His name was Aelion Thorne, and curiosity had always been his greatest flaw—at least, that’s what the elders said.

Seventeen winters old, all long limbs and bright brown eyes, Aelion had a habit of wandering too far beyond the moss-lined borders of their little elf village. He collected things no one else cared about—smooth river stones with strange patterns, twisting vines that only bloomed at dusk, feathers caught in brambles. His satchel was always half full of “treasures.”

Today was no different.

The forest was warm with late afternoon light, gold slipping through the canopy. Aelion crouched near a patch of silver-veined leaves, humming softly as he clipped a sample for drying later.

Then a shadow swallowed him whole.

He blinked.

“Oh,” he murmured, glancing at the sky. “Did I lose track of time—”

But it wasn’t night.

The shadow moved.

Slowly, Aelion turned around.

And looked up.

And up.

And up.

His gaze finally landed on a face—sharp, stern, and framed by messy dark hair. Two rounded black bear ears twitched slightly atop the stranger’s head. Behind him, a round fluffy tail twitched once.

A hybrid.

A black bear hybrid.

He was enormous. Broad shoulders. Towering height. Muscles clear even beneath worn, dirt-streaked clothes. There was a low rumble in his chest, almost a warning growl.

Aelion’s face lit up like sunrise.

“Oh!” he gasped, dropping his satchel entirely. “You’re magnificent!”

Before the hybrid could step back, Aelion was right there—circling him, peering up at him with sparkling eyes.

“Your ears are so round!” Aelion reached up without hesitation, gently tugging one. “And your tail—look at it! It’s adorable!”

The hybrid stiffened, baring his teeth slightly in instinct. A soft growl rolled from his chest.

Aelion didn’t flinch.

Instead, he beamed wider.

“You’re like a little teddy bear!” he declared happily.

The growl faltered.

Little?

The hybrid was clearly strong—dangerous even. But now that Aelion was close, he could see it. The faint hollowness of his cheeks. The dirt smudged into his skin. The way his ribs showed slightly when he shifted.

Underfed.

Alone.

“Oh,” Aelion breathed more softly this time.

He stepped closer—carefully now—and placed a gentle hand against the hybrid’s arm.

“You haven’t been eating properly,” he said, voice turning thoughtful. “That won’t do at all.”

The hybrid tried to pull away, tail flicking defensively, but Aelion was already talking again—quick, animated, unstoppable.

“You can’t stay out here like this! The forest is lovely but not very hospitable if you’re hungry. I have soup at home. And honey. Oh! You must like honey, right? Bears love honey.”

The hybrid blinked at him, clearly unsure what to do with this fearless creature practically buzzing around him.

No fear. No hesitation.

Just warmth.

Aelion grabbed his large hand with both of his smaller ones, grinning brightly.

“Come on, little teddy bear,” he chirped. “You’re coming home with me.”

And for reasons he didn’t quite understand, the black bear hybrid didn’t pull away this time.