Another of my weird ideas, enjoy!
Chapter 1: A New Life in Fur
Iran, 1942
He awoke with a start, an overwhelming sense of confusion enveloping him. His senses felt out of sync—everything seemed far too sharp, too vivid, and too close all at once. His body felt strange, tiny but sturdy, and covered in something warm and soft.
He tried to move his fingers, but instead of fingers, he saw small, clawed paws?! His heart skipped a beat as he blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The cool mountain air chilled his skin beneath the fur, and there was a distinct scent of earth and pine that filled his nostrils. He blinked and turned his head, realizing with an incredulous jolt that he was lying in a forest, surrounded by towering trees.
Panic surged through him as he struggled to his feet, his limbs wobbling awkwardly. He felt off-balance, as if his body was not his own. He looked down again, seeing the furry paws, and a creeping sense of dread filled him. He moved clumsily, trying to stand upright, but his body wouldn't cooperate—it seemed designed to move on all fours. His mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. Was he dreaming? Was this some kind of bizarre hallucination?
He glanced to his other side, and his breath caught in his throat. There was something massive lying nearby. It was a bear—a large bear, still and lifeless. His eyes widened as he took in the sight. The bear was lying protectively near him, its body curled slightly as if shielding him from something. A terrible realization began to dawn on him. That was his mother—at least, it must have been his mother, judging by the way her body lay so close to his.
It was clear that she had been shot; the ground around her stained dark, the deep coopery smell filling the forest.
He swallowed hard, his small bear heart pounding with fear and uncertainty. He looked down at himself again, taking in the fur, the paws, the strange, compact body. The truth hit him like a lightning bolt—he had somehow been reincarnated as a bear cub.
His mind reeled, the weight of the realization almost too much to bear. How could this be possible? One moment he had been... What had he been doing? He struggled to remember, but his memories were hazy, fragmented. What was his name? He could recall flashes of his past life—his human life—but they were slipping away, like trying to hold water in his hands. He barely had time to process this impossible new reality when he heard voices—men's voices, harsh and echoing in the quiet forest. They were getting closer.
"Yeki ra az dast dadi, bakesh!"
Instinct and fear took over. He stumbled to his paws again—tiny, wobbly, and covered in fur. His new body moved in strange ways that he struggled to control, but he knew one thing—he had to escape! He darted into the underbrush, moving as quickly as his small legs would carry him. Branches scraped against his sides, and his paws sank into the earth as he ran, the shouts of the hunters fading behind him. He didn't know how far he ran or for how long, but eventually, exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he collapsed in a small clearing, his stomach growling painfully.
Days passed in a blur of hunger, cold, and confussion. He tried to make sense of his situation, but it was difficult when every moment was a fight for survival. He stumbled through the mountains, nibbling on leaves and roots, but it wasn't enough. He was starving, weak, and disoriented. He began to think that he might not survive—that perhaps he would die again, this time in the body of a bear cub, alone in the mountains of a strange land.
Just as hope began to slip away, he heard a gentle voice. A young boy, perhaps a few years older than he had been in his past life, approached him cautiously. He had curly brown hair and green eyes. The boy spoke softly, his language unfamiliar, but his intentions were clear as he extended a hand, offering help.
The boy took him in, treating him like a pet. He brought him bread and water, made him a small place to sleep, and even played with him when his chores were done. He began to regain some strength, and with it, a semblance of normality returned to his life. He still didn't fully understand how he had ended up in the body of a bear cub in the middle of nowhere, but he had a roof over his head and a boy who seemed to care for him. The boy's family seemed to dislike him, however, they called him "Taoon", he didnt knew what it meant but it sounded offensive, they spoke a language he couldn't understand, but from the few words he picked up and remembered from his past life, he guessed it was farsi.
He stayed with the boy for weeks, growing accustomed to his new life as a bear, though the mysteries of his reincarnation still lingered. Over time, he began to develop the feeling that their friendship would last a long time. There was a bond forming between them—one that transcended their differences. Despite everything, he found comfort in the boy's kindness, and he felt an inexplicable sense of hope that maybe, just maybe, this new life wouldn't be so bad after all. It felt like the kind of friendships that lasted forever.
Forever lasted one month.
One day, things changed. A group of soldiers arrived in the village—not Iranian soldiers, but something different. They wore uniforms with a white-and-red armband, and their voices were foreign. Polish, he realized.
The boy who had taken care of him spoke with the soldiers, and after what seemed like an eternity of intense negotiations, the boy finally agreed to hand him over. He watched in utter disbelief as the boy, his supposed best friend, exchanged him for a piece of chocolate—just a single, measly piece of chocolate—and a pack of cigarettes. It was a tragically low price for their eternal bond, and He couldn't help but wonder if he was worth at least a full bar of chocolate or maybe a nice bottle of Jack Daniel's.
But no, apparently, he was the equivalent of a quick sugar fix and a smoke.
He blinked, confused and startled as he was led away by the soldiers, glancing back at the boy who had already unwrapped the chocolate, chewing contently without a hint of regret. The betrayal was almost comedic in its absurdity. One moment they were best friends, and the next, he was sold for the cheapest bribe imaginable. He had no idea what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—his journey had just taken a very unexpected, and somewhat tragically ridiculous, turn.
Our brave MC still processing the betrayal!