• A thick blanket of snow covered the arctic ground. The penguins had long since walked south, and the lands appeared barren save a lone walrus, Lenny, son of Leonard, and his barnacle, John. He gathered his mighty girth and let out a powerful yawn. It was time for a morning wallow, having been replenished by the day long nap.

    The mighty bear, which was greatly feared for his teeth and claws, had not started the day so well. His great, white coat shook in anguish for his captured paw. A single drop of blood left the culprit, an ancient bear trap set by those fearful creatures of the tundra. The trap had only enough power to pierce in a single place, yet the bear remained caught.

    When it came to pass that the walrus happened upon the bear, with no thought and a clumsy jolt of his tusk, the walrus freed the bear, with no fear but curious trust in his heart. The bear reared on his haunches, then, with a confused expression, slowly trekked through the snow. He was stopped by a sudden tackle. With all the weight of Lenny upon his shoulders, the bear through the walrus to the ground and prepared to strike his newest affliction, who only scrambled to its flippers and playfully head butted the bear’s knee. So, the bear and the walrus play wrestled.

    Now when the long cold had passed, the walrus found himself in a trap of his own. Wallowing through his domain, he was caught by the tail in the jaws of a great Killer Whale, finding himself incapable of wallowing free. He bored his tusk into the thickest part of the ice, not yet entirely sure of what was happening. A flash of white fur struck the hunger driven whale. Many heavy swats fell upon the terrible beasty, who released the walrus and dove to the depths. Lenny blinked in confusion, then, with the last strength he could muster, gave the misunderstood hero a thank you tackle.

    You see children, you never know when your only friend in this world might turn out to be a bear. Metaphorically. Please do not go play with bears. Only people. And friendly puppies. That is all.