Page 14 of Blacktail

“Not quite ripe,” Apple said. “I’ll swing back by in a few days.”

“Do that,” Blacktail said. Then, after a moment, “Forest of Bones. Fo-rest of Bones. Really? Really?”

“Damn right.” Apple put his fur up in fake terror. “Oooh. Scary.”

“What if that…that…” He strained for a word. “That…thing…what if it…?”

“It’s called a bear!” Apple said merrily. “A grizzly!”

“I know what it’s called. I’ve seen bear before…once or twice.” He paused. “Are they usually that big?”

“Not usually, no,” Apple said. “You’re welcome, by the way.”

“What if he goes out to the east?” Blacktail said. “To check it out for himself, like. There is no Forest of Bones.”

Apple flicked his tail. “I’m aware.”

“So what am I to do, then?”

“I’m sure you’ll come up with something. Die, most likely. Or flee—though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Have you seen one of those things run? They’re surprisingly spry. I saw one of them run down a buck deer.” Apple considered. “Yes. You’d most likely die, I should think.”

Blacktail growled, just a little. “I fought a black bear. Once.”

Apple blinked. “You did not. I’d have heard.”

“I did.”

“Who are you talking ab—Wait. Wait, wait. Do you mean Patricia?”

“I believe that was her name, yes.”

“You didn’t fight her,” Apple said. “The two of you exchanged insults. From a distance.”

“And she fled,” Blacktail said.

“She didn’t flee. She went to save one of her cubs. The wee little darling was drowning itself in the stream over yonder.”

“Well, she left.”

Apple sighed. “Okay. Fine. Yes. You’re very tough.”

“Speaking of streams”—Blacktail stretched his back, yawned—“do you fancy some water? I’m thirsty.”

“Thanks, but no. I’ve got to get back to the burrow. Those acorns aren’t going to hide themselves. Kits to feed and all that.”

“Suit yourself.”

Blacktail looked off in the direction of the departing bear, thinking. “Did you get a look at that bear? The size of it?”

“Indeed. Healthy specimen.”

“Apple?”

“Hmm?”

“Are they…are they all like that? Grizzlies, I mean?”

“Well, I haven’t met them all,” Apple said, “but from the ones I’ve seen, yes. That’s the general range.”