Eritopia

A Chance Encounter

Back in the Circle, Not-Bear was far from following the other animals to the Inside. His decision to stay there, among the giant stones, was not taken lightly. The incident with the badger was a part of it; he represented the Rules and standards of the Elders. But it was more than that; he had never felt at home on the Inside.

He wanted answers. What was the Outside, and was it as horrible as the stories tell? What was his real name? The lack of food at the Occasion was another reason. Animals were used to hunger, and didn't squeal about it, but after all that dancing there was nothing to eat. No fruit, berries, nuts or even bugs. He bristled at the thought of it.

So, as the rain started and the mist descended, he seized his moment. He decided to run where no one would find him. After slipping away from Bear he dropped behind a standing stone on the further side of the Circle. A gap had formed between it and a toppled arch stone. He heard Bear crying out, a plaintive sound that almost moved him to give himself up. But the sense of injustice was too great. The cries become fainter, dying away as Bear moved out of the Circle, leaving Not-Bear alone in the mist and rain, sheltering under the massive bulk of the ancient stone.

His first thought as he sat in the gloom was a memory of the warmth and comfort of the Inside. He would be mock-fighting with other young animals until Bear got angry and told them to behave. Which they did for a while, but as youngsters do they would start fighting again, which made Bear more mad. Not-Bear pushed the thought away. It was no good looking back. Soon all the creatures would have left the clearing to journey back to the Inside. They wouldn't want to be out and about in the Forest when it got dark.

Not-Bear didn't relish that either, but he had no fear of the gloom. And the Forest was just trees growing closer together than on the Inside. They couldn't be any different to those he was used to.

'Who are you?' A voice behind him cracked like lightning. Not-Bear nearly jumped out of his fur.

'What are you doing here?' the voice demanded.

Not-Bear turned, heart pounding, to see a figure standing behind him. His courage returned as he saw it was neither large nor imposing. The stranger was dressed in a loose green robe, with a hood that kept his face in shadow.

'Don't be angry, I didn't mean to scare you.' The figure came closer. 'I only asked a simple question.'

'Two questions.'

'Well, yes, two questions, you're clever, aren't you?' The stranger was looking around the base of the stones. 'I thought you had all gone home. It's getting late, shouldn't you be with your friends?'

'I'm on my own,' Not-Bear said.

'Ah. A bit like myself.' He looked hard at Not-Bear. 'Well not quite like myself, but you know what I mean.'

'Are you from the Outside then?' Not Bear asked the stranger.

'An Outsider? No, but I'm an outsider nonetheless. Outside things. Different sense of the word. Yes, yes, I never thought of it that way before.'

He sounded pleased with himself. Not-Bear couldn't tell if he looked pleased as well, because the hood shrouded his face. A bag was slung over his shoulder and he pulled a strange thing behind him, a large box strapped to two poles. He stopped while he spoke, standing out in the rain while Not Bear sheltered under his stone. Then he began to move on into the Circle, dragging the contraption as he went. Not-Bear went after him and came up by his side.

'Are you still here?' the man said.

'I'm not going back,' Not-Bear replied.

'What!' exclaimed the stranger, slowing down again. 'You animals always go back.'