Pipuck woke with a long stretch and a smile. Then they frowned as they remembered where they’d woken up. Then they smiled because, after the work they’d put in yesterday, they were no longer concerned about the bears pulling one over on them or their wards!

  They’d made sure they were safe with some quick bargains of fairy knowledge. They’d invoked a privilege that would protect Temate, and Toni was a friend of bears. The bears would never try to manipute their friends.

  That was one thing the fae had in common with the Old Ones – bears, owls, mice and the like. They did not use the word Friend lightly, and if you were Friend they would never take advantage of your ignorance. A great example is that Pipuck would not consider Temate or Toni friends. Sure they were friendly to the two humans, but Pipuck was their guide.

  They had a role and a job and they would do it and nothing more. Because Pipuck understood why they were here. To be punished and experience loss. Well HA loophole! If they never formed a connection with anyone then they couldn’t experience loss! Win for Pipuck! Suck it court kings!

  Pipuck woke, took a long warm bath, and then made their way next door to Toni and Surrender's room. The room Temate and her had been busy in st night. Pipuck absentmindedly wondered what it was like to have sex, spiras felt none of those needs or wants. Not normally anyway.

  Pipuck frowned as they considered their two sets of reproductive organs they had now. The Righ had insisted it would be important for the punishment, necessary even. Pipuck hadn’t cared to argue the point, and st night had proven their point. Even given the right parts, they still didn’t feel the desire or need.

  They’d thought that would happen, the other spiras would often be fascinated by the mating habits of short lived species. All the various methods from merging cognitopsm to cooperative narrative composure of the child. All the way down to the more base, primitive versions, like sex.

  Pipuck had never cared though, oh they’d watched from time to time, when other spiras would make them. It just wasn’t important or remotely interesting. Not like the job they had to do now.

  Pipuck frowned at Temate as the big human man entered the room, he was no longer bandaged. Unsurprising, considering how much he’d probably sweated the night before. That and the bath he’d clearly taken since no scent remained on him.

  “Come ‘ere and si’. I gotta ge’ new wraps on you an’ soon. Been withou’ for too long.” Pipuck motioned to the bed and Temate sat down.

  To be fair, Temate had healed quite well already, maybe the magic in this room was more potent then the spiras had thought. Maybe their new [Power], [Potent Mixture] which they had picked up the day before, had automatically applied. Either way Pipuck took a second to examine the wounds.

  They didn’t look too bad, blunt weapons meant that most of the damage had been internal. Pipuck frowned as they poked at the skull, then the shoulder, then the arm.

  “Huh, your bones ‘ave all ‘ealed already.”

  “I did that.” Temate said and Pipuck looked at him questioningly.

  “‘ow? New [Power]?” They asked him.

  Temate nodded, “[Bone Salt], it allows me to… simply put, make things out of bone, slowly, and also to shift and shape bones I touch. Or in creatures who are willing I suppose. I was able to freely shift and meld my bone back together while Toni was Empowering yesterday.”

  “She di’ i’!?” Pipuck practically shouted that out. Temate nodded again, but said nothing. “Oh come on, ‘ow’d she do i’ I nee’ to know!” Pipuck asked, then worried about the answer. Considering what the two had done the night before…

  “From what I can tell the Empowering state is simir to something we call hyperfocus in our wo- realm, but on your internal self, the world here seems to help you intentionally invoke it. Toni doesn’t do well at focusing consciously, so I helped find a way to trick her brain into doing it. Once she’d focused on something else, something important to her, the world did its thing and sort of hijacked it.”

  Temate paused for a second then added, “but that’s just a theory, an empowering theory!” He said that with far too much gusto. Pipuck ignored it as they started spreading a bit of poultice on the few abrasions left, then wrapped some unsoaked bandages around Temate’s head.

  “The wounds ‘ave mostly healed, I expecte’ another day or two for the bone to properly se’ even with my poultice and the healin’ fields magic. You basically save’ yourself a day or two of recovery with that bone sal' power Mate.” Pipuck informed the young man, who smiled slightly.

  “Good to know, oh and Pipuck.” Temate looked up at Pipuck who looked the young man in his eyes. “Thank you for this.” The young human put a hand on Pipucks shoulder and tried to smile without being scary. To a human, it wouldn’t have succeeded, but Pipuck had seen many stranger smiles. To Pipucks great annoyance, they felt their heart fill with happiness at being able to help.

  “Nothin’ to i’, that’s wha’ I’m ‘ere for, take care of you ligh’ suckers an’ show you aroun’.”

  Not to be your friend. Pipuck reminded themself. Not because they needed to, but it was important to keep it in mind.

  “Still, I appreciate it, I know we just met but you’re a good friend.” Damn it, why’d he have to say it like that. “Oh, and can I ask for your advice?” Temate added.

  “Of course, shoo’ away.” Pipuck put the little pstic container of Spring Paste back into the small sack they’d moved it to. Finally stopping shivering from the disgusting material of the pstic.

  “I’m thinking about offering to help the bears with killing some things that are threatening… well probably more annoying, them. Is there any danger in that?” Temate looked at the spiras.

  Pipuck thought the question over, then replied. “No’ anymore. Maybe a few days ago the bears coul' ‘ave trappe’ ya in a contrac’ of service or protection, especially after Toni accidentally gave them your name, bu’ I invoke’ Assurance on your behalf, so you shoul' be fine now.” Pipuck said this out loud and was surprised not to see any confusion on the young mans face.

  “Hmmm wardenage…” Temate started his thought out loud but then continued it in his head. Pipuck did not imitate Toni at this moment and prod him to say it out loud. If they needed to know, they’d ask, or he’d tell them. Speaking of…

  “Where’s the little ss by the way? You two were awfully close s’ nigh’ –” Pipuck gave Temate a knowing eye wiggle, which prompted a clearing of the throat from the big man. That made Pipuck smile as they continued. “ –so I figure’ you’ ‘ave come together, bu’ I don’ see ‘er.”

  Temate ughed, “Surrender bumped into us on the way here and dragged her off to get food and I think talk, they offered to bring us something to eat so I imagine they’ll be along shortly.” Pipuck ughed at hearing that.

  “Those two ‘ave grown close awfully quickly aye? Maybe you’ll ‘ave two little love pets soon instea’ of one.” Pipuck gave Temate a teasing wink but to their surprise Temate just grinned back.

  “Maybe I will Pip, maybe I will. Assuming you’re not… interested in Surrender?” Temate asked cautiously.

  “Failing ligh' no! I’m no’ into all that mushy mea’ sppin’ stuff you lo’ are into alrigh’. You keep me ou’ of your mortal perversions.” Pipuck waved a hand at Temate in disgust and the big man just ughed.

  “Sorry Pip! Had to check, ya know, didn’t wanna accidentally snap up both of our traveling companions if you needed or wanted to take a shot yourself.”

  Pipuck nodded in acknowledgement and was about to shoot a snippy comeback at him when Honey, Milis and a bear he’d met yesterday walked in. Craobh was about the same size as Honey, maybe slightly smaller, but had much sleeker, midnight bck hair. Her nose was constantly wiggling as she sniffed the air and she was chatting up a storm as they entered.

  “I can’t bearlieve that the great Warden bear wants to see one of the little furless folk! How embearassing! I will make certain to impress on it the great fortune it’s receiving! With my great might it will know to respect bears!”

  Pipuck couldn’t decide whether to grin or frown at that. Grin because it was clear they were talking about Temate, since they’d come here to the healing field. Frown because a Warden of the bears wanted Temate to visit. That was a huge privilege, Pipuck knew, and a risk for the man. Wardens superseded many privileges of visitation or hospitality. Such as the one Pipuck had invoked to protect Temate. Pipuck quickly leaned over and whispered a few things into Temate’s ears.

  Temate leaned back, eyes wide as Pipuck finished expining, very quickly and succinctly, the dangers of Wardens.

  “I think you’re underestimating the humans Craobh, you’ve never met one, and there’s a reason the Warden wants to see this one.” Milis replied to Craobh’s jab earlier, Temate smiled slightly as he hunched over. Making himself as small as possible on the bed, this would be fun. Temate looked over to Honey who was simply nodding in agreement with Milis.

  “Paws fur you two, You gotta be pulling my ear! No human no matter how special deserves to meet with the Warden. He may have requested the furless thing himself but I at least want to cw some respect into the foolish thing so it doesn’t try to act all arrogant in front of Warden Timbear!”

  Warden’s name was Timbear, Temate noted that in his little mental catalog. He watched the three bears approach, only Milis walked on her hind legs. The other two bears, smaller, walked on all fours. Craobh, as Milis had called her, kind of reminded Temate of Toni. If Toni were a big bck shiny furred bear bent on giving him a thrashing.

  She liked to talk, in fact she was still talking about all the ways she was going to beat some respect into him when they finally arrived. Temate could only assume the bear had meant for him to hear all that, an intimidation tactic of some kind. Unfortunately for the bear, Temate was used to games of intimidation and posturing. There were few in his previously life who could stare him down, and now he had [Power].

  “Forests warmth upon you Master Temate, I hope you are feeling well?” That was Honey, eloquent as ever.

  “I’ve been able to bear the brunt of the pain and healed up quite nicely.” Temate replied with a slight nod. “Milis, Forests wa–”

  “This is it? The human the Warden wants to see so badly? Hmph, doesn’t look like much. Listen up, human!” Craobh cut him off and stood on her hind legs, standing as tall as she could. Temate looked up at her and blinked. Role: dumbfounded man with no idea what he’s gotten himself into.

  “You have been chosen by the Warden, the Great Gray Root of Bearbhaile, to visit him. However! I do not believe you are worthy! You are human a small, pathetic, impotent thing not worthy to even sit in His presence! Do you understand?!”

  “Oh, I’m sorry miss, what’s a Warden?” Temate barely held back a chuckle as the small, and she was small, bear looked affronted. He never expected a bear to be able to make that kind of face outside of a cartoon. Temate ughed internally as she indignantly began to expin what a Warden was, while half hopping between her back paws as she tried to keep her bance. She was like a child, and Temate wondered absentmindedly how old she was.

  “ – And that’s what a Warden is.” She finished. Woops, Temate hadn’t been listening. Didn’t really matter, Pipuck had already warned him generally.

  “Oh really?” Temate said it without even trying to look impressed. Craobh became even more indignant, her hackles rose as she lifted her paws. She was about to start speaking again, or maybe just cwing Temate’s face, when he decided it was his turn. He stood. That's all.

  Temate unfurled his body to it’s full size slowly, slowly towering above the bck bear before him. As he’d noticed she was taller than Honey, but still not as tall as him. He stood above her and allowed his [Towering Presence] skill - he still liked that word better than [Power] - to activate. He looked down on the bear who physically shrunk.

  Craobh’s fur stood on end as she colpsed to her backside beneath the terrifying glower of the thing which absolutely could not be a human. In her mind it had to be a troll, but it possessed none of the other traits of a troll. It did not have the jutting jaw, nor the thick coarse fur across all its body, and it stood straight instead of hunching over on long, rippling arms. It had no indications other than it’s immense size, and it’s terrifying face.

  Craobh stared into that face feeling a terror hit her, and then amplify as she realized just how big it, he, was. He was huge, he was a towering monolith of strength and awe. If Craobh had to compare it to anything, he was like a Warden himself. She shivered at that thought. Then as suddenly as the pressure came, it was gone.

  Temate smiled down at the cowering bear, reaching one hand out and patting her on the head. He received a blink in return, then he spoke only 5 simple words to her.

  “Thank you for telling me.” Then he turned to Honey, “So shall we go see this Warden?” Temate grinned at Honey who was finishing settling their own hairs while Milis looked back and forth, almost confused. Honey simply nodded to Temate and turned to leave.

  “Follow me.” He said as he left the chamber, followed shortly by Milis and Temate, but not Craobh. Craobh was still staring at where the human had gone, then she growled a little. No one was there to hear her, no one except.

  “Careful now, you don’ wanna star’ a figh’ with ‘im.” Craobh started, and looked back to a small human looking thing on the other side of the bed, “‘e ‘as the privilege of Assurance, or di’ your friends no’ tell you tha’?” Craobh gred and then growled again. No human threatened her. The small humans eyes narrowed at her, and it spoke in the old way, across all her senses.

  “Sgoinneil has sworn safety to me bear. You keep your teeth and cws in check.”

  Then it, too, walked out of the field leaving Craobh in utter shock. She said only three words.

  “What just happened?”

  They were deep in the woods and Toni had one hand on her gun. Every 10 minutes or so she had to refill the ammo but she wanted to be ready. Surrender sat on her shoulder, which was an interesting experience. She was surprisingly light, but also not so much smaller than Toni that it wasn’t slightly awkward. Toni looked up at Temate next to her, then forward at the two bears, Honey and Milis, who were slightly ahead of them.

  She winced slightly at the memory, she’d introduced herself to the big brown grizzly Milis when she met her today. She was then reminded that Milis was the one who led her to the healing field when Temate was injured. Then that she had been there to help during the Nitha attacks. In her defense, she wasn’t really paying attention to anything at the time. That tended to happen when the person you were… obsessing? Over – or maybe relying upon was better, definitely interested in – got injured, especially severely.

  They were going to meet some special bear who lived in the woods, called a Warden. It had taken a lot to convince the others to let her and Surrender come along, even Temate. Though less so when she presented the food she'd brought along. He’d finally relented when she’d agreed not to say a word of any kind while they were there. That was alright, she just wanted to be with them in case of danger.

  Also because they were going to meet some super special bear and that made Toni excited. Hell until st night her excitement over literally everything happening was all that kept her from having a crippling anxiety attack. Except for that brief period of 24 hours where anger took over for excitement. Now excitement was back in the driver's seat, heavily supported by satisfaction certainly, but very much the driver.

  What would this bear be like? Why did it –they– want to see Temate? Why was this bear so far out from Bearbhaile? What made this bear so special, was it just really old? All these questions were running through Toni’s mind as the group moved slowly through the woods.

  “We are nearly there.” Honey said as he turned his head to look back at them.

  Temate nodded, “Thank you for bringing us Honey, Milis.” Then he leaned over to Toni and whispered carefully to her, “Remember, not a word, got it?”

  She gred at him, “It’d help if you told me why.”

  “I don’t know myself, I just got some cryptic warnings from Pip, and I don’t know if…” he trailed off and Toni, gre deepening, poked him. No response, so she poked him again.

  “Temate w–” He pointed ahead as she started to question him, she looked and had to stop herself from gasping. Ahead of them sat a stretch of woods that was, for the most part, indistinguishable from any other part of woodnd they’d traveled through.

  The difference that Temate saw, and pointed out to Toni, though he hadn't needed too, was a tree much rger than the rest, and the thing which y beneath it. In the earth beneath the tree, where the roots and wood had been hollowed to make a small cavern, y a bear. Its fur was gray-white, like many of the elder bears of Bearbhaile, the simirities stopped there.

  The bear lifted only its massive head, which must have been half as big as Temate itself. It yawned, bringing one paw up to cover its maw as it did so. Its fur glistened in the midday sun peaking through the trees, and its cws were pristine and looked incredibly sturdy.

  It looked over their small group, two bears, two humans and a gremlin. Pip had stayed back for “information gathering”. Toni figured he was just scared. The bear nodded toward Honey and spoke.

  “Honey.” One word, one resonant sound which rumbled across the space. Toni’s legs shook and it was only her sheer awe which kept her standing. That and Temate’s presence, thanks to his [Towering Presence] he’d told her about this morning. Powers had been one of many things they’d talked about this morning after… ‘waking up’. That memory made her blush and smile happily in equal measure.

  Honey bowed back, then motioned towards Temate.

  “Temate.”

  Temate bowed himself and stepped forward and motioned towards the great bear.

  “Timbear?” It was a question and a statement at once. Toni heard both of the smaller bears, by comparison to Timbear, make small surprised noises.

  Timbear simply smiled, “You know my name?”

  “Craobh speaks quite loudly.” Temate said that and looked over at Honey and Milis, smiling softly. Honey just made an annoyed harrumph sound and crossed his paws as he y down.

  “Oh the young often do!” Timbear ughed softly, at least what Toni felt was supposed to be softly. Then she noticed Timbear’s face grow serious.

  “Why are you here?” Timbear asked, lowering its face to Temate’s. Toni noticed even Temate’s foot slid back in front of the massive bears sudden intensity.

  “You invited me here.” Temate replied ftly.

  A soft growl, “Why come to Bearbhaile?”

  A pause, “We were invited there.” Temate motioned towards Honey who nodded. Toni watched with deep fascination, the conversation felt… strange to her. Eborate Temate! Expin how they got to this world and all that! It was annoying her a bit, but she’d promised…

  “What are you pnning?” Timbear growled. Temate paused, thinking. Thinking. Toni was watching him, he didn’t know how to respond, it was easy! They had no pns, they were just surviving! Temate just stood there thinking though, she knew there had to be a reason but…

  They waited. The bears were patient but Toni wasn’t, she hated silence. Finally she’d had enough.

  “We don’t have any!” She shouted out, impatient. She saw Temate freeze and Honey and Milis turn to look at her. And then there was Timbear. He moved with a blistering speed Toni had not expected from a bear as it lunged towards them.

  “She’s telling the truth!” Temate shouted as he took one quick step sideways between them. Timbear towered over the two humans and with one simple motion of its paw, picked Toni up and pinned Temate to the ground.

  “Friendship does not mean you are free to break our ancestral rites, human.” Timbear snarled in her face after a brief pause, Toni squirmed and kicked. She brought one hand down to her hip, to her gun. She gasped out a few words.

  “I. Don’t. Know. What. You’re. Talking. About.” She leveled the gun at the bears neck and… Fell. Timbear dropped her onto the ground and she felt the air leave her body, and her gun leave her hand. She grimaced and rolled towards it, grabbing the gun and turning, still on her back. She turned and aimed, pointing at Timbear.

  “Hold on T.” Temate’s voice came quietly to her as his hand grabbed the gun and gently pushed it down.

  “Wha– how did you get over here so quickly?” She asked.

  “He let me up at the same time as he dropped you, Of course I came straight to you.” Temate looked down at her and she felt her heart thud and her cheeks flush.

  “Ah, thank you uhm… Daddy” She whispered the st word even quieter than the rest of their quick conversation. Temate smiled at her gently and helped her up to her feet. They looked over to where the three bears y.

  “What are they doing?” Toni asked, motioning to the growling bears. Really it was only two of them, Honey and Timbear. Milis seemed to simply go through a gamut of emotions that ended in embarrassment.

  “I think they’re talking, or maybe arguing? It’d shock me if the tter were the case with all the rules they have to abide by.”

  “What does that mean, what rules?” Toni looked up at Temate.

  “Hmm, I don’t know them all, Pipuck gave me three quick rules: Never use more words to respond to the Warden then they use, bow when introduced, and–” Temate looked towards her for the st one. “–do not speak until introduced or spoken to.”

  “Ah. Well why didn’t you tell me?” She glowered at him.

  “I did, I said do– Ah.” Temate put a hand to his forehead and grumbled, “Sorry, I thought it was obvious. I don’t, and would never, try and control who you are, remember?”

  “From this morning, yes.” Toni nodded.

  Temate grimaced, “That means in any way, I’d never tell you not to speak, unless I was trying to protect you from something.”

  “Which you were trying to do here, and you thought I’d just know that?” Toni narrowed her eyes at Temate.

  “I–” Temate looked away and scratched his neck “–am not used to talking to people, my brain just kinda… assumed.”

  Toni gred for a moment longer, then relented. She sighed loudly, still a bit angry but she only bmed him partially for this. She looked over to the three bears as Honey started making his way over. Honey and Milis were at fault too, they could have told her some of this stuff beforehand.

  “How a word breaker like you befriended our Mayor I don’t understand.” Honey grumbled that to Toni as he approached the two of them.

  “That sounds like an insult.” Toni said, “what the fuck was that–” she waved her hand at Timbear “–all about anyway! All I did was answer his question.”

  “A question he did not ask you, Lady Terror. That is important.” Honey spoke calmly, but annoyance was clear in his tone to Toni.

  “Why? What’s so important that I can’t answer a question for my…” Toni paused and looked at Temate, blushing slightly but keeping her face firm. “Partner.”

  Honey shook his face making a snuffling noise. “I assumed your partner asking you not to speak and you agreeing to it would mean that you would not speak.”

  “He was taking a long time to answer and I thou–”

  “You broke an agreement, especially to one you cim is important, I did not realize humans had so little care for such things or I would have told you our customs ahead of time.” Honey shook his head slowly. “No, I had heard but I did not believe any could be so truly…” Honey let out an exasperated sigh.

  “Yeah well, you were wrong, and what about D- Mate huh? Did you tell him all these rules? Cause it sounds to me like you were gonna leave him in the dark to fuck up.” Toni stood angrily in front of Honey. Her legs were shaking, she was mad again, she was doing that a lot now. Why? Wasn’t important right now, she was angry, so she’d use it.

  Toni gripped her gun, more to steady her nerves then in any kind of threat. Her whole body was trembling before the three bears, especially as Timbear had in back down and simply watched them. Honey looked towards Temate, then back towards her.

  “He is not friend of bears.” Honey said simply.

  “W-what?!” Toni shouted, “He nearly died to fight when you wouldn’t!”

  Honey breathed out in exasperation, “And at Spiras Pipucks request he was granted protections for that. Within Bearbhaile.” Honey answered.

  “So it jus-” Toni began, a big hand came to rest on her shoulder.

  “Apologies Honey, I did not give her all the information I had, despite having some forewarning about the rules.” Temate interrupted them. “I believe it would be better if you expined since my understanding is limited, which caused my dey and the problem in the first pce.”

  Toni looked up at Temate, who smiled at her. She harrumphed and crossed her arms. They waited a long while for Honey’s response, so long Toni considered jumping in again. Temate wasn’t mad, though, and he was taking responsibility for her mistake. Even if she didn’t know it was a mistake.

  “Very well, it would be prudent to make sure a friend does not fall afoul of our rites.” Honey sat down in front of them motioning them towards the ground. Temate sat across from him and Toni, after a soft gesture from Temate, sat cross legged and cross armed.

  “Let me tell you about Wardens and their nature.”