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Chapter Seven - Bear Necessities The clearing was quiet as the sun ascended over the trees. Anthony shifted in Flea’s sleeping bag. Smiling in slumber, he clutched John’s stuffed bear, a soft sigh escaping his lips. The two sleeping bags beside him lay empty. Several feet away, a figure sat in lotus position. His eyes were closed, his right hand lay upon the left and rested where his legs crossed. He observed the breath. Breathing in, he received oxygen from surrounding plant life, accepting into himself all that he could take into his lungs from nature. Breathing out, he gave life to his environment, rejecting all that was artificial. His mind only on breathing. His mind at peace. The sun bathed him, warming his flesh. And he smiled. A rustling came from the woods. John opened his eyes and glanced over his shoulder. As soon as his concentration was broken, he felt thirsty, fatigued, and cold. He got to his feet and wandered toward his sleeping bag, his arms embracing his torso. He slipped into his sleeping bag, and Anthony’s eyes opened. Wide. He gasped. John raised an eyebrow at his friend. "A... a bear!" Anthony breathed. He dropped the stuffed toy. His arms fell to his sides, and he scooted away from John. John picked up his stuffed animal and shoved it back into his bag. He had no idea why Anthony was freaking out over it. "No," Anthony whispered, raising a shaky finger. "Behind you." John glanced over his shoulder, wondering what Anthony was hallucinating over now. The outline of a large animal shuffled in the woods. John’s eyes bugged out. "Sh**! We’ve got to get out of here!" He slipped his right arm under Anthony’s legs. "Grab my neck!" Anthony flung his arms around his friend’s neck, and John lifted him from the ground. Adrenaline surged through his body as he ran with Anthony, into the woods. "Wait!" Flea’s voice yelled. John halted and turned. The bear wandered into the camp... With Flea and Chad on its back. John’s mouth dropped open. His fingers loosened, and Anthony fell to the ground. "F***!" Anthony exclaimed, still staring at his friends riding the bear. "How the hell did you manage that?" Flea smiled. "If you love something, it can never hurt you," he replied, running his fingers over the bear’s fur. "He led us here. Are you guys okay?" John and Anthony nodded. "Nobody’s dehydrated?" "John found us some water yesterday," Anthony replied. "And he had some iodine tablets to purify it." He looked beyond Flea. "Chad! ‘the hell happened?" Chad grimaced. Rubbing his scratched cheek, he said, "I had a misunderstanding with the bear." Anthony glanced at John, who still stood stunned, before gazing back at Flea and Chad. "This is insane. You realise that." Chad slid off the bear’s back. "Just don’t question it. Come on! The bear can take us back to civilisation." He lifted Anthony from the ground and set him on the bear’s back. He and John gathered all their junk and packed it back into the bags. They passed two of the packs to Anthony and Flea, who slipped them on. Chad put on the third one, and he and John climbed onto the bear’s back. As soon as all four Chili Peppers were settled, the animal set off down the mountain trail. Anthony hung onto Flea’s waist and smiled. "You know," he said, "nobody’s ever going to believe this." Shrugging, Flea glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "Nobody needs to believe." Anthony rested his head against the cushy frame pack on his friend’s back and drifted off to sleep. THE END |