Every day life.

Ekaterina sat back on her heels in the water, Patch stroking the soles of her hind feet.

“I can feel everything now, everything!” Ekaterina sobbed.

“I know,” Patch replied, “Lovely isn’t it.” Ekaterina curled her toes, her pads bunching beneath her mate’s touch, Patch pressing the ball of her right foot, Ekaterina gasping with pleasure and excitement.

“This is amazing!” She gasped.

“Bare feet are wonderful things,” Patch replied smiling, counting her toes.

“They are wonderful indeed,” Ekaterina replied slightly breathlessly.

“Your pads will become wrinkled very shortly,” Patch replied.

“If I curl my toes tightly, I can help them along the way,” Ekaterina replied laughing slightly.

“You are the most beautiful creature on four paws,” Patch said. Ekaterina whimpered with pleasure as Patch drew his paws down the wrinkled soles of her feet and counted her toes, gently uncurling them, then stroking her somewhat smoothed soles. Ekaterina wriggled with pleasure, loving her mate’s touch.

“I could stay here forever,” Ekaterina sighed, getting out of the bathtub, Patch following her, stroking her hind feet, both bears crawling to the shower room.

“Thank goodness for the lower infrared sensors for the use of cubs,” Ekaterina said as they were soaked by the shower, “it means we can keep in touch while we shower.” Patch laughed and kept stroking her feet, Ekaterina pressing her foot into Patch’s paws, Patch lying on his chest behind her, his paws cradling and stroking each of her feet in turn from heels to toes, Ekaterina leaning forward, her weight on her paws, enjoying how having her foot cradled in Patch’s paws thrilled her. Patch blocked the flow of water over the sole of Ekaterina’s right foot with his paw, the water backing up in his cupped paw, rising up the pads on the sole of Ekaterina’s foot, Patch letting the water go, the water gushing over Ekaterina’s toes, the she bear curling her toes, the water flicking off them and splashing onto the tiles, Patch watching it, then repeating his actions, Ekaterina shivering with pleasure as she and her mate played with the water and with her foot, the sensations making her happy but tearful.

“This is true play!” She said, “I love it!” Patch grinned broadly.

“I love playing with you Ekaterina,” Patch replied laughing...

“Foot and paw play is wonderful Patch,” Ekaterina replied dreamily. Patch washed Ekaterina from ears to feet, the she bear almost purring with pleasure.

“Can you teach me solo foot play as well as group play?” Ekaterina asked.

“I will,” Patch replied smiling, “I’ll help you by demonstrating what you could do. You could lock your toes together; press your heels together too. then we could press heels and toes together also, then play silly bicycle games, pedalling with our feet in a pedalling motion, left right, left right, really fast, until our feet slip. .I will show you how. Silly games, then there’s a sea saw game, where we each push each other’s feet both feet together, bending each other’s legs back and fourth, back and fourth. Very silly games.” Ekaterina shook with laughter at Patch’s descriptions of the games.

“I would love to play those games,” Ekaterina said, her eyes sparkling.

“If we really get into them, your pads will become damp, and we will have to shower all over again,” Patch said.

“I’m all for that too,” Ekaterina giggled.

“Your new feet are very good playthings,” Patch replied.

“I think I will enjoy this new play,” Ekaterina replied smiling.

“I know I will,” Patch replied, “I’m looking forward to teaching the games I last taught Jess years ago. She and I learnt how to play with our paws and feet.” Ekaterina said:

“Patch, would you do something for me?”

“What?” Patch asked.

“Teach me like you would a cub?”

“You mean show you by repeating the games over and over?” Patch asked smiling.

“Yes, please,” Ekaterina replied.

“I’ll get into a position, and then you can touch me, and try to copy me,” Patch replied. Ekaterina washed Patch, exploring him from his ears to his feet, taking care to keep the soap out of his eyes and mouth.

“You can really make a bear feel loved,” Patch said as Ekaterina worked her paws over his hind feet, his toes curling tightly.

“I love this,” Patch said, stretching under the showers.

“I’m looking forward to playing the bicycle game,” Ekaterina mused, drawing circles on the pads of Patch’s right foot, Patch’s toes curled slightly, his pads bunched, Ekaterina loving the feel of his pads beneath hers.

“Now let’s get dry, and then we can touch heels to heels, toes to toes, and see what happens,” Ekaterina said, “I want this so much Patch!”

“I’ll show you your paws and feet Ekaterina,” Patch said smiling, leaning forward and kissing her nose.

“I’ll start with you sitting down and touching your feet with your paws, exploring your pads and toes,” Patch said, “I’ll ask you to do things with your paws and feet like spread the digits of all four paws, then curl them, then explore with your paws to find out what your feet do when you curl your toes.” Ekaterina, wildly excited, embraced Patch tightly.

“I want to know how to do all that,” she whispered, “Patch, show me everything!” Patch helped Ekaterina to the drying room, then gently helped her to dry her feet and paws, Ekaterina lying on her back, lifting her paws to warm air, then letting Patch lift her feet up one by one to dry her pads and toes in warm air, Ekaterina squirming with pleasure, curling and stretching her toes with bliss as Patch moved her foot through the warm air dryer. Patch knelt in front of Ekaterina to work on her feet.

“This is amazing!” Ekaterina gasped, “I love this, I love this! I more than love this!!” Ekaterina curled her toes tightly, Patch gently rubbing the ball of her right foot to encourage her to uncurl them, Ekaterina gasping with emotion.

“My toes want to curl, they want to curl!” She roared, “I can’t control my toes, I don’t’ want to control my toes! I want to make my pads bunch forever!” Patch stroked Ekaterina’s bunched pads, Ekaterina whimpering with emotion.

“I think I will explode with this!” Ekaterina panted, Patch laughing merrily.

“You won’t explode my love,” he replied, “but I haven’t even started yet. This is just exploration, gentle exploration of my working area, of the place you allow me to work on.”

“Work on my whole body!” Ekaterina roared, “But take your time over my paws and feet mostly, if you want me to uncurl my toes, you’ll have to work harder than you are to overcome my wish to curl them!” Patch kissed the heel of Ekaterina’s right foot, which he held in his paws, Ekaterina’s toes relaxing completely, Ekaterina squealing with surprise.

“Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” she yelped, Patch laughing merrily and kissing the heel of her left foot, the toes on Ekaterina’s left foot uncurling as swiftly as those on her right had, the she bear pedalling the air with both feet, Patch holding her right leg in his paws, letting it move through his grip, kissing her toes as she pushed her foot forward, then blowing on her heels as she withdrew her foot, Patch rocking with her, his knees protected by a pad. Ekaterina, feeling what he was doing, could not stop laughing. Patch alternated his attentions; first her right foot got kissed and tickled by his breath, then her left, while Ekaterina pedalled the air with her feet, lying comfortably on her back, finding Patch’s attentions irresistible.

“My feet love your attentions!” Ekaterina yelled, “Indeed, I am too!” Patch replied by blowing on the toes of her left foot, Ekaterina squealing with cubbish joy at his play.

“I love this so much!” Ekaterina whimpered, “Patch, you know how to send me to the edge and pull me back again so you don’t exhaust me. This is so dam good!” Ekaterina roared lustily as Patch cradling the heel of her left foot in his right paw, reached with his left and gently folded down the toes of her left foot one by one. Once he’d folded down all five, Ekaterina curled them tightly, Patch rubbing the ball of her foot, then running his paw down the sole of her foot, down the bunched pads from curled toes to her heel, Ekaterina roaring and wriggling with pleasure.

“Patch, don’t stop this, don’t stop this yet, please!” She begged.

“I won’t stop it until you want me to,” Patch replied, “I love every second of this myself.”

“I hope my antics are visually stimulating too,” Ekaterina said.

“You’re so cute Ekaterina, cute from your ears to your paws,” Patch replied, “your hind feet are beautiful too, all naked black pads from toes to heels now.”

“Are they looking cubbish when I’m kicking?” Ekaterina asked. Patch blew on the toes of Ekaterina’s right foot and replied:

“Yes love, they are, they are cute, and good to play with.” Ekaterina giggled and shook her left leg free of Patch’s paws, drawing her feet up and grabbing them with her paws, finding they fitted into her paws most comfortably.

“That’s cute too,” Patch said, kissing the digits of Ekaterina’s left forepaw which held so tightly onto the pads of her left foot.

“I love this!” Ekaterina exclaimed.

“I do too,” Patch replied, “it’s great to make you happy by playing with your paws and feet.” Ekaterina wriggled with delight, Patch watching her with smiling eyes, drinking her in from head to feet, seeing the vulnerable cub he’d once known and embraced, and the strong she bear he’d grown to love as a mate.

“You’re lovely from your ears to your feet Ekaterina,” Patch replied after a pause. Then he got paws on with her, touching her head, then crawling round her as he explored her face, Ekaterina closing her eyes and shivering with pleasure, her teeth clenching, paws gripping, and toes curling with intense emotions.

Ooooooooaoh,” Ekaterina gasped, “my paws are holding my feet even tighter!” Ekaterina panted when she could speak, “my teeth clenched then too!”

“Your eyes closed also,” Patch said smiling.

“Explore me from ears to feet Patch; I’ll hold my feet with my paws as long as it takes you to explore me!”

“As long as you are comfortable,” Patch replied gently. Ekaterina breathed deeply as his paws explored her belly.

“Yes, I’m, I’m fine, more than fine!” Ekaterina panted, “Got to hold on to my feet though! My paws are slipping a bit though, I’m too excited!”

“Contain it a bit,” Patch advised, “for you’ll want some strength to free your feet in a bit.”

“I’ll push with my feet against my paws and free my feet!” Ekaterina replied, breathing deeply through her nose as Patch ran his paws down her arms to her gripping paws, Ekaterina taking a fresh hold of her feet with her paws as her excitement increased, whimpering, she wriggled and rocked a bit as Patch touched the furry tops of her paws, then the toes which curled hard as she fought to contain her emotions.

“Oooah Patch, oooaoaoaoaoaoaomph,” Ekaterina moaned, trying not to lose control, cementing everything in her mind, enjoying his love making.

“I love that,” Patch whispered, “Ekaterina,” he said, “I love your face, paws, feet, body, and legs.” He touched her right hind leg, then crawled round in front of her gripping paws and restrained feet with curled toes, kissing the digits of both Ekaterina’s paws, and then the toes of her hind feet as he crawled, Ekaterina crying with pleasure.

“Patch,” Ekaterina sniffed as he touched her right leg, then kissed her nose, “I’m so happy here, so very happy!”

“I know,” Patch replied, “it pours from you. Now my love, break free of your paws and sit up. Ekaterina braced her feet against her paws, her leg muscles bulging as she fought the grip of her paws on the soles of her feet.

“Eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh, aoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaouch!” Ekaterina groaned as she pushed at her paws with both her feet. Bracing her feet against her paws, Ekaterina struggled against her own strength, Patch’s eyes shining as he watched her play. Her leg muscles tensing, her arms straining, her paws scrabbling at her feet, she fought her internal fight.

“Come on Ekaterina!” Patch encouraged, Ekaterina whimpering:

“I’m trying, but my paws, strong paws, can’t push hard enough with feet, must, must push with my feet!” She elongated the word feet into a moan of effort, Patch feeling his toes curling with excitement and arousal at her play. Suddenly, with a roar of effort, she forced her feet through her paws, her feet kicking out at the air, pedalling at the air with desperately gripping toes, her paws flying up in the air, Ekaterina waving all four paws in the air, Patch laughing merrily at her antics.

“That was lovely Ekaterina,” Patch said, “now catch your breath, and then sit up.”

“Maybe my feet will stick better now they’re a bit warm,” Ekaterina replied, sitting up, Patch helping her, touching her back with his paw.

“Now, now Patch,” Ekaterina gasped, “What do I do now? I need your guidance!”

“Rest for a minute, brace your heels into the floor and rest,” Patch replied smiling.

“It’s warm in here,” Ekaterina replied, “I’ll have to shower again, but, but, what fun this play has been! I have loved every minute Patch!” Patch smiled broadly:

“I have too,” Patch replied, “but it won’t end here, if you don’t want it too.”

“I want to learn how to stick my feet together, how to lock my toes together, and how to stick my heels together too! Then I want to fight to free my heels, then my toes! I want it now, right now!”

“I’ll show you,” Patch replied, “I will also show you how to play silly games too.” Ekaterina wriggled with anticipation, Patch watching her from the front, seeing her bare hind feet, her toes curling with anticipation, her paws clenching, and eyes shining.

“You look so sweet Ekaterina,” Patch said.

“I’m hot, have damp pads, drenched fur, and am exhausted, but want more of this,” Ekaterina panted, “we came here to get dry after our shower, and now this happens! But, but, it was lovely!” She added.

“it was,” Patch said, giving her his paw, Ekaterina laughing as she felt his damp pads.”

“You were very aroused weren’t you,” Ekaterina said. Patch smiled and kissed her nose:

“I was,” he replied, “I love touching your body with my paws, and if I sit in front of you, I could touch your feet with mine too.” Ekaterina pulled him down onto the floor, sitting him down by arranging his body, and then she sat in front of him, pressing her feet against his, Patch’s toes curling round hers with strength, his heels pressing against hers with warm slightly rough pads. Ekaterina pushed against his feet with hers, then she found herself lifting her feet into the air, Patch’s legs bending as he kept touch with her hind feet and his. Then they both lay on their backs, their hind feet touching.

“Now show me those games Patch!” Ekaterina demanded cubbishly. Patch smiled and explained the bicycle game.

“Now our feet are pressed together, we try and pedal our feet in the air without losing touch, it’s flexi legs and feet time.”

“How do I pedal the air with my feet Patch?” Ekaterina asked.

“let your feet feel mine,” Patch replied, cycling with his feet, Ekaterina’s own feet following his example, her pads sticking to Patch’s enough to give her the idea, then she was pedalling enthusiastically with her feet, and the two bears feet cycled faster and faster, until Patch’s right foot slipped, Ekaterina laughing helplessly:

“Your foot slipped, it slipped!” She cheered. Patch smiled broadly and drew the toes of his right foot down the sole of Ekaterina’s left, making her squeal with surprise and tightly curl her toes.

“You rogue!” She giggled.

“If my foot hadn’t slipped, I couldn’t have tickled your foot with my toes,” Patch said, “and your reaction was so sweet too!”

“My toes curled! You tickled my foot!” She laughed, “I loved that Patch.”

“I think our cycling game is at an end,” Patch replied, “but we could continue it.

“Then maybe my foot will slip, and I can tickle the sole of your foot too?” Ekaterina asked.

“You could do it now,” Patch replied, “come on Ekaterina, find my foot with yours, and try tickling my pads with your toes.” Ekaterina did, drawing the toes of her left foot down the sole of Patch’s right. She touched toes, ball and sole before she was done, and Patch’s reaction was more than she could hope for. he yelped, withdrawing his right foot, and, bending his legs inwards towards his body, slapped his paws over the sole of that foot, squeezing his toes, rubbing his pads with the digits of both his paws, digging into the soft skin of ball, sole and heel, while giggling, and wriggling madly, his toes flexing, curling tightly and relaxing, Ekaterina sitting up and exploring the rocking, wriggling bear’s legs and then his paws holding his left foot, Patch rocking back and fourth, and a little side to side, grunting and giggling, his paws massaging, his toes flexing and curling, as if he was unable to stop the tickling in his pads. Ekaterina explored all this, loving how her mate could act so well.

“Did I really tickle your foot that much?” Ekaterina asked. Patch gasped:

“Yes, yes you did!” He laughed, “And I loved it. I love massaging my own feet, and you gave me a reason to. Now I must get the tickling out of these pads, but I can’t! Can you help?” Ekaterina held out her paws and Patch thrust his right foot into them, pressing his foot desperately into her grip, Ekaterina rubbing his curled toes, the ball and bunched sole, then his heel, Patch sighing with pleasure and relief as his toes relaxed.

“Thank you Ekaterina,” he gasped, as Ekaterina explored his now relaxed foot. She touched the sensitive mid sole of Patch’s foot, and Patch whimpered as his toes curled tightly once more.

Ooooamph,” he grunted, “my toes! They’re curling again! Tightly too!” He grabbed the toes of his left foot in his paws and tried to forcibly uncurl them, but couldn’t do so. Ekaterina, feeling her mate wriggling and hearing him whimpering, stroked the pads of his free right foot.

“Thanks,” Patch said, as his right foot got the message and relaxed its toes.

“That was so cute,” Ekaterina said, Patch giggling like a cub and catching the digits of her right paw in the toes of his own right foot.

“I loved that,” Patch said, “the struggle to get the tickle out of my pads, and how only your touch could soothe my ticklish foot.”

“How did it feel for you to have your foot tickled?” Ekaterina asked. Patch knew what she wanted, and showed her the sensations he’d felt. Ekaterina’s reaction was instant, grunting, huffing and squealing; she grabbed her right foot in her paws and began to rub it with the digits of both paws. bouncing about on her backside, and wriggling from side to side as Patch had, Ekaterina went mad, roaring and grunting while digging into the furrowed pads of her right foot, her toes curled tightly, the digits of her left paw digging into her pads to soothe her ticklish foot.

“I can’t stop it tickling Patch!” Ekaterina laughed, rubbing at her pads with her paw.

“I’ll help,” Patch said, taking her right foot in his paws, Ekaterina’s sigh of pleasure audible.

“The tickling is going from my foot!” She squealed.

“That’s what I felt when you took my foot in your paws,” Patch replied, Ekaterina giggling with pleasure.

“I felt the need to continue the story of the tickling pads, even when I’d soothed them,” she admitted, “I liked continuing the story, scrabbling at the sole of my foot with my paws, it felt great! We’re a good team,” she said, Patch laughed, kissing her nose and paws.

“Now we have to wash again,” Patch said, leading his mate to the shower, where they washed thoroughly but quickly. Stepping out of the shower, Ekaterina realised her feet made a sucking sound on the tiles. Giggling, she padded about, listening to her feet on the tiles.

“This is lovely,” she said, “being able to hear my feet on the tiles for the first time are great.”

“I like your new paws and feet,” Patch said, “I must congratulate you on your choice to go bare footed.” Ekaterina laughed merrily and kissed his nose.”

“Exploring your paws while you rubbed the sole and toes of your right foot were a real privilege,” Ekaterina said, “I know now why you were so insistent on that. I really had tickled your foot!”

“yes,” Patch replied, “it felt wonderful to let it get out of control, then for you to take my foot in your paws and soothe it.”

“I loved every minute of our play,” Ekaterina said.

“How do you think I felt about it?” Patch asked.

“Your pads were damp,” Ekaterina replied, “damper than just the warmth of the room would have made them, as we turned off the warm air. I think you were aroused by our play.”

“You could say that,” Patch agreed, kissing Ekaterina’s ear.

“I was more overt with my expressions of pleasure,” Ekaterina replied, “Um, Patch, was I too vocal?” Patch gently tugged at Ekaterina’s ear with his teeth, then replied:

“No, you were restrained I thought. The messages from your paws and feet were hinting that you might lose control completely.” Ekaterina sighed with contentment.

“I knew I mustn’t do that,” she replied, “or I would forget everything.”

“Your face, feet and paws told me a great deal,” Patch replied, “the cycling game we played made us both go silly, then my foot slipped and I tickled your pads with my toes, then you tickled my pads and toes, and we both grabbed our feet with our paws, and helped each other out by soothing each other’s feet embracing them with each other’s paws.”

“I wonder if anyone saw us.” Ekaterina asked.

“Um, yeah, I think they did,” Patch replied. “We’ll see what games the cubs play in the next few days, we’ll see if there are bicycle games and cubs tickling each other’s feet with their toes.”

“They imitate what they see,” Ekaterina replied, “that’s so cute. Of course,” she paused, turning her head away, her toes curling into the tiles, “I couldn’t imitate what I saw, and back then, and now, I had and have now to rely on others to help me play. Conrad, then, then mama Kamchatka, then you Patch. Play was hard for me, still is, for I have no idea of what play is, how others play. I’m struggling to learn, struggling to let go, struggling to let my paws and feet do what they are meant to do.”

“You’re doing okay Ekaterina,” Patch replied smiling, “that time in the drying room was lovely you know, really lovely.”

“I loved your touch,” Ekaterina said.

“And I yours, as you know Ekaterina,” Patch replied kissing her nose.

“Will you two stop it?” Sita said, laughing merrily, “making love in the passage! Whatever next?”

“Do you know what Ekaterina’s touch has done to my right foot?” Patch asked Sita.

“No,” Sita replied, “I didn’t hear the audio.”

“I drew my toes down his foot after a cycling game got out of control, and it tickled Patch’s foot so much that he couldn’t stop the tickling. I had to get paws on with his foot to help him,” Ekaterina replied.

“”What is this bicycle game?” Sita asked, “I might use it with the cubs.”

“I’ll play it with you Sita,” Patch replied, “after all; it’s the kind of game a sire would play with his cub.”

“I think I’d like that,” Sita replied, “that is, if this game can make me feel like a cub again.”

“It will!” Ekaterina replied, laughter in her voice. Sita bounced on her toes with excitement at the thought of playing with her sire.

“Sita,” Ekaterina said, “I have something to show you, four things to show you.” Sita padded to Ekaterina, who rolled onto her back and presented her with her paws and feet. Sita explored each one of Ekaterina’s feet and paws in turn, her excitement growing.

“You have naked soles Ekaterina!” Sita exclaimed, “They are tender padded, sensitive too!”

“I know, I know!” Ekaterina laughed, “You’re tickling my pads and toes right now!” Sita breathed on Ekaterina’s pads, the she bear kicking with her hind feet.

“Your paws and feet are lovely Ekaterina!” Sita said.

“I love them,” Ekaterina said smiling.

“So do I,” Patch replied smiling.

“So drying paws and feet turned into a session of love making?” Sita asked.

“Yes,” Ekaterina replied, rolling onto her chest, then sitting down, thinking better of it, and getting to her feet and dancing about on her toes.

“Ekaterina doesn’t know where to put herself, stupid bear!” Apudo laughed, padding round the corner and scowling at the she bear. Sita turned, leapt upon Apudo, bore her to the floor and spanked her with her open paw.

“Ow Sita, ow!” Apudo squealed.

“How dare you mock Ekaterina?” Sita yelled.

“She looked silly!” Apudo roared.

“She’s enjoying herself, leave her alone!” Sita screamed.

“Patch,” Ekaterina said, “I think I need to play again, like we did earlier, please? Foot and paw play? Please?” Patch led Ekaterina away, the she bear shaking with suppressed urges to play. Patch led her to the soft play room, then through that to the adult play room, where they found Figaro and Anernerk playing with each other’s paws and feet.

“Hi you two,” Patch said, smiling at Anernerk who was in the midst of counting the toes on Figaro’s right foot. Figaro started, but Anernerk caressed his foot in her paws:

“They don’t mind this,” she said, “its encouraged here.”

“Carry on,” Patch replied, “Figaro, don’t mind us.”

“It’s lovely this,” Figaro said, “Anernerk knows how to play with my hind feet. She showed me how to clasp my toes together too, and how to stick my heels together. We’ve played the stuck foot game and the cycling game too. So many things you can do with just your paws and feet, things I never dreamt of, and they’re all so good! Best of all, the cubs are taught the games, and allowed to play them into adulthood too. I love that.”

“Yes, so do we,” Ekaterina laughed. Patch grinned.

“We saw that,” Anernerk admitted, blushing under her fur, “we saw your play Patch, Ekaterina.”

“Good,” Ekaterina replied, “I’m glad you saw that.”

“You were both so sweet to each other,” Figaro said, “I hope that, well,” he stopped.

“That you can be as sweet to Anernerk as Patch was to me?” Ekaterina asked. Figaro looked down at his toes, which were curling tightly with emotions, those of his right foot holding the digits of Anernerk’s left paw in a fierce grip.

“Love her in your own way,” Patch replied, “use touch, sight, and play. Words are just hot air, so get paws on with Anernerk’s paws and feet, and her ears and belly too. There were some tips in my play with Ekaterina that you might want to follow.”

“The places you touched her?” Figaro asked, “Her belly, her paws, her feet?”

“Yes,” Ekaterina replied laughing, “those places.” Anernerk hid her face in case it gave too much away.

“Look up Anernerk,” Patch said, “look up and tell Figaro what you would like him to do for you.” Anernerk looked up bravely into Figaro’s face.

“Would you play with my hind feet? Stroke my pads?” She asked, “Then, then, when I’m holding my feet in my paws, would you make me grip them harder in my paws and push with my feet against my paws like Ekaterina did?” Figaro smiled and nodded.

“I’ll try,” he said, “You know how to make my toes curl Anernerk.”

“And you know how to make my feet painless too,” Anernerk replied, “so I can hold them in my paws and grip hard, and curl my toes and love the sensations.”

“What do you think of my paws and feet Anernerk?” Figaro asked.

“They’re cute,” she replied, “so different to mine, I have flat boring paws and feet, yours are well padded and very young for your size, a half grown cub’s feet and paws.”

“You’re younger than me,” Figaro said, “but your feet are huge! I pity your mama when you were born, having to push those big hind feet out.”

“They weren’t as large then, but yes, I think they did get stuck,” Anernerk said, “mama had to push extra hard to deliver them.”

“Do you really think my paws and feet are young?” Figaro asked. Anernerk grinned:

“Yes they are! Ekaterina, come here please, and get paws on with Figaro’s feet, tell me if they are a cub’s feet will you?” Ekaterina had never touched Figaro’s hind feet before this. Sitting down opposite him, she felt him place his foot in her paws. Ekaterina explored his pads and toes, Figaro curling his toes with pleasure, his pads bunching. Figaro had a c shaped pad beneath five tight toes, a compact foot it was, a cub’s foot.

“Your foot is a cub’s, a large cub’s,” Ekaterina said, “your pads are soft, your toes curling easily, it’s rather cute.” Figaro laughed.

“Your touch makes me want to curl my toes!” Figaro laughed.

“I know, that’s cute too, I can feel you have curled your toes, and your pads have bunched cutely also.” Figaro squirmed with pleasure as Ekaterina stroked his pads.

“You are too good with those paws!” Figaro laughed.

“Ekaterina’s very good with her paws,” Patch said. Figaro grinned at him.

“Your paws and feet are interesting Figaro,” Anernerk said, “a lot more interesting than mine that is.”

“Stop it Anernerk,” Figaro replied, “your paws and feet are lovely, and so is your fur, and your face and everything.” Anernerk grinned broadly.

“I do play with my feet,” she said, “that feel great you know. My pads bunching, toes curling then stretch my toes with stretching pads.”

“I’ve seen you at it, you do play with your toes so cutely,” Figaro said, Anernerk laughing and hugging him.

“You’re good at playing with your toes too,” she said, nuzzling his ear.

“Your soft pads contrast with your tightly woven fur on the tops of your feet so nicely Figaro,” Ekaterina said, Figaro laughing merrily.

“Can I take your feet in my paws Ekaterina?” He asked. For answer Ekaterina grabbed his paws in hers, lifted her right foot, placed his paws beneath her heel, and then relaxed.

“I think that’s a yes,” Anernerk said. Figaro explored Ekaterina’s right foot, from her toes, with short claws, to her naked sole pad.

“Cute foot this,” Figaro mused, “and I know you can feel everywhere I touch too.” He drew circles on Ekaterina’s heel, Ekaterina smiling, then Figaro blew on her toes, Ekaterina laughing helplessly as his breath tickled her.

“You rogue!” She laughed, curling her toes.

“Your feet are cute,” Figaro said, Ekaterina playfully wiggling her toes.

“I love this play,” Ekaterina said.

Sooleawa, back at her foot and paw washing station, washed Yamka’s feet and paws with gentle care, before exploring her pads and toes with infinite care, using a magnifying glass, exploring each toe, then the ball of her foot, then her heel, repeating this for Yamka’s other foot, then exploring her paws in a similar manner.

“Now I must keep your paws and feet like this,” Sooleawa said, “they are clean and in good condition.”

“I like you playing with my feet mama,” Yamka said, curling her tiny toes, Sooleawa’s own toes curling with emotion as she remembered delivering her cub into the world.

“I’m washing your paws and feet,” Sooleawa said, “but I suppose that can lead to playing with them too.”

“It can, and does,” Sally said, walking in and washing her feet and hands.

“You play with Jenny don’t you?” Sooleawa asked.

“Yes our feet stick very easily,” Sally said, “We are of a similar age, and play in a very similar way.”

“Did you describe my labour to jenny?” Sooleawa asked. Sally laughed:

“I did more than that,” she replied, “I re-enacted it.” Sooleawa smiled.

“I’ll bet you roared like you did when you gave birth to Kuaizi?” Sooleawa asked.

“I did,” Sally replied, “but I curled my toes as tightly as you did.”

“Can I check your pads for thorns?” Sooleawa asked. Sally thrust her right foot into Sooleawa’s paws, Sooleawa counting her toes and then tracing the ball, sole and heel of her foot, Sally wriggling with pleasure and tightly curling her toes.

“You have cubbish feet,” Sooleawa said, “but I know you aren’t a cub, well not a very young one.”

“We humans don’t grow up as fast as you bears do,” Sally said, “but my feet are small, though they’re larger than my brother’s at the moment, though his will probably grow to be larger than mine. At the moment I can grab his toes with mine.” Sooleawa smiled.

“If you press pad to pad with me, could you grab my toes with yours?” She asked. Sally sat down with Sooleawa, while Yamka got paws on with their play. Sooleawa’s feet pressed against Sally’s, Sally finding her toes were just about able to curl around Sooleawa’s, her heels pressing the she bear’s, Sooleawa pressing back hard.

“Bicycle race?” Sally asked. Sooleawa smiled and they lay down on their backs to cycle. Yamka laughed as she touched Sally and her mum’s feet as they pedalled their feet, Sooleawa’s right foot slipping, her toes slipping down the sole of Sally’s left foot, Sally laughing helplessly as Sooleawa’s toes tickled her foot.

“That is so cute! Yamka laughed. The cub grabbed Sally’s tickled left foot and massaged her pads and toes, Sally pressing her foot into the cub’s paws and curling her toes to hold onto the cub’s massaging paws.

“That’s lovely, thanks,” she said, “you rubbing my foot feels great.” Yamka smiled and embraced Sally’s foot in her paws.

Koda padded through the woods, walking through the trees. Crossing a track, he stopped, listening. The sound and more strongly, the smell of two bears coming down the track attracted Koda. Scaling the nearest tall tree, Koda hid himself in the branches, hardly giving a thought to the fact he’d never scrambled up a tree before. Watching the track from fifteen feet above it, he saw a mother black bear and her cub stop beneath his tree, the mother bear sit down, and the cub scramble into her lap and begin nursing. The cub seemed to be about a year old, and completely absorbed in feeding. The mother bear, now relaxed, sat back, resting her back against the tree, looking around her, and down at her cub from time to time, her paws cradling the young bear. Koda thought they looked contented enough.

“I can smell something mama,” the cub suddenly said. Koda, fearful now, clung to his branch.

“What?” The mama bear asked, “I can smell other bears here, but it is said they live here in numbers we can’t imagine.”

“We’re being watched mama,” the cub said, waving a paw towards the branches of the tree where Koda sat.

“There’s a bear in that twee mama!” The cub yelled, waving frantically with one paw.

“He’s swinging his feet!” The cub laughed, “he’s sitting in the twee swinging his feet! Now he’s wiggling his toes at me mamma!” The mama bear looked up, saw Koda swinging his hind feet and got to her own feet.

“Come down now!” She roared. Koda slid down the trunk and sat down on the ground. He closed his eyes, and playing to the cub, stuck his tongue out while playing with the toes of his right foot in both paws, the cub shrieking with laughter and clapping her own paws.

“Are you stupid?” The mama bear snapped, clearly frightened.

“Um, no,” Koda replied, dropping his right foot and rubbing his ears with both paws, yawning in a relaxed manner.

“He’s not fwightened of you mama,” the cub said, “I’d give up if I were you, he’s welaxed.”

“Well I am!” She snarled, “What was he doing in that tree spying on us!”

“I like climbing trees and was there before you came along the track and settled to feed your cub mama,” Koda said, only slightly exaggerating his liking for climbing trees.

“I won’t hurt you mama, or you little one,” Koda said gently.

“You don’t look like you would hawm us,” the cub said.

“How can you tell?” Her mother yelled, “I told you the tale of the velveteen iron paw!”

“I know that tale,” her cub replied, “but this bear’s paws, and his feet too, seem velvet.”

“I’m not sure,” the she bear huffed, but Koda saw she was relaxing, despite her misgivings. Getting to his feet, he padded towards her cub, and with more courage than the mama bear had ever seen in her life, her cub met Koda half way across the clear space between them.

“Hello young one,” Koda said, kissing the cub’s nose, then kneeling, kissing her paws too.

“You softy,” the cub giggled.

“I mean you and your mama no harm,” Koda said.

“I knew that when you sat under the twee playing with your toes!” The cub laughed, “That was so cute!”

“My name’s Koda,” Koda said, “what’s yours?”

“My mama’s name is Aga, my name is Puwdy, my mama named me that after she found me in the woods, I was lost, and she’d lost her cub, he’d been killed on the woads you see.” Throughout all this, Aga was making furious, “don’t say anything” signals to her cub, who ignored her and ploughed on regardless.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Koda said, Purdy thinking his sorrow genuine, “I live in the big house, that one through the trees. You can come to the house if you like, for a while at least.”

“Ah Koda,” Sita said, padding through the trees and up to the male bear.

“What on earth is that?” Aga asked.

“Her name’s Sita,” Koda said, “she’s a dear friend of mine.”

“Does she live in your den too?” Aga asked.

“I do, and please,” Sita replied, “I’m not a, I’m a being as you are, please, treat me as such.” Aga stared at Sita, and Purdy, padding up to her for a closer look, nearly stepped on her huge paws.

“Careful small one,” Sita said, Purdy feeling the cat bear’s whiskers tickling her ear, then a small kiss on her nose, “don’t step on my paws.”

“Sowwy,” Purdy replied, “I kind of like you, you seem kind and gentle.”

“I try to be,” Sita mewed.

“You smell very well fed,” Aga said, “both of you smell very well fed.”

“We are,” Sita replied, “we want for nothing where we live, something I am very grateful for, as it enables us to think about other things, softer things, like love and play and such.”

“Now how if you two come to our home?” Koda asked.

“Who is your leader?” Aga asked.

“He is Patch, a grey bear with gentle eyes and paws,” Koda said.

“Patch?” Aga asked, her eyes inward looking, as if she was searching her mind for a memory of someone years back in her past, “Patch? A grey bear, interested in the birth of my cub he was, but that was ages ago, it’s not the same bear, it can’t be the same bear. He said he lost his brother, and wanted to know why his brother was left to die.” Koda stared at Aga, his mouth wide with shock.

“That’s the same bear,” Sita mewed, “Patch is here; he is not how you remember him though, for he, um, transformed himself.”

“He would be accepted into the heavenly paws of a higher power,” Aga said, “he was so lovely, so gentle. His mother, also named Aga, for it was a common name in our parts, taken when we became mothers to at least one cub, told me she thought her son cub would go far. Very far.” “

He has gone far,” a voice said from the woodlands. Aga spun round, nearly tripping over her own paws. She saw a huge grey bear standing on all four feet in the woods, his eyes shining into hers.

“You were the mama who I kept asking about the birth of your cub,” Patch said, while Aga, uncurling her toes from the forest floor, where they’d taken hold, ran to him, knocked him off his feet, rolled him over and pinned him under her paws, then began a snuffling, whimpering, urgent exploration of his body from nose to tail, as if Patch were her own cub.

“Steady on mama!” Koda snapped, but Patch, laughing, let Aga get on with her exploration, trying to get both paws and feet into the act like a cub would. Aga, laughing, kissed Patch’s paws and the pads of his hind feet, smelling his scent, and the earth on his pads.

“You are the same Patch, you are the same Patch!” Aga wept, “Did you find your brother? Did you do what you promised your brother?”

“I did,” Patch replied, “and a tale it is to tell. Now lovely Aga, let me rub the tickle out of my pads, and then you and your cub can come to our house.” Patch sat up and grabbed his right foot in his paws, playing with his toes and rubbing his pads.

“I’m so glad to see you again,” Aga said, Patch shaking soil from his coat.

“Yeah, I noticed that,” he replied smiling.

“Who is this big bear mama?” Purdy asked.

“he’s, um, the cub of a next door neighbour years ago,” Aga replied, her voice shaking with emotion, “he’s, he’s a friend to me, when I was in labour with my first cub.”

“But your first cub wan off,” Purdy said, “you called him Moonshadow; he was a black bear cub wasn’t he?”

“He was, he was killed on the road.” Aga whimpered.

“No he wasn’t,” Patch replied, “he’s here, he looks just like you mama, “now, now, come home with me, and you can meet your granddaughter too.” Aga stared at Patch.

“You mean, mean Moonshadow mated with another?” She asked.

“Yes he did, and now you have a beautiful Grandcub,” Patch replied laughing.

“My head aches,” Aga mumbled, “I’m overwhelmed by all this!” Patch rested his paw on Aga’s forehead, the she bear smiling at him.

“You’re stressed my dear,” Patch said, “come to our home and we’ll see if we can’t soothe your nerves.” Aga and Purdy followed Koda and Patch to the house, where they met Sooleawa and Yamka. Yamka crawled to Patch and he hugged her tightly, Sooleawa looking Aga and Purdy up and down.

“You two look dirty,” she said to them.”

“We feel dirty when looking at you and others,” Aga said.

“I’ll wash your feet and paws and maybe Patch and others will help you bathe properly,” Sooleawa said.

“Sooleawa,” Patch said, “maybe a little tact might be in order here?” Sooleawa stared at her paws.

“Now Sooleawa will wash your paws and feet Aga and Purdy,” Patch said, “or if she’s too embarrassed to do it, I will.” Sooleawa wriggled uncomfortably as Patch washed Purdy’s paws and feet, then those of her mother Aga.

Once they were clean, Patch got Aga and Purdy food. It was then Moonshadow bustled in, after being told of Aga’s arrival.

“My cub!” Aga squealed, running to Moonshadow and embracing him, much to his annoyance.

“Mum, get off!” He roared.

“But I thought you were dead!” Aga sobbed.

“No I’m not, and I’ve mated with Sooleawa, and she’s delivered a cub, and I’m here!” Moonshadow roared.

“You are worse than a little cub in your mind,” Aga snarled, cuffing him.

“Ow mama ow!” Moonshadow howled.

“Now get out!” Aga snapped, pushing Moonshadow away, “now I know why you ran off, you ran off to be a miserable bear!” Moonshadow ran away from Aga, Purdy watching him with concern...

“He is angwy!” She whimpered.

“He is,” Aga sighed, “he ran off, and didn’t come back after I’d reprimanded him for chasing the ducks on a local pond. That was years ago!”

“Now he’s here, Kuruk found him in the woodlands.” Sooleawa snorted, “Bloody Moonshadow!”

“You mean you don’t like the sire of your cub?” Aga asked.

“He’s a bullying oaf!” Sooleawa snapped.

“I agree, and he’s my cub,” Aga replied, looking distressed.

“he tried to tell me how to live my life once he’d, um, mated with me,” Sooleawa whimpered, “thank eohippus he wasn’t at Yamka’s birth.”

“Yamka is a lovely name, Aga replied, looking down at the cub in Patch’s paws.

“You’re cute,” Aga said to Yamka, who waved her paws and feet at her.

“I’m glad you managed to deliver your cub safely Sooleawa,” Aga said, the silver coated she bear smiling broadly.

“I was so scared Aga,” Sooleawa confided.

“I would have loved to have seen the birth of my Grandcub,” Aga said wistfully.

“You can see it,” Sooleawa replied, “we videoed it. I’ll show you it.” Aga sat down on the side of the pool, her feet in the water, Sooleawa starting up the video. Three hours later, Aga watched her granddaughter come into the world, the real cub cradled in her paws, Aga giving her a huge hug.

“You really pushed, you really struggled,” Aga said, “well done Sooleawa.”

“That bed helped,” Sooleawa said. Aga inspected Yamka from nose to feet with her paws, Yamka squirming and giggling delightedly throughout.

“I love your touch!” She laughed, Aga looking down at the cub’s grey silver flecked fur.

“You are beautiful,” Aga said, placing a gentle paw on Yamka’s belly and rubbing it, making the cub belch.

“Oops, sorry,” Yamka said, Sooleawa smiling down at her cub.

“Now can this day get any better?” Sooleawa said, “Koda goes into the woods and finds my cub’s grandmamma and her aunt.”

“We just sat down for a west, and Koda waved his paws and feet at us fwom the bwanches of a twee!” Purdy replied. Koda smiled behind his paw. Then he repeated what she’d said.

“We just sat down for a west, and Koda waved his paws and feet at us fwom the bwanches of a twee!” he mimicked, How cute is that!” Purdy, huffing, launched herself at Koda, screaming at him.

“Don’t take the Mick out of my speech!” She squealed, whacking him with her paw. Koda held her tightly, and then held her away from him, looking into her face, his touch soothing Purdy’s anger.

“It’s cute Purdy, I like your speech,” he said. Purdy looked Koda up and down, then she sat down and touched hind feet with him, Koda’s toes pressing against hers, his heel pads pressing warmly also.

“Why do you speak like you do?” Koda asked, “you are old enough to pronounce words properly Purdy. Purdy shook her head, covering her mouth with her paw.

“What happened to you my dear?” Koda asked. Purdy’s eyes filled with tears.

“My teeth, my fwont ones, were wemoved by humans,” she whispered, “they wanted to make sure I didn’t bite them. They thwow me out when I stopped being a cute cub, when I got too big!”

“Oh Purdy,” Koda said, pulling her onto his lap and hugging her. Purdy snuggled up to Koda, the black bear kissing the top of her head and holding her close.

“You are so sweet to me,” Purdy said. Koda rubbed her back with his paw, Purdy’s toes curling with emotion.

“Can you crawl little one?” Koda asked. Purdy, craving reassurance, looked to Koda for help.

“How do I cwawl?” She asked. Koda kissed her nose and got down on all fours, showing her. Purdy got eyes and paws on, exploring Koda as he crawled. Aga, trying not to laugh, stuffed her paw in her mouth.

“He’s so good to her,” Sooleawa remarked. Koda then got paws on with Purdy, helping her to crawl. As he ran his paws down her right hind leg to her foot, then over her heel to her pads and toes, he tickled her pads, Purdy squealing with laughter and curling her toes.

“That weally tickles!” Purdy squealed. Koda, his eyes shining, tickled her left foot for good measure, Purdy rolling onto her back and kicking the air with her hind feet. Aga, unable to stop herself laughing, let herself go completely, tears rolling down her face.

“My toes are weally weally ticklish!” Purdy yelled. Koda crawled to her side and placed his paw gently on her belly, Purdy holding his paw with hers.

“You are playful Koda,” Purdy said, her eyes shining.

“Yes,” Koda replied, “is it wrong to be so at my age?” Purdy looked up into his face, her eyes pleading with him.

“No,” she said, sounding like the cub she was, “I like it. Please, will you play with me some more?” Koda smiled, removed his paw from beneath Purdy’s and when she lifted her paws, pads upwards, blew on her pads, Purdy giggling with delight. Purdy rolled onto her belly, got to all fours, then crawled away, right leg and arm,, then left leg and arm, then she cross crawled, moving opposing arms and legs. Koda gently blew on Purdy’s toes as she crawled, Purdy screaming with laughter.

“I love that!” Purdy said. Koda tickled her toes some more with his breath, then he gently kissed them.

“You have been sorely treated little one,” he said softly. Purdy stopped and looked back at him.

“You know about my toes too?” She asked.

“You have had your claws removed sweetheart,” Koda replied softly. Purdy looked down at her clawless paws.

“They used to huwt a lot,” she replied, now though, now I can’t climb twees or anything like that, my toes won’t let me do it!”

“I am very sorry for it,” Koda replied, looking down at his own well clawed paws, “though, if I am to help you to play, I need to feel the world as you do. How if I cut my claws short?” he asked, seeing her look of horror, “as short as they’ll go without causing pain,” he added, “I know Ekaterina does the same, as she’s unable to see her surroundings, she keeps her claws short so they don’t get in the way of her toes.”

“They took my claws, the humans did, so I wouldn’t be able to scwatch them,” Purdy said miserably, her lisp making her sound even more upset than she was.

“I, I can see that,” Koda choked, tears filling his eyes. Purdy turned and gently wiped away Koda’s tears with her paw, Koda embracing her tightly.

“I’m sorry,” Koda sniffed, “it’s just so awful.”

“Don’t pull out your claws for me Koda,” Purdy said, “I know why you want to do so though, and it makes me want to cwy with thanks for your understanding.”

“I need to be able to grip with my toes, not my claws before I can help you,” Koda said hoarsely, “I’ll cut my claws and then clamber about on the soft playthings, the apparatus, then I can feel with my toes rather than my claws which get in the way. My claws will grow again,” he said, as Purdy’s fearful expression returned. Koda gently sat Purdy down, and one by one, examined all four of her paws, first her fore, then her hind. Purdy looked fearful, waiting for the disgust she was sure would come. Koda showed no disgust, just a deep sorrow. He lifted each paw and foot in turn, looked at it, and then kissed the pads and toes, Purdy trying not to cry.

“You have beautiful paws and feet Purdy,” Koda said, Purdy feeling her toes curl and fists bunch with excitement.

“You weally mean that don’t you,” she said.

“Yes Purdy I do,” Koda replied.

“I know you do,” Purdy said, relaxing, “I like you Koda, you’re weally nice to me.” Koda looked at Purdy with gentle concern.

“I like you as I find you,” he said, “yes,” he added, when he saw her questioning eyes, “clawless paws and feet, and missing teeth and all,” he added, “I wish these things had not happened to you, but as they have, they are what make you now.”

“I’m vewy young, about a year and a half old,” Purdy replied, “I’m not old at all, my pads are soft, too soft for me to walk much, though I twy to walk as best I can.”

“You are beautiful from nose to toes,” Koda said, “now, now, let me get my claws shortened, and we can find a twee, sorry, tree, to sit in.” Purdy laughed.

“You don’t speak like me!” She said, playfully cuffing him.

“I’m sorry,” Koda replied contritely.

“That’s all wight,” Purdy replied, her eyes sparkling, “you don’t mean it to harm me. I can feel that.”

“I shouldn’t though,” Koda replied, “it’s unfair.”

“It’s funny!” Purdy said.

“No it’s not, I’m ashamed to make light of it,” Koda replied.

“I will only let you speak like me,” Purdy whispered to him, “if anyone else does it, I will get weally weally angwy!” Koda hugged Purdy tightly.

“Do you weally mean that?” He whispered, Purdy shrieking with laughter.

“Yes I Weally do, now stop it, stop it, it’s huwting me Koda, you’re making me laugh so much!”

“Oh sowwy,” Koda said, Purdy burying her face in his shoulder, her whole body shaking with mirth.

“But Koda’s taking the piss out of my cub!” Aga screamed.

“He’s not doing anything of the sort,” Patch replied, “he’s making her feel included, blunting his claws and imitating her speech patterns. He’ll stop it in time, but right now, what Purdy needs is someone who does his best to understand her. Koda can, he will do his best to make her feel comfortable. He will try and make things easier by helping to accept her limitations. He can show her what she can do with her paws and feet. Her laughter is genuine, but she’s not laughing at Koda, nor him at her. She is relieved someone understands her predicament, no matter how he does it.”

“But Koda is not clawless or toothless!” Aga screamed, “It’s like making yourself blind to help another who is so.”

“I know what that is like,” Patch replied, “It’s a long tale, but I know what it is like, and I try to help my mate as much as I can with my experiences.”

“You were once unable to see anything?” Aga asked.

“Yeah,” Patch replied, “I use my sight now to aid others, but I once was how Ekaterina is always. Would you accuse me of using my empathy in order to be harmful to another?” Aga stared at Patch.

“So Koda is trying to force his paws and feet into Purdy’s, his voice into hers too, so he knows how it feels, as much as he can?” She asked.

“Yes he is,” Patch replied, “if he could pull off his own paws and feet and slip on a set like Purdy’s, he would do it for her.”

“Don’t give him ideas,” Sooleawa said laughing, “he’ll be begging you to help him like you did Ekaterina.”

“That might not be a bad thing to do,” Patch replied.

“What are they talking about Koda?” Purdy asked.

“Purdy,” Koda replied, his voice cracking, “I really want to help you, to feel what you do, through your paws and feet I mean. I think, think, Patch might be making that possible for me. He can do these things you see, I don’t know how he does it, but, but he can do these things.”

“You told me not to change how I am, so why are you changing for me?” Purdy asked, “I know you want to help me, and I am vewy thankful, but will you be able to go back to how you are now? I don’t want you not to be able to climb twees for instance, for if you can’t climb twees, I won’t be able to say Koda is up the twee again.” Koda giggled.

“I’ll be able to climb twees, and so will you Puwdy,” he said, “we will do it with our toes, we will make ladders and climb with our clawless feet and paws. I always wanted velveteen paws and feet anyway.”

“You make me want to cwy again,” Purdy replied laughing, “you big softy Koda.”

“Now I might need your help to get my paws and feet out of my socks and gloves,” Koda said.

“You need to roll the gloves and socks off yourself Koda,” Patch said, “but Purdy can help by massaging your paws and feet afterwards, for they’ll be a little too tender to play with at first.” Koda felt his leg with his paws, finding the join he expected. Rolling it down and over his heel, he rolled it up his foot and to his toes, where he pulled the whole sock off, feeling his claws go with the sock, as if they’d been part of it, and not of him. Repeating this for his other foot, and then his paws, Koda felt his feet and paws tingling, a sensation that was uncomfortable, but Purdy, sensing this, took each paw and foot in her paws and soothed them by exploring his new paws and feet.”

“Now be gentle with your paws and feet Koda,” Patch said. Purdy, exploring Koda’s right paw, noticed his opposable thumb.

“You have diffwent paws to me,” she said, “they can move diffwently to mine, they’re like human paws, and I know human paws.”

“They are,” Koda replied, “I was close to humans too, they engineered me, and put me in a mama bear to be born. I came out with human like opposable thumbs on both my paws, though my feet are like yours.”

“I like these paws,” Purdy replied, “they’re cute paws, vewy nice paws, soothing paws, paws which make a little cub vewy happy.” Koda smiled his heart swelling with love for Purdy.

“Now will you get paws on with my feet Purdy?” Koda asked, they are quite painful.” Purdy did, and Koda curled his toes around hers, making her smile.

“You can play with your feet as well as your paws,” she said, “that are lovely that is.” Koda squeezed the digits of her right paw with the toes of his left foot, Purdy playfully tugging at her paw.

“You have stwong toes!” She giggled, Koda letting go of her paw and touching her nose with his.

“And you have ticklish toes Purdy,” he said gently.

“I like you tickling my toes,” Purdy said, “it felt gweat!” Koda hugged Purdy tenderly, the yearling cub kissing his nose and snuggling close.

“She likes him,” Aga said unnecessarily.

“Koda is good at this sort of thing, if only he knew it,” Patch replied. Koda helped Purdy to her feet, then guided her to the soft play room, where they sat down opposite each other, heel pad to heel pad, toes to toes, Koda’s toes curling comfortingly around Purdy’s, Purdy pressing her toes into the ball of his foot, his pads soft and warm beneath hers.

“I am forgetting myself,” Koda said, “are you hungry dear Purdy? Thirsty? Can I get anything for you?” Purdy looked at Koda.

“You pwobably won’t have what I weally want to eat,” she said, “It’s a human food I ate once. I know fwom stowies that humans live here, but they are good humans who don’t interfere with your lives. I would weally love some fish and chips, sowwy and all, but that is what I weally loved in my old home. Bear food just didn’t do it for me like fish and chips do.” Koda smiled.

“I think we could find that,” he said.

“I was taught how to use human cutlery too,” Purdy said ashamedly, “I know that isn’t a bear thing to do, and I’m sowwy and all, but that was how it was for me.” Poor Purdy looked so scared that Koda let go of her hind feet, crawled to her and hugged her tightly.

“We don’t mind what your previous life was,” he said softly, Purdy burying her face in his warm sweet smelling fur.

“I’m not a pwoper bear, not weally a pwoper bear,” Purdy sobbed, “I twied to be a pwoper bear for mama Aga, for she saved me, but I am not a pwoper bear.”

“You’re lovely and I love you and so does Aga,” Koda said, rubbing Purdy’s back with his paw, “now dear sweet Purdy, don’t speak like that again, about being a proper bear I mean. You are who you are, and you are lovely as you are.” Purdy wiped her eyes with her paws, and Koda kissed her nose.

“Where do we sleep?” Purdy asked.

“You could sleep in my lie up with me and my mate and cub,” Koda replied, “We’ve got room enough.”

“But your mate won’t like me coming into your home and sleeping there,” Purdy said.

“They are watching you now, watching both of us,” Koda said, “We have cameras here, they can see us, and hear us too.”

“Did they see us earlier, when I cwawled like a cub?” Purdy asked.

“They did, and they probably saw everything before and after,” Koda replied, “Purdy, there is nothing to worry about, you’re safe here.”

“No she’s not!” Wihakayda yelled, barrelling into the room, “she’s a snivelling disgusting creature who can’t speak properly and is filthy! You aught to be ashamed of yourself Koda!”

“Um, actually Wihakayda my daughter cub, I’m not feeling shame at the moment, just anger and rising fury towards you. You know nothing, so just leave us alone, take your hatred of what you don’t’ know somewhere else. Purdy doesn’t need your baggage, and I haven’t the energy to deal with your attitude. I tried to bring you up properly, to show you diversity, to show you that there were others who had different situations to us, but you seem to have learnt little.”

“She’s filthy, with no teeth or claws!” Wihakayda squealed, “And you have adopted her clawless feet and paws too!”

“I need to help her as I helped you play,” Koda said. “Now Wihakayda, please, leave us in peace, and don’t play with that bloody vacuum!”

“I know what a vacuum cleaner is,” Purdy said, “the humans I lived with had one, “they would switch it on and Wace it backwards and forwards over the carpets, it was a howwid noise! I got my paws sucked by the thing too once, and that was howwible too!”

“So did I,” Sita said, padding into the room. Purdy ran to Sita and hugged her, Sita holding the cub close.

“You know the noisy sucking thing too?” Purdy asked.

“I do,” Sita replied, “and it sucked on my pads too, I’m frightened of it.” Purdy buried her face in Sita’s fur.

“My humans used to chase me with it for fun Sita!” She wept. Sita growled in her throat, Purdy looking at her, seeing the cat bear’s eyes blazing with anger.

“You’re not angwy with me are you?” Purdy asked, suddenly terrified.

“No little one,” Sita mewed, “I know how it is to be terrorised by that thing that is all.”

“Who’s that?” Ekaterina asked. Koda went to his sister and hugged her.

“I found Purdy and her mama in the woods,” he said, “she’s getting used to things here now, well Purdy is.”

“Can I meet her?” Ekaterina asked. Purdy crept up to the mama polar bear and touched her shoulder with her paw.

“Hello little one,” Ekaterina said, turning her head at the scent of the young cub.

“What’s your name?” Purdy asked Ekaterina. Ekaterina sat down and beckoned to Purdy.

“My name’s Ekaterina,” Ekaterina said, “what’s yours little one?”

“My name’s Puwdy,” Purdy said, Ekaterina smiling gently.

“Don’t you mean Purdy?” She asked. Purdy huffed and smacked Ekaterina in frustration.

“That’s what I said, Puwdy! That’s my name you silly bear Ekatewina!” She roared.

“Ekatewina,” Ekaterina said smiling, “that’s so cute! Though I think you aught to be pronouncing things a bit clearer now little Purdy.”

“I do twy, but I can’t pwonounce things like you can,” Purdy hesitated, Ekaterina feeling she’d touched on a sore nerve.

“The humans I lived with once, they wemoved my fwont teeth so I couldn’t bite them,” Purdy said sadly. Ekaterina immediately felt dreadful.

“Purdy, I’m sorry,” she said softly, “please, come here will you?” Purdy padded to Ekaterina and scrambled untidily into her lap, Ekaterina embracing her. Purdy let Ekaterina handle her paws, Ekaterina exploring them gently.

“You have no claws!” Ekaterina whispered, feeling Purdy shaking with emotion.

“The humans took them too,” Purdy whispered. Ekaterina felt a rush of grief which choked her.

“Oh no, oh dear!” She sniffed, “how could they do that too?” Purdy hugged Ekaterina, Ekaterina embracing her tightly in her paws.

“Is my brother looking after you little one?” Ekaterina asked. Purdy looked up, her nose bumping Ekaterina’s, as Ekaterina had lowered her head.

“He’s lovely to me,” Purdy replied, “he’s so playful, so sweet, and so undewstanding too!” Ekaterina rubbed the top of Purdy’s head with her paw.

“Did the humans take the claws from your hind feet too?” Ekaterina asked. Purdy gave her her right foot, then her left.

”yes they did,” Purdy replied. Ekaterina explored Purdy’s feet with care, thinking of her own shortened claws.

“I keep my claws short Purdy,” she confessed.

“I know you do,” Purdy said, “but Koda said you can’t see where you’re putting your paws, so you need to keep them showt. I don’t think you should have long claws.” “ But you have no claws at all!” Ekaterina said.

“Koda is helping me get used to that,” Purdy replied, “he’s taken his claws off too, Patch helped him do that.”

“He helped me have naked pads so I could feel my surroundings,” Ekaterina said, “I think he might have kept my claws shorter than they could have been too. They haven’t grown like they used to since he changed the soles of my feet.” Purdy scrambled off Ekaterina’s lap and grabbed each of Ekaterina’s feet in her paws, exploring her toes, then the rest of her foot.

“Cute feet,” was her verdict, Ekaterina laughing merrily.

“I can’t believe the humans would declaw and detooth a bear cub!” Ekaterina raged.

“Well they did, I lost my teeth and claws,” Purdy replied. Flock’s cub padded into the room, also named Perdy, she’d heard of the newcomer, and wanted to put something straight with her.

“My name’s Perdita, not Perdy, okay?” She said straight off, Purdy looking startled.

“Um, I don’t know you,” the young cub said, “Who are you?”

“I have the same name as you, but I like the full version, not the truncated version! My name is Perdita, okay?” Purdy looked upset:

“Ok, your name is Puwdita,” she almost whispered.

“Not Puwdita, Perdita you idiotic bruin!” Perdita screamed, cuffing Purdy.”

“That’s what I said, Puwdita,” Purdy replied, Perdita almost dancing with rage. Screaming, she spelt her name, slapping the ground with her paw as she enunciated each letter, and ran syllables together. “Per, di, ta! Now say it properly!” Perdita screamed.

“Puwdita,” Purdy said, Perdita losing her temper completely and lashing out at the younger bear.

“Ow, Puwdita that hurt!” Purdy yelled.

“My name is Perdita, not Puwdy, or Puwdita, or however you say it, you uncultured fleabag!” Purdy began to cry, her whole body shaking.

“Get out Perdita,” Ekaterina hissed, lashing out at the jeering older bear. Perdita dodged her paw, only for Sita’s paw to land smack across her ear, the cat bear having crept up on silent feet.

“Ow Sita, bitch!” Perdita screamed, rubbing her ear with her paw.

“Now leave,” Sita snarled, “you’ve made your point!” Perdita padded away, spitting at Purdy as she passed her.

“You are a disgrace!” Ekaterina yelled.

“What is going on?” Purdy asked.

“Nothing’s going on, it’s all in her head, she’s a bitter and twisted bear is Perdita,” Sita growled.

“She didn’t like the way I talk,” Purdy wailed, “I can’t help that? I didn’t wemoved my teeth or my claws!”

“Now let’s go back to play, forget Perdita, she doesn’t matter to you or I playing,” Koda said. Purdy crawled over to Koda, and he embraced her tightly.

“Now come, come and play,” Koda said.

“But I’m hungry; can I have some of those fish and chips now?” Purdy asked. Koda rang for food. Padding to the dining room in Patch’s lie up, Purdy and Koda settled down as Kendal entered with hot food and drink. Kendal smiled at Purdy as he served the food, Perdy watching him.

“The fish smells so good!” Purdy said as Kendal set the plate down in front of her.

“I guess you, like Koda, use cutlery,” he said, handing Purdy a knife and fork. Purdy set to with enjoyment, loving the fish, and also the sauce Kendal had made for it. Koda, not liking the sauce, shook vinegar on his chips and ate the fish plain.

“You two are friends?” Kendal asked, sitting down nearby.

“Yes,” Purdy remarked, placing her knife and fork down to speak to Kendal, “we are, well, Koda swot of hugged me, and we made fwiends that way. He tickled my toes and pads, and,” she stopped, unable to put into words how she felt. Koda looked at her, and guessed her meaning.

“We sort of met paw to paw, and understood each other,” he replied.

“Then, then Koda got his feet out of his claws, and now he’s like me,” Purdy said. Kendal was about to ask what on earth she meant, when he noticed she had no claws on her forepaws, and, glancing under the table, he saw she had none on her hind either.

“Clawless bear?” He asked. Koda thought Purdy would be upset by the direct manner Kendal adopted, but she looked him full in the face and said:

“Yeah, they took my fwont teeth too, that is why I cut my food small, so I don’t have to bite with my fwont teeth. I cut up cawwots into bite size bits too.” Kendal tried not to smile at the way Purdy spoke, but he admitted to himself he found it cute.

“You find my speech cute don’t you?” Perdy accused, Kendal holding up his paws to this.

“Yes, ok I do, sorry,” he replied contritely.

“At least you don’t hate me for it, not like that other bear,” Purdy replied.

“Who hates you?” Kendal asked, looking Purdy in the face.

“Puwdita.” Purdy replied, “she hates me, says I am a disgrace to her name.”

“She thinks she’s Eohippus’s gift to bears that one,” Kendal confided, “she’s become all toffee nosed recently. Horrid!”

“Yes indeed,” Koda replied.

“So what are you two doing after this?” Kendal asked.

“If Purdy wants to play, I will show her how to get strength into her toes,” Koda said, “how to grip with her toes when climbing, and how to feel the ground and balance herself with the whole sole of her foot and the palm of her paw.”

“How to grip with her toes rather than her claws?” Kendal asked.

“Yes,” Koda said.

“Will cuwling my toes regularly help too?” Purdy asked.

“It will,” Koda replied, “and we can have toe curling races too.”

“Just playing with you or feeling your touch on my feet makes me cuwl my toes,” Purdy said to Koda. Koda giggled:

“You softy,” he laughed.

“My toes love to cuwl,” Purdy admitted.

“You will never curl your toes tighter than when you have a cub,” Titania said, padding into the room.

“When I give birth to a cub you mean?” Purdy asked.

“Yes,” Titania replied, “Koda, is Purdy spending the night with us?”

“If it is ok with you my dear,” Koda replied. Titania looked Purdy up and down, and then smiled:

“It is all right,” she replied, “she can sleep between you and me, for she looks like she needs keeping warm. That is of course if her mama doesn’t object.”

“My mama won’t mind,” Purdy replied, “she didn’t mind me going with Koda.”

“That settles it then, you’re coming home with us Purdy.” Titania said. Purdy looked at Koda, who smiled and covered her paw with his, squeezing it.

“Come,” he said, “finish your food, then we’ll wash and get comfortable, and then curl up together to sleep a while. How does that sound?” Purdy smiled, finished her food and followed Koda to the relieving place, where she relieved herself, then washed her feet and paws, before following Koda back to his lie up which adjoined Patch’s. In the lie up Purdy saw a fire burning in the grate, and the room was warm and comfortable. Purdy felt soft flooring beneath her feet, bouncing on her toes; she embraced the feel of the flooring under her pads.

“Bouncing on your toes tells me they don’t hurt,” Koda said. Purdy looked at him.

“Can you bounce on your toes?” She asked. Koda smiled and bounced hard on his toes, Purdy giggling cubbishly.

“Can you do this?” Koda asked, lying down, rolling onto his back, and drawing up his hind legs, grabbing his feet with his paws. Purdy laughed and copied him, holding her hind feet tightly in her paws.

“So very cute,” Titania said, padding in and kissing the noses of both Koda and Purdy. Koda laughed merrily as his mate blew on his toes, and then it was Purdy’s turn to laugh as Titania did the same to her toes.

“You two do have the cutest paws and feet,” Titania said, “there’s something to be said for being clawless you know.”

“Do you weally think so?” Purdy asked.

“I really do,” Titania said, Koda seeing the mischief in her eyes, and knowing what she had just about stopped herself from saying.

“Now I will let go of my feet and kick the air with my feet!” Purdy said, fitting actions to her words, Titania laughing delightedly.

“You have the cutest feet and paws Purdy,” she said. Purdy looked between her hind legs at Titania.

“You weally think I have cute paws and feet?” She asked, “You aren’t just saying that to make me feel better about not having claws?” Titania knelt and took Purdy’s paws and feet in her own paws one by one, tracing her pads and counting her toes.

“Now do you think I am just speaking with my mouth?” She asked, Purdy feeling her toes curling with emotion, tighter and tighter they curled, until they ached, and even then, they remained curled, until Purdy was exhausted and had to relax them.

“So very cute that,” Koda said, “and before you ask Purdy, I know how it is to react like that. My toes have been too tired to remain curled many a time.”

“You have beautiful black pads and grey fur Purdy,” Titania said. Purdy sat up and Titania embraced her tightly.

“You are vewy paws on, I like it,” Purdy said.

“We are taught to be paws on from when we are very young cubs,” Titania said, “I was taught it, and so was Koda. We love getting paws on with our cubs, and with each other too.”

“You mean you two plays with each other’s paws and feet?” Purdy asked.

“Yeah,” Koda replied, “it’s good to do that, keeps us in touch with each other you know.” did you get paws on while Titania was delivering your cub?” Purdy asked.

“Yes I did,” Koda replied, omitting to say he’d sat out most of her labour.

“While I was holding my feet in my paws, screaming and roaring in fear, Koda came and kissed the heel of my right foot. I’d delivered Wihakayda by then, but was still straining my guts out, pushing for all I was worth. His kiss to my heel told me I should stop pushing.”

“I don’t wemember my birth mama,” Purdy said suddenly, “I wemember the humans who declawed me and took my teeth.”

“You don’t remember her?” Titania asked, the pain in her eyes upsetting Purdy.

“I was stolen from the wild when I was vewy young Titania, I don’t wemember a lot about that time. I’m not a pwoper bear, as I said to Koda; I’m not a pwoper bear. I’ve been with the humans too long.”

“You look like, feel like, sound like and hug like a pwoper bear,” Koda said, Purdy looking at him.

“Come here Purdy,” Koda said, Purdy crawling to him, Koda embracing her.

“I don’t want you to speak about not being a pwoper bear any more,” Koda whispered softly to Purdy.

“Hold me tight Koda,” Purdy whispered. Koda embraced Purdy tightly.

“Who do we have here?” Blackberry asked, padding into the room.

“Her name is Purdy, and I found her and her mama in the woodlands Blackberry,” Koda said.

“Who is that?” Purdy asked.

“Blackberry’s our medical bear,” Koda said, Purdy shaking with fear.

“Not a vet!” She wailed.

“No,” Koda said, “he’s gentler than a vet. Blackberry just wants to check you over, make sure you’re healthy.”

“But my teeth and claws are gone!” Purdy wailed.

“I know little one,” Blackberry said softly, “now I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

“If he hurts you, I’ll smack him,” Koda said. Purdy let Blackberry examine her. He took care, examining her fur, her eyes, the teeth she still had left, and her paws and feet.

“If this is any consolation,” he said, “the removal of her front teeth and claws was done professionally. That is at least something to be thankful for in the midst of a travesty. At least she won’t be troubled by in growing claws or bad teeth.” Purdy felt Blackberry’s touch on her paws and feet, it was gentle and non invasive.

“He’s gentle Koda,” she said. Blackberry ended his examination by hugging Purdy, Purdy snuggling up to him despite his profession.

“Your paws and feet are beautiful Purdy,” Blackberry said softly to the young bear.

“Koda said the same thing,” Purdy replied, “I am beginning to come round to that thought too.” Blackberry kissed Purdy’s paws, Purdy giggling and dabbing at his nose with her paws.

“Your paws don’t look deformed without claws,” Blackberry said, “you have small toes, and they look great as they are. You will have to learn how to grip with your toes rather than your claws, toe curling races with Koda should help that, holding your toes curled should help too, as should foot games like the stuck foot game, catch the twig and pass the twig.” Purdy asked:

“Blackbewwy, Koda cuwled his toes around mine in the soft play woom, his toes are stwong, weally stwong! Will mine be stwong too if I cuwl my toes often and play with my hind feet?” Blackberry smiled at Purdy’s pronunciation of his name.

“Yes Puwdy they will,” he replied smiling, Purdy cuffing him playfully with her paw.

“You don’t speak like me!” She squealed, Blackberry kissing her nose and the paw she’d cuffed him with.

“You know how to make me laugh,” Purdy said, kissing Blackberry’s nose.

“I’m not all medical,” Blackberry said.

“Your paws!” Purdy squealed delightedly, “they are like Codas! And like Titania’s too, they have thumbs!” Blackberry looked down at his paws, knowing what Purdy said was undeniable.

“Yes, my paws are a little unusual,” Blackberry said.

“You hated your paws too once didn’t you Blackbewwy,” Purdy said. Blackberry nodded.

“Not now,” he said, “I don’t hate them now.”

“Patch has thumbs too, it’s gweat!” Purdy whooped. Blackberry hugged Purdy, and then let her go.

“It’s time for you to sleep now isn’t it?” He said gently.

“Yes, I’m worn out,” Purdy replied yawning. Curling up, she rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes, Soon regular snoring told everyone Purdy was asleep.

“Purdy’s so cute,” Blackberry said.

“You love her already don’t you,” Titania said.

“Yeah, I do,” Blackberry replied, “she’s lovely, very lovely.”

“I’ll teach her how to grip with her toes tomorrow,” Koda yawned, “it will start with toe curling games, and showing her how to relax enough to allow her toes to express her emotions.”

“You too are very good at playing with the cubs,” Sita said, walking into the room, kneeling and kissing Koda’s nose.

“You too Sita dear,” Koda said, returning her kiss, Sita giggling with delight.

“Has Purdy drawn circles on the soles of your hind feet yet Koda?” Sita asked.

“No not yet, but I’ll embrace her paws with my toes when she does,” Koda replied, “I’ve explored her feet and paws though, and they are lovely Sita.”

“You and I know about each other’s feet and paws don’t we Koda,” Sita said, Koda laughing.

“We do,” he replied, “we play often, drawing circles on each other’s pads and challenging each other’s toes to curl tighter and tighter.”

“We wrestle too,” Sita said, and Koda’s beaten me on many occasions, throwing me on my back with my paws and feet in the air.”

“I have watched it,” Blackberry said, “Koda beats you every time Sita, and he’s smaller than you. He fights blind, as he wears an eye shield when wrestling with you. How on earth you lose so often I don’t know.”

“Maybe I want to,” Sita said, “maybe I like being pinned down, then submitting my paws and feet to a good tickling.” Blackberry grinned; he knew she gave up easily, letting him handle her.

“I’ve let Sita win from time to time,” Koda confessed, “but she never presses her advantage home, never tickles my paws or anything, it’s so sad.”

“You’re too small for me to tickle your paws or feet, your feet are tiny!” Sita laughed. Koda rolled onto his back, and Sita tickled the pads of his hind feet, Koda laughing helplessly.

“What’s going on?” Purdy yawned, “I’m trying to sleep!”

“Sorry Purdy, we are so inconsiderate,” Sita said, I’ll take our play somewhere else.”

“Play?” Purdy asked, shaking herself awake, “I’m not missing any of that, no matter how sleepy I am.”

“You need sleep,” Koda said firmly, “play doesn’t run out. There will be plenty more when you wake up.”

“But I want, want to play, play now,” Purdy yawned, rubbing her eyes with her paws.

“You need sleep,” Koda said, rolling over and embracing Purdy. Purdy couldn’t fight sleep, and soon she was deeply slumbering.

“She is cute from nose to toes,” Titania said. #

Next morning, Koda took Purdy to the pool complex. She looked round her in astonishment at the water slides, the water coaster, and the new diving boards, a springboard at three metres, a platform at seven, and ten metres. Then at Patch, who stood on his hind feet on the top board, swinging his arms and looking down at the water ten metres below him. Koda stared up at Patch.

“Patch, you aren’t going to?” He yelled. Patch smiled, waved at Koda, then lifted his arms, springing powerfully into the air; Patch rotated, and then angled downwards, head downwards, cleaving the water with his paws for his head to pass. Koda saw little splash, and Patch’s body, seething through the water, then his head coming up, shaking water from his eyes. Koda stared at his brother as Patch got out of the pool and padded over to them.

“How?” Koda asked.

“I learnt a bit,” Patch replied, “I’m not any good yet, only just plucked up the courage to dive off the top board after weeks and weeks of wimping out on the springboard.”

“Sod that!” Koda said.

“Now I can dive off the springboard and the platforms too,” Patch said.

“Does anyone else do this?” Koda asked.

“Um, none of the cats, though I did see Tigger taking a look off the ten metre,” Patch replied, “I think Jess might, and Moses, Peter, Sally maybe? If they wanted. As for the bears, Anook took a look and decided against leaping off it. She hates me doing it. Conrad won’t leap either, and Ekaterina, she wishes I wouldn’t.”

“But you did it well,” Koda said. Patch grinned.

“I was showing off a bit,” he confessed. Purdy looked Patch up and down.

“Inspecting me Purdy?” Patch asked. Purdy looked him in the eye.

“You are so handsome,” Purdy replied, “is it wong to examine you from nose to tail?”

“No, it’s fine,” Patch replied smiling, “do you want to see the soles of my feet and palms of my paws as well?” Purdy shook her head:

“NO, but, of course, if you want to show me, I’ll look at them too.”

“I’ll show you,” Patch said, sitting down so Purdy could see the soles of his hind feet and the pads of his paws.

“You have big pads Patch,” Purdy said, tracing the pads of his right foot with the toes of both paws, Patch curling his toes to bunch his pads a bit, Purdy stroking the bunched pads.

“Can you stwetch your toes?” Purdy asked. Patch stretched his toes, and then tried to fan them a little.

“Can you cuwl your toes weally tight?” Purdy asked. Patch tightly curled his toes, Purdy smiling.

“I think I might have to stwetch my toes soon,” Patch said, “They love to cuwl, but they ache so much after a bit.” Purdy grinned at him.

“We lax your toes please,” she said, Patch slowly relaxing his toes, Purdy watching them uncurl.

“Your toes are so expwessive,” Purdy said. Patch smiled at her.

“You make my toes want to cuwl and stwetch in play,” he said, “they like being expwessive.”

“Now you are not allowed to speak like me!” Purdy yelled.

“You’re so sweet,” Patch said. Patch got to his feet and padded away, Purdy watching him go.

“He’s weally lovely isn’t he,” she said.

“He is,” Koda replied.

“Now what?” Purdy asked, “what are we gonna do now? I’m weady for play and all, and you’re just standing their on your four feet looking lost, and you live here!”

“Um, yeah, sorry,” Koda replied smiling, “let’s go to the water coaster, we can ride that.” Fleur Padded up to Koda and rested her paw on his.

“You and little one, um, Puwdy, can ride the coaster together, but don’t leap out of the boats,” she purred. Purdy whipped angrily round on the big cat, fleur smiling at her and kissing her nose.

“Now Purdy,” she purred, “you go to the coaster with Koda.” Purdy couldn’t help smiling at fleur.

Koda padded to the water coaster, Purdy following him. Dragging a raft from the store, Koda punched a code into the console, the pumps starting up, lift hills rolling into life and gates opening to the coaster.

“Sit in front of me in the raft,” Koda said, sitting to the rear of the raft. Purdy sat in front of Koda, feeling his paws embrace her. Koda heard the five second count down warning, then the jets increase their power to lift the raft and carry it along the track. The raft approached the first lift hill, and the hill pulled the raft quickly upwards. Soon they were on the top level of the coaster, Koda looking around him, enjoying the view. Purdy looked round her as best she could, dig her heels into the bottom of the raft and lifting her bottom a bit.

“Sit down in the raft Purdy,” Koda said. Purdy sat down, as the raft turned left then right, then left and then angled downwards into the first short slide. Purdy squealed with fear as the raft sped up.

“Hold me Koda!” She begged. Koda braced his feet against the front of the raft, feeling the raft level out, then turn, then angle downwards again. This slide was a faster one, shooting the raft downwards at a more acute angle, to be stopped by a water break run, Purdy screaming throughout.

“I don’t like this Koda, I don’t like this!” She yelled. Koda held Purdy tightly, talking gently into her ear the whole time. Purdy set up a constant wail of fear, Koda almost deafened by it.

“Do you want to stop the ride?” Koda asked. Purdy squealed that she did. Koda pressed a button on a pendent fleur insisted he wore, and watched as doors closed sealing off the next tube down, the raft bumping up against it. Then there was silence. Purdy, realising her journey was over, slumped into the bottom of the raft.

“I don’t like that thing!” She wailed. Koda helped her out onto the walkway at the side of the pool and pressed the button again. The pumps, which had shut down with the closing of the doors started up, and the doors opened. The raft nosed its way to the slide, and disappeared down the tube. Koda looked down at Purdy.

“You need to walk,” he said, there is no lift from here.” Purdy followed Koda down the ramps to the ground level. Purdy looked at Koda and said:

“I think I could go down that water coaster after all.” Koda sighed heavily, swallowing his frustration.

“We can’t now,” he grunted.

“No,” Purdy whimpered. Fleur met them at the bottom of the coaster.

“So you didn’t like the coaster Purdy?” She asked. Purdy shook her head, staring down at her paws.

“I got weally terrified when the thing went down the slide, it fwightened me so I started scweaming, then Koda got annoyed and stopped the wide, and now I’m here.”

“”You started what?” Fleur asked.

“Scweaming,” Purdy repeated.

“I’m sorry!” Fleur said, starting to laugh, “you’re speech is so cute Purdy!”

“It’s not!” Purdy yelled, “I weally hate it, weally weally hate it!” Fleur wiped her eyes with her paw.

“Purdy, please,” she said, “don’t be angry, I love your talk.”

“But that isn’t me!” Purdy screamed, “I’m not meant to speak like this!” Koda hugged Purdy, smothering her anger in warm hugs.

“We love you just how you are,” he whispered, Purdy relaxing.

“You know how to make me feel better,” she said.

“I love you Puwdy,” Koda said, Purdy almost humming with pleasure.

“I feel safe here,” Purdy replied softly, “Koda, can I stay here?” Koda kissed her nose and looked into her intelligent brown eyes.

“You can stay Purdy,” Koda said gently. Purdy kissed his nose.

“I want winkled paw pads,” Purdy said, “Maybe if we swim in the lazy wiver they will become winkled?” Koda grinned.

“We can swim in the wiver, and you can get winkled paw pads,” he replied gently, fleur giggling softly at their talk.

“Winkled paw pads?” She mewed, “how sweet is that.

“Now you are taking the piss out of me!” Purdy wailed.

“No Puwdy, I mean Perdy, I’m not! I mean no harm, I love your talk.”

“Give me your paw and say that,” Purdy replied. Fleur did, and Purdy felt a rush of well being flooded her from her nose to her toes.

“So there are no ill intent fwom you,” Purdy said. Fleur smiled and shook her head.

“Now let’s go to the spar pool,” Koda said. Purdy looked at fleur:

“Does that pool have fwightening things in it?” She asked, “Koda told me the coaster was safe, and it fwightened me so much I started scweaming.”

“The spar pool will tickle your toes,” fleur mewed.

“But it won’t thwow me down hills into dark places?” Purdy asked.

“No it won’t,” Koda replied smiling.

“I want my toes tickled,” Purdy said. Koda grinned as he led Purdy to the spar pool. Stepping down into it, she squealed as the water bubbled up around her feet and paws, and then laughed as she sat down on the ledge.

“It’s tickling me!” She laughed. Koda smiled broadly and kissed Purdy’s nose.

“The water’s tickling my feet, paws and bottom!” Purdy laughed.

“It is tickling me too,” Koda replied, his eyes shining.

“You two are great together,” Ekaterina said, walking into the pool.

“I like Koda,” Purdy replied, “he’s sweet, weally sweet.”

“He’s a big softy really,” Ekaterina said, “he likes nothing more than to be pushed onto his back, and have someone play with his paws and feet, counting his toes and drawing circles on his pads.”

“Speak for yourself sister,” Koda grunted, but Purdy saw his smile.

“You like it,” Ekaterina said defensively.

“I do,” Koda replied paddling to his sister and resting his paws on the bottom step, then kissing Ekaterina’s nose.

“Softy Koda,” Ekaterina replied laughing.

“Where is this lazy “wiver” Purdy spoke of?” Fleur asked.

“There isn’t one, well not really,” Koda replied, “There’s a little one between the two pools, the big one with the wave machine, and the diving pool.”

“I meant that other wiver,” Purdy replied, “the one through the twees, the one in the woods!”

“That is no place to swim,” Ekaterina said, looking fearful.

“What’s Wong Ekatewina?” Purdy asked, seeing the she bear’s distress.

“That river is no swimming river,” Ekaterina replied, “it’s, um, a river that is for riding boats on.”

“What’s wong with walking that wiver?” Purdy asked. Ekaterina’s toes curled into the cracks between the tiles.

“It, um, it, oh dear, it, it clanks, and it rolls, and it’s horrid!” Ekaterina stammered.

“What?” Purdy asked, looking at Koda.

“It’s a log flume,” Koda said, “Purdy, it’s not a river for swimming in, as Ekaterina said, and it’s a fearful place for her.”

“I’ll show you the place,” Koda said, “but Purdy; don’t step on the rollers or the belts.”

“Is it that scawey?” She asked. Ekaterina looked sick.

“I walked on the belts in the closed season, I shouldn’t have, but I did,” she whimpered, “it terrified me, all those rollers, and the thought they could spring to life, and mangle my paws and feet.”

“It sounds a tewwible place,” Purdy replied, “but, well, I still want to see it.”

“No you don’t, trust me,” Ekaterina replied.

“I’ll be okay,” Purdy said. Ekaterina sloshed over to Purdy and laid her paw on the cub’s lap.

“I don’t want you to go there!” She pleaded.

“I’ll be okay, Koda won’t let me get into twouble,” Purdy replied.

“Koda,” Ekaterina said, turning to her brother, “don’t lead her into harm, and don’t let Purdy go up there! Not to the tower!”

“I’ll be careful,” Koda replied. Ekaterina squeezed his paw.

“I won’t hurt her,” Koda said.

“I don’t want her to go the way I did, to do what I did!” Ekaterina sniffed, nearly crying.

“Now hug me Ekaterina,” Koda said, and I will tell you I will not lead her into harm. I show her these things to make sure she doesn’t go into danger.” Ekaterina turned and left, dragging her paws and feet, her head down and body slumped.

“What is the matter with Ekatewina?” Purdy asked.

“I’ll tell you what happened,” Koda said, sitting down in the bubbling water. Once the tale was over, Purdy looked more frightened than Koda had ever seen her.

“I don’t think I want to go to that flume now,” she whispered.

“Okay,” Koda said, “we can ride the flume safely in the boats, but no swimming okay?” Purdy nodded. Koda led Purdy to the log flume, and settled her in the boat.

“Now you hold on with both paws,” Koda instructed.

“I will,” Purdy replied.

“I’m sitting behind you,” Koda said, sitting down and bracing his heels against the rests built into the floor of the log flume. Purdy braced her own feet against rests in front of her feet, her paws gripping the rail in front of them. She rocked back and fourth, Koda hugging her with his paws.

“Now let the boat go!” Koda yelled the boat rumbling away down the track, then splashing into the water. Purdy held on so tightly to the bar in front of her, her toes turned white. Koda rubbed her chest with his paws, trying to calm her.

“We’re going to ride up a hill in a bit,” Koda said. Purdy sat back as the boat nosed into the first lift hill and angled upwards. Koda watched Purdy’s reaction to the hill. She sat back, Koda cradling her. Koda looked over the edge of the channel the boat landed in after the lift hill. He could see straight down to the lagoon, where he saw a curious sight. A boat was anchored in the middle of the lagoon, gently rocking from side to side, as two bears; Astra and buck were quite clearly making love in the bottom of the boat. Koda turned his eyes away to see Purdy’s questioning eyes.

“What are you looking at?” She asked. Koda was about to answer, when Purdy got to her feet, rested her paws on the side of the boat and peered over.

“The boat is rocking!” She whispered, “Koda, what are they doing?”

“They’re making cubs, and Purdy, don’t stand up in the boat!” Koda whispered, “Leave them to it Purdy!” But Purdy, mischievous cub that she was, yelled in a sing song voice:

“We can see you! We know what you’re doing!” Koda watched as the gentle rocking turned into a violent pitching, and then the boat capsized. Screaming, Astra and buck fell out of the boat with a huge double splash.

“Who can see us?” Buck yelled when he had coughed up the water in his lungs.

“Us!” Perdy squealed, standing on her hind feet and waving her paws. Buck looked up, but could see nothing due to the angle he was at.

“I can’t see anyone!” He yelled, “And if you’re in that boat on the top, sit down!”

“I’m here, I’m here!” Purdy yelled, Koda grabbing her and forcing her down into the boat, nearly sitting on her.

“For Eohippus sake Purdy!” Koda snarled, “Sit down! This is dangerous!”

“But I want them to see me!” Purdy yelled, fighting her way clear of Koda, getting onto the side of the boat and waving her paws. Koda screamed at her:

“Purdy, no! Purdy!” Purdy waved her paws in the air, screaming:

“See me now, see me now!” While bouncing on her toes. then, as Koda leapt for her hind legs to grab her, Perdy bounced on her toes a little too hard, lost her footing, fell off the boat, over the edge and down into the lagoon, her scream of fear chilling Koda. The splash as she hit the water sickened him, and he vomited into the boat.

“Purdy!” he screamed, coughing and sobbing, “Purdy!” Purdy landed in the water and swam for buck.

“I’m all right Koda!” she yelled, Koda sobbing and wringing his paws.

“You bloody idiot!” Astra yelled, “Purdy, you bloody idiot! What the hell were you thinking!” she screamed, swimming to Purdy, dragging her to the bank, then onto dry land, then cuffing her so she squealed.

“You are a stupid, irresponsible cub!” Astra yelled, as Koda came down the chute to the lagoon and leapt from his boat, swimming for the shore.

“Is she all right?” he gasped, paddling messily through the water, his paws working furiously.

“yes, I’m shouting at her right now,” Astra growled.

“She’s hitting me with hawd paws too!” Purdy complained.

“She has every right to do that!” Koda panted, dragging himself out of the lagoon and charging damply over to Purdy.

“What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled.

“I wanted them to see me!” Purdy wailed.

“I tried to stop you!” Koda sniffed, “Purdy, do you know how dangerous that was?” Purdy looked at Koda, seeing not an angry male bear, but her concerned friend.

“I’m sowwy Koda,” Purdy replied contritely.

“Being “Sowwy” as you put it, is not good enough!” Koda roared.

“What else do you expect her to be?” Astra asked, “she can’t do anything else to make up for what she did really.”

“I know,” Koda grunted, “I just don’t want her to do it again!”

“she ruined our love making, and got me wet too!” buck growled, “we wanted peace and quiet!”

“had you finished?” Purdy asked, Koda covering her mouth with his paw.

“None of your business!” Buck yelled, “we anchored that boat in the middle of the lagoon so we could get peace, instead we got wet, I’m soaked! Soaked from ears to paws! I can wring out my paws and my feet too! yuck!” Koda padded forward, lifted buck’s right foot as if he were a horse and Koda was to pick a stone from his hoof, and gently pressed the pads of sole and toes.

“No water here,” he said, buck angrily snatching his foot away and whipping round on Koda.

“You know what I mean!” he screamed, stamping his paw.

“you have a foul temper buck,” Koda said.

“I’m in season,” Astra said, “he’s volatile around this time.” Buck suddenly looked murderous and cursed Koda to the skies using language that shocked Astra.

“Koda isn’t going to mate with me buck!” she protested. Buck seemed to come out of his trance, shaking his head, then lifting each paw and foot in turn, as if he could hardly feel the ground beneath them.

“Oh god,” buck whimpered, “all this is very new, I know I’m new to this, oh dear Koda, please, take my paw, no, take both my paws and both my feet and hold them. You’re not my enemy, I spoke out of turn.”

“I guessed Astra was in season,” Koda said, “unless of course you two mate for the fun of it. I know Patch and Ekaterina do, well they make love through play, and they do it for the love of each other.”

“mating for fun?” Astra asked, looking at buck.

“I couldn’t,” buck whimpered, “mating is hard enough when it is naturally needed.”

“I think we need some tips from Patch and Ekaterina,” Astra said, “they seem to be happy with their relationship. I wonder how they do it.”

“with touch and play,” Koda said, “I’ve seen them at it. They were playing in the drying room, a drying session after a shower became a play session, then a love making session.”

“You mean they mated in the drying room?” buck asked.

“No not at all,” Koda replied, “but I know they made passionate love.”

“What the hell is going on!” Aga screamed, pounding through the trees.

“woops,” buck said inadequately, “you’re for it Koda. With that he ran off, Astra following.

“Leave me in the shit will you?” Koda roared, “sods, bloody sods!” Aga ran up to Koda, Koda ran away and climbed a tree, his clawless toes strong and tough. Aga climbed up after him, bit his right foot, then dragged him from the tree to the ground. Growling she then knocked him flat on his back, pinned him down under her paws. Koda, screaming, flailed about with his paws, while Aga lowered her face to his, and screamed into it.

“You endangered my cub!” Koda shook beneath her paws.

“I didn’t,” he gasped, “she jumped, she fell, she wouldn’t listen to me! I told her to stay in the boat, to sit down, but she wouldn’t, it was Purdy’s fault, not mine! I tried to stop her, I really did!” Aga smacked Koda across his face with her paw.

“ow Aga, you bite my feet then smack me! why?” Koda wailed, licking his split lip.

“mama stop!” Purdy yelled, running to Aga and blundering up against her hind legs.

“What?” Aga asked, looking at Purdy, but not lifting her weight off Koda.

“I jumped, it’s not Koda’s fault, I bounced on my toes on the side of the boat,” Purdy gabbled, “I fought Koda when he twied to keep me down in the boat. He isn’t responsible for me jumping into the lagoon, he’s innocent mama!” Aga levered her weight off of Koda, Koda struggling to his feet once he’d got his breath back. Ignoring the pain in his paws and feet, Koda watched in growing horror as Aga turned slowly towards Purdy, then swiftly lunged at the cub, picked her up and shook her, then dropped her onto the grass. Koda attacked Aga, tripping her, then rolling her over and pummelling her with his paws.

“I’m bigger than you, and you decked me!” Aga roared, humiliated from her nose to her toes. Koda stopped his attack and turned to Purdy, who was picking herself up off the grass.

“You can fight!” Purdy exclaimed.

“Um, yeah, don’t like to,” Koda replied, looking ashamed.

“You helped me sort my mama,” Purdy said, looking at Aga, who lay on the grass, her paws and feet sticking skywards.

“where did you learn all that?” Aga asked, “you’re smaller than me!”

“Patch,” Koda panted, “Patch showed me, now, now I must go to Blackberry to get my feet and paws seen to.” Koda limped away, Purdy watching him go.

“Mama, you are a sod!” she screamed.

“Don’t talk to your mama like that!” Aga yelled.

“My weal mama wouldn’t have attacked a bear like Koda!” Purdy screamed. Aga roared and ran at Purdy, Purdy running off through the trees, leaping into the lagoon, swimming that and charging off into the woods. Aga, not wanting to get her feet wet, watched her go.

“I’ll catch up with her later,” she thought. Turning, she found buck and Astra standing behind her, Both with furious expressions.

“You bit Koda!” Astra yelled.

“I did, he deserved it!” Aga snarled.

“he didn’t deserve that!” buck yelled, “it’s not reasonable for you to bite Koda. If you’d asked us what happened to Purdy, we would have told you! Instead you attacked Koda.”

“You ran off, you two could have beaten me in a fight,” Aga said.

“We ran off to get help for Koda,” Buck said, “thing was, he ended the fight before we could find help, so we came back.”

“I overreacted,” Aga replied, now very ashamed, “I bit him, he didn’t need biting, I see that now.”

“You better pray he doesn’t get infection in those wounds,” Astra said, “Koda loves his paws and feet, he communicates with them.”

“I know, Purdy is mad about him and them,” Aga whimpered, her shame deepening. Buck smiled, lifted Aga off her feet, then threw her into the lagoon. Aga screamed as she flew, hitting the water with a huge splash. Buck turned back to Astra.

“Let’s rescue that boat,” he said, leaping into the lagoon and swimming to the boat. Aga, floundering nearby, begged him for help, Astra swimming over to her and helping her to the bank, Aga grunting her thanks and leaving damply for a nearby tree where she could think. Climbing her tree, she sat in the branches, her head cradled in her paws.

“Help me turn this boat over Astra!” buck yelled, Astra shaking her head:

“Pull the boat to the shore, then onto it,” she said. buck yanked the anchor out of the bottom and threw it over the upturned hull, then hauled the boat to the bank with the painter. Astra and Buck pulled the boat onto dry land, then flipped it right way up, stowing the anchor.

“We shouldn’t have used so much anchor rope,” Astra said.

“um, Astra, we didn’t,” buck replied, “it was taught, we were, um, making love so energetically that we pulled it out of the bottom of the lagoon.”

“And we weren’t even close to mating!” Astra whimpered, “we need to make sure that boat is anchored firmly!”

“Or mate in the woods like bears usually do,” buck said, “after all, mating on the lagoon ended up with wet fur and soggy paws.”

“I think Koda squeezing your pads was so cute!” Astra said.

“No it wasn’t!” buck snapped.

“I saw your toes curling when he pressed your pads,” Astra said. buck snorted:

“They didn’t!” he protested.

“they did, and you know it,” Astra laughed.

“Oh all right they did, but only slightly,” buck admitted.

“You liked his touch,” Astra said. buck snorted with frustration.

“I did, all right, I’ll admit I did!” he growled.

“There’s no harm in that,” Astra said.

“but, but, I’m adult now, I’m not meant to be acting cubbishly!” Buck whimpered.

“You are so sweet buck,” Astra said.

“I’m not used to this mating thing,” buck said, “I know I’m mature now, but I don’t know what to do with these emotions.”

“get into a boat and mate with me, then Koda touches your foot with his paw and you act like a cub?” Astra asked. buck actually squirmed with embarrassment.

“yes dam it!” he snarled.

“Oh buck,” Astra laughed, “why don’t you go up to Koda, roll onto your back and give him your paws and feet to tickle.”

“I might,” buck whimpered, “this is all so silly Astra!”

“it’s like this,” Astra replied, “you, Buck, are trying so hard to be the big bear around town, whereas I want you to roll about on the floor and wave your paws and feet about like we do in our lie up.”

“But that’s private!” buck protested, “it’s not my way to roll about on the forest floor like a silly cub.”

“But your paws and feet are hot and uncomfortable,” Astra said, “I can see they are, you’re bouncing on your toes now. wouldn’t a bit of air to those pads do them, and you, the world of good?” buck looked so confused and anxious that Astra kissed his nose.

“You want to play with me and mate with me all at the same time,” she said, “well we can play then mate, or mate then play. We can’t do both at the same time.”

“Patch manages it,” Buck complained.

“he makes love to Ekaterina, he doesn’t mate with her, the two are quite different buck.”

“Let’s go home buck,” Astra said, “let’s go and see if we can find Koda.” Buck followed Astra with dragging paws, the male bear completely confused, his confusion upsetting him.

“You two need some tuition it would seem,” Ekaterina said, walking beside Buck. Buck glanced at her.

“how much did you hear?” buck asked dispiritedly.

“the fight, and your chat with Astra,” Ekaterina replied, I helped Koda to the house, then came back. Buck, just play with Astra, if mating happens, let it, if play happens, let it. You won’t hurt Astra, and she won’t hurt you.”

“How do you and Patch do it?” buck asked, “I’ve seen it Ekaterina!”

“It’s gentle paws, gentle touch and consideration,” Ekaterina said.

“but you two were so involved!” buck whimpered, “I can’t be like that with Astra, can I?”

“You both can,” Ekaterina replied, “buck, it’s not a competition.” Buck bounced on his toes, Ekaterina hearing the dry leaves scrunching under his weight.

“You’re bouncing on your toes,” Ekaterina said. Buck smiled.

“I’ll try keeping flat footed,” he said, “I bounce on my toes when I’m nervous.”

“that’s so sweet!” Ekaterina laughed.

“I watched you and Patch,” buck said, “Ekaterina, mine and Astra’s toes were curled so tightly by the end of the video that we were too exhausted to do anything for ages.”

“did you get any tips from our love making?” Ekaterina asked.

“I am no Patch,” buck replied, “he touched you, but it wasn’t just a touch was it.” Ekaterina smiled:

“You’re right there buck, there was so much else there too.”

“I love Astra, but my paws don’t communicate my love for her, they can’t pour it out of me!”

Back in the house some hours later, Purdy lay in Koda’s lie up. She’d been there for hours, ever since she’d heard they were bringing Koda up from Blackberry’s work room, where they’d been working on him for ages. Purdy knew a strange human had come into the house and worked with Blackberry to fix Koda. Koda lay with his eyes closed, half conscious, Purdy settling down beside him.

“What happened Koda?” she asked. Koda shifted uncomfortably.

“Blackberry looked at my injuries,” he mumbled, “right foot bitten, pads and toes scuffed. They pumped me full of antibiotics and sedation.

“You’re more huwt than you let on aren’t you,” Purdy said. Koda sighed heavily, feeling Purdy take his paw in hers and embrace it in both her paws, squeezing it.

“ow Purdy, that hurts!” Koda whimpered. Hearing her sniffing, he said:

“Hold my paw, but please, don’t squeeze it,”

“mama hurt you more than just biting your paw didn’t she,” Purdy said. Koda didn’t answer at first, remembering the fall from the tree and the hard impact of his body on the ground. How had he beaten Aga? Adrenalin he guessed, but now all that was gone, and he was in pain from nose to toes.

“I hit the floor Purdy,” Koda mumbled, “I don’t know how I fought Aga,” he thought for a minute, “are you all right little one?” he asked, “Aga threw you about didn’t she?” Purdy replied:

“yes she did, but I’m ok, I bounced, you didn’t. I ran away from mama, swam the lagoon, and she didn’t chase me.”

“You have been sorely treated little one,” Koda mumbled.

“You won’t die will you Koda?” Purdy asked, her distress eloquent.

“No Purdy, I won’t,” Koda replied, “I’m under Blackberry and a human vet, Blackberry called the vet in and she checked me over and told Blackberry how to treat my wounds and keep me comfortable. But you deserve praise too Purdy.”

“Me? I jumped off a bridge and got you into twouble, and you want to thank me for it?” Purdy asked.

“No,” Koda replied laughing, “well not thank you for that, but thank you for being honest about what happened. You owned up to your part in it, and unfortunately got hurt in the process, but that owning up was the right thing to do Purdy. I am sorry you got hurt too,.”

“if I hadn’t jumped off the bridge, you wouldn’t have been huwt at all, your injuries are all my fault weally, I won’t say sowwy, as that isn’t enough.” Koda opened his eyes to see Purdy’s filling with tears, “Now you’re like this, and it’s awful!” Purdy sniffed. Koda struggled to his feet, cursing as his ribs, hips, shoulders and paws protested.

“That fall from the tree did me no good at all,” he grunted. Purdy tried to help by pushing Koda with her shoulder, but Koda warned her off:

“if I fall, you’ll be hurt, or worse,” he gasped, “Purdy, I appreciate your help, but please, get out of the way.” Purdy scrambled clear of Koda, turned and watched as he stumbled towards the relieving place. Crouching painfully, Koda relieved himself, then washed his paws, backside and feet. Purdy tried not to watch, but concerned by his well being, kept an ear out for any sounds of falling or excessive swearing. Koda emerged looking tired.

“how long will this go on?” Purdy asked, “I’ve had enough of seeing you like this!”

“Until I’m fixed Purdy love,” Koda said, “and that’s down to nature to do that.”

“but I want you fixed now!” Purdy wailed, stamping her feet.

“I want me fixed now too,” Koda laughed, “but that isn’t going to happen, and Purdy, please don’t make me laugh, it hurts!”

“I got you into this, I should make you cwy weally,” she mumbled.

“Let me sit down,” Koda said, easing himself onto the floor.

“I can see your huwt foot,” Purdy said, “it’s awful I caused you to be huwt like that.”

“come, sit on my lap,” Koda said. Purdy gently climbed into Koda’s lap, Koda embracing her in his paws.

“I’ll keep away from Aga for the time being,” Koda said.

“You are weally injured aren’t you,” Purdy said, looking up into Koda’s face.

“I am,” Koda replied, “I’m in a lot of pain, but am ignoring it for the minute, I’ll have to take something soon though.”

“But then you get drowsy and out of it, and I don’t like that!” Purdy replied.

“I need help with the pain at the moment,” Koda said, “but in time it will ease, and then I’ll be fine. Your mama beat me up pretty badly.”

“I’m sowwy she did,” Purdy replied, “I’d stayed in the boat if I knew all this would cause you to be huwt like this.”

“I need to lie down again,” Koda said, Purdy curling up beside him.

“When did you last eat?” Koda asked.

“Bweakfast,” Purdy replied, “and it’s past midnight now.”

“Go find yourself some food,” Koda said.

“But I don’t want to leave you alone,” Purdy said, “when they bwought you back here, I was waiting for you.”

“Thank you Purdy,” Koda replied, “now, now my dear, go to Kendal’s kitchen and get some food.”

“I’ll get the control woom to watch you here,” Purdy replied. She phoned through to Nanuq, who, hearing her request, said he’d get someone else to take the control room shift and he’d come down to look after Koda personally,. Nanuq padded to Koda’s lie up, and Purdy embraced his large right paw in hers by way of thanks.

“You have huge paws Nanuq,” Purdy said. Nanuq smiled and sat down beside Koda, waving to Purdy to leave.

“Do you know where to go?” he asked.

“I know where to go,” Purdy replied.

“bring me back some soup please Purdy,” Koda yawned.

“Will you be able to eat it?” Purdy asked.

“yeah,” Koda replied, his eyes full of pain. Purdy flung herself at him, clasping his paw in both of hers.

“but you’re in too much pain to eat, I can see that!” she whimpered.

“I will eat, I have to,” Koda replied, “now Purdy, go and find us food before I can’t eat.” Purdy glanced at the phone:

“I’ll phone it,” she said, “I’ll phone the food.” Phone she did. She picked up the phone and looked down the list of options. Seeing a crossed knife and fork, she moved the curser, smiling at the synthetic speech that gabbled at her as she moved the joystick quickly. Once she’d illuminated the knife and fork, she pressed the button on her stick. The view of the kitchen came up on the screen, and a intermittent tone began to sound. Then Kendal turned to the phone and banged the button with his paw.

“What?” he asked abruptly. Purdy waved at the screen, Kendal looking bewildered, replied:

“It’s just a cub, go away!”

“I want food,” she said, “well Koda does too, please.” Kendal replied:

“What sort of food? The same as you had before?”

“No, soup, lots of soup, Koda can’t eat solid food, he was beaten up by Aga,” Purdy replied. Kendal swore, then got cooking. Purdy looked at the screen seeing a button labelled “end call.” She navigated to it and pressed the button, closing the call.

“I think Kendal is coming with soup,” she said, turning to Koda, who looked more tired every minute.

“Good,” Koda replied, his eyes half closed. Purdy padded to Koda and rested her head against his shoulder.

“You feel so tired,” she said.

“I do,” Koda mumbled, “apologies Purdy if I fall asleep in my soup.” Purdy watched as Koda looked longingly at the vile of pain killer Blackberry had left him. Break the top off, insert the needle into his leg and press down the button, and within five minutes he’d be pain free. The downside of that was the drowsiness, Koda hated that.

“it’s too much Purdy,” Koda said, “I’m gonna have to have that vile of pain killer. He grabbed it in his paws, snapped the top, and injected himself, while Purdy covered her eyes with her paws, unable to watch.

“It’s done,” Koda said, throwing the used pen in the hazardous waste bin Blackberry had given him. Kendal appeared with the soup, Koda unable to hold the cup. Purdy told Kendal what happened, and Kendal helped Nanuq feed Koda. Koda, soup warm inside him, and drowsy from the morpheme, curled up contentedly.

“Sorry I’m not good company,” Koda mumbled as he drifted into sleep. Purdy finished her soup and curled up, taking Koda’s right paw in both of hers.

“I’ll help you clear this lot up,” Nanuq said to Kendal. Kendal left with the trolley, Nanuq watching Purdy and Koda. Koda looked very exhausted. Indeed, Nanuq had seen the goings on in the woodlands. He’d summoned help, but it hadn’t got there in time, two bears, a leopard and a lion standing about on the grass watching Koda beat Aga.

Koda slept for a long time, and when he woke, he felt much better. Getting carefully to his feet, he padded round his lie up, rising to his hind feet, he flexed his arms and paws. then lifting a foot, he flexed his knee and curled the toes of his right foot. Koda smiled at his powers of recuperation. He’d been beaten up only twenty four hours before, but thanks to sedation, where he’d slept for over fourteen hours straight, and Kendal’s good food, Koda had recovered quite well. Carefully making himself a cup of coffee, Koda sat down in his favourite spot on a beanbag settee by the fire. Koda stared into the flames, drinking his coffee and thinking about how he’d come to be there. Koda’s mind drifted, and he hardly noticed as the coffee mug, now empty was removed from his paw, only jerked out of his reverie when someone scrambled into his lap and hugged him. Koda embraced the small form, kissing the top of Purdy’s head.

“I wondered where you’d gone,” Purdy whispered. Koda rubbed her back with his paw, kissing her ear.

“I’m here,” Koda said.

“I know that!” Purdy laughed. Koda pushed Purdy onto her back and examined her face, paws and feet. Koda kissed Purdy’s nose and paws.

“Will you kiss my feet too?” Purdy asked. Koda smiled and examined each of Purdy’s feet in turn. He then blew on her pads, Purdy wriggling with delight and laughing helplessly.

“Your beautiful Purdy,” Koda said, now give me a day to recover my strength, and we can play those foot and paw games I promised.”

“Can’t I cuwl my toes around those of your paws and squeeze as tightly as I can?” Purdy asked, “then you can squeeze my paws with your toes, then we can have a toe cuwling contest.”

“How about the stuck foot game?” Koda asked. Purdy smiled:

“I don’t know that game,” she said, “how is it played?”

“I’ll describe it to you, or maybe I’ll let Patch do it, for he describes the stuck foot game so well.” Koda rang Patch, the grey bear surprised at Koda’s powers of recuperation.

“Patch, would you tell Purdy about, and demonstrate the stuck foot game in all its varieties?” Koda asked.

“why don’t we both show her?” Patch asked, “that is of course if you don’t feel too stiff to clasp the toes of both your feet together.”

“I can’t do that just yet,” Koda said.

“I’ll show her,” Patch replied. Patch looked at Koda, considering him.

“Koda,” he asked gently, “What happened yesterday?” Koda looked so upset that Patch regretted asking him.

“it was all my fault!” Purdy said, “we went on that lazy wiver thing, um, the log flume, and we saw buck and Astra making love in the lagoon, and I got silly, and I leapt from the bridge, and it was all very wrong after that! Koda got beaten up by Aga, and he ran up a twee, and Aga yanked him out of it, and she bit his paws, and it was awful, and it’s all my fault, and it’s awful, and I’m sowwy I jumped up and down on my toes on the boat!” As she spoke, Purdy became more and more distressed, her impaired speech making her words even more unintelligible. Despite this, Patch listened carefully.

“did Koda try to stop you bouncing on your toes Purdy?” Patch asked. Purdy nodded.

“He pulled me down into the boat and twied to stop me being silly, but I fought him Patch,” she confessed. Patch knew Purdy was telling the truth, for he’d viewed the footage on the cameras, plus Purdy looked so miserable.

“give me your paws Purdy love,” Patch said, Purdy crawling to him and giving him both her paws.

“You know you did wrong, and you did your best to make amends for it, taking a beating from Aga.”

“I wish I’d never jumped fwom the boat!” Purdy sobbed.

“I know,” Patch replied, rubbing her ears with one huge paw, “it’s all forgiven now. Koda knows how remorseful you are, and so do I. Koda suggested play, though his body is too stiff to play really.”

“I’ll try,” Koda said, flexing his paws and the toes of his hind feet, then getting to his hind feet, he set about bending his knees, bending at the hips, then flexing his shoulders and elbows.

“I think I can play now,” he replied, sitting down and crossing his legs, resting the heel of his right foot on the of his left leg and grabbing his foot in both paws.

“You have cute paws and feet Koda,” Patch said, Koda laughing at him.

“I’m glad you think so,” he replied smiling.

“I like my paws and feet as they are,” Koda said.

“I don’t think Purdy has been able to play properly since she was very young,” Koda said.

“Is there anyone else who could play with her? anyone about her age?” Patch asked, “Koda, you are wonderful and all that, but I wonder if there’s anyone else who can play with her too?”

“Um, er,” Koda said, squeezing the toes of his right foot in his paws and rubbing the pads on the sole of his foot while he thought, “interesting paws and feet, plus a playful disposition? Hmm, Figaro might be a candidate, but he’s got Anernerk on his brain.”

“Figaro is lovely,” Patch replied, “but you are right. Though maybe Anernerk could play with Purdy too, she, um, has no claws either. Koda blinked:

“Doesn’t she?” he asked, “I didn’t know!”

“She was born without claws on any of her paws or feet,” Patch said, “she climbs well, though after a short time of play, she has to cool her feet if she gets excited, as they become very hot and painful.”

“is Anernerk that bear who wides awound on that scooter thingy?” Purdy asked.

“she is,” Patch replied.

“she stopped me on the way in from the woods and let me wide on her scooter to Blackbewwy’s work woom,” Purdy replied, Patch smiling at her talk.

“That’s lovely,” he replied smiling. She is a nice bear.”

“She is vewy nice,” Purdy replied, “she took me to her lie up for a dwink before she took me to blackbewwy’s place. I met her mate Figawo. He laughed at how I said his name, and kept asking me mine!” Koda snorted into his paws, trying to hide a sudden fit of giggles.

“Figawo, how cute is that!” he guffawed, giving up the struggle.

“It’s not funny Koda!” Purdy yelled.

“it’s so cute!” Koda said, crawling to Purdy and embracing her.

“It makes me sound like a cub, and I’m not, I’m not!” she roared, bursting into tears. Koda kissed her nose and paws.

“but Purdy,” he said softly, “you are a cub my love. You were raised by humans, then thrown out at eight months old, you know nothing of the life outside a human’s house. Really, we here are all cubs, well most of us are. We wouldn’t survive in the wild. We accept you as you are, and would not want you to come to harm in any way. So come, dry your eyes and come to play with Anernerk and Figaro.”

“What if I don’t want to,” Purdy said.

“You will love them,” Koda said.

“Hi Purdy,” Figaro said, padding into the room on all four paws, then crawling towards her. Purdy watched the bear crawling towards her, his hat and scarf making her smile.

“why do you wear that hat?” she asked.

“it’s what I was brought up wearing, as is the scarf,” Figaro replied, “but I wasn’t brought up to wear shoes on my feet or gloves on my paws.”

“would you take the hat and scarf off?” Purdy asked. Figaro did, smiling at Purdy, who crawled to him, embraced him and kissed his nose.

“You look better without those,” she said, “sowwy if you are used to wearing that hat, but you do look better without it on.”

“If you close your eyes and get paws on with my feet and paws, you won’t notice that hat,” Figaro said. Figaro sat down and crossed his legs, Purdy getting paws on with his hind feet. Purdy explored Figaro’s feet one by one, gently exploring from toes to heels, Figaro playing with the toes of his right foot and curling those of his left, Purdy exploring each foot again and again, Figaro varying the journey her paws took. Last of all, he turned round and sat back on his heels, Figaro bouncing a bit on his heels, while Purdy explored the soles of his feet.

“they’ve said nothing for fifteen minutes now,” Patch observed, “but Purdy and Figaro have been playing, he using his feet as playthings. Once that game’s finished, I’m sure Purdy will do the same for him, using her feet as playthings for him.”

“that was fun Figawo,” Purdy said, Figaro holding her paws in his.

“It was,” he replied smiling.

“You have handsome paws and feet,” Purdy said, “vewy cubbish paws and feet they are, soft pads and small toes, vewy cute!” Figaro shook with laughter as she spoke, his eyes sparkling.

“What you laughing at?” Purdy asked.

“I love your talk Puwdy, I mean Perdy, don’t tickle my toes!” he laughed, as Purdy took her revenge on his toes, Figaro laughing, spinning around and crawling away, Purdy crawling after him, tickling his toes all the way.

“Stop it Puwdy, Stop it!” Figaro laughed, throwing himself on the floor and banging the floor with his paws. Purdy rubbed the tickle from Figaro’s toes with her paws, Figaro giggling as she rubbed the tickle from his feet.

“I loved that Puwdy,” he said. Purdy blew on his toes, Figaro smiling at her.

“I hear your mate can’t weally play that much,” she said.

“No, she can’t stand on her feet for long, but she can cwawl, I mean crawl, and roll about, and let you tickle her toes like I let you tickle mine.”

“Would she let me?” Purdy asked.

“I think I would,” Anernerk said, crawling into the room. Purdy looked at her, seeing a huge brown bear with smiling eyes, massive paws and, when Anernerk sat down, huge feet.

“You have flat feet Anernerk,” Purdy said.

“I do,” Anernerk replied.

“where did you two meet?” Purdy asked.

“Oh, I was lying on a sofa and Figaro played with my toes,” Anernerk said, “that’s how we met.” Purdy laughed merrily at this.

“What a way to meet, paw to foot,” she laughed.

“it’s a good way to meet, no lies or other horrid stuff,” Anernerk replied.

“I liked the way you rubbed your eyes with your paws when I woke you up,” Figaro said, “that was so cute!”

“I still do that when waking,” Anernerk said, “it’s what I’ve done since I was a cub.”

“now I can give you a big hug with my big paws Purdy,” Anernerk said, crawling to her, sitting down, and embracing her.

“awhwhwhwh!” Purdy exclaimed, “I love a cuddle!”

“You big softy,” Anernerk said, kissing the top of Purdy’s head.

“that’s so sweet!” Koda said, his eyes filling with tears.

“Soppy cub,” Patch observed.

“yes she is isn’t she,” Koda sniffed.

“No, not Purdy, you,” Patch said, hugging his brother.

“Oh shit!” Koda sniffed, Patch kissing the top of his head.

“Koda’s a big softy!” Purdy, Anernerk and Figaro chorused, Koda hiding his head in Patch’s chest fur, embarrassment coursing through him.

“Koda’s big and soft,” Patch said, rubbing his brother’s back.

“it’s okay to be soppy and silly Koda,” Patch replied.

A few days later, rain visited the woodlands. Sheeting, torrential downpours. Ekaterina and Orbon, undeterred by the rain, went out in it just to feel the sodden forest floor beneath their pads. The weather was warm, very warm, so the rain was more like a warm shower than a cold drenching. Large puddles on the track gave plenty of opportunity for splashing about, which Orbon indulged in, splashing Ekaterina with muddy water. Padding out into the clearing around the lagoon, Ekaterina heard something, a tiny sound, a whimpered of distress. Ekaterina froze, Orbon blundering up against her.

“bugger it Ekaterina!” he snapped, cuffing her. Ekaterina covered his mouth with a muddy paw and Orbon recoiled, spitting and cursing softly.

“Who’s there?” Ekaterina asked in English, then she asked in ursine, then community dialect.

“I’m here, I’m alone, and it’s wet and horrible!” a voice said in English. Ekaterina blessed the hours she’d asked Patch to speak to her in English, Ekaterina forcing herself to reply in kind, Ekaterina remembering Kuruk’s most famous slip up, when describing a tiger who looked sheepish as, “looking like sheep,” Now she, while not proficient, could get on well enough.

“Can you show me anywhere I can sleep?” the voice asked, “I’m cold and wet, and alone too!”

“Where are you?” Ekaterina asked. a rustling sound answered her, and a paw touched hers.

“I can’t see you,” Ekaterina said, “that doesn’t matter,” the voice said, “please, just help me to a place that is dry and safe.” Ekaterina got paws on, finding a naked bear, it was a naked bear indeed, a bear, with not a scrap of fur on her body.

“You are naked!” Ekaterina exclaimed.

“I am, was born like this, mama cared for me, but then I was taken as a trophy by humans, mama howled through the trees as I was taken away.”

“You have not a scrap of fur on you my dear,” Ekaterina said, exploring the naked bear from nose to hind feet, the bear giggling as she enjoyed Ekaterina’s exploration despite her attempts not to find pleasure in what for Ekaterina was just a quick exploration of whom she was dealing with.

“I’ll get you to a place where you can wash,” Ekaterina said, “then we will feed you and give you a place to sleep tonight, then we will show you to my mate who will decide what will happen next.”

“Will he pronounce if I live or die?” the naked bear asked.

“No, he won’t pronounce death on you,” Ekaterina replied, swallowing her shock that someone would think Patch could consider anything of the sort. The naked bear got to her feet and looked at Ekaterina.

“what is your name?” she asked.

“the humans called me Furball,” the naked she bear replied. Ekaterina snorted:

“that’s disgraceful,” she replied.

“I know it is,” the she bear replied, “but what could I do? I can’t change my name.”

“I won’t call you Furball, that’s insulting!” Ekaterina roared.

“What’s going on mama Ekaterina?” Orbon asked. Ekaterina told him.

“That’s funny!” Orbon chortled, “Furball, and she’s completely furless! How amusing! ow!” Ekaterina hit Orbon with the back of her paw, making him scream.

“how would you like to be born with no fur!” she hissed, “now shut it Orbon!”

“she’s naked from nose to toes?” Orbon asked.

“yes,” Ekaterina replied, “fur, I mean, she is.”

“I thank you for considering my feelings,” the she bear replied, “but please, call me Furball until you can find another name for me.” Ekaterina kissed the she bear’s nose, hearing her gulp back her tears.

“Can I hug you?” Ekaterina whispered. Furball nodded, Ekaterina sitting down on the wet leaves and spreading her paws, the naked bear clambering into her lap and settling down, Ekaterina embracing her, then gently grooming her with her tongue as she would a three day old cub, Furball crying softly.

“Now let’s go home,” Ekaterina said once she’d explored and groomed Furball from nose to hind feet.

“Why are you crying naked bear?” Orbon asked.

“I’m frightened and grateful too,” the bear wept.

“there’s nothing to be worried about,” Orbon said, sensing the bear’s real fear, “Ekaterina’s mate is not a fierce bear at all.”

“Now let’s go,” Ekaterina said, rain dripping off her nose. Ekaterina led the way back to the house, Furball and Orbon following.

“Who do we have here?” Sooleawa asked, then she took a second look, covered her face and screamed.

“it has no fur!” Furball turned and would have bolted, had Ekaterina not tackled her to the floor.

“I’ll help you,” she said, “it’s okay Furball, Just relax, Sooleawa won’t hurt you.”

“I won’t touch her!” Sooleawa screamed.

“Well I will,” Patch said, wandering in, “Ekaterina, you go and get yourself and Orbon clean. I’ll take care of Furball.” Ekaterina padded away, trying to keep a straight face. Patch washed Furball from nose to toes, then dried her carefully by paw, rubbing her down with gentle care. He then took her to a drying room and asked her to lift each foot and paw in turn, where he directed a tickling jet of cool air to dry her pads and between her toes.

“Do I now go to see Ekaterina’s mate to present myself to him?” she asked.

“Um, well, that won’t be necessary,” Patch said, “I’m sure he won’t mind you staying here. I have his authority to make decisions on his behalf, and you are vulnerable and in need of a good safe place.”

“What is your name?” Furball asked.

“Patch,” Patch replied, delighting in Furball’s astonished expression.

“Ekaterina said her mate was called Patch,” Furball said, looking the well furred bear up and down.

“yeah that’s me,” Patch replied, pointing at himself with one paw. Furball looked closely at Patch, then got to her hind feet so her paws were free. Patch recognised her gesture as:

“I need a hug.” Patch sat down and drew the naked bear into a huge embrace.

“I love you,” Patch said softly, “you are safe here.” Furball felt warmth coursing through her from nose to toes.

“how can you love a bear like me?” Furball asked, “I’m so unusual that I am unable to be loved by anyone but my own mama.”

“Your feet and paws tell me so much,” Patch said, “and they would have told my mate so much too.”

“You’re not turned off by my lack of fur?” Furball asked.

“No,” Patch replied, “my paws like your paws and your feet too.”

“My humans got told they could not keep a bear any more,” Furball said, “they left me in the woodlands. Now I’m alone, and I’m hungry and lost!”

“You’re not alone, and you’re home is here now,” Patch replied, “We can fix the food thing too.” Patch led Furball to his dining room, where he asked her what she wanted to eat. Furball looked at him.

“A curry please,” she requested. Patch “called for food, Sid bringing a menu and excited rubbing of paws to the dining room.

“What curry?” Sid asked, “a mild one, medium or hot? Also, vegetarian, or meat.” Furball looked at Sid, Patch wondering what she thought of a bear asking her about her food requirements.

“I would like a medium meat curry please,” Furball replied. Patch smiled as Sid, fat bear that he was, almost skipped out of the room.

“How?” Furball asked.

“how did a bear get the chef’s job you mean?” Patch asked. Furball nodded. Patch recounted Sid’s coming to the house, Furball laughing at his reaction to microwave food.

“”he sounds sweet,” she said. Sid returned with a medium strength lamb curry, Furball eating with enjoyment, Patch watching her use cutlery with ease.

“What do you really think of my furless body Patch?” Furball asked.

“I like it,” Patch replied, “it suits you.”

“I am used to it,” Furball replied, “the thing I’m not so used to is having no claws. My humans, they took them from me. As I didn’t bite, they didn’t take my teeth, though I think they do that too if a bear is a biter.”

“or they do it if they think the bear will be,” Patch thought. Furball finished her meal, grabbing a bit of bread and sweeping her plate with it.

“I’ve got used to no claws now, but it was hard in the first weeks,” Furball replied.

“What did your mama think when she gave birth to you?” Patch asked.

“she was kind and gentle,” Furball replied, “though she did say delivering me hurt like hell. She said it felt like sandpaper, and my birth was hard. I think she passed my fur coat too. I heard her crying and straining in the corner a few hours later.”

“So your fur was removed during your birth,” Patch replied, “torn out at the roots.”

“yes it would seem that way,” Furball replied, “I don’t know how it could happen though.”

“Poor you, and poor mama,” Patch said.

“She said my birth hurt her, and passing my coat hurt her even more,” Furball replied.

“I’m sorry,” Patch said. Furball wiped her mouth on a tissue, then padded to Patch, who moved to a sofa and sat down, Furball sitting down beside him and snuggling up to him.

“Your fur was literally torn off you in the throws of your mama giving birth to you,” Patch said.

“mama said she had to grab me and pull while she pushed, she didn’t realise what happened until she passed the afterbirth. Of course, that hurt her more than it should, and was harder work, and when she looked at what she’d struggled to pass, she saw what had happened. I knew nothing about this, but I know mama did her best to keep me warm. She only let me out on the warmest days, and of course when the humans got hold of me, they kept me indoors mostly, so I had no warmth issues. Hot days were nice, and cold ones the humans spent indoors with their heating, so things weren’t too bad for me.”

“We’ll have to find you a coat,” Patch replied.

“Yes, for the outside, but not for indoors, and nothing for my feet or paws thank you,” Furball replied.

“You mean you don’t want a coat for in here to hide your nakedness?” Sally asked, padding into the room. Furball looked at her, switching from ursine to English she replied:

“No, my naked body is not embarrassing to me, being cold is not nice though. I understand human sensibilities are different. You don’t’ walk around naked, hence why you are wearing a cat suit, I know this stuff.”

“how did you become so naked anyway?” Sally asked, “bears are born with small amounts of fur on their bodies.”

“Not me,” Furball replied, “I was born without fur, my birth stripped it off me. mama delivered the coat without the cub inside it. It hurt her, and she roared and cried throughout. Straining, wriggling and pushing, curling her toes and kicking as she delivered me, and doing all that bar the kicking when she passed the afterbirth and my rejected fur coat.”

“Poor mama,” Sally replied, “labour is hard, I’ve done it. I helped a panda cub into the world.”

“You pushed like my mama did?” Furball asked.

“yes,” Sally replied, “I was playing, and pretending ended in real labour, helping a mama panda who was dying while trying to deliver her cub. I took over and helped her by finishing the job. I did all your mama did. I screamed and cried, curled my toes, kicked and thrust with my bare feet and punched with my hands, wriggled and roared too.”

“it’s a lovely story,” Furball replied.

“I’ll find you a suit you can wear outside,” Patch said.

“I won’t wear it in the house, and won’t wear it if it’s warm out,” Furball replied, “but I appreciate the kindness.”

“I think you look lovely without fur,” Sally said, “but you will catch cold without a coat, just as I would.”

“yes I know,” Furball replied. Sally asked:

“Furball, can I touch you? hug you?” Furball nodded, and Sally got hands on, feeling the bear’s skin tough and leathery under her hands. Sally ran her hands down Furball’s back, then her arms to her paws, then legs to her hind feet, Furball wriggling and curling her toes with pleasure throughout.

“Your feet and paws are like mine,” Sally said, “naked on the tops and the soles, so sweet!” Furball laughed helplessly at this and pressed her toes into Sally’s hands as the young girl explored her left foot.

“You are so gentle with my feet and paws,” Furball said.

“they are lovely feet and paws,” Sally said, drawing circles on the sole of Furball’s left foot, Furball giggling and curling her toes tighter and tighter as Sally’s foot massage continued.

“What’s going on here?” Jenny asked, padding into the room.

“we have a naked bear,” Sally said, “ a bear who is furless and has cute paws and feet.”

“A naked bear? Furless? Completely furless?” jenny asked, padding carefully forward.

“yes,” Furball replied, “Sally’s right, I have no fur.”

“”Furball has pink skin and pink pads,” Sally said.

“how did she become naked?” jenny asked, “a bear isn’t usually like that, they are furry.”

“I was born out of my fir,” Furball said, “my previous owners called me Furball.”

“how?” Jenny asked.

“I was stripped of my fur while being born,” Furball replied, “I don’t know how, I only remember the result of it, my mama’s agony as she rid herself of afterbirth and my fur coat, and being cold on dark nights, my mama struggling to keep me warm.”

“that is sad,” Jenny said.

“it’s how I am, naked from my ears to my feet,” Furball said. jenny padded to Furball and took her paw.

“your paw is very warm despite having no fur on it, or any claws for that matter,” Jenny said.

“My claws were removed by the humans who owned me,” Furball confessed, “I didn’t lose those when being born.”

“I’m sorry Furball,” jenny said, “I’m sorry my species did that to yours.”

“it’s noone’s fault,” Furball sighed, “I know now how it feels to be clawless in paw and foot. I learnt how to climb, and how to grip with my toes rather than my claws, which I didn’t have of course.”

“Can I touch your feet and paws?” jenny asked. Furball rolled onto her back and jenny got hands on, Furball almost purring as she soaked up jenny’s attentions”

“Your paws and feet are very warm,” jenny said, “Furball, do you play with your hind feet?” Furball giggled:

“yeah, I do!” she said, “I often did, my humans found it cute, and I found it relaxing.”

“So many like playing with their toes,” jenny said, “I do, Patch does, Sally does, and you do Furball.”

“It’s a cubbish thing I know,” Furball said. Patch smiled as Jenny rubbed Furball’s paws and feet, the naked bear wriggling and laughing with pleasure.

“You are so tactile,” jenny laughed. Furball clasped jenny’s hands in her paws, and grabbed her fingers with her toes whenever jenny touched her paws or feet.

“You lovely silly bear!” jenny laughed, as Furball kicked pedalled air with her hind feet, her toes brushing Jenny’s hands.

“You big softy!” Jenny laughed.

“Lovely seeing you two play,” Sally said.

“I like jenny’s touch, and yours too Sally,” Furball replied.

“Furball is beautiful,” Sally said.

“What kind of bear is Furball?” jenny asked.

“I think she’s a brown bear,” Patch said, “I’m half polar half grizzly, but my pads are so pink they might as well be white. I think Furball is the same as me. her fur would have been brown, her skin pink, feel her foot, it has a solid sole pad, not one with an arch on the inside like a black bear has.”

“her paws and feet are cute!” Sally said.

“stop tickling my feet!” Furball laughed, “your touch tickles my feet!”

“you have lovely feet and paws Furball,” jenny said, hugging her and kissing her nose.

“Now you’ve had a good feel of my feet, can I grab yours in my paws?” Furball asked, “it’s only fair.” Jenny sat down, and Furball crawled over to her, grabbing her right foot in her paws, then tickling the toes, sole and ball of her foot, Jenny screaming with laughter.

“I learnt how to handle the hands and feet of humans,” Furball said, “we played together, me and the two children, a boy and a girl, I was their playmate. They wept as I was taken from their home and released into the woods. It’s a long way from here is their home. I’m homeless now.”

“I was a child’s playmate once,” Patch said. Furball looked at him, while her paws counted the toes on Jenny’s left foot.

“so it’s you Paul was talking about!” Furball yelled, “he, he came back from school, oh, um, weeks ago, months ago, and he said he’d met a bear, and that bear had told them stories, and, oh, and, he said he’d seen a young girl secretly touch the sole of the bear’s left foot as he sat cross legged on the floor, and, and that the bear had responded by curling his toes around the girl’s fingers, and that two children had gone with the bear to his home, and that, that they stayed at his home for ages, and didn’t come back to school! Was that you Sally?”

“Yes, me and Peter my brother,” Sally replied.

“So the bear named Patch, is you!” Furball yelled, waving a paw at Patch, who smiled:

“it is I,” he replied. Furball was so excited by this she got to her feet and leapt about the floor, Sally squealing with laughter.

“Can you hear Furball’s feet on the tiles?” Sally asked. jenny grinned:

“her pads are hot and sticking a bit,” Jenny said. Furball calmed down and Patch padded to her, and hugged her.

“Who was your human playmate?” Furball asked, “Patch, did you see her after you were put in the woods?” Patch smiled and held Furball tightly.

“My human found me,” Patch said, recounting the tale of how mama Kamchatka had found Jess in the woods. Furball laughed as Patch recounted how Jess had accidently tickled the grizzly bear’s foot.

“Typical humans,” she giggled.

“I accepted Jess as she was,” Patch said, omitting the story of Jess’s period of ursine living.

“Do all the humans learn foot and paw games here?” Furball asked.

“They do,” Patch replied, “old and young learn them, they play with the cubs too. touch is one of the senses first used by our cubs here.”

“Is that why Ekaterina touched me with her paws so soon?” Furball enquired.

“Partly,” Patch replied, “but mostly because she is blind and can’t see you Furball.”

“oooah,” Furball exclaimed.

“Do you feel differently about her now you know that?” Patch asked.

“No, she was soft and gentle, and made me feel warm,” Furball replied, “It’s just that knowing now that she’s unable to see tells me why she explored with her paws in the way she did, she was enquiring with them, asking questions with her paws.”

“she made you feel safe, that is good,” Patch replied, “I worry about her when she’s out alone.”

“There was another bear with her, a young male, he was rude,” Furball replied.

“he was very rude if I remember,” Ekaterina said, walking into the room.

“yes, he was,” Furball admitted, “but, but, I didn’t want to cause trouble!”

“I’ve spoken to him, so it’s all cleared up,” Ekaterina said, sensing Patch’s attention turned on her.

“We took charge of Orbon recently,” Patch said, “I hope you told him off Ekaterina,” Patch said.

“I did,” Ekaterina replied, “I come to hug and speak to Furball, and not to talk of Orbon.”

“you look cleaner than you did in the woods,” Furball said.

“I washed myself twice over,” Ekaterina replied, “I hope you did too.”

“Get paws on if you like,” Furball said, padding to Ekaterina, “I wish my feet weren’t so sticky!” she raged hearing the sucking sound her feet made on the tiles, “excitement does this to me, makes my feet stick to the floor!” Ekaterina giggled:

“Mine too Furball love,” she replied.

“You have lovely paws Ekaterina,” Furball said, reaching the mama bear and kissing her nose.

“So do you Furball,” Ekaterina replied, covering Furball’s naked right paw with her own, Furball smiling into Ekaterina’s eyes.

“You can’t see me,” Furball said, “but if I tell you I have pink skin from nose to toes would that be of any use?” Ekaterina smiled:

“it would,” she replied, returning Furball’s kiss.

“I have no fur on my face, my feet, my back or my belly!” Furball giggled.

“I felt that,” Ekaterina replied.

“But you clothed me in warmth Ekaterina, your paws did that is. That is why I followed you.” Ekaterina hesitated, knowing her face gave away her emotions.

“Your paws made me feel safe Ekaterina,” Furball said, spelling it out for the she bear.

“I tried my best,” Ekaterina replied.

“Who will look after me now?” Furball asked.

“the whole community will,” Ekaterina replied.

“A van took me away and they released me into the woods, I will never see my human playmates again,” Furball whimpered. Ekaterina kissed Furball’s nose.

“Come,” she said, “let’s see what games we can play shall we? What games did you play with your family?”

“Oh, foot and paw games mostly, chasing each other, playing with sticks, passing the twig to each other with our toes, picking up marbles and things like that with our toes, crawling about with someone tickling my toes, me tickling theirs. Is that enough games? Or do you want more?”

“Did you play the cycling game? Or the stuck foot game?” Ekaterina asked.

“We played those,” Furball said.

“You are playful,” jenny said to Furball.

“I am,” Furball replied, “I love play, always have.”

“is there anywhere to relieve myself?” Furball asked. Patch showed her the place, and she used it, before washing her backside, paws and feet carefully. This done, she padded back to Patch’s lie up.

“Now let’s play a foot and paws game,” Furball suggested.

“the convention here is to check feet for thorns before we play,” jenny replied.

“I like the idea of that,” Furball said. Furball sat down on the rugs, jenny sitting down opposite her. the naked bear and cat suited human took each other’s feet in hands or paws and explored from toes to heels, then heels to toes, pressing pads and toes. Furball couldn’t help curling her toes at jenny’s touch, the young girl’s touch gentle and soothing to the she bear as she explored soft pads and mobile toes.

“your feet like my touch,” Jenny said, Furball smiling at her and squeezing Jenny’s fingers with the toes of her right foot.

“the sole of your foot wrinkles up as you curl your toes! it’s cute!” jenny giggled.

“I’ll bet yours does the same,” Furball said. jenny giggled:

“Let’s see if it does,” she said. she let go of Furball’s foot and gave the she bear her own left foot. Furball explored Jenny’s foot from toes to heel, jenny resisting the urge to curl her toes until the bear’s touch reached the soft sole skin and touched the soft skin on the inside of the arch of her foot, jenny tightly curling her toes, Furball drawing her paw down the now furrowed skin on the sole of Jenny’s foot.

“the sole of your foot wrinkles up when you curl your toes too jenny!” Furball laughed.

“I couldn’t stop them curling when you touched the middle part of my foot, yes there, right there, yes there!! jenny giggled, as Furball rubbed the sensitive skin on the inside of her foot.”

“I know the sensitive parts of the human foot,” Furball said, “remember I used to play with humans, touch is how we communicated.”

“I can tell,” jenny replied, “this is fun!” Furball embraced jenny’s foot, jenny curling her toes, reaching forward with both hands and tightly holding onto her curled toes with her fingers such were the intensity of her emotions.

“Oooooaw,” she exclaimed, “this feels so warm!” Furball smiled, leant forward and kissed Jenny’s gripping fingers.

“You softies!” Patch laughed, his eyes shinning. Ekaterina, sitting down, was being shown by Sally what jenny and Furball were up to, Sally directing Ekaterina in Furball’s role, she taking Jenny’s part, both thoroughly enjoying themselves with audio tactile entertainment.

“the soles of Furball’s feet are slightly darker than the skin around, as she has thick pads on the soles of her feet and on her toes,” Sally said, “but as you can hear, they are very sensitive, and she loves Jenny’s touch.” Ekaterina, giggling throughout as Sally imitated Jenny’s play with Furball’s feet, then copied Jenny as Ekaterina copied Furball’s exploration of jenny’s feet by exploring Sally’s left foot, Sally reacting to Ekaterina’s touch as jenny had to Furball’s touch on the sole of her left foot, curling her toes, then grabbing them with her hands.

“This feels wonderful!” Sally laughed.

Here’s my right foot,” Furball said, placing her heel in Jenny’s hands after letting go of the young girl’s left foot.

“Can I make your toes curl like you did mine?” jenny asked, exploring Furball’s foot from naked top to thick sole pad and mobile toes.

“My toes curl easily!” Furball laughed, bouncing on her backside as her toes curled tightly, catching Jenny’s fingers, the young girl laughing merrily.

“This is wonderful!” she said. Furball, her eyes shining, settled into her play as she’d done so many times before. Jenny’s feet were small, Furballs toes able to curl around Jennies in comfort when she were heel to heel.

“Foot and paw play really works,” Sally said.

“It does,” Ekaterina replied, as Sally explored her right foot, Ekaterina’s own toes curling tightly, catching Sally’s fingers.

“that’s so sweet,” Patch said, sitting in the corner, watching everything, his paws and toes clenching and curling with emotions.

“Patch is loving this as much as we are,” Sally said. Jenny and Furball roughhoused on the floor, jenny getting the upper hand and tickling Furball’s toes, the she bear squealing with laughter. Sally described what was happening, then tickled Ekaterina’s toes, Ekaterina lying on her back, waving her paws, laughing helplessly.

“I couldn’t roughhouse with you really,” Sally said, “so I had to just tickle your toes and hope I tickled them enough.”

“what’s happening now?” Ekaterina asked. In reply Sally grabbed Ekaterina’s right foot and drew circles on her pads then counted her toes.

“Ah, nice,” Ekaterina sighed.

“How expressive are Furball’s paws and feet?” Sally asked.

“her paws and feet pour her emotions into my paws,” Ekaterina replied, curling her toes around Sally’s fingers, squeezing them tenderly.

“Your pads are very soft and warm,” Furball said to Jenny as she traced the sole of Jenny’s left foot with the toes of her right paw. jenny, giggling, bounced about on her backside a bit, flexing her toes, then curling them, holding them curled as the circles drawn on the sole of her foot by Furball’s paw got smaller and smaller, Furball pressing the centre of jenny’s heel with her paw, jenny making an extra effort to curl her toes for as long as Furball pressed the heel pad of her foot. Furball drew her toes down the sole of Jenny’s foot from her tightly curled toes over her bunched sole, to her heel, jenny easing her toes from curled to relaxed.

“I like that game,” Jenny said, “you deciding how long I curl my toes, and me trying to keep them curled as long as the pressure is on the heel of my foot.”

“now will you do the same for me?” Furball asked. jenny took Furball’s right foot and drew circles on her sole pad with her fingers, careful not to tickle the bear’s foot. Furball curled her toes slowly, then when jenny stopped drawing and pressed the heel of her foot, Furball took a deep breath and curled her toes tighter than ever, holding them tightly curled, while breathing out slowly. Jenny explored Furball’s tightly curled toes with her free hand, as she’d let go of Furball’s foot shortly before putting pressure on her heel. Furball wriggled as she tried to maintain her curled toes.

“Don’t overtire her jenny,” Patch said.

“I’m loving this!” Furball replied, jenny relieving the pressure on Furball’s foot, Furball uncurling her toes, jenny helping her by rubbing her bunched pads, easing the bear’s toes into a relaxed state.

Sally watched jenny, telling Ekaterina what she was doing, then she demonstrated using Ekaterina’s hind feet, the polar bear laughing as her toes curled tightly.

“This feels wonderful!” she laughed, as Sally drew her fingers from Ekaterina’s tightly curled toes to her heel, Ekaterina easing her toes straight..

“Now do the same for my feet,” Sally said, Ekaterina drawing circles on the sole of Sally’s right foot, Sally slowly curling her toes while Ekaterina’s paw circled, then holding them curled as she pressed Sally’s heel with her paw.

“this feels wonderful!” Sally laughed as Ekaterina helped her straighten her toes.

“now my toes are exhausted,” Furball said, “but I love the play. How about if we play the stuck foot game jenny?” Jenny explored her own feet with her hands, feeling slight warmth in her own pads.

“yes let’s,” she replied. Furball pressed her feet against jenny’s, jenny feeling her heel sticking slightly to Furball’s warm pads. Smiling she tried to move her foot down, and couldn’t.

“We’re stuck already!” she laughed. Furball smiled:

“We are,” she replied, “now who will pull and who will use their fingers as a lever?”

“I’ll pull, if you’ll lever,” Jenny said, “I’ll pull the heel of my left foot, you lever away at your right foot. Furball explored with her left paw, feeling her way around the sides of her own right foot, finding Jenny’s foot, the girl’s toes pressing into the ball of her own foot, her heel pressed flush against hers.

“Okay, I’ve found the gap,” Furball said, now I’ll work my paw into it, and you pull your heel with your hands. Pull Jenny Pull! Brace your toes and pull!” Jenny dug her toes into the soft pad of Furball’s right foot, tugging at her heel with both her hands, while Furball worked furiously with her left paw to widen the gap, her toes curling tightly with every pressure put on the ball of her foot by Jenny’s toes.

Ekaterina and Sally played the same game as Jenny and Furball, each finding the other’s pads warm and very attractive to each other. Sally’s toes dug into the ball of Ekaterina’s foot, Ekaterina’s toes curling as Sally tugged at the heel of her own left foot.

“This is lovely!” Ekaterina gasped, levering away at her foot as Furball was at hers.

“I love these games,” Sally replied, gasping a little.

“Pull Sally Pull your heel from mine, dig those toes in, dig them into my foot if you need to!” Ekaterina urged.

“but your toes are tired,” Sally said. Ekaterina curled her toes tightly round Sally’s:

“Now dig your toes hard into my pads and pull!” Ekaterina urged. Sally dug her toes into Ekaterina’s pads with as much force as she could, tugging at her own heel, while Ekaterina worked furiously with her left paw. Sally and Ekaterina whimpered and growled with effort as they struggled to free their feet, when suddenly their two feet parted, Ekaterina’s toes releasing Sally’s foot. Whimpering slightly, Sally massaged her foot with her hands, rocking back and fourth slightly as she did so, Ekaterina doing much the same.

“Rock and rub, rock on your backside and rub your foot and toes Ekaterina!” Sally encouraged. Ekaterina panting, grabbed her right foot in her paws and obeyed like a cub.

This foot rubbing feels great Furball,” Jenny said, “your foot held mine well.”

“it did,” Furball said, “that was a great game.”

“how about playing with the other two feet now?” Jenny asked, rubbing the toes of her left foot with her fingers.

“yes please,” Furball replied, rubbing the heel of her right foot with her left paw..

“it’s lovely play this,” Patch said, “it’s lovely to see you four playing.”

“it’s a pity you can’t play too,” Furball said.

“I’ll play the winner of the stuck foot games,” Patch replied.

“There are no winners yet,” Ekaterina said.

“I’ll play the first who can free their foot from the second rounds then,” Patch replied, “No cheating, and no easy games okay? I want to see real effort, four really stuck feet, as before.” Sally and jenny smiled.

“We’ll play fair,” Furball and Ekaterina promised.

“is Ekaterina following our game, or are they playing their own?” jenny asked.

“I think she and Sally are playing their own stuck foot game,” Furball replied.

“they were following ours though,” Jenny said, “Sally was tactilely describing it to Ekaterina.”

“yes,” Furball replied, “I realised that.”

“now let’s pull at our feet to free them,” jenny said, “I’ll dig at the gap between our pads where the arch of my right foot is, and you try to brace the ball of your left foot against my toes, while I try and brace my toes against your foot, this is gonna be hard, my feet are smaller than yours! I’ll have to get some stronger toes Furball!” Jenny tried pushing back against Furball’s efforts to free her foot with her toes, but couldn’t do it.

“How about if I dig with my paws while you pull at your heel jenny?” Furball asked, “that way you can dig your toes into my pads with ease.” Jenny smiled and agreed and Furball felt Jenny’s toes pressing into the ball of her foot.

“Pull jenny Pull!” Furball gasped.

“eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh! Eeeeoeoeoeoaow!” Jenny yelled as she tugged at the heel of her right foot with both hands while Furball’s toes curled round hers, the bear scrabbling at the gap she could feel between the pad of her left foot and the heel of Jenny’s right . Jenny wriggled, tugging furiously at her right foot, bracing her toes with desperate urgency.

“My paw’s finding a widening gap jenny, Pull! Pull hard!” Jenny worried at her foot a bit, then tugged harder, bracing her toes against the ball of Furball’s foot.

“Eeeeoeoeoeoeoeaowow!” jenny screeched, tugging harder still. Furball’s scrabbling paw found its way into the increasing gap, the she bear pushing it further in.

“Do that again jenny, do it again!” Furball encouraged, “it worked!”

“My fingers are slipping, I can’t hold on to my heel for much longer!” jenny yelled theatrically, her fingers scrabbling forward, finding their way to gripping the pad of her heel a bit.

“Now you have purchase, pull!” Furball encouraged. Jenny closed her eyes, braced her toes against Furball’s and pulled as hard as she could.

“My heel’s coming free Furball! Eoeoeoeoeoeoaoaoaow! It’s coming free!” Jenny yelled.

“Pull Jenny Pull!” Furball encouraged. Furball’s paw slipped right into the gap made by jenny’s efforts to free her heel, then jenny grabbed the main part of her foot, both hands up by the ball of her foot, tugging and gasping.

“let go of my toes Furball!” jenny yelled, Furball uncurling her toes, Jenny tugging them away from Furball’s foot, both bear and girl rubbing their feet with their hands or paws.

“That was intense,” Ekaterina remarked when she’d got her breath back, having re-enacted what Sally had described to her.

“It was fun!” jenny laughed.

“how did you scream like that,” Sally asked.

“I really believed my foot was stuck,” jenny replied, “for a second, I really believed it.”

“We were a little behind you,” Ekaterina said, “but Sally did a great job of describing what was happening, letting me get paws on, and me letting her get hands on too.”

“What was that yell?” Purdy asked, padding into the room. Jenny told her what she and Furball had been doing.

“I take it Fuwball is that naked bear who’s rubbing talc into her paws and feet?” Purdy asked.

“yes I am “Fuwball,” as you most beautifully pronounce my name,” Furball replied smiling. Purdy looked at Furball, taking the naked bear in from her nose to her toes.

“Who stole your fur?” She asked.

“I lost it during my birth,” Furball replied.

“But you are brilliant the way you are,” Purdy said, “the way you played with jenny was so sweet! I’ve never seen play like that!”

“it was intense,” Furball replied smiling, “we really got into our game.”

“Jenny’s yell as she pulled her foot free was real enough!” Purdy said.

“it was, but being stuck was all in my imagination,” jenny said, walking to Purdy and sitting down beside her. Purdy turned to Jenny and jenny hugged her.

“I wish I could play like that,” Purdy said, “I’m twying, but I haven’t quite got the imagination yet. Koda is twying to help me play through my paws and feet.”

“I learnt how to very young indeed,” Jenny said, “so did Sally and her brother Peter. Our feet and hands are playthings, for us to use or for us to give others to play with.”

“I played with Figaro’s hind feet, explowing his feet and paws with my paws, and he cuwled his toes, it was so cute!” Purdy replied.

“Our play started with playing silly toe curling games, and then stuck foot games,” Furball said, “we sat down did Jenny and me, and we began to play, and play till our feet stuck, then we fought to free them.”

“I saw,” Purdy replied, “it looked weal!”

“it felt real too,” jenny said.

“You’re a playful two,” Patch said laughing.

“I loved playing with you Furball,” Jenny said smiling.

“I with you too Jenny,” Furball said. Jenny embraced Furball, the naked she bear snuggling close.

“To begin with your furless body was unusual,” jenny said, “but now I am used to it. I know how expressive your paws and feet are, and that you are warm and gentle.”

“I’ve found a coat for Furball!” Jess yelled, running in with a full length quilted jacket. Furball glanced at her, then at the jacket, and shook her head:

“I’m not wearing that!” she growled.

“oh please, try it on,” Jess pleaded. Furball got to her feet and padded to Jess, looking the cat suited girl up and down, she said:

“You’re Patch’s former charge aren’t you?” Jess nodded:

“how did you know?” she asked.

“I guessed,” Furball replied, “something in the way you walk, you copy him.”

“he was my role model for years,” Jess said, “I love him dearly.” Patch hid his face in his paws, embarrassed at Jess’s expressions of love for him.

“Be proud of it,” Furball said to him, “Patch, you made this girl what she is today.” Jess left the jacket on the floor and padded to Patch, throwing her arms around him and kissing his nose. Patch got to his hind feet, Jess standing on tiptoe to hug him. Patch judged the distances, embraced Jess, picked her up, and swung her round, her feet swinging out, Jess laughing helplessly. Setting her down on her feet again, Patch smiled at Jess, Jess’s eyes shining into his.

“Do you two check each other’s feet for thorns?” Furball asked. Jess smiled and motioned to Patch, who dropped to his knees and sat down on the floor, Jess picking up his right foot and pressing his pads and toes.

“it’s as if he’s a circus bear!” Furball screamed. Patch shook his head:

“I know Jess motioned to me and I sat down, but I’m my own bear, I could ignore her if I wanted,” he replied in English. Furball didn’t think it unusual Patch could speak English, for she could, as she’d learnt it with her own humans, as had Purdy and Figaro.

“I like Jess checking my feet for thorns,” Patch said, a distant look in his eyes, “it’s like old times. There were good times in that horrid house, times when Jess and I were left alone to play, and to become close. Checking each other’s feet for thrones after Jess came back from school were one of those times.”

“Didn’t she wear shoes?” Furball asked.

“I did,” Jess replied, “but we ignored that, I tearing off my shoes and socks with as much theatrical urgency as I could, giving Patch my feet, curling and stretching my toes wildly until his touch soothed my bare feet.”

“Cute,” Purdy observed.

“you asked me to check your feet for thorns after every school day didn’t you,” Patch said. Jess smiled:

“I did,” she said, “I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a teacher like Miss Chartwell.” Patch smiled. He knew what she really meant. Checking her feet for thorns wasn’t anything to do with thorns, it was a way of Jess feeling safe after her school day. For years, Patch was the only one Jess felt safe with, and checking her feet for thorns made her feel safe.

“We used to play stuck foot games didn’t we Patch,” Jess said. Patch smiled and nodded.

“I wish we could play again,” Jess added, “but you’re always too occupied to do that.”

“You only have to ask me Jess dear,” Patch replied.

“okay, how about now?” Jess asked, “the games Furball and Jenny were playing look good games.” Patch got to his feet.

“come,” he said, “for old times sake, I’ll let you ride on my back to my lie up.” Furball was shocked at this.

“how can you let her do that! That degrades you!” she screamed.

“I said it was for old times sake,” Patch replied, “like I used to carry her when she was young and we went out at night to walk. When she got too tired to walk, I’d carry Jess on my back.” Jess got onto Patch’s back, Patch padding to the soft play room. Smiling, he tipped Jess off onto the soft flooring, then sat down and they both checked each other’s feet for thorns, making a play of pulling each other’s adult feet from their cub feet, rolling imaginary socks off their hind feet, then checking their cub feet for thorns. Once this was done, Patch and Jess crawled to their play area, sat down and Patch took Jess’s right foot in his paws, drawing circles on the sole of her foot, Jess curling her toes tighter and tighter as the circles decreased in size, Jess relaxing her toes after every circle.. Once Patch’s circles reached the smallest they could, Patch dabbed at the centre of Jess’s heel Pad, Jess curling her toes even tighter than she had before, Patch keeping pressure on her heel pad, Jess keeping her toes curled for as long as she could. Patch rubbed Jess’s curled toes with his free paw, Jess pressing her curled toes into his paw with pleasure of the game.

“please uncurl my toes Patch,” Jess said, grabbing her toes with the fingers of her right hand, “I can’t do it!” Patch drew his fingers down the furrowed sole of Jess’s foot from her curled toes to her heel, then rubbed the ball of her foot, Jess slowly relaxing her toes.

“That feels wonderful!” Jess exclaimed, “could you do the same for my left foot too?”

“I will,” Patch replied. Patch thought for a minute:

“Can we change the rules a bit?” he asked. Jess replied:

“Okay, what rules?”

“I’ll draw circles, and you interpreter the size of the circle by curling your toes? then, as a random time, I’ll touch the heel pad of your foot, and you curl your toes as tightly as you can and hold it for as long as you can?” Jess giggled at this.

“Sounds great,” she replied. So Patch drew circles again, but Jess held her toes curled dependent on the size of the circle. Patch watched as he drew first a large circle, Jess’s toes hardly curling, then he drew a tiny circle, Jess curling her toes tightly, then he drew a medium circle, Jess relaxing her toes to a medium curled state. This game went on for quarter of an hour, Patch finally dabbing the centre of Jess’s heel pad with the toes of his paw, Jess curling her toes as tightly as she could.

“I wasn’t expecting that!” she laughed.

“That’s the joy of this game,” Patch replied.

“let me do the same for your feet!” Jess pleaded. Patch smiled and gave her his left foot.

“Okay,” Jess said, “let’s check your toe curling abilities, the spiral test first Patch.” Jess drew ever decreasing circles on the sole pad of Patch’s right foot, Patch curling his toes ever tighter, then she dabbed his heel with her fingers, Patch curling his toes as tightly as he could, holding them curled. Then Jess drew her fingers from Patch’s curled toes to his heel, releasing his toes, Patch relaxing his foot. then Jess tried random circles, Patch interpreting her circles with the degree of curl in his toes. Jess finishing the game by pressing the heel of his foot, Patch having to go from a large circle, with toes slightly curled, to fully curled toes in half a second. Patch desperately curled his toes, Jess giggling and rubbing the furred tops of her friend’s curled toes.

“It’s hard isn’t it Patch,” she said. Patch, released from the curl, replied:

“yes it is! But it’s fun!” Jess hugged her lifelong friend.

“I love you Patch, my dear old grey,” she said, burying her face in his fur. Patch, embracing Jess as tightly as he dared, returned her hug.

“you are handsome from your nose to your toes Patch,” Jess said. Patch smiled and rubbed her back with his paw, Jess feeling her fingers and toes curling with emotion.

“it’s like old times,” Jess said, “you make me feel warm and safe Patch.” Patch blew warm breath on her head, Jess snuggling close.

“You always called me your bear cub,” she said softly.

“I know, and you were then, and are now,” Patch replied, “I promised to protect you as long as you needed me.”

“I’m older in my mind,” Jess replied, “but I still need my comforting bear.” Patch smiled and ruffled her hair with his paw, Jess sitting back on her heels between Patch’s hind legs, Patch reaching round and tickling the heel of her left foot, Jess yelping and jumping, then laughing helplessly.

“I’m nearly too tall not to do you damage when you do that!” she laughed, “my head nearly hit you under your chin Patch!” Patch grinned.

“I’ll be sad when you’re too tall for me to do that,” he replied. Jess looked into Patch’s face.

“Do you remember when I used to explore your face, belly, feet and paws with my hands?” she asked.

“I do,” Patch replied, “you used to clamber all over me too, use me like a climbing frame when you were really young. I remember how your fingers and toes used to grip my fur.” Jess closed her eyes, her fingers and toes curling slightly as she remembered the grip she’d used when she was three years old, and Patch was large enough for her to clamber all over him to some extent. She explored his paws and feet with her fingers, then with her toes, Patch exploring her hands and feet with his paws, then with his feet too.

“We had many foot and paw games,” Jess said wistfully, “I wish we could play them again, that I could have my small hands and feet back so I could feel your feet and paws with the fresh enquiry I had, even though I’d felt them many times before.” Patch smiled:

“You want me to make your feet as small as they were when you were three years old?” he asked.

“for a bit yes,” Jess replied. Patch took Jess’s hands in his paws, feeling and looking at them. then Jess sat back, giving him her feet one at a time, Patch exploring her feet from heels to toes.

“I can’t make your feet and hands smaller,” he said, “but I can make myself bigger so you can climb again like you did before.” Jess felt her toes curling uncontrollably.

“Just once, just one more time, please?” Jess pleaded. Patch smiled, and Jess closed her eyes, the memories of her explorations flooding back from all those years ago.

“now explore me with your hands and feet dear little cub,” Patch said. Jess did, finding Patch as big as she remembered him, she found him large enough to climb on, her toes and fingers finding finger and toe holds, then she found herself standing on his back. Smiling, she explored the sensation of the bear’s fur under her feet, digging her toes in, caressing the fur in her curled toes, rubbing the fur under her heels.

“This feels great!” Jess exclaimed. Patch, standing on all four feet, completely relaxed, smiled to himself.

“it feels wonderful this end too,” he said. Jess Sat down, her heels sinking into Patch’s thick fur.

“I’m not hurting you am I?” she asked.

“You cannot,” Patch replied, “you are three years old, you can’t hurt me little cub.” Jess, her heart full of excitement, slid off Patch’s back, then lifted his right foot in her hands, feeling his warm pads and toes, toes which grabbed her fingers, making her laugh and pull at her hand.

“this is so wonderful Patch!” Jess said. Patch released Jess’s fingers, then dropped into a crawling posture, Jess resting her heels on his toes, her toes on the heels of his hind feet as she sat behind him.

“My toes don’t reach your heels!” she complained.

“Do you remember how to stretch your feet?” Patch asked, bowing his head between his forelegs and looking at her between them and his hind legs. Jess, seeing this, screamed with laughter, excitedly pressing the pads of his hind feet with her toes.

“you look so funny!” she squealed.

“I’m not funny!” Patch replied, sticking his tongue out, Jess giggling childishly.

“Can I touch your feet and paws again?” Jess asked. Patch crawled round, then sat down, giving her his left foot to start. Jess measured her own foot against his, stretching her toes to try and make them touch his toes:

“I can’t make my feet bigger!” Jess squealed, Patch curling his toes so their toes touched.

“there, now your toes touch mine,” Patch said. Jess giggling.

“Can we play the stuck foot game like this?” Jess asked.

“I remember we got really stuck once, stuck for hours,” Patch replied, “it was such a struggle to free ourselves.”

“I remember that game,” Jess said, “it was historical.” Jess explored the pads and toes of Patch’s hind feet with her own toes, Patch smiling throughout. Lastly, Patch let Jess explore his paws with her feet, her toes exploring his paws with care. Then he hugged her, and Jess snuggled close.

“how was that?” Patch asked a few minutes later.

“it felt wonderful!” Jess replied, “Patch, can you do that never you want?”

“not often,” Patch replied, “but it was fun for me too.”

“thank you,” Jess said, kissing his nose, “thank you Old Grey, my lovely cuddly friend.” Patch rested his chin on the top of Jess’s head, Jess relaxing into his embrace.

“I love you Patch,” Jess said softly.

“I love you too Jess,” Patch replied, “but words are meaningless really, we communicated with our paws and feet before we could communicate with our voices.”

“Yes I know,” Jess replied, “I snuggled with you before I knew words, I clasped your paw in my tiny hands and curled up with you to sleep.

“I remember holding you in my paws, keeping you warm with my curled body,” Patch said, “I remember you snuggling up to me on cold nights, both of us falling asleep together.”

“I remember that too,” Jess said. she looked up into Patch’s face.

“You’re big and soft and lovely,” Jess said smiling.

“I’m just me,” Patch replied, looking down and kissing her nose.

“the day you die I’ll lose it,” Jess exclaimed, “I can’t imagine you dead Patch.” Patch looked grave:

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, “I’ve been assured of that.”

“You mean like Petra?” Jess asked.

“yes,” Patch replied, “I’m here to do a job, I’m here to be a friend to others, to do my duty to my community, to be myself.”

“You followed the right path Patch, right from inside the womb,” Jess said, “that is why you are given the abilities you have.”

“I’m also here to be a friend to you Jess, to play with you and be gentle to you.”

“if I seriously did wrong you’d make me see my errors too,” Jess replied.

“I would,” Patch said, “but I wish not to think of how I would do that, not in this place of play.”

“Ok Patch,” Jess said. Patch pushed Jess away, then lay on his back, lifted his feet off the floor and smiling, waved his paws and feet in the air, Jess laughing helplessly.

“Can we play the bicycle game?” she asked.

“We can, come on then,” Patch replied, Jess lying down on her back, feeling her feet touch Patch’s warm pads. Jess felt her heels and toes seem to grip Patch’s. smiling, she tried to move her feet down, but they wouldn’t move. Patch and she began pedalling with their legs right left right left, Jess squealing as the toes of her right foot slipped and she lost the game, Patch giggling as her slipping toes tickled the sole of his foot.

“Best of three,” Patch said, “you lose one. Now round two.” Jess settled her feet, and they cycled slowly, then faster and faster, Jess’s left foot slipping this time, Patch tickled on his right foot.”

“You win!” Jess panted.

“you tickled my feet!” Patch laughed, drawing up his hind feet and grabbing them in his paws, rubbing his pads with his paws.

“that’s so cute!” Jess said, following Patch’s example.

“your feet have dark pink pads,” Patch said to Jess, Jess giggling:

“I’ve never seen the sole of my own foot,” she replied.

“I’ve seen mine,” Patch replied, “they’re very nice feet, if I do say so myself.

“how do I see the soles of my own feet?” Jess asked.

“I’ll set up a camera so you can see them,” Patch replied, wriggling to free his hind feet from his paws, then getting to his feet and going to a cupboard where he found a hand held camera and monitor. Setting it up, he pointed the camera at Jess’s feet as she sat on the floor, turning on the screen. Jess saw the soles of her feet, smiling, she curled her toes, watching as the skin on the sole of her foot bunched.

“Nice,” she said, rubbing her heel with her fingers, then grabbing her fingers with her toes.

“Silly Jess,” Patch laughed.

“it’s nice to see my feet,” she said.

“I used to wash you every day in that bathtub,” Patch replied.

“I know, you looked after me Patch,” Jess said.

“that is something I don’t want to dwell on too much, stealing food to eat when we were given too little. I did it, but don’t want to think about it, I’d rather think of the times we played together, remembering those.”

“we had fun times, it’s a pity we grow up really.” Jess sighed, “foot and paw games were wonderful, and still are in my view.”

“I agree,” Patch replied.

“Can we play the stuck foot game Patch?” Jess asked.

“We could,” Patch replied, “though I think you’ll end up sounding like jenny did in your struggle to free your feet from mine.”

“I hope I do,” Jess replied, having watched all, “she really believed it didn’t she.” Patch smiled.

“I know most of the community like watching what’s going on in other lie ups,” he said, “I know it could be considered intrusive, but we’ve saved lives with the cameras, and we never use it for anything but safety. Maybe education in the case of the birth of a cub, but that’s it.”

“Watching your antics in the lie up made me think about Furball and what she might need in way of a coat,” Jess said, hence why I ran down with that big one.” Patch sat down opposite Jess, who pushed the camera assembly away with the toes of her bare right foot.

“Can we check each other’s feet for thorns?” Jess asked. Patch thrust his foot into her hands.

“Check that,” he replied. Jess giggled and gently pressed Patch’s pads and toes, Patch curling his toes slightly, then more tightly the longer Jess’s exploration lasted. Once her exploration was over, Patch relaxed his toes.

“Sorry,” he said, as Jess checked over his now relaxed right foot.

“My toes are curling again!” Patch whimpered as his toes curled tightly. Grunting, he grabbed them with one paw and pulled, but they would not uncurl.

“awww Patch!” Jess laughed, “you’re so cute!”

“My toes won’t obey me!” Patch yelled petulantly.

“Mine do,” Jess goaded.

“Bet they won’t!” Patch sulked. Jess, giggling helplessly, tried to check over Patch’s left foot, his toes curling as tightly as the toes of his right foot had done, Patch squealing with anger and tugging at his tightly curled toes with one paw, then the other.

“I hate my toes!” he raged, Jess nearly crying with laughter.

“Oh Patch!” she laughed, “let me rub those toes, maybe then you’ll love them again.” Jess rubbed the bunched pads of Patch’s left foot, Patch relaxing his curled toes with a sigh of relief.

“You used to play like this, silly antics before we played foot and paw games,” Jess said, “it’s great you can still do it Patch.”

“I’ll bet your toes will curl like mine did when I check your feet for thorns,” Patch mumbled. Jess hugged him tightly.

“I bet they do,” she replied, “Let’s find out shall we?” Patch took Jess’s left foot in his paws, exploring the sole of her foot, Jess’s toes instantly curling slightly, then more tightly as he explored, Jess wriggling as her toes curled as tightly as they could.

“My toes are doing the same as yours!” she laughed, “aoaoaoaow, they really are curled, I can’t uncurl them!” Patch smiled, rubbing her curled toes with his paw, Jess relaxing her toes as Patch continued his examination.

“Now can we play?” Jess asked. Patch smiled and pressed his left foot against Jess’s right, his right foot balancing his weight, her left balancing hers.

“Now let’s see how stuck we are,” he said. Jess tried to move her right foot downwards and found she couldn’t. she pulled at her heel, finding that was stuck too.

“I’m ready to play,” she said. Patch explored the situation that his left foot was in. he found Jess’s heel, then her arch, then the ball and toes of her right foot, Jess bouncing her heel against his a little.

“My foot is very well stuck to yours,” Patch said, feeling Jess pressing her toes into the ball of his foot, Patch curling his toes.

“Now Pull your heel Jess!” Patch encouraged, Jess grabbing the sides of her stuck right foot with both hands, her fingers gripping the base of her heel as best she could.

“now dig in those toes and pull while I lever with my paw Jess!” Patch said, “pull hard Jess!” Jess tugged at her heel a bit, wriggling a little, then grunting with effort, tugging harder and harder, then yelled:

“yeoeoeoeoeoeoeooaoh! My foot’s stuck Patch! Yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow!” she tugged harder than ever, Patch feeling the pressure from her toes, though able to hold his right foot still as she struggled.

“My foot’s stuck Patch!” she whimpered, scrabbling at her heel with her fingers, “I can’t free it!”

“I’m trying to get my paw in that gap made by your arch and my pad,” Patch said, “but digging my paw down, I find your heel is very well stuck. Pull Jess Pull!” Pull hard! Dig the heel of your free foot into the floor and pull!” Jess bent her left leg a little, dug her heel in and tugged hard at her right foot.

“I wish there was some sound of my heel coming away,” Jess replied, “all this effort and no sound!”

“You mean of the glue parting?” Patch asked.

“yes,” Jess panted, relaxing a bit.

“Right,” Patch said, “hang on, Game suspended, I can get that egg box over there, that’s plastic, I can settle my heel onto it, push down and that will creak and make sound.

“okay,” Jess said, “remember how stuck I was. She crawled over to the egg box and took the box back to Patch.

“Now let me put my right heel on the box, lean on it, and,” Patch said, a creaking sound coming from the box, Patch rocking back and forth on his heel, the box flexing, creaking as it did so.

“So now you have your sound,” Patch said, “when pulling, I’ll press into the box with my free foot.” Jess giggled:

“I like that idea,” she replied. They joined feet again, and Jess grabbed her right foot with her hands once more.

“Pull Jess pull!” Patch encouraged, Jess working herself into several whimpering, squealing frenzies, tugging at her foot with her fingers. Then she ground her teeth and settled down to pulling, Patch keeping his left foot rock still, trying to pry Jess’s heel away with his paw as she pulled. Jess tugged at her heel, whimpering and yelling as before, the box creaking under the heel of Patch’s right foot as Jess struggled to free her own right foot. The more progress she made, the more the box creaked, every little bit of progress her fingers or Patch’s paw made towards freeing Jess’s heel from Patch’s was accompanied by the creaking of the box, as if the glue was protesting the release of their feet.

“if this was carpet, I’d hear a ripping sound as I tore my foot free!” Jess yelled, “this glue is making a similar sound!”

“What are you gonna do when you free your foot?” Patch asked.

“Scream with triumph,” Jess replied, “what about your foot with that box?”

“Scrunch the box with my toes I think,” Patch replied, coming out of character for a minute. Then Jess was back to tugging, wriggling and screeching with effort as she fought to free her heel.

“Pull Jess Pull!” Patch encouraged, Jess digging in her toes as she’d done before.

“My foot’s stuck Patch!” she whimpered, scrabbling at her right heel with her fingers, “I can’t free it!”

“I’m trying to get my paw in that gap made by your arch and my pad,” Patch said, “but digging my paw down, I find your heel is very well stuck. Pull Jess Pull!” Pull hard! Dig the heel of your left foot into the floor and pull!” Jess bent her left leg a little to give her purchase, dug her left heel in to the floor and tugged hard at her right foot.

“yeoeoeoeoeoeoeooaoh! My foot’s stuck Patch! Yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow!” she tugged harder than ever, Patch feeling the pressure from her toes, though able to hold his foot still as she struggled.

“My foot’s stuck Patch!” Jess whimpered, scrabbling at her heel with her fingers, “I can’t free it.

“Dig those toes in and pull with your fingers!” Patch yelled, curling his toes, “I’ll hold your toes with mine, dig and pull Jess, dig and Pull!” Jess snarled, digging the toes of her right foot into the ball of Patch’s left, feeling her pads getting hot. Growling, she tugged, digging her fingers into the sides of her heel pad, while Patch dug the heel of his right foot into the box as Jess’s fingers made progress freeing her heel. The more progress she made, Patch wiggled his free foot in the box, as if the glue made a sound when she pried her heel free and it gave up the fight to hold her and Patch captive.

“oomph, eoeoeoeoeoeoah!” “scrunch, creak, creak, “eoeoeoeoeoeoah,” Patch heard, with the feel of Jess’s fingers fighting to grab more and more of her heel pad, while her toes dug into the ball of his foot with her efforts. When Jess relaxed, Patch pressed hard against her fingers and his paw with his heel in case they should slip and set them back, Jess panting her thanks.

“you’re keeping me from going back to the beginning!” she panted as she rested a little between every two or three efforts. Then she’d get back to tugging and yelling with effort. Patch roared encouragement and then with triumph as Jess, with a huge screaming effort, managed to pull her heel free, the box under Patch’s right foot getting some abuse from his heel as Jess tugged at her own toes, Patch feeling her taking hold of her foot and tugging at it as she worked her right foot completely free, Patch making her fight for every toe, Jess growling and struggling to the end.

“My right foot’s free!” she laughed panting slightly, “your left foot fought me to the end, right to the last toe!”, I did it Patch, we did it!”

“now to complete the game!” Patch laughed. Patch gave Jess the box, Jess smiling as she slipped it under the heel of her right foot, then Patch pressed his right foot against Jess’s left.

“I can feel my foot sticking again!” Patch exclaimed.

“So can I, and the glue is stronger than ever!” Jess laughed. Patch curled the toes of his right foot around those of Jess’s left, Jess wiggling her toes into the embrace of the bear’s larger ones.

“Now let’s see if we can free ourselves,” Patch said. Jess tugged at her left foot, testing the bonds between her foot and Patch’s.

“This one’s gonna be even harder to free,” Jess said, feeling her way around the heel and ball of her left foot with her fingers, probing, pulling a little, testing the strength of the glue of play.

“this one is gonna make me yell and growl with effort,” Jess said. Patch smiled:

“If only my feet were smaller, I would be the one pulling at my heel,” he replied.

“Can’t you make it so?” Jess asked. Patch explored his own foot with his paws, feeling his toes slip under Jess’s, her toes curling around his, their heels touching.

“Now I can pull!” Patch laughed. Jess gripped Patch’s toes with hers, pressing against his heel with hers. Patch worked at the heel of his right foot with his paws, finding it well and truly stuck.

“now brace those toes and pull Patch!” Jess encouraged, Patch bracing his toes against the ball of Jess’s foot, then tugging at the heel of his right foot, while she pushed hard back against his pressure with her left, finding it rather easy. Patch whimpered, growled, roared and snarled:

“eoeoeoeoeoeoah,!” he yelled as he tried to free his right foot, Jess accompanying any effort which felt like making progress by scrunching the box with the toes of her right foot. Patch hauled at his right foot, bracing his toes hard against Jess’s. Suddenly he fought madly, his paws scrabbling urgently, breath coming in short gasps. squealing like a stuck cub, he pulled harder than ever, wriggling and rocking. Suddenly his efforts tore his right heel free of Jess’s left heel, the toes of Jess’s free right foot frantically scrunching the box.

“My toes, my toes are next!” Patch yelled, tugging at his toes, Jess curling her toes around his with renewed strength, Patch fighting her toes to free his.

“I must free my toes!” Patch yelled, “one, two, three, four and five!” he tugged at his right foot, Jess uncurling her toes slightly, letting his foot go.

“that was fun!” Patch said, massaging his right foot in his paws.

“I think the egg box wasn’t a good idea,” Jess said, “the toes of my left foot are now stuck in it! I curled them too tightly and they’re stuck in it Patch! I can’t free my toes!” Jess complained, tugging at the box with both her hands, Patch watching as she struggled to free the toes of her right foot from its embrace, Patch, seeing Jess curling the toes of both feet as she pulled at the box in her struggle to free her toes, padded over to her.

“Come here little cub,” he said, kneeling and grabbing the box in his paws. “Now as I pull the box, keep your toes relaxed,” he said, “you were fighting yourself, every time you pulled at the box to free your toes, you curled them, holding onto the box with the toes you wanted to set free!” Jess laughed merrily at this.

“Was I really doing that?” she asked. Patch grinned:

“You were,” he replied.

“Silly toes,” Jess laughed. Patch hugged her and removed the box from the toes of jess’s right foot, then they rubbed talc into their hands, paws and feet.

“I’ve had a lovely time,” Jess said, Patch smiling at her.

“It’s been a real blast from the past hasn’t it,” he replied, “we haven’t played like that for a long time, and for that I am very sorry. We should make a note to do it more often.” Jess sat opposite Patch and rubbed talc into his right foot, Patch rubbing talc into Jess’s left foot.

“I loved our play,” Jess said, “I was worried I’d lost the art of real stuck foot game play. But I haven’t!”

“No you haven’t my cub,” Patch said.

“that game was energetic,” Jess said. Patch smiled:

“it was very energetic,” he replied..

“What’s really energetic is when I pretend to have a cub, all that holding my feet with my hands and pushing my feet into my hands to simulate a contraction, curling my toes, kicking with my feet and screaming,” Jess replied, “do you remember showing me how to push into my hands with my feet?”

“I do,” Patch replied, “that was fun showing you all that.”

“I still pretend, even now I’ve seen a few births of cubs,” Jess said, “Even though I’ve had a cub myself too.”

“it’s a stress reliever,” Patch replied.

“you use it as that don’t you,” Jess said.

“yes I do,” Patch replied, “it’s really good for that. All postures are good for that. Pushing my feet into my paws, legs bent, curling my toes tightly, holding them curled, then relaxing them, kicking the air with my feet, thrusting at the air with both feet when lying on my back, all that.”

“I like exploring my feet with my hands,” Jess said, “I love playing with you Patch, both stuck foot games, and other foot games, I loved everything about our time together in this room, and we were left alone to play, though we have been watched throughout I think.”

“Undoubtedly,” Patch replied.

“I don’t think I’ll be including an egg box in our play again though,” Jess said smiling, “it grabbed my toes and I needed rescuing!” Patch laughed:

“Like old times,” he replied, “after all, you wanted to play for old time’s sake, and it has been like that.” Jess hugged Patch tightly, the bear nuzzling her ear and ruffling her hair with his breath.

“now I must go back to the lodge,” Jess said, “I need to do school homework for my exams.” Patch snorted:

“I’ll bet none of them involve learning how to play,” he replied.

“No,” Jess replied, “maths and English.” Patch kissed Jess’s nose and she got to her feet.

“using my feet for walking is so overrated,” Jess said bouncing on her toes.”

“I know,” Patch replied smiling, “my feet don’t want to walk either, they want to play!” Jess walked away laughing merrily.

Patch cleared up the talc and then walked out of the soft play room. After the softness of the rubberised flooring, the tiles felt harsh and hard to his feet. Bouncing on his toes, he noticed how hard the flooring was.

“if I put soft tiles on the floors, they’re gonna get damaged,” he thought, “I can’t do that, shame.” Padding to his lie up, he got a cup of coffee and settled down to thinking, processing the experiences of the last few hours. Patch had felt young during his play with Jess. Their game had been more than just a game. They were both amerced in the game which needed skill and imagination. The belief that one’s foot was stuck to that of another equally willing player, and the wish to get it free, while not making that freedom come without a fight. Patch loved stuck foot games, and knew he always had since he was a tiny cub.

“how can playing that game be so much fun?” he asked himself, “what is it about that game?” Patch thought for a while, but couldn’t decide what it was about the game.

“Proximity to another player? Maybe. The slight risk, however imagined, that I would not be able to free my foot from my team mates? Most definitely. The story around the game, the fight each had to free their own foot, the danger of a paw slipping, making the game reset itself, the glue become stronger, and the game that much harder than round one? Probably.”

“ Patch found himself playing with the toes of his left foot with one paw, he hadn’t noticed he was at this pastime until his toes curled tightly round the fingers of his right paw.

“Playing with my toes like a cub,” he thought, “how silly of me! No, not silly, it’s just how I am,” he thought.

“that’s so cute,” Purdy said, walking into Patch’s line of sight.

“I’m sorry, how long have you been here?” Patch asked, letting go of the toes of his left foot.

“Long enough to see you playing with your toes like a cub,” Purdy giggled.

“I wasn’t, oh all right, I was,” Patch replied smiling.

“I saw you and Jess playing,” Purdy replied, “it was lovely play. I wish I could play like that someday.”

“I’m sure you will someday,” Patch replied.

“How do you play the stuck foot game as if your feet were weally stuck?” Purdy asked.

“it’s a matter of believing in the situation, believing it could happen, and is happening to you,” Patch replied, “you’re there, sitting on that floor, your foot pressed against another’s, soles and toes touching, and for whatever reason, your both bound by this contact. Play is a glue between your foot and your friend’s, and it is strong enough that you have to work together to free each other.”

“did Jess weally have to use that egg box?” Purdy asked.

“No,” Patch replied, “it caught her toes and punished her for using it too I think.” Purdy laughed:

“she cuwled her toes awound the box while struggling to fwee her foot didn’t she! She laughed.

“yes she did, that was funny,” Patch admitted, “though it was kind of cute too. Jess used to curl her toes in concentration, and that’s what she was doing then, but of course it backfired.” Purdy thought for a minute:

“I have done that too,” she admitted, “my toes cuwl when I’m trying to think of something that I can’t quite wemember.” Patch beckoned Purdy to him and hugged her.

“While I play with my toes to we lax myself so my mind can wemember things,” he said softly into her ear, Purdy snuggling close.

“Though I won’t put my toes in egg boxes to make funny sounds,” Purdy said, “that’s silly!”

“Jess wanted a sound to represent the glue separating,” Patch said, “of course, that’s not necessary, just a good snarling, growling, yelling effort is needed.”

“So the louder, most expwessive sound you make the better?” Purdy asked.

“yes,” Patch replied.

“I liked the game where you dwew circles on each other’s pads too,” Purdy said, “can we play that now?” Patch smiled and nodded.

“you know the rules?” he asked.

“No,” Purdy said, “tell me Patch.”

“Well,” Patch replied, “the first game, the easier one, works like this. one player, me for instance, is the one who draws, the second player, you, give me your foot, doesn’t matter which one, and I draw circles on your pads in ever decreasing sizes. You curl your toes tighter and tighter as the circles decrease, then I press the heel of your foot with my paw. while the pressure is on your heel, you have to keep your toes curled as tightly as you can. If you have to uncurl them before I take my paw off your heel, you lose the game. Another version of the game involves drawing, with my paw, at random, different sized circles on your pads, you curling your toes to match the size of the circle, a slight curl for a large circle, a tight curl for a small, at any time, I could press your heel,,,”

“and I have to cuwl my toes tightly until you we lease them?” Purdy asked, wriggling with excitement.

“yes,” Patch laughed.

“that’s sounds a gweat game! Purdy laughed, rocking back and fourth in Patch’s lap like the cub she truly was, Patch laughing helplessly.

“So you’re ready to play?” Patch asked. Purdy grabbed his right paw in both of hers and nearly crushed it in her excitement.

“yes please!” she replied, Patch tightly hugging her with his free paw.

“don’t squeeze that paw too hard,” he said, “that’s my drawing paw.” Purdy let go hurriedly.

“Sowwy,” she replied contritely, “I didn’t squeeze your paw too hawd did I?” Patch made a huge play of examining his right paw, flexing his fingers and examining it closely with his other paw, Purdy looking more anxious by the second.

“it’s fine,” he pronounced after a tense few minutes, Purdy looking up into his sparkling eyes.

“you was taking me for a wide!” she snapped.

“Sowwy,” Patch replied rubbing her belly with his free left paw, Purdy embracing his right paw with both of hers.

“Now let’s play,” Patch said softly.

“Patch,” Purdy said gravely, turning her whole body round so she knelt in his lap, her face turned up towards his.

“yes?” Patch asked, looking down at the cub’s expression, thinking she was about to tell him something dreadful.

“this!” Purdy exclaimed, throwing her paws round his neck in a huge hug. Patch, deeply moved, swallowed hard to suppress a rush of tears.

“Oh Purdy!” He choked, embracing her tightly, Purdy nuzzling into his fur.

“I love you Patch,” Purdy said. Patch, hugging Purdy with both paws, closed his eyes, letting her paws tell him everything she wanted them to.

“I love you too Purdy,” Patch said.

“now can we play?” Purdy asked.

“yes,” Patch replied, drying his eyes with his paws.

“You’re cwying,” Purdy accused.

“I am, sorry,” Patch sniffed.

“No need to be that,” Purdy said, “Koda cwied too when I told him I loved him too, he is a big softy, just like his bwother.” Patch laughed:

“He is,” he replied, “now Purdy,, if we play this game, will you teach it to Koda? Then he and you can play together.”

“I’ll teach him,” she replied, “but I’m not good at wemembering wules.”

“I’ll write them down,” Patch replied, “or record them onto the computer.”

“Maybe we can play, and the camerwa can watch us, and we can teach him that way?” Purdy suggested, “Patch, I’m weally not good at wemembering wules of games. My mama, that’s Aga, descwibed my memory as, “cwap.”

“you remember what you want to remember,” Patch said, “now if it’s rules about what to do and what not to do, you forget them pretty quickly, but silly games as we’re about to play, you’ll remember the rules of those.”

“yeah,” Purdy giggled, “your wight there.”

“So your mama’s wrong,” Patch said, “your memory isn’t um, rubbish, it’s selective, which is not a good thing either. Rules need to be obeyed Purdy, and some rules are for your own safety.”

“Patch,” Purdy said sharply, her eyes tearful, “you know how to destwoy a playful time don’t you! let’s not talk like this now, please?” Patch kissed the top of her head:

“Sorry Purdy,” he replied, “let’s play now.”

“As long as you play like a cub!” Purdy said, “Can you Patch? Can you play like you did with Jess in the playwoom?”

“I will,” Patch said, “now if we are to play, we need to freshen our feet, take our adult feet off our cub ones, do you know how to do that Purdy?” Purdy bounced excitedly in Patch’s lap.

“I take my adult feet off like we moving a sock from my foot,” she replied, “I’ve done that before, my humans used to [put socks on my feet. I watched one of them put socks on and take their socks off, and I remembered how to do it, so one day, I took my socks off my feet using my paws, and it worked!” Patch hugged Purdy congratulating her, the cub responding to his hug.

“You did well,” he replied, “yes it’s like that, but it’s now an imaginary sock on your foot.”

“My feet felt hot and uncomfortable in those socks the humans made me wear, will these feel the same?” Purdy asked.

“They can do,” Patch replied, “if you want them to, if it would help you to imagine yourself pulling the socks off your cub feet.”

“Good!” Purdy replied, “so I have uncomfortable socks on my feet and I pull them off like I did the weal socks a few months ago, wight?”

“yes,” Patch laughed, loving Purdy’s enthusiasm.

“Now Patch, if my socks get stuck,” Purdy said, “I might need help to fwee my feet, is that okay?”

“it is,” Patch said, “and if my adult feet get stuck on my cub feet, will you help me fwee them too?” Purdy giggled:

“I will,” she replied.

“now let’s take our adult feet off here, then check our cub feet for thorns,” Patch suggested.

“but your cub feet are fwesh from the play with Jess, you don’t have to find another set do you?” Purdy asked, “I’ll check your feet to see if they’re cubbish enough, okay?” Patch laughed:

“okay Purdy,” he said, “you’re right my dear. I forgot my feet remain fresh while I play. Subtract that playtime from the time I’ve been out of play, and it hasn’t been long enough for my feet to become adult yet.” Purdy smiled:

“You should make sure you pull off your adult feet evewy day,” she said, “you’re a big cub weally Patch.”

“Am I?” he asked, “I sometimes don’t feel cubbish at all.”

“your feet do,” Purdy said, grabbing Patch’s left foot in her paws and exploring it carefully, squealing with delight as his toes curled, catching her right paw in them.

“I can’t free my paw, your toes have got my paw Patch!” Purdy yelled, frantically tugging at her right paw.

“Naughty toes aren’t they,” Patch laughed, “do you know how to relax curled toes Purdy?”

“Dwaw lines down the sole of your foot with my other paw?” Purdy asked.

“Try it,” Patch suggested. Purdy did, drawing the toes of her free left paw down the sole of Patch’s left foot, feeling his toes relaxing.

“You didn’t tickle my foot either, that’s nice,” Patch said.

“Would it be wong to tickle your foot?” Purdy asked.

“well that’s not part of the game is it?” Patch enquired.

“No it isn’t, but neither was it pawt of it for your toes to gwab my paw!” Purdy laughed, “but I’ll let it go, for my paw liked your toes gabbing it. It felt vewy good.”

“Are my feet cubbish enough?” Patch asked. Purdy pressed the pads and toes of both Patch’s feet, considering her response.

“yes they are,” she replied smiling.

“Now what do we do?” Patch asked. Purdy scrambled into his lap.

“Weren’t you gonna teach me the wules to the drawing game?” she asked.

“What game would that be?” Patch asked. Purdy looked very upset, then lost her temper. Slapping Patch rhythmically with her paws she screamed:

“You know what game! You know the game! You told me about the game!” Patch kissed the raging bear’s nose.

“ah, the circle dwawing game,” he whispered, “I know that one.” Purdy relaxed.

“sowwy for slapping you,” Purdy mewed. Patch smiled and hugged her:

“I didn’t forget the game,” he said, “I was only playing dear Purdy.” Purdy smiled broadly.

“Now I feel even worse for slapping you,” she said. Patch pushed her onto her back, then blew on the toes of her right foot, Purdy’s squeal of shock gratifying Patch, her paws flying to her foot, grabbing it and rubbing her toes furiously.

“Oi!” she squealed, her eyes laughing, “you tickled my foot with your breath naughty Patch!” Patch blew on the toes of Perdy’s left foot, Purdy drawing up her legs and grabbing the toes of both feet in her paws.

“that evens it up,” Patch said, Purdy laughed, then stuck her tongue out at Patch.

“That’s not very nice,” Patch whimpered, Perdy letting go of her feet, sitting up, then getting to a crawling posture, scrambling into Patch’s lap, then fiercely hugging him.

“Now that disarms even the most fervent toe tickler,” Patch said, Purdy giggling cubbishly.

“I liked you tickling my toes,” Purdy said. Patch kissed the top of her head, Purdy snuggling close.

“We’ll never get to play the games,” she said, “you keep making me want to hug you Patch!” Patch gently tugged at her right ear with his teeth, Purdy laughing merrily.

“My weal mama used to do that,” she said sadly, “did you know that Patch, do you know who my weal mama is?” Patch held Purdy tightly, tears rolling down his face.

“”I think I know something,” he choked, “Purdy, dear sweet Purdy.”

“What?” Purdy asked, looking up at him, her eyes concerned.

“Purdy,” Patch said, sniffing hard, “oh dear, sweet cub, “I, I didn’t know I was, oh dear.” Patch wiped his eyes with his paws.

“My Weal mama’s dead isn’t she,” Purdy said, “Patch, you tugged on my ear with your teeth because my mama told you I liked it didn’t she.” Patch clung to Purdy, his tears wetting her fur, for he could not speak.

“what else did my mama say I liked?” Purdy asked. Patch responded by pushing Purdy onto her back, then blowing on her belly, Purdy shrieking with laughter and batting at his nose.

“yes that!” Purdy squealed delightedly, “Patch,” she said seriously, “please, would you help me? would you play with me, as if, as if,,,” she stopped.

“As if you were my cub?” Patch asked, now able to speak, the first shock of realisation wearing off.

“yes Patch,” Purdy replied, “Koda is my fwiend, but you, I feel somehow closer to you. I don’t know why, but while Koda can teach me, and he does, you can play with me, and not judge my climbing or my paw or footwork when coming down a twee. Koda has his own cub, and he has his paws full with her, and a pawful she is, I heard him say it. He was angwy with her, weally angwy! Please Patch, and if you could ask Ekatawina too, could you find it in yourselves to do this for me?”

“guided by your mama you mean?” Patch asked.

“yes, well sort of,” Purdy replied, “mama Aga was lovely to me, but she isn’t my mama! She doesn’t know me vewy well, she never touched my paws, or played with me. it was all wun here, wun there, be fwightened of this, or that, or the other thing. Do you know, she only settled down when she was under Koda’s twee? Maybe it was Koda’s pwesence that made her calm down enough to give me a dwink of her milk. until then, I’d had none, even though she had milk to give. She made me eat woodland stuff, which was vewy hard as I had no fwont teeth thanks to the humans. I was used to eating soft human foods, not the hawd stuff of the woodlands.” Patch let Purdy sit up, then he drew her onto his lap, kissing the top of her head.

“You are everyone’s cub,” he whispered gently, “mine, Ekaterina’s, even mama Aga’s. we all look after you here.” Purdy snuggled closer:

“Tell me mower Patch,” she said faintly.

“Mama Aga is a whiled bear, she needs to keep on her paws the whole time. She isn’t a domesticated bear Purdy, not like us here. We’re fat and slow compared to her.”

“You know about what I understand, play, love, cuddles,” Purdy said.

“We know that because we are able to explore that, thanks to us having good food and a safe place,” Patch said. mama Aga was gentle to you, but she was also stern, as the world she lives in is not our world, it is one where death is a moment away. That is not how it is here. Yes we might not see tomorrow, but the likelihood of that is reduced thanks to good food, care and such. You saw how Koda was tended when he was beaten up by Aga? Well that helped him, that is how advanced we are here. When a cub is born, a midwife, my mate in some cases, helps the mother to be give birth to her cub.”

“Weally?” Purdy asked.

“yes,” Patch replied.

“How?” Purdy enquired.

“She will help her by encouraging her to push, by rubbing her paws and feet and encouraging her to breathe through her pains, encouraging her to walk around, and may, in some cases, help by easing the cub into the world as mama pushes.”

“wow,” Purdy said, “that sounds so cool!”

“it is,” Ekaterina replied, rising from where she’d been snoozing the afternoon away by the fire, only woken by Purdy hitting Patch and screaming about the foot play game.

“Oh Ekaterina!” Patch exclaimed, “how long have you been here?”

“All the time Patch,” she replied, “I was asleep until Purdy started yelling about a game, and how you knew the rules to a game you were going to show her.”

“Oh that,” Patch laughed, “we haven’t got round to that yet.”

“I heard about Purdy’s birth mama,” Ekaterina said, “I heard your reaction Patch.

“I’m afraid it’s true Ekaterina,” Patch said gravely.

“So do we adopt Purdy?” Ekaterina asked.

“Aga is still here isn’t she?” Patch asked.

“Oh no,” Ekaterina replied, “she’s gone, she went back into the woods ages ago. She left word that she couldn’t cope with our way of life, and that she hoped Purdy would be safe and do well here. That was days ago.”

“Oh, I don’t hear anything much now,” Patch said.

“Maybe the spirits told you of Perdy’s mama’s death once Aga was out of the way,” Ekaterina said.

“could be,” Patch replied, “I suppose they were trying to make it simpler for us to adopt her if we wanted.”

“I think we could adopt her right enough,” Ekaterina said, “the same way we adopted Furball that is.”

“yes, of course,” Patch replied smiling, “where is she now Ekaterina?”

“she’s playing with jenny and Sally, tickling their toes and getting her toes soundly tickled in return I think,” Ekaterina replied.

“Patch,” Purdy asked, “will you show Ekatawina the games you were going to show me?” Patch rested his paw on Purdy’s head and said to Ekaterina:

“how about it my dear Ekaterina?”

“I think I’d like that,” Ekaterina replied, “but Patch, there is only one of you, how are you going to draw on my feet and Purdy’s at the same time?”

“I’ll tell you how to play the game Ekaterina, and you can draw on Purdy’s pads. I’ll then see fair play, that she doesn’t cheat, as you can’t see her toes, though you could put your paw lightly on top of them to make sure she is keeping them curled when your other paw is pressed to her heel.”

“So we both learn the games from the master of silly, pointless, but addictive foot games?” Ekaterina asked.

The drawing games build strong toes and interactive play,” Patch said, “the stuck foot games builds interactive play, teamwork and imagination. Now how’s that for education.” Ekaterina padded to Patch and kissed his nose.

“Okay, not pointless,” she replied, “just seriously addictive.”

“I don’t see you playing the stuck foot game,” Patch said.

“maybe I haven’t found the right bear to play it with,” Ekaterina said, “you know Patch, I was thinking of asking you someday. I hear from Jess you’re a very good player of that particular game.”

“he is,” Jess replied, padding in and making herself a drink, “Patch can really play well, he doesn’t need an egg box to play the stuck foot game.” Patch laughed:

“that box got you back for squashing it though didn’t it,” he said.

“yes it did!” Jess whimpered, “it trapped my toes and I couldn’t get them free!”

“what happened?” Ekaterina asked. Jess told her.

“So instead of just imagining the glue separating, you wanted sound, so you squashed an egg box to make a creaking sound, and while doing this, got your toes stuck in it? that’s really silly!”

“yes it was,” Jess laughed, “but the silliest part is yet to come. While struggling to free the toes of my right foot, I curled them, so held onto the box with my toes while pulling at it with my hands.” Ekaterina giggled cubbishly at this.

“You big silly!” she laughed.

“It was fun,” Jess replied, “it reminded me how gentle Patch is too.”

“You had a lot of fun then,” Ekaterina said.

“We did,” Patch replied.

“It was wonderful Ekaterina,” Jess said.

“I think I could learn to play silly foot and paw games,” Ekaterina replied, “though Patch, please make it fun to learn them.”

“I will Ekaterina love,” Patch said, “Jess, would you help by playing with Purdy, maybe teaching her the games?” Purdy looked so upset at this suggestion that Patch relented.

“Ok Ekaterina, would you let Jess be your teacher?” Patch asked. Ekaterina padded to Jess and took her hand in her paw.

“Would you teach me those games?” she asked. Jess hugged the she bear.

“yes I will,” she replied, “and there won’t be an egg box in range of my toes either.” Ekaterina laughed.

“You don’t need that,” she replied.

“No, though it was quite funny when my toes curled into the box, holding it,” Jess said. Ekaterina reared onto her hind feet and embraced Jess with her paws, Jess returning her hug.

“awww Ekaterina, soppy cuddly bear,” Jess said, rubbing her cheek against the she bear’s, Ekaterina kissing her ear.

“I can be soppy if I want to be,” Ekaterina replied, gently embracing Jess, Jess snuggling close, standing on tiptoe to press herself into the she bear’s hug.

“You pair of overgrown softies!” Patch teased, Ekaterina and Jess laughing merrily.

“it’s ok to be known as big softies,” Ekaterina said, dropping to all four feet, then sitting down. Jess joined her, sitting on the floor opposite Ekaterina. Pressing her feet against the she bear’s, Jess felt Ekaterina’s toes curling round hers, embracing her toes with gentle care.

“now let’s check each other’s feet for thorns,” Jess said. Ekaterina gave her left foot into Jess’s hands, the young girl rubbing the furry top of the she bear’s left foot, Ekaterina curling her toes with pleasure.

“now are there any thorns in my foot?” Ekaterina asked. Jess pressed her toe pads, then her sole pad, Ekaterina unable to stop her toes curling tightly when Jess pressed the centre of her sole pad.

“This feels wonderful!” Ekaterina exclaimed, Jess smiling broadly.

“now to check your other foot,” Jess said. Ekaterina withdrew her left foot, then gave Jess her right, Jess’s touch leading instantly to Ekaterina curling her toes with pleasure.

“I love your touch,” Ekaterina said, wriggling with pleasure.

“I know what your touch will make my toes do,” Jess said, Ekaterina smiling as she felt Jess exploring her right foot.

“I’ll make sure I’m gentle,” Ekaterina said. Jess let go of Ekaterina’s right foot, and gave the she bear her own left foot. Ekaterina took it in her paws, stroking the top, toes and sole, Jess tightly curling her toes.

“ooaoaoaoaoh!” Jess exclaimed, “Ekaterina, that feels so good!” Ekaterina smiled as she explored Jess’s now furrowed pads, Jess’s toes curled as tightly as she could curl them.

“I think your feet are free from thorns,” Ekaterina said. “now Jess, please, show me those games.”

“Right,” Jess said, “there are two versions of the drawing games. One is where I draw circles on your pads and they get smaller and smaller, you curling your toes tighter and tighter, then when I press your heel with my fingers, you curl your toes as tightly as you can, holding them curled until I let you go by removing my fingers, or you lose the game by uncurling your toes. the other version of the game is slightly different, in that one I draw random circles on your pads, you following my drawing by matching the size of my circle with the degree of curl in your toes. the game ends with me touching your heel again, so your toes can go from slightly curled, to extremely curled in two moves.” Ekaterina giggled at this last game.

“Can I just play game two?” she asked.

“Game one first,” Jess said firmly. Ekaterina giggled:

“that told me!” she laughed.

“Can I draw on your right foot first?” Jess asked. Ekaterina pressed her right foot into Jess’s hands, the young girl embracing the bear’s foot.

“now to start on the large circles,” Jess said, drawing large circles on the pads of Ekaterina’s right foot, Ekaterina slightly curling her toes. as Jess’s circles got smaller, Ekaterina’s toes curled tighter. When Jess pressed on Ekaterina’s heel, the she bear curled her toes as tightly as they’d curl. Jess counted to five, then released Ekaterina’s toes by drawing her fingers down the sole of the she bear’s foot from her curled toes to her heel.

Patch showed Purdy the same games, Purdy laughing and catching his paws with her small toes.

“You Dwaw good circles on my pads!” Purdy laughed, “I love that! Am I cuwling my toes quickly enough?” Patch smiled:

“You are my dear,” he replied gently. Purdy giggled cubbishly, loving every minute of Patch’s attentions.

Ekaterina drew circles on the sole of Jess’s left foot with her right paw, large circles, shrinking in size to smaller ones, Jess curling her toes tighter and tighter as Ekaterina’s drawing continued. Suddenly Ekaterina pressed her paw against Ekaterina’s heel, Jess curling her toes even tighter than before, closing her eyes, concentrating fiercely on her toes. Ekaterina released Jess, Jess uncurling her toes slowly, Ekaterina rubbing her relaxing foot.

“I loved that Ekaterina,” Jess said, “now, can I teach you the stuck foot game?” Ekaterina laughed.

“I’m looking forward to that more than anything else,” she replied.

“Silly bear,” Jess teased, Ekaterina laughed, pushing Jess onto her back, Jess drawing up her feet, Ekaterina tickling her toes, Jess squealing with laughter and kicking the air with her feet. Ekaterina put her paws in the way of Jess’s feet, Jess pummelling Ekaterina’s paws with her bare feet. Smiling, she curled her toes, scratching at Ekaterina’s paws with her curled toes, Ekaterina giggling cubbishly..

“You playful cub Jess,” Ekaterina said.

“I was worried I’d hurt you by kicking your paws with my feet,” Jess replied.

“Oh no, there’s no chance of that,” Ekaterina replied. Ekaterina caught Jess’s left foot in her paws, cupped her heel in her left paw, then blew on Jess’s toes, Jess screeching with laughter and curling her toes.

“You rogue!” she squealed, Ekaterina stroking the heel of Jess’s foot.

“I don’t mind your feet kicking at my paws,” Ekaterina said, “that is the only way I can get an idea of what you are doing.

“why not get paws on with my legs as I kick so you can get an idea that way?” Jess asked. Ekaterina moved round to Jess’s left, gently holding Jess’s leg with her paws, Jess kicking with her legs, Ekaterina exploring Jess’s leg and bare foot from hip to toes as she did so.

“you curl your toes as you bring your foot back, then relax them as you kick forward, that’s so cute!” Ekaterina exclaimed.

“I told you there was more to feel if you got properly paws on,” Jess replied.

“That is just so cute!” Ekaterina said smiling.

“I didn’t know I curled my toes when I brought my leg back to kick,” Jess replied.

“You knew, you knew!” Ekaterina replied, “that’s why you told me to touch more with my paws!” Jess giggled softly.

“all right, I knew,” she confessed.

“now is it my turn to kick the air with my feet wile you get hands on?” Ekaterina asked.

“I could, or I could just watch,” Jess replied, “though getting hands on might be nice.”

“All right,” Ekaterina said, lying on her back and kicking the air with her hind feet, Jess getting hands on with her hind legs and feet.

“you also curl your toes as you bring your foot back to kick the air Ekaterina!” Jess laughed delightedly, “that’s sweet that is.”

“you also wriggle from side to side as you kick too,” Jess said, Ekaterina smiling between her arms at the young girl.

“that’s so cute,” Ekaterina said.

“I think the fact we both curl our toes when kicking the air with our feet is cute,” Jess replied, “Ekaterina, did you hold your feet while you were delivering fleur into the world?”

“Like this?” Ekaterina asked, drawing up her legs and grabbing her feet with her paws.

“yes like that,” Jess asked. Ekaterina wriggled madly, showing Jess how stable her feet and paws were.

“I did that too when delivering ursine Peter, that was before Patch came to get me from the place I was living in,” Jess said, “it helped my pain. I curled my toes too.”

“So did I when I was in pain with the births of all my cubs,” Ekaterina replied, curling her toes as she lay on the rugs. Jess traced the she bear’s paws and feet with her fingers, Ekaterina laughing merrily.

“that doesn’t look like the stuck foot game to me,” Patch said, glancing over to Ekaterina. Ekaterina wriggled madly, her paws holding her feet as if glued.

“there, my feet are stuck, it’s a stuck foot game!” she yelled, Patch laughing merrily.

“Okay it is,” he replied, “but that’s not the game Jess and I played, or the game that Purdy and I are about to play either.”

“I’ll play that game with Jess now,” Ekaterina replied, “we were finding out what happened when each of us kick the air with our feet Patch, did you know, we do the same thing! We both curl our toes when drawing our feet back to kick the air!”

“that’s cute,” Patch replied, having heard their conversation previously.

“Now we will play the stuck foot game,” Jess said. Ekaterina wriggled convulsively, then pushed a little against her paws with her feet, Ekaterina grunting, moaning, then squealing:

“I must free my feet!” as she pushed a little, then harder, then as hard as she could against her paws, a final yell of:

“I must get these feet free, push feet Push!” driven from her as she exerted herself to her limits, her leg muscles tensing, then, suddenly, her paws flew apart, freeing her feet from her paws, Ekaterina’s legs splaying as her feet flew forward, the she bear giving herself up to squealing and kicking the air with her feet until she’d calmed down.

“that was hard work!” she panted when she’d recovered.

“You silly thing!” Patch laughed, Jess and Purdy seeing he’d evidently enjoyed watching his mate’s antics. “You need to teach me that I think,” Patch said, “that would be a good stress reliever.”

“You know how to do that, you taught me!” Ekaterina replied.

“I’ve forgotten how to do it,” Patch confessed, Ekaterina smiling at him, rolling onto her chest, getting into a crawling posture, then crawling to Patch, bumping her nose against his and kissing him.

“Soppy lovely Ekaterina,” Patch laughed, clearly touched.

“Now I’ll get back to the stuck foot game, the proper one that is,” Ekaterina said.

“I rather liked the alternative one,” Patch replied.

“So did I,” Ekaterina admitted, “it was great to fight my own paws with my feet.”

“Can I have a go at that?” Purdy asked.

“Yes,” Ekaterina replied, “did you see what I did?”

“yeah, I did, it was so good!” Purdy replied.

“I agree Purdy,” Jess said, “I watched Ekaterina’s face, paws and feet. She screwed her eyes tight shut and grimaced as she pushed her feet against her paws, her paws held her feet tightly, her toes curling every time she fought her paws with her feet. Ekaterina’s leg muscles tensed as she pushed with her feet. It was rather cute.”

“Now it’s your turn Jess, lie down and grab those feet with your hands like Ekatawina did!” Purdy challenged, “then you Patch, I want to see everyone do it, then, then, I might.” Patch and Jess looked at each other, then Jess settled down on her back, drew up her legs and grabbed her feet with both hands, Ekaterina getting paws on. Settling herself with a little wriggle, Jess waited for the urge to free herself to grow in her. Soon it did, and she felt her feet becoming warm under her fingers, breathing deeply, Jess pushed gently at her hands with her feet, then she pushed harder, then harder still. The more Jess pushed at her hands with her bare feet, the more tightly her fingers gripped her heels and the arch of her foot.

“heuuuuuumph, uuuuuuuuaumph!” Jess moaned as she pushed harder and harder at her fingers with both feet, her toes curling as she reached the peak of her efforts, relaxing as she relieved the pressure on her fingers.

“I must push harder, this time, this time! Huuuuuuuuuoouououoououaow!” Jess squealed, pushing desperately at her hands with her feet, her toes curled tightly, face screwed up with concentration and fingers gripping fiercely. Jess’s leg muscles bunched as she pushed with both legs, her hands flying free from her feet as she reached the peak of her effort, her scream of effort high pitched and urgent. Panting, Jess kicked the air with her now free feet and punched at it with her hands, Ekaterina trying to get paws on with as much as she could of the scene.

“I did it, my feet are free!” Jess yelled. Patch hugged Jess, while Purdy looked on with anxiety.

“how am I meant to beat that?” she asked, “I’m only a cub.”

“Just do your best,” Patch said gently.

“maybe you’d better show her how it’s done Patch?” Ekaterina asked. Patch grinned and settled down, drawing up his hind feet and grabbing them with his paws. Settling himself, Patch felt his feet slip down into the grip of his paws as his legs relaxed.

“now free those feet Patch,” Jess encouraged. Patch felt his paws grip the pads of his feet, his toes curling at their touch. He then braced his feet against his paws, feeling his fingers gripping the pads of his hind feet eleven more securely.

“My paws have firm hold of my feet,” Patch gasped, “but, but my feet have other ideas, they want my legs to help them escape the grip of my paws!” Ekaterina, overcome with mirth, laughed so hard she had to lie down.

“You silly old bear!” Ekaterina squealed.

“Who started this?” Patch asked. Ekaterina saying nothing.

“My feet need to be free of these paws!” Patch yelled, bracing his feet against his paws, his muscles tensing and toes curling as he pushed against his paws with his feet, his fingers fiercely gripping the soles of his feet, the toes of both feet curling as he snarled, whimpered, struggled and wriggled.

“I can’t free my feet! Patch whimpered.

“go for it Patch!” Jess encouraged, Patch taking a deep breath then growling:

“Erorororororororororoor,” as he pushed as hard as he could with his feet, his paws resisting for a minute, then parting. Patch’s feet flew forwards, Patch roaring with triumph as his feet came free, Patch kicking at the air, his toes curling as Jess’s and Ekaterina’s did as he got the tension out of his legs and toes.

“You closed your eyes while pushing against your paws with your feet Patch,” Jess said, “that was so cute!”

“your pads bunch cutely too,” Purdy said. Ekaterina got up and caught Patch’s kicking feet with her paws, first his left, then his right, then cradling each in turn and exploring it.

“your pads are cute,” Ekaterina said, “your toes too, all, one, two, three, four, five of them on each foot,,” she said, counting each toe in turn, Patch unable to stop his toes curling,, the grey bear giggling like a cub.

“that was lovely,” Jess said softly, “You really believed your feet were stuck Patch.”

“yeah I did,” he replied smiling.

“You have wrinkled Pads Patch,” Ekaterina said, “they’re so cute!”

“Do I?” Patch asked, “it must be all the foot and paw games I play.”

“Your pads are firm, but wrinkled,” Ekaterina said, “they’re cute.”

“Maybe they are wrinkled because I have curled my toes,” Patch replied grinning, “can you help me uncurl them Ekaterina?” Ekaterina rubbed the soles of Patch’s feet, his toes relaxing.

“Who needs computers,” Jess said, “this play today has been a lot of fun.”

“this foot and paw play is very interactive that’s for sure,” Ekaterina replied.

“You loved every minute Ekaterina,” Jess said.

“I did, and am going to enjoy the stuck foot game when we play it Jess.”

“Sit opposite me Ekaterina,” Jess said, “it’s my left foot against your right foot, okay?” Ekaterina grinned:

“yes Okay,” she replied. Jess felt Ekaterina’s pads press against hers, Jess’s toes just reaching the bottom of Ekaterina’s.

“Your pads are soft and warm Jess,” Ekaterina said, shuffling forward a bit to bend her leg and press her foot harder against Jess’s.

“Press against my foot Ekaterina, brace your foot and push as hard as you can!” Jess urged, Ekaterina pushing as hard against Jess’s foot with hers as she could press.

“that’s it!” Jess said, pressing her toes into Ekaterina’s.

“Now you push with your foot!” Ekaterina gasped, “I’m Exhausted!” Jess giggled:

“you’re not!” she challenged, “you could push me over onto my back if you really pushed with your foot.”

“Go on, push with yours now,” Ekaterina said, Jess pushing back with one foot, then lying back, she brought her other foot into play, pushing back against both Ekaterina’s feet, Ekaterina bracing her feet to stop her.

“Push Jess Push!” Patch encouraged, Jess roaring as she pushed back hard against Ekaterina’s feet with hers.

“it’s a hard job this!” Jess laughed.

“it is!” Ekaterina replied bracing her feet against Jess’s and pushing back.

“I can’t believe your as weak as all this,” Jess laughed, watching Ekaterina’s efforts:

“I’m a community bear, fat and weak,” Ekaterina laughed.

“Stuff the stuck foot game for a second,” Jess said, crawling round and embracing Ekaterina.

“I love you,” Jess said, embracing the she bear.

“”Soppy you are!” Ekaterina laughed, sitting up and returning Jess’s hug.

“now let’s get back to the stuck foot game,” Jess said. Ekaterina smiled and curled the toes of her right foot around Jess’s fingers, squeezing them.

“Do you want to play the stuck foot game now?” Ekaterina asked.

“Um, no,” Jess replied, “could we play the random circle drawing toe curling game again?” Ekaterina giggled and released Jess’s hand, taking the young girl’s left foot in her paws and drawing ever decreasing circles on the sole of her foot, Jess curling her toes tighter and tighter. Then she drew larger circles, Jess relaxing her toes as the circles got bigger.

“this is lovely,” Jess said, Ekaterina blowing on Jess’s toes, Jess squealing with laughter and curling her toes.

“that’s not in the game!” she laughed.

“isn’t it?” oh dear!” Ekaterina replied, Jess rubbing her tickled toes with her fingers, “I loved it anyway,” she said.

“Sorry for tickling your toes,” Ekaterina said contritely.

“That’s fine,” Jess replied, “you’re being a mama bear to me as her cub, that is all.” Ekaterina laughed:

“I’m playful if I get the right vibe from another’s paws,” she said.

“Did you hear what happened in the soft play room?” Jess asked. Ekaterina grinned:

“with the egg box?” she enquired.

“Yes, with the box,” Jess replied.

“Tell me,” Ekaterina urged. Jess got to her feet and padded away, returning shortly with an egg box from the kitchen.

“Okay,” Jess said, “Patch and I were playing the stuck foot game, and I wanted some sound to accompany my roaring and yelling as I fought to free my foot from Patch’s. I wanted to hear the glue separating, so Patch suggested an egg box that we could crush with our heels or toes and make sound. Jess rested the heel of her right foot on the box and let Ekaterina feel the result. Once Ekaterina had got paws on with her foot and where her heel rested on the egg box, Jess rocked forward and back, the box creaking under her pressure.

“Ah Ok,” Ekaterina said, “so that’s the sound of the glue flexing, how about it giving way completely?” Jess opened the box and curled her toes around the rim, scrunching the box with her toes, Ekaterina getting paws on again.

“That’s so inventive Jess!” she enthused. “now show me what happened next.”

“Well I got my foot stuck in the box,” Jess said, I cracked the top with my rocking and messing about, as did Patch when he scrunched it with his toes and heel. Wait.” Jess broke the box so she could grip the top with her toes, curling her toes into the gap and holding on with them.

“I now have the box held in my curled toes, feel,” Jess said. Ekaterina explored with her paws.

“Okay,” Ekaterina replied, “so what happened?”

“I couldn’t get the box off my toes!” Jess Laughed, “I wanted to get it off, but I couldn’t. can you guess how it was I couldn’t?”

“No,” Ekaterina replied.

“I’ll struggle to free my toes, and you feel what happens to my other foot,” Jess suggested. Ekaterina got paws on with Jess’s free foot with its relaxed toes. Suddenly Jess curled the toes of her left foot under Ekaterina’s paws, Ekaterina felt her struggling with something stuck on her right foot. Exploring the situation, Ekaterina found Jess struggling to free the toes of her right foot from a grasping box. Though the box wasn’t grasping anything, her curled toes were gripping the box, and she was fighting herself. Finding this, Ekaterina giggled:

“You silly!” she laughed.

“I always curl my toes when concentrating, and a playtime became a proper struggle,” Jess said. Ekaterina giggled cubbishly.

“That’s so cute, but also so silly too,” she replied, “it’s kind of sweet also.” Jess crushed the box and threw it away.

“that was so cute,” Ekaterina said, “the sort of thing a cub would do too.” Jess giggled, hugging Ekaterina tightly.

“I’m a cub, I want to be a cub, I’m only ,” Jess said, “so much has happened, I’m older in my mind, but I want to play like a cub. Ekaterina, take my hands, take my feet, tickle my toes and chase me for my toes.” Ekaterina strapped a bell to Jess’s right leg, then Jess crawled away, Ekaterina chasing her, catching her feet with her paws and blowing on her heels, Jess throwing herself on the floor and banging the floor with her hands, laughing helplessly.

“I love this, I want this to happen more and more!” she laughed.

“it can happen if you ask us to play with you,” Ekaterina replied, “I want to play, Patch does, Furball does, we all do. So come and play with us. Silly paw games, silly foot games, roughhousing games, toe tickling games, stuck foot games, the lot and of course, the circle drawing game.” Jess turned, pulled Ekaterina’s paw towards her, and placed it on her left foot. she then drew her feet towards her, grabbed them with her hands, wriggled, then released her feet, sitting up, bringing her feet together heels to heels, toes to toes, Ekaterina getting paws on throughout.

“

“do you want me to get into that position too?” Ekaterina asked.

“No, I want you to feel me fighting to free my feet from their prison,” Jess said. “this is the single player stuck foot game Ekaterina,” Jess said, “it’s what I used to play when I was alone when Patch was out getting food. I entertained myself for hours this way.”

“So your heels are touching pad to pad, the balls of your feet are touching pad to pad, and your toes are touching pad to pad also,” Ekaterina said, touching Jess’s feet as she spoke. Jess rocked and wriggled with excitement.

“the more excited I get, the stronger the glue between my feet is,” she said laughing.

“So how do you free your feet?” Ekaterina asked.

“Well I can free my heels first, then my toes, then the balls of my feet,” Jess replied, working her fingers into the v made by the short arches of her two feet which now firmly pressed together. Ekaterina sat down at an angle to Jess and got paws on with Jess’s feet, copying her posture, finding her own hind feet pressed firmly together, but that her own feet had no short arches, so more of her pads were pressed together, making her job to free her feet more difficult.

“You can do what I do,” Jess said, “but your pads are flatter, so you will probably have to try that bit harder to free your feet from each other.” Ekaterina explored Jess’s fingers as she pushed them hard unto the pads of her two heels, whimpering as she struggled to separate her heels. Whimpering, she pressed her toes together, digging her fingers into the V shaped gap at the bottom of her short arches. Jess found her feet fighting back, her heels pressing together as her fingers tried to force them apart.

“eeeeoeoeoeoaow, I can’t separate my heels!” she roared.

“I can’t free myself either!” Ekaterina roared, “my feet are well and truly stuck together! It’s worse than I thought, my feet like each other too much!” Ekaterina yelled, scrabbling at her own heels with her paws.

“you do look funny Ekaterina,” Jess said, “like a proper cub!”

“Shut it,” Ekaterina laughed, “shut it and concentrate on freeing your feet from each other.” Patch watched with Purdy, both laughing at Jess and Ekaterina’s antics.

“You are two big softies!” Purdy laughed.

“yes they are,” Patch replied, “and two big cubs too. though I wouldn’t have either of them any other way.”

“That’s coming from the biggest cub of all,” Ekaterina laughed, Patch laughing merrily, padding forward and kissing his mate’s nose.

“You are lovely Ekaterina,” Patch said gently, “now concentrate on freeing your feet from each other.”

“the more I fight, the more they stick!” Ekaterina giggled.

“I’m sure you can gently ease them apart,” Patch said, touching her warm pads, “I’ll find some talc.” Ekaterina and Jess rubbed talc into their feet, giggling at their silly play.

“I’ll free my feet,” Ekaterina said, “but what are you gonna do Jess?”

“I’ll free mine the hard way,” Jess replied, “my heels are nearly free, nearly there!” she gasped, digging her fingers into the widening gap between her heels, shoving talc into the growing gap. She then worked at her toes and the balls of her feet, all the while whimpering, wriggling and scrabbling with her fingers to free her feet:

Eeeeoeoeoeoaow!” she screamed as she pried at her heels with her fingers and her fingers slipped off as her heels became warm. Jess dug her fingers into the growing gap between her heels, squealing with effort! Suddenly her heels sprang apart,

“My heels are free!” she yelled, “now to free my toes!” Jess wailed, “my big toe, then my smaller toes, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! Nine! And Ten!” she squealed, “now for the balls of my feet! Eeeeoeoeoeoaow!” she yelled. Ekaterina, her own feet now free, knelt throughout Jess’s struggle, getting paws on with Jess’s hands and feet, Jess enjoying showing Ekaterina every detail of her struggle to free her feet from themselves, both audibly and tactilely.

“You are so sweet Jess,” Ekaterina said, “sweet of you to let me get paws on.”

“I love letting you get paws on with my play,” Jess replied, “and I know Sally and jenny love it too, as does Moses. I saw him playing the game I’m playing now, he’d been fighting with his feet for an hour when I came across him.” Ekaterina smiled at this.

“I remember bringing him into the world,” she replied, “I helped Janet deliver him.”

“You did what?” Purdy asked, “you helped Moses into the world? When mama Janet was pushing and yelling, you helped her deliver her man cub?”

“yes,” Ekaterina replied.

“how amazing is that!” Purdy exclaimed, “wow, how wonderful!”

“it is,” Jess replied.

“if I pwetend to have a cub, would you help me too?” Purdy asked. Ekaterina giggled:

“you’re too young, but I could pretend you were having a cub and help you by rubbing your paws and feet and encouraging you to breathe and push.”

“how would I push if I’m not having a cub?” Purdy asked.

“do what Jess and I did, sit down, grab your feet with your paws, and push them into your paws as a pretend push against a cub. you can scream and roar then too. then, when you’re delivering the cub, while I’m stroking your hind feet, you can moan, roar and whimper to simulate contractions. Then, once you’ve had the cub, I can play a silly cub or something.” Purdy looked at Ekaterina, taking her in from nose to toes.

“I couldn’t deliver you into the world,” she said, “you’re huge!”

“You could imagine me smaller,” Ekaterina replied.

“Or I could struggle and push, roar and straine until I delivered you by sheer imagination,” Purdy replied.

“You could,” Ekaterina said.

“now can I get my toes stuck in a box like Jess did?” Purdy asked.

“that was funny,” Jess replied grinning.

“No Purdy you can’t, but it looked so cute,” Patch replied.

“I’m going to play the single player stuck foot game again,” Jess said, “but I will only do it if Ekaterina gets paws on.” Ekaterina laughed, saying she would be glad to.

Meanwhile, in another part of the house, Anook and Lucky played together. Lucky had been keen to learn the foot and paw games his mother knew, and had loved them from the start, especially the single player stuck foot game. Being an imaginative and independent cub, he’d taken greatly to the idea that he could make his two feet stick together, and better still, could fight to free them, just by imagining the situation. Soon Anook sent Lucky away to find playmates of his own. Moses, sensing Lucky wanted to play, taught him the stuck foot games, both single and two player. He also taught the cub to be expressive, to snarl, wriggle, and play up to how his feet were playing along. Moses found the more he played, the more his feet stuck together, Lucky laughing and becoming more enthusiastic the more he played with Moses.

“how do you play the single player stuck foot game Moses?” Lucky asked for the thousandth time.

“Let’s first make sure our feet are bare shall we?” Moses replied.

“Yes Let’s,” Lucky agreed, giving Moses his left foot. Moses checked the bear’s feet for thorns, then Lucky checked Moses feet for thorns in a similar manner, pressing his pads and toes, Moses laughing as Lucky worked with huge concentration.

“We agree both of us have bare feet and that those feet are ready to play?” Moses asked.

“yes,” I agree,” Lucky said.

“So do I,” Moses said. He continued, “Well, Lucky, to play the solo stuck foot game, the rules are these. You sit down with your legs out in front of you,” Moses replied, fitting actions to words, “you then bring both feet together, bending your legs inwards so the soles of your feet touch. Once your feet touch, heel to heel, ball of your foot to ball of your foot, and toes to toes, you then press your feet together while trying to pry them apart with your hands or paws. Like this!” he pressed his bare feet together, prying at his toes, first his big toe, then down to his smaller toes, then heels with his fingers, digging his fingers into the space where his short arches ended and thick heel pads began. Rocking back and fourth a bit, Moses fought to free his heels.

“So can I do what you’re doing now?” Lucky asked. Moses smiled and replied that he could. Lucky sat down and before Moses knew what was happening, Lucky was fighting to free his heels, copying Moses example.

“Now slowly let your heels come apart, pressing your toes and balls of your feet together as they do Lucky,” Moses said, fight your paws with your feet! Make it difficult for yourself to free your feet.

“My heels are now free Moses,” Lucky said, “now how do I free my toes?”

“Pull at your toes with your paws, holding your heels apart, then stretch your toes as you work them free so the balls of your feet are the only things touching,” Moses replied, fitting actions to words. Lucky did so, and then freed the balls of his feet easily.

“I loved that!” Lucky said, exploring his feet with his paws, “can I do it again?” Moses smiled:

“You can,” he said.

“I’ll teach Orbon this one,” Lucky said, “paws on of course, but now, now I want to chase your feet Moses!” with that Lucky crawled to Moses, the young boy crawling away giggling. Lucky chased him, eyes on the soles of Moses feet. Moses crawling quickly. Lucky, with a flying leap and a yell of:

“those feet are claimed by me!”, pinned both Moses feet, clamping them under his paws. Moses reacted by throwing himself forward, while Lucky blew on his heels and toes, Moses laughing so hard he nearly cried.

“Leave my feet alone!” he laughed, Lucky leaving his prizes.

“thanks,” Moses said, sitting up and rubbing the tickled toes and heel of his left foot with his fingers, “you can maybe rub the toes and heel of my right foot, please?” Lucky took Moses right foot in his paws and began rubbing his toes and heel, Moses flexing his toes with pleasure.

“I love this,” Moses said, curling and stretching the toes of his right foot, which Lucky massaged with gentle care and much enjoyment.

“You have soft pads and mobile toes Moses,” Lucky said, “plus you are as playful as a cub!” Moses laughed:

“I am a cub Lucky, just like you are,” the young boy replied.

“now will you chase my hind feet and catch them? then will you tickle my toes?” Lucky asked.

“I will tickle your toes without catching your feet if you keep your feet as close to my hands as they are now,” Moses said, letting go of his left foot and reaching round and touching the heel of Lucky’s right foot, the bear cub kneeling in front of him.

“You’ve already claimed my foot!” Lucky whimpered, “you touched my heel without chasing for it! Now I have to give you my foot!”

“and I can claim your other foot too,” Moses laughed, leaping sideways, Lucky letting go of Moses left foot, the bear and boy rolling around on the floor in a rough and tumble game, Moses claiming all four of Lucky’s paws by touching them, Lucky losing the contest, ending the game in a laughing embrace with Moses.

“I love you little bear,” Moses said, hugging Lucky close, Lucky humming with contentment.

“Now you have claimed my paws and feet, what do you want to do with them?” Lucky asked, “I tickled your toes, but you claimed my paws as well!”

“I’ll explore your feet with my hands, and then maybe, maybe I’ll ask your paws to play with the toes of your hind feet,” Moses replied, “as that is very cute and I like to see that.” Lucky giggled:

“I like playing with my toes, and my mama Anook likes playing with my toes too, and also likes playing with her own toes, though she might not like it that I told you that! You won’t tell her you know will you Moses?” Lucky asked, looking panic stricken, “she might not want everyone to know she uses her paws to play with the toes of her hind feet!” Moses, seeing the concern on Lucky’s face, hugged him even tighter.

“it’s common knowledge,” Moses replied softly, kissing Lucky’s nose, “mama Anook playing with her toes is as commonly known as the colour of Patch’s foot pads.”

“I’d like to stroke your paws and feet too Lucky, is that asking too much?” Moses asked.

“So you want me to use my paws to play with the toes of my hind feet, and then explore the pads of my feet too?” Lucky asked, “it’s a bit more than you let me do when I claimed your hind feet.”

“You didn’t even ask if you could tickle my toes,” Moses reminded him, “but I did let you rub the tickle out of my toes.” Lucky grinned:

“yes you’re right,” he replied, “would you like to get hands on while I play with my toes?” Moses laughed.

“I’ll be happy with watching you,” he said smiling.

“how about if we explore each other’s hind feet with our hands or paws?” Lucky asked, “that would be nice wouldn’t it?” Moses agreed, and sat down opposite Lucky, giving him his right foot, his toes curling with pleasure as Lucky’s paws enveloped his foot in warmth and good feelings. Lucky then gave Moses his left foot, Moses stroking the sole of Lucky’s foot from toes to heel, the cub giggling and bouncing about with pleasure, curling his toes slightly.

“I saw mama Anook give birth to you,” Moses said, “that was a lovely video Lucky.”

“I’ve seen it too,” Lucky replied, “it’s a hard fight for mama, and to deliver me, a tiny cub compared to her size, yet she screamed, roared, drew her feet up and strained hard into her tail. It’s amazing she gave birth to me really.” Moses smiled:

“I’ve watched my own birth, that was amazing too,” he replied, “mama Janet, as she’s known here, is amazing throughout. Ekaterina helped me into the world.”

“it’s amazing,” Lucky said, his toes curling tighter as Moses worked, “no wonder mama Anook let others rub her feet, if her feet are as sensitive as mine, it must have helped her a lot to have others massaging the soles of her feet while she was pushing.”

“it did help,” Anook said, padding into the room.

“Oh mama!” Lucky yelped.

“I’ve been listening at the door, ever since Moses started playing the stuck foot game, and you copied him. I saw you chase and then tickle his toes Lucky,” Anook said, Lucky’s face turning red as he blushed.

“I’m sorry mama!” he choked.

“I won’t eat you for telling Moses I play with my toes,” Anook replied smiling, sitting down and grabbing her right foot in her paws, “it’s common knowledge as Moses said.”

“So I can keep playing with Moses?” Lucky asked.

“yes,” Moses replied, “I like you Lucky.” Moses pointed his toes, Lucky rubbing Moses toes with his paws.

“yes you can keep playing with Moses Lucky,” Anook said. She got to her feet, bounced on her toes, then left the room.

“Why are our feet and paws such good playthings Moses?” Lucky asked.

“Because they were meant to be played with,” Moses replied.

“They were meant to be played with, stroked and generally used as playthings, I think that anyway,” Anook said, sticking her head round the door.

“Mum,” Lucky said, “if you want to play with us, we could always arrange it so we will tickle your feet in turn.” Anook laughed merrily at this, and left for good.

“Your pads are very smooth Moses,” Lucky said, “how do you manage to stay on your feet?”

“I don’t, I crawl mostly,” Moses said.

“you do walk though, sometimes,” Lucky persisted.

“I do, but I prefer not being on my feet,” Moses said, “I don’t know how I stay on these smooth pads.”

“I have rough pads, but even mine aren’t like a polar bear’s,” Lucky replied, “I have wrinkled pads, and you could have them too if you curled your toes like I do.” Moses curled his toes in Lucky’s grip, the cub giggling, massaging Moses toes and the ball of his foot.

“You soppy thing Moses!” Lucky laughed.

“Maybe if I curl my toes enough, I might get wrinkled pads like you?” Moses asked. Lucky laughed at this.

“No Moses, sorry,” he replied, “it doesn’t work like that, but if it’s any consolation, your pads do look and feel cute when you curl your toes.” Moses tightly curled his toes in Lucky’s grip, Lucky rubbing his bunching pads.

“I play with Orbon,” Lucky said, “he’s good at the circle drawing game, and the two player stuck foot game.”

“I have played with Orbon,” Moses said, “He’s good at all games, and likes the single player stuck foot game too. he learns paws on, but he’s great at all games, really expressive too.”

“I do the best I can,” Orbon yawned, stretching from his place by the fire.

“How long have you been here?” Moses asked.

“Oh, ages,” Orbon replied, “I was listening to you and Lucky playing, it sounded great.”

“Do you play the stuck foot games Orbon?” Moses asked. Orbon grinned, sat down, pressed his feet together, locked his toes and then fought himself for many minutes, wriggling, rocking, whimpering, while tugging at his heels and toes with his paws in a desperate attempt to separate his feet.

“that’s so cute!” Lucky laughed, clapping his paws.

“NO it’s not!” Orbon snarled, “I’m stuck!” Moses crawled over to the struggling half grown bear and rubbed his stuck feet with his hands, rubbing Orbon’s toes to warm them, Orbon finding the extra help warmed the glue holding his feet captive, making them easier to separate. Orbon prised his feet free with a final tearing, snarling effort, then took Moses hands in his paws.

“I hope you’ve been teaching Lucky good games,” Orbon said. Moses hugged Orbon.

“I have,” he replied, “you heard the games we played.”

“I did,” Orbon said, “I think Lucky likes the single player stuck foot game a bit too much. He likes his independence, but I think two player games are good too.”

“I’m trying to introduce them, asking him to let me touch his feet and let him touch mine,” Moses said, “He’s chasing my toes now too.” Orbon grinned.

“That’s good, you’re a good playmate for Lucky,” Orbon said. Moses looked Orbon over from nose to toes.

“Can I play with you now?” Moses asked.

“Um, no,” Orbon replied, “how about playing with Lucky, he needs interactive play, not single play. You’re good for him. I’m trying to get Peter to play like we bears do. I’ve got to go.” With that Orbon padded carefully from the room.

Orbon returned to his lie up. Padding in, he nearly fell over Furball, who’d fallen asleep near the fire.

“um, what? What on earth is going on?” Orbon grunted. Furball stretched and yawned.

“Oh, hello,” she said.

“Who are you?” Orbon asked.

“My name’s Furball, I’m a bear, a naked bear,” Furball replied.

“What are you doing in my lie up?” Orbon asked.

“Your lie up is next to Patch’s right?” Furball asked.

“yes, it is,” Orbon replied, “but what are you doing here?”

“I wanted to sleep and Patch told me to come in here and lie down by the fire, now I’m blundered into by a clumsy pawed bruin?” Furball replied.

“Um, yes, I mean no,” Orbon gabbled, “I’m blind, I can’t see you!” he snapped.

“But Ekaterina is blind too,” Furball replied, “she found me in the woods without tripping over me. I think you were distracted and not concentrating, were you in the woods that night?” Furball asked. Orbon sat down carefully.

“yes, I was in the woodlands, I remember a bear Ekaterina was paws on with, I didn’t understand it much, though I was rude to that bear I think, and I must apologise to her,” he admitted, “now, what was that you said about you being a naked bear?” Orbon asked.

“Me, I’m naked, no fur on my body at all, furless from nose to toes,” Furball replied.

“Oh,” Orbon replied gently, “I didn’t realise your nakedness went that far.”

“Well get paws on,” Furball invited. Orbon did, and found that what Furball said was true.

“You are rather cute,” Orbon said, Furball giggling delightedly.

“now can I get paws on with you?” she asked.

“but you don’t need to, you can see me!” Orbon protested.

“I thought paws were used here,” Furball replied.

“yes, I suppose,” Orbon grunted, Furball embracing him and exploring his head, arms, belly, legs, back and feet, Orbon unable to stop himself wriggling with pleasure and most embarrassingly, he noticed his toes curling with pleasure too.

“Oh dear, um, sorry,” Orbon gabbled.

“I’m glad you like my touch,” Furball replied.

“I don’t, I mean, I do, but not like that!” Orbon whimpered, his mind confused and paws tingling.

“Oh shit, will she guess?” Orbon thought, “My paws and feet will give my arousal away!”

“your paws and feet, hmm, curled toes, bunched pads, bunched slightly damp pads too,” Furball replied, “um, Orbon, either you are a nervous bear, which I doubt, or you are liking my touch rather more than you would like to let on via words.”

“oh dear, oh no!” Orbon whimpered, his toes curling tighter and tighter, then his paws bunched into fists too. Orbon curled up into a ball, Furball’s touch on the pads of his right foot making him curl up tighter and tighter. Covering his face with his paws, he whimpered and roared into his paws, wriggling and squirming.

“Stop it Furball, stop that!” he squealed, “my toes can’t take it, my paws can’t take it, my body is full, and my head is going to explode!” he wailed, “oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” Furball drew circles on the sole of Orbon’s right foot, the male bear drawing his feet up and clasping his knees with his paws. head down, roaring lustily, Orbon struggled to cope with gripping paws, tightly curled toes and clenched teeth as Furball’s touch thrilled him more than he’d dared admit. Furball, drawing circles to her heart’s content, smiled as she observed the affect she was having on the brown coated half grown bear.

“You like my touch?” Furball asked. Orbon whimpered a response, struggling to compose his thoughts, but the circles drawn on the sole of his right foot kept him from composing them.

“Do you like my touch?” Furball asked. Orbon whimpered pitifully.

“I take it your damp pads and curled toes mean you do,” Furball replied, as you haven’t crawled away.”

“what the hell do you think!” Orbon gasped.

“Your pads are very soft, and very warm,” Furball replied, “I like them bunched up too, they’re so cute!”

“Your paws make me curl up into a whimpering, toe curling, paw bunching mess!”” Orbon gasped.

“So I take it you like my touch then,” Furball said, “your paws certainly suggest that.”

“I suppose I do, it’s all too much!” Orbon panted, “Furball, please, paws off for a bit, so I can recover!” Furball released his right foot, Orbon relaxing his paws and toes. Furball suddenly took hold of his left foot in both paws, Orbon roaring and squealing as her touch curled his toes, balled his paws into fists and made him curl up tightly.

“oooaoaoaoaoaoaomph!” he yelled lustily, Furball giggling helplessly.

“you like my touch too much I think,” she said, Orbon panting hard.

“you’re too good at this!” Orbon gasped.

“I’ll stop now,” Furball replied softly.

“No you won’t!” Orbon replied sharply, “I, I mean, please don’t!” he replied more gently, if as urgently. Furball laughed merrily.

“You want me to keep drawing on the pads of your left foot?” she asked. Orbon moaned deeply, his toes curling round Furball’s paw squeezing it hard.

“yes please,” Orbon whispered.

“I like your reaction,” Furball said, “I’ve never had a bear curl up into a ball of pleasure before.”

“You’re not tickling my feet, you’re stroking my pads, I can’t stop my toes curling!” Orbon gasped, wriggling with pleasure, “my paws too,” he added, “I’ve never felt them do what they’re doing now!”

“I like the way your paws and feet react to my touch,” Furball said.

“I want to feel what my touch does to your paws and feet sometime soon,” Orbon replied, “but every time you touch mine, my toes curl and my whole body curls up into a tight ball, my mouth making sounds I never knew I could make!” Furball giggled delightedly and kissed Orbon’s nose.

“now try to relax a bit,” she replied softly.

“I like curling up in a ball,” Orbon replied, “it’s sort of thrilling to do it. I don’t deliberately do it, but it’s sort of feels good to do it.”

“Curled body, curled toes, clenched paws and bunched pads,” Furball replied, “oh, and closed eyes too, how cute is that, and all touched off with a little pressure from my paw on the pads of your right foot.” Orbon pressed Furball’s paw with his toes.

“I don’t know what to think,” he said, “this is all a bit of a whirlwind for me Furball. Is this real? Is this how beginning to love another bear works?” Furball smiled:

“I suppose it is,” she replied, “I wouldn’t know myself, as I’ve never done it before today.” Orbon felt Furball take his paws in hers.

“You mean, mean, you want to mate with me?” Orbon asked. Furball squealed with laughter.

“Do I need to spell it out?” she asked laughing, “oh dear Orbon, are you all that silly?”

“but I’ve never done it before!” Orbon protested.

“Neither have I,” Furball replied, “but yes, I like you big silly bear, so let’s play, let’s get paws on, let’s explore each other with our paws, and grab each other’s feet and toes in play!”

“yes let’s do that,” Orbon replied, “but I don’t know what to do! Every time you touch my paws or my feet, I want to curl up into a ball and squeal with pleasure!”

“I like that,” Furball said, “now I wonder Orbon, would your touch make me do the same?” Orbon wriggled in Furball’s embrace:

“If you don’t let go of my paws, I won’t know,” Orbon replied. Furball let go of Orbon’s paws, and he explored her from her nose to her toes, Furball wriggling with pleasure.

“I love this!” Furball exclaimed.

“yeah, but your reaction is not as extreme as mine,” Orbon replied.

“You haven’t reached my feet yet,” Furball said, “explore Orbon, explore my feet one by one, feel what happens.” Orbon did, and when he touched the ball of her right foot, Furball moaned, gasped, roared, then curled up, just as he had, her toes curling, teeth clenching and paws balling into fists. Furball scrambled onto her knees, then sat back on her heels, Orbon pressing the ball of her right foot, then her toes with his paw, Furball bracing her weight with her paws, head down, roaring and bouncing energetically on her heels as Orbon rubbed her toes.

“Oh god, this is wonderful!” Furball screamed, “I’m not joking either Orbon,” she said, “it’s fantastic! Try my other foot, push into my pads on that foot, go on!” Orbon did, and Furball couldn’t help screaming lustily.

“Huoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaow!” she shrieked.

“Your pads are very soft, and toes curl easily,” Orbon said, digging his paw hard into the toes and pads of Furball’s right foot, the she bear sitting back on her heels, drilling them into her backside while wriggling madly.

“I love that!” she gasped.

“I like your pads and toes too, they are young pads and playful toes Furball,” Orbon said, Furball bouncing her backside on her heels, laughing helplessly.

“I like that too,” Orbon said, lying down behind Furball, his right paw on her backside, his left on the heel of her right foot, feeling Furball bouncing her backside on her heels.

“I’m glad about that,” Furball said.

“I like you bouncing on your heels,” Orbon replied, “it’s sort of cute.” Furball laughed merrily.

“I used to do that for relaxation when I was stressed,” she said, “it made me feel better.”

“Are you stressed now?” Orbon asked.

“Now I bounce for joy,” Furball replied. Orbon smiled as his paw was caught between Furball’s heel and her backside as she bounced a little higher, and landed on his paw.

“oooah, sorry,” Furball said, lifting her weight off of his paw.

“No problem,” Orbon replied. Orbon drew his paw down the sole of Furball’s foot from her heel to her toes, Furball whimpering with pleasure as he reached her toes, her toes curling tightly.

“that feels so bloody good!” she panted.

“Can I get paws on with you to find out what you feel like when you’re sitting back on your heels Furball?” Orbon asked. Furball whimpered her assent, feeling Orbon’s paws start at her head and begin a careful but exquisite exploration of her body. Closing her eyes, Furball let her body tell her where Orbon’s paws were. From her ears, he explored her head, face, chest, arms and paws, her paws resting flat on the floor just in front of her bent slightly splayed knees. Orbon rubbed the tops of Furball’s paws, feeling her wriggling with pleasure as he touched them. Moving behind her, he ran his paws from her neck, down her back to her backside, then down the side of her right leg to her right foot, Furball leaning over slightly as he traced her leg, her mouth opening in a soundless moan as Orbon stroked her pads from her heel to her toes.

“Orbon, this feels great!” she gasped. Orbon repeated his exploration of Furball’s left leg, the she bear whimpering, squealing, then roaring lustily as Orbon’s paw reached her left foot and travelled down the sole of her foot from heel to toes. Furball bounced on her heels, her roar almost constant as Orbon counted her toes and drew circles on the pads of both her feet. Shrieking with bursting pleasure, Furball rocked back and fourth on her knees, Orbon feeling her thrusting forward then leaning back, crushing her heels with her backside. Furball rocked faster and faster as he drew ever faster circles on her pads.

“I’m exhausted Orbon, stop!” Furball panted, “it’s too much for me!” Orbon rubbed out the circles he’d drawn on Furball’s pads, the she bear screaming with pleasure.

“now stop this, stop this!” Furball gasped.

“So I can make you go crazy just by touching your body with my paws,” Orbon said smiling. Furball lowered her head in exhaustion.

“yeah,” she panted, “Orbon, if that’s love making by the paw, how is it when you mate with me?”

“I haven’t ever done that bit,” Orbon said, “I’ve got no experience of that yet. Though, I like just rubbing your body with my paws, it’s lovely.”

“What do you like?” Furball asked.

“Now let me think,” Orbon replied, “a naked she bear touching my foot with her paw and drawing circles on it is lovely.” Furball laughed and rolled onto her back, Orbon getting paws on, Furball drawing up her feet and grabbing them in her paws.

Oaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaosh!”!” Furball screamed in a rising pitch as she fiercely clung to her feet with both her paws, her paws fiercely gripping the soles of both feet, who’s toes curled tightly as Orbon’s paws explored them.

“I love your touch too much Orbon!” Furball yelled, rolling from side to side and then slightly back and fourth.

“Oooooooaoaoaoah, uuououuuoooaoaoaoh!” Furball moaned as Orbon worked his paws over her body.

“now is that nice?” Orbon asked. Furball, her eyes closed, mumbled that it was nice, more than nice. Furball pushed her feet against her paws, Orbon getting paws on with her efforts, straining her legs, she freed her feet, Orbon, grinning, caught her left foot in his paws and blew on her toes, Furball laughing shrilly and whipping her foot away. Massaging her tickled toes in her paws, she looked up at Orbon.

“Tickling my toes was not part of the game!” she admonished. Orbon felt the toes of Furball’s left foot scrabbling at his paws, smiling he took her foot in his paws and began stroking her pads.

“but you like me stroking your foot,” Orbon said.

“Oh, I do that,” Furball replied, “and tickling my toes was not unpleasant either, just unexpected.” Orbon drew circles on the pads of his friend’s right foot, Furball curling her toes tighter and tighter.

“I think I could get used to this play, but find it fresh every time,” Furball said.

“Your paws and feet are lovely Furball,” Orbon said, embracing her left foot in his paws, Furball unable to stop her toes curling even tighter as she felt his paws embrace.

“aoaoaoaow, this feels good!” Furball exclaimed, curling her toes and panting as she relaxed them, then, as another wave of pleasure enveloped her, she curled her toes again, tighter than the first time, exclaiming and wriggling convulsively:

“aoaoaoaow!” Orbon smiled, massaging Furball’s foot, Furball relaxing her toes as Orbon gently rubbed them.

“You know how to make me squeal and curl my toes with pleasure,” Furball said, rocking back and fourth on her backside.

“You make me want to curl up into a ball of screaming pleasure!” Furball panted, “oh Orbon, this is amazing!” Orbon smiled, pressing the ball of Furball’s right foot in his paws, Furball squealing with excitement.

“Orbon, keep it going, please, keep your foot massage going!” Orbon smiled:

“I’ll try,” he replied softly.

“I love your feet,” Orbon said, “they are so expressive, and your pads and toes are so cute, when you curl your toes, your pads bunch up, and they are so soft and warm. Your toes are quite small, so when you curl them, they feel so small and so expressive.” Furball laughed:

“are my feet playing with your paws when my toes curl and pads bunch?” she asked.

“They are, and you are,” Orbon replied, “I like that.” Furball giggled:

“Good!” she replied.

“You’re a young bear, too young to mate with, but I don’t want that, and neither do you I feel,” Orbon said. Furball smiled broadly.

“I don’t want to mate, and neither do you,” she said, “I can feel that. My feelings are strong for you, but I’m not ready for having cubs yet, so if we can express our love in play, I’ll be happy.”

“Me too,” Orbon replied, “I love the way your feet and paws react to my touch.”

“I love the way your feet and paws react to my touch too dear Orbon,” Furball said.

“I love our play,” Orbon replied. Getting to their feet, Orbon felt Furball cover his paw with hers.

“come with me Orbon,” Furball said, “let’s go find some food, I’m hungry, and I bet you are too.”

“We don’t need to find food, we can call Kendal, and he will bring it,” Orbon replied.

“I can’t get used to this,” Furball said closing her eyes. Orbon withdrew his paw from under Furballs, stepped back, and tapped her right hind leg with his paw. Furball jumped, Orbon catching her right foot and tickling the sole of her foot, Furball squealing with laughter.

“Oi you!” she laughed. Orbon kissed the pads of her foot, then let go of it, Furball swallowing hard.

“let’s find food,” Furball choked, feeling tears squeezing from her eyes as Orbon kissed her nose.

“Orbon, don’t!” she pleaded, “it’s too much, surely this is wrong? It has to be? how can I feel so good with you, when, when we’re too young for this?”

“We’re playing as friends, not as mates, yet,” Orbon said, “so Furball, as I won’t hurt you, and you won’t hurt me, let’s play as friends shall we?” Furball sniffed:

“yes,” she replied hoarsely.

“I love you Furball,” Orbon whispered, “Dear Furball, I love you from nose to toes, let’s play as friends now, let’s take things gently, playing for pleasure, playing for fun?”

“I want that as much as you do,” Furball replied.

“I love your touch Furball,” Orbon said, “now let’s go find some food.”

“but I like you touching my feet too much,” Furball said, “Can you touch them a bit more?” Orbon giggled:

“I will,” he replied, “but if we don’t eat, we can’t play.”

“come on then, let’s get food,” Furball replied.

“I like the way you walk,” Furball said, “Orbon, you sort of carefully place your paws and feet, it’s cute.”

“Well you scuff your heels on the floor,” Orbon replied, “I can hear that.”

“I’d like you to feel me walking, for you to grab my feet in your paws as I walk,” Furball said, “that would be nice.”

“I’d like that, we’ll do that in the playroom,” Orbon replied smiling, “that’d be safer for you if you fall over.”

“You have wrinkled pads Orbon,” Furball said, “they’re rather sweet.”

“You have wrinkled pads too,” Orbon said, “is that from curling your toes in play?” Furball laughed helplessly.

“that’s so sweet!” she said, “the thought I could mould my pads by curling my toes, that’s just so cute!” Orbon kissed Furball’s nose, then pushed her onto her back and kissed the pads of her paws and hind feet, Furball squealing delightedly.

“I love this, I love this!” she laughed. Orbon tapped the pads of Furball’s hind feet with the toes of his paws, Furball wriggling madly.

“My paws and feet are yours to do with what you wish,” she said, “you can pleasure me with your touch all day Orbon!”

“I like it when you bounce on your heels,” Orbon said, “that’s so cute!” Furball giggled softly.

“I love that too,” she replied, “I don’t know why though.”

“”Maybe you turn away from me so your feet tell you what I’m doing rather than your eyes?” Orbon asked.

“Oh,” Furball said, her voice full of wonder, “I know now, I know now why your touch was so gentle.”

“I can’t see you,” Orbon said. Furball kissed his nose.

“How does my naked skin and pads feel to you Orbon?” Furball asked.

“your skin is soft, your pads a bit rough and tough though,” Orbon said, “they are soft, but there are hard and dry areas, how about massaging lotion into your pads?”

“I don’t know if I can,” Furball said, “um, Orbon, could you please do something for me? show me how to massage lotion into my pads?” Orbon giggled:

“yes, of course,” he replied, “though I hope you’ll let me check your feet for thorns before I do that?”

“but of course Orbon,” Furball replied, “that is important, you wouldn’t want to press the thorn into my pads even further would you?” Orbon kissed her nose.

“I love you Furball,” he replied gently. Furball and Orbon went to get food, then, once they’d eaten and washed themselves, they padded back to their lie up, Orbon clutching a bottle of lotion and an exploiting cylinder in his paws.

“Now settle down Furball dear,” Orbon said. Furball settled herself, smiling at Orbon, then remembering he couldn’t see her, touched his paw with hers.

“I’m down on the floor now,” Furball said. Orbon took each of Furball’s paws and feet in his paws, working carefully at the rough skin on her pads, gently filing until Furball couldn’t stand it any more. Then he’d start on another part of her pads until all was smooth. Then he rubbed in the lotion Furball closing her eyes and clenching her teeth with pleasure.

“oooah, ooooooooaoh!” she panted.

“Is that good?” Orbon asked.

“Good? It’s bloody good!” Furball gasped.

“that’s lovely,” Orbon replied, working on Furball’s right foot, rubbing the hard skin on the sole of her foot until it was smooth and then misaligning in lotion, Furball unable to stop her toes curling with pleasure.

“your paws and feet are massaged and oiled,” Orbon said, Furball smiling with pleasure.

“how did you learn all that?” she asked.

“Practise,” Orbon said, “we massage creams and things into our paws and feet all the time here.”

“No you don’t,” Furball said, “it’s got nothing to do with creams and things. it’s all to do with touch and gentility.”

“Okay,” Orbon conceded, “it is.”

“I love your touch Orbon, I really do love your touch,” Furball replied.

“Are you two mating?” Purdy asked, walking into the room. Furball stared at her.

“No we’re not!” she snapped, “now get out and leave us in peace!”

“but I watched you playing, and it was so cute and all that, I wanted to say how good it looked, and how lovely you two are together!” Purdy wailed.

“All right Purdy,” Furball said softly.

“bugger off and let us play in peace!” Orbon growled.

“ok I’m leaving!” Purdy whimpered, turning and running away.

Orbon and Furball ordered food, finished their meal and settled down to hugs and paw and foot games.

“I love this place and you too Orbon,” Furball replied.

“I love you too Furball,” Orbon said. he kissed her nose and paws, Furball swallowing hard.

“Orbon,” she whispered, “dear Orbon, I love you so much my lovely friend.” Orbon kissed her nose and massaged her right paw in both of his, Furball snuggling close.

“I’m cold Orbon,” Furball said..

“I feared you’d get cold,” Orbon said, “How if I find you a suit to wear, it’ll be a comfortable tight fitting tracksuit with elastic at the cuffs and ankles, okay?” Furball watched as Orbon went to a cupboard and pulled out a black tracksuit. He threw it to Furball who unzipped the back and struggled into it, her naked paws and feet sticking out from the arms and legs. Furball realised that though the suit was tight fitting, it was flexible so she could still move. Smiling, she drew up her hind feet and grabbed them with her paws, the posture still very comfortable.

“Can you still sit back on your heels?” Orbon asked, exploring Furball’s body.

“I think so,” she said, kneeling and then sitting back on her heels, Orbon touching the stretched material over her backside, and her bare ankles and feet, from tops to slightly bunched soles and slightly curled toes.

“You’re just as beautiful wearing your suit,” Orbon said.

“Will you help me struggle out of it?” Furball asked, “will you get paws on while I fight to free myself?”

“I will,” Orbon said, “I’ll pull the suit off your arms, legs and help your feet and paws to get through the cuffs.” Furball, smiling to herself, felt her way to a flap covering a zip at her waste. Unzipping it, she pulled down the leggings.

“I can wear the suit all the time!” she said, dressing herself again, “I can pull off the trousers to relieve myself then get back into them without taking the top off if I wish.”

“You feel great in that suit,” Orbon said..

“I like the feel of it against my skin,” Furball replied, “it’s fleecy, a nice feel, very comforting.”

“I know some humans wear things when they are in bed as well as out of it,” Orbon replied, “is it that kind of feel? Does it make you want to curl up and sleep?” Furball smiled and curled up into a ball, Orbon paws on throughout.

“That is so dam cute!” Orbon exclaimed, stroking the sole of Furball’s left foot with his paw, feeling her toes curling around those of his paw.

“Explore my paws Orbon,” Furball mumbled, Orbon freeing his paw, Furball whimpering with anxiety until his paws embraced hers, which were tucked into the sleeves of her suit. Orbon smiled as he uncovered her left paw and held it in his.

“I could get little boots for your hind feet if you like,” he suggested.

“I’d like you to pull them on for me before I sleep, then take them off when I wake,” Furball replied, “I don’t mind socks and gloves while I’m sleeping Orbon, but not in the daytime.” Orbon found the gloves and boots for the suit and stretched them onto Furball’s paws and feet, enjoying dressing her, stretching the material over her paws and feet.

“Wiggle your fingers Furball,” Orbon said softly, then, “wiggle your toes Furball, push with your feet and wiggle your toes, there,” Orbon said, Furball swallowing hard to control her emotions as Orbon stroked and tended to her paws and feet as he eased the gloves and boots on to her paws and feet. Orbon tugged and patted at the material, Furball wriggling with pleasure, snuggling into her suit. She noticed the material on her paws and feet was taught, so she could still feel Orbon’s touch. Sighing with pleasure, Furball settled down, snuggling herself down into her suit.

“You know I said I didn’t want a coat?” she said, “well Orbon, I was wrong. I love the feel of the suit on my body and the gloves and socks on my paws and feet. Orbon pulled down the sock on Furball’s left foot, rolling it down, over her heel to the middle part of her foot, then very gently stroked her now bare heel pad, Furball curling her toes, wriggling and gasping with pleasure.

“aoaoaoaow,” she whimpered, panting as Orbon covered her heel again, stretching the material back over her heel, covering the bare pink skin with black material, Furball breathing deeply as she felt her heel once more embraced by the close fitting sock.

“you pulling down my sock, rubbing my heel then replacing the sock felt good!” Furball panted.

“Your heel pad was warm and a little damp,” Orbon said.

“It is warm in here, though not uncomfortably so,” Furball replied.

“your scent is strong,” Orbon said, “I like that.”

“I love you Orbon,” Furball laughed.

“You two are too young to mate, you realise this?” Blackberry said, padding into the room, having watched Orbon and Furball’s antics.

“yes we know!” Furball said angrily, “Blackberry, we’re playing, playing with clothes, playing with each other’s feet and paws.”

“As long as that’s all it is,” Blackberry said, “I’m not averse to play, but just be careful will you, please?” Furball smiled and got to her padded paws and feet, padding over to Blackberry.

“We’re not cubs, we’re too young to have cubs,” she said, “but we are not cubs Blackberry. Our play is play as friends, it might have some implications for our later lives, such as bringing us closer, but that is all for the moment. Oh yes, and getting us acquainted with our own and each other’s bodies, feet and paws.”

“Orbon pulling down the sock on your foot to stroke your heel was more than getting to know you I think,” Blackberry said.

“Yes, it was sweet wasn’t it?” Furball replied, “it felt great at my end too!” Blackberry huffed in exasperation, but then smiled:

“You two are good together,” he said.

“My feet are sore,” Furball said, “and, and, I need to get at them, but my gloves stop me getting at my socks, and my socks are covering my feet, they are in the way Orbon! They feel so uncomfortable!” Orbon pulled the gloves off Furball’s paws, then set to pulling the socks off Furball’s feet, carefully removing them by rolling them down over her heels and soles to her toes, Furball curling her toes with imagined discomfort, Orbon rubbing the soles of her feet from heels to toes as he rolled the socks off her feet.

“Oooah, my toes, my toes want to curl, curl so tight!” Furball whimpered, curling up and making a grab for her right foot, Orbon working the sock off her left foot, while Furball grabbed the bunched sock on her right foot and struggled to free her toes, which curled tightly into the material the harder she struggled.

“relax those toes,” Orbon said as scrabbling paws progressed to snarling, then a general rolling from side to side as her struggle increased.

“Relax those toes,” Orbon said, kissing the heel of Furball’s left foot, her toes relaxing enough for him to pull the sock off the toes of her foot, “there, all done,” Orbon said gently, Furball whimpering as Orbon set to massaging the toes of her left foot in both his paws.

“that was a hard fight,” Furball panted.

“your toes keep curling,” Orbon said, his paws working on Furball’s left foot, Furball’s toes curling whenever he pressed the middle of her sole pad.

“I can’t stop them curling, whenever you press my sole pad, my toes curl tight!” Furball gasped.

“That’s cute,” Orbon said, “your curling toes and bunching pads are cute too,” he added, as the toes of her left foot caught his paw and squeezed it.

“now will you help me free the toes of my right foot?” Furball asked.

“yes,” Orbon said, letting go of his friend’s left foot and grabbing her right, rubbing her pads, Furball squealing as her toes relaxed, then roaring as Orbon pulled the sock off, Furball curling her toes as tightly as she could once they were free.

“toes curling, curling so tight!” Furball yelled, rolling onto her back, drawing up her feet and grabbing them with her paws, “oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” Furball yelled, Orbon getting paws on.

“That’s so sweet!” he said gently, exploring Furball’s situation with care while Furball held tightly onto her feet with her paws.

“oooah, my feet are pressing against my paws, the more you touch my heels and paws the more my feet want to break free!” Furball whimpered, pressing against her paws with both feet. Orbon listened and touched, feeling Furball’s feet press against her paws from time to time, as if in spasm. Furball’s feet would push against the restraining grip of her paws then relax, push a little harder, relax, then harder still, Furball seemingly unable to control their pushing for freedom, as every time they pushed, she moaned and whimpered as if she had no control over what her feet and paws did.

“My feet push, my paws grip!” Furball panted, “one time, one time soon my feet will really push, and my paws will tear free of them, freeing me, but I’m stuck Orbon! My paws are glued to my feet! I’ll end up a screaming, kicking wreck! Ooaoaoaoaoh! It’s happening again!” Furball screeched as her feet braced themselves hard against her paws. Orbon, rubbing the naked top of her right paw, tried to reassure Furball. Suddenly she wriggled, growled, then moaned deeply as her feet pressed against her paws harder than ever, Orbon standing off to one side, but paws on enough to feel the struggle between his friend’s paws and desperately pushing feet.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoao, ooaoaoaoaoaoaooooooooooaoush!” Furball shrieked as her feet made determined efforts to push against her paws. Clenching her teeth, Furball endured the greatest effort made by her feet to free themselves, the effort started with tightly curling toes then muscles bunching, then huge pressure on her paws from both feet. The toes of Furball’s paws dug into the pads of both hind feet in an effort to hold her feet, but with a straine from her legs, and a rush with hysterical screaming from Furball,, Furball’s feet flew free, her legs splaying as she kicked forward, Orbon feeling her feet pummelling his paws as she kicked and thrust at the air in her efforts to regain control.

“oooah, Oaoaoaoaoaow! Oooah,” Furball whimpered as she came down from her efforts.

“that was amazing,” Furball panted.

“You liked it?” Orbon asked, catching hold of her right foot and stroking her pads and toes.

“I loved every minute,” Furball laughed. Orbon touched Furball’s left paw, then her right, her left foot, then her right, Furball giggling helplessly.

“have my feet and paws survived?” she asked. Orbon got properly paws on, Furball almost purring with pleasure as he examined her paws and feet for damage.

“You know how to play with me just how I like it,” Furball said, her paws and toes clenching and curling.

“when I was struggling to free my feet from those socks,” Furball said, “I wanted your help, but whenever you touched the sole of my foot, my toes curled around the socks, making pulling them off impossible, though that was real fun.” Orbon smiled and hugged Furball with genuine affection, Furball snuggling close.

“I love your play Orbon,” Furball said, “I love your touch and what it makes me want to do, from curling my toes, to grabbing my feet with my paws, or sitting back on my heels while you stroke my pads in circles or count my toes until they curl so tight I’m exhausted. I love it Orbon.”

“I love stroking your pads,” Orbon replied smiling.

“Would you let me stroke your pads?” Furball asked.

“of course,” Orbon replied, “but I’m not as good at imaginative play as you are. The way you struggled to free your feet from your paws so they could meet my paws was inspired. Making your paws the enemy of your feet was so cute. I could really feel your belief in your struggle, that was so sweet.” “how would I simulate having your cubs Orbon?” Furball asked.

“You know how to simulate a contraction don’t you?” Orbon asked.

“How?” Furball enquired.

“Push back against yourself or against me with your feet or paws, growling and screaming with the effort,” Orbon replied.

“Oh,” that sounds fun,” Furball giggled.

“do you want to try it now?” Orbon asked, “you were doing that while pushing your feet against your paws.”

“But I want to squeal and yell while you’re stroking my feet as I push my backside into my heels, drilling down hard while curling my toes,” Furball said.

“wow, that intense ay?” Orbon asked.

“yes,” Furball replied, “I take it pretending to have a cub is okay here?”

“it is,” Orbon replied, “and so is rubbing your paws and feet, and holding you while you pretend too.” Furball laughed:

“So I can cling to you, wriggle, moan and scream lustily?” she asked.

“You can,” Orbon said smiling.

“sometimes I can’t express how I feel in words,” Furball said, “it comes out in squealing and a fierce embrace.”

“I noticed,” Orbon replied, “your toes grabbed my paw while you squealed loudly.”

“while I was struggling to free my feet from my paws?” Furball asked.

“yes,” Orbon replied smiling, “your toes caught mine between them and your gripping paws, that was lovely Furball.” Furball kissed his nose:

“I love you Orbon,” she replied, “I love you so much.”

“I you too,” Orbon said, “this play is play, but there is more to it than that.”

“I knew that at the beginning,” Furball replied, “but we will be careful, we know that.”

“yes, pretending that you are delivering a cub is all we will do, with me rubbing your back, paws and feet,” Orbon promised..

“I promise to curl my toes, kick, crawl, sit back on my heels, moan, roar and scream with commitment too,” Furball said.

“So that’s a deal?” Orbon asked. Furball knocked Orbon from a sitting position to supine, then pulled him onto his side and embraced him.

“what do my paws tell you?” she asked. Orbon wriggled with pleasure, Furball’s embrace filling him with pure exec.

“it’s a deal,” he panted.

“I hope your paws find my body, head, paws, feet, pads and toes interesting Orbon,” Furball said, stroking his body from ears to pads. Orbon replied that he found her very tactilely interesting.

“Even better when you curl your toes,” he replied, “or when you play foot and paw games.”

“I like playing with my feet,” she replied, “you haven’t felt me play with my toes yet have you?” Furball asked.

“No,” Orbon replied.

“Right, I’ll do that when I’m pretending to be in early labour with your cub,” Furball replied, “I will also go into labour with my suit on, and we can both remove it while I endure contractions too.”

“don’t give the game away,” Orbon said, “I want to be surprised by what you do. That’s airport of the game.”

“I will listen to you too,” Furball said, “but ok, I’ll start the game one day soon.”

“So you’ll labour while wearing the suit you are now wearing?” Orbon asked.

“yes,” Furball replied, “I’ll try to labour with it on, then struggle out of it when I feel uncomfortable enough to need more freedom, then it’s time for you to help me in a serious way when time to deliver the cub. I would like you to use all your knowledge of what I like to make me labour to have the cub. stroke my feet, stroke my paws, encourage me to crawl, breathe, scream and roar, then to push down into my tail while you rub my heels.”

“I’ll do all that,” Orbon replied.

“right,” Furball said, “now, do I put those socks and gloves back on again? Or will I feel uncomfortable within a few minutes of doing so.”

“Your pads were damp with discomfort after only five minutes of wearing them last time,” Orbon replied.

“I know,” Furball whimpered, “I felt them with my paws, they helped stick the socks to my feet!” she raged.

“they did,” Orbon said, Furball feeling his paws embracing her.

“when it’s time, will you help me out of this suit?” Furball asked.

“yes I will,” Orbon replied.

“Good, I’ll need help,” Furball replied smiling.

“How about if I rub your paws and feet now?” Orbon asked, feeling her wriggle in his embrace.

“yes, yes please, now,” Furball panted. Orbon embraced Furball’s right foot in his paws, feeling her toes curling as she felt his touch.

“Oaoaoaoaoaow!” Furball gasped, “ow, Orbon, ow, ow!” Orbon rubbed the heel of his friend’s right foot, Furball pressing her toes into his paws.

“Orbon! It’s so aow! Aow! Aow, aow Aowaoaoaoaow!” Furball yelled, bouncing her foot in his paws, her toes curling tightly.

“this hurts so bloody much already! Aow!” Furball screeched.

“Tell me what you want me to do,” Orbon said, as Furball buried her face in her paws and screamed lustily.

“it hurts, it hurts!” she yelled, sitting back on her heels and bouncing on them, then drilling her heels into her backside roaring:

“aoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaooaoaouah, the cub’s coming, it’s coming quickly, Orbon, ow, aow Orbon!” as she sat back hard on her heels. Squealing, she struggled with her contractions, wriggling and jamming her heels tightly into her backside, as if trying to stop the cub emerging.

“Do you want me to help you out of your suit?” Orbon asked.

“yeah, yeah, please!” Furball panted, “Orbon, cub’s coming, coming fast, aow! aow! Aow!”

“I’ll help you unzip the bottom half of your suit,” Orbon said, unzipping the suit while Furball ground her teeth and sat back hard on her heels, drilling them into her backside, Furball curling her toes as tightly as she could.

“this is bad!” she moaned, “this is bloody awful, I can’t hold the cub in for much longer! I need to push!” she screamed. Orbon unzipped the trousers, then asked:

“Furball, will you rest your weight on your paws? stand on the tips of your toes and lean forwards so I can pull the trousers down to your knees and then to your feet so you can deliver your cub?” panting, furball leant forward whimpering:

“the cub is nearly here, it’s nearly here! I can’t hold it in! it wants to come now, aow!” Orbon tugged the trousers down to Furball’s ankles as she bounced on her toes,, the she bear wriggling and pivoting on her paws to help him.

“oooah, ooaoaoaoaoh, ow,” aow! Aow!” she moaned as he pulled the trousers over her heels and over her feet, turning them inside out. Sitting on the trousers, he felt his way over her feet, now covered with the cuffs on the bottoms of the trousers which had not yet come off her feet.

“if you crawl now, your trousers will come off,” Orbon said, “I’m sitting on them.” Furball wriggled, then crawled away, tugging her feet from the trousers, feeling the cuffs scraping over her heels and toes, Furball whimpering as the trousers squeezed her feet and toes.

“they are bunched around my toes!” she screamed. Orbon felt his way over furball’s feet, furball’s cries lessening.

“Your toes are curled, holding the trousers,” Orbon said rubbing the bare heels of her hind feet with his paw, “Furball, relax your toes between contractions.” Furball moaned her way through a contraction, then panted, feeling Orbon tugging the trousers from her toes.

“How large is this cub?” Furball moaned, “it hurts!”

“I’ll show you how much of the cub you have to push out by touching the parts of your body if you wish,” Orbon said, crawling after Furball, rubbing her heels and pressing the balls of her feet with his paws.

“ow, yes, please, ow, aow! I want to, want to push, must push!” Furball yelled, “the cub’s so big, I don’t think you’ll have time to touch my body Orbon!” Closing her mouth, she leant over, pressing her right foot into Orbon’s grip, pushing back against him.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow, oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Aow! Aow! Aow!” Furball screamed, pushing her foot into Orbon’s paws, her weight over her paws. head down, she panted and moaned as she came down, then suddenly Orbon felt her toes curl in his paws. Suddenly he felt Furball squirm her foot into his grip, pressing her curled toes into his paws, her pads bunched and sweating with effort, the she bear screaming with effort and pain.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” she screeched, “it’s stretching me, this is hurting so much!” she yelled.

“the cub’s paws and head are coming, pant Furball pant!” Orbon replied softly, Furball panting and whimpering, then moaning as another contraction gripped her.

“eurrhrhrhrhrhrhg Eoaoaowurgh!” she complained, her voice low and strained.

“How do you want me to help you?” Orbon asked.

“the cub’s body is coming!” Furball squealed, “I can feel it, I can feel it, catch the cub Orbon!” Orbon stroked Furball’s sweating pads, exploring her curled toes and bunched pads.

“Ok, I need to push again, help me push Orbon, help me!” Furball begged, pressing her foot into his paws, “yoaoaoaoaoaoaoaow! Yoaoaoaoaoaoaoaow, ooooooaoaoaowmph!”

“Cub’s nearly here now, nearly here, push furball Push!” Orbon urged, touching Furball’s tail, then catching the imaginary cub, Furball whimpering as the cub’s hind feet emerged.

“that was hard!” she panted, “was it good enough Orbon?” Orbon smiled broadly.

“it was,” he replied, “now, do you want to groom your cub?”

“I’ll groom the bear who’s body was in my mind as I pushed,” Furball replied, spinning round, grabbing Orbon and grooming him.

“I am too big surely?” he asked.

“I wanted to bring you closer to me,” Furball replied.

“You’re so sweet Furball,” Orbon said.

“now, now will you help me on with my trousers?” Furball asked, “I’m exhausted Orbon.” Orbon turned the trousers the right way round, then helped her into them.

“Your scent is strong Furball,” Orbon said.

“please Orbon, rub my paws and feet,” Furball said. Orbon did as Furball asked, Furball starting off by pedalling the air with her feet, then when Orbon caught both her feet and began massaging her pads, she curled her toes with pleasure.

“I like it when you pedal the air with your feet and paws,” Orbon said, “I’m surprised you didn’t do that during your labour.”

“I didn’t have time,” Furball replied, but I want to now.”

“your feet and paws were lovely when labouring, and lovely now,” Orbon said.

“were they?” Furball asked, “that’s lovely.”

“I love your feet and paws,” Orbon said, “and it’s sort of cute you were thinking of a cub my size when you delivered your imaginary cub. thing is, that was a big cub.”

“it was,” Furball replied, “truth is, I was wondering how it would feel to deliver a cub for you. I really felt pain Orbon, real pain.”

“You didn’t feel pain, you couldn’t have,” Orbon said, “now would you like me to massage your toes and pads?” Orbon asked. Furball smiled, then hugged him.

“My toes will curl so tightly, my pads bunch so much that they will remain bunched for life I think,” Furball said.

“If that’s not a declaration of intent I don’t know what is,” Patch said, padding into the room.

“I think we’re compatible,” Orbon said, “my feet and paws like furball’s.”

“Mine like Orbon’s too,” furball replied.

“You two looked committed,” Patch said, “and you Orbon, know how to soothe and encourage furball. I watched your play around removing your socks furball, that was so cute and sweet!”

“We enjoyed it,” furball giggled.

“Then there was the point at which furball’s labour got hard as the cub was nearly here, Orbon was wonderful!” Patch enthused. furball laughed:

“he was lovely wasn’t he,” she said, “next time, I will remove my trousers before labour gets that far along.”

“It was a lovely time,” Orbon said. Looking concerned, he asked:

“Patch, please, tell me this. furball said she was in real pain when she was pushing. She sounded in pain. What was all that about?”

“Can I tell him furball?” Patch asked.

“You can,” Furball replied.

“Furball was trying to imagine what it would be like to deliver your cub,” Patch said, “I gave her real pain to push against, I told her to push her foot into your paws and to take what comfort she found there. I asked her to do what she felt like doing when the cub was born. To express herself naturally, to turn to the one whom she wanted to deliver a cub for and groom him. Furball did that too.” Orbon felt furball’s paw scrabbling for his. He took it in his paws and held on tightly, his eyes filling with tears.

“So that’s why it was so real at the end, when Furball sat back on her heels, trying to keep the cub inside her,” he choked, “she felt real pain, and wanted to get me paws on before she pushed. Her pain was real, her urges were real ones, her sitting back on her heels was her attempt to stop the cub she knew was coming from emerging too quickly.”

“yes,” Patch said.

“I once felt that urge,” Orbon said, “though it felt like a need to relieve myself. It was when I couldn’t stop playing a game I was involved in, as it was just too good. I sat back on my heels then, drilling them into my backside just as furball did, trying to stop myself from soiling myself. I felt vulnerable and scared then, as the urges were unbearable. I made it, but only with the help of Sita, who realised what was happening and rushed me away. As it was, I was just in time.”

“You know then how urgent her need was for you to touch her paws, and how difficult it was for her to let you help her from her trousers,” Patch said.

“yes, and I wasn’t wearing any,” Orbon replied, “furball, was it that intense?”

“it was,” furball replied, “the cub was almost on its way out into the world.”

“I bet it was worse than I felt,” Orbon said. Patch smiled:

“Orbon,” he said, “I heard you doubt furball’s power to soothe you. she on the other paw, doesn’t doubt your power to soothe her.”

“yes,” Orbon said, “I am rather tough padded, as it were.”

“”we’ll see about that,” Patch replied. Orbon suddenly groaned deeply.

“it’s happening again!” he roared, sitting back on his heels, drilling them into his backside, “it’s happening again! I can’t stop it!” furball, her paw now free, probed the pads of Orbon’s sweating hind feet with her paw, Orbon drilling his heels into his backside just as she had, his heels close together, drilling hard into his backside, his toes curled in desperation, as if blocking the passage of something from his body.

“ooaoaoaoaoh!” Orbon screeched, but then he felt something else, a lessening of the urgency inside him, and he knew furball’s touch was doing that, for the minute she released her pressure, the urge flooded back, and Orbon was forced to drill his heels into his backside harder than ever.

“furball it’s coming, I can’t stop it!” he wailed, the pressure from furball’s paw applied gently to his heel, then down his foot to the ball of his foot, then his toes, Orbon’s urge purged from him, Orbon whimpering and whining as her paw traversed his pads, first of his left foot, then of his right, from heels to toes, Orbon panting, whimpering and gasping as the pleasure outweighed his pain.

“wow!” he exclaimed in relief when furball removed her paw from his pads and all was normal, “that was intense!”

“I gave you the urges you felt in the playroom that day,” Patch said, “and it was up to furball to soothe your pain. If she didn’t want to, you would have been screaming by now. As she wanted to though, she touched your hind feet as you’d touched hers, and your pain left you, or would have done enough to enable you to get into safety to do what you had to do, right?” Orbon agreed.

“yes,” he replied, “so by me stroking her pads, I made it possible for furball to endure her contractions for long enough to get her trousers off and let her deliver her cub?”

“yes,” furball replied.

“and what about when you pushed your foot into my paws while pressing down to deliver the cub Furball?” Orbon asked.

“that helped too,” furball replied, “that was reassurance for me that you were still there and still with me.”

“So you want to have my cubs?” Orbon asked.

“yes silly,” furball laughed, “but I want you first. I want you to play with my paws and feet, to make me play silly foot and paw games, and to soothe me when I’m in pain. You can do that, you’ve done it before.” Orbon embraced furball with all his might, but then he stopped.

“this isn’t the real furball,” he said, unzipping the top half of her suit and tugging it off her. he then undid the trousers, Furball crawling away, pulling the trousers off her legs and feet as she did so. Orbon, now chasing her by scent, crawled after Furball, found her feet, claimed them with his paws, then, as she spun round to challenge him for tickling her toes with his breath, he tackled her to the floor and hugged her fiercely, furball letting him embrace her, melting into his hug, whimpering and gasping as he embraced her, his touch thrilling her from her nose to her toes.

“this is the real Furball,” Orbon said softly to the now naked she bear, furball laughing delightedly.

“that was fun!” she giggled.

“I was touching the real Furball while she was delivering her cub,” Orbon said.

“You were,” furball replied, “I was naked from the hips down. I hope, when the time really comes, you will be able to do that for me.”

“The time had come,” Orbon said, “we know that, don’t we.”

“yes,” furball replied, “I don’t want cubs yet, but I will know who can soothe my pain when I eventually give birth to them.”

“thank you,” Orbon replied, crying freely.

“Now my feet and paws need looking after,” furball said, “would you do that for me?” Orbon kissed furball’s paws, then her nose.

“it’s a real pity I was unable to grab my feet with my paws during my labour,” furball said, “but things became too real before I could work that one into the game. Suddenly it wasn’t a game, I was in real pain, and needed serious help.”

“I sort of knew it, now I think back,” Orbon replied.

“the cub was really coming into the world, I could feel every bit of it!” furball said.

“I could feel every effort my body was making too,” Orbon replied, “it brought the whole thing back to me. the play I’d had, the needs I’d felt but ignored, then the urgency, and me trying to block it by digging in my heels, as if that would have stopped anything.”

“yes, I know,” furball replied, but we try, we fight the pain mostly.

“I was fearful of what others would say,” Orbon replied, “but the abdominal pain was awful.”

“I was fearful my cub would explode from me,” furball replied.

“I was fearful too,” Orbon said.

“I would like to touch your hind feet when they’re upside down,” furball said. Orbon knelt and she explored his pads and toes, Orbon sitting back on his heels, then pushing off and resting his weight on his paws as her touch made him breathless, his toes curling as she explored his pads.

“wowowowowowoaoaoaoh!” he yelled, “Furball, don’t!” Furball laughed happily as her touch caused Orbon to wriggle, then bounce on his heels and sit down hard on them, the toes of his paws digging into the floor in front of him, his breath coming quickly.

“I guess you like my touch?” she asked.

“My head is about to explode!” Orbon panted, “I don’t know what to do with this feeling, my feet can’t cope!”

“bounce on your heels,” furball suggested. Orbon did this, but it wasn’t enough. Grinding his heels into his backside, he fought to remain composed.

“I’m going to become a screaming, sobbing wreck in a minute!” he whimpered, “this is too good!”

“your feet might crave my touch as much as mine do yours,” furball said.

“I think they might, my paws too!” Orbon replied, tearing his feet away from her touch, turning and pouncing on furball, who rolled with him, both embracing each other with intentions laid bare.

“Compatible paws?” Orbon asked.

“Paws, feet, everything!” furball replied laughing breathlessly, “this is amazing Orbon!”

“yeah, it is,” Orbon replied kissing her nose.

“I love your touch,” furball said for the thousandth time, but Orbon wasn’t tired of hearing her say it.

“and I yours my dear,” Orbon replied, “I know we played at delivering a cub, but it was lovely play.”

“It was,” furball replied, “now I wonder if your feet will stick to mine? Can we play the stuck foot game?”

“We probably could,” Orbon replied, “but what do you really want my paws to do?”

“I would like your paws to touch my feet,” she replied, “maybe the game where we draw circles would be a good one to play? Could you stand that? Whenever I touch your pads Orbon, you become incapable of play!” Furball laughed.

“I will play that game,” Orbon replied.

“Then we will play the stuck foot game, minus an egg box, as we don’t need those, we can scream and roar encouragement to each other to free our feet enough without that,” furball said.

“the last stuck foot game I played was with Sally, we got stuck for at least half an hour each foot,” Orbon replied.

“that’s so cute,” Furball said, “it’s a great game that stuck foot game. I used to play that with my humans, their feet stuck very well to mine, we played the game for ages.”

“I hope we’ll get very well stuck,” Orbon said. furball giggled:

“We will,” she said, “I know we will get very stuck.”

“I don’t think we’ll get past checking each other’s feet for thorns,” Orbon replied. Furball laughed merrily and kissed her friend’s nose.

“That’s nice to see,” Patch said, furball looking up sharply.

“We’d forgotten you were here,” she said. Patch sat down and crossed his paws.

“Ignore me,” he replied, “I love just watching you two making love to each other.”

“We’re not!” furball yelped, “oh, all right, we are,” she added, Patch’s eyes smiling into hers.

“You are,” he replied, “I saw it, and so did everyone else.”

“I forgot about the cameras here,” furball said.

“We might play at having cubs,” furball replied, “but our love making is all by the paw or foot, and that is certain at the moment.”

“it’s a cute way to play,” Patch said.

“I like furball’s paws and feet,” Orbon said, “they are so cute when there toes curl and pads bunch up.”

“yes they are,” Patch said, “I washed her when she first came here, and I found her paws and feet rather cute I must say.” Furball grinned at Patch.

“that wash reassured me and made me feel welcome,” she said.

“it helps many,” Patch replied.

“I’ll leave you two to it, I can see you need time alone, oh, and by the way, those socks? They are difficult to get off your feet when you’re fighting your own toes furball.” Furball grinned hugely.

“I know,” she said, “but it was fun to fight myself, then to have Orbon touch my pads and soothe me, even if it did make me curl my toes.”

“your pads are cute when bunched,” Orbon said, stroking the sole of furball’s right foot.

“I like curling my toes, it feels good to me, and even better because you like me curling them too,” furball replied.

“Why put that suit on if you like being as you naturally are?” Orbon asked, “socks and gloves too. Why furball?”

“I like being unwrapped from my wrappings,” she replied honestly.

“You mean you liked the struggle out of the trousers and the socks?” Orbon asked.

“yeah, I did, sort of risk without the risk. It’s imaginative play to think you’ll never be able to free your feet from those socks, your toes curl in anxiety and fear, and you can’t free your feet, so you pull harder, and it goes on like that. Then when you do free the toes of one foot, you are so intent on freeing the other, you forget how you freed the toes of your now bare foot. so the struggle for a solution carries on as before. It’s kind of stimulating. Oh, and by the way, your touch made me want to scream and yell during my labour too. I needed that Orbon. The touch of your paw on the sole of my foot feels so dam good!” Orbon hugged furball.

“I like the way your bare feet and paws end in tight cuffs, as if the suit is part of you,” Orbon said.

“it almost is isn’t it,” Furball replied, “it’s comfortable in here, I can move as much as I could without it.”

“I got paws on with your feet when you were standing on tiptoe,” Orbon said, “your pads were stretched taught.”

“Was that when you were pulling my trousers off to let me deliver the cub?” furball asked.

“yes,” Orbon said, “it felt lovely.”

“I wanted you to feel everything you could,” furball replied, “I would have spun the labour out, but my needs to deliver the cub and my feelings of elation when you stroked my feet got the better of me. I pushed too hard, and the cub came quickly.”

“it was wonderful,” Orbon replied.

“If you come into the room, and I’m playing with my toes, I won’t stop,” furball said, “I’ll tell you what I’m doing, and let you get paws on. I’ll bet my toes would curl, and my paws grip my foot with fierce strength when you touch my foot or my paws,” she laughed, “I’ll probably squeal and roar, then rock back and fourth on my bum too,”

“how did you know how to re-enact the birth of a cub?” Orbon asked.

“I followed what I’d seen a mama human do once in a den,” furball replied, “she’d got on all fours and strained down into her bottom, sat back on her heels too. they show you everything in those videos, from ears to toes. I even saw the mama human’s toes curling as she endured her pain. Did you know human pads bunch up like ours when they curl their toes Orbon?” Orbon knew right enough, but he pretended ignorance:

“No, I didn’t know that,” he replied.

“Well they do,” furball replied, “I lived with humans, and my male human, Paul, used to play toe curling games, so I knew how his feet worked. Then I watched a video of a mama human giving birth to her cub, and saw the mother’s toes curling as Paul’s had. Paul even re-enacted the toe curling he’d seen on that video. Thing is, he wasn’t meant to watch it, but he did. It was a child birth video from before he was born, his mother was trying to get ready for his birth. Paul would play all sorts of silly games, he was a lot of fun. He re- enacted a lot of what he saw on the video, drawing his feet up, curling his toes, moaning and yelling, all that, while I rubbed his heels and toes with my paws to soothe him. We would then swap roles, and the game would begin again. That was a lovely time.”

“your human sounds a wonderful personality,” Orbon said. furball sighed:

“he was,” she replied, “and we were separated by other humans who didn’t like our friendship.”

“Councils are a bit like that,” Patch replied, walking into the room, “Jess and I were separated at first. She found her way into this community, as you know furball.” Furball smiled at Patch.

“Jess tickled mama Kamchatka’s pads didn’t she,” she said.

“it was more tickling her toes,” Patch replied, “but yes.”

On his way home from school that day, Paul walked through the woods. Knowing the bears went barefooted, he removed his shoes and socks before venturing into the woods. He remembered the spot where he’d reluctantly left Furball. Furball had been more than a pet to Paul, they’d played, laughed, cried and eaten together, indeed, he knew his ursine friend could speak English, though she rarely spoke it, and only to him. Walking through the woodlands, Paul pulled his mobile from his pocket and called his parents.

“I’m going to be late home,” he said, “I’m going to the house to meet Furball for the last time and say goodbye to her.” Walking through the woods, Paul felt the ground beneath his feet, curling his toes into the forest floor, loving each step. Paul knew about the community, and even though he was only eight years old, he was an independent spirit. Padding to the house, he left his shoes outside the door. Wondering where the security was, he pressed the intercom, hearing a lion and two tigers swearing softly near him.

“Missed me did we?” he thought. Suddenly a voice asked him what he wanted, well it sounded like that.

“My name’s Paul, I’m here, looking for furball,” he replied. Someone who spoke English came on the line and asked:

“What does furball look like?”

“She’s um, a naked bear, or she was, she’s wearing a black cat suit thing at the moment,” Paul replied, “I’m her, um, her friend, that she used to live with.”

“Ok, we will let you in,” the voice said after a considerable pause.

The door opened and Paul walked in, to find a half grown she bear barring his path.

“I saw you, even if the useless tigers didn’t!” Sooleawa snapped, “I let you in here, you look harmless enough.”

“My name’s Paul,” Paul said, “I’m Furball’s friend.”

“Furball?” Sooleawa asked, speaking English to Paul, “um, she’s that naked bear isn’t she? Well she’s wearing a track suit now, and has found a friend herself now.”

“I have been watching their love making from the school today,” Paul replied, “furball looks great in that suit she’s found.”

“I’ll wash your feet and hands and then put you through to furball on the intercom system,” Sooleawa replied. Paul sat down and let Sooleawa wash his hands and feet, unable to stop his toes curling as she worked on his feet, her work pleasurable.

“All done,” Sooleawa said. Paul got to his feet and then smiling, got down into a crawling posture, Sooleawa blowing on his toes, Paul laughing helplessly.

“Now I’ll call furball,” Sooleawa said, getting to her feet and padding to the telephone. The door opened soon after and Paul sprang to his feet, running to the bear who stood on all four paws. Rising to her hind feet, furball caught Paul in a huge embrace, Paul bouncing on his toes as he tried to increase his embrace.

“hello furball my dear,” Paul laughed, kissing her friend’s nose.

“Come in,” furball said, “what brings you here Paul?”

“I’m here for the last time,” Paul replied, “we’re leaving the county tomorrow, the council have found us a house fifty thousand miles away from you.” furball looked so upset that Paul became upset too.

“can I stay here?” Paul asked, “I know other humans have. I want to stay with my friend!” he sobbed.

“You must go to get an education and a new life,” Sooleawa said.

“but it’s not our wish, it’s the council telling us where to live, and even then we can’t afford it,” Paul replied, “I heard mum talking about it, “we’re completely at the mercy of the council,” that’s what she says. She even told me in a moment of anger that, that, “if it hadn’t been for your bloody bear, we would not have come to the attention of the council!”

“it’s not your fault, or that of your bear that the local council has changed their policies,” Charles Fullbeans said, walking through the lobby to the door into the lodge, “the housing association changed, and their policy on pets changed, as did the changes to housing benefits. Now you’re here furball, and Paul’s family is split up.”

“Can I stay here?” Paul asked Charles.

“I don’t know,” Charles replied, “it’s not down to me. I have to ask others.”

“could you ask those who you have to ask?” Paul asked, “I love my bear, I know she’s in love with Orbon now, but we can still play like old times from time to time, can’t we Furball?” furball smiled and nodded. Charles went through the door into the lodge, closing it behind him.

“now let’s play a bit Paul,” Furball said, “let’s play a bit, playing our favourite games.”

“One of our favourite games was pretending to give birth to cubs,” Paul said, “and I need to curl my toes and scream at the situation mum and I are in at the moment, so it would be good to play that game.”

“Let’s sit down in the lie up and check each other’s feet for thorns,” furball said. Paul followed furball down the corridors to Orbon’s lie up, staring in wonder at the male bear, who stood on his hind feet and found his hands by scent, placing his paw in Paul’s hand as a signal of friendship.

“hello Orbon,” Paul said, embracing the male bear.

“Hello Paul,” Orbon said, assuming that was to whom he was speaking.

“Paul doesn’t speak ursine Orbon,” Furball said, but Paul had no problem understanding Orbon, the bear’s attitude was friendly and open.

“now sit down and find out what happens,” furball said. Paul sat down, and Orbon got paws on with his hands and feet, Paul unable to stop his toes curling with pleasure.

“so you would curl your toes and hold your feet in your hands while pretending to have a man cub?” Orbon asked. Paul laughed and replied that he would, curling his toes and holding his right foot in his hands, Orbon getting paws on with his foot, curled toes and clutching hands.

“You remember I said human toes curl like ours do? And that their pads bunch up like our pads do Orbon?” furball asked, “well get paws on here. Furball sat down beside Paul, her right foot touching his left.

“now please curl your toes Paul,” furball said, Paul curling the toes of his left foot, while furball curled the toes of her right foot, Orbon getting paws on with both.

“yes they do feel similar,” Orbon said, “thanks for that furball, and you Paul.”

“I like your touch,” Paul laughed, curling his toes even tighter, catching Orbon’s paw with his toes.

“You have small feet with thick pads,” Orbon said, “your toes are small too!”

“I can really curl them tightly too!” Paul replied, releasing Orbon’s paw, then curling his toes as tightly as he could, Orbon getting paws on.

“that’s so cute,” Orbon said, drawing his paw down the bunched pads of Paul’s foot from just below his toes to his heel, Paul bouncing about with excitement.

“I love that feeling!” he laughed.

“I thought you might,” Orbon said. the phone rang, and furball padded over to answer it. Charles Fullbeans told her something which had her first bouncing, then dancing on her toes and almost screaming with delight.

“thank you!” she gushed, slamming the phone down and rushing back to Paul. Picking him bodily off the floor, she swung him round and then sat him back down before embracing him tightly.

“What’s up furball?” Paul asked giggling.

“you’re mama says the council have had a change of heart on evicting you from your house,” she said, “as long as I stay here, and don’t go back, you two can stay in your home!”

“So I could come here after school and at weekends?” Paul asked.

“You could, and please do,” Orbon replied, Furball laughing delightedly.

“yes you can,” she replied, kissing his nose and hands, Paul becoming emotional.

“I love you furball!” Paul choked, Furball smiling and kissing his nose.

“did you see the play Orbon and I had?” furball asked.

“I did, but that was not play at the end was it? I saw your face, your pain as you sat back on your heels,” Paul said.

“No that wasn’t play, that was too real,” Furball replied.

“You have expressive toes Paul,” Orbon said, Paul giggling and wiggling his toes.

“we used to play the single player stuck foot game too,” Paul said, bending his legs, pressing his feet together, heels to heels, toes to toes, then interlocking his toes.

“Now my feet are a little warm from curling my toes so tight earlier, I will have a little glue to help me imagine my feet are stuck together,” Paul said.

“What on earth is that!” furball asked, looking over Paul’s shoulder to the door..

“I know who that is!” Orbon giggled.

“It’s a cat thing, a bear cat thing!” furball squealed, her eyes almost starting from her head.

“I’m no threat,” Sita purred, Orbon padding to Sita and embracing the cat bear.

“It’ll kill you Orbon!” furball yelled.

“Sita? No she won’t kill anyone,” Orbon replied, “she’s as gentle as the one who gave birth to her.”

“And who was that?” furball asked.

“Patch,” Sita mewed.

“Patch?” furball asked incredulously, “but, but, um, ah, he’s male!”

“he’s my birth mama and sire,” Sita mewed.”

“how?” Furball asked.” Sita told her the tale as best she knew it, furball and Paul wide eyed by the end.

“So Patch went into labour and delivered you into the world, saving your life?” Paul asked. Sita smiled and replied:

“yes he did.”

“My head hurts,” furball whimpered, rubbing her forehead with her paw.

“it’s difficult to explain,” Sita said. Paul rocked back and fourth, prying his feet free with his fingers, first his heels, then his toes, then the balls of his feet, grunting and puffing, while Sita, interested, padded round and got paws on, smiling at what she found.

“the single player stuck foot game?” she asked, “but why the urgency?”

“I want to ask you something Sita,” Paul said, “but I can’t until I free myself!” Sita helped Paul by working her paws into the growing gap between the balls of Paul’s feet, the young boy pressing his toes together to free the balls of his feet. “Can I hug you Sita?” Paul asked, reaching out to the cat bear. Sita brushed Paul’s face with her whiskers and purred in his ear, Paul laughing and throwing his arms around her neck, embracing her, kissing her ear and nose.

“I love your hug,” Sita purred, lying down and rolling onto her back, showing Paul her belly and the naked soles of all four huge paws.

“You’re cute upside down too!” Paul laughed, Sita mewing and waving her feet and paws about, Paul laughing helplessly.

“Can I get, um, paws on?” he asked, leaning over to look into Sita’s face. Sita smiled and replied:

“Go on, get paws on, feel my fur, explore my paws and feet, rub my belly, touch my tail.” Paul pushed Sita about, flexing her legs, paws and feet, playing with her toes and watching as she curled them to make her pads bunch up. He explored her by sight and touch from nose to tail, Sita wriggling and purring with pleasure.

“I knew you the minute I saw you,” Paul said, “you’re so lovely Sita.” Sita kissed his nose.”

“Can I touch your hands and feet Paul?” Sita asked, when he’d finished his exploration of her body.

“yes, of course,” Paul said, sitting down, Sita getting paws on with his hands and feet, Paul unable to stop his toes curling with pleasure as Sita explored the soles of his feet in turn, his toes curling tighter and tighter, Sita rubbing his pads, then drawing circles on his heel pads, Paul pressing each foot into her paws.

“you’re so playful!” Sita said, Paul pulling his foot away from Sita’s paws, Sita holding on with gentle care, Paul tugging at his foot, growling, whimpering and tugging harder and harder at his foot, his toes curling tightly as his struggle increased.

“I can’t free my foot!” he whimpered in mock fear, “I want to free my foot, I want to free my foot!” Sita rubbed the sole of his right foot. Paul yelling with mock fear as her touch sapped the will to free his foot from her paws. Indeed, Paul pretended he was pressing his foot into her paws when Sita rubbed his pads, Paul wriggling as she rubbed his heel and toes, rocking back and fourth, bracing his foot against her paws, curling his toes to embrace her grip.

“oooah, I like this!” Paul gasped, Sita giggling happily..

“Your foot tells me that,” she mewed, rubbing the tops of his curled toes.

“how do my pads feel?” Paul asked.

“Warm and soft, though firm too,” Sita said, “I think your feet have contact with the ground and rarely wear shoes,” Paul laughed:

“You’d be right there,” he said, “I hate shoes.”

“how did you find my paws and feet when you touched them?” Sita asked.

“Warm and soft pads, with easily curling toes and cute bunching pads Sita, they’re so cute!” Paul replied. Sita laughed, a lovely sound to Paul.

“You know how to play,” Sita replied, letting go of Paul’s foot, “how if I take you in my paws like one of the cubs here and let you play with Jenny, Sally and Peter? Of course, you can play with the other cubs too, the non human ones that is.”

“Can I play with the biggest cub of all?” Paul asked.

“yes,” Sita replied smiling.

“Who’s the biggest cub of all?” furball asked.

“the biggest cub in the playroom has golden fur and a banded tail, oh, and cute hands and bear feet,” Paul replied, Sita laughing merrily.

“I’ve never heard my paws described as hands, but they are, sort of,” she replied, “and my feet, yes, they’re bare, and bear, and all very good because of that I think.” Paul pressed his hands against Sita’s paws, measuring his hands against hers.

“you have lovely paws Sita,” he said. Lifting her right foot and resting it on his left leg, he looked at her pads, drawing circles on them, then counting her toes by touch, Sita squealing with delight.

“you’re tickling my foot!” she yelled, curling her toes and bouncing about on her backside, furball and Paul laughing merrily at her reaction.

“Oh sorry,” Paul said, Sita clamping Paul’s fingers with her toes, holding the fingers of his left hand curled round her toes, which he‘d been in the act of rubbing as those of his right were held tightly by her curled toes.

“your fur and paws smell of spices, they smell fresh and clean!” Paul said, “it’s something I noticed here, there is no unclean smell here. It’s really nice!”

“We wash often, and keep the place very clean and wash our feet and paws often.”

“Feet and paws are playthings,” Paul said, “what happens if infection breaks out?”

“if there is a problem, anti biotic are administered,” Sita replied, “say if someone gets an infection in a paw or a foot, it is dressed, and they are stopped from playing with others paws or feet, and others are stopped from playing with theirs.”

“it’s lovely that you all play,” Paul said, “I’ll bet the birth of a cub is well attended too?”

“it is,” Sita replied, “I had many attend the births of my cubs.”

“I saw the one Koda filmed with a head cam,” Paul replied, “that was so amazing!”

“that was my last confinement,” Sita replied, squeezing Paul’s fingers with the toes of her right foot, “it was a lovely time.”

“You are so sweet Sita,” Paul said.

“And so were you when you played the single player stuck foot game,” Sita said.

“You didn’t touch me while I was freeing my heels,” Paul said, “let go of my fingers please, and I’ll see if there’s still some glue on my pads.” Sita smiled, released Paul’s hands and grabbed his left foot.

“I’ll rub the glue back into your pads and toes,” Sita said, massaging his toes, toes, Paul giggling with delight.

“Okay, my feet are ready to play now,” Paul said, rubbing his right foot in his hands.

“now let me press my heels and toes together,” Paul said, bending his legs and fitting actions to words, Sita getting paws on. Paul tugged at his heels with his fingers, trying to free them, Sita getting paws on throughout. Rocking back and fourth, digging his fingers into his heel pads, Paul struggled to free his heels, his growing excitement sticking his heels firmly together.

“I can’t free my heels!” Paul yelled, Sita touching pressed heels and toes.

“Press your toes together and pull at your heels with your fingers,” Sita advised, “that’s how I free my feet when they get themselves into the situation yours have.” Furball shrieked with laughter:

“Sita, you are so silly!” she laughed. Sita, growling, rounded on furball.

“one’s feet being stuck together is a serious impediment to mobility! Didn’t you know that?” She yelled. Paul laughed so much his feet sprang apart.

“I’m free! He yelled, running to Sita and embracing her.

“Okay, my comments weren’t that funny,” Sita mewed.

“But you freed my feet!”

“now I was only joking,” Sita said, “and your feet will want to continue the game as soon as they can, you realise that don’t you?” Paul laughed and kissed Sita’s nose.

“You are so beautiful Sita,” Paul said, Sita purring contentedly.

“Why thank you,” she said, her eyes sparkling. Paul lifted Sita’s right paw and kissed the furry top, Sita giggling delightedly.

“You’re a real softy,” she said.

“When I first saw you, I thought your feet had short arches like mine,” Paul said, “but they’re flat Sita, like a bear’s!”

“I am a cat bear, not a primate,” Sita mewed, “though I do have hands like yours, and my palms are naked, as are the soles of my feet. I have though sometimes wondered what I could do with my feet when I’m rubbing them down after a good play session where the cubs have tickled the life from them. What would it feel like to have an arch rather than a flat pad for instance? I’m sure I’d feel less under my feet, which would be a bad thing, but it would make my feet more interesting to others when they handled them.”

“You think too deeply Sita,” Orbon observed.

“I’m not looking to change my feet,” Sita said, “but those thoughts do enter my head.”

“Do they enter your feet through your paws?” Paul asked.

“what on earth are you on about?” Orbon asked.

“Sita’s paws wanting to feel something beneath them that is more interesting than the pads she has, that’s all,” Paul replied, Sita roaring with laughter.

“My paws do have minds of their own, my feet too!” she said.

“No they don’t!” Orbon remonstrated.

“Your feet made you curl up into a ball and squeal like a cub,” furball reminded Orbon, who shushed her with flapping paws.

“We don’t talk about that!” he yelled. Paul lay down on his see, curled up in a ball, curled his toes, and screamed like Orbon had, Orbon padding over and smacking him with admonishing paws.

“Stop that!” Orbon complained, Paul continuing, until Orbon stopped slapping him with his paws.

“your feet made you do that!” Paul said, Orbon hiding his face in embarrassment.

“I didn’t sound like that! Did I?” he whimpered, furball and Sita laughing merrily.

“You did, and worse too!” Sita replied.

“Oh no!” Orbon wailed.

“You were cute,” furball replied.

“I told you if you touch my foot I am a whimpering, sobbing wreck within a second or so,” Orbon whimpered.

“You were so sweet!” furball laughed, “your face, your paws, your feet, everything was so cute!” Orbon got to his feet and fled to his bed, burring his head under the duvet he slept on.

“it’s okay Orbon,” Sita said, padding up to him and touching the sole of his right foot with her paw, stroking his pads from heel to toes.

“I’m a wreck!” Orbon complained, his voice muffled by the heavy quilt.

“You’re in love,” Sita replied, “it’s nothing to be ashamed of.” Orbon’s toes caught Sita’s paw, squeezing her fingers in a vice like grip, all Orbon’s confusion and bewilderment expressed in the fierce grip and touch of pad on pad.

“I don’t know what to do!” Orbon wailed. Sita blew on Orbon’s pads, the male bear releasing her paw and withdrawing his foot, Orbon crawling beneath the duvet.

“How about enjoying it?” Sita asked, “noone’s gonna judge you for enjoying furball’s company, they might if you snub her though.” Orbon scrambled out from his refuge.

“Do you think so?” he asked.

“I do,” Sita replied, “now Orbon, trust your paws, love their message and embrace it.” Orbon struggled to his feet and kissed Sita’s nose.

“You speak sense Sita,” he said.

“I’m glad you think so,” Sita replied, Orbon head rubbing with her.

“that’s very feline,” Sita mewed.

“I know, but I’m standing on my paws and feet,” Orbon replied, “and if I don’t express my emotions somehow my head will explode.” Sita purred into Orbon’s ear, the bear smiling.

“You’re lovely Sita,” Orbon replied gently. Sita turned and seemed to forget she had a tail, her tail smacking Orbon across his face.

“hey Sita!” he whimpered, “your tail is in my face!”

Sita walked forward, her tail now drooping.

“Sorry,” she said, “I forgot I had one.” Furball snorted into her paws, trying to stifle her laughter.

“I know, I know!” Sita replied, “it’s my cross breeding making me forget I have a tail.”

“You’re so funny Sita!” furball laughed. Sita padded up to furball, placed her paw over the naked bear’s, and roared into her face.

“oooooauoph,” furball wailed as her ears rang with the noise.

“that’s my comment on the matter,” Sita mewed, kissing furball’s nose. Furball looked Sita over from nose to tail, drinking her in.

“Lovely,” she thought, “really colourful.”

“What colour are your pads Sita?” furball asked. Sita sat down and showed Furball her pads, her skin a light brown colour.

“here are my pads,” Sita said, “What colour are yours furball?”

“Pink, medium pink,” furball replied, “though I know you are as Orbon is, so you probably wouldn’t understand what pink was.”

“Can I take your paws and feet in my paws?” Sita asked. furball gave her each paw and foot in turn, Sita cradling them with gentility, furball’s toes curling with pleasure as the cat bear explored her paws and feet.

“Your paws are so gentle to my paws and feet Sita,” furball said.

“Your pads are soft and warm,” Sita said, “Furball, I understand you are wearing a suit as the rest of your body is as naked as the tops of your paws and feet are. Plus your pads are soft, very soft, too soft to be those of a woodland dweller. You are a house bear, or have been for the majority of your life.”

“she used to live with me Sita,” Paul said, “we curled up together at night sometimes.” Sita smiled broadly.

“I take it you’ll be doing that again,” she said.

“Not now furball’s got a mate,” Paul replied.

“I’d be sad if you didn’t,” Orbon said, Paul understanding his language, though he didn’t know how he managed to do that.

“Thank you Orbon,” he said sincerely.

“now I must go,” Sita said, releasing furball’s right foot and getting to her own feet.

“thank you Sita,” furball said.

“She’s beautiful isn’t she,” Peter said when Sita had padded from the room.

“yes, she is,” furball replied, “her paws soothed mine, I loved her touch!”

“would you like to play the stuck foot game furball?” Paul asked.

“I would,” furball replied, “but have you eaten yet Paul? You came straight from school didn’t you?”

“I came straight from school, and no I haven’t eaten yet, and before you asked, I didn’t feel hungry at all.”

“We’ll find you food, then we’ll play,” furball replied, padding to the phone and ordering fresh pasta, which they both enjoyed. Orbon grimaced at the thought of the pasta in sauce, padding from the room as the rich food arrived. Furball and Paul set to with enjoyment, both using forks to twirl up the pasta, mopping up with garlic bread at the end. Food eaten, and water drunk, Paul and Furball washed their paws and hands, then curled up together to let their food settle.

“This is what we used to do of an evening wasn’t it furball,” Paul said. furball, half asleep, mumbled that it was, and asked if Paul was comfortable in the clothes he wore.

“I would be better in a suit like yours,” he said. Furball stretching and padding to the same cupboard Orbon had gone to. Opening it, she found a range of tight suits that could be worn by humans. Pulling one out that was around Paul’s size, she threw it over to him, the young boy getting out of his school uniform and into the suit, the cuffs snug around his wrists and ankles, his feet and hands still bare.

“that’s better, much better,” Paul said, furball drawing circles on the sole of his right foot after checking the fit of his suit, Paul not objecting to her expansion of the check to stroking the sole of his foot, or counting his toes. Paul curled his toes, catching furball’s paw, just as he’d done when they used to play together.

“I like that,” furball said, tugging at her trapped paw, Paul squeezing her toes with his.

“You have strong toes thanks to our play,” furball said.

“the glue is strong when we play the stuck foot game too,” Paul replied, “that’s a great game that is.”

“You have firm heel pads and mobile toes,” furball said, pressing her right foot against Paul’s left, feeling his toes press into the ball of her foot, his heel pressing into hers, his heel warm from her exploration, the glue between them becoming strong and their thoughts turning to play as Paul explored the situation his left foot was in with both hands.

“My foot is stuck to yours furball!” Peter exclaimed, feeling his toes embraced by those of his friend as she curled her toes tightly around his.

“Rest the heel of your free foot on the floor as a balance and work at your heel with your hands Peter,” furball said.

“Furball,” Peter asked, “why was it I could understand Orbon more easily the more I touched his paws?”

“that’s intuitive communication, communication by the paw,” Furball replied smiling.

“Orbon’s lovely!” Paul said.

“he is,” furball replied, digging hard at the gap between the arch of Peter’s left foot, and the flat pad of her own right foot, as Paul braced his toes against her pads, pressing as hard as he could into the ball of furball’s foot with his toes.

“Owowowowowow! Eeeeoeoeoeoaow!” Paul yelled as he tugged hard at his Heel, breaking off to puff with exertion, then going back to prying his heel free with urgently scrabbling fingers, while furball dug away with her right paw.

“Pull Peter Pull!” furball encouraged, Paul closing his eyes and tearing at his heel, freeing his foot with a rush.

“That’s it, done!” Paul yelled. Furball watched as Paul rubbed the sole of his foot with the fingers of both hands, his toes curling tightly, then easing to a relaxed state, then curling, as if he was alternately feeling pleasure and discomfort.

“Can I examine your foot?” furball asked, Paul giving her his left foot, furball’s paws embracing his foot, feeling the heat in his pads, and the slight sweat on them.

“You struggled hard didn’t you,” furball said, rubbing Paul’s heel with her paws, Paul pressing his foot firmly into her grip.

“That’s lovely,” Paul said, furball smiling broadly.

“Your pads are very pink,” she said, “increased blood flow to your pads after play?”

“yes,” Paul said, “I think that’s it. I noticed my feet becoming pinker the more I played with my toes. I used to film us playing using my mobile phone. I watched those videos back, remembering the times we had together furball.”

“Were my pads pinker too?” furball asked.

“They were,” Paul replied smiling and curling his toes, furball rubbing his bunching pads with her paw.

“You two play so easily together,” Sita said, padding in and kneeling beside them.

“Get paws on,” Paul said, Sita doing so, touching Paul’s foot, and Furball’s rubbing paws.

“You two sounded as if you were having a great time trying to free your feet,” Sita said.

“We were having a great time,” furball replied smiling.

“We were!” Paul replied, “my feet were really stuck!” Sita grinned:

“I know what you mean,” she replied.

“You’re sitting back on your heels Sita,” Paul remarked.

“yeah,” Sita replied. Paul gently removed his foot from furball’s grip, and crawled to Sita, touching her paw, he crawled round behind her and gently rubbed the pads of her right foot, Sita curling her toes so her pads bunched under his fingers.

“You have soft pads Sita,” Paul said, Sita giggling softly and bouncing on her heels a bit, Paul blowing on her toes, Sita squealing and turning on him, knocking him off his knees, rolling him over and tickling his toes, Paul laughing helplessly.

“My feet kicked the air and you were right in there, grabbing my foot and tickling my toes!” he laughed, “that was great Sita!” Sita smiled.

“I can do that,” she said, “I’m tough. I roughhouse with adult bears and lions, and of course the occasional tiger. Beating them at roughhousing, then tickling their paws and feet is great!” Paul drew his feet up and grabbed them with his hands, Sita still paws on.

“I outwitted a lion and two tigers,” Paul said, “well, more truthfully, they missed me on my way through the woods, I think they were swearing at each other when I was stopped by the front door.”

“yes,” Sita mewed, rubbing the heel of Paul’s right foot, smiling as he released his foot into her paws, his toes curled with pleasure, “Tommy, Tigger and Sammy were furious they missed you, though the cameras didn’t. furball watched you from the entrance to the wood, right up to the front door. I heard she was dancing on her toes like a cub when she recognised you.” furball laughed:

“I was,” she said. Peter drew back his left foot, Sita still stroking his heel and toes.

“Push back against me Sita,” he said. Sita sat down and took his left foot in her paws. Paul braced his foot against her pads, his leg bent. Suddenly he pushed hard, forcing his foot forward, Sita repelling his foot in her paws.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoao! Yeooeoeoeoeoeoeoeoeeoaow! Yoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoawaosh!” Paul screamed as he pushed as hard as he could into Sita’s paws with his bare right foot, his rest breaks punctuated by gasping and scratching at Sita’s pads with his curled toes, then he’d push hard again, Sita rock solid, cradling his pressing foot in her paws, while Paul pushed and wriggled, screamed and roared, his leg muscles bulging with effort, the sole of his foot damp with perspiration by the time five minutes had passed. Sita opened her paws, Paul’s foot slipping from her grip, the young boy drawing his foot up to him, grabbing it in his hands, gripping hard while screaming in frustration.

“I can’t push Sita away!” Paul yelled, “my foot slipped before I could push her away!” Sita and Furball laughed helplessly at his antics, Sita still paws on as Paul grabbed both his feet in his hands and rolled from side to side, yelling and bracing his feet against his hands until his feet, toes curled, pushed so hard against his hands they broke free. Paul, now released, began kicking and punching the air, Sita got paws on with Paul’s antics.

“You are wonderful Paul,” furball said.

“I enjoyed that,” Paul replied, his left hand resting in Sita’s paws.

“I know you did,” she said, “I could feel it you know, and your scrabbling toes were so cute too!” Paul laughed merrily.

“You’re really strong Sita,” he said, “I was pushing as hard as I could with my foot.”

“I know,” Sita replied.

“that was rather cute,” furball said smiling.

“What’s happening here?” Orbon asked. Paul and Sita re-enacted the scene, Orbon getting paws on, Paul making the same sounds though he didn’t push as hard against Sita’s paws as he had the first time.

“That’s rather cute,” Orbon said.

“how if you and I try the same game?” furball asked.

“We could,” Orbon replied, “and it would allow me to rub your pads too furball, though I know we don’t need an excuse to do that.” Furball giggled:

“My paws and feet are always receptive to your paws,” she said.

“”I can’t roar and yell like Paul did though,” Orbon replied, “he believed in his fight to push Sita away. He braced his foot completely into her paws, from toes to heel, pushing with every part of his foot.”

“Get paws on with my foot Orbon,” Paul said, giving the male bear his right foot, Orbon embracing the small foot in his paws, exploring from toes to heel, Paul curling his toes slightly, his pads bunching a little under Orbon’s touch.

“Your foot is cubbish,” Orbon said. Paul withdrew his foot, sat back on his heels and then let Orbon touch his feet again, Orbon stroking from heel to toes, Paul bouncing on his heels a bit and giggling with pleasure.

“your pads are soft and warm,” Orbon said, “you have small toes too,” he added, Paul curling his toes a little, feeling them catch and squeeze those of Orbon’s paw.

“You’re so expressive with those toes Paul,” Orbon said smiling.

“I can be expressive with my hands or feet,” Paul replied sitting back on his heels. Orbon drew circles on Paul’s heels and the balls of his feet, Paul bouncing on his heels and flexing his toes.

“I think I need to teach jenny, Peter and Sally this foot and paw play,” Paul said, “I sort of knew them, even though they were in the year above me.”

“Play helps build friendships,” Sita said, “we use that with the cubs.”

“I’ll see if I can play with the cubs later,” Paul replied, “at the moment, Orbon’s paws are soothing my toes!” furball and Sita laughed merrily and furball roughhoused with Sita, the bear cat and naked bear tickling each other’s hind feet and ending their rough and table with a huge embrace which made their toes curl with emotions.

“Sita and furball are embracing each other, their toes curling with emotions,” Paul said, he and Orbon getting paws on with Sita and furball’s hind feet as the two creatures knelt on the floor hugging each other.

“their pads are bunched, and toes curled tightly!” Paul laughed.

“they’re friendly together,” Orbon said. Paul crawled to Orbon and bear and human roughhoused, Paul tickling Orbon’s toes, the bear squealing with laughter as Paul overwhelmed him and claimed his feet, then his paws.

“Okay, okay!” Orbon laughed, “I’m claimed. I just wish I could claim your feet, well just one Paul.” Paul sat down and Orbon got paws on with his feet, exploring, toes, balls of feet and heels, Paul’s toes curling with enjoyment.

“Do you know the two circle drawing games Paul?” Orbon asked. Paul replied:

“No Orbon, I don’t, would you teach me them? do they involve my feet and your paws?”

“I will, and they do,” Orbon replied smiling.

“ooh good!” Paul replied, Sita and furball smiling broadly at their play.

“Well one game,” Orbon said, rubbing the heel of Paul’s right foot with his paw, “one game is played like this. I draw circles on your pads that start large, and get smaller and smaller, you curl your toes tighter and tighter in response to that. Then, when I press the centre of the sole of your foot, you hold your toes curled for as long as you can, or for as long as I press the sole of your foot with my paw, whichever comes first. The second game is random circles drawn on the sole of your foot Paul, with you curling or relaxing your toes to reflect the size of circle, then, at any time, I will press the heel pad of your foot with my paw, and while I am pressing that, please curl your toes as tightly as you can.” Paul smiled at the thought of these two games.

“I’ll play them,” he said, “on one condition though, that I can get hands on with your feet Orbon, and can draw on your pads too?” Orbon smiled, baring his teeth, Paul hugging the male bear with unrestrained joy, Orbon snuggling up to him.

“You can hug!” Orbon exclaimed, his eyes shining.

“I’ve had practise hugging bears before,” Paul replied smiling.

“You are so soft Paul,” Orbon said..

“I take it I can draw circles on your pads then?” Paul asked. Orbon wriggled free of Paul’s hug and sat down opposite him, lifting his legs up, and pressing his feet against the young boy’s. Paul felt his toes curling round Orbon’s, Orbon smiling and pressing his toes into the balls of Paul’s feet.

“Press those feet against mine Orbon!” Paul encouraged, looking over the tops of his toes to where the male bear’s face told of his struggle to press his feet as hard as he could against Paul’s was written eloquently over his face in closed eyes and bared teeth.

“I am pushing your feet with mine!” Orbon gasped, Paul feeling pressure, though not the pressure he thought could be exerted by the bear if he really tried.

“Don’t hold back,” Paul said, “Push with your feet Orbon!” Orbon pushed harder than ever, but Paul could keep his own legs rock solid.

“eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh!” Orbon yelled as he pushed against Paul’s feet, Paul helping the struggling bear by curling his toes around those of the quarter grown cub.

“You can’t push can you,” Paul said. Orbon whimpered that he was doing his best. Paul settled himself, braced his heels and pushed hard, his feet forcing Orbon’s back, Orbon giving up the fight by lying on his back, drawing his feet up and grabbing them with his paws.

“You win!” he gasped, Paul crawling over to Orbon and tickling his toes, Orbon squealing with delight, letting go of his feet and kicking the air with them, Paul blowing on his pads, Orbon laughing merrily.

“You have cute black pads,” Paul said, tracing Orbon’s sole pad with the index finger of his right hand, Orbon curling his toes:

“That’s tickling!” he giggled, Paul drawing as shapes on the sole of Orbon’s foot with his index finger, Orbon squealing with delight.

“I love this play!” Orbon laughed, Paul smiling broadly and blowing on the bear’s pads, Orbon laughing helplessly.

“now how do I tickle your toes?” Orbon asked, “I can’t match that Paul!” Paul smiled and hugged Orbon.

“Just take my feet in your paws and explore them, then try blowing on my toes and heels, and tickling my toes with your paws,” Paul replied, “I might curl my toes, I might kick the air as you did, I’ll decently enjoy your ministrations. Orbon, enjoy your explorations, my feet are yours to explore.”

“Will you help me rub the tickle out of my toes?” Orbon asked. Paul smiled, sat down and embraced Orbon’s left foot in his hands, Orbon pressing his toes into Paul’s hands.

“You soppy bear,” Paul laughed.

“now how do I play with your feet?” iron asked.

“I’ll crawl away, and you follow me,” Paul said, “touch my toes and or heel and find out what happens.” Orbon crawled after Paul, his right paw landing on the sole of Paul’s right foot, drawing down his foot from heel to toes, Paul stopping and backing up a little, then curling his toes and catch the heel of Orbon’s paw with them. Feeling the slight resistance, Orbon rubbed the heel and arch of Paul’s foot with the toes of his paw, Paul curling his toes tighter to keep Orbon’s paw where it was.

“you’re toes are giving my paw somewhere to rest on,” Orbon said.

“”yes, press the heel of your paw into my toes,” Paul said, “that will keep your paw where I want it, so you can rub the sole of my foot with your toes!” Orbon laughed:

“You like me rubbing that place?” he asked.

“yes,” Paul replied smiling.

“press hard back into my paw then, and I’ll keep rubbing,” Orbon said, Paul backing up as far as he could, pressing the sole of his foot against Orbon’s paw, Orbon bracing his paw against the stop of Paul’s curled toes, Paul smiling at the result. Orbon sensed that Paul’s left foot was within blowing distance, so he blew hard, tickling the toes of the boy’s left foot, Paul giggling.

“I prefer you rubbing my foot with your paw,” Paul said. Orbon smiling.

“Let me kneel behind you, and I can then rub both your feet with both my paws,” he said. Orbon settled himself behind Paul, Paul feeling his left paw touching the heel of his left foot, curling the toes of that foot, he felt Orbon’s paw slide down his foot and catch on his toes, Paul wiggling his toes to settle the heel of Orbon’s paw in their grip, then curling them tightly to hold it there. As Orbon rubbed Paul’s foot with the toes of first one paw, then the other, Paul matched his rubbing with curling and uncurling his toes to increase the rub a little.

“you softy!” Orbon laughed, feeling what Paul was doing.

“I like that,” Paul replied.

“I noticed,” Orbon replied, blowing on the heel of Paul’s right foot, Paul squealing and curling his toes as tightly as he could.

“that’s naughty Orbon!” he laughed, Orbon lifting his paw and rubbing Paul’s tickled heel pad, Paul relaxing his toes. Feeling Orbon’s paw run down the sole of his foot after rubbing the tickle out of his heel, Paul waited for the heel of the bear’s paw to reach the ball of his foot, then curled his toes to catch Orbon’s paw. Feeling this, Orbon braced his toes gently against the sole of Paul’s foot, just at the point where the heel pad ended and his arch began, the point where two players of the stuck foot game would first dig away at to free their heels.

“that looks like that’s enjoyable,” Furball observed.

“It Is furball,” Paul replied.

“What’s going on in here?” Purdy asked, padding into the room.

“Orbon and I were playing,” Paul said, turning and sitting down. Purdy looked at him.

“You speak English like I do,” she said, “you also gave a home to Fuwball?”

“I did, well, my mum did, until the council threw, um, Fuwball out.”

“You don’t speak like me!” Purdy squealed, nearly dancing with rage.

“I think your talk is quite cute,” Paul replied smiling, “Purdy, can you say, Hi, I’m Purdy, last Thursday, which was a dry day, I strolled to the large tree by the river?” Purdy hesitated, then replied:

No Paul, I won’t! I know what you’we doing! All that about twees, wivers and stwolling and such, you disgust me!”

“Oh Purdy, Purdy!” Furball laughed, “dear sweet Purdy, you fell for it!”

“No I didn’t, oh, oh dear,” Purdy whimpered.

“that was so funny!” Paul giggled.

“I’m going, I’m leaving!” Purdy whimpered.

“come here Purdy,” Paul said gently. Purdy shook her head and turned her back on him.

“You take the piss out of me!” she growled.

“Purdy, please, come here,” Purdy shook her head, but shuffled backwards, averting her gaze but getting closer to Paul. Paul waited for her hind feet to get close enough to him to touch them, then he guided her onto his lap, Purdy sitting in his lap, Paul embracing her, his arms around her from behind her. Purdy, feeling Paul’s touch, relaxed into his embrace.

“You have a nice touch, even if you do like twying to make me say things like twee or stwolling or such.” Purdy said.

“I saw you have no claws,” Paul said softly into her ear.

“they took my teeth too,” Purdy replied, turning towards Paul and looking sideways at him.

“I know we did that with furball too,” Paul said, “well my mum did, and for that I’m sorry, and so is she now she knows what declawing does.”

“koda was trying to teach me how to grip with my toes,” Purdy said, “to climb and such, you know?”

“yes,” Paul replied, “Purdy, I have no claws either.” Purdy looked at Paul’s toes and saw he was speaking the truth.

Paul set Perdy on her paws, then got to his feet.

“I have to go now,” he said to furball. Furball hugged Paul tightly and showed him to the front door, the young boy picking up his shoes on the way out of the house.

“So that’s your human fwiend Fuwball?” Purdy asked, when furball returned to the lie up, Furball nodded.

“That’s him,” she said, “and I’m so glad he’s not being thrown out of his den.”

“I’ll bet the tigers and lions are fuwious they failed to stop him,” Purdy said smiling.

“they are,” Petra mewed, padding into the room.

“So it was down to a vigilant bear to stop him and question him,” furball stated.

“yes it was,” Petra mewed, taking the security lapse hard, “it’s a failing we have in our patrols.” Petra bounced on her toes as she limbered up to do battle with Sammy and Tommy.

“They didn’t want to face me,” she snarled, now I will smack them!” she padded away, growling angrily.

“I’ll bet she’ll tear their fur off,” furball thought.

Petra found Tommy and Sammy hiding in their lie up.

“You failed didn’t you,” she said. Tommy spat:

“That human looked safe enough,” he said.

“You are meant to challenge him,” Petra mewed.

“yeah, I know, but he was a little human, he meant no harm,” Sammy mewed.

“next time, you challenge anyone unfamiliar to you, okay?” Tommy growled that he would do so, tear their heads off first, then ask questions later.

“No I didn’t mean that!” Petra roared, cuffing Tommy, who retired whimpering, rubbing his nose with one paw.

“You’d better do better next time!” Petra snarled.

“What do we challenge?” Sammy asked.

“Humans, bears, strange badgers, even rabbits!” Petra roared, “you should challenge anything on feet or paws, okay?”

“Rabbits!” Tommy spat, “that’s stupid! Rabbits, I eat rabbits!”

“No you don’t! do you?” Petra asked, her face registering her disgust.

“I have, I’m a meat eater, though I know you’re not,” Tommy mewed.

“As I can’t eat meat, I’ve grown to like those who’s meat I’d eat,” Petra mewed.

“Silly aren’t you!” Tommy growled, leaving the lie up and going outside.

Paul padded back to his house on the edge of the community woodlands. His mother met him at the door, and inside he found Charles Fullbeans.

“Hi Paul,” his mother said, “Charles is just explaining to me how he worked out the deal with the benefits agency about our housing benefit.”

“I met furball mum,” Paul said, “she’s fine, and I met her mate too, a lovely bear who played with me, rubbing my heels and tickling my toes!”

“I’m sure he was playful,” she said, “Paul, our rabbits have escaped, Thumper and Caitlin have vanished!”

“I’ll go out and look for them,” Paul said. His mum looked down at her son’s feet, they were bare.

“Where are your shoes and socks?” she asked.

“In this bag,” Paul replied, “I wanted to walk home barefoot.”

“Now go find our rabbits,” his mum said.

Paul turned and walked out of the house in search of his and his mum’s rabbits.

Tommy padded through the woods, his eyes scanning for anything to report, anything at all. Petra’s reference to reporting and challenging rabbits infuriated him, this meant he couldn’t eat the rabbits he found on a regular basis. Reporting them meant taking them to the house, or getting a bear or one of the humans out to quiz the rabbit as to their business near the house. Tommy saw two rabbits hopping down the track, a large brown buck and his doe, who was grey. Both had big long ears, the male’s erect, his doe’s were floppy, she being lop-eared, as Tommy remembered was the term for such ears from his education. He saw they also had big paws and feet. The buck rabbit stopped, motioned to his doe to do the same, then looked at Tommy. Without warning, the buck charged at Tommy, rearing onto his hind feet at the last minute, batting at his face with his paws, cuffing him aggressively. Tommy, a fully grown tiger, staggered back, whimpering and crying, the rabbit advancing, growling furiously while clawing at his face with one paw then cuffing him with the other, Tommy turning and bolting!

“You saved me Thumper!” the doe said, her eyes full of fear.

“he’s a pussy cat that’s all,” Thumper replied, excitedly bouncing on his toes and scuffling his paws in the leaves.

“You cuffed him, and charged him too Thumper!” the doe said, her eyes losing some of their terrified look.

“I did Kaitlin, and I know it was a stupid thing to do,” Thumper replied.

“You promised you’d protect me,” Kaitlin replied.

“I did,” Thumper said. Tommy, recovering his nerve, padded up to the rabbits, showing all the submission he could.

“Look, please, can I ask you some questions?” Tommy asked.

“What?” Thumper asked, turning on Tommy and rearing onto his hind feet, raising a warning paw.

“What are you doing in the woods?” Tommy asked.

“We, that’s me Thumper, and my doe Kaitlin, decided we wanted to explore,” Thumper replied lowering his paw as Tommy sat down and began washing himself.

“My patrol commander told me to challenge everything, including rabbits,” Tommy replied, “I’d usually eat you and your doe you know.”

“No you wouldn’t,” Thumper laughed, “I charged you and you backed off, a scared kitten!”

“It’s a cub, not a kitten!” Tommy snarled, “but yes, I was, sort of.”

“I couldn’t have hurt you, not really,” Thumper replied, “a house cat yes, but not a tiger.”

“You looked so fierce and intimidating,” Tommy replied, his eyes filling with tears.

“Are you taking the Mick out of me now?” Thumper asked, “crying like that is called crocodile tears I think.”

“No, no,” Tommy replied, sniffing hard, “Thumper, don’t hurt me!” he wailed. Thumper looked Tommy up and down, watching as the tiger rolled onto his side, showing him his belly and the soles of his paws, which Thumper examined with care and interest.

“Lovely clean paws you have,“ Thumper said, counting the toes on Tommy’s right paw, the tiger’s eyes half closed in bliss.

“You big pussy cat!” Kaitlin laughed, “what is your name stripy one?”

“Tommy,” Tommy replied dreamily, “and I’m not a pussy cat, I’m a tiger, a male tiger, who, who likes his paws stroked and toes played with.” Thumper laughed merrily and kissed Tommy’s pads, the tiger almost purring with pleasure, his toes curling.

“You are a big soft lap cat Tommy!” Thumper laughed, Tommy relaxing completely.

“what happened here?” Petra asked, padding up to Tommy.

“I was overpowered by a bunny,” Tommy mumbled.

“I saw it,” Petra growled, “Tommy, it’s a bloody rabbit! You let it overpower you?”

“he cuffed my face and scratched my nose!” Tommy wailed cubbishly.

“Get up, up on your feet now!” Petra snarled. Tommy looked at his right paw, still held in Thumper’s paws.

“My paw’s trapped,” he whimpered, “it’s caught in a glorious trap, one that I don’t want to free it from Petra.” Petra bullied Tommy to his feet, the tiger looking longingly at Thumper, who waved to him as he left.

“now I’ll question you,” Petra said, padding back to the track where Kaitlin and Thumper waited.

“now who are you both?” Petra mewed. Thumper told her, the lioness smiling, which unnerved Kaitlin, as she showed her sharp teeth.

“You’re the rabbits that Paul owns aren’t you,” she said, “I can smell his scent on you.”

“yes,” Kaitlin replied, plucking up her courage and speaking directly to the lioness, who gently rubbed Kaitlin’s ears with her paw.

“why leave your comfortable home?” she asked.

“We wanted to explore the woods,” Thumper replied, “though now, now, I’m wondering if it was a good idea.”

“Do you want to come to our home?” Petra asked, softening her tone.

“the adventurous side of me says yes,” Thumper replied, “the rabbit instinct says no.” he looked down at his paws, flexed them, then looked up at Petra.

“Let me talk to my doe,” Thumper said. Petra withdrew to a respectful distance, watching Thumper turn to his doe and talk to her.

“Kaitlin my dear?” he asked the lop eared doe, “do you want to carry on to the big house?” Kaitlin embraced her buck and replied:

“Thumper, I’ll follow wherever your paw prints lead.” Thumper kissed Kaitlin’s nose and paws, the doe smiling broadly.

“Lead on Thumper,” Kaitlin said. Thumper lolloped to Petra’s side and tapped her paw with his.

“Please lead us to your house,” he said. Petra looked at Kaitlin, who crouched behind Thumper.

“Will Kaitlin be able to make the journey?” she asked.

“How will we make it other than on our own feet?” Thumper asked.

“I could carry you both,” a voice said in the woodlands. Thumper spun round to see a huge bear standing in the woods.

“So you are real!” Kaitlin squealed.

“me?” the grey bear replied.

“yes you!” Kaitlin yelled, “Thumper, he told me, told me stories of the grey bear who is head of the community.”

“I’m in charge, sort of,” Patch replied smiling, “now Kaitlin, climb onto my back, and you too Thumper.”

“Come on Kaitlin, let’s climb,” Thumper said, Kaitlin scrambling up Patch’s right hind leg and onto his back, Petra watching as Thumper pushed Kaitlin before him, pushing her up Patch’s leg, scrambling up as far as he could, then pushing her further, gripping with the toes of his hind feet and pushing with his paws to push Kaitlin onto Patch’s back, scrambling up himself. Patch led the way back to the house, where they met Paul, who told Patch what had happened in his house.

“I have two rabbits here,” Patch said, “I believe they used to live with you.”

“My mum’s rabbit is the lop eared one, and mine is the straight eared one, their names are Kaitlin and Thumper,” Paul said.

“they can speak to us you know,” Patch replied.

“I know I can communicate with you Patch,” Paul replied, “but how can you talk the language of the rabbits?”

“Woodland dialect is very similar to our own adopted language,” Patch replied.

“What do I do now?” Paul asked, “it is clear Thumper and Kaitlin have made their choice to visit you here, I can’t take them from here as my mum wants, do I tell her we have lost our rabbits?” Patch settled Thumper and Kaitlin on the floor, then grabbed a piece of paper from Sooleawa’s notebook. Grabbing a pen, he wrote on the paper:

“Dear whom ever it may concern, your rabbits, known as Thumper and Kaitlin, are sentient and free beings, with that understanding, they have made their choices, and left their captivity. Whether they return to your care is up to them, but they reside at our house, the woodland manor house until further notice.” He signed it and gave it to Paul, who looked in astonishment at the writing on the paper.

“wow Patch!” he said smiling, Patch grinning.

“I can write, and read too,” Patch said smiling broadly.

“Give that to your mum,” Patch said. Paul ran off with the note. Thumper and Kaitlin sat down and washed their paws and feet in Sooleawa’s pool, the silver coated bear watching closely.

“What is your job here silver one?” Thumper asked. Sooleawa told him what her job was.

“So you keep feet and paws clean here,” Thumper said.

“yeah,” Sooleawa replied. Kaitlin examined Sooleawa from nose to tail, the lop eared rabbit’s interest not going unnoticed by the silver coated she bear.

“Finding me interesting?” Sooleawa asked.

“yes, sorry,” Kaitlin replied, looking away, her ears drooping more than ever.

“She won’t hurt you I don’t think,” Thumper said.

“What would you know?” Sooleawa asked, “I might eat rabbits for my breakfast.”

“oooah, don’t!” Kaitlin protested, shivering with fright, “don’t even Joke about it Sooleawa, it’s too horrible for us prey creatures, indeed, we don’t know why you are letting us in here.”

“We’re letting you in here because our leader is an old softy who wouldn’t see harm done to anything,” Sooleawa replied airily.

“You make being an old softy,” as you put it, sound like a crime Sooleawa,” Kaitlin said, shocked at her own bravery at speaking directly to this she bear who could deal death to her instantly.

“I suppose I did,” Sooleawa replied, looking carefully at Kaitlin, “I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

“if that old softy is Patch, then I’d rather he remained an old softy than become a bruiser,” Thumper said.

“I’m waiting for him to wash me and check my paws and feet for thorns the way Furball got hers checked over,” Kaitlin said.

“That’s my job really,” Sooleawa mumbled, “I didn’t check Furball’s feet for thorns, as, well, I couldn’t stand the way she looked. I’m very ashamed of that.”

“Well we’ll get these good rabbits some food, carrots, lettuce, hay, fruit etc.” Patch said.

Hearing the needs of the rabbits, Kendal was disgusted.

“We are feeding food to food?” he asked, “this is wrong!”

“They have as much of a right to life as we do Kendal,” Sita said, having heard of Thumper and Kaitlin, but not yet laid paw on them.

“You are too soft Sita!” Kendal snapped, angrily chopping lettuce and carrots, “I never thought I’d be lowered to this, feeding food to food!”

“If you have designs on those rabbits, I’ll tear your paws off Kendal!” Sita roared.

“Rabbit pie?” Kendal mused, looking over at the screen, on which Thumper and Kaitlin were shown in Patch’s lie up.

“that is disgusting!” Sita snarled.

“I’m furious!” Kendal yelled, slashing at the lettuce, then taking his anger out on carrots.

“Hmm, well, I’ll have to protect them then,” Sita mewed. Kendal harrumphed and chopped faster, angrily slashing at the lettuce and dicing carrots.

“Feeding food,” he grunted, “the world has gone mad!” Shovelling up the lettuce, fruit and hay, he threw it angrily into a huge bowl and slammed it onto the trolley.

“I’m not taking it upstairs!” Kendal snapped, “Sita, you can do that.” Sita took hold of the handles and pushed the trolley out of the kitchen, crashing it into the wall, Kendal roaring with anger, running to Sita and slapping her.

“You crashed my bloody trolley!” he yelled.

“I can’t see to drive the thing!” Sita roared.

“Look,” Patch said, walking into the room, “attach this little device to the front of the trolley, attach this to the motor on the trolley, and then switch it on, there, camera, and a link to the motors, so now the thing can be driven remotely. Here’s the joystick Kendal, look at the screens, and drive your trolley.” Kendal was about to pick up the joy pad when Sita snatched it and threw it against the wall.

“Patch!” she snarled, “don’t let him off the hook!” she scrabbled at the trolley, found the added components, and tore them off the trolley, the camera and receiver going the same way as the transmitter box, “Kendal needs to learn that we look after everyone in distress, all woodland creatures, not just those at the top of the food chain.” Patch laughed at Sita’s antics, letting the demise of the equipment go.

“now Kendal, serve the rabbits as you would serve every other member of this community,” Patch said firmly. Kendal snorted and rolled the trolley away down the corridor.

“Sorry Patch,” Sita mewed, “but I can’t stand that attitude!” Patch smiled and hugged Sita tenderly.

“Kendal hasn’t got used to this embrace all life policy yet,” Patch said. Sita mewed softly and kissed Patch’s nose.

“We’ll protect those rabbits,” Sita said.

“We will,” Patch replied smiling.

Kendal angrily shoved the trolley through the corridors. Swearing, he barged into Patch’s lie up. Angrily, Kendal watched as Thumper and Kaitlin tucked hungrily into lettin and carrots.

“Feeding food to food!” he grumbled to himself.

“I think we’d better leave this place,” Kaitlin said, “Thumper, when we’ve eaten, I’d like to leave here and never return! That Bear wants to put us in his pot for his dinner!”

“You don’t do you?” Thumper asked.

“I have thought of it,” Kendal replied honestly, Kaitlin squealing with fear and bolting to the other end of the room, finding and burrowing beneath a blanket which Patch rested over his knees when snoozing. Kendal raced to the other side of the room, whipped the blanket off kale with one paw, picking her up by her ear in his teeth, the doe squealing and freezing with terror.

“Put her down!” Thumper yelled, blundering up against the bear’s legs, Kendal kicking him with a foot, Thumper flying across the room, crashing hard into Kendal’s trolley and falling onto the floor.

“Kendal, put her down!” Patch yelled, pounding into the lie up, knocking Kendal off his feet and rolling him over onto his back, Kaitlin feeling her ear rip as Kendal threw her across the room, the tip of her ear tearing off. Shrieking with fear and pain, Kaitlin lay on the rugs, her ear pouring blood. Thumper crawled to her and began licking her ear, Kaitlin moaning and sobbing in pain. Meanwhile, Patch, furious, threw Kendal out of the lie up, then, Sita, having followed Patch into the room, and in a fit of rage as large as Patch’s, pushed the trolley after Kendal, the trolley crashing into his hind legs as he ran from the room.

“Get Blackberry!” Sita yelled, turning and bursting into the lie up, nearly crushing Thumper under her feet.

“Watch out where you put your feet!” Thumper yelled as Sita nearly trod on him.

“Oh sorry,” Sita replied, freezing to the spot as was her way.

“Step left Sita,” Patch said to her, Sita side stepping left, “now you’re not going to tread on Thumper if you walk forward.” While Blackberry tended to Kaitlin, Sita got paws on with Thumper, the buck rabbit trembling under her paws.

“I won’t hurt you,” Sita said, Thumper wide eyed and shaking violently”

“how do bears do all these things?” Thumper asked.

“We’re resourceful,” Patch said.

“But, but Sita isn’t a bear! She’s a bear with a long tail like a cat, and cats and bears are enemies of rabbits!”

“I’m noone’s enemy,” Sita mewed, “I try not to be anyway.”

“You look like you could eat us both as snacks,” Kaitlin observed, grimacing as Blackberry tended to her ear.

“I could,” Sita said, tickling the toes of Thumper’s right foot with her whiskers, making the buck rabbit laugh, “but I don’t want to.”

“Sita’s tickling my toes!” Thumper yelled, Kaitlin nudging him with her nose.

“Be quiet thumper!” she hissed, “that cat bear thing might turn on you and eat you! even now!”

“I won’t hurt either of you,” Sita mewed. She kissed Kaitlin’s nose.

“What sort of mating are you a product of?” thumper asked.

“Who? Me?” Sita asked.

“yes,” thumper replied. Sita told him the tale of her birth.

“Strange tale that,” the buck rabbit replied.

“My sister was a genetic mutation of bear and cat,” Sita mewed, “that’s Freckles by the way, she’s a true cat bear.”

“Next thing they’ll be mixing a little human DNA in with cats and bears,” Blackberry grunted, “that’ll be interesting offspring.”

“a cat’s face, with bear’s body and legs, with retractile claws on hind feet and hands, with human hands and feet?” Patch asked.

“have you seen one?” Blackberry asked.

“No,” Patch replied, “was just my imagination.”

“sounds like me, but with hairless tops to my feet and paws, and short arches to my feet,” Sita mewed, “oh, and no tail?”

“it will have a tail,” Patch replied.

“Who would the mother be?” Sita asked.

“It would probably be born by a cat bear,” Patch replied.

“Poor cat bear,” Sita mewed.

“I gave birth to a very similar creature,” Patch replied, “yes it was hard work, yes it hurt, but I don’t regret a thing.” Sita smiled:

“I could imagine myself with arched soles and bare hands and feet, my fur ending above my ankles and wrists,” she said.

“Could you not shave those parts?” Patch asked. Sita smiled and replied that she might try it.

“You’re a freak,” Kaitlin said. Sita growled at her, then cuffed her.

“ow!” Kaitlin yelled.

“I’m not a freak,” Sita growled..

“You look strange, all long fur and silly paws!” Kaitlin said. Sita spat at Kaitlin, then picked her up in her paws.

“No Sita, please!” Thumper yelled.

“I’m not a freak, I’m myself!” Sita roared into Kaitlin’s face, the doe shrieking with fear and terror.

“Oh dear Kaitlin, you really have put your paws in it, Thumper said as Kaitlin landed with a thud and squeal of protest beside him.

“I want to leave here now,” Kaitlin whimpered, “I don’t like this place Thumper, I can’t stand this place any more!” Thumper led Kaitlin back out into the woodlands.

“Are they going back to their box?” Sita asked miserably.

“They might be,” Patch replied.

“I’m myself!” Sita whimpered, “I can’t be anything or anyone else!”

“Come here Sita,” Patch said, Sita padding to him. Patch embraced the cat bear, Sita pressing herself into his hug.

“Patch,” Sita mewed, “please, would you rub my paws and feet? Draw circles on my pads and make me curl my toes?” Patch kissed his cub’s nose, then sat her down and pushed her onto her back, stroking her belly, ears, paws and feet, Sita wriggling and mewing, her eyes closed, paws clenching and toes curling as Patch stroked her paws and feet.

“Patch,” Sita said, “you know that creature, the one with the human feet and hands and a tail?”

“yes Sita love?” Patch replied softly.

“Do you know anything more? I mean,” Sita hesitated, “I’m curious, very curious. You see, Blackberry and I mated, and you know how he was of Jess and all, well, would my cub be like you described? A cat bear with naked hands and feet, with feet that have arches like a human’s?” Patch rested his paws on Sita’s belly, Sita feeling something kick hard against her belly, responding to Patch’s touch.

“You knew didn’t you,” Sita said.

“I had some thoughts yes,” Patch replied, “and your close questioning of me when I came up with that imagined creature confirmed my dreams about this cub.” Sita wriggled with excitement at the confirmation of her thoughts on the cub’s appearance.

“You will do well during the birth of this cub,” Patch said.

“I’ll scream the place down,” Sita mewed, “I know I will.”

“Oh dear!” Blackberry whimpered, “our mating has produced a cub?”

“It has, and you will love it Blackberry,” Sita said.

“I will,” Blackberry said, his attitude changing from fear to interest.

“You have a bear’s feet and human hands,” Patch said to Blackberry, “now maybe your cub will have naked hands and feet, with arched soles.”

“I’ll love it however it looks,” Blackberry said smiling.

“I hope I can give birth to it naturally,” Sita mewed, “otherwise, you’ll have to get your suction things out, or worse, your knife and that will be bad.” Blackberry shook his head:

“A c section should not be needed,” he replied, “though we could ultra sound the cub to see what’s happening in there.” Sita was up for that, getting to her feet and padding to Blackberry’s workplace. Blackberry, having wangled some equipment from the local vets, set up his ultra sound machine, and soon Sita was lying on his examination couch. Blackberry tried to keep emotion out of his voice as he explored their cub with his ultra sound device.

“Everything’s fine,” Blackberry said, “but, but, Sita, I wish you could see it.” Sita got off the couch and hugged Blackberry.

“I’ll get paws on when it’s born,” she replied softly.

“I, I know,” Blackberry replied, “but it’s hard sometimes for me to come to terms with the realisation I can see things you can’t.”

“I’ll get paws on when our cub’s born,” Sita mewed, “you can show me it then.”

“Do you remember our mating Sita?” Blackberry asked. Sita held Blackberry tightly.

“I remember the foreplay, and the hugs afterwards, but not the mating itself,” Sita replied, “Blackberry, I was too excited to remember that very well.”

“come to think of it,” Blackberry replied dreamily, “I can’t remember mating either, the play yes, tingling paws and thrilled body, yes, but not the mating, but it happened, I’m sure of that.” Sita smiled:

“rub my paws Blackberry, draw circles on my pads and count my toes, please?” Sita asked.

“In the birthing pool?” Blackberry asked.

“I don’t know what Ekaterina would have to say about that,” Sita mewed, “but yes please, though I would love a spar pool when delivering my cub.”

“You can’t deliver in the spar pool,” Blackberry replied, “though I think there is a spar attachment in this pool. Would you like to use the hammock too?” Sita crawled to the hammock and got into it.

“yes please,” she replied, standing up on all four paws, then crouching, then resting her weight on her paws and bouncing on the toes of her hind feet, Blackberry watching her face, paws, feet and tail, finding the sight arousing.

“You’re loving that aren’t you,” Sita mewed.

“I am,” Blackberry replied smiling.

“Get paws on, don’t restrict your enjoyment to your eyes,” Sita said. Blackberry got paws on, Sita mewing and purring, gasping and moaning with pleasure as she felt his touch on her paws, the soles of her feet, and her belly.

“Oh Blackberry,” Sita said, “will you rub my belly, my paws and my feet when I’m screaming and pushing against the cub?”

“I will if you want that,” Blackberry replied.

“I will want it, I will,” Sita mewed, “I don’t want you to ever be paws off, hold me, stroke me, shout at me to push, rub my paws and feet as I struggle, kiss my nose and paws, soothe my feet and body, I want you there Blackberry!” Blackberry smiled and kissed his mate’s nose.

“Blackberry,” Sita said, “please, would you check me over? See if I’m fit enough to deliver this cub naturally?” Blackberry new his mate was fit, he’d checked her health many times, blood tests, checked what she was eating, all this, as they’d been planning to have a cub for a long time now. Sita had been anxious she was fit enough to bear a cub, Blackberry making the tests fun and more than just tests, embracing Sita as she got on the scales for example, Sita refusing to let Blackberry let her go, Blackberry having to subtract his own weight from the resulting readout to get Sita’s own weight.

“yes I’ll check you over,” Blackberry said, knowing what Sita wanted.

“I know I have only been checked recently,” Sita said, “I’d like you to check my legs, feet and paws, to see if I can curl my toes, roar and scream and crawl about properly.”

“I’ll check that,” Blackberry replied, Sita getting off the bed and lying down on Blackberry’s examination couch.

“Now I want you to push against my paws with your hind feet,” Blackberry said, “draw your legs up Sita, I’ll press my paws against your feet, and then you push with your feet as hard as you can.” Sita waited for Blackberry to press his paws against the soles of her feet, then she braced her feet hard against his paws, pushing as hard as she could, her breath deep and face screwed up in concentration. Screeching with effort, she pushed hard against Blackberry’s paws, feeling her feet slipping, Blackberry was immensely strong.

“Your legs are strong enough,” Blackberry said, as Sita lay back, exhausted while Blackberry rubbed her feet in his paws, loving her pads and toes, drawing circles, then rubbing bunching pads and slowly uncurling toes.

“You have cute paws and feet with brownie pink skin on your nose, palms of your paws, pads of your feet and toes Sita..” Sita giggled delightedly.

“I love you Blackberry!” she said. giving him her paws, Blackberry holding her paws, then dropping them, pulling her towards him, embracing her tightly. Sita, kneeling on the couch, let Blackberry cradle her.

“I love you from your nose,” Blackberry said, touching Sita’s nose, “to your toes Sita,” he said, reaching behind her and touching the toes of her right foot, then pressing her heel with his paw, Sita whimpering with pleasure and shuffling backwards a bit to press her heel into his paw.

“Blackberry,” Sita said, “my body is yours to touch, my feet and paws are yours to explore, I want you to touch me all the time!” Blackberry kissed Sita’s nose.

“We’ll see what the cub looks like when it comes out, Blackberry replied.

“I want you there from the first time I moan in pain, to when I’m screaming and straining to deliver the cub Blackberry,” Sita mewed, “I managed to get someone to describe how you were with Targon during Caleb’s birth, and I want that too, I want you to be paws on, totally paws on, please?” Blackberry promised he would be paws on.

“I will Sita,” he replied, “I will do everything you want me to do.”

“I would like you to tell me what to do too,” Sita replied, “Now please Blackberry, tell me what you’d like me to do, curl my toes, sit back on my heels, hold my feet with my paws?” Blackberry smiled:

“I like you sitting back on your heels,” he said, “you can tickle your own toes with your tail too!”

“I can even tickle my heels,” Sita replied, “I can curl my tail round to tickle my own heels and toes!”

“I’ve seen that,” Blackberry replied smiling.

“I want our cub to learn all the play I know,” Sita replied, “to love his or her paws and feet, to feel things with their paws and feet, to love their paws and feet.”

“I could also do silly things too,” Blackberry replied, “all you say you will do, apart from tickling my toes with my tail of course.” Sita smiled:

“I like you paws on with me,” she said, “I know you get pleasure from touching me, and I get pleasure from being touched.”

“Would you sit back on your heels now?” Blackberry asked. Sita got off the couch and settled down on the floor, sitting back on her heels, Blackberry getting paws on with her from her nose to her toes, Sita wriggling and mewing, then roaring as he touched the heels of her hind feet, pressed hard into her backside.

“aoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaouuuur!” Sita roared lustily, bouncing on her heels a little, her toes curling tightly.

“wow Blackberry!” Sita panted, “oh Blackberry!” Sita squealed. Blackberry rubbed the heel pad of Sita’s right foot, Sita grinding her heels into her backside.

“if this is how I feel when not in pain,” Sita mewed, “then pain relief while in labour shouldn’t be a problem!”

“I can feel your pads are a little damp,” Blackberry said, “that’s rather cute Sita.” Sita giggled.

“I’m aroused, as you are,” she said, “I can feel your pulse Blackberry, and your pads are slightly damp too, try running your paw down my foot, bet it sticks,” Sita was right, Blackberry’s toes jammed hard against Sita’s heel pad, Sita giggling as she felt the friction.

“Sticky pads,” she laughed.

“yes,” Blackberry said, breathing on Sita’s left foot, warming her heel and toes, Sita moaning with pleasure.

“my cub likes your touch too!” she gasped, rubbing her belly with one paw, “it’s kicking hard!”

“the cub’s feeling your excitement and likes it,” Blackberry replied, as Sita’s toes curled beneath his touch as he rubbed them, Sita wailing with emotion as she felt her cub kicking hard.

“Blackberry, stop, please, please stop!” Sita moaned, “you’re going to trigger me into labour if you’re not careful!”

“I’ll stop now,” Blackberry said, Sita panting hard as she came down from the stratosphere .

“No wonder I didn’t notice the mating,” Sita said, “there was too much going on.”

“Your paws and feet pour love into my paws,” Blackberry said, Sita laughing merrily at him.

“I’ll bet if I tried to stand now, my feet would stick fast to the floor and I’d need help freeing them,” Sita said.

“I think they would,” Blackberry replied.

“The thing is, I would love every minute of my efforts to free my feet,” Sita replied, “I love those sort of games.”

“I do too,” Blackberry replied, “we got stuck for ages yesterday didn’t we Sita, foot to foot, it took us an hour to free ourselves, and that was just one round.”

“Let me get up,” Sita said, getting to her feet, Blackberry helping her up, Sita leaning on him.

“I love you Sita,” Blackberry said smiling, Sita kissing his nose and paws.

“I wonder how my labour will be,” Sita said.

“Well you could try out the gas we spoke of before Sooleawa was in labour,” Blackberry replied.

“She didn’t use it did she,” Sita mewed.

“No, I don’t think she did,” Blackberry replied. Sita smiled:

“Let’s have a go, now,” she said, “I’ll suck on the gas, and you, um, I don’t know, prick my pads with a pin or something.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” Blackberry said, “but I will pinch your toes and pads with tweezers if you like, so you can test the gas.”

“Okay, as long as it won’t hurt my cub,” Sita said.

“It won’t, it’s safe,” Blackberry replied. Sita got acquainted with the tube and the bite valve, Blackberry turning on the gas and air mix, Sita sitting down and breathing the mix, the gas and air mix soon sending the cat bear into the stratosphere.

“wowowowowoah, this is good!” Sita gasped as she breathed in the pain killing mix.

“So when you start to feel a contraction, breathe that, and then let go and push hard into your tail, then breathe again,” Blackberry replied.

“I think I will use that if things get really bad,” Sita replied, “but I want you to rub my paws and feet and belly before that.”

“I will,” Blackberry replied, “but I will follow what you want as long as it won’t hurt you or your cub.”

Sita let go of the tube, Blackberry throwing the mouthpiece in a hazardous waste bin. Sita got to her feet and padded around the room.

“Can I use that on the bed and in the hammock when I’m bearing down?” she asked.

“You can,” Blackberry replied. Sita rolled onto her back and Blackberry rubbed her belly, paws and feet, Sita mewing, wriggling and purring with contentment.

“You two sound as if you’re having a good time,” Ekaterina said, padding into the room.

“We are,” Sita mewed, “I’m in cub Ekaterina, and Blackberry’s showing me the gas and air for pain relief during labour.”

“I should have used that,” Ekaterina replied, “I needed that while giving birth to Fleur, though I didn’t know where it was.”

“I’m not going to use the gas and air unless I need to,” Sita mewed, “I didn’t with my previous labours.”

“How far along are you?” Ekaterina asked.

“A few weeks off yet,” Sita mewed, “though the cub is very active.”

“Who knows?” Ekaterina said, “I think Blackberry might know more.”

“Not a few weeks Sita, a few days,” Blackberry replied.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow, that soon?” Sita squealed.

“yes,” Blackberry replied smiling.

“Oh shit, I’m really nervous now!” Sita mewed pitifully.

“Ekaterina,” Blackberry said, “may we borrow your birthing pool?”

“Am I not invited then?” Ekaterina replied in an injured tone.”

“Of course you are,” Sita said, “but Blackberry’s nervous you see, he wants to have everything right,” Blackberry snorted with indignation, then sighed:

“yes I’m nervous,” he admitted.

“As long as you both don’t’ freeze up when things get desperate I’ll be okay,” she said.

Sita padded to the birthing pool and lowered herself into it, paddling around the water. Ekaterina switched on the spar feature, and Sita lay back on the ledge, enjoying the sensations against her body. Turning over, she smiled as the spar thrilled the pads of her paws, toes and belly. Then Grimacing, she panted:

“I think this cub is ready to come out!” Sita said, “it’s lively and kicking me!” wriggling, she slipped into the pool and swam under the water, her paws paddling furiously and feet thrusting.

“this cub wants to come out, it wants to come out!” Sita squealed as she emerged from the water, crouching and defecating on the side of the pool, then, roaring, she crawled to the relieving place while Blackberry and Ekaterina stood by, absolutely stunned. Sita washed herself, then crawled back to the birthing pool. Crouching in the depths, Sita closed her eyes, settled her feet and paws and strained twice hard into her tail.

“Contractions coming so much, so hard, so quick! Aoaoaoaoaoaoaaoaoaoew!!” Sita roared, Blackberry leaping into the water and switching on the underwater lights. Sita, squealing and bouncing on her toes between efforts, settled down to push for a third time. Blackberry, nearly defecating with fear, reached under the water beneath Sita’s tail, he felt the cub’s head and paws, then as Sita roared and strained lustily, he felt the cub shoot into the water, Sita roaring and bouncing desperately on her toes as she pushed deeper than she’d ever done before to release the cub’s hind feet, that had become stuck.

“Must push to free the cub’s feet!” Sita roared. Then sobbing and screaming, “Blackberry, I had no choice, I had no choice! The cub came before it was ready, I couldn’t help it!” Blackberry lifted the cub, it was huge, and very vocal. Screaming, roaring, mewing and purring.

“is the cub okay?” Sita panted, before settling herself and, with a strangled moan, bearing into her tail one last time, the afterbirth shooting from her in a rush that nearly took her breath away.

“I didn’t know that was going to happen!” Sita squealed, stamping her feet as she came down from the effort of giving fast and strenuous birth.

“I think the jets helped stimulate things, and whoosh, the cub came,” Blackberry said, looking at the screaming cub in his paws. it was as Patch had prophesied, a cat bear with naked hands and feet, and as Blackberry looked, he saw slight arching on the cub’s feet, a slight arch defined between tiny heel and toes.

“What sex is the cub?” Sita asked.

“We have a female cub,” Blackberry replied. Sita turned in the water and Blackberry gave her their cub, Sita cradling it in her paws.

“I must sit down and explore her,” she said, Blackberry guiding her to the ledge. Sitting down, Sita fed her cub, then when it had finished drinking, got paws on, while her cub lay back, mewing and snarling to herself and waving her hands and feet about. Sita kissed the cub’s nose, then the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet, the cub reaching out with her hands for Sita’s nose at every chance she got.

“Your cub has open eyes, she can see you,” Blackberry said to Sita, who let her cub touch her face with her hands and then, with a huge effort, kiss her nose.

“She can see you,” Blackberry said.

“She’s beautiful, from nose to tail she’s beautiful,” Sita purred.

“She has a tail too,” Blackberry said. Sita got paws on with her cub once more, the cub curling her tail up between her legs and drawing up her feet to tickle her own toes with the tip, Sita laughing as she felt her cub wriggling and laughing with pleasure at her own play.

“She’s intelligent,” Sita said, and only a few minutes old too.”

“Can I get paws on?” Ekaterina asked.

“yes please!” the cub said, shocking Sita into silence.

“You, you can talk, English too!” Blackberry exclaimed.

“yes, well, sort of,” the cub replied, laughing as Ekaterina inadvertently tickled the toes of her right foot with her breath.

“You are lovely,” Ekaterina said to the cub, who stretched her hands up to Ekaterina’s face and squeezed her nose.

“Oi!” Ekaterina yelped.

“Sorry,” the cub said, “but I can see that well.”

“that was my nose!” Ekaterina whimpered, rubbing it with her paw.

“I could squeeze your toes too,” the cub replied, Sita roaring with laughter.

“No you can’t!” Ekaterina said, backing off with much splashing, Sita laughing helplessly at her antics.

“She’s only a cub!” Sita laughed.

“she’s powerful, and has strong hands!” Ekaterina whimpered.

“What shall we name her?” Blackberry asked.

“Well she has dark brown, almost black fur with pinkie brown skin beneath. It looks as if she’s wearing a fur costume from her head to her wrists and ankles, she looks rather cute.”

“I think we could name her Karina Keaira,” Patch said, padding into the room, Karina is African, and Keera is American Indian. The rough meanings of the names put together are dear little dark one.” Sita turned her face to Patch, feeling him kiss her nose.

“You did well my dear cub,” he said softly. Sita smiled:

“Labour was so quick!” she said, a sudden pain, a sudden need to relieve myself, then stronger pains, pushing, pushing, so deep into my tail, then the cub came into the world.”

“Can I take a look at your cub?” Patch asked. Sita smiling and handing Patch her cub. Blackberry watched as Patch sat down on the tiles and cradled Karina in his paws, the cub looking fragile in the huge bear’s paws.

“you’re big and soft big bear,” Karina said, Patch blowing on the palms of her hands, Karina giggling cubbishly. Blackberry padded up to Patch and looked down at his cub:

“can I hold my cub, please?” he asked, Patch looking up sharply.

“haven’t you held her yet?” he asked, his eyes full of shock.

“no,” Blackberry replied miserably, Patch handing Karina to him.

“You helped her into the world, so you speak rubbish!” Wihakayda yelled, pounding into the lie up.

“Get out!” Blackberry yelled. Wihakayda ran off.

“You are beautiful Karina,” Blackberry said. Karina looked up into Blackberry’s face.

“Your paws are warm and soft,” she said, Blackberry’s eyes filling with tears.

“I love you little one,” he choked, sitting heavily down and embracing Karina as tightly as he dared. He explored Karina from her ears to her feet, exploring her by touch and by sight, finding her perfect in every detail. Blackberry examined Karina carefully, the cub mewing, giggling and pawing at him as he examined her.

“you are as cute as I imagined,” Blackberry said softly. Karina waved her long tail, curling it around Blackberry’s right arm, Blackberry yelping at the strength in her tail.

“What is this?” he asked, “this tail is only meant for balancing!”

“No, I can use it for gripping too!” Karina said, “though I don’t know how I know I can.”

“You have a monkey’s tail, and a primate’s feet and hands, a bear’s legs, and body, and a cat’s face!” Blackberry exclaimed.

“I’ll look at myself once I can get on my feet,” Karina said, “but now I must crawl to a place where I can relieve myself, “oooah, it hurts!” she passed wind explosively, wriggling madly. Sita got quickly out of the pool, standing by her cub.

“Can we let her defecate in the pool?” Blackberry asked, Karina curling and stretching her toes, her face contorted in agony.

“Okay,” Ekaterina said, Blackberry holding Karina over the pool, her backside slightly submerged. Karina sighed deeply, bearing down, faeces exploding from her, Blackberry holding her tenderly as she relieved herself. Taking a deep breath, she strained downwards for the last time.

“All done,” she panted. Blackberry washed Karina’s backside in a nearby washing place and handed her to Sita, who cradled her. Patch and Ekaterina cleared up the pool, then both padded to Sita, who was playing a very involved game with Karina, in which Sita tried to tickle the cub’s hands and feet with her breath while Karina waved her hands and feet in the air laughing helplessly, in the end, Sita grabbed each one of her cub’s arms and legs, then blew on the palms of her hands and soles of her feet, Karina shrieking with laughter and swiping at Sita’s face with her hands.

“you’re tickling my toes!” she squealed as Sita did just that.

“I know, they are lovely toes to tickle too,” Sita mewed, counting her cub’s toes, of which she had five on each foot, her hands having five fingers.

“Your cute from your nose to your toes Karina,” Sita said, “but please, would you lie still so I can explore you with my paws?” Karina lay still, and Sita got properly paws on, stroking her cub from her nose to the toes of her hind feet. Starting at Karina’s head, Sita ran her paws down her cub’s body, over her face, then her ears, then her back, and down her arms to her hands, stroking the palms and backs of both Karina’s small hands, then to belly, then her hips, her hind legs, then to the tops and soles of her feet, Karina giggling with pleasure, curling her toes and trying not to wave her arms about too much.

“You are beautiful from your head to your feet little cub,” Sita said.

“Your paws pour your love into me mama,” Karina said, Sita smiling at her.

“How can these cubs know so much when just born?” Sita asked.

“they learn so much from just listening within the womb,” Blackberry said, “I touch your paws or feet, I touched Karina’s too. she knew yours and my love from before she was born.”

“I’m warm and safe,” Karina said, kissing Sita’s nose. Sita smiled broadly as Karina caressed her paw in her hands, her fingers embracing Sita’s paw.

“You have fur on your paws, furry backs to your paws!” Karina said, “I don’t have fur on my paws.”

“You have hands little one, and so do I,” Sita mewed, and so does your sire Blackberry, though he has a bear’s feet, and so do I. you have different feet to me and Blackberry. When you’re settled after a few days, I’ll let you explore me from nose to tail.”

“Right now, I know you as two paws and a gentle kiss, oh and milk too,” Karina said, Sita laughing merrily.

“there is a lot more to me than that,” she said, “but you will find out in your own time I think.”

“Sita?” Koda asked, padding into the room. Sita looked up and Koda caught sight of the form in her paws.

oooah!" Koda gasped, “is, is that your cub?” Karina looked at Koda.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“A friend,” Koda said, “my cub got shooed out of here a few Minutes back, I came to apologise.”

“there are many things your cub needs to apologise for,” Sita growled, “sucking at my paws, feet and tail with the vacuum cleaner, and also this!”

“I know, I know!” Koda whimpered, “Sita, I, I, I don’t know how to get her to you, she runs off, I can’t stop her, she’s stronger than me!”

“I’ll find her,” Patch replied, “Koda, I’ll pick her up and hold her while you tear a strip off her.”

“I’ve already done that, I’ve wept while talking to her, I’ve wrung my paws, I’ve slapped the ground in frustration, but she’s unrepentant!”

“that’s because you can’t touch me, you’re small, and weak, and I can beat you Koda!” Wihakayda yelled, Koda whipping round, his cub, posing him into the water of the freshly refilled pool.

“You horrid bitch, you horrid,,,” Koda choked as his mouth was filled with water. Spluttering and coughing, Koda floundered to the side of the pool, his sight blurred, his lungs screaming for air. Wihakayda then jumped into the pool smack on top of Koda, forcing his head under the water and holding it there. Patch, swearing harshly, leapt in and rescued Koda, beating Wihakayda off him, throwing her onto the side of the pool, then pulling Koda out of the pool, the black bear unresponsive. Blackberry pushed Patch out of the way and began pumping Koda’s chest, the water running from Koda’s mouth, when suddenly Koda jerked, coughed and began to breathe for himself. Purdy ran in, saw Koda on the floor, and began screaming.

“Purdy, shut it!” Blackberry yelled.

“What has Wihakayda done to Koda?” Purdy yelled.

“she nearly killed him that’s what,” Sita growled. Purdy squared up to Wihakayda and both cubs rolled about on the floor in raging, spitting, biting and kicking paw to paw combat. Purdy, lighter than Wihakayda, got thrown into the pool, Wihakayda leaping in, trying to crush her. Patch had seen enough, leaping into the water, he dragged Wihakayda out, knocked her senseless, then threw her into a monorail car, sending it into the woods. Purdy struggled from the water and padded damply over to Koda.

“Koda?” Purdy asked softly, the black bear moaning with discomfort.

“Shit Purdy,” he gasped.

“You neawly died,” Purdy said.

“What?” Koda asked, trying to get to his feet, Purdy gently holding him down.

“You were fighting with Wihakayda,” Purdy replied, “she, she twied to kill you Koda!” Purdy sobbed..

“Well she didn’t manage it,” Koda mumbled, looking past Purdy to Blackberry, who sat back on his heels wiping his face with one paw.

“Shit Koda,” he gasped.

“Thank you Blackberry,” Koda choked.

“I never want to do that again!” Blackberry sniffed.

“I’ll break her paws for you,” Koda promised.

“Wihakayda tried to drown Purdy too,” blackberry choked.

“I’m going back to my lie up with my cub, coming blackberry?” Sita asked. blackberry got to his feet and padded from the room with his mate and cub.

“now what?” Koda asked, staggering to his feet and looking at Purdy.

“Are you all wight Koda? Weally all wight I mean?” Purdy asked.

“I’m physically fine, thanks to Blackberry,” Koda replied, “I’m sick of this fighting, sick of Wihakayda, sick of being squashed, jumped on, pummelled and generally abused.” Purdy padded up to Koda and kissed his nose.

“I love you Koda,” she said, “when you go back to your lie up, can I give you a huge hug?”

“I need one now I think,” Koda replied, almost crying. Purdy hugged Koda, kissing his nose and paws, Koda struggling to keep his composure.

“ Let’s go get some food,” Purdy said, “after you’ve eaten, maybe you’ll feel better.”

“I need sleep,” Koda mumbled, stumbling after Purdy. Once he reached his lie up, Koda collapsed in a heap.

“you’re so good to me Purdy,” Koda said, Purdy snuggling close to Koda, holding his paw in a fierce grip with hers.

“I’m not invincible Purdy,” Koda mumbled, “I can’t cope with much more of this.”

“You aren’t going to die are you Koda?” Purdy asked, her voice cracking.

“I nearly did,” Koda choked.

“Did you see Sita’s new cub?” Purdy asked.

“No, not close up,” Koda replied, “I would love to see her, she sounds interesting, if Patch’s prediction was anything to go by.”

“You’ll meet her soon enough,” Karina said, crawling up to Koda, Koda’s eyes widening with amazement.

“You are beautiful little one,” Koda said, hugging Karina, exploring her with eyes and paws, the cub giggling as Koda’s close inspection tickled her, his breath tickled the palms and soles of her hands and feet.

“You have cute hands and feet little one,” Koda said, Karina giggling, curling her toes and balling her hands into fists as Koda rubbed her belly with his paw.

“I love your touch!” she laughed, Koda drawing circles on the bunched skin on the soles of her feet, Karina wriggling with pleasure.

“I love how her fur makes her look like she’s wearing a suit,” Koda said.

“It does doesn’t it,” Purdy replied smiling.

“You’re so beautiful!” Koda said to Karina, the cub embracing Koda Tightly, Koda sniffing back tears.

“you’re beautiful,” Koda choked.

“I think she’s lovely too,” Purdy replied, “Koda, how would it be if we both snuggle with her?”

“Sita will want her cub back soon,” Koda said.

“Not for a long time Koda,” Karina said, “I’ve been toileted and fed, so I’m free for a long time now. I will stay until I feel the need to get food or relieve myself.” Koda kissed Karina’s nose.

“I love you from your nose to your small toes Karina,” Koda said.

“my hands and feet are cold,” Karina said, “Koda, would you rub my feet with your paws? Purdy, would you rub my hands in yours?” Koda and Purdy obliged Karina, the cub purring softly.

“her hands and feet are so soft,” Purdy said.

“she’s newborn,” Koda replied, “she is fresh from the world before this one, and hasn’t got her hands or feet dirty and rough from the riggers of this world yet.”

“What’s all that?” Karina asked.

“nothing much Karina love,” Koda said.

“Can I possibly have my cub back?” Sita asked, padding up to Koda.

“yes, sorry,” Koda said withdrawing to howls of protest from Karina, who struck out in all directions with her arms and legs.

“I want my feet rubbed again! I want my feet rubbed again!” Karina screamed, Sita bearing down on her, picking her up in her paws and carrying her away.

“that’s enough,” Sita said, Karina striking out at her with her hands, Sita’s nose getting the rough end of the cub’s displeasure.

“Ow Karina that hurt, stop hitting me, now!” Sita snapped, Karina lashing out one time too many, Sita smacking her with her paw, Karina squealing indignantly.

“You might have the intelligence of a human, young girl,” Sita growled, “but I’m your mother, and you need to listen to me to get the facts right!” Karina stared up at Sita.

“Where are you taking me?” Karina asked.

“I’m taking you to get your first wash,” Sita mewed.

“I’m clean already!” Karina yowled, “I was born into the water!”

“that’s not a wash, that’s just a rinse,” Sita replied.

“I’m clean, I’m clean!” Karina squealed.

“I know, but it’s not a wash because you are dirty Karina.”

“I’ll go then,” Karina huffed. Sita smiled and took her to Patch’s pool, where she amerced the cub in the water. Patch threw in a pawful of bath salts and as the soothing scent enveloped Karina, the cub relaxed into the water.

“I like this,” Karina mumbled.

“Thought you might,” Sita mewed. Karina suddenly revived and thrashed about with her limbs, spraying water everywhere.

“Stop kicking the water!” Sita choked as she got a face full.

“This is fun!” Karina yelled, kicking the water into a froth with her small feet.

“Stop it!” Sita roared, taking cover. Karina gave up thrashing the water and paddled round the pool, seemingly knowing how to swim well. Clambering from the pool, she crawled towards Sita, her fur dripping water.

“She looks so cute!” Patch said, walking in. Karina turned towards Patch, bypassing Sita. Patch sat down and Karina scrambled into his lap, Patch sitting her down in his lap then embracing her. Karina settled back in Patch’s hug, loving his embrace.

“you’re lovely Karina,” Sita said.

Are you going to be paws on with me like mum did?” Karina asked.

“Would you like me to?” Patch asked.

“I would,” Karina replied. Patch explored Karina from head to feet, Karina giggling and squirming gleefully throughout, making sure her hands and feet got well explored. Patch drew circles on the palms and soles of Karina’s hands and feet, the cub grabbing Patch’s paws in her hands, curling her toes delightedly, Patch drawing circles on her bunching pads and counting her curling toes.

“You are so cute little one,” Patch said softly.

“tickle my toes, tickle my toes!” Karina laughed, Patch blowing on her toes, Karina laughing delightedly.

“You are cute from your nose to your toes Karina,” Patch said. Karina giggling with pleasure.

“You can play, you are a big softy Patch,” Karina said.

“I love your face, your hands, and your feet, and that lovely tail too,” Patch said, touching Karina’s nose, palms of her hands, and soles of her feet, then lastly tweaking her tail, Karina’s fingers and toes curling, her tail twitching with excitement.

“I could play forever,” Karina said.

“You must sleep sometimes little one,” Patch replied.

“yeah,” Karina yawned, “but, well, I want to meet so many other people here.”

“You will,” Patch replied, “now let’s dry your fur, feet and hands.” Patch carried Karina to the fireside, where he dried her fur, hands and feet, Karina sighing contentedly as her hands and feet were warmed by the heat from the fire.

“Who do we have here?” Peter asked, padding in from the passage.

“this is Karina, she is Sita’s newborn cub,” Patch replied, Peter sitting down and looking closely at Karina, the cub looking back at him, examining him from head to foot.

“”I think we have things in common little one,” Peter said, Karina scrambling over to Peter, exploring him carefully with her hands, the young boy hugging Karina as she scrambled onto his lap and explored him with her hands, hatching his chest, shoulders, and then coming face to face with him, Peter embracing her tightly.

“You and I have the same hands and feet,” Peter said. Karina smiled: “but you don’t have a tail,” she said, “but yes, our hands and feet are similar.” Karina and Peter sat down opposite each other and compared hands, then compared feet, each getting hands on with the other’s hands and feet, each curling their toes at the touch of the other’s hands on their feet.

“your feet are similar to mine, five toes, and even the arch too!” Peter said, exploring Karina’s right foot, Karina curling her toes tightly, pressing her foot into Peter’s embrace.

“You have cute feet and hands,” Peter said.

“What does cute mean?” Karina asked, “Patch used that word too, it’s a nice word it seems.”

“it means endearing,” Peter replied.

“So it’s okay for me to say your hands and feet are cute too?” Karina asked.

“yes,” Peter replied smiling. Karina ran the fingers of her right hand down the sole of Peter’s left foot, pester giggling and curling his toes, Karina pressing her fingers into the furrowing skin on the sole of his foot, Peter smiling at the feel of her fingers bumping over his now wrinkled skin.

“I love playing with you Peter,” Karina said, Peter laughing.

“You are lovely too,” Peter replied, lifting Karina onto his lap and kissing her nose.

“I love your touch Peter, Karina said, Peter blowing on her hands, Karina purring gently.

“What is cute is how your body is covered with fur, but your feet and hands are naked, without fur,” Peter said.

“I like how your hands and feet are like mine, and how your toes curl like mine too!” Karina replied. Peter crawled away from Karina, the cub chasing him, panting and crawling as fast as she could, her hands landing on Peter’s toes and then his soles, then his heels, Peter laughing as his feet were claimed one by one by the cub’s small hands.

“now can I claim your feet?” Peter asked five minutes later, as he stroked Karina’s back, the cub sitting in his lap.

“yes you can, here, I’ll make it easy for you,” Karina replied, settling down on her back, drawing her feet up, pressing them against Peter’s left hand. Peter giggled and drew circles on Karina’s soles, the cub giggling with pleasure.

“You have claimed my feet now!” Karina laughed.

“I have,” Peter replied, “and well worth claiming they are too.” Karina giggled, wriggling ecstatically.

“You two look like you’re enjoying yourselves,” Patch said, looking down at Peter and Karina, the human and cub looking up at him.

“I touched his toes and heels, then Peter touched mine Patch,” Karina said, Patch smiling at the little cub.

“I loved Karina claiming my feet,” Peter said, “it felt great Patch!”

“I’ve not experienced that yet,” Patch replied.

“all you need to do is sit down, and I can claim your toes too!” Karina laughed. Patch smiled and sat down, Karina scrambling off Peter’s lap and crawling to Patch’s hind feet, grabbing his right foot in her small hands and holding on tightly.

“So sweet!” Patch laughed, curling his toes to catch the fingers of her left hand, Karina giggling and patting the sole of Patch’s foot with her right hand while Patch held onto the fingers of her left hand with his curled toes, bear and cub looking into each other’s faces.

“Your toes are warm,” Karina said. she tugged at her left hand, “they’re strong too!” she gasped. Patch uncurled his toes, lifting Karina onto his lap.

“I hope mama Sita teaches you all the foot and paw games we know,” he said.

“I’m ready to learn those,” Karina replied.

“Can you reach your foot with your hands?” Patch asked. Karina smiled, scrambled off Patch’s lap, lay down on her back, drew up her legs, and grabbed her feet with her hands, Peter and Patch laughing merrily at her antics.

“Like this?” she asked, wriggling her feet into a more comfortable position in the grip of her hands.

“yes like that,” Peter said, copying Karina, Patch smiling, crawling to Peter, then Karina, blowing on their toes in turn, making them grip their feet tightly with their hands, curl their toes and laugh helplessly.

“You rogue Patch!” Peter laughed.

“I try to play,” Patch replied.

“You made me grab my feet tightly with my hands!” Karina laughed.

“those toes needed tickling,” Patch said, Peter smiling and wriggling his feet into the grip of his hands, his fingers tightly gripping the soles and heels of both feet.

“So cute that,” Patch said, blowing on Peter’s gripping fingers.

“Stop it!” Peter giggled.

“What have I given birth to Patch?” Sita asked, [padding up to Patch. Patch hustled her out of the room, his manner changing completely.

“Sita!” he snapped when they were out of earshot of Karina, “you can’t say that!”

“Why not?” Sita asked, “it’s a legitimate question isn’t it?”

“Yes, but not put like that!” Patch snapped, “look,” he said more gently, “your cub, Karina, she’s something I never dreamt would ever live. Only in my imagination did creatures like her live.”

“But you were seeing the real cub inside me,” Sita mewed, “I know that now Patch.”

“I was,” Patch replied, “Sita, you have a cub who is very fast thinking, who is agile, who can climb better than you can, who can outthink you and me, who has the knowledge of a human, the speed of learning of a bear, and the survival instinct of a cat! You have created an amazing creature.”

“So how do I deal with that?” Sita asked.

“She’ll be a pawful, a real pawful,” Patch replied, “now Sita, dear Sita, here, is where I can help. I have looked after humans, well one, and they’re difficult to look after, they crawl where you don’t want them to, they get their fingers and toes into everything, they ask silly questions, they do silly things, but they are also incredible! Blackberry will help you, everyone will help you Sita, but take it gently, don’t restrict Karina’s hands, or her feet, and least of all her mind. She won’t be like a bear cub, you know that already I think. She’s strong willed, has her own mind already, knows what she likes and doesn’t like too. You’re going to have to work with her, not boss her about.”

“I hope Blackberry’s as clued up as you are,” Sita replied, “Karina’s going to be a real pawful!”

“She will be,” Patch replied, “but she will also be a lovely cub.”

“How if I just let her go wild?” Sita asked.

“I won’t let that happen,” Blackberry replied, padding up to Patch and Sita, “Sita, I know what it is to be abandoned by my mother, don’t forget that. I was terrified I’d put a paw wrong and end up thrown out of the community. In hindsight I know that would never happen, unless I’d been grossly badly behaved, but even so, I was terrified. I don’t want Karina to be like me. We conceived her in love, now please, help me bring her up in love too?” Sita turned an ear to Blackberry.

“I will try,” she replied.

Karina crawled down the corridor, feeling the cold tiles under her hands and the tops of her feet. She crawled her way to the lift, then pulled herself up the wall, hand over hand, digging her toes into the tiles, to the button, pressing it with her nose, she slid down to the floor and waited. The doors opened, and she crawled in. Looking at the walls, she saw they had a ridged covering, scrambling hand over hand up the wall, until she stood on her hind feet, Karina pressed the button for the pool complex. the doors closed and Karina squealed with surprise as the lift moved downwards, Karina falling back onto all fours. The lift came to a stop, and the voice announced:

“pool complex. Karina crawled from the lift, and across to the spar pool. Looking into the bubbling water, she lay down on her chest, mesmerised by the way the light reflected off the bubbling water. She wriggled forward, dipping her hands into the bubbling water.

“you look like you’re gonna fall in,” a voice said behind Karina. Karina wriggled backwards, turning her head to the newcomer, who’s breath ruffled her fur. She saw a huge bear, a bear with a naked face, paws and feet.

“So you’re Sita and Blackberry’s cub?” furball asked.

“My name is Karina, I’m Sita and Blackberry’s cub,” Karina replied, “I came down here, to, to, um, I don’t know why I came down here.” Furball smiled and sat down. Rolling up her trouser legs, she dangled her feet into the water, picking Karina up and settling her on her lap, embracing the newborn cub.

“is that your cub?” Swarupa asked, padding into the pool complex. Furball looked up at the tigress.

“Um, no,” she laughed, “but I think I know how you came to that conclusion. We do look rather similar.”

“yes,” Swarupa mewed, she came closer, looking closely at Karina, “naked hands and feet, though,” she looked up at Furball’s face, “you have a naked face too, while your cub, um, sorry, that cub doesn’t.”

“I’m not her cub!” Karina giggled, Swarupa smiling at her mistake.

“But you are a community cub,” Swarupa purred, “you were born here weren’t you?” Karina said she was.

“Then you’re a community cub,” Swarupa replied, “I’m a community cub too. I was born here, as were my cubs Tigger and Namrah.”

“You have big paws Swarupa,” furball said, Swarupa smiling and lying down to show off her paws.

“You have lovely paws too furball,” Swarupa replied smiling, “I saw a close up of them on a video, both tops and soles, your paws and feet are very beautiful too.” furball, giggling cubbishly, blew Swarupa kiss, the tigress smiling at her.

“I was doing to swim,” Swarupa said, getting to her feet and padding to the main pool, wading into the water, the water sloshing around her legs. Swarupa swam up and down the width of the pool, furball and Karina watching her with admiration.

“You swim well Swarupa,” furball said.

“Do I? why thank you,” Swarupa replied, wading out of the pool, padding damply over to furball then shaking hard, water flying from her fur, all over Furball and Karina.

“Oi!” furball yelped as she was soaked from ears to feet.

“Um, sorry,” Swarupa replied, watching water drip from Furball’s nose.

“You soaked me!” Karina yelled, crawling to Swarupa and slapping her paw with her smaller hand.

“Oh dear, I’m in trouble,” Swarupa laughed.

“yes you are!” Karina yowled, “you soaked me!”

“I’m leaving here,” Swarupa mewed, padding away, lashing her tail.

“You’re beautiful Karina,” furball said, backing up so she sat properly on the tiles, then turning Karina round a little, settling her, and examining the cub’s face, hands and feet. Karina giggled as furball’s paws explored the soles of her feet, Karina unable to stop her toes curling as furball explored each of her feet in turn.

“You have smooth heel pads and very mobile toes,” furball said, Karina giggling delightedly. Drawing up her feet Karina wriggled delightedly, furball blowing on her toes, Karina squealing gleefully.

“You’re tickling my toes!” Karina laughed, grabbing her right foot in her hands.

“that’s so cute!” furball exclaimed.

“what colour are the ticklish bits of my feet?” Karina asked. furball cradled Karina’s left foot in her paws and looked down at the sole of her foot.

“the sole of your foot is pinkie brown,” furball replied, “your toes curl easily too, your feet are cute!” Karina smiled, her eyes shining.

“

“I like you touching my feet,” Karina laughed, pressing her left foot into furball’s naked paws, while holding on tightly to her own right foot with both hands.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” Karina squealed, pulling her right foot towards her with her hands, then pushing hard against furball’s paws in a rocking motion, furball encouraging her to:

“Pull with your hands and push with your foot Karina!” Karina giggled, wriggling delightedly.

“I am pulling at my foot with my hands as hard as I can!” Karina said excitedly, feeling the skin on the sole of her foot bunching as her toes curled tighter as she tugged at her own right foot with both hands. Karina suddenly held on more tightly still to her right foot while pushing into furball’s paws with her left foot.

“ooaoaoaoaoh!” Karina yelled as she pulled at her left foot, and screamed, “eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh,” as she pushed her left foot into furball’s paws.

“Ooaoaoaoaoh! Eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh! Ooaoaoaoaoh! Eoeoeoeoeoeoeeooahsh!” Karina yelled as she alternately pulled and pushed, pulled and pushed at and with her own two feet, furball giggling throughout.

“Pull and Push Karina, pull and push!” she encouraged. Karina responded by pulling at her right foot and pushing with her left, rocking slightly as she enjoyed her game.

“You love that game don’t you,” furball laughed. Karina smiled up at Furball.

“I do,” she replied, her eyes sparkling.

“Your toes curl so cutely when you are holding your foot with your hands Karina,” furball said.

“peter and I played together,” Karina said, “he has the same hands and feet as I do.”

“I know he does, and so do Jess, Sally and jenny,” furball replied.

“Am I related to them then?” Karina asked.

“Um, yes you are, sort of,” furball replied, looking very uncomfortable.

“I know Blackberry has hands like peter’s, was his mama, um, a human like peter’s mama?” Karina asked. Furball replied that she thought this was the case.

“So a bear, um, mated with a human?” Karina asked. furball wriggled uncomfortably, then sat Karina down on the tiles, got to her feet and left, leaving Karina very confused and upset. Karina looked into the pool, wondering why furball had reacted as she had to her questions. Karina heard the sound of naked feet padding towards her over the tiles. Looking round, she saw a tall female human walking towards her.

“Who are you?” Karina asked. the girl sat down beside Karina and introduced herself.

“I’m Jess,” she said, “I’m Blackberry’s mum.” Karina turned and grabbed Jess’s right foot in her hands.

“You are,” she said, “I can tell you’re his mum.”

“I thought I would tell you my story,” Jess replied, “so that you would know why you have hands and feet like you do.” Karina looked up into Jess’s face.

“You were a bear once, a bear in shape, if not in reality?” Karina asked. Jess nodded.

“I, um, messed things up,” Jess replied firmly.

“I don’t want to know any more,” Karina replied, “I know Blackberry spoke of being wild brought up, though I don’t know what that means.”

“I abandoned him,” Jess replied, “but that wasn’t the thing which lost me my ursine form.”

“You went against nature?” Karina asked.

“I did,” Jess replied, “I mated with a bear, and then tried to lose the cub before birth. That was a human choice. I am human, I made a choice that wasn’t natural. Now though, I have repented of that.”

“So blackberry, though he came from a mama bear, is part human too?” Karina asked.

“yes,” Jess replied, feeling her toes curl as Karina’s fingers massaged the ball and soft skin on the sole of her right foot.

“that’s good,” Karina said, “that explains why I look a bit like you then Jess,” Jess smiled:

“it does,” she replied.

“My hand likes the warmth of your foot Jess,” Karina said. Jess smiled as her toes curled tighter and tighter.

“My foot likes your touch too,” she said.

“your toes curl like mine!” Karina laughed, sitting down opposite Jess and pressing her small feet against hers.

“I wonder if our feet will stick?” Karina asked. Jess smiled and tugged at the heel of her right foot with her hands, finding it well and truly stuck to Karina’s.

“You might be newborn,” Jess said, “but you are huge Karina, I’m surprised Sita could give birth to you as easily as she did, your feet are enormous!”

“I’m big, I know that,” Karina replied, exploring the situation her left foot was in, from her toes, pressing into the sole of Jess’s foot, to her heel, pressed against Jess’s.

“Can I touch your feet Karina?” Jess asked. Karina panted:

“Yes Jess!” then grimaced with effort as she tugged at her left foot, pressing her toes deep into the skin on the sole of Jess’s right foot, while tugging at her heel with both hands, Jess unable to stop her toes from curling.

“eoeoeoeoeoeoah, eoeoeoeoeoeoah!” Karina yelled as she tugged and pulled at her foot. Jess mimicked Karina:

“eoeoeoeoeoeoah, eoeoeoeoeoeoah!” Jess yelled as she watched the toes of her free left foot as Karina pushed her smaller toes into the sole of her right in her efforts to free her left heel. Jess saw her toes curling with the intensity of Karina’s efforts, the harder the cub pushed with her toes, the tighter Jess’s toes curled.

“aoaoaoaow, this feels good!” Karina laughed, Jess helping the cub by working at prying her right foot free of the cub’s with her fingers, feeling the warmth between her foot and Karina’s.

“the more I pull the stronger the glue gets!” Karina gasped, wriggling and worrying at her foot with both hands, Jess’s toes curling tighter than ever.

“the glue is strong!” Jess agreed, “this is fun!” Karina tugged and Jess helped her to free her bare left foot. snarling and yelling, the cub and human worked together to free each other. Karina, her back to the pool, tugged hard at her left foot one final time, her effort so great that when she decided her foot was free, she nearly fell backwards into the pool, Jess grabbing her just in time, the human’s strong embrace cradling Karina, the cub soon sitting in Jess’s lap, Jess embracing her tightly.

“Your so soft, and so playful for such a young cub,” Jess said, “but age is no gauge of intelligence it seems.”

“I don’t know how old I am,” Karina replied, “I seem to know and have felt so much in my life. I know some of it was from within mama Sita’s body.”

“how long was Sita in labour?” Jess asked.

“For at least a day,” Karina replied, “I remember her sitting down, leaning over and rubbing her feet with her paws while she whimpered and whined.

“Was that before the time with thumper and Katelyn?” Jess asked.

“Yes,” Karina replied.

“So Blackberry’s play with Sita didn’t bring on labour, it just quickened it?” Jess asked.

“yes,” Karina replied, “I wanted to come into the world!” Jess laughed and rubbed Karina’s head with her hand, Karina purring contentedly.

“You are beautiful Karina,” Jess said, Karina laughing merrily.

“Can I play more hand and foot games with you Jess?” Karina asked.

“You can,” Jess replied, “I’ll show you a game Patch showed me if you like.”

“yes please,” Karina replied, “I like touch games.”

“It’s a game that needs imagination, which you have lots of,” Jess replied.

“Tell me about this game then!” Karina urged impatiently.

“well the first game is this, I draw circles on the sole of your foot with my fingers, and when I touch the heel pad of your foot, you curl your toes as hard as you can, and then hold them curled until I release my touch. If you keep your toes curled, you win, if you can’t hold your toes curled, you lose.”

“Okay,” Karina said, “so what’s the game which needs imagination?”

“it’s the drawing game I described before, but you have to curl your toes to match the size of the circles I draw at random. The touch on your heel pad means curl your toes and hold them curled, just like before.”

“Do I get to draw circles on your foot too?” Karina asked.

“I was hoping you’d draw on the soles of both my feet,” Jess replied.

“I will!” Karina replied, “but only if you promise to draw on the soles of both of my feet Jess?” Laughing, Jess promised she would.

“Where do you want to play that?” Karina asked.

“how about here?” Karina asked, “or in the soft play room where I know Sita works, for I’ve felt the matting under my feet too you know.” Jess giggled:

“I like that place,” she replied, “Karina, you know we played the stuck foot game a minute back? Well I was playing that game with big Patch, and I decided that when my heel started coming away from his I wanted a bit of sound, like the glue parting, so I got an egg box and scrunched it with my toes.”

“Would you show me what an egg box is?” Karina asked. Jess smiled and got to her feet, lifting Karina into her arms. Cradling her, she padded to the soft play room, picking up an old plastic egg box on the way. Sitting down in the soft play room, Jess settled Karina on the floor and gave her the box. Karina examined it, opening it.

“So what did your toes do to this box?” Karina asked. Jess showed her, first resting the heel of her left foot on the box and rocking back and fourth, then scrunching it with her toes.

“I got a little too carried away,” Jess said, “and the box got stuck on my toes!” she tore a hole in the box and deliberately worked her toes into it.

“My toes! My toes are stuck!” Jess squealed, tugging at the box trapping her toes with both hands.

“you’re curling your toes as you struggle to free them Jess, you’re holding onto the box!” Karina laughed.

“yes, that’s what I did then, and am doing now,” Jess replied, “Karina, could you help me free my toes? I can’t quite do it, they won’t come out of the box!” Karina got hands on and eased the box off of Jess’s toes, feeling the heat in the girl’s foot as she did so.

“you silly!” Karina laughed, “now, Jess, can we play the drawing and toe curling games?” Jess smiled, threw the box away and gave Karina her left foot.

“now you draw circles on the sole of my foot,” Jess said, “and I’ll curl my toes tighter and tighter as your circles get smaller, then I’ll hold my toes tightly curled, okay?” Karina nodded and drew circles with her fingers on the ball and soft skin on the arch of Jess’s left foot, stopping just at the top of her heel pad, while Jess slowly curled her toes tighter and tighter. Karina pushed at Jess’s curled toes with her fingers, Jess uncurling them, Karina exploring her toes with her fingers, then drawing circles on the sole of her foot again, Jess curling her toes once more.

“I like that,” Jess said, her eyes closed as she focused on the sensations from her foot.

“Play with my toes again Karina,” Jess said, “that felt great. Karina gently worked at Jess’s curled toes, helping her to uncurl them, then she massaged them, Jess wiggling, then curling her toes again as Karina started rubbing the sole of her foot.

“I like playing with your foot, it’s great!” Karina said.

“I like it too!” Jess said, bouncing about a bit. Karina drew her fingers down the sole of Jess’s foot, the young girl curling her toes tightly.

“This is wonderful!” Jess exclaimed.

“I like playing too,” Karina said. Jess smiled broadly at the cub.

“I used to have smaller feet when Patch taught me the foot and paw games,” Jess said.

“your feet are small enough for me to play with easily now,” Karina replied, “but no matter how big your feet get, you can still play like a cub.”

“I hope mine remain small enough to be playful,” Jess said.

“would you call Patch’s hind feet playful?” Karina asked, “he has bigger feet than you do.”

“True,” Jess replied, smiling as Karina took her right foot in her hands.

“I suppose I want my feet to remain small as I see small feet as a sign of childlike playfulness, and big feet as a sign of adulthood,” Jess replied.

“You’re not following your paws,” Karina replied, “mama Sita always told me to follow my paws, well hands in my case.”

“Has she told you that already?” Jess asked.

“Inside her she told me, she would rub her feet with her paws and tell me to follow my paws. did you know that when she rubbed her feet, she rubbed mine too?”

“That’s sweet that is,” Jess thought for a minute, “your right Karina,” Jess said, “no matter how big my feet get, I can still use them to and for play.”

“Well you can play,” Karina said, Jess curling her toes as Karina drew circles on the sole of her foot, the circles getting smaller and smaller, Jess’s toes curling tighter and tighter. Karina smiled as she rubbed the bunching sole of Jess’s foot, Jess snarling as she struggled to curl her toes tighter still.

“Relax those toes now,” Karina said, rubbing the ball of Jess’s foot, digging her fingers into the wrinkled skin. Jess relaxed her toes, feeling Karina’s fingers rubbing the stretching skin on the ball of her foot, then massaging her heel pad, Jess stretching her toes, then relaxing them.

“now would you like to get hands on with my feet and I’ll curl my toes?” Karina asked.

“would you play with my toes a bit more?” Jess asked. Karina blew on Jess’s toes, the young girl laughing, rolling onto her back, drawing up her feet and grabbing them with her hands.

“that’s so cute!” Karina laughed, Jess wriggling delightedly.

“Can you do the same?” Jess asked, looking between her feet at Karina. Karina lay back, drew up her feet and grabbed them with her hands, Jess laughing delightedly.

“now push your feet against your hands,” Karina said, “gently, gently Jess. Jess pushed her feet against her hands, feeling her fingers slip, then her feet thrust forwards, to touch Karina’s feet, their feet meeting at the top of an arch made by their legs.

“Now push!” Karina said, Jess pushing against Karina’s feet with all her might, while Karina pushed against Jess’s feet with all her strength.

“I should be stronger than you,” Jess said, “but I’m not, we’re matched.

“that is because you want to be matched with me,” Karina replied smiling. “you want to play like a cub, so you will play like a cub. play is wonderful.”

“And the restriction on my strength makes sure I can’t hurt you?” Jess asked, feeling her toes curling as Karina’s pressed against the soft skin just above the heel pads of her feet.

“yes,” Karina replied.

“I can’t move my feet, they’re stuck to yours Karina!” Jess laughed, Karina tried moving her own feet by sliding first her left, then her right down the soles of Jess’s feet, but she couldn’t do it.

“I’m stuck!” Karina replied laughing, “My feet are stuck Jess! The warmth has glued our feet together!”

“That’s lovely,” Jess said, feeling her feet settling comfortably, the slight perspiration on their pads, coupled with the right angles making their feet stay pressed together without effort from either.

“Can I touch your feet Karina?” Jess asked. Karina smiled, drew her feet back, and sat up, wiggling the toes of her left foot at Jess, the young girl sitting up and taking the offered foot in her hands, stroking Karina’s warm pads and curling toes.

“Your foot is very like mine, just a smaller version really,” Jess said. Karina, smiling, tightly curled her toes, Jess rubbing the bunching skin on the ball of the cub’s foot.

“it’s strange to think you are my granddaughter really,” Jess said.

“I am, sort of,” Karina replied smiling.

“You are beautiful Karina,” Jess said, Karina giggling as Jess drew circles on the heel of her left foot.

“That feels great,” Karina said, curling her toes with pleasure.

“You two look like you are enjoying yourselves,” Patch said. Jess looked round, Karina’s eyes widening with surprise.

“I didn’t notice him!” she squealed.

“Noone does,” Jess said, “Patch loves watching cubs.”

“but you’re not a cub!” Karina said.

“I am, or always will be where Patch is concerned,” Jess replied, “I’m his cub, and always will be his cub.”

“Do you mind that?” Karina asked. Jess smiled at Patch, who grinned broadly.

“I love it Karina,” Jess replied, “Patch was the one who looked after me when I was very young.”

“I probably would have been looking after you even now, if we hadn’t been separated,” Patch said. Jess looked at him, taking in his head, body, legs and huge paws and feet.

“He’s a handsome bear,” Jess thought, “and I love him more than he will know.”

“how much of our play did you see?” Karina asked.

“Everything,” Patch replied, “from the pool to the playroom.”

“That’s lovely,” Jess replied smiling, “I’m glad you saw that Patch.”

“I am too,” Patch replied.

“it’s great to see Karina playing with you Jess, and by the way, re the size of your feet and playfulness? Well look at the size of mine, then look at the video of my antics yesterday, and then tell me foot size has a bearing on playfulness.” Jess looked at Patch’s hind feet, they were huge, and she knew them very well indeed. Then she watched a video where Patch played with Hope’s cub Jewel, the cub clambering over Patch’s body as if he were a living climbing frame, Patch letting her tickle his toes and explore his paws and feet, just like he’d let Jess do when she was young.

“Ah, ok,” Jess said smiling, “I see now.”

“if you’re really worried, here are my feet, measure yours against them, and you will see foot size is no barrier to playfulness,” Patch said smiling.

“I played with Jenny too,” Jess said, “we got really stuck, our feet stuck for at least an hour.”

“Well there you go,” Patch replied, “jenny’s feet are smaller than yours, but you can still play with her.”

“We tickled each other’s toes too,” Jess said, “that was after we’d chased each other, crawling after each other, then claiming each other’s heels and then toes.”

“Sweet,” Patch replied smiling.

“You’ve been here for an hour now!” Sita yelled, padding carefully into the room, “you must be hungry Karina.”

“I’m hungry,” Karina replied, “but I wasn’t until you mentioned it mama.” Sita made to pick up Karina, but the cub crawled away, Sita chasing her half heartedly.

“I can’t see to chase her,” Sita mewed dispiritedly, Karina turning to her mother, crawling back to her and standing up on her hind feet by pulling herself up Sita’s right arm hand over hand. Sita felt Karina kiss her nose, the kiss bringing tears to her eyes.

“how can you stand on your feet yet?” Sita asked.

“My feet are a little warm from playing, and this floor makes them stick a bit, and if I dig my toes in a bit too,” Karina said, “I can balance easily.”

“you also have your tail to balance you,” Sita said.

“I do,” Karina replied, “but I’m gripping with my toes and pushing with my heels too.”

“She does look cute balancing on her hind feet,” Patch replied, “Karina’s swaying a bit, rocking on her heels a little, her tail balancing her.” Sita reached over with her free paw and touched Karina’s right foot, feeling her rocking on her feet a bit.

“Can you stand on tiptoe Karina?” Sita asked. Karina leant against Sita’s arm, lifting her heels off the floor, Sita reaching beneath her cub’s foot and tickling her heel pad, Karina laughing, losing her balance and treading on Sita’s paw.

“oooah, sorry mum,” she said, trying to remove her foot, but stepping back, her foot still on Sita’s paw. Sita, the weight of her cub resting on her paw a little, pressed her fingers into the sole of Karina’s foot, Karina lifting her weight off a little, so Sita could rub her foot.

“that feels lovely!” Karina said, dropping to all fours, Sita rubbing the heel, sole and toes of her right foot, Karina purring with pleasure and curling her toes as Sita’s paw rubbed them.

“I trod on your paw!” Karina said, “mum, I’m sorry for that.”

“My paw was in the wrong place,” Sita mewed, “but I liked rubbing the sole of your foot when you didn’t know I was going to do it.”

“I liked it too mama,” Karina mewed.

“You have thick heel pads,” Sita said, so when your foot landed on my paw it wasn’t so bad.”

“I like my feet rubbed mama,” Karina said, “would you rub my feet again?” Sita smiled, picked her cub up in her paws, sat down, then settled her in her lap. Karina smiled, bent her right leg, grabbed her foot in her hands, and curled her toes around the index fingers of her gripping hands, Sita getting paws on.

“that feels so cute!” Sita mewed.

“it feels good at my end too, and feel, I can push my foot against my hands!” Karina said, putting actions to her words, Sita feeling her cub pressing her foot against her hands.

“You have cute hands and feet,” Sita said to her cub, Karina wriggling delightedly.

“I love you touching my feet and hands mama,” she said, Sita blowing on Karina’s hands and right foot, Karina laughing as Sita’s breath tickled her toes.

“that’s lovely!” she said, “now, now I must get my foot free of my hands! Meoeoeoeoeoeoeeooaw!” Sita felt Karina pushing her foot hard against her restraining hands, the cub’s toes curling with her efforts. Three times Karina pushed, each time harder than the one before, her breath coming quickly, and cries becoming more insistent. It was the fourth effort that freed her foot. Every time she relaxed her pressure on her hands, Karina’s fingers gripped her foot hard, making her squeal with frustration and discomfort. The third effort made her fingers really punish her foot, Karina’s fingers gripping harder than ever, Karina snarling and squealing. Then with a yell, she pushed her foot hard against her hands, Sita feeling the dew of perspiration on her daughter cub’s heel pad as she pushed against her hands with her foot. Sita felt the bunching leg muscles, then Karina’s foot, with its curled toes and hot sole, then her fingers, gripping the heel and sole as hard as they could, the cub’s foot pressed hard into them. Sita was paws on when Karina’s fourth effort freed her foot. accompanied by screaming and pushing, Karina forced her foot into her fingers in one final effort to free her foot from her grasping fingers. Suddenly Karina’s fingers slipped and her foot flew free. Karina, sobbing with effort, complained that her foot hurt, and that she would like Sita to massage her sore foot. Sita did so, Karina sighing with contentment as her mother’s fingers worked over damp toes, sole and heel.

“That was hard!” Karina whimpered, “my fingers hated my foot! they gripped it hard mama! I thought I couldn’t free my foot! I had to try really hard!”

“I know,” Sita replied smiling, “I wish I could have seen your face, but getting paws on was just as good.”

“That was fun,” Karina said smiling.

“Your pads are soft,” Sita said, “I like them.” Karina smiled and kissed her mum’s nose.

“Can I touch your foot pads mama?” she asked. Sita sat down, and Karina took her left foot in her hands, exploring her sole pad and toes, Sita curling her toes with pleasure at her cub’s touch.

“I must get used to playing by touch,” Karina said, “as you can’t see me mama.” Sita pressed her foot into her cub’s hands, Karina tenderly embracing her mum’s foot, rubbing her pads, Sita feeling her toes curling tightly, wriggling slightly as Karina gently pressed her fingers into and rubbed the bunched skin at the base of Sita’s toes, where the ball of her own smaller foot would be. Sita, despite not having a ball on her foot, felt the same Karina did, her toes curling even tighter with pleasure, Sita whimpering with pleasure, despite her attempts to stay silent.

“You like that mum?” Karina asked. Sita smiled:

“I do little one,” she replied.

“Your pads are tougher than mine, but you are older,” Karina said, “the floor is hard on your feet so you will have tough pads, my feet haven’t touched the floor yet, so they are soft padded.”

“I understand that,” Sita mewed, “I wonder, if, if, no, it’s nothing.”

“If when you stand on tiptoe, and I tickle your heels like you did mine, you will laugh cubbishly like I did?” Karina asked. Sita grabbed Karina in her paws, drew her into a huge hug and kissed her nose.

“yes,” Sita mewed.

“I’ll do that one day,” Karina replied.

Jess crawled over to Karina and touched her hand.

“Can we play again?” she asked. Karina looked into Jess’s face.

“We can,” Karina replied, “but let me drink first.” Karina drank her fill from Sita’s milk supply, then she crawled over to Jess. Sitting down, Karina took Jess’s left foot in her hands and traced her pads and toes, Jess curling her toes, Karina pressing her fingers into the bunching skin on the ball of Jess’s foot, the pressure making Jess curl her toes even tighter.

“this feels great!” Jess laughed, “I love this Karina.”

“I thought you might,” Karina replied, “I like it, so I thought you might too.”

“Maybe jenny or Sally might like to play too,” Jess mused, “indeed, they have asked what it’s like to play with you.”

“Well they can come and play,” Karina replied, “I’m not stopping them. I’d like to explore their feet with my hands, I suppose they want to touch mine too?” Jess laughed:

“yes,” she replied.

“I do like foot and hand games,” Karina replied.

“I could teach you another game you can play on your own when there is noone about,” Jess replied, “it’s the single player stuck foot game.”

“that sounds a nice game to play,” Karina replied, “can you show me how to play that?”

“I will,” Jess replied, “and you can get hands on while I play it myself, so you can see and feel how it’s done. The single player stuck foot rules are these . You sit down with your legs out in front of you,” Jess replied, fitting actions to words, “you then bring both feet together, bending your legs inwards so the soles of your feet touch. Once your feet touch, heel to heel, ball of your foot to ball of your foot, and toes to toes, you then press your feet together while trying to pry them apart with your hands or paws. Like this.” she pressed her bare feet together, prying at her heels with her fingers, digging her fingers into the space where her short arches ended and heel pads began. Rocking back and fourth a bit, Jess fought to free her heels.

“So can I do what you’re doing now?” Karina asked. Jess smiled and replied that she could. Karina sat down and before Jess knew what was happening, Karina had pressed her feet together, and was soon fighting to free her own heels, copying Jess’s example.

“Now slowly let your heels come apart, pressing your toes and balls of your feet together as they do Karina,” Jess said, fight your hands with your feet! Make it difficult for yourself to free your feet.

“My heels are now free Jess,” Karina said after five minutes of wriggling, snarling and prying at her heels with her small hands, “now how do I free my toes?”

“Pull at your toes with your fingers, holding your heels apart, then stretch your toes as you work them free so the balls of your feet are the only things touching,” Jess replied, fitting actions to words. Karina did so.

“Now what?” Karina asked, rubbing her heels and toes with her fingers.

“Now pull the balls of your feet free,” Jess replied. With a jerk, Karina separated the balls of her feet easily.

“I loved that!” Karina exclaimed, exploring the soles of her feet with her hands, “can I do it again? And what is the ball of my foot?”

“You know what it is,” Jess laughed.

“No I don’t, not really,” Karina replied.

“it’s that bit of your foot where the arch of your foot ends, and your toes start. You haven’t got much of an arch at the moment, but, if you give me your left foot, then your right, I will show you where your heel pads, sole, ball of your foot and toes are.”

“Can I then show you where yours are?” Karina asked. Jess giggled:

“of course!, but first, you need to learn the parts of your foot.” Karina smiled and embraced Jess’s left foot in her hands, Jess curling her toes to embrace the cub’s index fingers, and then, not content with that, covering the cub’s hands with hers, pressing Karina’s hands against her foot with her hands, and bracing her foot against Karina’s grip, the cub’s hands now sandwiched between Jess’s two hands and the sole of her left foot.

“You’ve got me!” Karina laughed, blowing on the tops of Jess’s toes, Jess squealing with laughter and wiggling her toes to ease the tickle out of them.

“You rogue!” she laughed, as Karina, seeing the affect her breath had on Jess’s toes, pressed home her attack, Jess letting go of Karina’s hands, lifting her foot slightly to grab it in both her hands, Karina blowing on the ball, sole and heel of Jess’s left foot as it came within range, Jess shrieking with laughter while massaging the sole of her foot from toes to heels, Karina watching Jess’s toes wiggling, then curling more desperately with every passing minute.

“stop it Karina! Stop blowing on my foot!” Jess laughed. Karina stopped blowing on Jess’s foot and let the young girl rub the tickle from her heel, arch, ball of her foot and toes.

“that was lovely,” Jess said.

“that was fun!” Karina replied, “Jess, you didn’t mind me doing that did you?”

“No,” Jess replied, “it was wonderful play.”

“I liked that,” Jess said, re-enforcing the message to the cub.

“I’m glad,” Karina said, “Jess, she said, “you might be my grandmamma, but you have the hands and feet of a young human. You can really play well. Don’t worry about how big your hands or feet get.” Jess smiled broadly.

“Thanks Karina,” she said, reaching out to the cub. Karina, smiling broadly, scrambled into Jess’s lap, Jess’s arms enfolding her in a huge hug, her toes curling with emotion as she tightly hugged Karina.

“you’re as good at communicating with your hands and feet as mama Sita is,” Karina said.

“Patch and I couldn’t speak each other’s languages for years,” Jess replied, “we communicated by touch alone.”

“I can tell,” Karina replied, wriggling further into Jess’s hug.

“How do my hands and feet feel to you?” Jess asked.

“They are soft, your fingers are playful, and toes curl easily Jess,” Karina replied smiling, “you prefer your feet touched I think, others playing with your toes that is. You can play with your hands, but you feel unsure about it. Jess, when you handle my feet, pres your fingers into my pads with the commitment I know you feel to your play. Don’t be shy to play like a cub with your hands as well as with your feet.” Jess smiled and kissed Karina’s nose.

“I’ve always been worried if I’m doing as good a job with my hands as others do when they play with my toes or soothe me. I remember when I was delivering ursine Peter, Patch’s touch on my feet as I strained and strained. That was a hard struggle.”

“would you tell me about it?” Karina asked.

“I will,” Jess replied.

“if you don’t want to, I understand,” Karina replied.

“I want to,” Jess said, “but don’t be surprised if I re-enact bits of it. That’s how I know the tale, from how it felt at my end.”

“Do you have any contact with ursine peter now?” Karina asked.

“no,” Jess replied, “but I didn’t want contact, didn’t feel I deserved contact.”

“But maybe you do,” a deep voice said, “maybe now you can bring yourself to hug your cub?” Jess looked up, seeing a brown bear standing in the doorway of the lie up. He was fully grown, and she’d never touched him properly in her life. Jess crawled to the bear, showing humility and diffidence. The bear responded by kissing the top of her head and pushing her off her hands and knees onto her back, then kissing her face, then hands, and feet.

“You’re my cub!” Jess sniffed.

“I am,” Ursine peter said, “and I want you to tell Karina about my birth, and to show her too. You should not feel bad about my birth, for you went through it with commitment and love, having repented of your mistake. Love the birth Jess, celebrate your redemption and acceptance into this community. Celebrate the fight to open the door to the life where now you can hug and play with your granddaughter cub.”

“Can I crawl through the woods again?” Jess asked, “I’ll do it all clothed this time though, as I’m just remembering the thing.”

“You can,” Patch said, padding up to Jess, “now it is time for you to embrace the birth of ursine peter.”

“I will do this now,” Jess replied, “and after, I will kiss Ursine Peter’s nose and paws, and we can be at peace.”

“I want to see you playing with Karina like she is your cub,” ursine Peter said, “I think Sita wouldn’t mind an extra pair of hands to help her bring up Karina.”

“maybe to help her play with Karina,” Sita mewed, padding up to Jess and kissing the girl’s nose.

“You’ll do well with play,” Jess said.

“I can’t play like that!” Sita replied, “I can’t teach Karina about her hands and feet like you can.”

“We’ll work together Sita,” Jess replied smiling.

“So how do I go about remembering everything?” Jess asked.

“Just close your eyes Jess,” Patch replied, “you won’t leave this room, but you’ll feel everything you did during Ursine peter’s birth.” Jess closed her eyes, feeling her hands and feet relaxing as she got into the mood to begin her tale.

“Just before you start, don’t be surprised if you crawl about, sit back on your heels and scream during the telling of your story Jess,” Patch said. Jess smiled:

“I won’t,” she replied, then she began her tale.

“I remember gasping with the intensity of feeling inside me. I, a human, could feel something kicking, something alive in me that was not human, but was part of me. Drawing up my bare feet, I sat with my hands on my belly.

“Is it happening to me? Is my wish coming true?” I asked myself. I knew how to push, and how to labour, knew now though that I’d be labouring as a human, though was sure the bears could help me, if they knew I was about to have a cub. Getting to my feet, I padded from the room, my cub kicking energetically inside me. I met Patch in the corridor, the huge grey bear embracing me and carrying me in his forepaws like a mama would her cub. I felt safe in Patch’s paws, even though the bear was walking on his hind feet. During the walk back to the wood I experienced the first real contraction. Wailing, I drew up my legs and curled my toes. Panting, I worked my way through the pain, Patch stopping to let me labour.

“It’s done for now,” I panted, my body soaked in sweat. Patch kissed my forehead and padded quickly to the wood. I crawled before Patch in the wood, the male bear conscious of my pain, and watching intently. Patch gently stroked the sole of my right foot as I crawled, me curling my toes in response.

“Good luck mama,” Patch said. Patch kissed the bunched skin on the sole of my right foot, Me groaning with an impending contraction.

“That’s it mama, breathe through the pain,” Patch said softly. I wriggled and crawled faster.

“I need, need to get to Kamchatka’s lie up to complete my duty,” I said, “I want to deliver the cub into her paws! Then, then my duty will be done. Patch followed me as I crawled quickly,. Once in the house, I lay down, and Patch undressed me, for I could not do it myself. Then, with my labour continuing a pace now, Patch carried me to Kamchatka’s lie up, where the mama bear waited. I crawled into the lie up and sat back on my heels, pushing down hard into my bottom with every contraction.

“Ow! Ooowww! Yowowowouch!” I screamed banging the floor with my clenched fists and curling my toes tightly with every raging pain. Kamchatka watched with gentle concern as I laboured, me rolling onto my back and kicking the air with my feet, panting and roaring.

“Things are near now,” Kamchatka said.

“owwwowwoowwwwoowww! Owowowowowowowowowwowowowo!” I squealed, my voice getting louder and louder. Then I caught my breath and strained hard:

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaooow, eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww!” I squealed bearing down hard, my toes curled, teeth and fists clenched, “aowh’wh’wh’wh’ow! Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww!” Then I was wriggling hard, then rocking, then screaming lustily. Suddenly, spinning onto all fours, I braced myself, put my head down and strained hard, squealing and grunting. Kamchatka saw my effort, my soaked body, curled toes, closed eyes, gripping fingers and clenched teeth.

“Push mama,” Kamchatka said softly, rubbing the sweat soaked bunched sole of my left foot. I bore down hard twice, roaring and screaming. Then I panted hard, whimpering as the cub’s head and forepaws emerged.

“Ow mama ow! Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww!” I squealed, for I was trying to relax to allow the cub to stretch my body to how it wanted things to be.

“Now push hard Jess, push, push push push push!” Kamchatka encouraged, I reacting to her encouragement by bearing down long and hard.

“Ooooooeeeeeeeeeooooowwwww! aowh’wh’wh’wh’ow! Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww!” I wailed as I bore down.

“Now pant, pant pant pant,” Kamchatka said, I panting and gasping as my cub emerged.

“I want to push again!” I screamed, fitting action to words with a final roaring effort, squeezing down into my bottom, then into the soles of my bare feet, imagining pushing the cub down through the soles of my feet.

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww! aowh’wh’wh’wh’ow! Eeeeeeeeeeeeoaoooww!” I screamed.

“That’s it mama,” Kamchatka said, catching the cub, which in truth she’d had hold of since it emerged enough to allow her to get hold of it. I turned and saw the cub I’d given birth to.” Jess had told her tale, being narrator and participant, Patch touching her feet when she spoke of him undressing her. when all was done, she opened her eyes, Ursine Peter looking into her face.

“You are the cub I gave birth to,” Jess panted. Ursine peter kissed her nose, then Jess, sitting up, Hugged him tightly.

“Thank you for showing me that,” the bear said, Jess sobbing into his fur, ursine peter gentle with Jess.

“now play with your Grandcub,” Blackberry said, “play with her with the playfulness of a cub. You are a cub, play with my cub, teach her to play, give her your hands and feet, and take her hands and feet in your hands and feet.”

“I will Blackberry,” Jess replied, looking at the bear whom she’d given birth to, then let run wild.

“come here Jess,” blackberry said softly. Jess crawled to her son cub, and he kissed the top of her head.

“You had a cub before your time didn’t you,” he said, “I know that now, and so do you.”

“I did, and I’m sorry I treated you like I did,” Jess replied.

“now please, be a cub, play with your Grandcub, play with her, let her touch your hands and feet, and most of all your spirit.” Jess bowed her head, Blackberry kissing her ear.

“Your feet are damp Jess,” Karina said, gently handling Jess’s left foot with her hands. Jess could feel her toes curling at the cub’s touch.

“yes Karina, I really fought and wriggled,” Jess replied.

“You sat back on your heels too Jess!” Karina replied, “like this!” she added, turning rear onto Jess and sitting back on her heels.

“I did,” Jess replied, “I can feel the indentations my heels made in my backside even now.”

“Can you?” Karina asked.

“today years later, I can still feel the indentations on the soles of my feet where I gripped them with my fingers,” Jess replied, “and that was before the real efforts started.”

“Can I rub the indentations out of your heels and toes?” Karina asked.

“I don’t know if I want that,” Jess replied.

“Okay,” Karina replied, “as long as it won’t stop you playing.”

“it won’t,” Jess replied smiling.

“when you laboured during your retelling of ursine Peter’s birth,” blackberry said, “Jess, you looked like a cub giving birth to a cub.”

“I felt like that,” Jess replied, “I screamed and cried like a child, squealing and yelling. I can’t watch Snowdrop giving birth to little Kamchatka without my toes curling and breath coming in gasps. She sounds like I knew I had. Indeed Blackberry, it was only my ursine form that stopped me sounding like a child when I gave birth to you. I felt like a child, and I acted like one, leaving a toy I didn’t want.”

“I know that now,” Blackberry replied.

“I remember your birth blackberry,” Jess said, “I screamed and kicked, cried and yelled like the child I was.

“I know,” blackberry replied, “I saw you giving birth to me on the video, you looked like a cub in labour. I thought it was just my imagination, me knowing how young you were, but now I know it wasn’t imagination at all. Change a bear for a human, and you would have been a twelve year old girl giving birth to a baby.” Jess looked into blackberry’s face.

“yes Blackberry,” she said, “and for that I’m very sorry.”

“You have grown up a lot now,” Blackberry replied, “and I cannot hold the things against you as a near adult as I did against the child, but then, why should I hold these things against a child, a child who knew no better? Jess,” blackberry asked, his eyes intense, burning into hers, “do you regret my birth?” Jess looked into her son cub’s eyes, then she crawled to him, and took his paw in her hands.

“blackberry,” she replied, “my dear cub, I don’t regret your birth. I always loved you, and was proud when you became Tornassuk, and then the medical bear you now are. I don’t regret your birth, and I wish I could watch my labour video. What I regret is not having the strength to hold you in my paws like Snowdrop had when she gave birth to little Kamchatka when she was very young.”

“thank you Jess,” Blackberry replied, tears welling in his eyes.

“come here blackberry,” Jess said, embracing her cub with the love she truly felt for him, Blackberry relaxing into Jess’s hug.

“I love you my cub,” Jess whispered into Blackberrys ear, blackberry weeping into her shoulder.

“I learnt of, and watched your story,” blackberry replied, “at first I felt anger towards you Jess, but then, once I learnt what happened, My anger turned to sorrow for the little girl who didn’t know where to put her paws. I saw you growing up as you left the community, realising what you’d missed and making an adult decision to try to fix what you’d broken. I began to love the human inside the bear suit. Now, now I know. Come Jess, let’s watch my birth video together.” Blackberry and Jess padded to blackberry’s lie up, where they sat down on his sofa, the video ready to run.

“The video started one early morning when contractions woke the she bear from restless sleep. Jess felt uncomfortable, the pains coming in waves and lasting for a minute or so. She wasn’t screaming yet, only panting and clenching her teeth, but she knew things would get a lot worse. She wondered whether to wake Skirnir, but decided against it. Getting up, she paced up and down the corridor, her paws feeling leaden and every breath seeming to rasp her whole body. Jess knew when contractions got worse, they’d increase quickly. Every contraction she felt building in her had her thinking it would be the first big one. She knew that when the first big contraction hit, she’d be a screaming wreck. Jess paced for an hour, and then felt a change, almost a shift inside her. Gasping, she returned to Skirnir’s side and woke him.

“Cub’s coming, it’s coming,” she panted, lying on her back on the floor. Skirnir woke to find his mate lying on her back whimpering and panting while holding her hind feet with her forepaws.

“Just do what Ekaterina suggested, let things take their course,” Skirnir said, Jess puffing and blowing.

“Water’s haven’t broken yet,” she panted, “but something’s got to give! It must give soon! Pressure’s really building up! Ouououoch! Wowowowowoah!” Jess grunted and wriggled, then squealed and kicked as her water broke. Skirnir saw a rush of fluid, and then heard Jess screaming into her forepaws as the first real contractions hit her.

“Just let things flow, let them take their course Jess,” Skirnir said to the panting, whimpering and screaming female bear. Jess rolled onto her chest and crawled round the lie up, roaring with every contraction, Skirnir massaging the pads of her hind feet whenever he could reach them. Jess’s pads were wet with sweat beneath Skirnir’s touch; her toes curled so tightly with every contraction he was worried Jess’s claws would puncture her own pads. Jess suddenly stopped after fifteen minutes of crawling and roaring, sat back on her heels and gave vent to a scream the like of which Skirnir had never heard before. It was a long drawn out howl while Jess bounced on her heels. Then squealing, Jess collapsed onto her side, pedalling with all four paws. Jess’s pedalling got faster and faster, Jess growling, roaring and squealing, her toes curling and relaxing constantly with the increasing severity and frequency of contractions.

“It’s stretching me!” Jess screamed, “It’s stretching me! I can feel it coming! Ow, ow, ow, ow! Ooooooooooowwwwwwwww!” Skirnir watched his mate’s physical struggle, feeling helpless. Then, after ten minutes, Jess stopped pedalling the air with her paws, rolled onto her back, drew her hind feet up, grabbed them with her forepaws and groaned loud and long, and then she was up on her feet, bouncing on her toes, whimpering and squealing. Then squatting, head down, Jess began screaming and stamping her paws from time to time.

“Things are moving down, it’s stretching me more than ever!” Jess yelled, “I mustn’t push, mustn’t push!” Screaming and roaring Jess endured two heavy contractions without actively pushing, but then, as the cub’s forepaws emerged; she gave up the fight not to push. Taking a deep breath, she bore down hard into the soles of her hind feet, groaning long and low with effort. Skirnir was so fascinated by what was happening beneath Jess’s tail, he forgot to tell her what was going on. Jess wriggled and pushed, strained and wriggled, groaning, screaming and growling. Skirnir could see her effort; see how much pressure she was putting on one enormous cub!

“The cub’s nearly here!” Skirnir said when the cub’s hind quarters were nearly out. He caught the cub as Jess strained hard twice more, her screams rattling the walls. With one final straine, the cub was born, and what an enormous cub this was! Jess collapsed soon after delivering the cub, lying on the floor, crying and spent in strength and spirit.

“Your cub’s healthy and lively!” Skirnir shouted. He had to shout, for the cub was complaining loudly.

“Get off me, get off me!” It yelled. Skirnir cleaned the cub up, putting him beside his mother. Jess looked at the cub, and instantly fell in love with him.

“What a handsome cub,” Jess said weakly, “did I give birth to him unaided?” Skirnir said she had.

“That’s amazing,” Jess said softly, reaching out to embrace her cub. The huge cub snuggled up to his mother, Jess finally realising the feat she’d achieved.

“You’re lovely,” she said, rolling onto her side and feeding her cub for the first time. The cub drank thirstily, his paws working overtime to kneed milk from Jess’s supply.”

“you were huge!” Jess said softly.

“I was,” blackberry replied, “Jess, mama, what do you see in that video?”

“Now I see a cub giving birth to her own cub when she was too young,” Jess replied, “and Blackberry, please don’t call me mama, I don’t deserve it, even if you have forgiven me. to call me mama after what I did devalues the sanctity of that word.”

“I know you loved me,” Blackberry said, “you can see it in the video.”

“I loved you, but I didn’t know how to care for you,” Jess replied, “if I could give birth to you all over again, I’d care for you better now.”

“I know,” Blackberry replied softly, “what do you see when you watch that video?”

“As you said, change the she bear for a girl, change the ursine moans and screams for those of a young girl in labour, and you’ll have the true labouring mother,” Jess replied.

“Do you relive that time?” Blackberry asked.

“I do, and once I even screamed and kicked, cried and yelled in agony as I remembered your birth, my toes curled, my fists bunched, and my voice was hoarse before I had finished, and I cried myself to sleep.” Blackberry kissed the top of Jess’s head.

“now don’t regret your labour,” blackberry said, “for I forgive you mama.” Jess buried her face in Blackberry’s chest, the black bear hugging her tenderly.

“I’m ready to play like the cub I am,” Jess said after a long time of silence.

“I think you are,” Blackberry replied, “Jess, explore your world as if you don’t know it, explore with your hands, and with your feet. You know what I mean.”

“I will blackberry,” Jess replied, “Blackberry,” she said suddenly, “would you play with me? Can I play with you?” blackberry smiled:

“Foot and paw games?” he asked.

“yes,” Jess replied, “please Blackberry.”

“What do you want me to do?” blackberry asked.

“Remove my adult feet and hands, and make my pads cub like again? Please?” Jess asked.

“Do you need props to remove? Socks on your feet? Gloves on your hands?” Blackberry asked.

“I might need socks on my feet,” Jess replied, “tight fitting socks, maybe a protective sock, like one used for swimming?” blackberry knew the sort she meant, he kept them for paws and also for human feet to protect dressings while in water. Blackberry got the socks, and rolled them onto Jess’s feet, the socks clinging tightly to Jess’s feet, Jess feeling her toes curling, feeling the socks moving as one with her toes. Jess explored the socks with her hands, the socks were clear, so she could see her toes, Blackberry Watching her toes curling, the skin on the soles of her feet bunching, the socks bunching as one with the skin beneath.

“I want you to tear my gloves and socks off,” Jess replied, “I want you to tear off my gloves and dig down into the pads and toes of both my feet to find my cub hands and feet,” Jess said.

“I’ll help you get your gloves off, then I’ll partially remove one of your socks,” Blackberry said, “I’ll make you want to tear your socks off yourself. Or rather Karina will. You want to play with a cub like the cub you are? Then she will have to show you that you want to be that cub.” Karina crawled in, Jess feeling weakened by the pressures on her hands and feet from the gloves and socks. Walking round a bit, Jess felt her feet settling into the socks, the skin seeming to bind to her own skin as the air was forced out of the socks by her walking on the soles of her feet. Suddenly Jess pulled the gloves off her hands, sat down and scrabbled at the rubber socks on her feet, her toes curling and stretching, her fingers scrabbling at the sole of her right foot, then her left, Jess’s breath coming in grunts as she tried to free her feet. Jess suddenly realised the socks were digital, each toe enclosed in a clear rubber protective cover. Whimpering with exasperation, she curled her toes, feeling the socks snug on her feet. Jess sat on the tiles, her feet squeaking on the tiles as she pulled her left foot towards her and grabbed her foot in her hands, squeezing the sole, feeling her toes curling tighter and tighter.

“I want to free my feet!” Jess yelled, “but, but,” she scrabbled at the heel of her left foot with her right hand, her fingers slipping off the protective sock, “I can’t free my foot!”

“Can I help?” Karina asked. Jess, exhausted, held out her left foot to the cub. Karina explored Jess’s foot, Jess’s toes curling despite the thin barrier between her skin and the cub’s.

“if I get this sock off,” Karina said, “could you find the strength to pull the other one off if I rub the sole of your foot with my fingers Jess?” Jess grabbed Karina in her hands and drew her onto her lap, holding her tightly.

“I could!” she replied, hugging her, “I could do it Karina. I will probably end up squealing and yelling as the socks come off my feet, and that might be real too, as it compresses my heels and toes, the truth is, I hate compressed socks on my feet! My imagination isn’t that good, and that’s why I used the egg box, that’s why I got my toes caught by the egg box, that’s why now, I have my feet in these socks, as I need a prop to pull off my foot to symbolise the removal of my adult feet!”

“Okay,” Karina replied, “but you used to have good imagination didn’t you.”

“I did,” Jess replied, “now though, now I need it rekindled.” Karina scrambled off of Jess’s lap and moved to the girl’s left foot, smiling she explored Jess’s sock covered foot, from heel to toes she explored, Jess panting as Karina’s fingers explored her foot with care, first her toes, then the ball of her foot, then her sole, Jess whimpering as her toes curled tighter and tighter, then her heel, Jess’s fists bunching as her toes curled even tighter, Karina’s fingers rubbing the sole of her foot.

“Pull that sock off!” Jess squealed, Karina feeling her way up Jess’s leg to the top of the sock, rolling it down to her heel, then, with Jess whimpering and moaning with discomfort as she felt the sock stick on her heel, her toes curling to relieve the pressure, Karina pulled the sock over Jess’s heel, stopping just below her heel pad, the sock pressing on Jess’s arch, Jess relaxing her toes, the bunched sock pressing unbearably against the arch of her foot. Jess, eyes half closed, saw the sock bunched on her foot. snarling, she tore at the sock, rolling it towards her toes, her toes curled with effort, while Karina rubbed the heel pad of the foot she worked on.

“I can’t get the sock off my toes, it’s squeezing my toes! Jess squealed.

“uncurl your toes Jess,” Karina said gently, rubbing the arch of her left foot, Jess, taking a deep breath, uncurled her toes as far as she could, snatching the sock off her toes, grunting as she pulled it off her toes and throwing it away.

“now for the sock on my right foot!” Jess whimpered, but I made such a fuss, I’ll bet that’s stuck firm now!” Karina explored Jess’s right foot, the girl withdrawing it, grabbing it in her hands and screaming, her toes tightly curled.

“hooaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaooaw!” she roared.

“it’s okay Jess,” Karina said, stroking the now bare heel pad of Jess’s left foot, Jess curling her toes, rocking back and fourth and screaming lustily as she held onto her trapped right foot with both hands.

“if I rub your left foot in my hands, can you free your right yourself?” Karina asked, “or would you like me to help?” Jess felt real fear. She knew she’d inflicted this on herself. She remembered the time when it had started, in school one day when she had injured her foot and had to go swimming. She’d worn these socks, and had fought for half an hour to free her feet from them at the end of the lesson, the socks seemingly stuck to her feet. She’d remembered her fear of them, but hadn’t remembered how intense it was, until now. now she was scared she’d never get the sock off, while also wanting a fight to free her foot. the conflicting emotions causing her to sit gripping her right foot in her hands and screaming every time she pushed her foot against her hands, and her fingers gripped the enclosed foot.

“huuouououououuuuumph, eheheheheoeoeoeoeoeoaoaoaow!” she yelled, scrabbling at the sole of her right foot with her fingers, her toes curling and uncurling as her fight ebbed and flowed. Karina watched Jess scrabbling at the sole of her foot with her fingers, her toes flexing as she scrabbled with her fingers while she whimpered and struggled, then moaning, she’d suddenly grip her foot in both hands, close her eyes and, while squealing lustily, press her foot into her gripping hands, curling her toes as tightly as she could curl them and worrying at her foot, pulling and pushing madly at her foot, which she held tightly in her hands, the effort going nowhere near freeing herself. Once the spasm had passed, Jess recommenced her scrabbling and whimpering efforts, her toes flexing once more. Each scrabbling effort lasted about thirty seconds, the gripping, toe curling phase lasting for about a minute, accompanied by a scream of anger and fear.

“Can I help?” Karina asked, after ten cycles of this scrabbling and gripping, in which Jess’s cries had become more and more desperate, her scream of anger and fear as her fingers gripped her foot tugging at Karina’s heart.

“I can’t free my foot!” Jess whimpered.

“But this isn’t play any more,” Karina said, “you’re really frightened Jess!”

“it’s half play, half fear,” Jess replied panting, “I’m trying to get back into cub mode, I know I’m’ safe, I know I can get this sock off if I really wanted, but I don’t really want yet! Not enough to pull the sock off! Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Hooooaoaoaoaoaow!” Jess yelled, her fingers gripping again, Karina stroking the sole of her freed left foot, feeling her hot pads, watching her flexing toes. Karina was stroking the toes of Jess’s left foot, when Jess curled the toes of her right foot as her fingers gripped, though this time, instead of just curling the toes of her right foot, she curled those of her left also, trapping Karina’s fingers, Karina feeling Jess’s strength in the grip of her toes on her fingers.

“Oaoaoaoaow! Eeeeoeoeoeoaow! My foot’s stuck!” Jess yelled.

“let me help you, please!” Karina pleaded, “I can’t help you if you don’t let go of your foot Jess!”

“but I can’t, I can’t let go of it!” Jess whimpered. Karina kissed the toes of Jess’s left foot, Jess wriggling and rocking back and fourth. Panting hard with fear, Jess gave Karina her right foot, whimpering as the cub explored it.

“Your foot’s well stuck isn’t it,” Karina said, stroking the arch of Jess’s right foot. Jess felt her toes curling at Karina’s touch:

“yes, yes!” Jess whimpered, “Just get my foot a little free,” she said, then hold my left foot as I tear and pull at my right, you know where to get the sock to make me want to fight, you found that place last time!”

“I know the place,” Karina said, “so I get the sock down to where it presses on the heel of your foot, then I let you tear at it, while stroking your left foot to soothe you?” Karina asked.

“yes!” Jess whimpered. Karina pulled the sock down over Jess’s heel, feeling the human tensing as the sock caught on her heel. Jess snatched her right foot away, grabbed it in her hands and held on tight, whimpering and rocking from side to side, the toes of both feet curled, her face contorted with fear and effort. Karina touched the bare toes of Jess’s left foot with her left hand, Jess’s toes relaxing, then curling as she wriggled, her fingers working furiously to roll the sock off her hot right foot, the perspiration making the sock stick at every effort, her toes, curled in concentration, not helping. Whimpering, Jess fought with the sock on her right foot, squealing:

“I want to get this adult foot off! But it’s not coming off! Eeoeoeoeoeoeoeoeoeoeoeoaow!” Karina held onto and rubbed the sole of Jess’s left foot, feeling it bounce and watching her toes curling and stretching with Jess’s effort, the toes of her left foot eloquent of the struggle her hands had to free her trapped right.

“I’ve got the sock as far as my toes, but they won’t uncurl enough to let me pull it off!” Jess wailed. Karina stroked the ball of Jess’s left foot, Jess sobbing with exhaustion as she relaxed, letting go of her right foot, her hands falling to her sides, Karina waiting for Jess’s right foot to come near her. as soon as Jess’s heel landed on the floor, Karina grabbed the bunched sock and pulled it off Jess’s toes. Jess reacted by wriggling, squealing and drawing her feet up to her, grabbing them in her hands.

“Oaoaoaoaoaow, umph, my feet hurt!” Jess whimpered, sitting up and rubbing the sole of her right foot with the fingers of both hands, Karina dropping the sock then attending to her friend’s left foot, soothing her hot tired toes and cooling her heel with her breath.

“thanks,” Jess gasped, “the truth is, I’d forgotten my fear of those socks, until I had them on my feet that was, then it came flooding back. That was an experience, fear without real fear, and it made me fight, it made me get back to my cub self, and ask another to free me through play.”

“that was intense,” Blackberry said.

“yes it was,” Jess replied, “Blackberry, do you know what caused the fear of those socks? I was in school and going for a swimming lesson. I had injured my foot, and it was nearly better when they made me wear the socks. After the lesson, I couldn’t free my feet from the socks, and spent half an hour trying, in the end, I had to go home with them on, and Patch helped me pull them off, much as Karina did today. I forgot my fear, until today that was, when I had already put the socks on my feet and walked in them. though I fought to pulling the socks off, I enjoyed the fear, and the struggle.”

“I remember that,” Patch said, lifting his head from his paws, having slipped in to the lie up after blackberry and Jess, and seen everything.

“The struggle you and I had to take the socks off my feet all those years ago was similar to today Jess,” Patch said, “I remember you holding your left foot in your hands, just as you did your right today. It took ages for me to persuade you to let me help you free your left foot.”

“I remember that,” Jess replied, smiling at the memory of her friend’s gentle touch.

“You looked so cubbish holding your foot like that,” Patch replied, “it was just like that time years ago.”

“I think I can play properly now,” Jess said, rubbing the toes of her left foot with the fingers of her right hand while Karina worked on her right foot with fierce concentration, rubbing Jess’s toes, arch and heel with her fingers, Jess smiling down at her.

“Play like you were meant to Jess,” Patch said, “if you need to put on socks so you can remove those socks to help you remove your adult feet before entering a playroom, we have plenty where those came from. Though in time, I don’t think you’ll need those.”

“Jess really struggled hard Patch,” Karina said.

“I saw,” Patch replied.

“that felt great,” Jess said, “Karina helping me free my feet from those socks felt wonderful.”

“I know you have a propensity for getting your feet stuck in things, from egg boxes to socks,” Patch replied, “you even got your foot stuck in a yoghurt pot once, but that was when you were very young Jess.”

“I remember something like that,” Jess said, “I fought to free my foot, it was a large pot, one of those pint ones wasn’t it?” Jess took her right foot in her hands, massaging her heel, and the sensitive inner edge of her foot.

“yes it was, and you got your foot stuck right up to your heel, curling your toes inside the pot to wedge the lip onto your heel pad,” Patch replied smiling, “It was a fight to free your foot, you pushing with your toes to uncurl them while wiggling and tugging at your foot as I held onto the pot, letting you make the effort so you didn’t hurt your foot.

“I remember pushing at the bottom of the carton with my toes and pulling with my hands, my fingers gripping my heel as best they could, feeling my heel slip free after pushing fiercely with my toes, then my foot slipping free, and then gathering my foot to me as if it was a precious object and rubbing the sole and toes, while you crushed the pot so I couldn’t get my foot into it again,” Jess replied, feeling her toes curling as she remembered their entrapment. Patch grinned at the memory.

“You crawled to me with the pot wedged tightly onto your right foot,” Patch said.

“I did, I remember now,” Jess replied, “I remember pushing hard into the pot with my foot, feeling my heel slip inside the pot and wedge itself there. I’d distorted the pot to get my heel in there, curling my toes to squeeze my foot in. Of course you had to help me get free Patch.”

“That sounds silly, but cute too,” Karina said smiling.”

“it was silly, and very cute,” Patch replied.

“it took me ages to pull my foot out!” Jess said, I had to pull a bit, push with my toes, wiggle the pot, then push with my toes, my heel scraping over the lip of the pot, then coming free, my foot slipping out of the pot with a rush.”

“it did,” Patch replied smiling.

“So this pot had a wide top with a narrower middle and base?” Blackberry asked, looking thoughtful, “a yoghurt pot you say?” Jess replied:

“yes,” Blackberry padded over to a fridge, pulled out a drawer and extracted a transparent pot Jess knew well.

“that’s the one!” Jess exclaimed, “of course, my foot was smaller back then, I was six or seven when it happened, now I’m fifteen, but, well, the struggle is fresh in my mind, as if it happened yesterday.”

“I can imagine the scene,” blackberry replied smiling.

“it was funny, and quite a fight too,” Jess replied. Blackberry opened up the yoghurt pot and grabbed a spoon, finishing the large pot in a matter of minutes. Washing it out, he handed it to Jess.

“Egg Boxes,” he said grinning, Jess laughing.

“I know t’is silly to put my feet in things,” Jess said, “but,,,” she slipped the pot over her right foot, feeling the sides of the pot compress her toes, curling her toes as far as she could and pushing her foot harder into the pot, she got the pot over her heel. Relaxing her toes a bit, the rim of the pot was forced onto the back of her heel staying tightly on her foot, her toes remaining curled slightly, the back of her heel and the pad jammed against the slight lip on the edge, and the inside wall of the pot, her toes jammed against the bottom of the pot.

“You’re stuck again Jess,” Patch observed.

“I am, I am!” Jess replied, crawling round with the pot stuck firmly on her foot, then, turning onto her back, she sat up and tugged at the pot, everyone seeing she was unable to free it.

“Can I help you get that off your foot Jess?” Karina asked. Jess stopped crawling, feeling Karina crawling up behind her, the cub’s breath, then her left hand landing on the ball and toes of her bare left foot.

“yes please Karina,” Jess replied, stretching her trapped toes as far as they could go, Karina watching as Jess’s efforts distorted the sides of the pot, her heel jamming further down into the top of the pot, wedging her foot more firmly. Karina sat down beside Jess and balanced the girl’s right ankle on her own left leg, so Jess’s foot hung in space. Jess felt Karina’s fingers exploring the pot, then she felt pressure as Karina lifted the pot slightly.

“Wiggle your toes and crawl forwards,” Karina said, Jess trying, feeling her heel jam against the lip of the pot, grunting, Jess pulled harder, Karina seeing the toes of her free foot curling with effort.

“I’ll have to lift a bit more,” Karina said, lifting the pot and sliding it down Jess’s heel a bit, the lip scraping across Jess’s heel pad, making Jess clench her teeth.

“Oooooaw!” Jess gasped.

“now wiggle your toes and pull hard!” Karina encouraged, Jess wiggling her toes madly and pulling, feeling the pot slide down the sole of her foot, then get caught by her wiggling toes. snarling, Jess curled her toes tightly, feeling the pot gripped by her toes.

“the pot’s not coming off my toes!” Jess squealed.

“you’ve curled your toes again,” Karina said, looking through the transparent side of the pot, “you’re holding onto it with your toes!”

Jess relaxed her grip and her toes slipped free, Karina dropping the pot and rubbing Jess’s heel and toes with her hand, Jess sitting back on her heels then reaching back to Karina, who kissed her hand.

“when will you learn not to put your feet in tight socks, Yoghurt pots or egg boxes?” Karina asked, Jess giggling delightedly.

“I like you freeing my feet from things,” she said.

“How do your feet feel?” Karina asked.

“My left foot is hot,” Jess replied. Blackberry padded to his box and picked out a bottle.

“Drip this on the soles of Jess’s feet, a little on her heels, a dab on her sole, then some on the balls of her feet, and one dab on each of her toes Karina,” blackberry said. Karina looked at the bottle, then unscrewed the top and did as blackberry instructed, Jess smiling at the cooling sensation as the alcohol wash ran down her feet, cooling her hot skin.

“ooaoaoaoaoh,” Jess gasped, Karina smiling and dabbing each of Jess’s toes with the bottle, Jess curling her toes with pleasure.

“I like to see that,” Karina said, Jess laughing.

“I hope Sally, peter and jenny are having fun with their hands and feet to,” she said.

“they are,” blackberry replied, “jenny and Sally are playing the stuck foot game, Peter and Moses are chasing each other’s feet and tickling each other’s toes.”

Meanwhile, in their lie up, Sally and jenny sat opposite each other, measuring each other’s feet. they’d watched Jess’s struggle to free her own feet from the plastic socks, Sally describing things to jenny by re-enacting Jess’s actions, jenny feeling closer to the action because of Sally’s attention to detail. Now jenny rubbed Sally’s feet in her hands, rubbing her toes and heels with a circular motion of her fingers, Sally unable to stop her toes curling with play.

“Your feet are warm now Sally,” jenny said, rubbing the alcohol gel into Sally’s heel pads and toes, Sally curling her toes more tightly than ever, the need for contact uppermost in her mind.

“I like that,” Sally said, “thanks for rubbing the gel into my feet Jenny.”

“that’s fine,” Jenny said, “I’m sorry we haven’t got a yoghurt pot so I can free your foot from it.”

“I’ll find one if you like,” Sally replied, “or we could use an egg box to trap my toes.”

“Would you go that far to show me what is going on?” Jenny asked. Sally smiled:

“I will,” she replied, “I like showing you what’s going on, I like playing the stuck foot game with you, your touch on my toes too. it’s nice to help you understand what others can see. I’m only a cub,” Sally replied, “as are you Jenny. Jess too is becoming a cub again, learning how to use her hands and feet to play like she used to.”

“You and I are very similar ages Sally,” jenny said, “we also enjoy the same things, acting out things we’ve heard about.”

“I agree,” Sally replied, “I’m only sorry I didn’t have any of those socks to struggle out of. That would have been fun.”

“Maybe we could use some thin material socks and put elastic bands round the top, arch and toes? jenny asked.

“I could do that,” Sally replied, “then roll the socks off, but it wouldn’t be the same, it wouldn’t feel the same to me, or you.”

“No it wouldn’t,” jenny replied. Sally took Jenny’s right foot in her hands and pressed the ball of her foot with her fingers, jenny’s toes curling slightly with pleasure.

“You rub my foot any more, my toes will curl so tightly, I won’t be able to uncurl them,” jenny said.

“how about if I find a yoghurt pot, and you put your foot in it like Jess did jenny?” Sally asked, I can then direct you in how to really get your foot stuck, and you can feel what Jess felt as I play the part of Karina as she removed the pot from Jess’s foot.”

“Okay,” Jenny said, “and best of all, we can share the yoghurt before we play.” Sally grinned and padded away to get a tub. Returning with it and two spoons, the two girls ate the yoghurt, then washed the pot out at a nearby sink. Jenny then slipped her left foot into the tub, feeling the narrow bottom squeezing her toes, the inner rim scraping pleasantly over the sole of her foot until her heel pad scraped over the rim and sat just too far outside the tub to fit down inside the inner rim. Jenny pressed the tub against her toes, tightly curling them to fit her foot into the tub, smiling at the effort she had to make, her smile widening as the back of her heel dropped into the tub, her whole foot inside the yoghurt pot. Relaxing her curled toes as far as she could, Jenny felt the rim pressing into the back of her heel pad.

“My foot’s in the tub now,” jenny said, crawling round the lie up, her right foot jammed into the yoghurt pot.

“I can see the sole of your foot through the side of the tub jenny,” Sally said, “It’s as if you were a very young girl and had experimented by pushing your foot into the tub, and couldn’t get it off.”

“I’ll try to pull it off,” Jenny said, rolling onto her back, drawing up her legs and tugging at the tub on her right foot with both hands.

“I can’t get this off my foot!” jenny yelled, grabbing both her feet, her bare left and trapped right in her hands, drawing them to her squealing with anger. Sally rubbed the heel of jenny’s left foot with her fingers, jenny letting go of both her feet.

“I’ll see if I can get that tub off your foot,” Sally said. She tugged at the tub, Jenny wriggling with discomfort as Sally put pressure on first her heel then her toes.

“if I squeeze the tub, I can then pull it over your heel and off your foot Jenny,” Sally said, “it will squeeze your toes a bit, but t’is the only way.” Jenny wiggled the toes of her free left foot in response. Sally took hold of the tub in her hands and squeezed the sides of Jenny’s foot, Jenny moaning:

“eeeeoeoeoeoaow,” as she felt the pressure on her foot, the discomfort making her curl her toes as tightly as she could, then:

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” she moaned as the rim of the tub began scraping over her heel pad.

“that’s it!” Sally said, relax your toes jenny, the tub’s coming off now.”

“but it’s squeezing my toes!” Jenny whimpered, “I don’t like it Sally! I want my toes back, I want my toes back!” Sally pulled the tub off Jenny’s foot, Jenny wriggling as the rim scraped over the sole of her foot, then yelping as her toes caught the rim slightly, and bumped over it on their way out, Sally seeing Jenny’s toes emerging curled as tightly as ever.

“All done,” Sally said gently, rubbing tightly bunched skin on the ball of jenny’s foot, Jenny slowly relaxing her toes.

“that was fun!” jenny giggled.

“it was,” Sally replied, blowing on Jenny’s toes, jenny laughing helplessly and kicking the air with her feet, Sally blowing alternately on the toes of Jenny’s left foot, then the heel of her right, then the toes of her right foot, and the heel of her left, keeping jenny’s feet kicking to avoid the tickling.

“This is really great!” Jenny laughed. Sally lay down on her back and pressed her feet against Jenny’s, the two girls pedalling their legs faster and faster, their toes pressing together, trying to keep contact with each other’s feet. Sally’s foot slipped first, her foot not as warm as Jenny’s, jenny’s pads having been warmed by the struggle to free her right foot from the tub.

“I must warm my feet up a bit!” Sally laughed, “they’re all sloppy right now! if I get a bit of heat into my heels and toes, they’ll stick better to your feet Jenny.” Jenny looked between her legs at the blurred outline of Sally’s face, holding up her right hand, Sally guiding her left foot through the gap between jenny’s raised feet and tapping the palm of her hand with the toes of her right foot. Jenny running her fingers down the sole of Sally’s foot from ball to heel, feeling Sally’s toes curl with pleasure.

“that’s another game,” jenny said, “Sally, try doing that with your eyes closed, guiding your foot between my feet and touching my hands. If you touch my feet with yours, I’ll squeal, like that operation game.” Sally smiled, withdrew her right foot, closed her eyes and tried to guide her left foot between Jenny’s raised feet to her hands, which were held up within reach. The toes of Sally’s left foot touched Jenny’s right foot, jenny squealing as Sally’s toes explored the ball of her foot and down the sole to her heel, jenny pushing Sally’s foot away, then returning her own foot to it’s original position. Sally managed to guide her foot through the gates formed by Jenny’s feet, pressing her hands with her heel this time, Sally exploring with her foot, feeling Jenny’s fingers and the palms of her hands with her toes.

“can you tell which hand is which?” Jenny asked.

“I think I’m exploring your right hand with my toes at the moment,” Sally replied. Jenny giggled:

“You’re right,” she replied, “Now, let me try and guide my foot through the gate keepers of your feet, to your hands. I’ll try not to touch your feet with mine.” Sally made sure she was sitting dead opposite Jenny, and watched as Jenny extended her right foot towards her, the outside of Jenny’s foot brushed the inside of Sally’s left foot, Sally moaning theatrically, but reflecting that jenny hadn’t explored her foot with her toes as Sally had used her toes to explore Jenny’s foot once she’d smacked into it. Jenny felt her relaxed toes touch Sally’s fingers, then she pushed slightly further forward, extending her leg a bit, pointing her toes a little, then curling her toes to grab Sally’s fingers, Sally laughing.

“that’s great!” she said, jenny withdrawing her foot and sitting up.

“I hope my feet are soft enough to play like that for a long time to come,” she said. Sally smiled, sat up and took Jenny’s left foot in her hands:

“Um, yeah it is,” she replied.

“I’ve not looked at your face once during our play,” Sally said, “Jenny, we can play without sight you and I.”

“yes we can,” jenny said, “we can play by touch and sound.”

“We do too,” Sally replied, “When my feet touched yours, I knew they had not just by the feel of your foot against my toes, but by the sound you were making, and the slight curl of your toes, I knew you were curling your toes, I felt the sole of your foot wrinkle a bit under my toes!”

“that game’s so good!” Jenny giggled.

“It is,” Sally replied smiling.

“Would you put your foot into the pot now Sally?” jenny asked. Sally smiled and slid her left foot into the pot, curling her toes to fit her foot further into the pot. Relaxing her toes, she felt her heel settling into the wider neck of the top of the pot, the back of her heel pressing against the inner rim, the pot now stuck on her foot. jenny explored Sally’s foot, tugging at the pot.

“curl your toes tighter Sally,” jenny advised. Sally stretched her toes, pressing her heel harder against the rim of the pot.

“if I stretch my toes, I could break the pot!” Sally snarled, “eoeoeoeoeoeoah, ush, ush, meoeoeoeoeoeoeeooaw!” Jenny listened to the yoghurt pot flexing as Sally struggled to stretch her toes and pull the pot off her foot, Panting, she gave up after five minutes of struggle. Jenny got hands on with her struggles, feeling Sally’s hands gripping, the pot flexing as she stretched her toes to their greatest extent.

“It’s not working!” Sally yelled, “my foot’s stuck!!”

“No Sally,” Jenny said, “curl your toes. Sally curled her toes, the pressure on her heel lessening, Jenny sliding the pot over the back of her heel and across her pad, then down the sole of her foot to where her flexing toes threatened to grab the rim of the pot. Jenny lifted the pot off Sally’s foot, then rubbed her foot with her hand, feeling the heat in her pads.

“Do you want me to rub alcohol on your foot Sally?” jenny asked. Sally nodded, her toes tightly curled.

“yes please,” she replied smiling, jenny getting the alcohol wash from the fridge which was kept in every lie up for the cleansing of hands and feet on a regular basis.

“the alcohol rubs make our hand and foot play possible,” jenny said, “it helps keep hygiene up, plus it’s fun to use. I see Sita using the alcohol gel to encourage the cubs in her care to wash their paws and feet often.”

“How do my feet feel to you?” Sally asked.

“Your toe pads and heels are soft and warm Sally,” Jenny said, “and I know my feet are a similar size to yours, we can press heels to heels, toes to toes easily.”

“how about a round of the stuck foot game?” jenny asked. Sally smiled and turned, taking Jenny’s left foot in her hands and massaging her toes, arch and heel, jenny curling her toes with pleasure, curling them tightly, then relaxing them slowly as Sally’s fingers worked over the ball of her foot, the arch and then to her heel, Jenny’s attempts to curl her toes as tightly as she could arching her foot to its greatest extent.

“How strong are our toes?” Sally asked.

“how about if we test by taking an egg box in our toes and trying to tear it apart just with our toes?” jenny suggested, “of course, we could get our toes caught by the box, then tear it up for catching our toes. I liked the sound the pot made as you stretched your toes in it Sally, it creaked with your efforts.”

“did it?” Sally asked, “I didn’t notice, I was too busy trying to force my toes through the bottom of the pot.”

“let’s see how much damage we can do to an egg box each by just using our feet,” jenny said, “we can use our heels and toes, but we must sit down while doing it.”

“Sounds great!” Sally replied, rubbing the sole of Jenny’s foot with her fingers, Jenny uncurling her toes, then, as Sally’s fingers rubbed her toes a bit, curling them to catch sally’s fingers.

“Tug of war?” Sally asked, Jenny gripping hard with the toes of her right foot.

“yes,” Jenny replied, Sally pulling at her fingers, Jenny tugging with her toes, both locked in a battle. Back and fourth they tugged, Jenny’s toes clamped around the tips of Sally’s fingers, Sally astonished at Jenny’s strength in her toes.

“You win jenny,” Sally gasped.

“That was fun!” Jenny said, releasing her hold on Sally’s fingers, Sally tickling Jenny’s toes, jenny laughing, curling her toes tightly.

“Your toes are good at play jenny,” Sally said, Jenny crawling away, Sally chasing her and tickling her toes, jenny laughing merrily.

“I’m glad I can play,” jenny said.

“Let’s check each other’s feet to make sure everything’s okay with them shall we?” jenny asked. Sally smiled:

“Okay,” she replied, “let’s check toes, heels, everything.” Jenny sat down and said:

“Let’s check alternate feet, I’ll check your left, you check my right, you check my left and I’ll check your right?” Sally, her foot in Jenny’s gentle grip, felt her toes curling with excitement.

“I’d like that,” she replied.

“Well you’ve passed one of the tests already,” jenny said, “curling your toes is one of the tests, and you certainly can do that, tightly too.”

“How do my toes feel to you?” Sally asked, uncurling her toes, jenny taking each toe in her fingers and pressing the pads, Sally smiling at her gentle touch.

“All feel fine, from big toe to little one,” Jenny said, “now Sally, could you please curl and stretch these toes?” Sally curled the toes of her right foot, jenny rubbing the ball of her foot, feeling Sally’s skin bunching beneath her touch.

“that’s good,” Jenny said, rubbing the tops of Sally’s toes, “now can you uncurl your toes and stretch them?” Sally complied, feeling jenny rubbing the skin on the ball of her foot, helping her with the stretch of her toes.

“That feels wonderful!” Sally exclaimed.

“did you curl your toes wile pushing against your cub Sally?” jenny asked, or was it during the contractions when you didn’t push?”

“during the contractions when I didn’t push I think,” Sally replied, “I held onto my feet while pushing, then splayed my legs and curled my toes in agony while the cub was surging through. It was a wonderful time that when I got into the swing of it.”

“I heard the video,” jenny replied, “I’d like to get hands on during a re-enactment too.”

“that’ll feel great. Sally said.

“Will you add bits to it?” Jenny asked.

“I might,” Sally replied, “A bit of crawling around, sitting back on my heels, drawing my feet up, grabbing them with my hands and screaming while curling my toes, then lashing out with my feet, screaming while the cub surges, then kicking as I come down from that, just before I draw my feet up and grab them for more pushing efforts, repeat enough to get the cub out.”

“Sally looks vulnerable when she kicks the air with her feet,” Patch said. Sally grinned:

“You people watcher you,” she said, crawling over to the male bear and embracing him, “how much did you see?”

“Everything from the point at where you played with the yoghurt pot,” Patch replied, “I too have tried to wedge my foot into one of those, got it well stuck too.”

“that is the sort of video that does the rounds of the internet,” jenny said, “bear with pot stuck on head or foot or something.” Patch smiled:

“Seeing you two play together is lovely,” he said.

“I’ve been trying to make the play tactile,” Sally said.

“You’ve been managing it too Sally,” Jenny replied.

“You two will know each other’s feet by touch so well you’ll be able to draw maps,” Patch replied.

“how about if we explore your feet with our hands?” Sally asked. Patch grinned:

“You know where my toes are already,” he replied smiling.

“Oh yes, I remember that,” Sally said.

“What happened?” jenny asked.

“It was the first time Patch and I really met,” Sally said, “he’d come into the school to talk with us, and after busting his chair just by sitting on it, he had to sit down cross legged on the floor. While he was telling his story, I reached beneath his crossed right leg and touched the sole of his left foot, then I touched his toes, Patch curling his toes around my fingers.” Patch sat down cross legged once more, and the two girls sat down, one each side of him. Then they reached for his hind feet, both finding his pads, then his toes, Patch curling his toes around their fingers as he’d done to Sally’s just over half a year back.

“You have strong toes Patch!” Jenny laughed, Patch squeezing her fingers tightly with the toes of his right foot.

“that’s so cute, isn’t it Jenny,” Sally said, jenny smiling at Patch, who grinned broadly.

“I could get you some of those socks if yoyo want to feel how they feel on your foot,” Patch replied, “that could become a game where you help each other to free your feet from those socks, one foot at a time.”

“We could,” Sally replied, “Patch, do those socks clinic a second skin then? Won’t they bunch wrongly when I curl my toes?”

“No,” Patch replied, “can’t you feel them on my feet now?” Jenny explored Patch’s left foot. and it was only when she rubbed her fingers against the sole of his foot, feeling the slight rubbery texture, that she realised.

“You’re wearing them yourself!” she exclaimed.

“I am,” Patch said, “my claws are cut short, and they are strong enough to withstand me stretching and curling my toes, and me scrabbling at the sole of my foot with my paw. I might need some help getting them off though.”

“Would you like us to help you?” Sally asked.

“I would,” Patch replied, “though it will be difficult, as my pads have become warm since I put them on earlier, the socks are likely to stick a bit.”

“did you fight like Jess has to free your foot from the socks?” jenny asked.

“once,” Patch replied, “once I had injured my left foot, and had to wear one of those. It was tight and took an age to free my foot from it.”

“So now you wear them again?” Jenny asked, “but why do you do it if you took ages to free your foot last time?”

“I suppose I like the struggle,” Patch replied smiling, “some like pretending to have cubs to soothe themselves, I used to punch bags, now I put plastic socks on my feet and fight to free my feet from them.”

“Do you sometimes scrabble at the soles of your feet with your paws like Jess did?” Sally asked.

“often,” Patch replied, “every time I do this, no matter how often, I pretend I’ve just found this alien covering on my foot. I try washing it off, that doesn’t work, nor does tearing at it with my paws, so I have to find a gap at the top of my leg, and roll the sock down off my leg and over my heel, where it often gets stuck, to the arch of my foot, then off my toes, which are often curling from effort, so the sock sometimes gets stuck there too.”

“that’s so cute!” Sally giggled.

“I like pretending these things,” Patch replied, I have a good imagination and all, but even I sometimes need to put silly socks on my feet.”

“I Like the pads of your hind feet, they are a lovely pink colour,” Sally said.

“they went dark pink when I got older,” Patch replied, “I like my pads too.”

“Patch! Catch me!” Karina yelled, running into the lie up on her hind feet and hurling herself at Patch. Patch caught the flying cub and held her tightly.

“You’re on your hind feet already?” he asked.

“yes, but, well I’ll still crawl, that way I can get my feet tickled easily, which I like!” Karina replied laughing, “I thought I’d try running though, and asked you to catch me just in case I fell on the floor, that’s hard landing that is!” Patch kissed Karina’s nose, the cub purring contentedly and snuggling up to her friend.”

“Can I touch you Karina?” Jenny asked.. Karina turned and looked at her:

“yes of course,” she replied, crawling from Patch’s lap and up to jenny, who stroked Karina’s back, then rubbed her ears, Karina turning her head towards Jenny for more stroking and attention, jenny laughing as Karina rolled onto her back and grabbed her hand with her smaller hands, pulling it towards her, and kissing her fingers, jenny sitting down properly and tapping her lap, Karina scrambling into it, jenny giving her a huge hug. .

“Your feet and hands are like mine!” Karina said, “touch my hands and feet Jenny, then feel your feet too!” jenny grabbed her own feet in her hands, Karina watching her intently as she explored her own feet one by one. Then Karina laughed as Jenny took her feet in her hands, exploring them.

“Your feet are like mine, and your hands are like my hands too!” jenny said, Karina curling her toes and smiling broadly.

“I like my feet being touched,” she said.

“I like mine being touched too, would you touch my feet too Karina?” Jenny asked. Karina smiled:

“yes, she replied, scrambling off of jenny’s lap and grabbing jenny’s right foot in her hands, jenny’s toes curling tightly.

“Your feet feel like mine too!” Karina giggled, jenny smiling and pressing her foot into Karina’s grip. Karina rubbed bunching skin and curling toes as she worked her way from the toes of Jenny’s right foot to her heel, jenny curling and stretching her toes with pleasure.

“I like this,” Jenny said, Karina drawing circles on the heel pad of her right foot, jenny curling her toes as tightly as she could.

“Now let’s see if you can curl the toes of your other foot as tightly as you can curl these toes,” Karina said, jenny smiling:

“I can try,” she replied. Karina explored Jenny’s left foot, jenny curling her toes with intense concentration.

“yes, I think you’ve done it,” Karina said.

“Are you coming home for food Karina?” Sita asked, stumbling into the lie up.

“No mum,” Karina replied, “I got some milk from the fridge, Kendal said he had special milk for me.”

“What?” Sita asked.

“Kendal is using some of the supply we have for cubs,” Patch replied, “mothers who have more milk than they need are encouraged to donate some. Karina’s using some of that, we have more than we can store at the moment.” Sita harrumphed and whipped round on Patch.

“Why won’t she come and nurse?” she asked, “I need it as much as she does.”

“Maybe she likes her independence,” Patch replied.

“So what do I do with all my milk I need to give!” Sita roared.

“Um, bank it,” Patch replied smiling, though he reached over and touched Sita’s hand with his.

“My cub seems to have run off by herself!” Sita whimpered.

“sorry mum,” Karina replied, “but it’s so much easier to drink that milk on the run, I can slurp it down and I’m done.”

“Fast food,” Patch mumbled, Sita slapping him.

“Don’t you encourage her!” she snarled.

“I don’t think I need to,” Patch replied.

“But she’s only fed from my milk twice!” Sita mewed.

“Your antibodies will have transferred to her then,” Patch said, “now she can drink whatever milk she wishes. If you don’t draw milk, it will dry up.”

“But I’m failing as a mother then!” Sita screamed.

“No you’re not,” Patch replied, “Karina is more independent than you expect her to be, so you think you are failing. Karina is strong, inquisitive, and playful. She’ll come back to you, play with you too. At this moment, she is making sure humans learn to remain cub like for as long as they can.”

“but she’s a cub herself!” Sita squealed.

“All the better that she teaches some to be cubs then,” Patch replied smiling.

“Okay,” Sita huffed, “I suppose I should take a leaf out of her book and get paws on with others.

“How about if you help me remove my socks from my feet Sita?” Patch suggested, “I need some help.”

“You are wearing socks on your feet Patch?” Sita asked.

“Those rubber ones that Jess had trouble getting rid of yes,” Patch replied, I put some on out of solidarity with her, and now I can’t get them off.” Sita slid her feet along the tiles, her feet squeaking slightly.

“feel my foot Patch,” she invited, turning rear on to Patch, who took the cat bear’s raised right foot in his paws. He felt the sheen of the rubber sock on Sita’s sole, Sita curling her toes tightly under Patch’s touch.

“I was silly,” Sita mewed, “now I can’t free my feet from them either!” Patch laughed merrily.

“I’ll help you,” he said.

“Look at my left foot!” Sita mewed, “it’s, well, look!” Patch looked, seeing a pot stuck on Sita’s left foot.

“that’s got a sock on it too?” Patch asked. Sita mewed that it had.

“Yes,” she replied, “I, I, I went very silly. Now my feet are trapped, one in a sock, the other in a sock and a pot! I’m really stuck Patch!” Patch grinned hugely.

“Let’s get you freed from that pot and socks,” Patch said, “then, Sita, please, will you help me free my feet?” Sita giggled:

“I will,” she replied.

Patch and Sita returned to Patch’s lie up, Sita limping along, the pot jammed onto her left foot. Patch listened to her feet, “pad, clonk squeak, pad clonk squeak,” on the tiles.

“No wonder you stumbled into the lie up,” Patch remarked. Sita huffed:

“it wasn’t meant to be like this!” she mewed, “it was experimentation only!”

“Sit down on the floor and I’ll help you get that pot off your foot,” Patch said, Sita collapsing onto the rugs. Patch lifted the pot off Sita’s left foot by squeezing the pot either side of her foot to distort it away from her heel, then lifting the pot off her foot.

“Thanks Patch,” Sita said, Patch throwing the pot away, then grabbing Sita’s right foot in his hands, pulling the sock down her leg and over the heel of her foot, stretching the rubber, pulling the sock off with gentle traction, Sita yanking her foot free of the sock at the last minute. Sita attacked her left foot, tearing the sock off in seconds, pulling it off her toes and throwing it away.

“My feet are free! My feet are free!” she yowled, rolling onto her back and kicking the air with her hind feet. Patch pulled the socks off his own feet, first his right foot, then, with Sita’s help, his left. The socks flying off his toes with a snap.

“I prefer my feet bare,” he said flexing his toes.

“You don’t’ mess about do you,” Sita said.

“No Sita I don’t,” Patch replied smiling.

“Patch,” Sita said, “I’m sorry I got my foot stuck in the socks and in the pot.” Patch smiled:

“it was great helping you free your feet,” he replied.

“yes, but the socks came off easily, you didn’t get a chance to really help me did you Patch.” Sita said.

“Well I could rub the pads and toes of both your feet,” Patch suggested, “would you like that Sita?”

“I would,” Sita replied.

“I would also like that, I think,” a voice said by the door, “Patch, I have been looking for you for years.”

“Who?” Patch asked, staring at a fat Orbon furred bear who stood uneasily at the door, easing her weight from the toes of her feet and paws to her heels and back again.

“Who are you?,” Patch asked the brown she bear, whose eyes burned into his.

“But you knew him, know him, you’re like him,” she said. Patch looked at the she bear’s face, then at her paws and her feet, the she bear standing on tiptoe in her anxiety, her weight thrown forward off big feet.

“who’s she?” Sita asked.

“I’m Orbon’s daughter cub, and Patch’s half brother I think,” the she bear said, “and that bear holding your right foot in his paws is my half brother! I know he is!”

“when did Orbon sire you?” Patch asked, “you’re, um, well grown.”

“I’m fat,” the she bear replied, “say it, I’m fat. My feet are fat, my paws are huge, I’m big and fat and clumsy. I’m a product of Orbon’s genes.”

“”I am Patch,” Patch said, looking into the she bear’s face, then turning to her, spreading his paws wide and continuing, “come here little Sister. The she bear padded over to Patch, seemingly drawn to Patch as if on a string he was pulling. Almost Tripping over her own feet, the she bear fought her way towards Patch, whimpering with embarrassment as she lost her balance and tumbled into Patch’s lap with a squeal of surprise and dismay, ending up on her back in his lap, her paws and feet sticking skywards, her face turned up to his.

“Sorry,” she gasped, Patch shaking with laughter.

“Oh, oh dear, oh dear!” Patch guffawed, “you are so funny, so cute!” Patch laughed.

“She fell off her feet!” Sita said, “even I heard that.”

“What is your name sister?” Patch asked.

“Catherine,” the she bear replied, covering her face with her paws, “and I’m sorry for falling into your lap like this Patch, my feet tripped over my paws, or my paws tripped over my feet, and I fell into your lap!” Patch gently lifted Catherin’s paws away from her face, leant down and kissed her nose, Catherine looking very embarrassed.

“next thing you’ll be doing is tickling my toes!” she laughed.

“I can if you’d like me to,” Patch replied, Catherine’s eyes shining up into his, her paws grabbing his right paw in a tight embrace, her toes curling tightly.

“yes please! I mean, no,” she said, her eyes fading, her face burning with embarrassment at her blurted wishes.

“I’ve been tracking you Patch, tracking you from my homeland in the north to here, it took me ages, my feet and paws got sore, and my head did too from falling on my nose with my paws tangling up with my feet from time to time. Now I’m here, and I tumble into your lap like a little cub, just as I wished I wouldn’t do, as it would not be good form.”

“It was cute though,” Patch replied, his eyes shining into hers.

“did she fall head over heels into your lap?” Sita asked.

“yes I did, well I sort of fell head first into Patch’s lap!” Catherine whimpered, “I fell into his embrace! She wailed, “it’s embarrassing, and awful that his grown sister should fall into his embrace like this! how degrading!”

“How cute,” Patch replied, Catherine sticking her tongue out at him, Patch drumming on her belly with his paws, the she bear drawing up her feet, Patch leaning over and blowing on her toes, Catherine grabbing her feet in her paws,wriggling madly and shrieking with laughter.

“leave off my toes!” she laughed, Patch cradling the fat but surprisingly small she bear in his arms.

“I will if you want, Patch replied.

“I don’t want you to,” Catherine replied, “Patch, play with me, please will you play with me?” Patch kissed Catherine’s nose and paws, the she bear snuggling close.

“I could play with you, tickle your toes, stroke your pads, play silly paw and foot games,” Patch said.

“the drawing game?” Catherine suggested hopefully, “make my toes curl tightly Patch, draw circles on my pads?” Patch smiled hugely.

“Okay,” he said, “I’ll do that.”

“You’ve only just met her!” Sita mewed, “How can you play with her like that Patch?”

“I know her paws and her feet, and her fur,” Patch said, “she’s my sister, I can feel it in her paws.”

“She tumbled into your lap Patch! Jess laughed, padding into the room.

“She did,” Patch replied smiling.

“I find my feet don’t like being on the floor,” Catherine said, “I prefer crawling, I haven’t got so far to fall then.”

“You nearly landed on your nose!” Jess laughed.

“I’m clumsy, always falling over my feet and paws!” Catherine wailed. Patch kissed Catherin’s nose.

“I’m sorry I never got to see you born,” Patch replied, “I can imagine loving you as a cub, playing with your huge paws and feet.”

“Sire Orbon told me of your existence,” Catherine said, “I wanted to find you Patch, I’m fifteen now, two years younger than you, and have been falling over my feet for all that time!”

“I’m not surprised,” Patch replied, “you have huge feet and paws Catherine.” Catherine laughed as Patch traced the pads of her right foot, her toes curling tighter than she’d ever thought they could.”

“She has a cute face and lovely paws and feet,” Jess said, “Catherine’s so sweet Patch.”

“What were you and the cat bear doing when I wandered in?” Catherine asked.

“We were, um, removing socks from our feet,” Patch replied hesitantly, “I, um, we, were playing.”

“then I tumble into your lap,” Catherine said.

“yes,” Patch replied smiling with gentle contentment.

“I saw two humans playing with pots and playing silly games too,” Catherine said, “is that normal here?”

“Oh, that’ll be Sally and jenny,” Patch replied smiling, “yes they play silly games. The same sort of foot and paw games we bears play too. Humans play silly paw games Catherine.”

“Including this one,” Jess said smiling. Catherine looked at her.

“Hmm, yes,” she said, “you look like the sort to play silly foot and paw games.” She replied smiling.

“I got my toes stuck in an egg box,” Jess replied, “that was so funny!” Patch smiled at the memory.

“I know what egg boxes are,” Catherine said, “I’ve encountered them, also eaten their contents too, though how on earth a human got their foot stuck in one I can’t imagine.”

“It was a squashed box,” Jess replied, then curled toes holding onto the box itself, I was fighting myself.”

“I can imagine that,” Catherine replied, looking at Jess’s feet, as she’d sat down.

“Your toes look like they’d be able to catch an egg box or two,” Jess said, looking Catherine over from head to huge hind feet.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Catherine said..

“Didn’t I see you fighting to free your foot from a box a few days ago?” Jess asked, “that was in the woods.”

“yes okay!” Catherine whimpered, “I had got my foot stuck in a box when trying to break it open to get the apples inside, I stamped on the box and it caught my toes!” Patch roared with laughter and kissed his sister’s nose, Catherine burying her head in his chest with embarrassment.

“That was so funny,” Jess replied, you rolling about on the track tugging at the box on your foot. you freed yourself after five minutes, then stamped off into the forest.” Catherine harrumphed and looked at Jess, who beckoned her over. Catherine crawled over to Jess, Patch blowing on her toes as she left, Catherine giggling with delight. Jess embraced Catherine, the bear snuggling up to her.

“I’m safe here now?” Catherine asked. Jess smiled and rubbed Catherine’s ears with her hand.

“yes you are,” she replied.

“I am so relieved about that,” Catherine said, snuggling into Jess’s hug.

“What were you doing with that pot?” Catherine asked.

“Getting it firmly stuck to my foot,” Jess replied, “I’ll show you if you like, and you can have a go.”

“I’m curious,” Catherine replied. Patch passed Jess two yoghurt pots, Jess fitting one over her right foot, curling her toes and pushing her foot into the pot until her heel dropped into the bulb at the top of the pot, Jess securing it there by relaxing her toes, wedging her foot into the pot, Catherine watching intently.

“it won’t work for me will it?” she asked, “My foot’s not like yours, I’m flat footed.”

“Try,” Jess replied, making the pot on her foot creak as she stretched and curled her toes to flex it.

“oooah, yeah!” Catherine said, as she slipped another pot over her left foot, curling her toes to enable her to fit her heel into the pot, wedging it there as Jess had by slightly relaxing her curled toes.

“this is so silly!” Catherine giggled, “but it feels good too.”

“You are beautiful from your nose to your toes Catherine,” Jess said, Catherine snuggling up to Jess, Patch removing the pot from Catherin’s foot as she curled her toes with emotion. Patch drew circles on Catherine’s bunched pads, the she bear wriggling and waving her paws about, Jess laughing delightedly.

“You’re so sweet Catherine,” Jess laughed.

“I like you Jess,” Catherine said, kissing Jess’s nose.

“Can you help me get this yoghurt pot off my foot?” Jess asked. Catherine sat opposite Jess and took her potted foot in her paws, squeezing the sides of the pot to free Jess’s heel, then pulling the pot up slightly, relaxing her grip, the rim scraping over the sole of Jess’s foot, the feeling of the pot scraping over her heel pad and sole making Jess curl her toes. Catherine, seeing the girl’s curled toes as her foot slipped free of the pot, blew on her bunched pads, Jess laughing helplessly.

“You lovely playful bear!” Jess laughed.

“I try to be,” Catherine replied, “but why do humans put their feet into pots?”

“To see how it feels,” Jess replied, “it’s something little humans do to see how it feels for them to have their feet trapped, and how it feels to free them too.”

“I saw silly games,” Catherine said, “but I saw lovely play too.”

“can you walk on your feet Catherine?” Jess asked.

“not very easily,” the brown bear replied, “I fall over my own feet.”

“you kept rocking back and fourth on your feet, rocking from heels to toes and back again,” Patch replied, “your balance isn’t that bad is it?” Catherine smiled:

“it can be,” she said, “it’s pretty awful at the best of times.”

“now can I wash you Catherine?” Patch asked. Catherine looked at her brother.

“yes, if that’s what you do to new arrivals,” she said. Patch led the way to his sunken bathtub, which he filled with warm water and a handful of bath salts, Catherine slipping into the water, the oils and salts caressing her body, the she bear almost floating in the oily water. Patch got into the tub and washed Catherine from nose to tail, the she bear purring with pleasure.

“What happened to our sire?” Catherine asked.

“he died here a year back Catherine,” Patch replied, “that was shortly after helping his last cub into the world by pushing with the mother of the cub to help her deliver him. You have a half brother Catherine.” Catherine smiled:

“I remember sire Orbon saying he’d laboured with my mama while she was in pain in her den,” she said, “Orbon curled his toes and roared with pain as mama roared, kicked the air with her feet and punched with her paws as I was forced into the world. I heard mama squeal as my feet jammed and then mama wriggled and they scraped out into the world, my toes catching as she panted hard as my toes caught, mama unable to push very hard at the end, she sort of wriggled my feet out.”

“Jayden’s birth wasn’t quite like that,” Patch replied, “but he has big feet, just as you do, and sire Orbon did, Jayden’s mother also has big feet too. Dorothy is a big mama bear.”

“Ouch,” Jess remarked, “that sounds painful.” Catherine smiled:

“I heard mama squealing and roaring a good bit while I was being born.”

“Well if you were fat when you were born, I’m not surprised,” Jess said, looking at the rather portly female bear, “I know if I gave birth to you, I’d be screaming and wriggling like your mama did.”

“I’ll bet you would,” Catherine replied, “I’ll bet you’d rip up a few egg boxes with your toes too. I’m fat, and it would take a lot of force to deliver me into the world.” Catherine got out of the pool, Jess chasing the crawling bear, drawing her fingers down the sole of Catherin’s left foot from heel to toes, the she bear squealing with laughter and curling her toes as tightly as she could.

“that feels great!” Catherine laughed, banging the floor with her paws.

“You have firm pads, and very expressive toes,” Jess said, Catherine laughing merrily.

“I’m glad you think so,” she replied, “I think yours are expressive too.”

“You keep your paws very clean,” Jess said.

“yes, of course!” Catherine replied, “I, well, like playing with my hind feet, so I have to. I see you have clean paws and feet here too.”

“We do,” Jess replied.

“Your general body shape and your pads and toes make me think you’re related to me. big fat pads and huge toes,” Patch said.

“I told you I’m fat,” Catherine replied, “I’m fat fat fat!”

“Cute with it too though,” Jess said, “I like big paws and feet.” Catherine laughed:

“but small paws and feet are good too,” she said, “we all had those once.”

“I remember when I had smaller hands and feet,” Jess replied, “I wish I could have them now. Though playing with Karina helps me to remember what having small hands and feet was like.”

“Do you play with your toes Jess?” Catherine asked. Jess smiled:

“of course,” she replied, “I hold my feet in my hands, explore my toes, soles and heels, grip them hard too. I pull with my hands and push with my feet. it’s great!”

“you mean like this?” Catherine asked, lying down on her back, drawing up her feet and grabbing them with her paws.

“Like that,” Jess replied, “but more by sitting up, drawing one foot to me, grabbing it in my hands and pressing back against my hands with my foot, that way I’m able to feel my toes curling with the effort of it all. Like this.” Jess sat down and grabbed her left foot in her hands, bending her leg and gripping her foot hard with both hands, then pushing hard into her clasped hands with her foot, Catherine watching her fingers and toes gripping and curling as Jess pushed at her hands and pulled at her braced foot.

“Push Jess Push!” Catherine urged, Jess’s toes curling as she pushed at her hands with her foot, her hands responding with a tighter grip on her foot.

“eoeoeoeoeoeoah, umph, Umph!” Jess grunted, wriggling and rocking back and fourth, her foot twisting in her grip, her hands holding on tightly while her toes curled and relaxed with efforts to push her foot through her gripping hands.

“Ah there you are Cathewine,” Purdy said, padding into the room, “I wondered where you’d got to.”

“You found her and brought her here Purdy?” Jess asked. Purdy smiled:

“I was sitting up in a twee,” she said, “and I saw Cathewine come along and sit under my twee, I slid down the twee and asked her if she was lost, and she told me she was looking for her bwother. I asked her who her bwother was, and she said he was Patch. I bwought her here, and now she’s found Patch.” Jess smiled at Purdy’s manner of speech.

““sitting in the twee,” Jess mimicked, “that’s so cute that is.” Purdy shot Jess a disgusted look and charged her, snorting and huffing angrily.

“Purdy, stop that!” Patch snapped, Purdy skidding to a stop glairing at Jess.

“You don’t speak like me!” Purdy yelled, her face inches from Jess’s.

“I think your speech is cute,” Jess protested.

“Well you don’t speak like me!” Purdy screamed.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Jess replied.

“I’m glad Purdy was sitting in her twee, I mean tree,” Catherine said, her eyes shining, “and sliding down the twee sounds a good pastime too.”

“Stop that!” Purdy roared.

“Was the wee twee a twee twee?” Catherine asked, Purdy growling at her.

“shut it!” Purdy snarled, stamping her feet.

“now you look so cute stamping your paws like that,” Catherine said.

“I could have you thwow out of here as easily as you came in,” Purdy grumbled, Catherine shooting Patch a worried look.

“Don’t talk tosh Purdy,” Patch warned her.

“But she’s taking the p out of me, and I don’t like it!” Purdy whined.

“Stop it now Catherine,” Patch said, “Purdy can’t throw you out, so please, stop goading her, she can’t help how she speaks.”

“she sounds like a cub who has no teeth,” Catherine replied.

“that’s because her incisors were taken from her,” Patch replied, “Purdy’s claws were taken too, humans took them.”

“Oh,” Catherine replied, staring at Purdy, who moodily rolled onto her back and waved her paws and feet, Catherine crawling close, then staring down at her feet.

“I’m sorry Purdy,” Catherine said, lowering her head and kissing the pads of the she bear’s right foot, “I hope they don’t hurt now.”

“No, they don’t huwt now,” Purdy replied, looking up at Catherine, “but I can’t climb things like I should, I have to grip with my toes wather than my claws.”

“Can you curl your toes?” Catherine asked. Purdy curled her toes, Catherine smiling and blowing on the she bear’s bunched pads, Purdy giggling cubbishly and wriggling madly.

“I like that,” Purdy confessed, Catherine kissing Purdy’s nose.

“your paws and feet are lovely,” Catherine said, Purdy smiling broadly, her eyes alight with gentility.

“You have cute feet and paws yourself,” Purdy said to Catherine, the fat she bear smiling down into Purdy’s eyes.

“I can’t get onto my feet without falling off them,” Catherine said, “I trip over my own feet, and when I’m standing still, I have to rock from my heels to my toes and back again sometimes shifting my feet, balancing on my toes, bouncing on them too. it’s awful sometimes. Some find it cute though.”

“I must say, I did find it sort of endearing,” Patch admitted, Catherine smiling at him.

“I tumbled into your lap,” she replied, “so I suppose I can let that one go.”

“You’re safe here Catherine,” Patch said smiling.

“Who’s that big bear mum?” Karina asked, padding into the room.

“What on earth is that?” Catherine asked, waving her paw at Karina.

“she’s my cub,” Sita replied, “her name’s Karina.”

“She’s a cat bear monkey thing!” Catherine yelled.

“Oh, and you’re fat bear, so I wouldn’t be shouting like that,” Karina replied, punching Catherine on her nose.

“Ow, ow!” Catherine yelled.

“I’m me, see my face, look at my hands, at my feet too!” Karina said, rolling onto her back and waving her hands and feet in the air. Catherine looked down at Karina, the cub smiling up at her.

“Your hands and feet are cute little one,” Catherine said, Karina laughing merrily.

“You’re body, paws and feet are fat,” Karina said, rolling onto her side and looking Catherine over from nose to toes.

“that’s not very nice!” Sita snapped.

“It’s true enough,” Catherine replied smiling, “I’m fat fat fat.”

“You were twipping over your own paws when walking towards my twee,” Purdy said.

““twipping over your paws, sitting in my twee!” How cute!” Jess laughed, Purdy growling at her.

“I can’t help my speech!” Purdy yelled.

“Jess, stop it now,” Patch said softly.

“Purdy pwobably twots down the twack, trying not to twip over her own paws,” Jess said under her breath.

“Jess, stop it!” Patch snarled, rising to his feet and glairing at his life long friend.

“I’m leaving!” Purdy whimpered.

“No, you don’t need to,” Patch replied softly, “Purdy, it’s Jess who should leave.” Jess padded from the room, Catherine watching her go.

“Do you often sit in a twee, I mean a tree Puwdy?” Catherine asked. Purdy ground her teeth at Catherine’s mimicry of her speech patterns.

“Yes I sometimes sit in a twee,” she replied calmly, “right now though, my feet are on the ground, and I intend for them to stay there. Unless someone tips me onto my back and tickles my toes, then I’ll let my feet wave in the air.”

“I have seen your pads,” Catherine said, “I looked up and saw them when you were sitting in the tree.”

“I know,” Purdy replied smiling.

“You have cute paws and feet Purdy,” Catherine said. Purdy sat down and looked at her feet and paws on the screen using a closed circuit camera. Flexing her toes, she realised she no longer minded the loss of her claws.

“I like my paws and feet too,” she said.

“You have cubbish feet and paws,” Catherine said, “Purdy, they are so cute!” Purdy giggled:

“You have cute paws and feet too Cathewine, even though they are fat, which is what makes them so cute.” Catherine smiled broadly and sat down opposite Purdy, stretched her legs out and pressed her feet against Purdy’s, curling her toes around the younger bear’s.

“You have the same feet as Patch,” Purdy said, “you two awe welated?”

“half brother and sister,” Catherine said smiling.

“We are,” Patch replied, “and as you can see Purdy, we’re as fat as each other too!” Catherine laughed, her eyes sparkling. Crawling over to Patch, she scrambled into his lap and he embraced her tenderly, ruffling the fur on the top of her head with his breath, Catherine snuggling close.

“You have lovely soft paws, they pour love into everyone Patch,” Catherine mumbled, rapidly falling asleep.

“She’s wight you know Patch, you do pour love from your paws,” Purdy said smiling.

“You do, I know you do Patch!” Sally said, padding in, then crawling up to Patch, Purdy watching her. when Sally reached Patch’s side, Purdy caught sight of the soles of her feet, her toes flexing slightly as she crawled. Purdy, suddenly feeling mischievous, crawled up behind Sally and blew on her toes, the young girl squealing with surprise and curling her toes to ease the tickle out of them, rocking back and fourth on her knees slowly, then faster, then slowing as she eased the tickle from her toes by slowly curling then stretching them, finishing off by sitting back on her heels, Purdy rubbing Sally’s heels with her left paw, Sally giggling, bouncing her backside on her heels a bit.

“I got you back for tickling my toes!” Purdy laughed, Sally smiling at her.

“When was this?” Patch asked.

“I was sitting in the spew pool, and Sally tickled my toes!” Purdy whined theatrically, “but I liked it,” she added smiling.

You two played though?” Patch asked.

“yeah, we did,” Purdy replied, “though I didn’t get my foot stuck in a pot.” Sally smiled.

“That’s something only humans do,” she replied. “one silly bear did it too,” Patch said.

“Make that two silly bears,” Catherine added smiling.

“it’s a silly game, but so much fun,” Sally replied, “there are other games too, the single player stuck foot game, the bicycle game and others.”

“Your pads awe soft and warm Sally,” Purdy said, “you have cubbish hands and feet.” Sally laughed merrily, turned to Purdy and sat down, pulling Purdy onto her lap and embracing her.

“You are so soppy Sally,” Purdy said, snuggling into her hug.

“You’re a lovely bear Purdy,” Sally replied, kissing the top of the she bear’s head.

“You’re lovely Sally,” Purdy said smiling.

Meanwhile, in the pool complex, Karina stood at the top of the water slides, looking down the blue chute. Feeling the water washing over her feet as she stood in the tray at the top of the slide, she bounced on her toes, feeling the water squirt under her heels and be dispersed by her weight as she splashed down.

“now where does the water go?” Karina asked herself. Lying down, she let the water carry her down the chute, down and down she sped, turning and dipping, turning left and right, then fast down, down and slowing, then slowing up and stopping in the water of the pool, Karina squealing with surprise and fear throughout. A face full of water greeted her as she slowed at the end of the chute. Coughing, Karina struggled from the splash tray and crawled away.

“You look soaked little one,” fleur remarked, padding up to Karina and kissing her nose.

“I went down the chute, and it twisted me and soaked me!” Karina replied. Fleur laughed indulgently.

“What’s your name?” Karina asked.

“My name’s fleur, I’m wardress of the water here, I look after those who use this place,” Fleur replied. Karina screwed up her face in anguish:

“I tumbled down the slide fleur!” Karina yowled, Fleur smiling.

“You did,” she replied, “I watched you considering coming down the slide, then come down the slide.”

“the slide twisted me!” Karina complained. Fleur laughed immoderately at this, Karina slapping her paw.

“it bent me out of shape!” Karina wailed, Fleur losing control completely, laughing so hard she had to sit down.

“Oh Karina, that’s so funny!” fleur laughed, wiping her eyes with one paw, “you’re, oh dear!” Karina looked at herself, looking at her arms, legs, hands and feet, searching for problems, finding none, she sighed with relief.

“that slide tried to bend me out of shape, but didn’t manage it,” Karina said, fleur giggling at Karina’s words.

“You were safe the whole time,” fleur replied.

“It didn’t feel that way,” Karina whimpered. Karina got to her feet and flexed her arms, then her fingers. She then lay back down and tested her legs and feet, bending her legs, then splaying them, holding her legs straight, her toes pointed, then curled slightly. Sighing with contentment, she relaxed.

“Maybe you should do that the other way round?” Fleur suggested.

“Why>?” Karina asked.

“if you stood on your feet before testing them, you’d fall down,” Fleur explained. Karina looked at her toes, curling and uncurling.

“yeah, I see now,” she replied.

“Though it was cute seeing you test your arms and legs like that,” fleur replied.

“I had to make sure the slide hadn’t bent them out of shape,” Karina replied, Fleur dissolving into giggles once more.

“The slide won’t do that!” she replied.

“Well it felt like it was trying to!” Karina replied, sitting up and massaging the sole of her right foot with her hands.

“that is cute too,” Fleur said, “I can’t do that myself.”

“I’ll rub your paws and feet if you want,” Karina offered. Fleur smiled, lay down and waved all four paws at Karina, the cub crawling over to her and embracing all four of Fleur’s huge paws one by one in her small hands, fleur pressing her toes into Karina’s grip, mewing and purring with pleasure.

“Do you like that? Honestly?” Karina asked. fleur, her eyes closed, her world focused through her paws and hind feet, curled her toes as tightly as she could, squeezing Karina’s fingers.

“Just carry on then?” Karina asked. Fleur pedalled the air with her feet a bit, Karina smiling.

“I’ll bet you did that while giving birth to your cubs,” she said, “mama Sita did that too.”

“I did,” fleur mewed, “pedalled the air faster and faster with all four of my paws as contractions built, then slowed as they eased, but when I was pushing, I kept my legs straight while pushing, my toes curled with effort, then pedalled the air with my paws as I came down, keeping my toes curled, I even wriggled too. that felt great!”

“how?” Karina asked. fleur smiled:

“I’ll show you,” she said, “let go of my paw Karina, and keep your hands in range of my paws so you can feel them.” Karina did as fleur asked, and fleur lay on her side, calmly breathing deeply, her eyes open, then she closed her eyes, her face screwing up in pain.

“yoaoaoaoaoaoaoaow! Oaoaoaoaoaow!” she roared, her legs stretched out, her toes curled, groping at the air. Then, gasping and wriggling, fleur relaxed, kicking with all four paws, her legs pedalling the air, her toes curled as she clawed at the air with them, her body wriggling as she came down. Karina, wide eyed, watched and felt Fleur’s struggles.

“wow!” Karina said, “that was amazing fleur!” Fleur smiled.

“I sometimes do that when I’m stressed,” she said, “it makes me feel better.”

“Was my stroking your paws making you feel stressed then?” Karina asked.

“No, quite the opposite,” fleur replied, “I just wanted to make noise and wave my paws and feet about that’s all.”

“Nice,” Karina replied, “and yes, I too like waving my hands and feet about. I like the feel of the air on my fingers and toes!”

“I’ve seen you doing that,” Fleur replied, “it’s cute.”

“would you like to get paws on with my hands and feet fleur?” Karina asked.

“if you want me to,” fleur replied, “I can see them well enough from here though.”

“I’d love you to,” Karina replied, fleur lying down, then taking Karina’s right foot in her paws, the cub’s toes curling with pleasure.

“Are you mama Sita’s mama fleur?” Karina asked, “you look like her, a bit, sort of.”

“Our markings are similar,” fleur mewed, “but no, I’m not Sita’s mama, I, um, advised her when she was very young that’s all.”

“your paws feel like mama Sita’s, a bit, they’re not like hers, but they are like hers,” Karina replied, “all soft and warm, and playful too.”

“I like that,” Fleur mewed, “if you want to think of me as Sita’s mama, that’s fine by me,” Fleur purred, “I sort of kicked with my feet as Sita came into the world, though I was going somewhere else.”

“You went over the bridge while Sita came to this world,” Karina mewed, “I see it now fleur. You are older than you feel here, older in your mind I mean, you were reborn by Ekaterina weren’t you. I can feel it in your paw on my foot, you tore your way out of Ekaterina!”

“Sort of,” fleur mewed, “I used that paw to urge Ekaterina to push me out after she mucked things up and needed my help.”

“I knew it, I knew it!” Karina laughed, delightedly clapping her hands.

“I am here now,” fleur mewed, “my body is strong, my mind is stronger.”

“I’ll bet Ekaterina roared and screamed, pedalled her feet in the air and wriggled madly while giving birth to you fleur,” Karina said, “your body looks like one that would make her scream and kick if she was to push against it.”

“It did,” fleur replied, “and the second time round, I felt everything too, from my head emerging, to the squeeze on my paws, chest, hips and hind feet. it hurt, and I wasn’t shy of letting Ekaterina know, I yowled and screamed lustily as Ekaterina struggled to push me into the world.”

“You are very beautiful Fleur,” Karina said, fleur grabbing Karina’s left foot in her paws and smiling as kern’s toes curled with the pleasure of her touch.

“ooooooooaoh, my toes, my toes! oaoaoaoaoaoaaow,” Karina gasped as her toes curled tightly.

“That’s so cute!” Furball said, padding up to Karina, “your mama wondered if you were all right, and if you wanted a drink little one,” she added. Karina looked up at furball.

“I know who I am now,” she said, “I know who my grandmamma is, and what happened to make me how I am.” Furball grunted:

“yes, well, now how about that drink?”

“I’m not ashamed to be of humans you know,” Karina replied. Furball huffed and padded away.

“Oh dear,” Fleur sighed, “that is how it is.”

“You saw what happened?” Karina asked.

“yes,” fleur replied, “why should you be ashamed of being partly human? They aren’t all demons. You and I both know that.”

“furball seems to think I should be furious enough to tear down the walls, and seems to be angry that I’m not,” Karina replied, “I am who I am, as mama Sita is who she is. I like my hands, feet and tail. I think it’s cool to have naked palms and soles, and to be able to grip with my fingers and my toes and my tail.” Fleur laughed merrily.

“You love your body don’t you,” she said.

“I do, I really do!” Karina replied, “and I’m glad that chute didn’t bend it out of shape.” Fleur dissolved into fits of giggles once more.

“Stop it Karina!” she guffawed.

“What’s so funny?” Karina asked.

“the chute won’t harm you Karina,” Fleur replied. She hesitated a bit, for she’d dared not go down one since her slip and tumble all those years ago, “they’re safe,” she continued.

“something tells me your paw slipped and you fell down the slide,” Karina mewed. Fleur sighed heavily.

“yes, that was years ago, and I’ve never ridden one since,” fleur admitted.

“did it bend you out of shape?” Karina asked.

“Not like you think,” fleur mewed, “but yes, in my head it did.”

“You mean your paws slipped and you tumbled down the slide?” Karina asked. fleur looked uncomfortable, her toes curling so tightly, her paws squeezed Karina’s foot with tremendous force.

“ow! Fleur! That hurts!” Karina yelled, watching slur’s eyes closed tightly, sweat breaking out on her paws.

“You’re hurting me Fleur!” Karina yelled, slapping big cat.

“Oh, um, sorry,” Fleur mewed. Releasing her hold on Karina’s left foot.

“your paws were hot and damp!” Karina said, “Fleur, what happened?”

“I’ll tell you,” fleur mewed, telling Karina the tale of her first encounter with the water slide.

“Oh, poor you!” Karina said, commiserating with fleur.

“Your investigation of the chute reminded me of mine,” fleur said, “but you decided to slide, I didn’t.”

“You literally followed your paws!” Karina laughed, fleur growling at her.

“Oops, sorry,” Karina said, trying not to laugh.

“That’s not funny!” fleur snapped, cuffing Karina with her paw.

“But you did follow your paws, down the chute!” Karina giggled, fleur burying her face in her paws and mewing pitifully.

“Stop it Karina!” she begged.

“You followed your paws, right down the chute, followed your paws right down the chute!” Karina carolled, fleur glairing at her, though unable to strike her with the paw that had slipped all those years ago.

“I feel as weak as a newborn cub,” fleur mewed pitifully.

“What’s going on here?” Swarupa asked, padding towards the pair.

“I’m being taunted by a cub for following my paws down a slide, as if I had any choice!” fleur mewed sulkily, “I can’t just unhook my paws and let them go down the slide can I?” Swarupa looked down at Fleur’s paws.

“Um, no,” she giggled.

“Stop laughing at me!” fleur mewed, Swarupa kissing her nose.

“You’re so cute fleur,” Swarupa purred, fleur burying her head in her paws.

“that chute bent me out of shape!” Fleur wailed, Karina and Swarupa laughing merrily.

“your legs and body look fine to me,” Swarupa mewed, “it was my labour with my two cubs that bent me out of shape, I contorted myself into all sorts of shapes to deliver them!”

“I remember the retelling of the story,” fleur mewed.

“Even now, if I think about it too hard, I find my body re-enacting the birth of my two cubs, and you know what? I’m about to have more cubs, yes I know! I said I’d never do it again, but I’m here, in cub, and determined to be fit for the birth, hence the swimming once a day.”

“You have gnat [paws Swarupa,” Karina said.

“My sire and mama had fat paws too,” Swarupa replied, “it’s no wonder I have their paws.”

“You showed me your paws, they are beautiful paws,” Karina said to Swarupa, the tigress laughing and rolling onto her back, waving her paws and feet in the air.

“That’s so cute!” Karina laughed.

“Can you imagine me wriggling and waving these about?” Swarupa said, “I waved my paws and feet, almost tied my toes in knots with the pain of labour, I arched my back, twisted my body so I could bite my tail and the toes of my hind feet. I even think at one point I had the toes of my right foot in my mouth and was biting them while pushing. I remember all my labour, well almost all. I remember the pain of little Tigger’s birth, pushing against the grip of his toes and claws as he held onto his warm place inside me, my body struggling to force him into the world. Then he jammed, as he was coming out backwards! His hind feet jammed at the opening into the world, and stuck fast no matter how hard I pushed. Blackberry helped me clear the blockage, and I reached round and grabbed tiger in my paws, pulling him out. I made a hell of a noise too, yowling and screaming my head off. “Aoooooow! Oooooahoooaoooaooooahwhwhwhwhwhow!” I yelled, kicking madly, rolling about, tying my legs and toes in knots.”

“Wow, you could consider that very active labour indeed,” fleur remarked, Swarupa snorted:

“it was hell!” she mewed pitifully.

“I remember being told I got stuck on the way out,” Fleur mewed.

“Stories tell of you being a huge cub,” Swarupa replied.

“Please tell me the tailed as you know it fleur?” Karina urged.

“I can only narrate it as it was told to me,” fleur mewed, “”one day, in the wood, my mother Perdy, a snow leopard, was in a lot of pain, pacing and pawing at the ground. Every now and then, mewing pitifully, she’d stop, squat and, with eyes closed and teeth clenched, press down hard against her cub, before lying down exhausted on the track. Then all too soon she’d be roused by another crushing, squeezing pain, which would have her repeating the whole performance again. Tigger did what he could, but he could only rub the pads of Perdy’s paws when she was lying down, and now all she wanted to do was squat while straining to deliver her cub. Perdy was in terrible pain, and knew her cub was a large one. It had been close to being born for some time now, but Perdy couldn’t get things moving, no matter how hard she pushed at the cub, wriggled, panted and stamped her paws, or raised and lowered herself on tiptoe to try and shake the cub free. Tigger, having felt the large forepaws of their newborn cub as Perdy pushed against it, knew something was dreadfully wrong. He listened to Perdy’s efforts, but dared not run for help, in case he couldn’t find her in the wood once he’d found help. Tigger wished he’d confided in someone about the secret mating and the fact they now had a cub on the way. He talked to Perdy reassuringly, while the female snow leopard squatted, tail outstretched, hind legs splayed, and bore down hard against her cub, feeling its nose come into the world, then its body jam tight like before. When she relaxed, utterly worn out from the effort of pushing the cub’s nose into the world, the cub would slip back, so only its paws showed under Perdy’s tail. Perdy knew something was seriously wrong. Perdy stamped her paws, weeping with pain and fear:

“We’ve tried everything!” She mewed, “me lying down with you stroking my paws, me sitting, squatting, even rolling on the floor while pushing at my cub, but nothing has worked! We need to do something Tigger! If not, then, then my cub will die, and so will I! I must, must push again!” Perdy bore down hard against her cub, feeling the same result. She panted desperately as the contraction spent itself.

“I can’t go on!” she mewed, “I must lie down!” Perdy lay down, mewing and sobbing with pain and fear for herself and her cub. Tigger took her paw and began to stroke it.

“Why doesn’t it work for me the way it works for Theo?” Tigger asked himself, “Theo helped Elsa birth her cubs, and paw massage worked for them, so why not for me?” What Tigger had forgotten in his distress at Perdy’s condition was Theo helped Elsa by pulling a cub while she pushed. That way Leona had been born. Tigger heard Perdy’s moan of pain as she bore down against her cub once more.

“I don’t know what to do Perdy!” Tigger sobbed. Tigger kicked himself, for he knew all the tricks to help when it was some other animal having cubs, but now it was Perdy cubbing, they deserted him. He could only remember the paw massage, that was it, nothing else. Tigger went to Perdy’s tail and felt the cub move as she pushed against it.

“I’m going for help,” Tigger sobbed. Perdy, consumed by pain and fatigue, waved her paw apathetically.

Theo and the others had reached the wood some time before this, and observed with growing alarm the goings on in the small clearing. It was clear Perdy was in trouble, and every animal in that place down to the smallest cub knew it, even though they’d only been there a few minutes.

“I must go and help!” Elsa mewed softly.

“Can you pull a cub?” Theo asked, for that’s what’s needed.

“I know I wanted to experience a cubbing,” Leo remarked, “but not like this!”

“Perdy’s in pain mum,” Leona mewed.

“Yes she is Leona dear,” Elsa replied, “but Theo’s going to help her.”

“I’ll go now,” Theo mewed, leaving the bush they were concealed behind.

“”Please help me!” Perdy wailed miserably to anyone who would listen. Perdy’s pained plea brought tears to Leo’s eyes.

“I’m here now,” Theo purred. Tigger, stroking Perdy’s left hind paw, started at the sound of the young lion’s voice.

“Theo!” He mewed, “we’re in trouble here, big trouble!”

“I know,” Theo purred, “stand back Tigger. Oh, and by the way, what I’m about to do was something you advocated for Aslan when Tembi had problems. I’m about to pull a cub.” Tigger’s mind cleared suddenly! Though he still felt anxious, and now very stupid.

“Right Perdy,” Theo said gently, “in your own time, push as much as you can, I’ll pull while you push, and stop pulling when you relax.” Perdy, utterly worn out from over five hours struggling to give birth to her cub, whimpered with misery.

“I can’t do any more!” She wailed.

“Just relax then,” Theo mewed, “now this isn’t going to be very nice, but it will save you and save your cub.” With that Theo placed his paws over Perdy’s swollen belly, closed his eyes, and thought deeply about Perdy’s cub emerging into the world, breaking down the process into stages. Perdy suddenly squealed with pain, arched her back and clenched her paws, groaning and panting.

“I’ve got’a push!” She yelled suddenly, straining convulsively. Theo quickly grabbed the cub’s paws and began pulling while Perdy, her fur and paws soaked with sweat, bore down repeatedly against her cub! Perdy realised that until then, she’d been doing what she thought she could do, not what she actually could. With Theo’s help, Perdy and Tigger’s cub emerged into the open. With one final effort from Perdy, the cub was born. Theo exhausted but triumphant, lay down to dry the cub off.

The cub was huge!

“No wonder poor Perdy had problems having you,” Theo thought. Theo dried the cub off, the rest of the group breaking cover to watch. Theo let Elsa tend to Perdy, while Tigger lay, face buried in paws, knowing he’d been stupid not to tell anyone about the impending birth of his and Perdy’s cub.

What a strange cub this was too! Theo had hardly lain down when the cub coughed, sneezed, and then began to paw frantically at him with all four of its huge paws. The cub was female, and enormous for a newborn cub. Theo thought this might be due to the cross breeding of a snow leopard and tiger, though he wasn’t sure. He looked into the cub’s face. She looked confused, and well she might. Theo licked her fur, the cub evidently enjoying his ministrations. The young lion missed no part of the cub’s body, licking her from nose to tail like a lioness would do. Theo and the newborn cub were now surrounded by Theo’s four inquisitive cubs and Leo.

“She does look strange,” Aslan said.

“She has a dirty greyish brown coat of unusually thick fur with stripes on it like a tiger’s,” Leo replied, “her face has stripes, but her nose has some leopard spots on it. Her tail is long, and that has banded stripes on it like a raccoon’s! She’s got huge paws, with spots on them. Her Belly’s also spotted.” That was the first Aslan by the way, before he, well, he was killed by his sire Ancient Theo. My life was hard; I hated my fur, my paws and my tail for a long time afterwards.”

“I like your fur, paws and tail,” Karina said, “especially your paws fleur.” Fleur giggled.

“I like them now too,” She replied.

“I wonder what the birth of my cubs will be like,” Swarupa mused.

“You will have to push down into your tail, and into your toes,” fleur replied, “You’ll scream and tightly curl your toes.” Karina looked at Swarupa, taking her in from nose to tail, Swarupa smiling broadly, padding up and down in front of Karina, showing herself off to the week old cub.

“You’re very beautiful Swarupa,” Karina said.

“You are very beautiful too,” Swarupa mewed, stopping her pacing, and lying down to get on a better level with Karina. Karina wiggled her toes at Swarupa, the tigress grabbing Karina’s right foot in her paws, then tickling the toes of her left with her breath, Karina squealing with laughter and tightly curling her toes.

“Oi you!” Karina laughed.

“You could tickle my toes too,” Swarupa mewed.

“I’d like to,” Karina mewed, “or get hands on with your paws and hind feet Swarupa.” Swarupa smiled and lay down full length on her right side, Karina crawling to her and taking her left paw in her hands, rubbing the furry top and rapidly bunching pads as Swarupa’s toes curled with pleasure. Mewing, Swarupa curled her toes tighter and tighter until she could curl them no further.

“Your paws are cute when your toes are curled,” Karina said, Swarupa laughed, and then moaning, she struggled to curl her toes a bit further, Karina feeling her effort.

“Lovely paws these,” Karina said, Swarupa wriggling and pedalling the air with her paws.

“You have such cute pads,” Karina said. Swarupa giggled and turned her head to look at the soles of Karina’s feet, the cub sitting down beside her. Swarupa inspected Karina’s feet from toes to heels and heels to toes, peering closely, her breath, then whiskers tickling the soles of Karina’s feet, the cub giggling and tightly curling her toes.

“Stop that, you’re tickling my feet with your whiskers!” Karina yelped, Swarupa smiling and blowing on Karina’s toes, the cub squealing with delight and rocking back and fourth.

“Cute pads you have Karina,” Swarupa said, Karina squeezing the paw she held, Swarupa wriggling her paw deeper into the cub’s embrace.

“Can you touch my feet with your free paw?” Karina asked. Swarupa extended her right foreleg, pressing her toes against the heel of Karina’s left foot, rubbing it with her toes, Karina holding tightly onto Swarupa’s left paw with both hands.

“You hold tightly onto my left paw with your hands, I’ll push at your foot with my free right paw,” Swarupa said. Karina gripped Swarupa’s left paw as tightly as she could, feeling the tigress pressing the sole of her left foot with her free right paw, Karina curling her toes as the pressure increased, feeling sweat break out on her pads.

“I love the touch of your paw on my foot Swarupa!” Karina gasped, struggling to hold onto Swarupa’s left paw as tightly as she could while pressing her left foot hard against the tigress’s right paw, pressing hard into the ball, heel and toes of her left foot.

“Your foot is very soft padded,” Swarupa mewed, as Karina’s toes curled tightly at the touch on the ball of her foot.

“You have soft pads too Swarupa,” Karina replied smiling, curling the toes of both feet even tighter as she tried to squeeze Swarupa’s paw more tightly in both her hands.

“Your feet are even cuter when your toes curl tight,” Swarupa said, drawing the toes of her right paw down the furrowed skin on the sole of Karina’s left foot from the ball of her foot, down over her arch to her heel pad, where Swarupa rubbed the pad in a circular motion, Karina wriggling with pleasure.

“You like that I feel,” Swarupa mewed.

“I do, I really do!” Karina replied, “I love it when others rub my feet.”

“Do you play with your own toes little one?” Swarupa asked. Karina smiled and nodded:

“I do!” She replied, “I grab my feet in my hands and explore the soles of my feet with my fingers, I can tickle my town toes too! Do you know what? I think walking on my feet is boring, apart from when I’m in water that is moving, then I stand on tiptoe and let the water run under my heels, that’s a lovely feeling!”

“You were bouncing on your toes at the top of the slide, making the water QWERTY under your heels weren’t you Karina,” Fleur said. Karina smiled with genuine pleasure.

“Yes fleur that felt great,” she replied, “I like playing with my feet like that, though I like others playing with them even more than that. Ask me to curl my toes, rub my feet with your paws, draw circles on the soles of my feet and count my toes, all that, I love all that.” Swarupa smiled and, ever so gently rubbed the ball of Karina’s foot, encouraging her to relax her toes, then, very gently, ran the toes of her right paw down the sole of Karina’s left foot from ball to heel, Karina closing her eyes, gripping Swarupa’s left paw with fierce strength, and curling her toes tightly.

“Ooooooooaoh!” Karina gasped, “I wasn’t expecting that!”

“I know,” Swarupa replied smiling.

“It felt very good though,” Karina added, “I liked it Swarupa.”

“I saw you throw yourself onto your back, draw up your feet and kick them forward when Jess touched your foot like that,” Swarupa mewed.

“Stroke my foot again, and see what happens,” Karina suggested. Swarupa did, gently running her paw down the naked sole of Karina’s left foot, Karina laughing, letting go of Swarupa’s left paw, throwing herself onto her back, drawing up her feet, and then thrusting them forward, Swarupa blowing on her heels and toes, Karina squalling with laughter, rolling from side to side with glee.

“I love this!” She laughed, “It feels great Swarupa!” The tigress smiled.

“I like playing with you Karina,” she said, “you have interesting hands and feet, and an interesting way of play.”

“I like your paws Swarupa,” Karina said, “especially when they can make me curl my toes and bounce about on my backside.” Fleur and Swarupa laughed merrily:

“I’m glad you like my touch,” Swarupa replied.

“I’m sure you could do the same as Swarupa does fleur,” Karina said, “make me curl my toes and kick the air with my feet that is.”

“I could try,” fleur mewed.

“You haven’t opened your eyes in five minutes,” Swarupa said.

“No,” Karina mewed, “I want, want to focus my mind through my hands and feet.”

“Your hands and feet are pinkie brown with thick fingers and toes, and also thick pads,” fleur mewed, “they are very beautiful.”

“When I end on my toes, I closed my eyes to feel that,” Karina said, “my feet feel more if my eyes are closed. My heels feel more, my toes do too.”

“That’s so cute!” Swarupa mewed, “but I know how it is, closing my eyes during my labour helped me feel what was going on with my cubs, my paws and feet became more sensitive, and I felt everything my body wanted me to feel.”

“I’ve seen the soles of my feet and the palms of my hands,” Karina mewed, “I like the soles of my feet better, my toes like play more than my hands do.” Fleur grinned hugely.

“if you followed your feet, you’d always be walking backwards,” she replied.

“I could ride the slide on my back,” Karina suggested, then my feet would reach things before my hands.”

“Indeed they would,” Swarupa mewed, drawing circles on the sole of Karina’s right foot with the toes of her left paw, feeling the cub’s reaction in her curled toes and bunched pads.

“Carry on,” Karina said, “I like that Swarupa, I like you playing with my feet.” Swarupa touched each of Karina’s toes, the cub wiggling her toes, Swarupa grabbing them in her paw, Karina curling her toes tightly under Swarupa’s grip.

“push with your foot if you want,” Swarupa said, Karina pressing her toes into Swarupa’s grip, relaxing her toes slightly, then pushing with all her might.

“push Karina Push!” Swarupa urged, Karina bracing her foot hard against the soft pads of the tigress’s paw.

“Make indentations in my pads with your toes!” Swarupa mewed, pressing back against Karina’s foot, both trying to cause the smaller toes of Karina’s right foot to make an impression in the larger, and softer toe pads of Swarupa’s left paw.

“Push with that foot Karina, push!” Swarupa said, Karina snarling and yowling with effort.

“Push Swarupa Push!” Karina mewed, “I’m pushing as hard as I can! You’re not, push with that paw! push against my toes with your toes!” Swarupa snarled with effort, bracing her toes hard against Karina’s foot, cat and cub bracing foot against paw for five minutes, until both broke off, panting hard, exhausted but happy both with tired toes and hot pads.

“Flex your toes Swarupa,” Karina gasped, rub the toes of your left paw with your right, or I’ll rub your paw with my hands, and you can rub my foot in your paws.”

“let’s do that,” Swarupa mewed, “My left paw is TIRED and my toes want more of your touch.”

“my right foot is tired, but my toes want more of your touch too,” Karina mewed. Swarupa embraced Karina’s right foot, the cub working her foot deeper into the tigress’s embrace.

That feels wonderful!” Karina exclaimed, her toes curling with pleasure.

“Simple pleasures,” Swarupa mewed, kissing Karina’s nose.

“it feels wonderful Swarupa,” Karina said. Swarupa grinned:

“I hope paw massage will help me through my labour,” she said, “last time, last time, it hurt like hell, first pains I could pant through, then curl my toes and kick, then I had to push causing me more pain. Moan and push, push and push and push, it was awful!”

“Sounds it,” Karina mewed, “when I first relieved myself, I really had to push too. down into my bottom screaming meoeoeoeoeoeoeeooaw!” while doing it.”

“that happens too,” Swarupa mewed, “but pushing against a cub is different, a cub is a solid thing, so it hurts even more.” Karina smiled broadly, pressing the toes of her right foot into Swarupa’s paws.

“your foot is very warm and pads very soft,” Swarupa said to Karina, the cub giggling delightedly.

“Walking on my feet is going to be so boring!” Karina said, “can I crawl all the time?”

“no, you will have to walk,” Fleur mewed, “but if you walk, you can regularly wash your feet, which feels good doesn’t it.” Karina smiled:

“it does,” she replied.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Theo lay on his side, sleeping off long hours of patrolling. Yawning, he stretched his legs and flexed the toes of all four paws, groaning as his legs complained.

“I know I’ve been on my feet for hours, but surely my muscles aren’t that out of condition, and my hind legs hurt too!” Theo thought. Opening his eyes he looked down at his paws. his paws and hind feet were tied together with strong ropes. Theo realised in an instant that his efforts to stretch his legs had tightened the ropes even further. Fear flooding through him he watched in horror as his toes curled uncontrollably, the muscles in his legs tensing and fighting for the freedom of his paws and feet. Roaring in agony as the ropes bit into his legs, Theo waited for the spasm of fear to pass.

“Relax dam you!” he thought, his rational mind fighting with the deeply ingrained fear of entrapment. Theo heard a deep animal moan, a primitive sound it was, and he wondered if there was another lion trapped as he was, then he knew, the sound had come from his own mouth, his voice as terrified as a trapped wild lion. Mewing pitifully, Theo lay still, contemplating the flexing toes of his bound forepaws. From time to time his toes curled tightly, Theo fighting not to tug at the ropes. Every time this happened, Theo felt sweat breaking out on his skin and soaking the pads of his paws.

“I know who tied me up,” Theo raged silently, Wihakayda with help from “those Badgers! But why? Why tie my paws and feet together?” Theo felt his toes curling tightly, then felt his legs tensing. Whimpering, Theo let the animal instinct flow, listening to the sound of the ropes stretching and creaking as he fought madly to free his feet. Eyes closed, he thought he could visualise how he would look to others, his feet tied, his face contorted in fear, effort and pain, pads bunched and toes curled, muscles tensing, body rolling from side to side, legs flexing, as he struggled to free his paws and feet. It seemed to Theo that the badgers hadn’t meant to cut off his circulation completely, as after four uncontrollable roaring, screaming efforts, the ropes hadn’t tightened beyond uncomfortable.

“I’ll bet they’re watching me curling my toes and screaming on the track,” Theo raged.

Indeed, Wihakayda was watching, and enjoying the sight of Theo’s paws and feet scrabbling.. In truth, she had wanted for a long time to see the pads of the lion’s large paws, and had been so frightened he’d refuse her requests, she felt the only way was to force Theo into a position where he had no choice but to show her the soles of all four of his paws. now she was getting a good look at his paws and feet, marvelling at his strong paws and the effort which made him curl his toes, his pads bunching up in a way which caused a rush of emotion within Wihakayda which made her curl her toes. Wihakayda crept forward to the struggling lion, reaching out a paw and touching his sweating shoulder.

“Why are you doing this to me Wihakayda?” Theo mewed.

“I wanted to see the power of a lion, also to see the pads of your paws and feet,” Wihakayda said. Theo felt his toes curling again, screaming,

“Why didn’t you ask if you could examine my paws!” He gave himself up to the animal instinct to get free of his bonds, his toes curling tightly, his muscles bunching as he fought for freedom. Yowling and roaring, Theo curled his toes tightly, wriggled and strained the ropes for a minute, then collapsed exhausted onto the track, uncurling his toes slowly.

“I’m finished!” Theo wept.

“You can’t help straining the ropes can you,” Wihakayda said, the realisation hitting her that her wish to see the soles of Theo’s paws had turned into imprisoning the lion, something she wished not to do.

“I didn’t mean it to be like this!” Wihakayda wailed, as Theo strained against his bonds once more, his toes curling tighter than ever, his face contorted with effort, eyes tight shut and teeth bared. Screaming like a trapped kitten, Theo strained hard against the ropes holding his paws tight.

“I’ll show you my feet and paws, I’ll pedal the air with my feet and curl my toes!” Theo screamed, “get me out of here!” he begged. Wihakayda gently rubbed Theo’s shoulder with her paw while the lion recovered from his effort. Wihakayda gently loosened the bonds holding Theo’s legs, the lion flexing his legs, paws and toes, then pedalling the air with all four paws to work his shoulders and hips, groaning as his muscles complained.

“I’m really sorry!” Wihakayda whimpered, Theo looking reproachfully at her.

“If you want to look at my paws and feet, you only have to ask,” Theo mewed, “I love showing off my paws and feet! Instead of asking me, you set me a trap and tied my paws and feet with ropes!” Theo got to his feet and walked away, Wihakayda watching him go..

“I don’t like the feeling I’m left with,” Wihakayda thought, I stole the view of his paws and feet.” Wihakayda turned away from the departing lion. The next thing she knew was hitting the floor hard.

“You disgust me!” Petra roared, smacking Wihakayda around the head with her paw, the half grown cub curling up into a ball and covering her face with her paws to protect it. Petra attacked Wihakayda, the lioness’s paws and feet clawing at the half grown bear, pert’s toes curled in the attitude they’d be if she was ripping into meat, Wihakayda feeling the toes of the white lioness’s scrabbling paws and feet all over her body, but even in her enraged state, Petra could not bring herself to extend her claws and do the half grown cub permanent harm. Wihakayda felt her toes curling with every blow from Petra’s paws and feet, every scrape from the lioness’s curled toes making her scream hysterically. It was when Petra turned Wihakayda onto her back and began pawing at her belly that the half grown bear began begging for her life.

“Petra, stop!” Wihakayda squealed, and Petra did, winding Wihakayda then leaning over her:

“Now go! Lev here and don’t let me ever see you doing that again!” Petra roared, letting the half grown bear leave, Wihakayda barely able to crawl away.

“I hope you didn’t do her permanent harm mum,” Theo mewed.

“No Theo dear, I didn’t,” Petra replied, “but her paws and feet will feel like yours did, I’m sure of that.”

“I fought madly to free myself mum,” Theo mewed, “I struggled, curling my toes so tightly I don’t think they will straighten properly ever again.”

“I heard you roaring and watched the end of your fight,” Petra mewed, “I knew Wihakayda would crack in the end and help you out of there.

“I knew I was being watched,” Theo mewed, “I could feel it, what I couldn’t work out is why I’d been tied up like that. I know now, or I think I do. Wihakayda wanted to see the soles of my feet and paws, she wanted me to curl my toes and fight like a big cat for my freedom. That was why she made sure the knots weren’t too tight, even when I struggled hard, they never got beyond uncomfortable.”

“she forced you into a situation where she could watch you,” Petra mewed, “why didn’t you just roll onto your chest?”

“I couldn’t, the ropes were too short,” Theo mewed. I couldn’t move my legs much, I could only sort of swing them, curl my toes and roll about. It was awful, well the irrational moments were, when my throat filled with roaring and my toes curled tightly in a wave of churning fear and terror. The worst of it is, that if only she’d asked, I would have rolled onto my side, or my back even, and presented her with my paws and feet to examine. I would have curled my toes, and pedalled the air with my feet. I would have pretended my feet were caught in a trap and struggled to free them in a feline version of the stuck paw game.”

“Now what will you do?” Petra asked.

“I’ll show the pads of my paws to someone who really loves a lion, jenny wants to give me a huge hug, I think I’ll let her do that,” Theo turned and left, leaving Petra staring down at her own paws.

Theo padded back to the house, washing his paws and feet in Sooleawa’s pool. Padding to his lie up, he showered thoroughly, then dried himself in the drying room. Massaging oils into his mane, then rubbing it all over his body, from his nose to his paw pads. This done, Theo flexed his legs and toes, then padded to jenny’s lie up. Walking in, he lay down, feeling the ache in his muscles and joints.

“Hi Theo,” Jenny said, walking into the lie up. Theo, half asleep, though he’d been lying on the rugs only a few minutes, mumbled a reply. Jenny crawled over to Theo, touching his shoulder with her hand, the lion groaning in discomfort despite himself.

“you’re exhausted,” jenny pronounced.

“yeah,” Theo mumbled into his whiskers, “jenny, Wihakayda, she, she, she tied my paws together, so, so she could, could look at my feet and paws, watch me struggle to free myself. Was on patrol all last night and part of this morning, and, and fell asleep under a tree. I woke to find my paws tied together.” Theo told Jenny everything.

“but that’s horrid!” jenny replied, “I know I wanted to touch your paws, but I wouldn’t make you show me them.”

“I’d gladly show you my paws and hind feet, belly, mane, ears and whiskers too.” ” Theo mewed.

“then you can get paws on with my hands and feet,” Jenny replied, “I’d like that Theo.”

“The last time I touched a human’s foot she was asking to become a bear,” Theo mewed, “that wasn’t a good time at all.”

“I won’t be asking for that,” Jenny replied smiling, “just to be hugged by a lion.” Theo smiled:

“That is fine then,” he mewed. Jenny stroked Theo from his ears to the tip of his tail and soles of his paws and feet, the lion wriggling with pleasure and stretching out full length in a manner in which only cats know how. Theo pawed at the air a little as pleasure overwhelmed the pain in his body, stretching the toes of his paws and feet one by one, curling his toes, holding them curled for a second or so, then stretching them as far as they’d go, before relaxing each paw.

“Your paws are huge Theo,” Jenny said, “they are huge and soft, and your toes are powerful too!” Theo sighed with pleasure, his sigh ending with the slight hint of a growl, though jenny knew it was a sound which spoke of pleasure which Theo had no words to describe.

“I’ll bet Petra played with your paws when you were young Theo,” Jenny said. Theo smiled, watching jenny massaging his right paw in her hands, Theo unable to stop the toes of both his hind feet curling with intense pleasure.

“That feels wonderful!” Theo mewed.

“I’ll bet you’re curling your toes with pleasure Theo,” Jenny said. Theo, his brain consumed with pleasure, replied:

“My hind feet, touch my hind feet.” Jenny did, finding tightly curled toes and bunched pads. As she explored Theo’s massive hind paws, he pressed his curled toes into her hands, jenny giggling.

“You big softy Theo,” Jenny said, Theo scratching the palms of Jenny’s hands with the toes of his left foot, which was uppermost and most mobile, as he wasn’t using it for balance.

“You have soft paws when your claws are retracted,” Jenny said. Theo drummed on the fingers of Jenny’s right hand with the toes of his left foot, jenny pressing back against Theo’s drumming toes with her fingers, stilling them. Theo braced his toes against Jenny’s fingers.

“I wish we could brace toes to toes,” jenny said.

“We can’t,” Theo mewed, “but I can play with your toes with my paws, and you can play with my toes with your hands.

“You make me laugh Theo,” jenny said smiling at the huge lion.

“next thing you’ll be tickling my paws making me roll onto my back and wave my paws and feet about,” Theo purred.

“if I tickle your pads, maybe you will,” jenny replied.

“if you tickle my pads, I’ll start pedalling the air with my feet to ease the tickle from my paws,” Theo purred.

“I like kicking the air with my feet too,” jenny said, “it feels great.”

“it does,” Theo replied, “I think mama cats, when they are delivering their cubs, and their feet and paws are sweating from pushing hard for hours, pedalling the air with all four feet helps to cool their feet.”

“So they push and push and push, then once they’ve got a break in the efforts, they pedal the air with their paws faster and faster to cool their pads?” jenny replied, “that’s so cute that is Theo.”

“I get a breeze over my paws if I pedal hard with them,” Theo mewed, “so I don’t see why lionesses and tigresses can’t do the same between contractions.”

“I did,” Petra mewed, padding into the lie up, “I held my legs straight, curled my toes and screamed throughout contractions, then loosened my legs, kept my toes slightly curled and pedalled slowly, then more quickly as a contraction built, then it was back to straight legs, tightly curled toes, and open mouthed screaming, unless I was really pushing, then it was eyes shut, mouth closed, teeth clenched and push hard into my tail, legs still rigid, toes curled, then eyes open, my paws and feet pedalling at the air like pistons to cool my body down while I panted and moaned in pain.”

“I remember Aslan’s rebirth, that was really worth watching,” Theo mewed.

“I remember every minute of that too, yes Theo, it was amazing,” Petra replied smiling.

“it hurt!” Aslan mewed, walking into the room, “I was squashed!”

“I was the one doing the squashing,” Petra Mewed.

“I wanted to help you push,” Theo replied, “I watched it all and wanted to bear down with you mum.”

“Thanks Theo dear,” Petra mewed, kissing her son’s nose.

“I was bruised and battered on the way back to this world,” Aslan mewed, “it hurt!” Aslan looked at Theo:

“I heard a bear got the better of you and tied your feet together,” he said. Theo snorted:

“Wihakayda tied me up so she would get a good look at the soles of my feet.”

“That’s a nasty thing to do,” Aslan replied.

“yes it was,” jenny replied, “Theo came to me to get a good rub down after his struggles against the ropes.”

“You didn’t try to take my paws and feet by force,” Theo mewed, “that is why I gave them freely to you to play with and stroke to your heart’s content. I’ll take all the paw rubbing and play you can give me.”

“I like your paws and feet, they are big and soft,” jenny said, Theo smiling broadly, his eyes shining..

“You seem to be out a lot recently,” Petra said to Theo, “Theo, are you courting?” Theo looked his mum full in her face and smiled:

“I’m trying to help a lioness,” he said, “but, well, she doesn’t look like a lioness. She has a mane, a lot of mane. She’s also one big girl.”

“Why would a lioness have a mane?” Petra asked.

“I’ve asked Blackberry about this,” Theo replied, stretching luxuriously, “he says, that though she might be female, she has more testosterone in her blood than females would usually have. Gives her extra mane and big paws and feet, as far as I can see, and a little more strength too. her face is beautiful though, with her lovely mane framing it.”

“What is her name?” Petra asked.

“You know her,” Theo mewed, “it’s Apudo. She was born fat, very fat, and is now seeing changes in herself. A long mane and aggression which she doesn’t know how to cope with. You know it Petra, you’ve seen her anger, her intolerance of others.”

“yes, I’ve seen it,” Petra mewed, “I thought she was just a bad tempered cub, but there’s more to it?”

“yes, seems that way,” Theo replied, “she’s been growing a mane, and her paws are bigger than ever. Poor Apudo doesn’t know what to do with herself.”

“so that’s where she is,” Aslan mewed, “my cub has been hiding herself away?”

“She’s upset, she doesn’t know what to do,” Theo mewed, “she stopped me on a patrol one night, breaking down, she showed me her mane and her paws. Apudo wanted me to help her get back her cub paws, but I couldn’t. Her mane distresses her too.”

“Well we could shave her mane off,” Jenny suggested.

“Blackberry suggested hormone replacement therapy,” Theo replied, “but Apudo doesn’t want that, she just wants to learn to accept her situation, but the cubs aren’t very accepting. They shun her, pushing her out of the room and driving her away, and that was after Blackberry had done his tests on her. She only got her test results hours before running into the woods.”

“Oh there you are Theo,” Apudo said, padding into the room, her paws almost catching in her long mane which hung down to the ground. Theo’s eyes showed his affection for the stumbling half grown cub.

“Oh!” Petra mewed, staring at Apudo with horror.

“I apologise for appearing in front of you like this,” Apudo mewed, her eyes downcast.

“You look, um, male!” Aslan yelped.

“I know!” Apudo wailed, “I’m trying to get used to my body!”

“You look lovely,” Theo mewed, Apudo looking up at him, his eyes meeting hers, the half grown cub smiling slightly.

“how long have you known about her condition Theo?” Aslan asked.

“She came to me weeks ago, after flipping out when Sita asked her to do something simple,” Theo mewed, “she was chastised, and ran off into the woodlands, I found her there that night, and the rest is history.”

“Theo spent hours lying with me, rubbing my paws and listening to my mouth pouring my mental shit into his brain,” Apudo said.

“he helped you?” Petra asked.

“I’m not hiding away now,” Apudo replied, “I can’t look anyone but Theo in the face yet, as I’m too ashamed to make eye contact, but I’m not ashamed of others seeing my body. Theo got me out from under the bushes and using my paws to walk, for ages I was just using them to soak up his gentility. Before you accuse him of brainwashing me, I choose not to make eye contact with others than him yet. In time I will. Even my sire can’t stand the sight of me, or so it is said.” Aslan, staring down at his paws, shifted uncomfortably.

“I had no mane and everyone looked me in the face, but I can’t look my cub in the face when she has too much!” Aslan whimpered, turning and bolting. Apudo padded towards jenny, her huge paws making no sound on the rugs. Jenny felt the lioness’s mane brush against her cheek, Apudo sitting down at right angles to Theo, so the lion could reach out with a paw and touch hers.

“Can I touch your paw Apudo?” jenny asked. Apudo keeping her eyes fixed on the floor, mewed that she could. jenny touched Apudo’s left paw, feeling the lioness’s toes curled tightly into the rugs.

“Your paws are tense Apudo,” jenny said. The lioness responded by lifting her head a little, her mane brushing jenny’s cheek. Jenny buried her face in Apudo’s mane, her mouth by the lioness’s ear.

“You have a lovely soft mane and paws,” jenny whispered to the lioness, Apudo leaning into her.

“Feel my pads,” Apudo whispered. Jenny slipped her hand beneath Apudo’s left paw, feeling damp pads.

“You’re shaking too,” jenny whispered.

“I’m terrified,” Apudo mewed, “I want to run, but my paws feel as heavy as lead.” Jenny embraced Apudo tightly, the lioness mewing pitifully and snuggling into her hug.

“You have very soft fur and paws Apudo,” jenny said.

“I do like oil rubbed into my fur,” Apudo mewed, “Theo does that for me.”

“I noticed he has soft fur and paws too,” jenny replied, “I like his paws.”

“Mine are smaller versions of his,” Apudo mewed, “feel them, I’ll lie down, and you can touch my paws.” Apudo lay down full length, giving Jenny her paws.

“I like these paws,” jenny said as Apudo’s right paw lay soft and warm in her hands.

“I like big toes and soft pads,” jenny said, Apudo smiling broadly.

“I’d like to get paws on with your hands and hind feet too,” Apudo mewed, “I know humans were present and helped at my birth. I am sure one even rubbed my mum’s paws and feet while she was labouring. Being hugged and having my paws massaged by humans feels great. I don’t know why this is.”

“I think Sally and Peter embraced your mum and rubbed her paws and feet while she was in labour,” jenny said, “this transferred to you and I guess you liked it.”

“I suppose I did,” Apudo mewed.

Meanwhile, in Blackberry’s lie up, he and Sita were talking Apudo’s diagnoses over.

“My cubs aren’t accepting of her at all, they say she looks male!” Sita whimpered, “I’ve not got paws on with Apudo yet, so I’m not so certain on the extent of her affliction.”

“She has long locks, big muscles and huge paws and feet,” Blackberry replied, “I love her the way she is, but she is less certain. I think Theo is helping her to come to terms with her body.”

“I’d like to get paws on some time,” Sita mewed, “just so I can get an idea of what she has to deal with.”

“I’ll ask her,” Blackberry replied, picking up the phone to jenny’s lie up. Soon, a sorrowful Apudo trailed into Blackberry’s lie up.

“You told me you’d never make a spectacle of me,” Apudo whimpered.

“I can’t see you Apudo,” Sita mewed, “I don’t want to make fun of you, I want to find out what you have to deal with.” Apudo lay down, Sita getting paws on with her mane and paws, Apudo at first wriggling with discomfort, then whimpering as her toes began to curl with pleasure, as Sita’s paws told her the cat bear was not judging her. Apudo felt her toes curling tighter and tighter, then, as her teeth clenched, she cried out as her body was flooded with pleasure.

“I love these paws and this mane,” Sita mewed, Apudo wriggling with pleasure as Sita’s paws worked over her body, rubbing, stroking and patting, then when they got to her paws and feet, embracing, gently squeezing her pads and embracing her toes, Apudo meowing and purring with cub like pleasure at Sita’s embrace.

“I like big fat paws and long manes,” Sita purred, Apudo stretching and curling the toes of all four paws in a frantic attempt to increase the pleasure to her brain. Sita, sensing this, began rubbing the pads of Apudo’s paws, the lioness whimpering and pedalling the air with her paws and feet, Sita catching each foot and paw and pressing Apudo’s pads, the lioness wriggling and squirming.

“You love all this don’t you,” Sita mewed. Apudo, unable to reply, gripped Sita’s paw hard with the toes of her left foot, to which Sita was attending to by rubbing her pads.

“Your paws soothe my feet,” Apudo mumbled, rapidly falling asleep.

“I didn’t know what the cubs were upset about,” Sita mewed, “now I do, I find it’s nothing. A cub with big paws and a mane, Apudo’s cute. I like her mane, and especially her paws and feet, they’re really cute.”

“I’m so sick of this, Apudo mumbled, “chased from my home by cubs, forced to sleep in a wet cold woodland. I was rescued by a fat pawed cub, a huge fat pawed cub with warm paws and soft fur, and a huge hug.”

“What’s she rambling about?” Sita asked. Blackberry grinned:

“She’s talking about Theo, he’s a fat pawed cub, well under all that fur he is. He’s big and soft.”

“I’ve been paws on with Theo’s paws, and yes, she’s right he has soft paws,” Sita mewed, “but a cub he is not.”

“he’s soft and gentle, I think that’s what Apudo means,” Blackberry replied.

“I know what I mean,” Apudo mewed, “noone will know what I truly mean, as I can’t put it into words.” Blackberry examined Apudo from ears to paws.

“She’s healthy in her way,” he said, “just huge and wanting a cuddle.” Sita sat down and scooped Apudo into her lap, giving the drowsy cat a huge hug, Apudo’s huge paws gripping her fur, the cub’s toes curling tightly into Sita’s silky fur.

“Hold me Sita,” Apudo mumbled, Sita embracing her in gentle paws.

Meanwhile, in Jenny and Sally’s lie up, Sally and jenny sat on the floor and stroked Theo from ears to paws, the lion submitting happily to their ministrations.

“I’ll repay your kindness by rubbing your feet with my paws,” Theo mewed, “that is if you ever stop massaging my paws and feet, which I hope won’t be for a long time yet.”

“Your toes curl easily Theo,” Sally said, “mine and Jenny’s do too, we’ve played together, got our feet stuck in yoghurt pots and struggled to free our feet, stretching our toes in our efforts to free our feet, when curling them tightly would have loosened the pot from our feet, allowing our heels to lift free, as stretching our toes trapped them in the pot.””

“I don’t think I could get my paws stuck like that,” Theo mewed, “large paws I might have, but they’re not like your feet, nor like Karina’s or a bear’s.”

“Did you watch our play?” jenny asked. Theo smiled:

“I did, and it was fun to watch,” he replied.

“I really fought hard to free my foot from that pot,” jenny said, “it wouldn’t come free!” Theo shook his paws free of Jenny’s hands and touched the toes and heel of her right foot with his paw.

“yes, that foot was the one that got stuck,” Jenny said, the lion’s touch making her toes curl with pleasure.

“I can see how you’d get your foot stuck,” he said, “if the pot is long and thin, then yes, your toes would get caught, and your heel too if there was a lip on the pot’s inside.”

“Can you cats play like that?” jenny asked, as Theo counted the toes on her right foot.

“We don’t play like you humans do,” Theo mewed, “but I can play like I was forced to in the woods, pretending my feet were tied together, and struggling to free them with attendant mewing and toe curling efforts.”

“Is that game like our push and pull game where we lie on our backs and grab our feet with our hands, then push against our hands with our feet?” jenny asked.

“Yes it is,” Theo mewed, “of course, a cat can’t do that.”

“this game?” Sally asked, lying down, drawing up her feet and grabbing them with her hands, settling her heels into the grip of her fingers.

“yes that one,” Theo mewed. Theo rolled onto his back and reached for his hind feet with his paws, stretching his hind legs towards his paws, he managed to grab the toes of his hind feet with both his paws, curling the toes of his paws and hind feet together, he held on tightly, roaring lustily:

“I can do it, just!” he yowled.

“it’s like you have your feet tied together!” Sally said.

“I did, earlier,” Theo mewed, “but that wasn’t a time I wanted to revisit.”

“Um, Sorry,” Sally replied.”

“?Watching you two play made me feel very good,” Theo mewed, “I like seeing humans play. Your play is very good to watch.”

“What do you think of our feet and paws?” jenny asked.

“Your feet are very cute,” Theo mewed, crawling over to Sally and gently blowing on the toes of her left foot, the young girl laughing helplessly, and nearly kicking Theo on his nose as her foot flew free of her hand, the lion moving his head enough to kiss the toes of her foot as they whipped past him, Sally, with a gasp, drawing her foot back and grabbing it in her hands.

“ooaoaoaoaoh, that felt good!” she exclaimed.

“You nearly booted Theo! Apudo roared, pounding into the lie up.

“She didn’t mean to Apudo,” Theo mewed, “and I did blow on her toes, so I lined myself up for it.”

“Okay,” Apudo said, padding up to Theo and kissing his nose.

“I love you Apudo,” Theo mewed, Apudo smiling broadly.

“I you too,” she replied, returning the kiss to Theo’s nose. Apudo took Theo’s paw in hers.

“You’ve had your paws taken from you today,” she mewed.

“yes Apudo,” Theo mewed pitifully, “they were taken by force, tied up so they could be inspected under duress.”

“Tell me Theo,” Apudo mewed, sitting down. By the time Theo had finished his tale, Apudo’s toes were curled into the rugs, her whiskers bristling and fur standing on end with anger.

“Wihakayda took your paws by force?” she asked, “that’s dreadful!”

“She did,” Theo mewed, “and I would have given her access to them if she’d only asked me, now I will never show her my paws ever again!”

“I know how good your paws are,” Apudo mewed, “they are big, soft, warm, and lovely.”

“Your paws are like mine,” Theo mewed, “big and fat, I love big fat paws Apudo.” Apudo smiled into Theo’s mane, kissing his ear.

“I love big paws too,” she replied, “especially yours my dear sweet Apudo.” Apudo kissed Theo’s paws, the large lion smiling at her.

“Can I touch your paws Theo?” Apudo asked.

“of course,” Theo mewed, rolling onto his side and presenting her with his paws and feet, Apudo umbra of Theo’s paws and feet in turn.

“Paw and foot rubs feel great,” Theo purred, Apudo laughing softly.

“I wonder if Humans like foot rubs like we do?” Apudo asked.

“We do,” Sally replied, “don’t we Jenny.” Jenny smiled and nodded.

“We like putting our feet into pots and struggling to free them, rubbing each other’s toes and heels, and playing stuck foot games,” jenny replied.

“stuck foot games?” Apudo asked.

“yes,” Sally replied, “we press bare feet together, then pretend they are stuck firmly, pulling at our heels and toes with our hands.”

“show me please,” Apudo asked. jenny smiled:

“how about it Sally?” she asked.

“let’s play,” Sally replied.

“Can I get paws on with your feet before you play?” Apudo asked. Sally giggled and gave Apudo her right foot, the half grown cub tickling her toes with her whiskers as she closely examined her toes.

“You’re tickling my toes with your whiskers!” Sally laughed, rocking back and fourth as Apudo explored her foot with her paws.

“You have soft pads, and very cute toes,” Apudo mewed, Sally laughing merrily.

“You feel those pads on my toes, and the pad on my heel?” she asked. Apudo smiled:

“here, here, here, here and here? Are Your toe pads> and here? Your heel pad?” Apudo asked, touching each in turn.

“yes,” Sally giggled, “well I press those pads against the pads of Jenny’s left foot, as that’s my right foot.”

“how about if you check my feet for thorns too Apudo?” jenny asked.

“I’ll do that,” Apudo mewed. “then, then, I’ll make sure your pad fit together too shall I?” jenny and Sally laughed:

“yes,” they said in unison, “please do.” Apudo stroked her paw down the sole of Sally’s right foot, Sally curling her toes tightly and shrieking with laughter.

“you lions need to have a soft touch with your paws, but that softness tickles my foot!” she squalled.

“I like these soft pads,” Apudo mewed, “Sally, did you once curl your toes in pain?” Sally smiled:

“I did once, when I was delivering a cub myself,” she replied, “I helped a panda cub into the world.”

“thought so,” Apudo mewed, “your toes told me that you’d curled them uncontrollably once, and tighter than you ever could in play.”

“I did,” Sally replied, her toes curling more tightly than ever, the feeling reminding her of the sensations she’d felt as she curled her toes while pushing to deliver Kuaizi. Apudo, feeling her pads bunch, rubbed the ball of Sally’s foot, Sally breathing deeply as her toes curled uncontrollably.

“ooaoaoaoaoh,” Sally gasped, as Apudo rubbed her foot, her toes still curled as tightly as she could possibly curl them.

“Rub her foot in circles,” Theo mewed, Apudo rubbing the sole of her foot in circles, Sally smiling broadly as her toes uncurled slightly.

“I love that feeling,” Sally sighed.

“Can I have some of that?” Jenny asked. Theo smiled:

“Can you bring yourself to let a big clumsy pawed lion rub your foot?” he asked. jenny laughed:

“yes of course,” she said, giving Theo her left foot, Theo’s paws embracing her foot in a warm embrace.

“oooah, my toes want to curl!” Jenny gasped, Theo gently rubbing the arch of her foot with his right paw, jenny curling her toes tighter and tighter.

“rub my foot in circles,” jenny said, Theo rubbing the sole of her foot in circles, jenny pressing her foot into Theo’s grip, pointing her curled toes a little.

“Foot play could be taught to all children and cubs,” jenny said, “it feels wonderful!” Theo smiled:

“I agree,” he replied, “and respect for the paws and feet can be gained that way too. touching feet with respect is good, but stealing touch is wrong, more wrong than I can put into words.”

“I know the foot and paw are sacred here,” jenny said, “they are accessible for the most part, but stealing a touch of a paw or a foot, or forcing sight of pads is not done.”

“You’re right there,” Theo mewed, “I’ve had my paws touched when I’m asleep, but that has been when they’re free, and the touch woke me with pleasure. Now I know how it is to have my feet stolen from me too. that’s horrible.”

“to have your feet stolen?” jenny asked. Theo explained:

“to have my feet touched by force,” Theo mewed. It’s horrible.” Jenny frowned, but then she smiled, pressing her foot into Theo’s paws.

“you’re welcome to my feet,” jenny said, “welcome to embrace them, stroke them and encourage me to curl my toes.”

“so can I stroke your pads and count your toes?” Theo mewed.

“yes, you can stroke them,” jenny replied.

“So your feet will join with Sally’s, stick and then you’ll be struggling to free your feet?”

“yes,” jenny replied, “it’s a pity I can’t play with you Theo, I’d like that, but I’m human, and you’re a lion.”

“I know,” Theo purred, “it’s a pity that.”

“mine and Sally’s feet are compatible, they stick easily together,” Sally said, Apudo’s attentions now on her left foot, Sally’s toes curled as tightly as ever as the half grown lioness rubbed her heel pad and the ball of her foot with her paws, Sally stretching and curling her toes at intervals, pointing her curled toes as waves of pleasure enveloped her.

“If I play too hard, my feet become warm, and they stick even better,” Sally said, Apudo smiling.

“if you catch my toes in yours, we could have a tug of war,” she suggested. Sally stretched the toes of her left foot, then curled them, feeling them grip those of Apudo’s right paw. Apudo snarled and growled, tugging at her now trapped right paw, Sally tugging at her left foot with her hands, tugging first at her foot with both hands, then trying to straighten her toes with her fingers, tugging at her curled toes.

“meoeoeoaoaoaoaowo! Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” Apudo roared as she tugged and struggled to free her paw from the grasping toes of Sally’s left foot, Sally feeling her toes curling more tightly than ever around the half grown cub’s.

“I can’t control my toes!” Sally wailed.

“I can’t free my paw!” Apudo yowled, pushing at the heel of Sally’s left foot with her free paw while tugging hard at her trapped paw.

“My toes won’t let go of yours!” Sally snarled.

“I know, I know!” Apudo wailed, “Hold still while I pull!”

“those two can play the stuck paw game, so why don’t we?” Theo asked jenny.

“Okay, how?” Jenny asked.

“Either I curl my toes around yours, or you curl your toes around mine, and hold on as tightly as we can while I pull or you pull depending on whose got hold of whose toes.”

Okay, hold the toes of my right foot in your paw Theo,” jenny said, feeling the toes of her right foot gripped in the powerful toes of the lion’s left paw. jenny tugged gently at the toes of her right foot, feeling them working into the grip of the lion’s toes. tugging hard, jenny realised Theo’s toes held hers tightly, but with ease.

“Squeeze my toes a bit,” jenny said, Theo gently squeezing Jenny’s toes.

“ooaoaoaoaoh,” Jenny exclaimed, tugging at her trapped foot with both hands, feeling her heel pad becoming damp.

“Your toes Theo!” Jenny yelped, “They’re powerful toes Theo!” Theo smiled.

“You asked me to grip your toes tighter,” he said, “I won’t grip them any harder, I’ll do them harm.”

“now I want to pull, pull hard!” Jenny gasped, grabbing her right foot in her hands and pulling hard at her foot, Theo holding on easily to her toes in his. Every time she relaxed, he relaxed his grip a bit, then adjusted it a little, jenny feeling this, and waiting for him to grip her toes before she pulled once more.

“I love this!” jenny said, “the embrace of your paw on my toes is lovely Theo.”

“Why don’t you wait for me to relax my toes then pull your toes from my grip?” Theo asked.

“maybe I don’t want to silly,” jenny laughed.

“You like my grip too much,” Theo purred. Jenny worked her toes into the grip of Theo’s powerful paw, the lion gently squeezing her toes in his, jenny pushing her toes deeper into the padded warmth.

“Push into my toes Jenny, push!” Theo urged, jenny pushing her toes hard into Theo’s paw, the lion pushing back with his paw.

“I like this!” Jenny gasped. Theo, his eyes closed in concentration, pushed back with the flat of his paw, gripping Jenny’s toes in his, the flat of his paw against the heel of Jenny’s foot.

“Push Theo Push!” Jenny squealed, Theo bracing his paw hard against her foot, jenny snarling as she desperately pushed her toes into Theo’s grip.

“I’m exhausted,” Theo panted, releasing his hold on Jenny’s toes, jenny grabbing her right foot in both hands and rubbing her toes, whimpering and rocking back and fourth:

“I want my toes embraced again!” she yelled, while Theo rubbed his left paw in his right.

“My toes are not as good at this as they should be,” Theo mewed, “they’re out of practise, but that was fun!” Sally and Apudo, having concluded their game with a snarling effort from Apudo, tearing the toes of her right paw free of the grip of the toes of Sally’s left foot,, watched jenny and Theo’s play, both grinning hugely.

“We were like that a minute ago,” Apudo said, “stuck fast, my toes trapped in yours Sally.

“your toes are just about small enough to do that,” Sally replied, “but if they get any bigger, I’ll be unable to grip your toes with mine.”

“it felt great to have your toes embracing mine,” Apudo mewed, “Theo and I play the stuck paw game, and his toes grip mine very comfortingly.” Sally smiled.

“Your touch is lovely,” she replied, “you have lovely paws Apudo.”

“You have lovely hands and feet Sally,” Apudo said, “your toes are playful.”

“I prefer using my feet to play,” Sally replied, putting my feet into pots and using my hands to free them, using my feet to play the stuck foot game, exploring the world with my toes.”

“I like paw and foot play,” jenny said.

“have you hurt your paw Theo?” Apudo asked.

“I held tightly to jenny’s toes, and my paw is out of condition,” Theo mewed, “it’s time to have more play I think.”

“I agree!” Apudo mewed. Sally looked into the lioness’s eyes, Apudo meeting her gaze.

“You couldn’t do that an hour ago,” Sally said. Apudo smiled:

“You don’t judge me,” the lioness replied.

“your paws show whom you rely are,” Sally said, “you’re a lovely lioness.”

“Playing the stuck paw game felt wonderful,” Apudo mewed, “I loved the grip of your toes on my paw.”

“Our feet stuck together well,” Sally said, “your yell as you pulled your foot free of mine spoke volumes.”

“I didn’t hear Jenny freeing her foot from Theo’s grip,” Apudo said, “I think she likes his touch as much as I like yours.”

“I think they should try to free themselves,” Sally replied, “How about it Jenny?”

“I pull my toes from the grip of Theo’s toes?” jenny asked.

“yes, are you up for it?” Theo mewed.

“I am,” jenny replied smiling. Theo took hold of the toes of Jenny’s right foot in his paws, jenny wriggling her foot into his grip, then tugging hard at her foot with her hands, struggling to free her toes.

“eeeeoeoeoeoaow, they’re stuck, my toes are stuck, eeeeoeoeoeoaow!” jenny yelled, tugging at her foot, Theo’s paw holding her toes, his toes curled around hers. Jenny feeling the warmth of the lion’s pads against the sole of her right foot as she pushed at Theo’s paw, then pulled hard to free her toes, curling and stretching them as far as she could, Theo’s grip tight on her toes.

“I can’t free my toes, I can’t free my toes!” Jenny whimpered, rocking back and fourth in her efforts to free the toes of her right foot, holding her foot in her hands as she rocked back and fourth, Theo’s paw holding her toes.

“I can’t free my toes!” jenny snarled.

“you’re not trying hard enough,” Apudo mewed, “it took me a long time to free mine from Sally’s grip.” Jenny tugged furiously, taking Theo by surprise, her toes flying free, the young girl falling backwards, drawing her feet up and grabbing them with her hands, wriggling, then sitting up, grabbing her right foot in her hands and massaging the toes of her right foot.

“my toes were squashed!” she whimpered.

“how hard were you pulling jenny?” Apudo asked. jenny gave Apudo her right foot, the lioness finding the heel pad warm in her paws.

“Quite hard then,” Apudo concluded, jenny smiling at her and rubbing her paw with her hand.

“yes I pulled hard,” she replied, “Theo’s paw is a strong one, and my toes weren’t strong enough to overcome his, I had to rock back and forth a bit, then I could pull my toes free.” Apudo examined jenny’s foot from toes to heel, Jenny curling her toes as the lioness’s paw stroked the sole of her foot.

“You have smooth soft pads which bunch up easily when you curl your toes jenny,” Apudo said, Jenny flexing her toes, curling them tighter still.

“your curled toes are so cute!” Apudo mewed.

“I like playing with my feet,” jenny said, “I do it often when at home, playing with my toes, pretending my feet are stuck to my hands. I hold onto each foot with both hands, then curl my toes while struggling to free my foot from my hands. I pull, push and wiggle my foot, stretch and curl my toes, pressing the ball of my foot with my fingers, then pressing my heel pad too. it feels great if I do it, but better when others do it.”

“Our play was great wasn’t it Jenny,” Sally said. Jenny smiled:

“Getting our feet stuck in the pots felt as good as removing them from our feet,” she replied, “checking our feet for thorns was great too Sally.”

“It was,” Sally replied, “we play easily together. I like you and your play jenny, you can play in a way I wish I could play.”

“You’re good at play too Sally,” jenny said, “we play the stuck foot game well.”

“We do,” Sally replied, “our toes lock together well, and stay locked, our heels pressed together so tightly it takes ages to free our feet.”

“I like those games,” jenny said, “your pads are soft and warm Sally, smooth too. it amazes me how our feet can stick so firmly when our pads are so smooth.”

“It’s because they want to stick tight,” Sally said.

“What is this stuck foot game?” Apudo asked, “surely you don’t put glue on your feet?”

“No,” Sally laughed, “it’s a mind game, we press feet together, and then help free each other’s feet, the games lasting for a long time.”

“let’s show her how it’s played Sally,” jenny suggested, Sally smiling and very soon, the two girls had set up the game, Apudo watching them checking each other’s feet in readiness for the game.

“Touch our feet Apudo, check they have no glue on the pads,” Sally invited, Apudo touching her toes, sole and heel, then examining Jenny’s toes, sole and heel. This done, and finding no glue, Apudo watched jenny and Sally’s feet, seeing how while two feet were on the ground for balance, the other two were pressed together, their legs making an arch, with the feet at the apex. Then Sally began pulling at the heel of her right foot, while Jenny worked at the inside of her own left with her fingers, trying to pry her heel away from Sally’s while Sally tugged with both hands. Apudo saw their effort in the curling toes of the free feet, the toes pointing, curling and relaxing with Sally and jenny’s efforts to free their trapped feet. Apudo watched the efforts, from pressing toes to tugging and prying fingers. Then, with a yell, jenny managed to pry her foot free of Sally’s. pressing hard against Sally’s toes with hers, and rubbing her heel with her fingers, jenny made sure her heel wasn’t going to stick, then tugged at her toes, Sally yelping as jenny tugged her toes free one by one, then pulled the ball of her foot free. Apudo inspected the freed feet, but found no glue, though the pads were hot and slightly damp, as if jenny and Sally had struggled for real.

“that game’s a strange one, but I think you like it,” Apudo mewed.

“We do, and so do the bears and other humans here,” Sally replied.

“it’s difficult for us cats to play,” Theo replied, “we can only play with toes, not heels, and not with our hind feet either. Okay, we could press two paws together, left to right, then pry with our free paw, but that would be it. It’s more interesting to grab each other’s toes and tug at them to free them I think.”

“I think those games are cute.” Karina said, walking into the room, “I would love to play with either jenny or Sally.”

“I’d like to play with you Karina,” Jenny said. Karina padded up to Jenny, hugged her, then sat down beside her.

“You’ve been washed,” jenny said, “your fur is soft and silky Karina.”

“I have been in the pool with Swarupa and fleur,” Karina replied smiling, “Swarupa’s about to have cubs jenny! She invited me to be there at the birth of her cubs, I can’t wait for that!”

“Well you’ll have to wait,” jenny said, “cubs don’t come when you want them to. They probably won’t come when Swarupa’s ready either, but there it is.”

“so she might be sleeping when she gets the first pains?” Karina asked.

“yes,” jenny replied, “and then she’ll wake and begin moaning and pacing about, then when things get going, she’ll start curling her toes and screaming, then pushing hard into her bottom to push out the cubs.”

“I’ll bet she can scream,” Karina mewed, “my mama Sita screamed and roared a good bit while delivering me into the world, I remember coming into the world, shooting into the water.”

“I’ll check your feet for thorns, then you can check mine,” Jenny said. Karina sighed:

“My feet are clean, and they have no thorns in them, Sita pressed and stretched my toe and heel pads, and stretched the skin on the arch of my foot. How if we both wash our feet with the cold liquid, then we can check each other’s feet for thorns like Sita did mine. She told me how she did it, and I will know if you do it right.”

“Okay let’s do that,” jenny replied.

“Why do our feet not slide about when we walk on them, even though we have smoother pads jenny?” Karina asked, rubbing lotion onto her hands and taking jenny’s left foot in her hands and exploring the sole.

“I don’t know, maybe our feet stick to the floor just a little. They do to tiles, I know that, as they make a funny sound on the tiles,” Jenny replied.

“I noticed that,” Karina mewed, “that’s fun, also curling my toes into the tiles makes a squeaking sound, that’s funny too!”

“I think our feet become a little warm when walking over the tiles that sticks them to the tiles a little, making the sound we hear,” Jenny said.

“It’s a fun thing to try and slide my feet along the tiles,” Karina said, “but they stick and my toes curl into the cracks between them too! Though I like crawling, as the soles of my feet are touchable then.”

“I like your feet,” jenny said, “Karina, they remind me of mine when I was younger.” Jenny took hold of Karina’s left foot, then examined the sole by touch. Karina laughed as Jenny gently ran her finger across the toes, and then in wavy shapes across the ball, down the arch and heel pad of her left foot, Karina laughing helplessly, curling her toes, then pulling her foot away quickly, grabbing it in her hands and massaging her tickled toes and heel, rocking back and fourth a bit, Jenny giggling delightedly at the sound of Karina frantically scratching the sole of her foot.

“Now please rub the tickle from my foot,” Karina said, letting go of her foot, “I can’t rub the tickle out of my toes!” jenny took Karina’s left foot in her hands, rubbing her toes, ball, arch and heel, Karina sighing with relief.

“That feels great,” she purred, “I couldn’t rub my foot like you’re doing, My fingers wouldn’t rub my foot like that, I tried so hard to make them do so, curling my toes too!”

“I didn’t know you’d curled your toes,” Jenny replied.

“I did!” Karina mewed, “tickle my foot again, then get hands on, I’ll do it again and you can touch my hands and foot while I’m doing that. It might mean I need more foot rubs though, your touch tickles my toes!” Jenny laughed helplessly and explored Karina’s foot, then, Jenny gently ran her finger across the toes, and then in as shapes across the ball, down the arch and heel pad of Karina’s left foot. Karina squealed and began rubbing, squeezing and scratching the pads of her toes, then flexing her toes, she set about scratching the ball of her foot with her fingers scratching urgently at the bunching and stretching skin on the ball of her foot as she curled and stretched her toes faster and faster to work the tickle from her foot. Wriggling, Karina whimpered as she attended to her arch and heel pad, as the need to stop the tickle in her foot increased. Suddenly, screaming with anger, Karina embraced her foot in both hands, gripping hard.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! The tickle’s not going, it’s not going!” she yelled.

“That’s so cute!” jenny laughed.

“Take my foot in your hands and rub my pads please jenny,” Karina mewed. Jenny rubbed the sole of Karina’s left foot, the cub sighing with pleasure and relief, curling her toes as Jenny’s fingers came into contact with them, catching Jenny’s fingers in her curled toes and holding on tightly.

“that was really cute Karina,” Sally said.

“Jenny tickled my toes!” Karina laughed, Jenny tugging at her caught fingers.

“My fingers are trapped by your toes!” she laughed. Karina tenderly squeezed Jenny’s fingers with the toes of her left foot, jenny smiling at her. Karina released Jenny’s fingers, the girl hugging Karina to her.

“You haven’t yet held my feet in your hands,” Jenny said. Karina smiled and kissed her nose.

“I will,” she replied, “though I don’t know if I will be able to tickle your toes like you tickled mine.”

“I shouldn’t have tickled your toes Karina, but I couldn’t resist it,” Jenny replied.

“It felt great!” Karina giggled, “I liked you tickling my foot.”

“I hope I can tickle your toes when the time comes,” Karina mewed.

“I didn’t mean to tickle your toes,” jenny replied, “I was trying to be gentle, that ended up tickling you!”

“You touched my toes gently, that tickled, so you tickled the rest of my foot, right down to my heel pad!” Karina giggled, “I felt it Jenny, I felt it!”

“I like your foot, it’s small, like mine used to be,” jenny replied.

“Your feet are small,” Karina replied, “I can see them, and if I grab your left foot in my hands, I can feel one of them too.” Karina grabbed Jenny’s left foot in her hands, exploring Jenny’s toes and sole, jenny bouncing with delight as Karina’s touch tickled her foot, her toes curling with emotion.

“I love this Karina,” jenny said smiling.

“your foot is small, your toes are small too,” Karina mewed, “mine are longer than yours, but I can grip with mine, you can’t grip so much with yours,” Karina observed, as Jenny’s toes caught her fingers.”

“your toes can’t hold my fingers like mine can yours,” Karina mewed.

“I can try harder,” jenny said, relaxing the toes of her right foot, then curling them tighter round Karina’s fingers, the cub easily windrowing her fingers.

“Um, no,” she replied, “you pulled your fingers against my toes, and you couldn’t free your fingers. I can free mine from your toes jenny, but that doesn’t mean they don’t curl cutely, or that you curling your toes is any less meaningful.” Jenny laughed merrily.

“Rub my toes Karina,” she said, “I like you making my toes curl.” Karina rubbed Jenny’s toes, jenny curling them as tightly as she could.

“there was one time when I curled my toes even tighter than I thought I could,” Sally said watching jenny’s toes.

“When was that?” Jenny asked.

“When I gave birth to Kuaizi,” Sally replied, “that kind of pain really makes you want to curl your toes, and you can curl them tighter than you thought you could. I watched myself on video, and tried to match the curl of my toes on the video with what I could do normally,, but I’ve never been able to.”

“You won’t be able to again until you have a baby,” Jemma said, walking into the room, “I remember curling my toes during your birth, and I know I couldn’t curl my toes as tightly until I had [Peter, then my toes curled so tightly it was amazing. I watched them, and felt them curl too. there was something else there I couldn’t achieve when I wasn’t having my babies, an extra degree of curl, achieved out of desperation I don’t know, but it was amazing. During the contractions, my toes would curl tightly, and I’d punch the air with my balled fists while rocking back and fourth on my backside during the worst contractions. I watched my toes curling just before I squeezed my eyes tight shut. Of course I could feel my toes curled, and the sweat breaking out on my soles too. Whether delivering Peter lying on my back, holding my feet in my hands was a good thing or not I don’t know,” Jemma said, “I drew my legs up and held my feet in my hands, curling my toes tightly while a contraction built,, then splayed my legs, kicking and yelling while straining into my bottom like Sally did while delivering her cub.”

“I listened to Cynthia having little Ekaterina, she screamed and yelled,” jenny said, “was it like that Jemma?”

“it was, well sort of, no bears to help me though.”

“You gave birth to me alone didn’t you mum?” Sally asked.

“I did,” Jemma replied, “I didn’t want to go to hospital or anything, so I stayed at home. I ended up delivering you in the bath Sally. I remember the bath creaking as I moved or dug my heels into the floor of the bath. I remember the splashing of my movements, then sitting on the side of the tub, bearing down hard with a moan of pain, then a huge splash as you were born into the water, which I’d filled to the top of the tub. I caught you on your way out Sally. My feet were pressed against the wall on the other side of the bath, my bottom on the ledge, I pushed down, it wasn’t safe, but I pushed, and you came out into the water.”

“Your heels rested on that shelf where we keep the bottles of shampoo and things now?” Sally asked.

“yes indeed,” Jemma replied, My toes curling into the tiles, gripping the raised pattern on the wall. I’m glad that was there, it gave me some purchase.”

“That’s a story you never told me mum,” Sally said.

“I never thought to tell you,” Jemma replied. “I coped with most of the labour in the tub, but at the end, I felt I had to get on all fours in the water, then, when your head was about to come out, I sat on the edge of the tub, braced my feet against the wall on the other side, and strained down into my bottom, moaning loudly as your head stretched me, my toes curling into the tiles, my hands steadying me on the side of the tub. When I heard the splash of your head entering the water, I guided your body out into the water, my feet now down in the water, sitting on the ledge, curling my toes into the ribbed bottom of the tub.”

“I never knew that mama,” Sally said.

“I repeated the living room scene in the tub, sitting on my bum, on all fours, sitting back on my heels, all that,” Jemma continued, sitting down on the floor, “I finished labour sitting on the side of the tub, my feet up on the opposite wall, toes curled into the tiles, hands gripping the side of the tub I was sitting on, moaning and screaming your head into the world, then bracing my feet on the bottom of the tub, pushing hard to deliver your body, while guiding your body into the world. I can remember the feel of the bottom of the tub on my feet, it was as if my feet were trying to gain an imprint of the tub bottom, my toes gripping the ridges with intense strength, my heels bearing down harder than I thought they could ever do. I remember the sound of your entry into the world Sally,” Jemma said, her eyes closed in remembrance, “it was a squelching sound, then me screaming and yelling, franticly readjusting my feet on the tiles, my toes scrabbling for hold as they sweated and struggled to keep their grip as hard as I was struggling to push you into the world, a sudden burst of fluid and a splash as you hit the water, me breathing hard, then slowing down. I placed my feet on the tub bottom, then braced them, curling my toes and pressing my heels into the tub bottom, easing you gently from my body, sort of eoeoeoeoeoeoah.! Loud at first, then a low moan as your legs and feet emerged, my hands catching you..”

“you’re curling your toes mum,” Sally said.

“Am I?” Jemma asked, staring at her toes, which were curled tightly, “oh yes I am, but that time was intense, and I wish I had put it on film for you.”

“Sounds it,” Jenny said.

“I knew what to do, even though I’d never been taught,” Jemma replied.

“I wish I knew what to do,” Swarupa mewed, padding into the room and collapsing exhausted onto the floor, “my cubs are due soon, and I’m scared it will be like last time, horribly painful and hard work.”

“it isn’t easy,” Jemma said to the tigress, “but you’ll get through it right enough.”

“I didn’t recover properly for weeks after the last time,” Swarupa meowed.

“I hear your cub is very much like you, the male cub Tigger that is.”

“yes he’s big and I felt every bit of him emerging,” Swarupa yowled, “I look at his paws and feet while he’s sleeping, and imagine them tearing their way out of me! it’s horrid! Though he’s a lovely tiger.”

“Tigger probably remembers nothing of it,” Jemma replied.

“I wish I could forget,” Swarupa said.

“you’ll be fine,” Jemma replied, the tigress shooting her a disgusted look.

“You’re a fine one to talk,” Swarupa mewed, “you had nine years at least to romanticise your birth experiences, I had only three.”

“I’m not saying it didn’t hurt,” Jemma replied, “it did, but I focused on my baby, and on my body too, I used the pain to urge me on.”

“I hated the pain,” Swarupa growled, “I wish I’d been out of it throughout my labour.”

“You were punished through labour,” Jemma said, “I remember the tale, I don’t think you’ll be punished this time.”

“I hope not!” Swarupa mewed. “Whenever I feel a pain, I see Tigger’s huge paws with curled toes, tearing their way out of me.”

“he’s a strong tiger I think,” Sally said.

“He is,” Swarupa said, “I know, I’ve felt his paws embracing mine.”

“Sometimes I wake pedalling the air with my paws mama,” Tigger mewed, walking into the room and sitting down.

“Why?” Swarupa asked.

“I dream I’m falling backwards down a tunnel, and I am so scared I claw at the tunnel walls with my feet, bracing my back against the wall, my feet and paws slipping and sliding, my toes unable to get purchase on the slippery walls. I wake just as I fall into thin air, my heart pounding, and paws sweating.”

“Oh no!” Swarupa wailed, “you do remember it Tigger, you do!”

“Remember what?” Tigger asked.

“your birth that’s what,” Swarupa mewed.

“You gave birth to me in the air?” Tigger asked.

“No!” Swarupa laughed, “but it was hard, and you did cling to your warm place.”

“I’m sorry mama,” Tigger mewed, lying down and inspecting his paws.

“I can see my paws, and they’re,” he explored the top and sole of his right paw with his nose and whiskers, “yes, they’re big,” Tigger concluded, glancing over at his mum’s paws, “yours are big too mum,” he replied, “mum, who was my sire?”

“Tommy,” Swarupa replied dully, “he, um, is how his name suggests, though he is sweet really.”

“A rampant male,” Tigger mewed, “I know what you mean mama, he’s, um willing,, but sort of sweet.”

“I’m big, he’s big, and you came out huge!” Swarupa mewed, “and now I’ve gone and done it again.”

“You just can’t resist his paws can you mama,” Tigger mewed, Swarupa swiping at him with one fat paw.

“Enough!” she snapped.

“I think I hit it on the head, or on the paw,” Tigger giggled, Swarupa meowing with anger and pouncing on her son cub, the movement making her cubs kick furiously causing her to break off her mock attack with a moan of discomfort.

“Look after those cubs mama,” tigger said, Swarupa lying down on her side, her belly distended by cubs. Tigger smiled broadly and rubbed his mama’s belly with his paws, Swarupa sighing with relief as Tigger’s paws soothed her.

“When I go into labour I will try to be quiet about it,” Swarupa mewed.

“No mama, you do all you need to, roar, mew, growl and moan, all that.”

“I probably will,” Swarupa replied, her toes curling with pleasure as Tigger took her right paw in both of his, massaging her pads and toes, Swarupa closing her eyes in an effort to relax.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” Swarupa moaned, her free paws and feet pedalling the air, Tigger rubbing the pads and toes of her right paw, feeling Swarupa curling her toes tighter and tighter.

“it’s okay mum,” Tigger mewed, kissing Swarupa’s nose.

“My cubs are kicking the hell out of my belly!” Swarupa wailed, tearing her paw free of tiger’s, furiously kicking the air with all four feet. Tigger watched Swarupa’s paws, marvelling at how big they were.

“You have big feet mum,” he said, Swarupa moaning:

“I know, and so did your sire, and I think my cubs are gonna have big feet again, and they are gonna hurt me on their way out!”

“come here mum,” Tigger mewed, embracing his mother tightly, Swarupa unable to stop herself snuggling into his hug despite her distress.

“Deep breaths mum, take deep breaths, everything is gonna be okay,” Tigger mewed softly, kissing his mum’s nose and paws. Swarupa whimpered, wriggling with discomfort.

“mama,” Tigger mewed, “my sister’s in cub too, in cub to Tommy also.” Swarupa stared at him.

“That bloody tiger!” she moaned.

“I think she’s going to have her cub the same time you do,” Tigger said.

“that will be one noisy labour ward,” Swarupa gasped, “I want a water birth!”

“Like it is said Snowy half tail did?” Tigger mewed.

“yes!” Swarupa mewed, gasping and panting.

“Are you ready to give birth now?” Tigger asked. Swarupa wailed:

“I hope it doesn’t happen now! not now!” Swarupa got to her feet, moaning all the way, Tigger realising then how full of cub she was.

“I’ll bet there’s only one cub in there, a really big one,” tigger mewed, Swarupa moaning pitifully:

“How do you know?” she asked.

“I got paws on with your belly, and could feel four big paws, and then the cub’s back, as it wriggled and kicked,” Tigger purred. .

“one big cub!” Swarupa wailed, “Oh no!”

“Probably a male too,” Tigger mewed, Swarupa glairing at him.

“Stop it Tigger, stop it!” she begged.

“I could ask Blackberry to take a look with his ultra sound thing,” Sally said.

“I’d rather not know!” Swarupa mewed, “but at the same time, I’m curious too.” “I’ll bet it’s one cub,” Tigger mewed.

“I’ll go get checked out,” Swarupa mewed, “I’ve been doing all I can myself to get in shape, but never been to Blackberry.” Swarupa padded away to the bear’s work room, pressing a button to request his attendance. Blackberry padded in soon after, looking the tigress up and down.

“I’m near to giving birth I think,” Swarupa mewed, “I think I need to get checked over, as I’m big and tired.” Blackberry ushered Swarupa to the couch and scanned her with his ultra sound machine, seeing one huge cub with huge head and paws.

“I don’t know if you’ll be able to give birth unaided,” Blackberry said, “but we can let you labour, then intervene if needed.”

“It’s huge mama!” Tigger mewed, padding in and staring at the screen. Blackberry smiled at Swarupa:

“I want to have this cub naturally,” Swarupa said, “Blackberry, you can pull the cub if needed, but being cut open is the last resort.”

“It is,” Blackberry replied, “and I won’t do it unless I feel it is needed. I can help you in many ways, pressing your pads, massaging your belly and giving you drugs before performing major surgery.”

“I can’t believe the size of that cub!” Tigger exclaimed.

“How am I going to give birth to that!” Swarupa mewed.

“I’ll help you,” Blackberry said.

“Are you sure it was Tommy you mated with?” Tigger asked, “that cub’s enormous mum! It’s so big it can’t fit on the screen!”

“it was Tommy, it was!” Swarupa wailed.

“No it wasn’t,” Blackberry replied, “it can’t have been. Cubs don’t get that big when they’re tiger to tiger mating. That’s a bloody great liger cub.”

“No it’s not!” Swarupa yowled.

“We’ll see when the cub emerges,” Blackberry replied, rubbing his paws in anticipation.

“Oh all right, I mated with Nuru,” Swarupa admitted.

“that would explain the size of the cub!” Tigger mewed.

“Stop kicking me!” Swarupa yelled, kicking the air with her paws and rolling from side to side on the couch, blackberry holding her as she struggled, “stop it cub!” she screamed. Blackberry gently rubbed Swarupa’s belly, the cub calming down. Smiling, he patted the tigress’s belly, the cub tapping back with his paws, blackberry and the cub having a conversation by tapping on Swarupa’s belly.

“Can I get a word in edgeways?” Swarupa asked after five minutes of this, “I’m not a bloody drum kit!”

“Hi!” patch said, wandering in, I was asleep and, well, I think a cub spoke to me.”

“yes, it may well have done so,” Blackberry replied smiling, “Swarupa’s cub is very lively.”

“Well it’s now down to Swarupa and us to make the birth a roaring success,” patch said, Tigger roaring with laughter.

“Will I be able to have the cub naturally patch?” Swarupa asked, her eyes pleading with the grey bear.

“it will be hard as the cub is a huge one,” Patch replied, “you mating with Nuru has created a huge cub.”

“I know, I know!” Swarupa mewed, “I will push and fight for this cub, I will Patch, I don’t want to be cut open by blackberry. I will have failed if that happens.”

“No you won’t,” patch replied gently, padding up to Swarupa, rearing onto his hind feet and embracing her left paw in both of his, “caesarean section is not a sign of failure.”

“now how ready is this cub to come out Patch?” blackberry asked.

“he’ll come out in a day or two,” patch replied, “though it’s right we monitor Swarupa here for the next few days.”

“You mean I won’t be able to leave this place?” Swarupa asked.

“We don’t mean that,” Blackberry replied, “though I will give you a full examination, as your cub is huge.”

“I don’t want to endanger the cub,” Swarupa said, “if it would be less dangerous to him to birth him surgically then I will let you do it.”

“I can only tell that when you go into labour and I can feel if his head will come through your pelvis and into the world,” Blackberry replied, “if his head fits, then you’re fine, if it doesn’t, I’ll intervene, okay?”

“Okay,” Swarupa mewed, “though I’d love a natural birth if I can.”

“if he comes out backwards, I’ll have to operate,” Blackberry replied.

“I know,” Swarupa replied, “now how to get him to come forwards.”

“I could tickle his paws until he gets into the right position,” Patch offered, his paws touching Swarupa’s belly.

“You’d end up tickling my belly too!” Swarupa mewed. Patch looked at his paws, then at Blackberry’s, seeing the black bear’s paws were smaller than his own.

“I think you’d better do her examination if things go wrong,” Patch said, “you have a smaller paw and would hurt Swarupa less.”

“I hope we won’t need to do any of that,” Blackberry replied. Swarupa suddenly rolled about, yowling and kicking.

“The cub’s clawing at my insides with his paws!” she screamed.

“I hope he’s retracted his claws,” patch remarked.

“Oh no!” Blackberry whimpered, “that’ll be a hell of a mess!”

“I want to get out of here!” the cub screamed, beating his paws on the wall of Swarupa’s belly, Swarupa roaring and screaming as he took his revenge.

“Can you start her labour now?” patch asked. Blackberry looked concerned:

“No,” he replied, “the cub will have to come in his own time, this is just him being fractious and disagreeable.”

| “I can’t cope with this!” Swarupa yowled.

“Calm down and he will calm down too,” patch suggested.

“I can’t, I’m stressed out already!” Swarupa moaned, kicking the air with all four feet, “Aowaoaoaoaow, oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Aaaaaw!” she screamed, as her belly contracted.

“Labour?” Tigger mewed.

“yes, Oh shit yes!” Swarupa wailed, “oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Aowaoaoaoaow!” yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow!”

“Your cub wants out, and quickly too,” patch mused, Swarupa tumbling off the bed, squatting and straining desperately into her tail.

“aoaoaoaow! Oooooaw, umph, ush, Oaoaoaoaow!” Swarupa screamed. Blackberry looked beneath Swarupa’s tail, seeing things had progressed quickly.

“You are nearly ready to push!” he exclaimed, Swarupa stamping her feet and lying down.

“Aowaoaoaoaow! Aaaaaaaaaw!” she roared, rolling from side to side and kicking the air with all four huge paws.

“Can I examine you Swarupa?” Blackberry asked, Swarupa rolled onto her side and tried to relax, Tigger feeling his toes curling into the tiles, feeling sick as he watched Swarupa labouring.

“Shall I find Nuru?” Tigger asked, as Blackberry gently inserted his right paw into Swarupa’s birth canal, Swarupa moaning with pain. Blackberry explored the cub’s position with his right paw while massaging the toes of Swarupa’s left foot with his left, feeling the cub’s hind feet, and Swarupa’s toes curling in agony. Measuring with his fingers, Blackberry judged the likelihood of Swarupa being able to push the cub into the world with help.

“I think you’ll be able to do it,” Blackberry said as he withdrew his right paw, Swarupa growling with discomfort and crushing the fingers of Blackberry’s left with the toes of her left foot.

“that hurt!” Swarupa wailed cubbishly.

“I need to wash my paw,” blackberry said, as Swarupa gave herself up to her first straining effort.

“aoaoaoaoaoaorg!” she roared, waoaoaoawowowoaoooaoaoorg!” she wailed as she pushed, then she closed her eyes and mouth, straining desperately. Blackberry, his left paw now free, washed his paws quickly and inserted his right paw again, feeling Swarupa pushing against her cub, but making no progress. Grabbing the cub’s feet in his large right paw, Blackberry pulled gently as Swarupa pushed, holding what he had while she relaxed, then pulling as she strained down hard.

“Help me Blackberry!” Swarupa groaned, pedalling the air with all four feet.

“I’m pulling while you push,” Blackberry replied smiling, omitting to tell her the cub was coming out backwards. Swarupa settled herself and strained lustily into her tail.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow, Aoaoaoaoaoaoaaoaoaoew! Eoeoeoeoeoeoaoaoaow!” she yowled, straining and pushing.

“the best push you did was when you didn’t scream and yowl,” Blackberry remarked. Swarupa whimpered, took a deep breath, settled herself again, curled her toes as tightly as they’d curl, and strained into her tail, feeling the cub’s passage stretching her body. Screaming, she panted:

“it’s hurting me, the cub’s coming out and it hurts! It hurts! Yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow! Oaoaoaoaow, yoyoyuoyyooaoaw!” Spitting and growling, Swarupa wriggled, moaning as she felt the cub’s feet and rear end slip out with a rush of fluid. Grunting, she pushed hard down, harder down than she’d ever done before, feeling the cub shoot forward. Deeply Moaning:

“auauauauauauuouw!” the tigress strained lustily, bullying the cub out into the world, sweat and tears flying off her fur.

“I wanted a water birth!” Swarupa yowled as she felt the cub’s head stretch her, screaming lustily, the tigress panted and yowled with the sensation of the cub’s head’s passage.”

“Too fast for that,” Blackberry replied as Swarupa’s cub slid completely into the world.

“that cub’s enormous!” Tigger yelled.

“”Oh dear, oh dear!” Swarupa roared, staring at the huge cub, her ears full of his strident demands for food and warmth.

“that’s huge!” patch remarked.

“Ok, my cub’s huge,” Swarupa moaned, “but how did I deliver that?”

“Feed me mum!” the cub yelled. Swarupa curled her body round and licked the cub from nose to tail, then led him to her milk, the cub drinking busily.

“that was a fantastic effort mum,” Tigger mewed.

“You have a strong cub here,” Blackberry said exploring the cub a few minutes after he’d finished his first drink, the cub catching Blackberry’s paws with the toes of all four of his smaller, though by no means tiny paws.

“You have huge paws little one,” blackberry observed.

“he’s a real Titan, huge and strong,” Tigger mewed.

“Titan shall be his name then,” Swarupa sighed, her efforts catching up with her in stiff muscles and aching insides.

“this hurts,” Swarupa mewed.

“Is there another cub in there mum?” Tigger asked. Swarupa stiffened:

“I hope not!” she whimpered, “I couldn’t give birth to a second cub.”

“I could check,” blackberry suggested. Swarupa rolled over onto her side, Blackberry lathering his paw and gently inserting it, feeling for another cub. shaking his head, he withdrew his paw.

“Just the one,” he replied softly.

“You have powerful paws little one,” patch said, as Titan, now full of milk, looked for play, and found Patch with his powerful newborn paws, the bear having sat down to observe the minute Swarupa lay down to give birth to her cub. Patch lifted the cub into his lap and gently explored him with his paws, Titan rolling onto his back, waving his paws in the air, patch blowing on the cub’s pads, the cub laughing helplessly.

“You are so cute little one,” Patch said, the cub snuggling up to him, Patch embracing Titan with gentle care.

“I can’t get over how soft a newborn cub’s fur is,” patch said, “that’s why I love being at the births of cubs, their fur and paws are so cute!” Titan reached up with both paws, Patch blowing on his pads, making Titan wave his paws and shriek with laughter.

“I love you little one,” patch said, Titan batting at Patch’s nose with both large paws.

“Who’s cub is that?” Swarupa asked, padding over to Patch and lifting Titan out of his lap by the scruff of the cub’s neck, the cub screaming with indignation.

“Mum, I want to stay snug and warm in that big furry hug!” he yelled.

“I’m in charge, you are not!” Swarupa snarled through a mouthful of fur.

“But that hug was warm and lovely!” Titan yelled.

“Your just a cub, barely born, don’t backchat me!” Swarupa growled through a mouthful of fur.

“Put me down, Put me down!” Titan yowled, kicking the air with all four paws.

“That’s so cute!” patch laughed, “those paws kicking the air, enraged cubs are sweet sometimes.”

“You like seeing me pissed off?” titan snarled.

“No, well, not when you’re in danger, but you aren’t, and seeing you Kicking the air with your feet while screaming and roaring when your mum wants you back with her is quite cute,” patch replied.

“I’m cold, that warm place was nice!” Titan roared.

“You need to go back to your mum,” Patch said softly. Swarupa carried the kicking, spitting cub back to her lie up. Clearing up the birthing room, Blackberry and Patch grinned at each other.

“I wonder what Nuru’s thinking,” patch laughed.

“Probably shitting himself,” Blackberry replied grinning, “he’s always hated births.”

“I’ll bet he has very damp paws at the moment,” Patch replied.

Patch returned to his lie up and sat down by the fire, yawning, he closed his eyes and reviewed what he’d seen in the last few hours.

“Patch?” a voice said, patch feeling a large cat trying to scramble into his lap. Mewing, Nuru clung to the huge bear.

“Nuru, you daft lap cat, you can’t climb into my lap, get off you daft moggie!” Patch laughed, but his laughter died when he saw the lion’s disintegration.

“Patch,” Nuru mewed pitifully, “is Swarupa okay? how’s the cub? I couldn’t watch!”

“She’s fine, and so’s the cub,” Patch said, gently pushing Nuru onto the floor, the lion’s toes gripping his fur, “look, Nuru, I’ll show you the video, and I’ll hold your paw while we watch it okay?”

“yes, okay,” Nuru meowed, his paws and body shaking so violently his mane trembled.

“I’ll take you through it minute by minute,” Patch replied gently, “Nuru, Swarupa is fine, and her cub is too, titan is a lovely cub, a really lovely cub!”

“I saw her lying on the couch, and that was it, I couldn’t watch anymore!” Nuru wept, Patch hugging the sobbing lion.

“They’re fine, completely fine,” he whispered gently into the lion’s ear, embracing Nuru as tightly as he dared, the lion pressing his body into Patch’s hug.

“I heard everything!” Nuru moaned, “I sat in my lie up, and when Swarupa squatted and began really pushing, I ran into the relieving place and was violently sick. Every scream, roar, mew or growl from Swarupa made me strain and my toes curl. Tess wandered in, saw what was on the screen and came in to check on me, I am sorry to her for appearing like that, I just crouched over the relieving place and lost my breakfast. I was in so much of a state she had to help me from the relieving place, my paw crushing hers as Swarupa strained down hard into her tail, her voice screaming out of the speakers, my paws crushing my mates as I suffered with the mother of my cub!”

“What does Tess think of this?” patch asked.

“She’s fine with it,” Nuru replied more calmly, “I talked it over with her before I helped Swarupa, eohippus knows why Swarupa kept telling everyone Tommy had got her in cub. maybe she knew what she’d done was dangerous, I don’t know.”

“Do you want to see the video now?” Patch asked the huge lion.

“yes please,” Nuru mewed, “patch, I’m sorry I climbed into your lap.” Patch smiled, kissed Nuru’s nose, and hugged him, the lion purring softly.

“Let’s watch the video now,” Patch replied smiling.

Patch and Nuru watched the video, patch watching Nuru as he watched Swarupa in pain while delivering their cub. Nuru clenched his teeth and curled his toes as he watched Swarupa pushing down into her tail, when she bounced on her toes, he bounced on his, when she crouched to strain hard into her tail, so did he. When Swarupa lay down to deliver her cub, Nuru followed her lead, Patch watching his huge paws pedalling with those of the labouring tigress.

“She’s pushing so hard, so hard, but it’s not enough!” Nuru whimpered, his toes curled as tightly as the tigress’s, his paws and feet furiously pedalling the air, his breath rasping out as Swarupa’s was.

“I’ve never had a paw inserted inside me, but that looks so ouch!” Nuru wailed, “Push Swarupa Push! That’s it, push hard against that cub!” when Swarupa panted, Nuru followed her, patch realising the lion wasn’t acting, he couldn’t help reacting to Swarupa’s agony. When the cub’s head came out, Nuru roared lustily along with Swarupa, patch watching his hind quarters, seeing his legs stiffen, his toes curling, almost as if he was straining against a cub. As Swarupa panted to release the head, so did Nuru. Patch stroked the lion’s sweat soaked fur, Nuru meowing growling, roaring and yowling like Swarupa was on screen, Patch realising the lion who’d been feared and hated before he came to the community was more in tune with the mothers of his cubs than he dared admit. When Titan was finally pulled into the open and Swarupa relaxed for the final time, Nuru collapsed exhausted on the floor.

“Sorry Patch,” he mewed, looking up at the bear from his prone position, “I can’t help it!”

“You are softer than you will admit,” Patch said, Nuru smiling broadly.

“I wish I could feel what Swarupa did,” he replied candidly, “I wish I could push and help her.”

“You’d have to get paws on first,” Patch replied, “and you can’t even face seeing her in pain.”

“I know,” Nuru mewed pitifully, “I wanted to, deep down, but my fear of her dying in labour stopped me from intervening, in case I pushed wrongly, then, then, well,,” he stopped, his eyes terrified.

“I would have loved some help you know,” a voice said, Nuru feeling a nose nudge his, then kiss placed on it. Nuru looked up into Swarupa’s eyes, the tigress sitting down and placing titan on the floor, Nuru looking at the mother of his cub, then running to her and kissing her nose, before pushing her onto her side, then her back, then rolling her over as he franticly examined and groomed her from nose to tail, Swarupa laughing delightedly as she lapped up his attentions.

“Nuru, get off, get off!” she laughed, but her heart wasn’t in it, Swarupa loved Nuru’s attentions, and both knew it.

“I’m ok, I’m here,” Swarupa mewed, “I would have loved a bit of help pushing against Titan though, he’s one big cub, get paws on, feel him, push him about a bit.” Nuru finished his nose to tail examination of Swarupa, then padded to his newborn cub, who soon laughed as hard as his mother as Nuru pushed him about, exploring and grooming him as thoroughly as he had Swarupa.

“tickle my toes, tickle my toes again!” titan mewed, Nuru blowing on the soles of the cub’s paws and feet while Titan lay on his back, making the cub furiously kick the air. Nuru kissed titan’s nose, the cub laughing as the lion’s mane tickled his nose.

“I love you little one,” Nuru purred, titan swiping at Nuru’s nose with one paw, Nuru snorting as his nose was roughly hit.

“You have powerful paws!” Nuru mewed.

“I was squeezed out of mama, she couldn’t push hard enough, so a huge paw pulled me while she pushed as hard as she could,” titan mewed.

“I wish I could have helped mama push you into the world,” Nuru replied.

“I needed your assistance,” Swarupa mewed, “it hurt and was so much effort!”

“I wanted to help!” Nuru mewed, “but I was so scared I’d mess things up that I couldn’t connect properly, my shame made me sick.”

“Can you help mama push now?” titan asked.

“She’s not in cub now,” Nuru mewed, though, though I think she might want some help relieving herself, if my feelings are correct.” Swarupa and Nuru padded to the relieving place, and Nuru crouched, arranging his paws and hind feet, Swarupa squatting beside him.

“Now push Nuru, push,” Swarupa said. Nuru pushed gently, pivoting on his toes as if having trouble relieving himself, seeing Swarupa hastily arranging her paws and copying his movement, hearing her gasp.

“give it some Nuru, help me!” Swarupa panted, Nuru straining hard, feeling the blockage Swarupa felt, then she began helping him, both straining in unison, Nuru feeling what Swarupa felt, and seeing her relief as she had her Burdon lifted from her.

“oaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaorororororrrr!” both cats roared as their Burdon was lifted from them.

“that felt good!” Swarupa mewed, Nuru helping her to the paw and foot wash.

“It felt good to help you Swarupa,” Nuru mewed.

“it felt good to be helped,” Swarupa purred softly, could you feel the tiles under my paws as I shifted them to balance myself?” Swarupa asked.

“I could, I suppose,” Nuru mewed, “I certainly felt the blockage you had, I wriggled, and you wriggled, and I pushed, then you pushed, and we both pushed, arranging our paws to give us stability. It felt wonderful! I’ve wanted to do that for Tess too, but she’s not had another cub since, or asked me for help with other problems.”

“I’ll bet you do a dam good line in paw massages though,” Swarupa mewed, “I know our mating was a bit mechanical, but, well, no, I can’t ask it.”

“A full rub down and paw massage?” Nuru asked. Swarupa choked back a rush of tears.

“it seems silly to be so hesitant about this when we’ve mated,” she blurted, “but, well, I’ve wanted your paws to embrace mine for ages, I wanted them to hold mine tightly when I was pushing, I wanted your hug dam it! I wanted you to hold me and stroke me while I was screaming and crying on the floor, while I was pushing and straining, all that!” Nuru padded with Swarupa back to the lie up, titan crawling up to them and snuggling up to his mum.

“I laboured with you when I watched the video Swarupa,” Nuru mewed, “during the actual event, I was being very sick with fear.”

“When you pushed with me to relieve me, it felt wonderful!” Swarupa mewed, “I so wish we could have delivered our cub together.”

“I’d let you take me on that journey,” Nuru mewed, “I know you can remember it, everything I mean.”

“I can,” Swarupa replied, “but are you strong enough to bear that?”

“I had the pleasure of mating with you,” Nuru mewed, “even if it was arranged by formal consent, now, well I want to know how it felt to deliver our cub into the world. I want to roar and scream with you, curl my toes and feel my paws pedal the air as sweat flies from my fur and I wriggle and push harder than I ever thought I could. Then I moan “oof, ow, owowowowowoaow!” as our cub comes into the world.” Swarupa giggled, hugging Nuru tightly.

“I’ll bet you could out scream and out labour me,” she replied.

“No way,” Nuru mewed.

“Are you going to have another cub with Nuru’s help mum?” Titan asked.

“Not really,” Swarupa mewed, “we were talking things over that’s all.”

“Would Nuru pushing with you have helped me into the world?” Titan asked. Swarupa nearly fainted:

“How do you know we were talking about that?” she asked.

“I heard you in the relieving place, you made sounds like you did when delivering me, and I know Nuru wanted to help you. if he can help you push like that, he could have helped you deliver me, that’s all I’m thinking.””

“Looking at your body and paws, I could have done with help yes,” Swarupa mewed, “you can’t keep anything from cubs these days can you!”

“I know the feel of another’s feet,” titan replied, “I remember pressing my paw against a warm naked pad, and that pad pushing back against my paw.”

“oooah,” Swarupa mewed, “that was the time I pressed my paw against Karina’s foot!”

“My right paw was pressed against the foot of this other creature,” titan mewed, “my left, well that was being squeezed by this creature’s hands. I know I’ll know it when I feel its hands and feet again. The creature seemed playful.”

“he felt Karina’s and my play?” Swarupa asked.

“Of course,” patch replied, “nothing more certain or natural in the world that. You played with Karina very late in your pregnancy, and titan felt the play. Whatever you did with your paws, he felt as if he had done that with his. So he will be used to the feel of water, of tiles, of woodland floor, though of course, he will want to explore those things himself. Karina still explores things with her hands and feet, though she knows she likes them touched and played with.”

“You bet I do!” Karina mewed, padding into the room. Titan felt Karina’s hands take his left paw, feeling a kiss to his nose.

“I think I’ve met the creature who played with my mum!” Titan mewed.

“You have,” Karina purred, “Now little Titan, you have lovely paws and very soft fur. I watched your birth, it was amazing.”

“when my eyes open, I’d like to see how you were born Karina,” titan replied, kissing her nose.

Purdy wandered through the woodlands, finding the tree where Koda and she had first met. It was a large one, and Purdy recognised it easily. At first she didn’t notice the bear sitting dejectedly at the base of the tree. It was only when he lifted a paw to wipe the water from his face which had dripped off the tree that she noticed him.

“Awe you all wight?” Purdy asked. the bear stared at Purdy, his mouth wide open in shock.

“I, I’m, well, I’m fine,” the bear replied, “I think,” Purdy stepped closer to the bear, resting a paw on his.

“You look cold and hungwy,” Purdy replied softly.

“I’m hungry yes,” the bear replied.

“What’s youw name?” Purdy asked. the bear buried his face in his paws.

“You’ll laugh,” he whimpered, “my name’s Blackberry Crumble . I, I, I liked the pudding when I was a cub, when I was, was, was owned by humans.” Blackberry Crumble did as his surname suggested, crumbled into a sobbing heap.

“Blackbewwy Cwumble?” Purdy asked, “that’s a cute name, I’m Puwdy.” Blackberry Crumble wiped his eyes with his paws, sniffing hard.

“is there anywhere I can sleep?” he choked, “I’m, I was, I’m used to a warm house, a soft place to sleep, not this! not here!” the miserable bear waved a paw at the surrounding woods.

“I live in a house, you can come with me if you want,” Purdy replied.

“I’ll follow you,” Blackberry Crumble said, getting to his feet.

“Befowe we go,” Purdy said, “Blackbewwy Cwumble, come here. Blackberry Crumble padded up to Purdy, the female bear hugging him tightly.

“come to the house,” Purdy said softly, leading Blackberry Crumble to the house.

“We alweady have a bear named Blackbewwy in the house,” Purdy explained, “how about if we name you Cwumble?”

“Cwumble?” the bear asked, smiling broadly, “don’t you mean crumble?” Purdy snorted:

“You don’t know me, so you don’t talk like that!” she snapped, “but yes I do mean Cwumble.”

“yes okay,” Crumble replied, “that’s okay for me.” Crumble suddenly began limping on his right foot. Suddenly he sat down, grabbed his right foot in his right paw, and scratched the pads and toes with the digits of his left paw, Purdy watching him, her own toes curling with emotion.

“I had a stone between my toes!” Crumble whimpered.

“You also like rubbing your pads,” Purdy observed, “I saw you close your eyes in bliss there.” Crumble smiled.

“I do like it,” he confessed, “my, my owners, they, they had a little girl whom I used to play with, we’d play foot and paw games.”

“We have some humans in the community who play those games,” Purdy replied, “watching them play is so good! Playing with them is better.”

“Humans have funny feet don’t they,” Crumble replied, “so like our feet, but so different too. they can’t grip with their toes like we can, but their pads bunch up so much like ours when they curl their toes. I saw the mother of my little playmate giving birth to her. she curled her toes, moaning and screaming as she delivered her baby into a pool of water, I helped her deliver her baby. The hospital taught me all that. I got thrown out of my home when the council realised I was a bear and not a human, now I’m lost!” Purdy stared at Crumble.

“our Blackbewwy does that too, helps cubs into the world, human babies too, though that’s his friend Ekaterina’s job weally.”

“Oooaoaoh,” Crumble exclaimed, “so you’re the bears who helped that teacher deliver her baby! My owner is friends with Cynthia Chartwell.”

“I wasn’t pwesent at the birth,” Purdy replied, “but yes, I saw the video, it was amazing.”

“I remember every minute of my playmate’s birth,” Crumble replied, his eyes closed in remembrance, “she was so beautiful when born, and remained so. I’ve been with her ever since she was born. She’s now nine years old, and she was born when I was ten years old. I learnt so much from the humans before she was born. My owner had a male mate, and she mated with him, but then he left her in cub. she delivered the cub with my help. I rubbed her shoulders, back, legs, heels and toes when she was in labour, then I caught the baby as my owner dug her heels into the bottom of the pool and pushed hard into her bottom, her fingers and toes curled so tightly they were white.”

“Why didn’t your owner put you in a good home rather than thwowing you into the wood if she trusted you to deliver her cub?” Purdy asked.

“I think she wanted to fool my playmate into thinking I’d run away,” Crumble sniffed, “I love my little human friend Purdy!”

“did she teach you to play with your toes?” Purdy asked.

“I taught her,” Crumble replied miserably, or rather my owner taught me, we played, then I taught the little one, little Alice, my dear friend and playmate Alice.”

“I can tell you love her,” Purdy replied gently.

“I do,” Crumble replied, “My owner didn’t want to let me go, but she left me in the woods, hugging me tightly before she drove off. Alice doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Can you speak English?” Purdy asked. Crumble smiled:

“I can,” he replied, slipping from modern ursine to English.

“so can I,” Purdy replied, “we both were raised by humans until they no longer wanted us.”

“I know my Alice would want me,” Crumble replied hoarsely, “I want to hug her one last time.”

“What are you doing here Blackberry?” a voice asked. Crumble looked round, though he hardly needed to. A nine year old girl came through the trees, then ran to him, throwing herself into his lap, snuggling hard up to his hug, Crumble crying with joy.

“Alice, my dear Alice!” he wept.

“What has happened here?” Alice asked, “is this to do with those men who came to our house and told mum you were not allowed to live in our house?” Crumble wiped his eyes and told Alice everything.

“I can’t take you back to the house,” Alice replied, “when I found you gone, mum told me everything, then I came to look for you. I’m sorry Blackberry dear, I can’t take you back home.”

“I helped you into the world,” Crumble said, stroking Alice’s head with his paw, Purdy choking back tears, “Why would humans throw me out when I helped bring one of their own into the world?” Alice kissed Crumble’s nose:

“I don’t know,” she replied, “they’re like that sometimes. I know how you helped me, mum videoed it, I saw the video when I could understand it. It was an amazing video. Mum pushed so hard, and you helped her so much Blackberry Crumble dear. I named you Blackberry Crumble because mum said that’s what we first ate together.”

“We had sweet teeth,” Crumble replied.

“Who is this?” Purdy asked. Alice turned at the sound of another bear speaking English.

“I’m Blackberry Crumble’s friend and playmate,” Alice said, “my name’s Alice, and my mum had to get rid of Blackberry Crumble, or Crumble as you call him. We’ve known each other since I was first born. He helped me into the world, my mum and Crumble lived together, and when she went into labour, he helped her. he rubbed her feet and hands, and helped her push me out into the world by supporting me as she pushed. Mum screamed and moaned, thrashed about, kicked with her feet and splashed with her hands in the pool, but Crumble was wonderful about it.”

“I can guess how much pain she was in,” Crumble replied, I saw her beginning her labour, heard it too. she started with small moans, then gasping, then yelling, then screaming, then roaring in agony. Sometimes she’d stop moaning and push down hard, letting out her breath in a rush as she finished pushing. When she did that, she’d curl her toes tighter than ever, and close her eyes too. at one time, she did that pushing thing, but screaming, then she lay down and began kicking with her feet, making a huge splash.”

“I remember re-enacting that,” Alice said, “mum didn’t like me doing it, but I loved it. Curling my toes, punching with my fists and screaming my head off, then throwing myself onto my back and kicking the air with my feet. Indeed, I did it in the bath once, water went everywhere!” Alice started to laugh, “do you remember that Crumble?” she asked.

“I do,” Crumble replied smiling, “mum got really angry when she found the mess.” Alice snuggled into Crumble’s hug, embracing the bear as tightly as she could.

“I love you Alice,” Crumble said, “this is the last time we’ll hug like this, and for that I’m sorry.” Alice buried her face in his fur:

“You did nothing wrong,” Alice replied gently, “it isn’t your fault some humans don’t understand you like mum and I do crumble. I’ll come back here and visit you, I promise.” Crumble pushed Alice off his lap, the girl sitting down and giving him her left foot, Crumble drawing circles on the sole of her foot from ball to heel, Alice tightly curling her toes.

“Did you two used to play like that?” Purdy asked, smiling at the two friends.

“I draw on the soles of Alice’s feet with my paw, then Alice draws on my pads with her fingers, it’s nice!” Crumble replied.

“It is nice,” Alice agreed, “I love Crumble’s touch on my feet.”

“I’ll bet you played with your owner like that,” Purdy said.

“We did,” crumble replied, “I play with Alice as I used to play with her mum. I even learnt how to bathe my dear cub. I see Alice as my cub, even though my reading says she cannot be.”

“You helped my mum bring me into the world, stroking her and comforting her,” Alice said, stroking Crumble’s paws, “I can be your cub, I’ve always thought of myself as your cub Crumble.” Crumble smiled gently.

“I love you Alice,” Crumble said, Alice squeezing his paw tightly in her hands, her toes curling and pressing into Crumble’s pads, her toes digging into the balls of his feet, Crumble curling his toes, the bunching skin on the balls of his feet enabling Alice to press her toes even further into the embrace of his toes.

“Push with those toes Alice,” Crumble said softly, Alice pressing her toes hard into the warm embrace of crumble’s toes, feeling her heel pressing against his, their feet very much the same size, crumble’s toes longer than Alice’s, though their feet were very similar in size, if not quite the same shape. Alice felt her pads warmed by Crumble’s, the bear’s toes embracing hers. Smiling, she worked her toes deeper into the embrace of Crumble’s toes, Crumble squeezing Alice’s toes in his with gentle care.

“You two look well matched,” Purdy said.

“We play silly games, like the stuck foot game,” Alice said, “I like that game, our feet stick together really easily.”

“Do you play with each other’s toes?” Purdy asked.

“We do, it’s lovely,” Crumble replied smiling.

“it is,” Alice agreed. We chase each other, tickle each other’s toes too.”

“We keep our pads soft by washing and rubbing them often,” Crumble replied, “We help each other Purdy.” Purdy smiled and sat down, grabbing her right foot in her paws, Alice and Crumble watching her.

“You have no claws!” Alice yelled.

“I know,” Purdy replied, “that is thanks to the humans, and I have no fwont teeth either, the humans took those too.”

“I have no claws either,” Crumble said, “I had mine removed when I was a cub, or rather my owner did, that was the only cruel thing she did. She tried to make me as human as possible, I see that now. but if I’d not been made as she had wanted me, I would not have met Alice, or seen her born, or been paws on at her birth, and I would not have been able to love Alice as I do.”

“My mum apologised to Crumble ages ago,” Alice replied, “of course, she’d probably not do what she did now, if she met him again, and had her time over again. But I’m glad she met Crumble, and that he wanted to be with her during her most vulnerable times.”

“I loved being with your mum while she was in labour with you,” Crumble said, “I loved helping her, and after that, getting to know you and playing with you.”

“I remember Crumble playing with me when I was three,” Alice said, “he was bigger then.” crumble laughed merrily, leant forward and kissed Alice’s nose.

“I was bigger because you were smaller,” Crumble replied smiling.

“I remember measuring my hands and feet against your paws and feet, they were huge, and still are huge when held up against mine,” Alice replied grinning, “though our feet are a similar size now.”

“do you remember when we played the stuck foot game for hours?” Crumble asked.

“I remember, the more we played, the harder the game got, until our feet became so warm, we couldn’t free our feet at all!” Alice laughed, that last game was a real fight, we made lots of noise and tugged hard at our feet with our hands, me pressing my toes against yours and tugging at my heels. I Screamed with effort as I tugged, my foot was well stuck!”

“I remember that,” Crumble replied smiling, I roared, you screamed, we both tugged at our feet, urging each other to pull harder. It was a real struggle.”

“We fought each other’s feet for hours,” Alice giggled, “though every time we tried harder, our feet stuck more firmly, making the job even more impossible.”

“how did you fwee your feet in the end?” Purdy asked. Alice smiled as Crumble took her left foot in his paws and drew circles on her ball and heel pad.

“We stopped trying hard, and gently levered and worked, the glue wasn’t as strong then, and we could free our feet. though afterwards, we did rub each other’s feet in our paws,” Crumble replied, “I rubbed Alice’s toes and heels, and she rubbed mine, both of us curling our toes with the pleasure of each other’s touch.”

“Let’s go home now,” Purdy said, getting to her feet. Crumble and Alice followed her to the house, where they met Sooleawa and Patch.

“I know you don’t I?” patch asked, looking Crumble up and down.

“I don’t know,” Crumble replied, “I’m fifteen now, I was born in the woodlands to a mama bear who was watched by a grey bear years ago. She told me of this bear who kept asking her questions about my birth.” Patch sat down and invited Crumble to touch hind feet with him, crumble doing as patch suggested, feeling the larger bear’s toes curl round his.

“You are that bear, I played with that bear!” Crumble whimpered, patch embracing him.

“Just before I was taken from the woodlands,” patch said, “what happened to you my friend?” Crumble, crying, embraced patch tightly.

“I’m hungry,” Crumble replied, “Patch, have you food here? If, if I could eat and drink a little, I could then tell you my tale.”

“come,” patch replied, leading Crumble into the house, asking Sally to look after Alice.

“I was caught in the woods many moons ago,” Crumble said, “I was taken to a family, to a young woman of around eighteen human years who wanted a bear cub. she looked after me, and I learnt a lot from her. she treated me like a human, not the way to go I know, but that was how it was. I learnt everything, she tried to treat me as a member of her family. She had a prospective mate, and they mated, but he was not for her. she though was pregnant, and I helped her deliver her baby, Alice was that baby. I was with my human companion throughout her labour, stroking her back, legs, and feet. I even caught the baby on her way out. I then grew up with Alice, playing with her, loving her as my cub until the humans got to realising I was not one of them. Then I was thrown out by force, and Purdy found me in the woodlands.” Patch, sitting down after their meal of fish, rubbed his nose with a paw.

“You must be only a few months younger than me then,” he said, before recounting his own life till that date. Crumble was impressed by his tale.

“So we’ve had similar lives,” Crumble said, “Patch, it is wonderful to meet you again.”

“I’m sorry your life with the humans ended like mine did,” patch said, “but now, now you are here, and welcome indeed.” Crumble looked at Patch.

“Do you mean I can stay here?” he asked.

“But of course,” patch replied smiling, “I’d be glad to have you here. To be able to look after the cub who’s birth I saw from mama pacing about to her final straining efforts and the emergence of her cub. I remember everything about that time, it was amazing.” Crumble smiled:

“I played with you in my den,” he reminisced, “I remember the touch of your feet on mine as we pressed hind feet together as we played the stuck foot game. You and I played while my mother watched us, thinking we were very silly.”

“I loved our play,” patch said, touching Crumble’s toes with his, then gently embracing them by curling his toes around those of the smaller bear, Crumble pressing his foot hard against patch’s.

“I saw my human friend give birth to Alice,” Crumble said, “it was amazing patch, a true miracle.” Patch grinned:

“I’ve seen it many times too,” patch replied, “birth of cubs is amazing.”

“All that effort for such a small thing,” Crumble said, “but it is such effort, enough to make mama curl up into a ball and scream, her feet kick the air and toes curling so tightly. The sounds she makes are amazing too.”

“I know it from both sides,” patch replied, “I’ve delivered a cub, and had to push to deliver one.”

“I know the tale of Sita’s birth,” crumble replied, “I believe it Patch, I really do.”

“It happened,” patch replied.

“it did,” Sita mewed, padding into the room, crumble staring at her.

“she’s beautiful!” he exclaimed. Sita sat down beside Patch and Crumble looked her up and down, from nose to tail, ears to feet.

“Touch me, stroke my fur, touch my paws, my feet, my nose, my toes,” Sita invited, Crumble getting paws on, Sita purring, mewing, pawing at him and embracing him as his exploration turned to stroking, massaging and general giving of pleasure. Sita lay back, enjoying Crumble’s touch on her paws, feet and belly.

“Can I get paws on, please?” Sita asked, crumble sitting back and letting her get paws on, crumble melting under her touch, loving Sita’s embrace, Sita kissing his nose and paws, Crumble snuggling up to her.

“You are so beautiful!” Crumble said to Sita, Sita smiling and rubbing his belly with her paw, feeling Crumble’s abdominal muscles contract under her touch.

“he likes you Sita,” patch observed.

“I’m sire Blackberry’s, not Crumble’s,” Sita mewed.

“I can dream can’t I?” Crumble asked.

“yeah,” Sita mewed, “but it is only a dream you’ll have. Now get up, and find your own mate, okay?” Crumble got to his feet and looked at Sita.

“I like the look of you,” he said, “you make my paws tingle.”

“You will have to do more than that,” Sita replied, spinning round, her tail lashing out behind her, her lashing tail catching Crumble straight across his face.

“ow, Bitch!” he yelled, rubbing his nose.

“Want me to get paws on more roughly?” Sita snarled.

“No, okay, I’ll leave you alone!” Crumble whimpered, Sita walking away.

“You are allowed a weak moment Sita,” patch observed, Sita stopping and turning back.

“I know,” she said, Patch, I shouldn’t have hit him with my tail, that was unfair, I punished him for my weakness.”

“I’m sorry Crumble,” Sita mewed, padding to him and touching his paw with hers, feeling his toes curl beneath her touch.”

“I’m sorry,” Sita mewed, “I can’t do it Crumble, I won’t!”

“You could,” blackberry said, “though I am glad you won’t Sita.” Sita turned and felt blackberry sidle up to her.

“I nearly did,” Sita mewed, “blackberry, I nearly did!”

“I’m not surprised Crumble likes you,” blackberry replied gently, “and you like him?”

“he has lovely paws and feet, and lovely fur, but my heart and mind is with yours Blackberry.”

“if you need to help him have a cub, I won’t mind,” blackberry replied.

“No blackberry,” Sita mewed, “I’m sorry, it was a moment of weakness, nearly a moment of total collapse.”

“You can’t ignore the touch of a paw,” Blackberry said, “you can’t shut your mind Sita.”

“thank you for your understanding,” Sita mewed softly.

“So I can mate with Sita?” Crumble asked.

“No you can’t!” Sita snapped, “though I will play with you, love your touch, and hope you love mine.”

“You’re a lovely creature,” Crumble said, “I wonder what cubs with you would look like?”

“I’m going to get very angry!” Sita snarled.

“I’m Sita’s cub,” Karina said, crawling into the room. Crumble looked at her, then padded to her.

“wow!” he exclaimed as he looked Karina up and down, from her face to her hands and the naked soles of her bare feet, and her long strong tail.

“She’s beautiful!” Crumble exclaimed.

“Do you want me to wave my hands and feet in the air?” Karina asked.

“yes, please,” Crumble replied.

“No Karina, don’t!” Sita snapped, “he doesn’t deserve to see you more than he already has.”

“Okay mum,” Karina mewed, turning and crawling away.

“I’ll leave now,” Sita mewed, walking out of the room, Crumble looking downcast, and sitting down on the rugs.

“I’ll have to get very paws on and fight for my mate,” Blackberry yawned.

“No blackberry,” Crumble said, “I’m sorry, I really am. I don’t want to cause a fight.”

“You can play with Sita, but don’t mate with her, please?” Blackberry begged. Crumble looked at blackberry, taking in his face, body, hands and feet.

“I like your look,” Crumble said, “blackberry, I won’t mate with Sita. I just want to play with her and your cub.”

“Okay,” blackberry replied, “Karina is lovely to play with, and you know Sita is.”

“”I’ll find Karina,” Crumble said.

“Unless I find you first,” Karina said, grabbing hold of Crumble’s left foot in her hands, squeezing his toes, then scrambling into the bear’s lap, Crumble embracing the large cub.

“I like the look of you, and the feel of your fur.” Crumble said.

“how do my hands and feet feel to you?” Karina asked. Crumble turned Karina onto her back, then embraced her hands and feet in his paws, stroking the palms and soles of her hands and feet, Karina giggling throughout.

“Your pads are very warm, and they look very clean too, nice dark brownie pink pads. Karina laughed as Crumble drew circles on the sole of her right foot, Karina unable to stop her toes curling with pleasure.

“I love that!” Karina giggled, “Crumble, do it again, draw circles please.” Crumble drew more circles, Karina laughing helplessly.

“would you draw circles on the soles of my feet too?” Crumble asked. Karina looked up into his face, her shining eyes melting his heart.

“yes, I will!” Karina mewed, “I like playing with toes and drawing circles on pads, “do you play with your toes? I play with mine, I hold my foot tightly in one hand and play with my toes with the other hand. I squeeze my heel pads too as I hold my foot, sometimes pressing my foot into my hand to!”

“I’d like to see that,” Crumble said.

“You will,” Karina mewed, “but only if I can see you playing with your toes first. I want to see how you do it.” Crumble laughed merrily and hugged Karina tightly, Karina snuggling up to him.

“I like your hug,” Karina mewed.

“You’re lovely from your nose to your toes,” Crumble replied smiling.

“mama Sita and Blackberry say that too,” Karina purred.

“Can I measure my feet against yours Crumble?” Karina asked. crumble smiled and waved his paw at both his feet.

“go on,” he said, Karina sitting opposite him, pressing her feet against his, her toes pressing into the balls of Crumble’s feet, the larger bear curling his toes around Karina’s.

“You have warm pads Crumble,” Karina said, pressing her heels against his, crumble squeezing her toes with his.

““I played the stuck foot game with Sally,” Karina said, “we couldn’t free ourselves for ages.”

“Alice and I play the same games,” Crumble replied, “we found the more we pulled and struggled, the stronger the glue got.”

“I know, I know!” Karina laughed, “Sally and I played the game, and our feet stuck so tight that we couldn’t free ourselves for ages. She pulled, I pulled, she curled her toes, I curled mine, she pressed with her toes, I pressed with mine. Our free feet told how we struggled, as our toes curled with the efforts we made to free our stuck feet.”

“I hope you checked each other’s feet for thorns beforehand,” crumble said.

“We did,” Karina replied, “Sally tickled my toes, but I don’t think she meant to, but she did say sorry by rubbing my foot in circles, she rubbed from my toes down to my heel, my toes curling when they could, they curled so tightly!” Crumble laughed merrily:

“You sound just like Alice,” he said, “she likes those foot games as much as you do.”

“I’m part human, like Alice is full human,” Karina said, “my sire was born of a human, or so it is said.”

“I know that tale,” Crumble replied, “it is a tale of misguided longing to be something you are not.”

“Jess didn’t know she was human,” Karina replied, “she was turned into a bear, had a cub, Blackberry, then went back to human form after doing something very bad that was a very human thing. Now she’s forgiven for that, and can play with everyone here. I helped her free her feet from plastic socks Blackberry has for injured paws. Those socks cling to your feet like another skin, and they’re see through too, so it looks like you aren’t wearing anything on your feet. Jess got stuck, and I had to help her. We enjoyed it.”

“I remember helping Alice out of those socks once,” Crumble said, “it was a struggle for her to free her feet after a time wearing them. then, then there was the time she got her foot stuck in a yoghurt pot. That was very funny, and very cute too.”

“Jess got her foot stuck in a pot,” Karina said, “I had to free her. Once we free our feet here, I’ll show you the video.” Crumble uncurled his toes, Karina pressing hers into his pads, easing her heel away from his. Once she’d freed her feet, she rubbed Crumble’s pads, exploring his toes and soles, the older bear loving her touch.

“You have funny pads,” Karina said, “yours are on the outside of the sole of your foot, and in a c shape around the edge of your foot, not all over the sole like mine is. Catherine and Patch have big pads all over the soles of their feet.” Crumble smiled and curled his toes, making his pads bunch, feeling Karina’s fingers tracing his furrowed pads.

“You like my touch don’t you,” Karina said softly.

“I do,” Crumble replied. Karina traced the raised pad of crumble’s right foot with her finger, then very gently traced the soft skin on the inner part of the sole of his foot, the bit that didn’t’ touch the ground when he walked. The skin was soft to her touch, and very sensitive, as she found out quickly when Crumble squealed with laughter like a cub, whipped his foot away, and rubbed the sole with his paws.

“That tickled!” he giggled, Karina smiling broadly.

“I have a place like that on my foot,” she said, “try and find it if you like.” Crumble smiled and dropped his tickled foot, reaching for Karina, who let him hug her tightly. Then smiling, he settled her down, and took her left foot in his paws, exploring the sole of her foot. Crumble touched the tender skin on the arch of her foot, just above the bulge of her heel pad, Karina laughing as his touch tickled her and made her tightly curl her toes.

“that’s the place!” Karina giggled, Crumble grinning at her.

“You love foot play as much as my human friend does,” Crumble said, “but, well, it feels more natural playing with you than it ever did playing with Alice. Yes she and I were friends, still are, but she was drifting away from me the older she got. We still loved each other, but she was drifting towards human things. I’m still a bear, no matter how adapted to human ways I get.”

“Alice won’t be joining us in our community,” patch said, “she says she is glad for Crumble that he’s found a permanent home, but she knows her path is diverging from his, and that it is right now to let him find his own way.”

“Well she’s not leaving him alone in the woods like most humans would,” Karina said, “I’ll look after him, as will most of the community.” Patch grinned down at Karina.

“You are so lovely,” Patch said, Karina smiling broadly.

“I love crumble,” Karina said, “he’s really sweet!”

“I think he likes you too,” Patch replied.

“I used to dream of what a human crossed with a bear would be like,” Crumble said, “of course, Karina has a bit of cat in her too, but she’s everything I dreamt of and more. I love the way her fur ends at her wrists and ankles, leaving her hands and feet naked. She has the most playful tail, and Beautiful face too. A face that’s half cat, half bear, she is just perfect!”

“Purrfect?” Patch asked, Karina laughing at him.

“You can’t purr like me,” she said, clapping her hands, patch gazing at her with gentle love, as if he were her sire, and she meant everything to him.

“You’re amazing Karina,” patch said, kneeling, then embracing the young cub, and kissing her nose.

“I love you little one,” Patch whispered, Karina returning his kiss.”

“I love you too patch,” Karina replied softly. Blackberry padded up to Patch and Karina, looking at them.

“You two are well matched,” the black bear said, “Crumble and your play was so good to watch.”

“I like play with Crumble,” Karina mewed, blackberry kneeling and embracing his cub.

“You are so perfect little one,” blackberry said, stroking Karina’s back with his paw, then kissing her ear.

“You’re so soppy sire Blackberry,” Karina giggled.

“I love you so much little Karina,” blackberry said, sitting down and gathering her into his lap.

“You are just so much cute, from your nose to your toes,” blackberry said, kissing Karina’s nose and hands, the cub laughing merrily.

“You make me laugh sire Blackberry,” Karina said smiling.

“I love you from your nose,” Blackberry said, touching Karina’s nose with his paw, “to your toes,” he said, touching the toes of her left foot, then her right, Karina laughing helplessly as Blackberry tickled her toes.

“You’re tickling my toes!” she squealed delightedly.

“yeah, I know,” blackberry replied, Karina grabbing her feet in her hands, Blackberry’s eyes shining as he watched her wriggling and rubbing her tickled toes, Karina giggling helplessly.

“”I loved that blackberry!” Karina said unnecessarily, blackberry picking Karina up, getting to his hind feet and carrying her to the birthing pool in his workplace. Placing her in the deep tub, Blackberry waited as Karina looked at the raised tap on the tub.

“What happens if I turn this?” she asked.

“Try it,” Blackberry replied, “the tap won’t hurt you. Karina turned the tap left, laughing as the water tickled her toes as it gushed into the tub. Karina spun onto her chest, lifting her feet out of the water to feel the jet on her soles and toes, blackberry laughing as the water sprayed off Karina’s bare feet and out of the tub, soaking him as Karina moved her feet in the falling water.

“It’s tickling my toes, it’s tickling my foot, from my heels to my toes, I love this!” Karina squealed, blowing bubbles in the water as it rose around her.

“You big softy!” Blackberry laughed, Karina giggling and turning onto her back, blackberry getting into the large tub with his cub. blackberry filled the tub, Karina scrambling into his lap as the water got too deep for her, and she became slightly fearful, Blackberry cradling her.

“I’ll hold you,” Blackberry said, the water turning off.

“The water is really deep!” Karina mewed, clinging to blackberry, “is it safe?” Blackberry smiled and held her tightly.

“yes it is,” he replied, Karina smiling.

“I believe you,” she replied, “but the water is nearly up at my nose when I’m sitting down in the tub on my own! Can you help me swim?”

“I can, or I can let water out of the tub,” Blackberry said.

“No! help me swim!” Karina said, blackberry holding her in the water as she splashed with her hind feet and paddled with her hands. Then she turned and blackberry sat her on a ledge, her heels on the edge. Blackberry rested his heels on the ramp up to the ledge and Karina pressed her feet against his.

“If I shuffle forward, can I press my feet harder against yours?” Karina asked. blackberry shuffled backwards, Karina shuffling forwards, feeling her heels pressing against his own heels, their feet suspended by the buoyancy of the water.

“I was born here wasn’t I,” Karina said.

“You are sitting on the ledge where I watched Sita enduring her labour, just before she squatted and pushed hard to deliver you,” Blackberry replied.

“would you show me what she did?” Karina asked. Blackberry smiled:

“You would like me to act as Sita did?” he asked.

“yes, yes please!” Karina exclaimed. Blackberry knelt on the ledge, sitting back on his heels, bouncing his backside on them a bit, Karina getting hands on with his feet. Blackberry moaned a bit, then suddenly plunged into the pool, swimming across it and back again with desperately thrusting feet and paws. Moaning deeply, he stood on the slope up to the ledge so Karina could see, then he bounced on his hind feet, his paws slapping the water as he bounced hard on his toes, blackberry screaming as he braced his feet hard, mimicking pushing into his tail, bouncing on his toes as he panted

“Cub’s coming, Aaaaaaaaaoaoaoow!” Blackberry yelled, Karina slapping the water with her hands when she thought Blackberry had laboured enough, which was much longer than Sita actually had. Blackberry, grinning at her, sat down on the ledge.

“You’d have had me labouring longer wouldn’t you,” he panted. Karina grinned.

“I wanted to touch your hind feet again, to rub them and see if it would help you,” she said, but then I realised that was not in the plan.”

“I could make up the birth of a cub,” blackberry said, “that way, you could rub my feet and paws.”

“I’d love to have a go,” Karina said.

“You’re too young!” blackberry replied.

“I saw Jess re-enacting the birth of a cub, and I’d like to, oh please Blackberry!” Karina begged, “I know it’s play, and by the way, I’m going to do it for real one day so I need practise, you would never be able to have a cub for real, but you can play at it. So why can’t I?” Blackberry couldn’t answer his daughter cub’s logic.

“Okay,” he said, “but it is playing Karina, don’t do what Snowdrop did.”

“I won’t do that,” Karina mewed, “she had her cub very young. I’ve seen her struggle to deliver it, she screamed like a cub in labour, and she was a cub in labour. I’ve heard mamas in labour, and they sound like mamas, but Snowdrop sounded like a cub giving birth to her own cub. the screams were high pitched, terrified screaming, the moans of fear were horrible. And when she pushed, she roared with fear filled efforts.”

“I’ll bet you’ve spoken to her,” Blackberry said.

“I have,” Karina said, “and we’ve watched the video, and I’ve re-enacted what I saw too! Snowdrop wasn’t happy! But I hugged her and told her she’d done a great job, and that her cub was as lovely as she is. The only thing Snowdrop is anxious about now though is that Kamchatka is in cub to a male bear, and she’s due to have her cub any day.” Blackberry snorted:

“is there anything you don’t know?” he asked, having been told that very news only a few hours ago.

“Oh, I’ve known that for ages,” Karina mewed, “and I know that Kamchatka is practising too, curling her toes, kicking with her feet, screaming and punching the air with her paws, all that.”

“how paws on have you been?” Blackberry asked.

“oh very,” Karina mewed, “I’ve seen Kamchatka kicking with her hind feet, playing with her toes, sitting back on her heels, all that. I’ve encouraged her to imagine pushing down and to make the sounds as if she were pushing hard, or pushing gently, to dig her heels into her backside too. then I’ve asked her to kick with her feet, really kick, kick and scream to let it all out. But then to curl up quickly, right up tight, and moan deeply, her face covered by her paws, legs drawn up, heels tucked in, and toes curled tightly. She loves her exercises, I think Ekaterina has got her doing them early in her pregnancy.”

“how do you know all this?” Blackberry asked.

“I’ve asked Snowdrop, mama Anook, Kuruk, Patch, Even Jemma, Jess and Ekaterina too!” Karina said candidly.

“this isn’t something a young cub should be asking about!” blackberry yelled.

“Why not?” titan asked, crawling to the edge of the pool, “we all went through it, and patch says that Karina is very intelligent for her age, so she will ask these questions, and understand the answers too.”

“You’re newborn yourself!” Blackberry yelled, holding his head in his paws, “you can’t ask these questions!”

“I can, and I did, and I will!” titan mewed, Karina laughing helplessly at Blackberry’s apparent shock.

“Why show me how Sita gave birth to me, then offer to re-enact another cub’s birth if you didn’t want me to ask other questions Blackberry?” Karina asked. blackberry looked at his daughter cub, seeing she was no longer laughing.

“Oh, um, ah, um, oh, I don’t know,,,” blackberry replied, Karina laughing merrily.

“I’ve seen many birth videos, and asked many about it once I saw Snowdrop giving birth to Kamchatka,” Karina said, “I wanted to know why Snowdrop was screaming the way she was when she gave birth without problems. turns out she was just young, and was barely out of cubhood in her mind, though her body knew what to do.”

“it did, and it hurt and it was frightening, and made me scream like the cub I was,” Snowdrop replied, padding into the room, “I have tried to watch that video again Karina, but I can’t. I feel awful for bringing Kamchatka into the world so soon.”

“Please Snowdrop,” Karina said, beckoning the polar bear over to her, Snowdrop padding round the pool to get closer to Karina.

“No no no, in the pool,” Karina said, Snowdrop stepping into the pool and wading across to Karina, then sitting down in the water.

“yes, what?” she asked, feeling Karina’s hand take her paw under the water.

“the birth of your cub was a lovely thing,” Karina said, “Snowdrop, noone blames you for being a young mother, they only wanted you safe and well, and for your cub to emerge safely and as healthily as nature wished her to be. I know you screamed and yelled, stamped your feet and curled your toes, but you did that because you are alive, and wanted to deliver your cub. now love her, and love your labour, please?” Snowdrop, her eyes full of tears, looked into Karina’s face, though she hardly needed to, the cub’s feelings were burning into her paw, making it warm and filling her with contentment which stupidly she felt herself fighting.

“if you need to, squat here, and push down hard, push that fear and shame away,” Karina said.

“it’s balling up in my stomach, it’s like I’m about to deliver a cub all over again!” Snowdrop squealed, “ooaoaoaoaoh, aaaaaow! Yaoaoaoaoaoaoaoah!”

“that’s it, let it go,” Karina mewed. Snowdrop suddenly scrambled onto the ledge kneeling there on all fours, screaming and crying like a cub. then she pushed hard into her tail, hard down, moaning and puffing, then roaring and yelling as she forced her shame and fear away.

“Push it right into your tail, then out of your hind feet, as I showed you,” Karina said.

“What?” Blackberry asked, his eyes starting from his head, “I’ve only just learnt that!” Snowdrop looked at Karina.

“Touch my hind feet, please!” Snowdrop begged, “this is so hard!” Snowdrop sobbed, tears flying off her fur. Karina stroked the soles of Snowdrop’s hind feet, the she bear sitting back on her heels.

“Now push the feeling away, right down into the soles of your feet Snowdrop,” Karina said, “I’ll help you by guiding you through emptying the feelings.” Snowdrop strained lustily, as if she were delivering a cub, screaming and crying like she’d done when delivering Kamchatka, then moaning and panting.

“My feet are filling up, they’re filling up!” she gasped, !”must push it all into my feet, every last bit! Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow! Oaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaosh!”

“now, as I rub your heels, soles and toes, let it all go,” Karina said, “scream and yell, cry like a cub, anything you want, but this is the last of it, okay?” Karina said gently. Snowdrop, wriggling with discomfort, moaned her assent. Karina touched the soles of Snowdrop’s hind feet, lying behind her. Snowdrop yelled lustily as she felt Karina’s touch.

“My pads are bulging as if they want to burst!” she moaned.

“let it all go, let it go from your heels, right to your toes,” Karina said, Snowdrop screaming and crying like she’d done while delivering Kamchatka as Karina gently ran her fingers down the she bear’s rough, tough bunching sweating pads as the she bear curled and stretched her toes. Karina kept her rubbing gentle but consistent, never touching the same place twice, moving her fingers down both Snowdrop’s feet from her heels to her toes, Snowdrop’s cries reaching a climax as Karina’s fingers brushed over her toes. Exhausted, the polar bear collapsed onto the ledge, almost falling in the water from weakness.

“That’s it, all done,” Snowdrop sniffed, “I’ve let it go Karina.” Karina touched the sole of Snowdrop’s left foot and smiled:

“You have,” she said, “now Snowdrop, could you watch Kamchatka’s birth again, and enjoy the arrival of your cub?”

“I think I can,” Snowdrop replied, “and Karina, thank you.” Snowdrop rolled into a sitting position, then gave the large cub her right foot, Karina embracing Snowdrop’s toes with gentle care.

“I can feel your foot is lighter now, not so taught on your pads, your toes younger too.”

“Did my shame at the birth of my cub affect my feet too?” Snowdrop asked.

“it affected all of you,” Karina mewed, Snowdrop curling her toes with pleasure at the cub’s touch, “all of you, from your nose to your toes, and deeper too, right to your heart and beyond.” Karina looked up, and gasped as she saw blackberry and Snowdrop staring at her.

“How can you speak like that, you’re only a cub!” Blackberry yelped.

“maybe some of patch is in me, as well as some of Sita, and some of you blackberry,” Karina mewed, “Patch sees spirits and things, and you like finding out things, and of course I got my tail, fur and claws from Sita, my feet and hands from you, and my head from my mama too.” Karina looked Snowdrop up and down, seeing the mama bear anew, as the small bear she was.

“yes I didn’t grow much after my cub’s birth,” Snowdrop replied, “my feet and paws are those which struggled to deliver my cub, my voice is the same which screamed in fear too, as you have heard.” Karina hugged Snowdrop’s right foot tightly in her hands, as she was too small even to hug her properly, Snowdrop working the toes of her right foot into Karina’s embrace, working her foot deeper into the cub’s small embrace until she was able to push hard, pressing with toes and heel, Karina’s hands rubbing, caressing and massaging Snowdrop’s right foot, the she bear’s eyes closing in bliss.

“I rolled about and grabbed my feet with my paws, and curled my toes, and screamed, and screamed and screamed,” Snowdrop mused, remembering her cub’s birth, “it was so painful, so frightening, but now, now I think I could let the fear and guilt at my premature actions go.”

“I love your feet and paws,” Karina said, “Snowdrop, you are beautiful from your nose to your toes.” Snowdrop giggled cubbishly, curling the toes of her left foot as tightly as she could to catch Karina’s fingers as they stroked them.

“You softy,” Karina giggled, “I like the black pads on the white fur of the sole of your foot,” Karina said, Snowdrop smiling broadly.

“My pads like your touch,” she replied, “I was soothed by your touch when I was pushing the bad feelings away.”

“I loved watching the birth of your dear cub,” Karina mewed.

“It’s all I can do not to re-enact what happened,” Snowdrop whimpered, whenever I hear that video, my toes curl, and I fight a need to scream and kick.”

“You can scream and kick here,” Karina mewed, “it’s fine by me if you do that.”

“I’m okay I think,” Snowdrop replied, “I got rid of my need during the ridding of the bad feelings. Ok I didn’t rub my feet with my paws, as I think I did when delivering my cub, but you were doing that for me Karina, and it was far nicer than when I rub or squeeze my own toes.”

“I loved stroking your feet, helping you to get peace,” Karina said.

“Karina,” Snowdrop said, “can I rub your feet?”

“yes, of course,” Karina mewed. Karina sat down on the ledge opposite Snowdrop, the she polar bear taking Karina’s right foot in her paws, then drawing her left paw down the sole of Karina’s foot, Karina yelping as Snowdrop’s claws scratched her foot.

“Stop it!” Karina yelled, grabbing her foot in her hands and massaging her sore foot.

“I was gentle!” Snowdrop whimpered.

“Let me clip those claws,” blackberry said, going to his workroom and picking up some heavy duty clippers. Whimpering, Snowdrop submitted to blackberry clipping her claws, both fore and hind, then blackberry attended to Karina’s right foot, bathing some slight scratches to her ball, arch and heel, Karina looking at Snowdrop, her eyes full of sorrow.

“She didn’t mean to hurt you,” Blackberry said.

“her claws scratched me!” Karina wailed.

“Please, would you let me get paws on once more? Just once more!” Snowdrop begged, “I can show you I didn’t mean to hurt you, my claws were too long!”

“okay,” Karina mewed, “but it will have to be my left foot, my right is full of holes now!”

“I’m sorry!” Snowdrop replied, almost crying. Karina gave Snowdrop her left foot, Snowdrop stroking Karina’s toes with the toes of her left paw, then very gently, Snowdrop stroked the ball, sole and heel of Karina’s left foot, Karina smiling.

“that’s what you meant to do last time wasn’t it Snowdrop?” She asked. Snowdrop sniffed, as tears overwhelmed her.

“yes, yes,” she choked.

“Explore my foot, stroke my pads, and maybe, maybe I’ll curl my toes,” Karina said.

“You made my toes curl easily!” Snowdrop whimpered, “but I can’t make you curl your toes with pleasure, and that’s because I scratched the pads of your foot with my claws! I didn’t mean to do that Karina!”

“Come to me later, and touch my toes with your paws,” Karina mewed, “then, maybe then, maybe, just maybe my toes will curl with pleasure at your touch, at the moment I’m hurt and can’t let go enough to play.” Snowdrop buried her face in her paws, crying inconsolably.

“What’s the matter with her blackberry?” Karina asked.

“I think she feels as if she’s injured her own cub,” blackberry replied.

“Oh,” Karina mewed, looking at Snowdrop, “Snowdrop, do you feel like that?” Snowdrop coughed, nearly choking on her tears.

“I do, I do, I’m not joking, I do!” She wept. Snowdrop coughed and gasped, nearly choking on her own tears.

“Snowdrop, dear Snowdrop,” Karina said, touching her tear soaked left paw, “please, take deep breaths. Snowdrop sniffed, coughed and struggled to control her emotions.

“Karina, please, can I look at your injured foot?” Snowdrop asked, her eyes desperate.

“yes, okay,” Karina said, giving the she bear her right foot, Snowdrop looking down at the scratched sole from toes to arch and heel pad, the scratches red but slight. Moaning in anguish, Snowdrop gathered Karina to her in a huge bear hug, then lay down on her side, settling Karina facing away from her. Snowdrop bent Karina’s left leg slightly and grabbed the cub’s right foot in her paws, licking Karina’s injured foot from ball to arch and heel, Karina staring at Blackberry, who watched the scene with wide eyes.

“how does it feel?” blackberry asked, Karina feeling her toes curling uncontrollably, her fingers balling into fists, her eyes tightly shut, her whole world focussed through the sole of her left foot, the mama bear’s licking cooling the hot skin, Karina whimpering with pleasure.

“it feels amazing!” Karina whispered, “it feels so right!” blackberry’s scientific mind fought with his natural instincts. Science said “wash the injured foot,” his instinct told him Snowdrop was doing the right thing.

“How scratched is my foot?” Karina asked, even though blackberry had examined her injuries.

“not too bad,” Snowdrop said, relief in her tone, “I’m done now.”

“I wish you weren’t,” Karina blurted, “I, I, I liked it Snowdrop.” Snowdrop smiled broadly.

“Maybe I’ll teach your mama how to wash your paws and feet like this, the wild way,” Snowdrop said.

“I’ll bet you licked your paws and rubbed them on your feet when you were in labour,” Karina said.

“I did,” Snowdrop replied, “I bathed my feet and paws too, and cleaned myself the wild way. that was before I went to Patch screaming and crying like a cub. I saw the pictures of me in my lie up, and I laboured like a mama bear, even though I screamed and cried like a cub.”

“I like your kiss on my pads,” Karina mewed, Snowdrop breathing gently on Karina’s pads to dry them, blackberry watching, his toes curling with emotions which confused and frightened him.

“Talk to me blackberry,” Snowdrop said, Blackberry choking back a rush of tears.

“it’s okay,” he said gruffly, “it’s fine, I’m Okay,” he sniffed hard, his eyes brimming with tears. Ashamed, he buried his face in his paws, turning away to hide his tears.

“he wants you to wash his paws Snowdrop,” Karina said. Snowdrop nodded:

“I know little one,” she said softly.

“Would you do it for him?” Karina asked.

“I would,” Snowdrop replied, “for I know from the tales I have heard he had a cubhood that was wild and nearly pushed him over the edge. Maybe he needs his paws kissed and washed.”

“No, it’s not that, not that, not just that,” blackberry replied, crawling towards Snowdrop until his nose touched hers, “I, I saw the look on Karina’s face as you tended to her injured foot, a look that was more contented and calm than I’ve ever seen her. you licking her wounds soothed not only her foot, but her heart too, I could see that.”

“You can touch your cub’s heart too, use your paws and tongue to groom her. your medical knowledge is great and very important, but sometimes, sometimes you need to get paws on, seriously paws on, with no barrier between your paws and your cub’s naked palms. Sita knows how to groom her cub the wild way, and you do too Blackberry, but you prefer to wash with chemically treated water and rough sponges, yes wash with water, but once that is done to keep clean, wash again with natural water, the wild way, and with the natural things given to you to seal in the love and care that your cub needs. Washing with chemical water washes the body, but it does a poor job of washing the spirit.”

“you talk like patch,” blackberry said hoarsely, “then again, that’s not surprising, he adopted you from a young age, and showed you the way.”

“You were adopted by Patch too,” Snowdrop said, “but by that time, your pads had been scarred by the shards on the path of your rough first few months, those punctures remaining raw and painful. You survived due to your own rules, having no direct guidance from others in your family. Running wild, your paws found softness whoever they could, as they could not find it with the one who should have given them softness and gentility, soothing your spirit.” Blackberry stared at Snowdrop, his eyes filling with fresh tears, his emotions almost choking him.

“I’ve never heard it described like that,” Karina mewed, you’re right Snowdrop. When I’m being groomed, when I’m being washed by mum and she’s doing it with her paws, teeth and tongue, it feels better than when I’m washed in a tub by soap and flannels.”

“I know,” Snowdrop replied, “I’ve always washed Kamchatka by wild methods, after I’ve washed her in the tub.”

“I can feel the shards sticking into my paws and feet!” blackberry whimpered, “they’re coming to the surface and they hurt me! ow! Ow! Ow!” blackberry suddenly rolled onto his back, and, rolling desperately from side to side, scrabbled at the pads of his forepaws and then sat up, grabbed his feet one by one in his paws and scrabbled desperately at the soles of his hind feet, whimpering and crying throughout.

“they’re hurting me!” he screamed. Snowdrop watched his struggles with gentle eyes.

“is there anything you can do for him?” Karina asked, “blackberry looks as if he’s in real pain! I hate to see this!”

“I could,” Snowdrop replied, “but it is not for me to do this. Patch could help him.”

“can’t you help him with Patch’s blessing?” Karina asked, “Snowdrop, mother blackberry for a bit, grab him in your paws, hold him, comfort him, then gently rasp his pads with your teeth and claws, then soothe them with your tongue and breath like you did mine? Can’t you do that?”

“I could,” Snowdrop replied, though Ekaterina could do a better job than me.”

“but I want your help Snowdrop!” blackberry whimpered, “please help me, my paws and feet hurt so much!”

“I don’t know,” Snowdrop replied, “you’re not a cub, I’m not your mum.”

“You believed in what you were doing when you helped Karina, now please, help me too?” Blackberry choked.

“Trust in your paws Snowdrop,” Karina said, “you soothed my sore pads, now please, soothe my sire’s?” Snowdrop felt her paws tingling slightly. She knew what that meant, and, kissing Karina’s nose, Snowdrop padded to blackberry, who now rolled about in agony on the tiles, holding his feet with his paws and shrieking like a trapped cub. Snowdrop stood over the struggling black bear, observing his face, paws, feet and body, from closed eyes to tightly curled toes and gripping paws, to the sweat and tears flying off his fur.

“I have to break his bubble of misery to release him,” Snowdrop thought.

“Can I touch you blackberry?” Snowdrop asked.

“Grab him Snowdrop,” Karina mewed, “grab him, control him, like you controlled me before you tended to my foot.” Snowdrop looked at blackberry struggling on the floor.

“he does look as if he’s tied up, as if his feet are stuck to his paws, and that every straining effort, pressing his feet against his paws is driving the shards deeper into his pads,” Snowdrop thought, watching Blackberry struggling more and more desperately, the black bear screaming in agony whenever he pushed against his paws with both feet, his paws gripping his feet hard, the whole thing a vicious circle.

“A Bubble is a three dimensional circle,” Snowdrop thought, “and my claws and paws can break it.” Snowdrop looked at Karina, then at blackberry, then pounced on the struggling black bear, tearing his paws away from his feet, blackberry shrieking with fear and pain as he was overwhelmed, then whimpering with fear and clinging with his paws to Snowdrop’s fur as she turned him towards her, the she bear lying down and embracing him, rubbing his head, ears, back and shoulders with her paws.

“My feet and paws hurt so much!” blackberry wept, Snowdrop pushing him onto his back and examining his paws and feet by sight and touch, blackberry punching with balled fists and kicking with his hind feet at the air until Snowdrop grabbed each foot and paw, kissing his pads, stilling his kicking and punching.

“that’s the anaesthetic,” Karina mewed, “now for the treatment, where blackberry will feel some pain to begin with, but then feel amazing pleasure.” Snowdrop rasped blackberry’s pads with her teeth, blackberry whimpering as her teeth scraped his pads, then her tongue licked and soothed, blackberry’s torment easing as she worked on each of his paws and feet.

“I think your treatment is working Snowdrop,” Karina said, crawling up to Blackberry’s side watching the she bear’s ministrations, Blackberry oblivious to the presence of his cub for the moment.

“is he feeling the discomfort of scratched pads?” Karina asked.

“yes,” Snowdrop replied softly.

“blackberry was pushing the shards deeper into his pads wasn’t he,” Karina replied, her tone one of wonder.

“yes he was,” Snowdrop replied, “the shards were making their way to the surface, and he was trying to push them back, but they were determined to come out. Thing is, when he realised they wanted to come out despite his efforts to shove them back, he couldn’t get them out of his pads alone.”

“Like I couldn’t wash my foot properly,” Karina mewed. Snowdrop held blackberry’s right foot in her paws, rasping the sole of his foot with her teeth, licking, then spitting, blackberry watching her through half closed eyes.

“Don’t curl your toes Blackberry,” Snowdrop said, blackberry wanting to curl his toes, Karina could see that.

“Now I’m done,” Snowdrop said, blackberry sitting up, then embracing Snowdrop tightly.

“I never knew it felt like that,” he said softly, “I know you’ve only groomed my feet and paws, but that’s where the shards were.” Snowdrop kissed blackberry’s nose.

“You need to be wild groomed more often,” Snowdrop replied, and also, groom your cub wildly too. spit, lick, rasp and spit, rasp and lick and spit.” Blackberry smiled broadly.

“Your touch soothes me from my nose to my toes,” he said softly, “thank you Snowdrop.” Snowdrop kissed blackberry’s nose.

“It’s a pleasure to help,” she replied, “now I hope you can groom your cub as you have been groomed, and show your mate how to groom her too, though I don’t think she needs much teaching.”

“half the excitement of it was how you grabbed me in your paws, controlled and soothed me then tended to my sore paws and feet,” blackberry said.

“I agree, it was lovely when she did that to me also,” Karina mewed.

“I’ve never been able to do that before,” Snowdrop said, “maybe Patch is helping me to express myself.”

“Well they say the best hug is a bear hug,” Karina mewed.

“thanks,” Snowdrop said, getting to her feet and shaking her fur dry. Leaving the pool, she shook her paws and feet dry, blackberry smiling at her as she left the room.

“Snowdrop is lovely,” he said. Karina, sitting down, set to careful and inch by inch exploration of her right foot with her fingers where Snowdrop’s tongue had soothed it.

“the scratches don’t hurt any more,” Karina mewed.

“My feet and paws feel great too,” blackberry admitted, Karina smiling at him.

“I wonder what snowdrop thought of my foot?” Karina asked, “I mean, it’s different to her own feet.”

“she liked it I think,” blackberry replied, “I think she likes the foot’s owner too.” Karina laughed merrily.

“I like Snowdrop’s feet, and their owner very much,” she replied.

“It seems we’ve all been helped through our paws and feet today,” Blackberry mused, “snowdrop to purge her guilt and anguish, and you and I to soothe our feet and paws.”

“I liked snowdrop’s touch, and her kiss too,” Karina mewed, “it felt great when she kissed and washed my pads, I wish that, well, that she’d been brave enough to groom me from nose to toes. I would like her to do that.”

“Well you could crawl up to her and ask her,” blackberry replied, “I won’t mind, and nor will mama Sita.”

“I could,” Karina mewed, “now, now, with my hands and feet clean, I’ll go to snowdrop and ask her to hug me.”

“Okay,” blackberry replied, kissing Karina on her nose.

Karina got to her feet, bounced on her toes, then walked away on two legs, dropping to all fours, then crawling, before, walking on the palms of both hands and the soles of both feet, as blackberry himself could, then rising to her hind feet and, using her tail for balance, ran away joyfully to the stairs, where she scrambled up them on all fours, placing each hand and foot on level steps rather than cross crawling up the stairs. Left hand on the lowest step, her right hand joining it, then stepping her hands up the steps, until she was at full stretch enough to get onto her hind feet, then pulling herself up the steps, left hand up one step, her right hand joining it, then Karina lifted her left foot up one step, then her right joined her left on the same step, as if using alternate hands and feet to climb the stairs was difficult for her. Blackberry watched as Karina took care, settling each hand and foot with care before she climbed another step, though Karina could crawl easily on the flat. blackberry followed, watching his cub’s climb with fascinated eyes. Karina struggled up the stairs, then, gasping with exertion and looking mentally exhausted, crawled along the passage to Kamchatka’s lie up, her ears pricking up as moaning and whimpering sounds became louder the closer she got. Entering the lie up, she found Anernerk crawling around the room, Kamchatka soothing her.

“I think I’m in labour!” Anernerk yelled, seeing Karina crawl into the room.

“I’ll be soon I think too!” Kamchatka laughed, clearly heavily in cub herself, though comforting Anernerk, who was clearly in pain from growing contractions. Karina stared as Anernerk, maddened with pain, grabbed Kamchatka in a huge bear hug and squeezed her, screaming and crying through another pain. Kamchatka suddenly stiffened, moaning pitifully herself:

“Oaoaoaoaow!” she moaned, panting hard and pushing Anernerk away, sitting down heavily, her paws working over her belly.

“Oh, um, ah, woops,” Karina said, looking over to see Snowdrop staring at her adopted cub and natural cub, who were both in cub to the same bear, Figaro having mated with both Kamchatka and Anernerk.

“A double birth?” Snowdrop asked. Karina, sitting down, clapped her hands delightedly.

“This is going to be fun!” she said, Anernerk scowling at her.

“You think pain is fun?” she growled, “you are horrid!”

“No, but birth is fun, birth is lovely,” Karina mewed, watching as Kamchatka screwed her eyes shut and balled her paws into fists, her toes curling as she sat on the rugs.

“ooaoaoaoaoh,” the mama bear groaned as she endured her first pains.

“Can I rub a foot, or a belly?” Karina asked.

“yes, please,” Anernerk gasped, “my foot, my right foot, rub it Karina,” Karina smiled, crawled up to Anernerk’s right foot, and stroked her pads with the fingers of her right hand, feeling the heat in them.”

“oaoaoaoaoaoaaow, aaaaaow!” Anernerk moaned, her toes curling and relaxing with the pace of her contractions.

“Crawl round the room,” Karina mewed, “that might ease the cub into the place it needs to be to be born.”

“How do you know this when you are a cub?” Kamchatka asked.

“I asked your mum, and also Ekaterina, and Jess, and others,” Karina mewed, “your mum crawled round her lie up during her labour you know Kamchatka.”

“I saw my birth video,” Kamchatka moaned, “and I’m about to repeat it too, as I’m just two years old myself!” Kamchatka panted hard, then screamed like a stuck cub.

“Now I’m like this!” she squealed, grabbing her right foot in her paws and squeezing her toes as hard as she could while they curled in response to her agony.

“Uuumph!” Kamchatka yelled as she gripped her foot in her paws, squeezing her pads, rubbing her pads when her contractions eased, then squeezing hard when they built, her toes reacting by curling and relaxing with the contractions. Karina didn’t know where to look, not that she was embarrassed, but her eyes couldn’t take in everything she wanted to see. Anernerk squealed, straining lustily, sitting back on her heels, placing her paws on the floor and bearing down hard down into her tail.

“yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow! Aaaaaaaaow” Oaoaoaoaoaoaaow!” ayayayayayayaow!” Anernerk yelled.

“huauauauauauauauaoaoaoaow!” Kamchatka roared in response, Karina feeling she should yell too, as her fingers were caught painfully in Anernerk’s strong toes as she curled them in her agony.

“aoaoaoaow,” Karina squealed, “you’re crushing my fingers!”

“I don’t care!” Anernerk moaned, I’m being squeezed inside, it’s more painful for me than you this is! Oaoaoaoaoaow! Yoaaoaoaoaoaoaow!”

“My poor fingers!” Karina whimpered.

“My poor body!” Kamchatka screamed, “this isn’t easy Karina!”

“I know, I know!” Karina whimpered, looking over to where snowdrop was nervously biting the claws on her left paw, her right squeezing the toes of her right foot, which curled with those of her first born cub as Kamchatka laboured.

“I must really, really push!” Anernerk groaned, closing her mouth and lifting her bottom off her heels, straining hard down into her tail, Karina hearing a squelching sound, then Anernerk panting, then catching her breath and pushing down again, the squelching sound came once more, Anernerk whimpering and panting hard, then moaning pitifully, Karina watching as the cub’s head emerged slowly, Anernerk squealing lustily as her body was stretched. Karina watched beneath Anernerk’s tail, Anernerk splaying her legs a bit more, the cub’s head exploding from her making Anernerk grunt and pant.

“that’s it, now pant and pant and pant!” Karina said, Anernerk gasping and moaning, Karina catching the cub in her hands, helping Anernerk who put her head down and strained desperately. Karina guided the cub out into the world, easing the cub from Anernerk as gently as she could.

“Nearly there, nearly there, push once more Anernerk,” Karina said, Anernerk straining for the last time.

“That’s it!” Karina mewed, “the cub’s feet are out now.” Anernerk collapsed, her body exhausted. Karina looked at snowdrop, who, staring, looked sick.

“help me!” Karina begged.

“Give the cub to Anernerk,” Blackberry said, padding up to Karina, “she’ll clean the cub. now, now you’re needed elsewhere, your hands are needed to deliver another cub. here, wash them.” Karina looked at Kamchatka, who lay on her back, her drawn up feet held in her paws. whimpering, Kamchatka curled forwards, reaching between her splayed hind legs, frantically cleaning herself with her tongue. Moaning, she panted as a contraction built, forcing her to abandon the cleaning and lie on her back once more, draw up her legs and grab her knees with her paws, her legs slightly splayed as she pushed.

“aoaoaoaaaaaaowowo!” Kamchatka screeched, her feet at Karina’s eye level, bouncing up and down a bit as she pushed, her toes curling and relaxing with her contractions. Then Kamchatka let go of her knees and splayed her legs even further, her heels lifted off the floor, her knees bent as she strained.

“Uuuuuuuuph! Uuuuuuuauauauauauauumkph!” she roared, kicking hard as she pushed. Then she closed her mouth and, sitting up, began the same committed pushing Anernerk had just before her cub emerged. Four contractions later, squealing in agony, Kamchatka lay down on her side, her legs drawn up, paws gripping her knees, pushing hard into her bottom, her mouth and eyes shut, her toes curling with effort. Karina, watching everything from close range, felt her own hands and feet dampening with the sweat of fear.

“My cub’s coming! Yoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoawaosh!” aoaoaoaoaoaoaoaaoaoaoahahahahoaw!” Kamchatka yelled, rolling from side to side a few times, her legs splayed, hind feet kicking and paws flailing. Suddenly Kamchatka screamed like a stuck cub, getting onto all fours, cradling her weight on her paws, Karina crawling round to see what was going on. Kamchatka, her head down, pushed hard down into her tail, her mouth shut, eyes closed, and breath coming in huge gasps. Karina saw the cub’s head emerging, then as Kamchatka panted in response to the stretching sensation of the cub’s head’s emergence, she began flexing her toes, yelling as the cub surged forwards as the pressure was released. Screaming like an injured cub, Kamchatka pushed her cub into the world, Karina seeing everything from the bunching black pads and curling toes of Kamchatka’s hind feet, to the best thing of all, an emerging cub, Karina catching a cub for the second time that day.

“Figaro’s been a busy boy,” Blackberry remarked, Snowdrop laughing merrily.

“It was consenting,” Anernerk said, “he’s a lovely bear, and we both fell for him.”

“I hope he’s watching the births of his cubs,” Blackberry said.

“he is,” Figaro replied, walking into the room, hugging Anernerk, then turning and hugging Kamchatka.

“Well done my dears,” Figaro said. Anernerk smiled weakly.

“it hurt so very much,” she said wearily.

“delivering my cub made me push harder than I ever have had to before,” Kamchatka remarked, her voice full of exhaustion, “I pushed with parts of me I never knew were possible to push with.”

“that was amazing!” Karina mewed, washing her hands at the basin. Karina saw Blackberry’s traumatised expression.

“you shouldn’t have got into that!” Blackberry whimpered, “it’s not right for a cub to get hands on like that!”

“Sorry blackberry,” Karina mewed, looking anxious, “why isn’t it right? I wasn’t told to leave, I wasn’t told to let go of the cubs.”

“Because everyone was too busy!” Blackberry whimpered, “mama was too busy pushing, and everyone else was too busy being shocked at your actions!”

“it didn’t feel wrong,” Anernerk mused, “it felt right, very right.”

“What would you know?” Blackberry snapped, “you’re under age to be having cubs! Both of you are under age!”

“don’t start that,” Ekaterina replied, wandering in.

“but they screamed like cubs when things got really painful Ekaterina, I heard them!” blackberry yelled, actually dancing with rage.

“I know they did Blackberry,” Ekaterina replied, “I heard them too, and it was a sound of vulnerability, that’s all.”

“Sound of vulnerability? What tosh Ekaterina! You know it wasn’t that!” Blackberry yelled, “the cries were those of cubs who’d got themselves into a tight spot they couldn’t free themselves from and wanted their mothers to free them, so had to scream for their mamas! Anernerk and Kamchatka were screaming like injured and trapped cubs, just like Snowdrop did before them!”

“don’t blame the mamas entirely,” Figaro said, “I am to blame too, I mated with them, with their consent of course.”

“You’re the male who violated these two are you?” Blackberry roared.

“it was quite lovely actually,” Anernerk replied smiling, “I wouldn’t call it violation, lots of play, chasing paws and feet at first, then stroking of paws and feet, and bellies too, then more foot and paw massage, then a hug or two, then, then the mating itself, that bit was boring by the way, but then we had more play, and more mating and more play, and more play, and more hugging and paw play, and it was lovely! Kamchatka and I played with Figaro together, we had one big rough and tumble, Kamchatka and I fought playfully over Figaro, the first to claim the other’s paws, feet and belly able to mate with Figaro. Then the winner played hard to get, so Figaro had to fight us for our paws and feet, then our hugs, then permission to mate. Once that was done for each of us, and by the way, any slacking in the play was not allowed, leaving the door open wasn’t in the plan, we had to keep all doors shut until Figaro found the right key, well then, once he’d opened all our doors and mated with us, we’d play again, Kamchatka and me, play fighting for paws and feet to decide who would mate with Figaro a second time. I can’t remember how often Kamchatka and I fought each other or how often Figaro and we mated, but I remember the play.” Kamchatka laughed as blackberry turned a thunderous expression on her.

“yes blackberry, I fought Anernerk too,” she said, her eyes shining, “it was a lovely contest, though it wasn’t a contest in the real sense, as we knew we both wanted to mate with him. We wanted to play like cubs first, that’s all.”

“that sounds wonderful,” Ekaterina said, “I’d love to fight another female for mating permissions. It sort of beats the males slugging it out. It’s gentler in a way.”

“the only reason why noone has fought you for Patch’s affections is because they feel his and your relationship is so strong he’d never mate with another,” blackberry replied honestly. Patch has said he’d never mate with anyone but you.”

“I know, and for that I am more grateful than I can tell him,” Ekaterina replied, “but I’d love to fight him, to make him win my permission, instead, all I do is crumble under his touch when he embraces me, and all thoughts of games we could play leave my head. It is Patch who prolongs our games, I can’t do it, for his touch melts me completely, which he knows only too well. It is because of him that I have not been in cub lately, because he is not sure I really want it.”

“Do you want it?” blackberry asked, “and how can patch be so sure you don’t want cubs?”

“Because I am not sure I want to have another cub yet, I mean really sure,” Ekaterina replied, “Patch won’t mate with me like Figaro did Anernerk and Kamchatka until I am really truly spiritually ready. He will make love to me, and me to him until we are exhausted and laughing from our hearts so much we have to curl up together in exhausted happiness, but Patch has not actually mated with me for years now.”

“I can fight you for your permission if you’d like,” patch said, walking into the room, “the games Anernerk and Figaro played sound wonderful ones indeed.”

“If only I was stronger,” Ekaterina replied, “we could play those games patch. The thing is, your touch melts me too quickly, I can’t fight you.”

“You mean he’s dominant and aggressive?” Blackberry asked.

“use your eyes blackberry!” Ekaterina snapped, now angry, “what do you think?”

“Um, oh, sorry,” blackberry mumbled.

“patch isn’t aggressive to me, nor is he dominant, his paws ask me questions, but I have no answers to them other than rolling over and letting him pleasure me by touch. I have no ideas of my own as it were, just contented enough to let him stroke me and play with me until we are both exhausted. I must give him pleasure too, otherwise he’d not come back to me again and again, he certainly gives me wild sexual pleasure, as well as being my best friend in the whole world,” Ekaterina replied.

“so you need to be more assertive then,” blackberry growled, “assert what you want Ekaterina, don’t let Patch put his paws where you don’t want him to put them.”

“it’s not like that and you know it!” Ekaterina snarled, her fur standing on end, her sightless eyes blazing into space, “you would know what I meant if you only listened, oh god!” she turned and fled, losing her Barings, tripping over Snowdrop’s feet and falling into her lap, Snowdrop holding her tightly, Ekaterina sobbing into the she bear’s coat.

“hey, shh,” snowdrop whispered to Ekaterina, who wept tears of rage and frustration.

“I don’t know what to do!” Ekaterina sobbed, “I want to play, but when Patch gets paws on, my mind wants his touch and can’t make games, though I know he’d play them, I just lie there, and he touches me, and I grab my feet in my paws and roar lustily, and crawl about, and patch touches me, prolonging my experience, though I know I’d want the whole thing in one instant if I could get it. I’d have the whole thing, and it’d be over in a second, but Patch, he prolongs my pleasure, which is what I really want. I don’t know what I want, I want him to climax me quickly, not because I want it over with you see, but then, then, at the same time, I want him to take it slowly, and I rage at myself in frustration, grabbing my feet in my paws to stop myself climaxing at the wrong time, at the time that I feel is wrong! My instinct is to let it be quick, but my mind, my love wants him to go slowly, so I grab my feet with my paws and hold on tightly, and make him fight for my pads and toes so I prolong the pleasure. Patch loves easing my paws from their grip on my feet, he loves uncurling my body and stretching me out, then rubbing my paws and feet, making me curl up again and grab my feet with my paws once more. He knows what makes me tick, and I love that. He knows my failings, that I am useless at making up games, but I’d desperately want to make them up if I could. so he helps me, turning my reactions to his touch into a game, judging my arousal just right so I don’t get too exhausted, so that he gets maximum touch time, and I get enough time to calm myself. I don’t’ know why I’m saying this to you snowdrop, what with cubs around and all, but ‘t’is pouring out of me, pouring out of me like my need to make love to Patch pours from my paws and feet, and it is only patch and my need to slow things which stops my need draining me completely within seconds. Love making with Patch is a fight between my need to be touched, and his need to touch me. my need would fill my brain and burst it if patch didn’t moderate his touching, if he didn’t respect my want to grab my feet with my paws and scream for him to be careful. What I really mean though is that he should be careful not to burst my pleasure bubble. I want him to touch my feet and paws, and I want it to be swift and slow all at the same time, to leave me gasping and exhausted, but for it to be prolonged, and for me to remember everything, but then I don’t’ know what I really want! I love the struggle between my instinct and my mind, and this results in me grabbing my feet with my paws to stop my instinct robbing my mind of pleasure, and patch then has to fight me for access to my pads, which slows everything down to a level that my mind wants. Can you understand that?” snowdrop rubbed Ekaterina’s back and whispered to her:

“yes I understand that Ekaterina. Patch is not abusing you at all, he isn’t aggressive to you, he would stroke you tenderly, and does, if what I’ve seen is truthful, but your pleasure in his slightest touch is so great that it overwhelms you, and would not be so pleasurable if you did not put a break on it, that break being the grip of your paws on the soles of your feet, and you begging patch to take care of you.”

“yes snowdrop, yes,” Ekaterina replied, “I know it sounds like Patch is aggressive, but it’s not true, he fights me for my feet and paws, but that is only because I want him to! I put the barriers up, not to stop him finding my pads, but to stop myself from gaining too much pleasure all at once. Patch knows this, and respects it, but sometimes, sometimes I wish he wouldn’t, I wish he’d be dominant and tie my paws and feet so I couldn’t cover my pads then touch them until he was satisfied.”

“I couldn’t’ ever do that,” patch said softly into Ekaterina’s ear, “that would be a disgraceful thing Ekaterina. What you and I do now is play, it might not be the games Figaro and his mates play, but it is our play. I will respect your wishes Ekaterina.”

“I know, I know!” Ekaterina sniffed, “patch, I didn’t really mean I wanted you to tie my paws so I couldn’t cover my pads, what I meant was, oh dear, oh patch, I can’t explain, it’s too many difficult words, my brain feels like it’s going to explode!” patch hugged Ekaterina, Ekaterina melting into his embrace.

“I don’t know what to do!” Ekaterina wept, sounding like a lost cub.

“you do know what to do,” patch replied, “not being able to put it into words does not mean you do not know what you want. I know what you meant when you said that you sometimes wished me to tie your paws and feet so I had unlimited access to your pads. But Ekaterina, the outcome would be the same as it is now with your paws free to grab your feet. I could never take what is not lovingly given to me. When I fight you for your paws and feet, and you are holding tightly to your feet with your paws, and I stroke the backs of your paws with my paws, and I stroke parts of the soles and toes of your hind feet you can’t cover with your paws, I know I am asking you a question, “will you let me touch your pads? Can I come in? I love asking that question Ekaterina, I love feeling your response to that question. When you let me in, I stroke your pads and you wave your free paws with uninhibited joy. I love that too. then I am careful not to ask too much of you.”

“I would give you everything in one go,” Ekaterina replied, “you know that.”

“I know,” Patch replied softly, “but would you really want to give me everything in one go? Truly want that?”

“do you want that? Do you want me to give you everything in a few seconds?” Ekaterina asked, for I will if that’s what you want.”

“do you really need me to answer that?” Patch asked, sitting down.

“No,” Ekaterina mumbled, “Patch, dear patch, tell me, please tell me, what pleasures you? Your touch pleasures me, and I fight not to overdose on your touch, but what pleasures you?”

“I love touching you, feeling your fur, your pads, kissing your nose, rubbing your belly,” patch replied, “Ekaterina, you’ve never tried touching my paws and feet have you?”

“I’ve been too scared to,” Ekaterina replied, “I can’t bring myself to do it, because I know I’d mess it up. I would exhaust myself before I’d got started, the pleasure of touching your paws and feet would explode my brain and I’d be a wreck on the floor.”

“Do you know why I love re-enacting cubbings and things like that for you?” patch asked.

“Because you like showing me how things are?” Ekaterina replied.

“yes,” patch said, “and it is mostly that, but it is also this, that you can touch my feet and paws, and I can scream, roar and let out all the pleasure I feel in your touch. Your reaction to my touch is like mine would be to yours. If I push you too far you act as if you’re delivering a cub, which is the most intense thing you can think of. Well it is for me too.”

“so if I were to touch your paws and feet, you’d hold them and bar my way as I hold mine when you touch mine>?” Ekaterina asked.

“yes,” patch replied. Though I would do it, not to frustrate you of course, only to prolong our love making.”

“if I touched your paws and feet as much as I liked, with no barriers, how long would it be until you were exhausted?” Ekaterina asked.

“I can go on for a long time,” patch replied. Ekaterina, your instinct is telling you to have cubs, your mind wants me to make love to you, and wants the pleasure my touch gives you to last a long time, so you have an inner fight between your instinct and mind. Your touch on my feet and paws doesn’t trigger the same thing in me. My mind is consumed by your touch and your love, but I have no automatic drive to mate.”

“you mean Ekaterina doesn’t sexually attract you Patch?” blackberry asked.

“She doesn’t mean that Blackberry, listen to her will you?” Karina snapped.

“that’s no way to talk to me!” Blackberry roared, striding up to Karina, cuffing her hard enough to make her squeal.

“Oh patch,” Ekaterina sobbed, burying her face in his fur, “do you mean that you make love to me for the love of my mind? Is that what you mean?”

“yes Ekaterina love,” patch replied, “to me, the sexual drive is crude and repulsive. It makes fools of everyone. This might sound high and mighty and all, I’m sorry for that, but that’s how I feel. I love touching you, I feel aroused by touching you, by playing with you to the point of my own mental and physical exhaustion to the point of sweating pads due to my arousal, you know that, you’ve felt it many a time, I know you have felt it in my touch. But I will not mate with anyone easily. Can you understand that Ekaterina? Please try,” patch pleaded. Ekaterina raised her head, bumping noses with Patch.

“I’m not as versed in the words you use, but I think I understand,” Ekaterina replied, “patch, even if I don’t understand completely, I feel warm with you, I feel complete with you, and I love you for loving my mind. I’m a simple bear really, born of a mama and sire who were wild bears. You though, you were born of something else, yes you were born wild, but, not, not of bears, or not only of them. when I touch your paws and feet, and when I hold you, and you hold me, I touch a world to which I have only restricted access. When I took you as a mate to spite Chowilawu all those years ago, I meant it as a joke to begin with, and for you, as you saw me as a friend first and foremost, you were fine with that. Getting you to mate with me was a trial, and now I know why it was hard. I wanted you to treat me like a male bear treats a female bear, but you couldn’t do that.”

“I had to be sure before I mated with you Ekaterina,” patch replied, “sure, sure that mating was what you really and truly wanted, spiritually I mean. Then, then I could, and did, but not before I’d played with you and learnt about your mind to make completely sure.”

“I won’t say I didn’t find your reluctance to mate frustrating,” Ekaterina replied, “I did, but I felt, felt there was a reason behind it all, a reason I couldn’t understand without dipping my paws in places I was fearful to go. It was only when I buried our last cub Sam and lied to you, then, then, I lost my visual sight, that I really began to question why you stayed with me when I’d done such horrid things. Patch, it was only then that I began to ask questions of myself. You were hurt by my withdrawal, and you spoke words which told me you were hurt, but, but, the real hurt was one you could not express, one that I was not receptive to until I opened up my mind and my paws to you. then you really showed me how I’d hurt you, and it made me scream and cry, and feel like a lost cub, and want to be embraced and comforted. But I could not ask you for the comfort, I had to find my own strength, come to you and give myself to you completely to do with what you would.”

“To give your life to Patch, place it in his paws to take or spare as he wished,” Karina mewed, blackberry gasping with shock.

“yes,” Ekaterina replied, “to give him my life to do with what he would. Patch embraced me, hugged me to him, and forgave me for what I’d done. He even gave me a chance to hold our cub. he and Sita gave me a second chance, for they are both connected in ways I will never understand.”

“I hoped for the time that you’d come to me and show me you’d not died inside dear Ekaterina,” patch replied, “I hoped, hoped my dear friend was still somewhere in that tangled mess of emotions and lies, and you were still there, the spirit I loved was still within the body and conscious mind that did so wrong to her spirit and to the spirits of others.”

“I was consciously building walls, I built lies, I built status around me like a wall,” Ekaterina replied, “and I wish I hadn’t. to give birth to a cub is a privilege, to help a cub into the world is a privilege, even though it is my job here. It is my job because I’m the one who knows how to do it in an accepted manner, it doesn’t mean others have no right to help a mother in labour. That is why I didn’t get angry when Karina helped Anernerk and Kamchatka. It was what the spirits wanted, what the two mothers wanted too. If it had not been, then they would not have given birth to their cubs as they did.”

“You mean any cub can deliver a cub?” blackberry yelled.

“Many a time it has happened here,” Ekaterina replied, “many a time has a cub crawled into a lie up on hearing the sounds they first remember as those which heralded their entrance into the world, and gone on to help the mother deliver her cub, be it by stroking her paws and feet, or just talking to her, isn’t that so blackberry?” Blackberry choked on a sudden rush of emotions as he remembered his time with Pakshalika, and how she’d delayed her labour so he could get paws on and help her.

“I know nothing,” blackberry whimpered, “all my book learning and technology means little here!”

“but you are receptive, if you’d only open your mind,” Karina said. blackberry threw himself down on the rugs, covered his face with his paws and wept like a cub.

“let him cry,” patch said softly, “it is right he comes to himself. He is more in touch than he truly knows, and Swarupa knows how in touch blackberry is, for titan’s birth would have hurt her far more had he not been paws on and in with her, helping her cub into the world. He soothed her pain to manageable levels, eased the cub into the world, and kept things going, where if he’d not done so, Swarupa would not have lived. Nuru was sick with fear for one reason and one reason only. He knew too well how much danger Swarupa was in, and could feel her pain and her struggle. This is unspoken between them, and I am the only one to speak of it, as Blackberry needs to hear it in words of mouth, as he cannot yet bring himself to believe his own paws as much as he should.”

“how can blackberry be so connected if he was born of a reckless creature such as woman in ursine form?” Karina asked.

“Jess isn’t entirely human,” patch replied, “there was a time, a time when she fell into a lake when she was very young. I lived with the humans then, as did she. I was tied to a trailer, playing the part of a dumb bear I was forced to back then. Jess fell into the lake and drowned. The humans did nothing, noticed nothing. But I noticed. I broke my rope, ran to the lake and hauled her out. I then drained the water from her mouth and blew into her mouth, then pressed her chest as I’d seen on the television. By this time, Jess’s humans had noticed what was going on, and bullied me off, whipping me and tying me to the trailer, before tying my paws and feet together. It was only when a passer by told the humans what I’d done did they spare my life, until then, they openly discussed killing me for getting paws on with my human in such a human fashion, as they were sure I could not be as intelligent as them and my actions terrified them.”

“You saved Jess’s life then,” Karina mewed.

“yes I did,” patch sniffed, the emotion of that day welling in him as if it was yesterday, and not over seven years previously, “I think my breath must have transferred something to Jess’s first born, be that human or bear. I know I see things differently to other bears, I always have. Maybe, just maybe, some of that transferred to Jess that day, and then through her to Blackberry. Maybe that time by the lake is why Jess and I are so close, and her abortion of her second cub upset me as it did.”

“it tore my spirit too patch,” Jess said, walking in. patch turned to her and embraced her.

“I know little one,” patch replied softly, stroking Jess’s head and shoulders with his paw.

“You never told me it was you who’d saved me,” Jess said, “the humans I lived with then, the abusive ones, they, they never told me. I didn’t see you tied up paw and foot to that trailer, and no mention was made of it afterwards. Now I know, I know so much about so many feelings I’ve had towards you. Why I was prepared to live here naked, why I feel more than whole in your embrace, why playing with you is so peaceful, but so wild. I have no fear of you, for, if it is not too presumptuous of me to say this Patch, a little of you is in me and always will be, as your breath saved my life, your spirit connected with mine to love me as your own kind.” Patch, sitting as he was, knelt and kissed Jess’s nose and hands, then he sat back and threw his paws around her in a huge hug, lifting Jess off her feet and gathering her into his lap as if she were still the little girl he’d saved all those years ago. Ekaterina, though not close enough to get paws on, didn’t need to. Bowing her head, she felt the rush of emotions coursing through patch. She even thought she’d seen patch kneeling and kissing Jess’s nose and hands, but she couldn’t be sure, even if she hadn’t actually seen through patch’s eyes or those of another, Ekaterina felt she had seen everything. Maybe by touch, or by sight, she knew exactly what took place between bear and human.

“I’ll go now,” Jess said, walking away.

“What do I do now? who am I?” blackberry pleaded.

“someone more intuitive and spiritual than you give yourself credit for,” Sita mewed, padding up to blackberry, lying down beside him and kissing his wet nose.

“I yelled at Ekaterina, I cuffed my own cub for speaking beyond her years Sita! At least you admitted when you could not understand Karina’s behaviour and found help to understand her, I didn’t! I reacted with blows and screaming when she told me to listen with my ears to the words which Ekaterina spoke as my paws were unable to feel, now Karina will hate me forever!” he whimpered, almost choking on a fresh rush of tears.

“how do I get rid of a headache?” Karina asked.” come here,” Sita said, Karina crawling to her, Sita sitting down, then drawing her cub into her lap, embracing her.

“Blackberry whacked my head,” Karina mewed, blackberry greeting this news with an anguished wail.

“Were you knocked out little one?” Sita mewed, placing her paws over the place where she instinctively knew Blackberry’s paw had connected.

“No mum,” Karina sighed, closing her eyes and relaxing.

“that’s good,” Sita mewed. Karina, feeling her pain easing, relaxed until she was almost asleep, blackberry staring in horror.

“did I hit her that hard?” he asked, staring miserably down at the paw which he’d used to strike his cub.

“I am undoing the pain you caused, as you cannot do it,” Sita mewed. Karina will be okay this time, but I warn you Blackberry, do not misuse your paws.” Blackberry stared into Sita’s sightless eyes, which, though unfocused, held depths he felt he could never reach. Feeling lost, he pressed his left paw flat against the sole of her right foot, as her paws were occupied with soothing their cub.

“help me Sita!” blackberry begged, Sita curling her toes, gripping her mate’s toes with hers.

“I’m exhausted!” Ekaterina sighed, “I’ve done nothing and I’m feeling worn out!”

“You’ve managed quite a lot today,” patch said, tugging at Ekaterina’s paw, the she bear sitting down on his lap, Patch embracing her.

“I haven’t got the words Patch,” Ekaterina sighed contentedly, “I love your touch, and thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“I love yours too,” patch replied, “Ekaterina, do you know you have the most wonderful fur and pads? They are so lovely to stroke, so expressive too.”

“Thanks,” Ekaterina mumbled, her body warmed in Patch’s hug, “your paws and feet, well, I don’t know them as well as I should, I will have to remedy that.”

“have you ever caught me holding my feet with my paws?” patch asked.

“no,” Ekaterina replied sorrowfully, “I’ll have to catch you doing that too, or ask you to do it for me, so I can pry your paws from your feet and touch your pads and uncurl your toes by gently rubbing the bunched skin on the soles of your feet as you do for me, driving me wild.”

“Sounds great!” patch replied.

“how did it feel helping me have my cub?” Anernerk asked Karina.

“it felt wonderful, thank you for letting me help,” Karina mewed.

“I felt safe with you there,” Anernerk said.

“can there be a beautiful birth?” Karina asked.

“There can be,” Anernerk replied, “Why do you ask? Was mine a beautiful labour? Did I try hard enough?”

“You did, and so did Kamchatka,” Karina mewed, “I thank you both for letting me be near you.”

“I wish I’d had the presence of mind to ask you to rub my pads Karina,” Kamchatka said.

“Do your feet need rubbing now?” Karina asked. Kamchatka flexed the toes of her left foot. the cub crawling over to her and embracing it, squeezing her toes and rubbing the pads, Kamchatka curling her toes with pleasure.

“You laboured very actively,” Karina said, “Kamchatka, when I came to your lie up earlier today, and you said you were practising for the birth of your cub, you were really in labour weren’t you.” Kamchatka smiled:

“I was,” she replied, “but then the labour eased off, and it was while I was waiting for it to restart that Anernerk came in asking for my assistance, as she was in active painful labour. Then you came in shortly after snowdrop did.”

“I loved helping both of you,” Karina replied.

“You’ll never forget it Karina,” patch said. Karina looked at him:

“patch, you’re right, I won’t,” Karina mewed, “it was right I got hands on.”

“It was right indeed,” blackberry said, “Karina, I’m sorry for hitting you.”

“Are you really?” Karina asked, turning on blackberry and grabbing his free right paw in her hands, blackberry’s toes curling beneath her touch.

“yes I am sorry,” Blackberry choked.

“your paw is interesting,” Karina mewed, “it’s like my hand, but furry on the top, with a naked palm. How do your feet compare to mine?”

“I have bear feet,” blackberry said, “yours are human like feet, apart from the claws that are retractile.”

“I have never seen you wear shoes, so your feet will be bare,” Karina mewed, Blackberry giggling. Blackberry got to his feet, bounced on his toes and left the room, kissing Sita on the way out.

What happened today is amazing,” snowdrop observed.

“birth is amazing,” Sita mewed, “I know this, and now so does mama Anernerk and mama Kamchatka.”

“I now know why mama Sita made the sounds she did,” Karina said, “no wonder you made those sounds mama, you really had to push hard didn’t you!” Sita smiled broadly:

“I did Karina,” she replied, “and I’d do it all again too.”

“So would I,” snowdrop replied, “even though I was a young mum first time round.”

“You are a good mum to me and Anernerk though mama Snowdrop,” Kamchatka said, “don’t ever forget that.” Snowdrop smiled lovingly at her daughter cubs and Grandcubs.

“they have cute faces, feet and paws,” snowdrop said, padding over to her cubs, looking down at her Grandcubs cradled in their mother’s paws.

“So very cute,” Snowdrop said, leaning down and kissing the cub’s noses, the cubs both reaching up with their paws to touch her nose.

“so sweet!” snowdrop laughed, lifting her paw and putting it in range of Anernerk’s cub’s paws, the cub grabbing it and holding on tightly, snowdrop surprised at the strength in her paws.

“one female and one male cub,” snowdrop observed, tugging at her paw, the cub taking her tugging as a cue to hold on even tighter, snarling, she held tightly to snowdrop’s paw, Snowdrop looking concerned.

“can I have my paw back please?” she pleaded.

“No,” the cub replied, kissing snowdrop’s pads, then releasing her hold, holding her own paws pads upwards, snowdrop blowing on her pads, the cub screaming with laughter, waving her paws.

“I love that!” she laughed.

“my paw hurts where you squeezed it,” Snowdrop whimpered, the cub grabbing her paw and kissing it, Snowdrop moved by the cub’s concern.

“thank you,” snowdrop choked..

“now you’re crying on me, I’m all wet!” the cub squealed, letting go of Snowdrop’s paw, wiping her face where the adult bear’s tears splashed it.

“that is so cute!” Anernerk said.

“What’s happening?” Sita asked.

“Do I have to describe everything?” Anernerk snapped.

“hey!” Karina yelled, “be grateful you have the chance to see your cub doing whatever she’s doing! Mum, snowdrop was sobbing after Anernerk’s cub hurt her paw, then kissed it better. Her tears splashed on the cub’s face, and she wiped them away with her tiny paws.”

“Thanks Karina love,” Sita said.

“It’s the least I can do mum,” Karina mewed.

“Do I have to cater for creatures that can’t see things now?” Anernerk snapped.

“You’re disabled yourself, and you hold views like that?” Kamchatka growled.

“just because you have a disability doesn’t mean there is solidarity between those with different disabilities,” Sita mewed unhappily.

“”I don’t have a disability!” Anernerk yelled.

“You can’t walk on your feet,” snowdrop reminded her.

“No, but I have a scooter to help me get about, so that’s sorted, as I crawl other times,” Anernerk replied, “I don’t have to have everything described to me as if I have no brain.”

“that’s horrid!” Kamchatka yelled, whacking Anernerk with her paw.

“You disgust me Anernerk!” Karina yelled, “may you never lose your sight, but if you do, I hope noone describes anything to you! you’ll end up bored, and out of touch, more out of touch than you already are! Then, then you’ll become sad, and bitter, and ask for help, and as everyone, even years later remembers that you refused to describe what your cub was doing for someone who couldn’t see, because you couldn’t be bothered, even then, you won’t be fit to wash mama Sita’s paws!”

“I’m sorry!” Anernerk whimpered, “I didn’t think of it in that way.”

“wow,” Snowdrop replied, “is there anything Karina can’t talk about as if she’s wise beyond her years? No, months!”

“Mum,” Karina said, “blackberry was watching me going up the stairs before I got paws on with mama Anernerk and Kamchatka, would you like to get paws on while I climb the stairs? Also, would you like me and Blackberry to show you what mamas Anernerk and Kamchatka did during their labours? I can remember it all and could tell Blackberry what to do too. Oh, and that offer goes out to Ekaterina too, both for the stairs climbing and the labours.”

“Thanks Karina,” Sita mewed, “I’d love to get paws on while you climb the stairs.” Karina snuggled into her mama’s hug.

“”I look forward to it,” she replied, “but I want you to check my hands and feet for thorns before I climb okay?”

“That’s the most round about way of asking for a hand and foot massage Karina,” Sita laughed.

“I love it when you touch my hands and feet mum,” Karina replied. Sita, smiling, rubbed Karina’s back, Karina snuggling closer, burying her fingers in Sita’s chest fur, pressing her feet against the cat bear’s left leg, curling her toes into the long fur.

“I love you mum,” Karina mewed, Sita touching Karina’s head and ears with her paw, massaging the cub’s head and ears, Karina snuggling up to Sita.

“Mum,” Karina said, “mum, please, get very paws on with my hands and feet, feel everything, promise me you will treat them as if they are yours to touch and explore? Please, explore them as you would your own paws and feet.” Sita smiled:

“thank you Karina,” she replied, I will do so.”

“And mum, please, take your time, when you get paws on, time stands still for me.” Sita went to kiss the top of Karina’s head, the cub lifting her face so Sita’s kiss landed on her nose.

“soppy mama Sita,” Karina mewed softly, Sita ruffling the fur on the top of Karina’s head with her breath, Karina sighing with pleasure.

“Do you get paws on with Karina often Sita?” Snowdrop asked.

“Not often enough for my liking,” Karina mewed sorrowfully.

“You’re not near me often,” Sita meowed.

“Oh, of course,” Karina replied.

“so if you want me to get paws on, then come to me, tell me you’re there and I will, okay?” Sita mewed.

“yes mum,” Karina purred, snuggling up to Sita.

“Your cub is very talented Sita,” snowdrop said.

“I know she’s a clever cub,” Sita mewed.

“She has beautiful touch, a lovely manner and tender spirit,” Snowdrop replied, “she helped me get rid of some bad feelings.”

“”is that so?” Sita asked, “I’m glad she helped you.”

“yes,” snowdrop replied, “guilt and general mental shit around Kamchatka’s birth was eating me, and Karina helped me to get rid of the guilt.”

“I love you snowdrop,” Karina said smiling, snowdrop kissing her hand, Karina laughing merrily.

“I could go after those toes again,” Karina said, “I could rub your pads snowdrop, wild groom your feet and paws too!” snowdrop laughed helplessly at this, kissing Karina’s nose.

“come on then,” Snowdrop said, sitting down, “here are my hind feet.” Karina crawled off of Sita’s lap and crawled to snowdrop, kneeling and grabbing Snowdrop’s right foot in her paws and stroking her pads, snowdrop curling her toes as tightly as she could to make her pads bunch up, Karina rubbing the tops of snowdrop’s curled toes and running her fingers down the sole of snowdrop’s right foot, exploring the furrowed pads as snowdrop held her toes curled.

“I love this foot play,” Karina giggled, snowdrop smiling broadly.

“So do I,” she replied, “though I don’t think I need to tell you that with words.”

“I love the feel of your pads Snowdrop,” Karina said, smiling as she felt Sita’s paw tracing her own heel then down to the arch, lingering there to rub the soft skin on the inside of her arch, then to the ball of her foot, then finally her toes, Karina curling her toes slightly, sitting hard back on her heels.

“Cute feet,” Sita mewed, blowing on Karina’s toes, making Karina laugh helplessly and bounce her backside on her heels.

“hey Sita, stop it!” Snowdrop giggled, “it’s my time this!” Sita stuck her tongue out at snowdrop, who roared with laughter and reached out to touch Sita, Sita feeling snowdrop’s paw brush her whiskers. Sita smiled as she kissed snowdrop’s paw.

“What do Karina’s pads feel like Sita?” snowdrop asked.

“Smooth warm skin, firm heel pad, soft arch with firm ball and soft toe pads,” Sita mewed.

“Snowdrop’s pads feel soft and warm, her toes playful,” Karina mewed, “I hope my toes are playful too mum,”

“They are Karina love,” Sita mewed, “your pads are soft and warm to, lovely feet you have.” Karina giggled, Sita and snowdrop smiling broadly.

“You gently pressed the skin on the arch of my foot with your paw too mum, that felt great!” Karina said smiling.

“I love your fur, your hands and your feet,” Sita said.

“Do you remember delivering me into the world?” Karina asked? “did you feel my hands and feet coming into the world?”

“Not really,” Sita replied, “your head yes, as that was a real struggle, and I could feel everything stretching me, but not your hands and feet, she paused, “hang on, yes, I remember your feet coming into the world, though the passage of your hands was not so memorable, I suppose I was really pushing then, and couldn’t relax at all, but when I was just panting, and everything was relaxing, I could feel more. I felt your heels come out, the short arches of your feet, then your toes slide free.”

“awww mum, that’s so lovely,” Karina mewed.

“You would love it if I remembered every bit of your birth wouldn’t you Karina,” Sita said.

“yes mum,” Karina mewed, “you can’t watch it on the video, I’ve watched it, it’s lovely! But you can’t see it, so you have to remember the feel of it, every little bit.” Sita gulped hard, a rush of emotions swamping her.

“I wish I could remember every bit,” she said, “I’d love to remember your birth push by push, everything, to hold it close and embrace it to me.”

“Sit down and maybe Ekaterina can help you remember it,” Karina mewed, “Get paws on with me, feel my face, my hands, body, legs, feet and tail, and then talk it through with Ekaterina. Hold me while you’re talking it through, use me as a map to how you felt. After all, I was the cause of your feelings, your pain, your sensations, and the reason why you pushed down hard into your tail mum.” Sita sat down, picked Karina up, sat her in her lap and hugged her tenderly.

“thank you Karina,” Sita mewed, kissing her cub’s nose. Karina smiled:

Most can look at photographs and remember the birth of their cubs, or look at videos, you can’t mum. Use my body as your photograph, touch me, use that to help you remember how it felt to bring me into the world inch by inch.” Sita stroked Karina very gently.

“I will little cub,” Sita mewed.

“I might be a big cub compared to Anernerk or Kamchatka’s cubs, both of which you’ve not got paws on with yet, but I am your little cub mama,” Karina purred. Sita sniffed hard, her tears wetting Karina’s head, Karina lifting her face to Sita’s, Sita’s tears falling onto her nose and into her mouth and splashing into her eye, Karina giggling as she rubbed her face with her hand and blinked Sita’s tears out of her eyes.

“Soppy mama,” she said softly, Sita rubbing her eyes with her paws.

“I love you Karina,” she gulped.

“now it is for me to tell you what I remember of my birth,” Karina mewed, “give me a drink, some food, and I will tell you all, please and thank you.” Sita giggled, embracing Karina tightly.

“Ok,” Sita purred.

Sita fed Karina, in the end she got milk from Sita, and solid food from a fridge, Karina drinking water and settling down to her tale.

“I remember someone touching my hands and feet from beyond the walls of the place I was calling home. I felt I needed to get out, so I pressed with my hands and my feet, and you moved uneasily, sat back on your heels on a hard but springy surface. I think it was the same as that in the birthing pool. Blackberry checked your body with a thing that made my ears hurt! Then, then I felt the first squeeze. You bounced on your heels, like this,” Karina said, bouncing her backside on her heels as Sita had just before entering the birthing pool. “Then you got into the water mum, I could feel it on my feet and hands, you lay on a ledge on your side, and I could feel drumming of water on my hand, feet and body. You curled your toes a good bit, moaning and panting. I could hear you mum! Of course I was being squeezed more and more by this time, harder and harder too! I wanted to scream with the pain of it, but I couldn’t. then you plunged into the water, I heard the splash mamma!” Sita, feeling sick with anticipation, held her cub tightly, as Karina, wriggling with the excitement of her tale, continued her reminiscence, clearly enjoying the affect she was having on Sita. “well, Karina mewed, “you swam and swam, then got out of the water. You squatted and strained, and I heard a terrible explosion, then felt something falling out of you from another part of you. you panted, whimpered and stamped your feet a bit. Then I felt water on my hands and feet, I suppose you were washing your paws and feet, and your backside too?” Sita nodded, and Karina ploughed on, her excitement growing. “I felt you slip into the water again, your swimming now more urgent than ever, then you stood on your hind feet and squatted, straining down hard, screaming like “Aoaoaoaoaoaoaaoaoaoew” and yelling about contractions, I suppose they are the squeezing, coming so fast and hard. You helped by pushing hard, and I really wanted to scream then. curling my toes and fingers, I felt my head compressed, wanting to shriek about you hurting me, I felt myself squeezed hard down a tunnel, the tunnel of pain from my hands to my feet! I let you express my pain, for you were screaming as much as I wanted to. Every inch of me was squeezed hard, from my nose to my fingers and toes! Suddenly I felt real resistance, and heard you screaming more and more, then something began to open up and let my head out into water, then whoosh, I was born! I remember my feet jamming, and you screaming about freeing my heels. You pushed hard, and I felt something slide over my heels, the short arches of my feet and my toes. Mum, you rubbing my feet earlier reminded me of that. That’s why I bounced a bit on my backside, your touch felt wonderful, just as that feeling in the pool did. It stimulated my feet, which I knew I already liked, as I’d have many paw and foot massages in the place I used to live.” Sita, enthralled, rubbed Karina’s back as her cub rocked back and fourth in her lap, holding her own right foot in her hands, squeezing the ball and heel with her fingers whenever she got excited, Karina’s toes curling with excitement as she recounted her birth tale, Sita open mouthed with her cub’s eloquence.

“The rest you know,” Karina concluded, “I’m here, I didn’t really feel the passage of my tail, for my feet were giving me wonderful signals, and so were Blackberry’s paws, for he’d caught me by that time.” Sita, crying, kissed Karina’s nose.

“thank you my love,” she sobbed. Karina touched her mum’s face with her free hand and then said:

“Mum, do you know what I’ve been doing when things have got exciting during my tale? I’ve been holding my left foot in my hands and squeezing my foot, and curling my toes too!” Sita got paws on, and Karina grabbed her foot once more, Sita touching gripping hands and curled toes, Karina smiling.

“that’s it, paws on, always paws on,” she purred, as if teaching a nervous cub, Sita laughing merrily.

“I love you Karina and thank you very much,” she said.

“But how else are you going to explore what happened to you and me if you can’t see what I can, if you don’t get paws on?” Karina asked, “I’m giving you access to that which others with sight take for granted, or seem to in the case of Anernerk, who, in my opinion, doesn’t know she’s born.” Sita laughed so hard at this, she nearly cried.

“Oh Karina!” she guffawed, “you are so funny!”

“Not at all,” Karina mewed seriously, “Anernerk was horrid and she knows it too, bitch!”

“Where did you learn that word!” Sita snapped.

“Crumble used it to describe you, wrongly,” Karina replied soberly, “as you weren’t being a bitch, but Anernerk was, a total bitch, saying what she did, who the hell does she think she is?” Sita, breathless from laughter, hugged Karina tenderly.

“Oh Karina, Karina stop!” she laughed, “it’s too painful!”

“You probably think cubs shouldn’t talk like I do,” Karina mewed, “but I will talk as I find, um, mum, you don’t’ mind that do you?”

“You say you will speak your mind one minute, but then ask me for permission?” Sita asked.

“yes, but, I don’t know,” Karina mewed, no doubt looking like the cub she was, though Sita couldn’t see her face.

“You speak well,” Sita mewed, “not just having your own views, but speaking them well too. You are very intelligent Karina, but my love, my dear sweet cub, I must warn you. I feel others may think you strange, they may bully you for your intelligence, for your insight. You know more than me, more than blackberry even. You are very clever, and very intuitive too. you are on a level with Patch in your understanding of the world, though you might even be higher than him in some ways, as you have human in you, whereas he doesn’t. Karina, for eohippus sake, my dear lovely cub, please,” Sita wasn’t laughing now, indeed, she was almost crying, “Karina?” Sita whispered, embracing Karina tightly, the cub turning her eyes up to her mum’s sightless eyes, “Karina my sweet, be careful, be yourself, but be careful. There are some here who refuse to understand difference, and some who hate intelligence and enquiry, even though I teach it in my classes.”

“I know you teach it mum,” Karina mewed, “I loved going to your classes from the time I could understand and feel, that’s how I got my love of play, and how I learnt about the old stories around blackberry, I listened, I looked forward to story time, and also to paw and foot play sessions, for you’d always be playing with someone else, someone who had thick pads and lovely toes which curled easily. You also played the stuck foot game, which felt wonderful to me, as I pulled my foot with my hands, bracing it against the wall of my place as firmly as you braced your foot, pulling with my hands as hard as you pulled, curling my toes as tightly as you curled yours, or trying to at least. Mum, you beat me once at toe curling contests, when you were in labour, you curled your toes tighter than I could.”

“I love hearing your stories,” Sita mewed, “Karina, what else doo you remember?”

“I remember the two rabbits just before my birth, they were funny,” Karina mewed, “most of my mind wanted to play though, so that’s what I mostly remember, the touch of the tiles on my feet and hands, your voice, blackberry’s voice when you were in the den together, his touch on your paws and feet, his touch on my hands and feet, you playing with your toes during a bout of small contractions about a day before I was born. Oh, by the way, it was then I truly knew I loved having my feet played with. I’d played with my own toes, held my feet in my hands too, but when you did it, by holding your own feet in your paws, I knew I liked others doing it too. then when blackberry rubbed your feet from heels to toes, I knew I liked that also, really liked it I mean!” Sita, sniffing back tears, stroked her cub with new paws, as if she’d never touched her before. Everything seemed fresh, from Karina’s nose to her toes, Karina lapping up her mum’s touch.

“Remember what I said mum,” Karina said softly, “paws on, completely paws on, my hands and feet are yours to explore, as your hands and feet are yours to explore. Treat my hands and feet as your own.” Sita explored Karina’s hands and feet, the cub purring so loudly Sita’s body shook with the vibration, the sensation soothing her, heightening her sense of touch, and brightening her world.

“Sita,” Patch said softly, “would you like to see Karina for a brief moment?”

No Patch,” Sita mewed, “I know what you’re asking, but visual sight is not my world, and never can be so. Karina has it right, touch is my world, and it is brighter and more vivid than ever since I gave birth to Karina.” Patch smiled, and Sita felt warmth course through her, even though she couldn’t see Patch’s smile.

“it is good,” Patch said.

“Mum shows us how to touch, so the least we can do is tell her what we see patch,” Karina said. Patch sat down, watching Karina.

“Keep safe and be gentle little one,” he whispered, “love your touch, your intuition, and your spirit.” Karina looked at patch, taking him in from his ears to his feet.

“if you had naked hands and feet, you’d be very like me,” she observed, “without a tail of course, but your feet are rather like mine.” Patch smiled and touched his left foot with his fingers, feeling a slight arch there.

“I must have been watching you play with your own feet Karina,” he said, “in solidarity, I took my foot in my paws and began to play too, pressing my fingers into my pads where you pressed your pads with your fingers. I must have reshaped my foot a little.” Karina giggled cubbishly.

“that would be nice wouldn’t it,” she said, “to be able to feel what it was like to have different style pads.”

“yes indeed,” patch replied, “but I’m not saying I don’t like my own feet, I do.”

“I love mine,” Karina mewed, “if my feet hadn’t been the way they are, I wouldn’t have got my heels caught while I was being born, and had the confirmation of the pleasure I thought I liked. Patch, I see you like watching cubs,” Karina said, “did me playing with my foot look as if I was enjoying it?”

“it did,” patch replied smiling, “you were at it for ages. First your left foot, then your right, exploring your toes and the rest of your foot with your fingers, grabbing your fingers with your toes and pulling as if your toes had a will of their own.”

“but they did!” Karina laughed, “they held my fingers for ages Patch!” patch grinned.

“I know,” he replied gently.

“Then what did I do Patch? Tell me what I did next!” Karina urged, “I’ll re-enact it for mum.” Patch hesitated, Karina looking at him with deep understanding.

“You do this for Ekaterina don’t you,” she said, “take what you’ve seen and re-enact it for her so she can experience what you saw as best she can.”

“yes Karina,” patch replied, “and, and, I am glad you are doing that for Sita.”

“I want to Patch,” Karina mewed gravely.

“So do I Karina,” patch replied.]

“Well,” Karina continued impatiently, “Patch, we were in the middle of describing a foot play game! What did I do next after getting the fingers of my right hand caught by the toes of my right foot?”

“Well you pulled and pulled, snarling and growling with effort,” patch said, Karina putting words into actions, Sita paws on throughout, “after a long time, you tried rubbing the heel of your right foot with your free left hand, that uncurled your toes, and you were able to free the fingers of your right hand. Then to punish your right foot for being so rude as to grab your right hand and make so much trouble for your left hand too, you grabbed your foot in both hands, took a good grip with your fingers on the sole of your foot, holding heel and arch, up to the ball of your foot, your fingers interlocked for best grip, leaving your toes free to curl or not as the wish took them, you then squeezed hard, your toes protesting by curling tightly, but your hands won out in the fight against your errant foot, your toes uncurling in defeat after a while, as you were rubbing the ball and heel of your foot with your fingers whenever your toes curled too tightly.” Karina fitted actions to patch’s words, and laughed as her toes relaxed for the final time, her fingers releasing their hold on her right foot.

“that’s lovely play,” Sita mewed, “thank you both.”

“I’m only doing what Patch tells me,” Karina mewed, “I can’t remember doing any of this.”

“Rubbish little one!” patch laughed.

“yeah, it is,” Karina mewed, “I can remember everything, I just wanted you to retell the tale patch.” Patch laughed so hard tears welled in his eyes.

“I love you little Karina,” he said soberly.

“I know,” Karina mewed, “I knew that the minute you explored me after my birth. I knew you weren’t my sire, but you were the protector of the community, so I was as safe with you as I would be if I was with my sire, that is why I played with you, and with Ekaterina too, for I knew she was as gentle as you.”

“You squeezed my nose,” Ekaterina said, getting to her feet and padding nearer, the story telling having been retold to her by Patch taking over her body with her consent and guiding her paws and feet through the action, Ekaterina feeling the urges patch voiced, Ekaterina loving every minute of the storytelling.

“I know I squeezed your nose,” Karina replied, “and Ekaterina, if you come much closer and sit down, I’ll do what I said I would back then, squeeze your toes too!” Ekaterina sat down and Karina crawled to her right foot, grabbed her toes and squeezed them, Ekaterina curling her toes, trapping the cub’s fingers, Ekaterina and Karina having a tug of war, Karina tugging to free her fingers from Ekaterina’s grasping toes, Karina growling and snarling with effort, Ekaterina yelling about her toes being horrid to Karina’s fingers, grabbing the toes of her right foot in both paws and trying to uncurl them by force, while patch told Sita what was happening, Sita and he falling about laughing at Karina and Ekaterina’s antics.

“uncurl toes dam you!” Ekaterina roared, scrabbling at the toes of her right foot with ineffectual paws, Karina roaring and squealing with her own efforts to free her fingers, which effort also proved useless.

“Let’s just relax a minute,” Ekaterina panted, Karina panting and stopping her fight. Ekaterina’s toes eased straight, and Karina pulled her fingers away quickly. Instantly Ekaterina’s toes curled with lightning speed, catching the cub’s fingers again, Karina shrieking with anger and dismay.

“You horrid toes!” Ekaterina roared, tearing at the toes of her right foot with paws which kept slipping, “and now my paws won’t get a grip either!” Ekaterina raged, Karina dissolving into fits of giggles.

“You think my paws unable to free your fingers from my evil toes is funny do you Karina?” Ekaterina asked with mock anger, “this always happens when others play with my toes, my toes get a mind of their own, they are sneaky and terrible toes!” patch, now completely helpless with laughter, lay on his back kicking the air with his feet and paws, Sita doing likewise, she too convulsed with laughter at Ekaterina’s words and actions.

“I can’t describe it, I can’t see!” patch choked.

“it’s okay,” Sita giggled, “I know what’s happening.

“relax your toes Ekaterina, and I’ll gently pull my fingers away, very gently now, relax your toes, stop scrabbling at them with those paws, and relax your toes,” Karina mewed. Ekaterina, snarling, complied, her toes relaxing, Karina gently withdrawing her fingers from their range.

“now do I get to rub the offending foot?” Karina asked.

“please,” Ekaterina replied, “though don’t squeeze my toes, if you do, we’re back to where we were a minute back, rub them, rub my pads, my toes will curl, but with pleasure of my mind this time, not from their own free will.” Karina, giggling helplessly, rubbed the pads of Ekaterina’s right foot, the pads rough but soft to her touch, Ekaterina’s toes curling tightly with pleasure, Karina rubbing the furrowed pads until Ekaterina’s toes relaxed totally, the bear herself smiling and sitting back, her paws crossed over her chest, her hind feet playthings for her and a week old cub.

“Ekaterina?” Karina asked, “would you like to stroke my feet, feel if my toes catch yours?” Ekaterina smiled:

“I would love to get paws on with you,” she said, “to stroke you from ears to feet.”

“that sounds an even better idea,” Karina mewed, scrambling into Ekaterina’s lap, the mother polar bear throwing her paws wide, then engulfing Karina in a huge loving snuggle type bear hug, the one mother bears reserve for frightened cubs, the hug which instantly calms and warms, soothing frightened hearts,making cubs feel warm from their ears to their toes, and as safe as if they were in a deep warm den with the door closed to the howling blizzard outside, feeling warm and sleepy, as if having just eaten a huge meal. At that moment, nothing but Ekaterina’s hug mattered to Karina, Ekaterina’s warm paws and breath warming her from her nose to her toes.

“you can treat me like a newborn cub if you like,” Karina said, Ekaterina smiling and wild grooming Karina from nose to toes, the cub blissfully happy.

Meanwhile, patch hugged Sita, as her needs were identical to Karina’s. having recovered from their laughter, patch and Sita had experienced the release of Karina’s fingers, and Ekaterina’s curled toes, as well as the frustration at the actions of her right foot. it was then Sita felt an uncontrollable urge to snuggle up to Patch, as Karina had felt towards Ekaterina. Sita obeyed the instructions, and now was being groomed by patch, as Ekaterina groomed Karina, Sita loving every minute of patch’s ministrations, knowing she, like her cub, would fall asleep after the grooming session reached her hind feet, and the touch of Patch’s teeth and tongue finished at the edge of the heel pad of her left foot. then she would feel patch’s paws around her, and he would breathe on her head like she was a newborn cub in need of warmth. Sita knew, when that happened, like her cub Karina, she would fall into a deep untroubled sleep with patch’s warmth caressing her from her nose to her toes.

Karina purred contentedly as Ekaterina’s tongue and teeth groomed her from her nose to her toes, the most enjoyable moments for Karina were when Ekaterina washed and cleaned her hands and feet, Ekaterina’s grooming stimulating the palms of her hands and soles of her feet, Karina’s fingers and toes curling with pleasure. The final glory was the warmth of the she bear’s breath as she dried Karina’s hands and feet, Karina mewing, purring and purring and purring with pleasure, Ekaterina talking comfortingly to Karina, in old Ursine, Karina snuggling close.

“Your fur is soft, your hands and feet have soft skin too,” Ekaterina said. Karina smiled broadly.

“I play with my feet often, using the time to rub soap into them, and also to stretch my toes and keep my pads soft,” Karina replied softly.

“I’ve started doing that too,” Ekaterina replied, “of course I wash my feet and paws, but playing with them? not much doing there, I like giving my feet to others to play with.”

“Like you did to Orbon when he was bored at the snakes and ladders game?” Karina asked.

“yes, like that time,” Ekaterina replied, “that was a lovely time.”

“Orbon just took your foot in his paws and began stroking your pads and toes didn’t he?” Karina asked.

“Yes, yes he did,” Ekaterina choked, the memories emotions and feelings flooding back.

“Do you like it when others take your feet in their paws without asking with words from their mouths?” Karina asked.

“Yes, yes I do!” Ekaterina sniffed, “It, it makes me play, if, if I think, I can’t play, if I don’t think about it, I play with others. I’m so crap at thinking up games.”

“But you played games with me,” Karina reminded her, “your toes, you used your toes, remember?” Ekaterina smiled:

“My toes made me play those games,” she said, “or something else did, I’m not responsible for that game.”

“who was if you weren’t?” Karina asked.

“patch knows how I was when I was younger,” Ekaterina replied, “I used to play as Patch and you can, but not any more, not since, well, since I lied, since I screwed up. I’m coming out of it, but play is so hard, so hard Karina.”

“I understand,” Karina mewed, kissing Ekaterina’s nose, “by the way, that finger and toe play was lovely.”

“I like it when others invite me into play,” Ekaterina said, “Patch does that, he touches my feet, and I crawl away, and he chases me, which I want, then he claims my feet and paws, and I love his touch!”

“so I could crawl up to you and take your feet in my hands, stroke your pads and count your toes without asking?” Karina asked.

“your hands ask the question, much as patch’s paws ask,” Ekaterina replied, “ask me with your mouth, and I panic and refuse your touch, ask me with your touch, and I will mostly accept your touch.”

“It was hard for you to invite me to touch your feet wasn’t it,” Karina mewed.

“I was, was scared that when I sat down, my feet would not do what my mind wanted!” Ekaterina whimpered, “but they did, and I’m glad about that.”

“So you want to play, but don’t know how?” Karina asked, “that is too sad for words Ekaterina. I’ll help you play, I promise you.”

“Take my feet and paws in your hands and stroke them, force me to play,” Ekaterina whimpered.

“You can play, you know you can play,” patch said, crawling up to his mate and kissing her nose.

“I can’t patch, I can’t!” Ekaterina sobbed.

“You know how to,” patch replied, “your play with Karina was lovely, she loved it, I loved it, Sita loved it, and I know you loved it too.”

“that wasn’t my doing,” Ekaterina whimpered.

“You might not think so,” patch replied, “but I think you can play, you just need to be told it’s okay to do so. You don’t trust words, you trust paws and touch, as you were wired to trust them since you were able to feel.”

“I want to play patch, I want to play!” Ekaterina sobbed, “take my paws and feet and play with them!”

“I will,” Patch replied smiling, “I think we all will Ekaterina.”

“You have beautiful paws and feet Ekaterina,” Karina said, “even more so now patch has helped you to become truly bare pawed and bare footed.”

“I feel my paws and feet are more mine now,” Ekaterina replied.

“That is lovely,” Patch said smiling.

“So my rule is, grab my feet or my paws, if I withdraw my foot or paw instantly, leave me, if I keep it in your paw or hand, curl my toes and then leave, I want you to chase me for my feet and paws, okay?” Ekaterina asked.

“yes mum,” Karina said, Ekaterina laughing merrily.

“you aren’t her mum!” Anernerk snapped.

“Ekaterina is first lady of the community,” Theo yawned, stretching himself as he padded into the lie up, “I would be proud to call her my mum.” Karina giggled at the thought of mothering a lion.

“You gave birth to a cat though,” Karina mewed, “so you could mother Theo.” Ekaterina smiled:

“I did,” she replied, “giving birth to fleur was amazing, hard, painful and educational for me. yes, and before you ask Karina, I did play with my toes and squeeze my feet with my paws during my labour. Did you know there is a place on the sole of your foot that will stimulate contractions? A mother who grabs her feet during her labour can help ease her own cub out by pressing this place with her paws. that’s why bear mothers in labour often play with their hind feet. it’s soothing, but it’s also a way of stimulating labour when things get really tough.”

“is that why I grabbed my foot when I first had a belly ache?” Karina asked, “I rubbed the sole of my foot with my fingers while sitting down, bending over my foot. it helped the pain.”

“It might be,” Ekaterina replied, “Karina, show me where you pressed your foot.” Karina showed her, pressing the soft skin on the inside of her foot, just above her heel pad.

“yes that’s the place,” Ekaterina said, “you have to press quite hard, so normal stroking of your foot and rubbing won’t do it, you need to press really hard, press with the strength of pain as it were.”

“I’ll bet you can do that,” Karina said.

“yes I can,” Ekaterina replied, “but I wont’ show you how Karina.”

“I hope you will when it’s my time to have cubs,” Karina purred.

“You’re not ready for that yet,” Ekaterina said, turning Karina towards her, sitting her down, then grabbing the cub’s right foot in her paws, checking Karina’s toes were in range of her breath, then blowing on them, Karina shrieking with laughter, grabbing her foot in her hands.

“You tickled my toes!” Karina squealed, “I loved that Ekaterina. Ekaterina, please, treat my hands and feet as they are yours, touch them, hold them, stroke them, explore them.” Ekaterina smiled and rubbed the ball and heel of Karina’s right foot which she still held in her paws, Karina curling her toes, pressing her foot into Ekaterina’s paws, Karina loving Ekaterina’s embrace, finding it warm, her pads soft.

“You have lovely feet and paws Ekaterina,” Karina mewed.

“so do you little one,” Ekaterina replied smiling, tracing the sole of Karina’s foot, the cub curling her toes, her pads bunching under Ekaterina’s touch, Ekaterina’s paw rubbing the ball of Karina’s foot, the cub pressing with her foot against the she bear’s pressure and curling her toes as tightly as she could, Ekaterina’s ministrations blissfully pleasurable to the large cub.

“You treasure my touch don’t you,” Ekaterina said.

“yes I do,” Karina mewed, leaning forward and kissing the furry tops of the paws which held her right foot in their gentle warm embrace.

“I thank you for letting me get paws on,” Ekaterina said, “without it, I would not have any idea what you were like physically. I love your fur, feet and hands, and your face feels like it would have a nice smile too.”

“Karina’s smile is worth its weight in gold,” patch said, “like Sita’s and yours, it lights up a room Ekaterina.”

“I love your touch Ekaterina,” Karina mewed, “I was going to sleep, but, but I don’t want to, I want you to keep rubbing my hands and feet, I love it so much!”

“So do I Karina love, but you must sleep!” Karina begged, feeling Karina’s toes curling round her paws as the cub pressed her foot hard into Ekaterina’s embrace, the cub applying pressure, curling her toes tightly, then uncurling her toes and releasing her pressure on Ekaterina’s paws as Ekaterina constantly rubbed the sole of Karina’s right foot.

“You’ll rub all the skin off her foot if you’re not careful Ekaterina!” Sita mewed, padding over to investigate what her cub was up to.

“Mum, it’s lovely,” Karina mewed. Sita sat down and explored the scene in front of her with her paws, smiling as she came across Ekaterina’s paws embracing her cub’s foot, just at the point when Karina curled her toes and pushed her foot hard into Ekaterina’s embrace.

“that’s so cute!” Sita mewed.

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