Black Bear
 
We were once again at the kiln site in Clayquote Sound. We: Henderson and I, were sitting around whittling away at sticks, when the sounds of a great commotion rose up from down by the ocean. The ravens were having a hay day; they had congregated in the trees down by the ocean, at the base of the creek and were excited about something. So I left Henderson sitting there, and followed the creek down. As I came to the beach, I just about ran into a bear about fifteen feet from me. I froze, and the bear bolted away. It only ran about ten feet before it stopped and faced me again.
“Hi there! Whatcha doin’ down here? Good to meet you!” I cooed, excitement taking over all sense of reasoning.
The bear started walking back towards me which instantly caused a fear to creep through me, bringing back with it my sensibilities. It took no time for the bear to become too close. I asked it to stop, for its proximity was making me uncomfortable. I backed away a bit, and I remembered the spirit bear... it was flipping rocks over, and was eating something underneath... what was it eating? I leaned over and flipped over a large rock; little crabs scurried for cover. Ha! Bears eat shore crabs! 
This black bear I was with stopped walking and just watched me. I flipped more rocks and pretended to eat the crabs. There was no way I was able to run, I had a very difficult climb back up the creek and this bear would follow, I could sense it. The sound of rocks grinding together arose from down the beach as the bear also flipped rocks and ate the little scurrying crabs. 
I decided it was a good time to inch my way back up the creek to the others, still working on the kiln. The bear saw my intent, and once again made it clear I was not leaving yet. It walked between me and the creek. I started flipping rocks again, and the bear walked down the rocky beach and into the ocean, where it swam around a ways. I waded in after the bear up to my knees. Was the bear trying to draw me in? I advanced up to my waist and laughed as the bear dove under the water, frolicking around with the bull kelp. 
I sat down, so the water was up to my neck, and then slipped onto my belly and drifted forward under the salty water. I flipped myself over and floated on my back, and listened to the sound of the banging rocks under the bear’s paws carry through the water. I was at peace; this moment was surely meant to be.
We both came out of the water at the same time; we were in close proximity, but were careful of each others space. I sat on a large rock as the black bear shook itself off. Water splattered every which way, staining the rocks around it with moisture. The only communication that I received from the bear was through body language; and his body language was so easily read I revelled in the simplicity. 
I had completely lost all fear, and just enjoyed the time we spent together. It was as close to a tea party between different species that could ever happen in this day. In my day, I have had tea with a bear. Crabs and saltwater tea. 
A song formed in my head, it was one I hardly knew the words to, but the tune was strong. It stuck in my head to this day; it became the official ‘theme song’ for that moment of time. As I looked up the lyrics on the Internet today, I found that as I read between the lines, I wondered how that bear knew Pink Floyd. Or even how I knew that particular song at the time...
The bear wandered off, and I went to follow. I followed it to the edge of the woods before it turned back, and told me that is was good that I listened to the Ravens. It was then I noticed the raven’s silence. I turned and looked at them sitting there in the trees, watching. They shifted their weight, in preparation of flight now that I noticed them. When I turned back towards the bear, it was gone. 
I climbed back up the creek, going over everything that had just happened, all the wonders and blessings. I also went over all the things that could have gone wrong, and figured sometimes I have to take that risk. 
I do not know if I would want my kids doing this kind of thing... at least not until they are more knowledgeable. Or is it that I fell into a childlike innocence, unhindered by preconceived notions? Any hoo, here’s the message I received... Thank you Pink Floyd for putting words in a black bears mouth.
 

Hey you, out there in the cold
Getting lonely, getting old
Can you feel me?
Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you feel me?
Hey you, don't help them to bury the light
Don't give in without a fight.

Hey you, out there on your own
Sitting naked by the phone
Would you touch me?
Hey you, with you ear against the wall
Waiting for someone to call out
Would you touch me?
Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home.

But it was only fantasy.
The wall was too high,
As you can see.
No matter how he tried,
He could not break free.
And the worms ate into his brain.

Hey you, standing in the road
Always doing what you're told,
Can you help me?
Hey you, out there beyond the wall,
Breaking bottles in the hall,
Can you help me?
Hey you, don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall.
 

Well, it is not as if the song really means anything significant at first glance, but often music and lyric form a life of their own to me and what I understood from this was that in the struggle to dwell in the civilization of man,

(Hey you, standing in the aisles
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you feel me? ) I could feel the presence of something real, something FREE...(Hey you, would you help me to carry the stone?
Open your heart, I'm coming home.) this suggests I carry the burden of the animal kingdom, their loss of land, the decimation of the environment, I help to carry the suffering in order I work to relieve the pain.  "open your heart, Im comming home"  This bear... is only one of many I have met, the whole species of bear being somewhat of a world into magic to me, as every time I come across one (in real life, yes) we somehow form some spiritual connection.  Same as spiders, I can communicate with them so easily, through visualizations and visions.  Telepathy as I can only perceive it.  And as bears do not have "words" nor spiders, they inspire something within me that speaks volumes for them.

Can you help me?
Hey you, don't tell me there's no hope at all
Together we stand, divided we fall.
 

Yes.  I will help, I will speak for these animals that appear in my life as they have come to me and asked.  (Dont tell me there is no hope at all)  I know there are others out there that can communicate with animals, and I hope that these people find a way of speaking out for them in a way they will not be hospitalized.  As I have in the past!!  HEE HEE oops...

Together we stand

Divided we fall.

So anyways, I have no fear of the beings lurking in the forest, as they are simply family, and most already know me