Naming
Denis and Katya fell asleep wondering about the old man. “Who is he? What is his name?”
They woke suddenly, to six blood-red eyes. “Shhh,” Denis warned. Katya couldn’t breathe. The wolves were poised to spring.
Then something huge and shaggy reared up, silhouetted by firelight. A fearsome growl shook the forest. The wolves scattered, terrified.
The creature re-entered its human form; the eyes gentled, the fierce mouth softened. The old man, the shape-shifter, looked down at his paws and laughed as they changed from wildly different to reassuringly normal.
“My name is Bear.”
Katya smiled, drifting back to sleep.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleHello everyone! This story is part of an ongoing series, which will be continuing. To read all the related stories, go to Search and type in “Katya”. Enjoy!
Wow ? This gets more interesting. The old man in Katya’s dream turns into a hero. Great story, Juma. I am excited for the continuation of your story, I can’t wait to read more.
Thanks so much, Lotchie. I hope you will enjoy all the Katya stories!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou’re welcome, Juma. I am sure that I will enjoy it. Thank you always for giving us a nice read.
And the story continues. Really interested to see where you’re going with this Juma; the introduction of a man who shape shifts into a bear is a very interesting turn of events.
Thanks for your comment, Carrie. Bear is, in fact, their teacher and mentor for the journey. It’s important to know that he can be fierce and protective – a huge growling beast that terrifies even wolves. Later, we’ll see another side of him.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleOoh, the intrigue. You have the art of teasing your readers ?
Your story just gets more intriguing with every segment Juma. And that is quite a skill so well done. I’m really enjoying reading it.
I am so glad you’re enjoying these stories, Linda. I didn’t set out to write a series like this, but now that it’s in progress, I’m enjoying the journey, along with Katya and Denis and now, Bear.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleAn Interesting story Juma, you have your work cut out there, so many possibilities.
You’re right, Eric. I think about these characters a lot and wonder what they will discover next. Thanks for reading!
Wow, Juma. I wasn’t sure until now whether the old man was friend or foe, but seems that he is their protector as well as some sort of guide. I always did like the idea of shape shifters. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleYou and me too, Julie. I have an overall plan for the shape of the journey, but don’t know specific details or stories. No doubt they will reveal themselves at the right time. Thanks for reading!
Great writing. It is a very mysterious piece.
Thank you Daisy. I’m so glad you took the time to read and comment.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleA great and different idea with these intriguing mini-chapters. Did you know that in Scandinavian languages, we have the male name for bear? It’s Björn (ö pronounced like the indefinite article “a”).
Wow, Christer, I love the Scandinavian bear name. Does the Bear have any particular significance in Scandinavian folklore or mythology? He is important in Native American lore, and represents authority, good medicine, courage, and strength. The bear is said to be a healer and protector. I thought he would be a good mentor for the journey.
I think the reason it became used as a man’s name was its strength and the fear it provoked. It was very popular during the Viking era, as well as the name Ulf (linguistically connected to wolf) and both are still common today. Probably, the native Americans put a much deeper and richer significance to the name.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleMy son’s cat is Bjørn. The Norse spelling I believe. He’s a big cream ginger Maine Coon.
How nice that you have a bear cat! I hope he wears the name with dignity. Explanation: In Denmark and Norway, the o with umlaut is written ø. In Sweden it’s written ö. Historically, there was a small e, written above or next to the o to indicate that the letter was different from the o. This little e developed in two different directions. Same thing happened to Swedish ä and Danish-Norwegian… Read more »
Their other cat is Loki, so they were continuing the Norse theme. It’s always interesting to see the differences in languages.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleSo now, I guess, you are awaiting for Odin or Thor to appear…