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I couldn’t help the wave of lust that came over me as I thought about Weldon naked in the forest. But it was overshadowed by my confusion and fear. “I don’t understand any of this.”
He gave a gentle smile and nod. “I know. Most humans are unaware of my kind. It wasn’t always that way, though; our species used to live in harmony. Shifters have great strength and resilience, which we used for centuries to protect humans and keep them safe.
“But over time, humans created weapons and felt stronger and braver. They decided they didn’t need us. Many feared us; they found our strength and immortality unnatural. They-”
I couldn’t help but cut in, “Immortality?”
“Yes. We can be killed, but we do not get ill, or die of natural causes. Our permeance was a gift from the gods. But humans despised us for it; they were jealous, bitter, and scared. They worried shifters would rise up and take over the world, though that was never our intention. But humans wouldn’t see reason. They began hunting us, wanting to rid the Earth of shifters all together.
“So, we fled and went into hiding. Some shifters formed packs for camaraderie and protection, while others went out on their own. We stayed out of the public eye for nearly a century, until humans assumed they’d accomplished their goal of eradication, and they all but forgot about our kind.”
I felt horrible for his species. I knew all about people not tolerating what they didn’t understand, though my experience with my father was on a much smaller scale. The conviction in his voice made it impossible for me to doubt his story, and made me wonder if he experienced it first hand.
“Were you there during the attacks?” If he truly was immortal, anything was possible.
“I’m a very old bear,” Weldon replied with a sad smile. “But at that time, I was very young. My parents kept me shielded from the actual violence, but that didn’t keep it from affecting our household.”
I narrowed my eyes in question and he explained, “My mother and father fled with me, and we hid in a mountain cave. We were safe enough, but they wanted to do more to help our kind. So, my father would go out every night to seek out other shifters who may have needed assistance getting away. Sadly, what he found were many orphans whose parents had died to keep them protected and hidden.
“He brought them back with him, and he and my mother gave them a loving home. I became a big brother to the shifter cubs, and helped care for them. Caregiving became a huge part of who I was, and I knew it would always be part of my life, though I didn’t figure out exactly how until much later.”
“That’s so beautiful,” I sighed. “Your dad put himself at risk for strangers, and then you all made sure they were looked after and loved.”
“We were - and are - one big family,” he beamed. “Eventually, we all grew up and went our own ways, but we keep in touch. Every year, we have a reunion together. My mom loves seeing all of her kids, along with her grandcubs and great-grandcubs.”
My heart swelled with admiration and affection for his parents, though I’d never met them. I hoped I would one day; maybe I could even attend a reunion, though it seemed much too forward to say it.
“Are your family members the only shifters left?”
Weldon shook his head no and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Though our numbers were cut, many of us did survive. And there aren’t just bear shifters; there are many different animal forms roaming the Earth. We’ve integrated back into society, though we still keep ourselves secret for safety. You’ve probably spoken to shifters and never knew.”
“Wow.” It would have seemed impossible if I weren’t literally speaking to one now while sitting on his lap.
“In fact, close friends of mine are wolf shifters who live on the other side of the woods, in the Pine Ridge area. They look after the land…kind of like park rangers. That’s how we met; I was spending most of my time in bear form, living in a cave deep in the forest.”
“You still lived in a cave?” I asked in surprise. “Were you still hiding?”
“No, I knew I was safe. But a cave was what I grew up in, and what I was used to. I enjoy a simple life anyway, so it worked out fine.”
“How did you end up here?”
“Well, the Alpha of the wolf group, Phoenix, was out surveying the land one day and caught my scent. He tracked me down, and we got to talking. Long story short, I became friends with him and his friends, Stone and Rowan. I took a page from their book and embraced my human side a little more. He even helped me get a job as an environmentalist in this forest. With the money I made, I built this home-”
“You built this?” I couldn’t stop interrupting his story. “I’m impressed.” The cabin was absolutely beautiful, and looked like it had been crafted by professionals.
“Thanks, Taterbug. It’s so important to me that you love it.” I wasn’t sure why, unless he was just concerned with my comfort, which was sweet.
“What does an environmentalist do?” I’d heard the term before, but didn’t know what was involved.
“I help protect and preserve the area. I monitor the soil and plant life to make sure it’s safe for animals, and sustainable for the future.”
“That sounds really important.”
Weldon beamed with pride. “I love my work. It allows me to spend time in nature and keep it secure. But one of my favorite parts of my job is giving a conservation talk to a local boy scout troop every year. My friends volunteer with their camp and asked me to join in.”
“You’re amazing,” I gushed. His heart was pure gold. Now that I knew more about him, I was ashamed of being so scared of his bear form when I’d seen him earlier. I wanted to correct that right away, and show Weldon that I accepted him, just as he’d done with me. So, I took a deep breath and asked, “Can I see your bear again?”
Surprised delight painted his face. “Of course you can. Just remember; I’m in complete control of my animal, so you don’t need to be afraid.” Once I nodded my understanding, Weldon eased me off of his lap and stood up next to the bed.
