In a deep and dark forest filled with creepy ghouls and goblins, there was a small and sheltered cave covered in thorns and roses where a small and peaceful bear resided.  His name was Little Bear. 

Little Bear was very different from his family.  His mother was a proud, brave, strong, and powerful bear that demanded that her boys help hunt for the rest of them.  She held all of the keys in the forest, and would never let her paws get dirty. 

Her oldest son, Big Bear, was angry and bold.  He would mercilessly kill all prey in the forest just for sport, and would constantly berate Little Bear for being too merciful and scared in the forest.  Sometimes Big Bear would even take the lives of tiny little fish who could barely satisfy the hunger of even the smallest duck, just to hear its screams. 

Mama Bear’s middle child was called Wise Bear.  Wise Bear made sure that their family would always have the most food, the best cave, and the tastiest meat in all of the forest.  As much as Big Bear was scary due to his enormous stature and cruel decisions, the entire forest knew to never mess with Wise Bear.  He was helpful to have as a friend, but a very dangerous enemy- with just a snap of his claws, entire families could be killed. 

Then, of course, there was Little Bear.  

Little Bear loved to sit quietly in a small protected spot in the forest, where he could watch the stars.  It was the only spot that Big Bear did not know of because there were no other animals to hunt in that area, so he did not have to worry about being beaten up or scratched by him.  Little Bear would look up at the sky and dream about a quiet life without his family- he would not need to hunt or hurt animals; in fact, he would not need to eat at all in this life.  He would just spend all day playing in the sunlight with his friends(in this world, he would have many friends), and spend the nights sleeping under the warm moonlight.  

One day, as he sat in that tiny spot, he saw the wicked eyes of Big Bear watching him.  Quivering, Little Bear quickly got up and tried to leave, only for Big Bear to laugh at him.  He lunged for his tiny little stomach and scratched him, laughing.  

“Little Bear, so foolish!  So pathetic!  Why do you sit here staring at nothing?  Don’t you wish to be big and strong?  Don’t you wish to feel the blood rushing in your body while you take the last breath of a creature?  Don’t you want power?  Don’t you want something in your life?  Don’t you want to be like me?  Sad, sad, sad Little Bear!”

Little Bear’s throat swelled as his skin bled and his eyes welled up.  

When Big Bear left, and Little Bear sat, crying in his little spot, he saw the curious eyes of Wise Bear staring back at him.

“Poor, small Little Bear.  Big Bear always hurts you and we are always unable to protect you.  He is so wicked and arrogant, he never cares about this family.”

Little Bear sniffled and nodded in agreement.  He never realized how nurturing Wise Bear could be sometimes.

“I have an idea.  Why don’t we do something to teach him a lesson?  That way he will never hurt you ever again.”

Little Bear’s head raised and tilted.  What could they both do?

“There will be hunters in the area just near the river.  Why don’t you lead him to that area just after sunrise tomorrow, so that they can hurt him?  Don’t worry, he won’t be killed, we wouldn’t want that.  He’ll just be taught a lesson.  That way he will never hurt you again.  You want that, right Little Bear?”

Little Bear nodded reluctantly.  As long as Big Bear was not killed, he would be happy.  He did not want him to be killed, he just did not want to be hurt anymore.

Wise Bear flashed a toothy grin and stroked Little Bear’s head.  

“That’s what I thought.  Don’t worry Little Bear, I’ll be watching the whole time.  Soon he will never hurt you ever again.”

Right before sunrise, Little Bear led Big Bear to chase him toward the river, by saying that he spotted a family of deer grazing there.  

“Finally, you have at least some worth Little Bear!  I was getting bored, but seeing those kids get pulverized by my claws will be a great deal of fu-”

Big Bear was shot right behind his front shoulder.

He roared a hearty roar of agony and looked up only to be shot again.

Little Bear hid behind a small bush where he could not be seen, before hearing noise and shuffling and the booming thud of Big Bear falling onto the ground.  When he realized that the hunters had left, he got up to see Big Bear, only to find that he was not moving.

When he realized what had happened, he turned to where he knew Wise Bear was hiding, only to find him also on the ground, not moving.  

Little Bear sat and cried, realizing what had happened.  As his tears welled up, a tiny voice spoke.

“Ha, they’re dead, they’re finally dead!  The cruel creatures are dead!  Now there’s only Little Bear, but he’s weak, he would never even harm a fly!  Now all of the other creatures can thrive!  Little Bear must stay sad and alone and do nothing while we creatures live and prosper!”

Little Bear turned around to see who had said such things, only to spy a tiny fish, not even big enough to feed a duck.  

Little Bear had already eaten that morning.  His belly was full, he had no need to feast, and most certainly no need to kill.

So as he stared at the tiny fish in the river, he let out a very tiny crack of a smile, before raising his claw to kill it.