A Fable About Instinct

There once was a lonely bear cub who lived in a cave.

He had no friends and was sad most of the time.

One day the bear cub was walking through a meadow.

Ornery and huffy he was.

He did not see the flowers.

Or feel the gentle touch of the sun.

Or hear the music of the birds.

As he lumbered a hare approached him.

Light and smiling and full of joy.

"Hello bear, it looks like you need a friend." said the hare.

"I do indeed but I am a bear. It is dangerous to be my friend." said the bear.

"Danger breeds the most effervescent friendships. Did you not know?" The hare grinned. "We shall be friends. I have decided."

And from that moment on the hare and the bear were inseparable.

They walked together.

Ate together.

Admired the woods, the cliffs, the flowers, and the streams together.

The hare taught the bear about quickness and talking and the love of others.

The bear taught the hare about patience and strength and silence.

Sometimes the hare rode on the bears shoulder.

Sometimes the bear would lope along as the hare sprinted ahead.

They were quite the match.

Time passed and one night the bear was hungry.

He went hunting.

He waited in the darkness of the woods, waited for movement.

Eventually he saw it, a darting shadow, and made his kill.

A quick swipe of his claws in the blackness.

He held his kill up to the moonlight.

It was the hare.

His hare.

His best friend.

The bear howled and howled and tore at his fur.

Overcome with grief.

"Why Creator! Why have you done this! My friend! My only friend!" The bear shouted.

"You are a bear, you are meant to kill hares." the Creator responded.

"He was my FRIEND!" the bear keened.

"I made you to survive. To endure. Procreate and perpetuate. If you want more than that you must be vigilant. Ever vigilant." the Creators voice faded "The choice is yours..."

The bear wept in the moonlight.

Wept.

And waited for the dawn.