his pace. Roman stood swaying on his sturdy legs. His matted hair and beard gave him the appearance of a wild creature. He seemed uncertain as to whether he should advance toward his foster father or retreat as Gabriella had done.

  Then as if a decision had been too hard, Roman dropped to all fours and returned to bear form. He crouched moaning on the grass while his massive forearms rubbed his skull and muzzle as if he had fallen into an anthill and been attacked. Gabby stared in consternation.

  Vanya kept up his happy whistling, although the note changed. He strode fearlessly over to the recumbent bear and knelt to embrace it. With his own big hands, he covered the huge forepaws that were grappling with some agony in the bear’s gigantic skull. He spoke softly to his foster son. Gabby heard his words as an indistinct murmur. She wondered if Vanya was speaking Ukrainian.

  Whatever he was saying had an effect, because Roman relaxed and right there on the mossy ground, with the river burbling merrily beside them, in broad daylight, he fell asleep. His forelimbs curled under him and he emitted loud snores.

  Vanya gently stroked the bright golden muzzle and rubbed the big ears. He placed both hands onto the wide flat skull and hummed. After a while, he rose from his knees and removed Gabby’s pack from his front. He placed it by a pile of rocks and called to her.

  “Girl, I leave. You dress and come. He sleep now, long time.” He went a
way whistling softly.

  Strangely reassured, though she could not have said why, Gabby crept out from behind her bushes and grabbed her pack. She did not feel she had another shift in her, not without refueling and a nap. But every instinct rebelled at leaving Roman sleeping and defenseless. She dressed swiftly, and headed to where Vanya was warbling like a wren.

  “What just happened?” she demanded of the old shifter who was sitting on dry boulders by the riverbank .

  Vanya shrugged he handed her rifle back. “Is hard for him to become man. I think too his head bad. But we find. Is good. For you he take his man form. Is good, is very good.” He produced his silver flask from his side pocket, made his customary offer to Gabby, and drank deeply when she refused.