Moon cried helplessly, unable to mask the pain she was in.

Thistle was tending to her wounds.

"Oh, Moon. This is what i was afraid of. Why do you think I was holding you back? He's too strong for you right now!" Thistle didn't hide the anger in her voice.

"Thistle.. are you?"

Moon looked at Thistle. Tears streamed down Thistles face. Sadness and fear glazed the purple eyes of the older wolf.

"Thistle, I'm sorry."

Thistle closed her eyes. "I know.. I know... I.. I can't take it.. I can't bear the pain.. Of losing another one."

Moons eyes widened.

"I can't do it anymore, Moon. I can't take it. You are all I have left." Thistle lowered her head as tears made puddles at her paws.

"Thistle.. I'll be ok, right?"

Moon looked away when Thistle didn't answer.

Choking back sobs, Thistle whispered. "I don't know.. I don't know Moon."

Thistle nuzzled her head in Moons chest, finding comfort in the steady rising and falling as Moon breathed.

Moon cursed herself. "If only I hadn't been so reckless! Thistle! I'm so sorry!" Sobs shook Moons body.

Thistle looked at Moon, and Moon knew Thistle had already forgiven her.

The two drifted into a sleep.

Moon woke up as stars still danced around the sky.

The crickets were chirping in the grasses, and a cicada started its noisy call.

Something was wrong.

A shadow stretched across the clearing, pausing every now and then.

The thunder of paws felt like mini earthquakes. It was a shock how Thistle didnt get woken up by this.

Pain seared in Moon's stomach as she tried to get a better look.

She winced, but saw the creature that made the large shadow.

Fear bolted through Moon as she tried to wake Thistle up.

"Thistle!" Moon hissed quietly as she nudged her with her nose.

Thistle stirred and woke up with a start.

"What is it?" She mumbled, not sensing the danger.

"Theres a bear out there!" Moon exclaimed quietly.

"A bear? Let me check it out," Thistle padded out quietly.

The bear turned around, it's round eyes sparkling.

The bear didn't seem as hostile as Moon thought it was.

Its dark blue fur glistened in the moonlight, with freckles of white dotting

"It's only a baby, Moon" thistle walked around the huge bear.

Moon limped out of the den. "But it's so big! Wheres it's mother?"

"Bears are very big. Have you not seen one before?" Thistle sniffed the bear.

"No, i havent seen one before, but my parents used to talk about them." Moon cautiously stepped towards it, Its blue fur sparkling.

"But you're right Moon," Thistle spoke in a hushed voice. "We need to find it's mom. But mothers usually never let their babies out from their sight."

Moon shivered in the cold. "Does that mean..?"

"Yes, I think the mother might be dead. I will go look for the mother, you stay here and watch the cub." Thistle padded away leaving Moon and the bear cub alone.

"Hi big guy" Moon walked towards the bear. It was easily twice her size. Maybe three times her size. A single paw swipe from this beast could easily kill her.

It seemed passive however.

The bear turned its gaze towards Moon. "What's your name?"

The bear smiled goofily. "Ursa!"

Moon's eyes widened. She hadn't experience expected the bear to understand her question, let alone answer.

"That's a pretty name. What are you doing here?" Moon sat down beside the big oaf.

"I'm looking for food!" Ursa replied proudly.

"Where's your mother?" Moon looked up at the cub, but the cubs faced turned grim.

"She starved to death.." Ursa lowered his head.

"Oh I'm so sorry!" Moon buried her face in the bears fur hoping to comfort him.

"She tried so hard to give me enough food, she barely ate any herself.." Ursas voice grew quiet.

"I know how you feel. My parents died too." Moon looked up at Ursa sadly.

"Then who was the other wolf? She said you name was Moon, right?"

"The other wolf is Thistle. She took me in after i was starving and hurt. She's the kindest wolf in the world, and I love her a lot" Moon felt happiness surge through her.

"So she's like your mom now?" Ursa smiled.

Moon nodded as she heard a noise come from the grasses behind her.

A sad looking Thistle walked out. She walked past moon and buried her face in Ursa's fur.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."

Ursa looked back at the brown wolf and smiled. "No, it's ok. It was a few days ago. I should have told you before you left."

Thistle looked up surprised.

"His name is Ursa," Moon told Thistle.

"Oh, Thistle, if it's not too much to ask, can you be my mom too?" Ursa pleaded with Thistle and she looked taken a back.

"What do you mean?" Thistle looked up at the bear.

"Moon said you were like a mom to her, so can you be my mom too?"

Thistle smiled and her eyes lit up. "Absolutely, you can stay with us. I'll take care of you"

Ursa smiled and jumped to his large paws. "Yay!" Ursa was visibly very happy.

"It's time to sleep right now, is there enough room for him in the cave?"

Moon opened her mouth to reply when Ursa answered.

"No, Its ok. I can sleep outside until tomorrow. I can build myself a cave in the morning!"

"Well," Thistle said. "That works for me." Thistle leaned into Ursa and gave his arm a lick. "See you in the morning."

Thistle bounded to the den and moon limped back herself.

She felt safer with Ursa around.

Moon drifted to sleep.