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Let's Forage New Beginnings

Araea was feeling quite stressed out as the season wore on. In the beginning, she felt like she'd had all the time in the world to gather food stores and put on pounds for the winter. She didn't work all that hard and spent more time exploring the wilds around her den and taking in the scenery than she did eating or storing food. But as the days gradually grew shorter, the weather slowly grew colder, she began to worry that she hadn't done enough and that she'd run out of time.

Most years, she didn't worry about it too much. Eat when she wanted. Go where she wanted. And by the time Autumn ended, she'd have put on more than enough weight and had enough stored up that, should she wake over the winter, she'd have a snack easily at hand. But this year, there was more at stake.

Early in the summer, she'd met up with a lovely young man who made the best impression on her. His coat was gleaming, his bulk well-balanced, and his temperament just right. She'd spent a lovely afternoon with him, planting seeds for the future. And now, as the seasons changed around her, she knew that afternoon was to bear fruit over the winter.

Traveling deeper into the woods, Araea stripped every berry bush she could find of it's delicious bounty. Any stray bit of food she could find, she consumed. No morsel, no matter how small, was left behind. If she didn't eat enough, it wasn't truly her that was going to suffer. She ended her day down at the stream, looking to see if any fish were still running.

Luck was on her side and an end-of-season salmon run was just finishing up. She wasted no time in wading deep into the water, waiting patiently for the tasty fish to swim near enough to catch. If she played her cards right, she'd easily get enough fat-rich fish to fill out her calorie quota for the season. If she didn't, she could have to spend weeks more looking for whatever bits and bobs might still be lying around the forest.

The afternoon was growing dimmer by the moment when she finally caught her last fish. Her belly was full, her fur soaked, and she was more than ready to turn in for the night. The stream wasn't empty of fish yet, so she might try her luck in the morning with another go at fishing. Her haul was decent, though her technique needed work. She'd likely manage all right if she didn't go out again, but to be safe, she'd do whatever she could tomorrow to fill herself up.

The next day dawned and Araea gave an almighty stretch before making her way back through the woods towards the stream she fished the day before. Even if she didn't manage to catch anything today, she was still glad to be able to get out and take in the sounds of the birds and the feel of the cooling breeze.

She loved her woodland home more than any place she'd ever been before. She had few obnoxious neighbors; only the cantankerous badger couple that lived over the hill to the East and the crotchety woodchucks that lived beneath the old oak to the West. Other than them, all she had for neighbors were sweet rodents and happy birds.

There were a few sparrows singing a lovely tune as she made it to the stream. She took a few moments to listen to them before she refocused on the goal of the day. If there were still fish running, she'd like to catch some. The more calories she could pack in now, the more nourishment she could give her cub over winter and into early spring. She had no idea if the eating would be good on the other side of winter, so whatever she could do now would be a buffer in case it wasn't.

Again, her luck held. There were still salmon spawning in the stream. Not as many as the day before, but enough that she'd get a good meal out of them, provided she could catch them. Even as run down as the fish were here, they were still slippery buggers and often hard for her to catch. She was young still, and had much to learn. She knew she'd get there one day, but today was not that day.

For hours, she sat in the stream and caught as many fish as her slightly-clumsy paws could manage. It rather surprised her that not once was she interrupted by another bear, male or female. She knew with her size, if any male came around, she'd be best served to run off instead of get in a fight for territory. One day she might be a formidable sow, but not yet, as young as she was. This would be only her first breeding season, barely away from the lands of her mother. Once she'd reached several years of age, then she'd be a force to recon with.

The day ended much as the one before. She ambled back home as the sun began to set. She curled up in her den, wet and tired. From the feel of the air and the angle of the light at noon, it wouldn't be much longer before she stayed home. She was looking forward to the coming changes. Growing full with her cub, having a little life depending on her, defending her territory for any comers. It'd change the pace of her days for the better, she thought.

Just a few more weeks, maybe, and then her true new beginning would arrive. She'd sleep as long as her body would let her, and then she'd bring the most amazing life into the world. She succor her cub in the warm darkness of her den, giving her all to the tiny life she created. And once spring rolled around again, they'd emerge, ready to tackle a whole new world.

Araea yawned widely and closed her eyes. Not long now, not long at all, and her life would truly begin.