Chloe went about the kitchen trying to make breakfast. The weekends were often a more relaxing time for the adult, aside from the grading of papers here and there. However, this week was a reading assignment ahead of a midterm so there was time to relax. 

The smell of cooking meats and eggs filled the house as she could hear a faint growling coming from down the hall. Chloe chuckled to herself a bit as she plated the food on the table. Looking at the spread she looked at the empty seat across from hers. This plate had the required eggs, bacon, and toast. Along with some sausage and ham the plate was full with meat. Walking down the hall Chloe knocked gently on the door. 

“Ursa honey, breakfast is ready.” Chloe chimed waiting for a response. After a few seconds she knocked again, still no answer.Opening the door slightly the concerned mother peered into the room. Ursa’s bead sat on a boxspring in the far corner of the room, anytime they got her a bedframe it wound up shattered for one reason or another. Next to the bed sat her desk, her laptop sitting on it with a small stack of three books and half eaten take out to the side. Adorning the wall several anime posters were taped as a dart board. In the remaining corner sat a small pile of bear plushies, mostly consisting of grizzlies, Polar bears, and pandas. 

Chloe walked into the room quietly, there was no reason to think she was still asleep, however she did tend to get testy. “Ursa, wake up it’s breakfast.” Chloe said shaking her daughter slightly, her head covered by the sheets still. Ursa responded in turn by growling slightly and rolling over. “Honeybear I know you’re awake. Come on I’m off for the day and i made you the whole pig. I’ll be waiting ok?” with that Chloe walked out of the room closing the door. 
-------------------

Ursa sighed quietly. Her hunger betraying her once again. As she tossed her sheets off the bed. She’d fix them later, or just bundle up in them later. Standing up the girl went to a mirror hanging by the back of her door. She looked over herself with half intent. Her night shirt was getting a bit small for her but she was having a hard time getting rid of it. Uncle PanPan was always getting her all this old anime stuff, going on about the classics. The shirt was no different. It was a sailor moon shirt with Sailor Mars on it. Panpan said she reminded him of her and figured it made sense. 
Well the poor man could barely talk to girls but could read Ursa like a book. Turning around a bit she could tell it was hugging her frame, her curves accentuated by the clingy fabric. Looking don the girl was glad to see her sleep boxers still on. Returning her focus to her head Ursa took not of her messy hair, the tricolor black,white, and brown and messily curling as it cascaded down her back. The birthmark on her cheek was still there, shaped like a cartoon bear. Poking it Ursa smiled into the mirror, her sharp teeth on full display. She’d brush them after breakfast, mom was waiting for her.

Going into the hallway the twenty sometihng padded down the wood floor. Steping into the kitcken where Chloe was already sipping her tea. The mother looked up and smiled at her daughter, Ursa trying to avert her gaze. “There's my Honey Bear! Now come on and join mom.” Ursa grummbled a bit as she sat down in her chair, her wide hips barely fitting. “So what’s new with you?”

“Ursa just stay inside.” Ursa said lacidasically, spearing a sausage while getting a slice of bacon and sliver of ham with it. “ Got chinease, read, watched some video Uncle Griz sent me.” 
Chloe hummed to herself in response. This had been the third day Ursa had stayed home. Granted she was still going to classes, she saw her on campus. That said beyond seeing her in the wild Ursa stayed mostly to herself. I’d been a decade or so since she found the child. One day on a visit to the bears she stumbled on the tween in the wild. She’d been living alone for god knows how long and was dirty. Getting her in the car was only the first of many difficulties in raising a wild child. English was not one of them, though rudimentary, the girl was capable of hp;ding conversation. Since then the former child prodigy turned young professor was her mother. 

“Ursa , do you think maybe you should go out more. There's that convention coming up soon.”
Ursa scarfed down the ham with gusto as she belched softly and locked back at her mother. “Ursa don’t- I don’t know mom. Uncle Panpan was busy that weekend”

“Well Maybe you could go without him?” CHloe postulated. Ursa started at her in confusion. Her eyes trying to read her mother. CHloe just kept herself composed, Ursa had never truly outgrown her wild origins. As such her eyes were like an animal who could discuss Naruto. “I’m just. Honey bear. I’m getting worried. Your in college and I don't see you with anyone. Not friends, not romantically. I’ve asked the faculty and none of them have seen you at office hours either.”

“I know the material mom, just cause i lived in the woods for ten years doesn’t mean I’m some dumb beast.” Ursa retorted, eating food as soon as she was done talking. If she ate quickly she could dash out of the room.  Chloe didn’t raise her for this long without catching on to her suppressed survival instincts so she scooped up the plate before she could finish. The young adult stared in confusion at her mother. 

“You know that’s not what I mean it’s just. Ursa, you’re a smart, fun girl and I just, I wanna see you happy.” Chloe put her hand over Ursa’s clenched fist. “ Just go out today, I’ll catch up with you later, just DO something.” CHloe gave Ursa a faint smile as the girl slumped in her seat sighing in defeat. Taking the plate back from her mother Ursa ate the remaining food slowly. “There we go. I’m going to run some errands. I’ll see you at noon for lunch ok?” Ursa nodded as her mother got up and put on her hoodie as she left. 

Ursa waited til the sounds of the car leaving could be heard before putting her plate in the dishwasher. Walking back into her room the girl picked up some fresh clothes, A sweater Uncle Ice made her and some torn jeans with some rainbow socks. Going to the bathroom she placed the clothes in a pile on the counter as she brushed her teeth. Looking in the mirror she gave a smile, her canines all clean. Which is difficult when most of your teeth are canines. Getting undressed the girl stepped into the shower. As the water cascaded down her Ursa look at her naked form. Looking at her hands, at her feet, the slight pudge of her gut. It all looked fine, but there was always something that felt off. Shaking her head she got out, drying herself off, she put her clothes on as she grabbed her backpack and went out.

-------------------------------------

Ursa looked out over the town. Her mother’s fondness for animals ment they lived close to the woods. While Ursa had no problem with this it did make getting around a chore. Chloe normally took the car leaving her to walk. Not that she minded, so long as she remembered not to sprint on all fours. Walking down the street Ursa gave a half try to looking for something to do. Her eyes focused in on a woman in her front lawn hacking away at a training dummy. She was a short one, with long orange hair tied into a bun, perched on top of which was a small bird. Ursa was drawn to the sounds of her training. She was so absorbed she didn’t even hear the woman stop. 

“You need something kid?” Ursa blinked as she realized the woman was staring at her. Resting on her sword as she locked eyes with her. “Never seen someone train before.”

“No, No I just, you look so strong. I was just-”

“Admiring the view. Heh. You wouldn’t be the first. Names Kelsey.” Kelsey extended her hand and Ursa took it. Shaking her hand Ursa was surprised to see how strong her grip was. “Wow you got some grip there kid. You work out?”

Ursa played with her hair abit. “N-No. urs- I just like to get out. Staying inside gets, boring.” Kelsey chuckled causing Ursa to return her attention to her.

“Oh sorry its just. Your hair. My wife does the same thing when she’s nervous. It’s  adorable. In fact….” Kelsey took the sword from the ground and pointed it toward the town. “You know where the library is?” Ursa nodded. “Good. Go there. She should be there now. As well a-” Kelsey paused. “You know. I think you’ll find her without too much trouble.”

“Your wife?”

“No.” The two stared at each other for a bit.

“ What if I don’t go?”

“You will, you know you want to.”

“Got me there. See you later. Maybe.” Ursa walked away from the woman, turning around to see if she was still watching her.
“YOUR TOO INVESTED!”

She was.

Heading towards the library she realized she didn't get a description of this woman, but if she could adapt to living with humans than she could find one woman. She found one before without even trying. Entering the library Ursa forgot how impressive this building was. Carpeting lined the floors as a wall sized window let the sun stream in. Walking up to the counter Ursa was greeted by the sight of a slender man with blue hair, his face teeming with a youthful energy. 

“Hey there! I’m Harvey and welcome to the library! What canI do for ya?”

“Well i’m-”

“Not sure where to start? Boy i Know what you mean. We got alot of books here and i mean alot. Why we even got this one in recently about-”

“Mr.?”

“Beaks”

“Mr.Beaks i’m looking for someone. Someone who works here. A strange lady said she was her wife.”

Harveys eyes lit up “Oh you mean Stacks!”

“Stacks?”

“Well that's what we call her, she’s been doing work here before it was legal.” Harvey leaned over. “Don’t tell her I said this but I hear it was some shady stuff.”

“Like what drugs.”

“Worse. Doing people's homework for money.”

“.... So you seen her.”

“Yes but I don’t know where she is and I can’t leave the counter. So your best bet is to hunt her down.”

“I can do that. I’m good at hunting.”

“Well I hope you got a permit.”

“I know I got it here.” Ursa said rummaging through her backpack.

“ Wow you come prepared. Well anyway I won’t keep you.” Ursa walked down one of the aisles of shelves as a faint “ ALSO DON’T ACTUALLY HUNT HER THATS ILLEGAL”  was shouted by the librarian. 

Walking through the aisles Ursa took not of how empty it was. It should have been obvious by the mans mannerisms before but she just chalked that up to eccentricity. Turning the corner she could see a few people reading alone. Getting distraught Ursa sat down in a desolate corner of the library. Wondering why she was even doing this until the faint smell of another person approached her.

“Oh. I didn’t know people knew how to get here.”

Looking up Ursa saw a thin girl holding a book. Her brownish skin complimented by her dark orange hair. The girl was staring at her with analytical eyes as Ursa sprung up.

“Oh sorry didn’t know you sat here. I just came to sit.”

“It’s fine, it's just no one comes back here so I find it quite”

“Yeah I can see that. Real comfy. Say what you got there.”
“A book.”

“Yeah but like what kind.”

“Look you seem like a nice girl but if i could just-”

“Wait. You know a librarian called Stacks?”

“Will you leave me alone if I say yes?”

“Gabbrielle What have I told you about the sarcasm?” a voice from behind them called out. TUrning around a meican woman with a flashlight headband was standing with her arms crossed.

“ Mom that wasn’t sarcasm.” The girl known as Gabbrielle said.

“ Look you just can’t go around talking like that. You're never gonna make any friends at this rate.”  Gabrielle started twirling her ponytail around her finger as the woman turned to Ursa. “I’m so sorry. Everyone calls me Stacks, I’m head librarian here.”

Ursa eyes lit up at this. “Your Kelsey's wife! She said I should come here and find you. Said something about how I stroked my hair and that you were adorable.”

“That sounds like Kels alright. Lemme guess, training on the front lawn again?” Ursa nodded as the librarian chuckled to herself and Gabrielle sighed and held her temples. “That’s the woman I Married alright.”

“Why does she even do that. It’s childish.”

“Oh really now ‘ oh knowledgeable Sage’?” Gabrielle’s face lit up.

“Mom not in front of her.”

“Tell you what you go hang out with this young lady as an apology and I wont tell her about the time you and Kels-”

“Alright, alright. Bear girl, come on.” with that the two left the library walking out into the town again. 

“So you’re a sage? That means you’re like super smart right? Is that why you hide away reading? So you can be smart?” Ursa kept inching towards the girl until their faces were up to each other. 

“ Why all the questions?”

“Cause Ursa think it cool…” Ursa murmured out staring at her feet.

“wait , your name… is Ursa? What happened to your grammar?”

“Urs- I get. Me wor- my speech gets more, broken when I get excited. I grew up in the forest.”

“Would explain the hair.”

“I like it long ok? As for the messy part, well you try finding a hair brush out there.”

“Fair enough. So how’d you end up here?”

“My mom found me.”

“In the woods?”

“Yes. she likes to study wildlife and she found me so…..” Ursa started playing with her hair.

“Wow Mother was right. You are like Mom when you do that.”

“Look it’s just, complicated ok?”

“I bet.” the two walked in silence for a bit. Ursa looking over at girl with intent. Gabrielle walked with an intent pace, holding herself with high regard. Her arms clutching the book tighlty to her chest as they walked. 

“So the Sage thing, what’s up with that.” Ursa asked.

“It’s, so you met my mother?” Ursa nodded. “Mom says she’s always been like this. So when they had me it was only a matter of time before she tried taking me on as an ‘apprentice’. Sure enough as soon as I could walk and talk Mother tried seeing what i’d  be. She tried everything. Swordplay, magic, archery. Besides maybe a bit of basic fighting none of it worked. DIdn’t help that I kept slinking away to read.”

“That from your mom?”

“Both actually. It’s how they met. So One day Mother found me reading and she thought I'd be a good sage. So since then I've been her back up.”  The two passed by a fountain, pausing in front of it. “ I mean it’s nice but, being an apprentice to an author isn’t very-”

“Wait hold up. Your mom’s Kelsey Bern? One of the greatest fantasy authors of our time?!?!” Ursa clutched Gabrielles’s shoulders as she shook the girl. “ Wait so that means-”

“My Mother is Kelsey Bern, and yes I inspired Celark the Sage. Don’t think that means you know me.” Gabrielle said as she took Ursa’s hands off. “My mother does take some liberties. Celark is brave, smart, well liked…..”

“Gabby, can I call you Gabby?” Gabby nodded. “Do you not have… friends?”

“You saw how I treated you before. Now assume I do that roughly six times a day. There are three hundred and sixty five so that means-”

“You’ve made a complete bitch of yourself two thousand one hundred and ninety times a year. Ninety six on leap years. This is of course assuming your being the worst on holidays.”

“Yes…. yes how did you?”

“I read. Mostly Manga and fiction but the pressure to graduate college early like mom was always there. So yes I noticed how much of a dingus you treated me and it’s fine.”

“It’s fine?”

“Yeah you know why?” Ursa took her under her arm. “Cause we’re gonna be friends. Ursa and Gabby!”

:DOn’t take this the wrong way but you don’t seem like someone who needs help getting friends.”

“That my new friend is exactly where you’re wrong. For you see, Ursa is horribly introverted.”

“Coulda fooled me.”

“Look let Ursa take you to mom. You see.”

“I don’t have a choice in this do I?” Ursa shook her head,her wild locks flowing side to side. “Alright, guess I deserve this.” Gabby’s next response was a yelp of surprise as the other girl took her hand and semi-dragged her along. Gabby took note of the girls strength, noting how her mother would have a field day if she ever found out. She also took note of how determined the girl was now, her once unsure actions now vanished as she single mindedly dragged her along. 

THe two soon found themselves in front of a burger place as Ursa brought them inside. Looking around Gabby noticed a young woman waving over to them. Ursa brought her over to the table. “Mom this is Gabby and she and Ursa are friends now!” Ursa said gently shoving Gabby into a seat.

“Yeah uh… hi. I’m her friend.” Gabby said to the woman. CHloe beamed at the two trying and failing to hide her joy.

“So good to meet you. I’m Chloe and you’ve met Ursa here. You two look so cute together, I’m getting ahead of myself. I'll get the food so you just sit here. Ok?” Chloe got up, tripping a bit as she went over to the counter. 

“She seems…. Eccentric….” Gabby said looking over at her new friend. Ursa still beaming like an idiot. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“You said we were friends.” Ursa said. Head resting in her hands, cheeks pressed against her palms. 

“Yeah, wouldn’t it be rude to say otherwise?”

“Not for you.”

“You’ve known me for an hour, why are you belittling me like that.”

“Someone needs to.” Ursa let out a coy smirk as Gabby turned away, mumbling obscenities. As she was trying to remember how to curse in spanish Chloe returned with the food and three began to eat. Gabby took note of how Ursa ate. Animalistic and ravenous, she was onto three burgers now.

“How do you feed her?” Gabby asked.

Chloe chuckled. “Job pays well.”

The meal continued on in silence until it was finished. Chloe said goodbye to the girls as she left, leaving the two alone. Alone at the table Gabby looked at Ursa.

“Well this was, something. I should however geet back to the library.”

“More sage work to do?”

“If you want to call it that.” Getting up Gabby took a few steps before turning around. “If you wanted to annoy me again, I am in the library often. Not saying you should but, Hypotheticall-”

“When Ursa say you Ursa’s friend. Ursa mean it.” 

Gabby blushed a bit as she played with her ponytail. “Yeah whatever. Later Bear girl.” Leaving Ursa alone at the table the wild child looked out the window out into the town. Maybe her mom was right, maybe she did need friends. Getting up Ursa went to the door. 

In a flash the door opened and she felt someone bump into her, with Ursa spinning around and landing on the floor coming soon after. Looking up Ursa saw a girl orange pigtails and an odd pair of glasses. She looked nervous as she picked Ursa up with as much ease as she tossed her down.

“Oh my god i’m so sorry its just I thought you were gonna attack me and nevermind I’m sorry please let me go.” The girl  sprinted away into the town as Ursa stared at her in confusion.

“For nervous girl, she strong.” Stepping out into the air Ursa looked back up at the library as she made a note to check her room for books. She had a feeling some of them were due, and while she was at it should probably check more out. After all, would be a shame if Gabby forgot about her.