The next day, Wolf’s shop
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Tyler still was not happy with the changes in his new life. Wolf still felt distant, busy with his own life, but he no longer minded that; he felt he had found his niche and wanted to embrace it.
No…
His issue now went much deeper. The supplies arrived fast, amazing him. Misty said they're quite common, and many shops that sell them even have overstock thanks to the dungeon and natural growth in forests, but not many seem to request them in bulk.
He knew it would not take much to make a lot of spices, and even then, they would last you forever. What did surprise him was not just the raw herbs she brought him to work with; she even got him already made blends. He was told they could be added to even more blends, overwhelming him with options ….
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It would not take much to make a lot of spices, and even then it would last you forever. His dad focused on honey, and while he loved it, he wished he had branched out more and tried new things…. He wasn’t even sure of his options…. The smells were a bit overwhelming, having so many spices piled nearby, and he feared it would ruin his ability to set them aside and make a spice….
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He tried something simple he knew would work. He got lemon zest from a few lemons and some salt and pepper. He felt a bit ashamed as this was his first real spice mix, but it was nothing special… He still wrote it in his book…
Lemon Pepper:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgi3Zb59UMG
• Zest from 3 lemons 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQL5UUSFAK
• 2 Tbsp and 2 tsp black pepper 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT28AkpVt1V
• 2 Tbsp salt
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He stared at it, hoping to feel anything, but he did not. This wasn’t what he wanted; he needed more…
Yet he could not see it. Ben noticed his despair and checked on him, tasted his new spice blend, and said that it was good, which did help my mood a little, but not much. Ben's voice broke his thought once more. "I can show you one of the tribe's recipes that I enjoyed if you want it."
“Really?”
“Sure, Ty, we’re friends!” He patted my arm, saying that made me smile. I never thought we were close, but help meant a lot. So he wrote it down for me.
Curry Blend:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMSd9kzmEa
• 2 Tbsp cumin powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUiwJyF9qJ
• 2 Tbsp ground coriander 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXON1zilo7
• 2 Tbsp turmeric 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bzRbsM29B
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIS4Nm8cHTi
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhtgAqeGcc
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
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It was definitely different …. I hated how much more flavor it had vs. my blend….
It was showing how little effort my blend was. While mine had a tangy salt taste, after that bit it went nowhere, really depressing him. As Ben mix, which he shared felt richer and deeper in taste….
I saw Ben watching me from across the way, smiling. He saw me taste it, and I knew he wanted my opinion… “It’s good, thank you for sharing…”
“Right? Vip and Misty never liked when the tribes made it, but I loved it and went out of my way to get the recipe too!”
“Broke my heart when nobody here made it, though.” Ben looked depressed, and I felt bad judging his kindness.
“Relax, Ben. When I work for my dad again, I promise this will be on the menu…”
“Really? Are you sure, Ty?”
I snorted and laughed, amused at how easy he was to please. “Yeah, my dad loves to cook new stuff. It’ll be on there even if I have to make it myself…” I left out the part that Dad wasn’t even letting me in the kitchen…. Yet the joy and laughter from Ben made it worth it; he was really nice.
Repeated failure followed after that; the mixes always seem to be off… I had his to go off of and my own, but it wasn’t enough. I needed something new …
Tired of the bitter and hot flavors and washing my mouth out to try again, I wanted to try something sweet for a change… And no, not honey; Dad had that in spades….
It was much more pleasant trying to learn this one, and through a few failed attempts, I think I found a good mix and wrote it down.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Blend:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPN86VZOLf
• 1/4 cup ground cinnamon 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kH787oenO
• 2 tsp ground ginger 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb29oDieM9g
• 2 tsp ground nutmeg 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSxw8afkyk
• 2 tsp allspice 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwSUCMfoXE
• 1 tsp ground cloves
It did not have to be pumpkin pie or even a pie, but I felt it fit. I asked Misty to give it a taste, as Viper refused, and Ben confessed he was not into very sweet things, as too much upset his stomach. She liked it and asked for some for personal use, which made me happy I was making progress !
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I shared what I knew with Wolf. At the end of the day, he said he'd be happy to sell them in his shop as a test, and Teva liked my simple lemon pepper, wanting to use it in a dish for Wolf! Which gave me nothing but pride to try harder.
The trip home was a quiet affair. I shared it with Dad when I saw him, which soured him a bit, surprising me. I was hoping he'd see my hard work and be proud…. Guess I've got to try harder…
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A few days passed, and I got a random, curious buyer for my spices, which made me happy whenever Misty told me I got a sale from what I made, but I was soon in a rut again, not able to find a new blend. At first new ideas seemed to mesh well, then went bad with too many random things, and it no longer tastes good…
It was Viper who surprised me when handing me a paper with a new recipe to try….
I asked him, How is this not just curry powder again, just slightly different? And he laughed, “Cub, you should know by now from your taste test that it doesn’t take much to make a new blend. It depends on how you want the flavor you want to bring out to go.“
“Ben liked a little sweet in his blend; that was his recipe. but this?“ As he pointed to the paper, “It is a better mix that will bring a bold flavor anyone can enjoy.” He smiled as he said that, which was rare; he always seemed passive and unmoving. Maybe he just needs better food to make him open up? I checked the paper…
Cajun Spice Blend:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuru9smufL
• 2 Tbsp Cumin 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NOPmIVsfL
• 2 Tbsp Coriander 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr8a9oqpY2
• 2 Tbsp paprika 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3Xti3eFnb
• 1 1/2 tsp salt 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGA9V3ppCV
• 1 1/2 tsp black pepper 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrisWIqe7gU
• 1 Tbsp oregano 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfdcUPNb5A
• Cayenne pepper to taste
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It was different, but nothing big. He preferred the curry version, truthfully, but it did help him understand how blends worked more, and from there he went to trying new things.
He was in the middle of trying a new blend when Viper randomly chimed in, “That smells different, Cub. What is it?“ I looked up, unsure how to answer. I knew most beastkin had a good nose; he did too, but I had no reason not to tell him.
“Dad tried a few things with ground beef in the past, patty type mostly, nothing fancy, garlic and pepper mostly, but one time I was, uh… playing with the food. I crumbled it into little chunks and wanted a meal like that.“
“Well, Dad did notice me do that and tried to make a few dishes, but nothing too fancy; they all taste like his other meat dishes, just prepared differently, so I drop it.“ Staring at this spice, I knew I wanted something new…
“Well, are you going to say what the spice is?” Viper asked,
“Right, sorry, got off topic. Uh... It's a new blend. I wanted to try it in a tortilla. We've had them for a while."
"Dad likes to put chicken in them mostly, but with honey flavors, so I wanted something new and not sweet, which this is.” I showed him my blend I'd been experimenting with. He tasted it, smacked his lips, and closed his eyes before humming.
“It’s missing something, but it’s close to being good…” Viper replied calmly. I frown at that. I thought I had a good mix…
Ben walked up, tasting it too. He also made a face as if it was missing something… It was when Misty was doing her round that I asked for her view. I finally got a better answer.
“Chili powder will set this spice apart. It is very well made, dear.“ I beam at that, and Ben slapped his head hearing that.
“Chili powder, Vip, that’s what it was missing.“ Viper just nodded, not saying anything…
“Uh… I trust you, but how do you know that's what's lacking?” She looked at me confused.
“Have you never had chili, dear?“ I shook my head.
“Everything I've been doing is based on what recipes you guys shared and experimenting with taste beyond that. I never made anything, really. Dad, keep me out of the kitchen….
“Well, it’s very impressive, dear. You’ve got a good palate if you can pick these spices on a whim. Do take care, though; it's easy to over-season,“ she started writing something down.
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Chili Seasoning:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj5i0BAre0
• 2 Tbsp chili powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWl0DKLb8MJ
• 1 tsp cumin 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNce2PWLKA0
• 1 tsp coriander 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukT0IJHMkE
• 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW0zVTQeGT
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQNGtO9VzT
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcuhkMKkXr
• 1/2 tsp salt 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TsFNkIS9w
• 1 tsp regular paprika 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEeOBp2coK
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
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“This recipe is for a meat dish like a soup, dear, but with meat and beans, it's very good. You can add much more, but those are the main ingredients,“ he thanks her, happy to be giving more knowledge and understanding of ingredients.
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A few days passed before I felt I had a solid grasp on what I was making. I even started getting more sales, which made me happy. I still practiced a bit more on my latest recipe that Misty helped me with the chili suggestion. I even made sure I got more input. Before I wrote down my modified version for meat wraps or other meat dishes,
Meat Seasoning:30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkiRbS8sI4
• 2 Tbsp chili powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1snO06NpZo
• 2 Tbsp ground cumin 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxj8kAT0DND
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLhyt9vFTq
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1MDg6QGQe
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzj5gSWT0w
• 1/2 tsp salt 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9qdgdhFhx
• 1/2 tsp fresh oregano 30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaJYyMuvoO
• 1/2 tsp black pepper (optional)
Finally, feeling I had enough variety to confront Dad, but before I did, I needed to wait for the end of the day to ask Wolf…. I let him know I wasn’t quitting, not yet… But I wanted a chance to try to get my dad to let me try these new recipes, as my end goal was to work with him cooking.
Teva was there with Wolf, and she told me she loved my lemon pepper. Though easy to make, it was a nice blend. They also let me know the curry powder was popular, as was the chili powder, but I did not really make those, so…
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It did not feel like a major win to be praised for inventing someone else's spices, but I kept that to myself as everyone was happy…
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Visiting the inn that evening, confronting Dad…
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The inn was busy crowds were happy. They even cheered, surprising him. They remembered him… Few even asked how he had been before asking for a drink…. He wasn't sure if their praise was genuine anymore after that as he left for the back…
Seeing his dad staring at a dish was a fond memory for him, as it seemed he loved doing that, and he felt a bit of pride knowing he could help.
“Da, I learn some new spices and recipes that can help…” Dad kept staring, making me unsure if he heard me… “Uh… Da I lea–”
“Heard you the first time, cub. Why should I care? Did you even make these new dishes? Never had me try them before…” That threw me off a bit. His dad had been way too defensive….
“I know they’re good. Some beastkin friends helped me test them. A few were even recpices; they knew and shared… One was curry, and the other was Caj—"
“Old new cub, I came from a tribe to remember. And I hate curry….”
He felt a bit defeated his dad wasn't even giving him a chance but tried a different angle, not wanting to give up. “One I made was simple; it was just lemon, salt, and pepper…” He saw his dad perk up at that, looking thoughtful, which surprised him…
“Yea …. Yea, that could work! Thanks, son, that’s a good mix !”
“Uh…?” I had no words for the sudden change, yet true to his words, he made a version of the spice I made… He was smiling, and I wasn’t sure how to respond, and he looked over at me.
“Been trying to avoid adding honey to everything, but just salt, pepper, and garlic get old. Needed something more, so a lemon twist was a nice new one.
“ I never tried it with food, just drinks. I’m sure it will make the people happy. Thanks, son."
"If you make anything new, maybe we can talk, but I'm not a fan of curry. That's why I left and invented honey things.”
“If that’s all you learn from your adventure, you end up no different than me…” He saw his dad deflate with those words even though he was the one repeatedly being mocked…. He was torn between wanting to sympathize with his dad and telling him off; he settled with a neutral response…
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“Ok, Dad, I’ll do better,“ and left.
He thought he heard his dad mumble something but did not stop to look. He still had the chili one he never got to mention or his meat seasoning, but the way he was being dismissed, he did not feel like sharing anymore.
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A few days passed. No longer feeling inspired, he stuck to what he already knew. He double-checked with Misty how chili was made to get more insight, as he knew the basics of cooking but never really branched out into new things, and he wanted this to be something big to impress his dad…
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His next day off, he spent the day cooking while his mom and dad were working. He made a big pot of chili, tasting it as he went, adjusting the amount. Misty assured him it was easy to make; waiting was the hardest part. He was exhausted mentally more than anything, as this was wearing him down, feeling like he was making no progress as he went to sleep, hoping tomorrow he would see how good this dish really was.
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Later that evening
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Rosa, tired from a long day, was surprised at the new, odd smell. She did not make any meals. Did her husband get him early and surprise her with food? She smiled at that thought. It was indeed a new meal she had never had, and she made a small bowl and loved every bite! She thought his honey dish was good, but now she knew she lacked the variety to see their better things!
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She made a second bowl to enjoy but then wondered, Odd, where is he? Not like him not to boast in pride about making a new dish. And why was he not waiting for her like she did for him? It was then she heard the door, confusing her more…
She saw her husband tired and downcast. Before he stopped sniffing the air, he saw her and smiled. “ Ro? You made a new dish; it smells good.” He took her bowl, assuming it was for him, and tried a bite. “Hmm, you know, I was wrong before.”
“I thought your seasoning was bland, but maybe you're just trying to find the right blend for a new dish!” He cheerfully mocked her cooking, annoying her….
“This, Ro, is your best meal yet; please make this more often.” He gave her a hug before walking away, pouring some more of the food mix, and sitting down to eat….
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She glared at him for a bit longer, but he was lost in the meal, so she relented and did the same. It really was good…
After they both enjoyed the meal for a bit, she knew now it was her son doing…
He was still trying to impress his dad and prove he was good… Yet why won’t my love see that? She thought…
She watched him for a bit longer, finished with his meal, enjoyed himself, lost in thought, and as much as she hated souring his mood, it needed to be addressed.
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“You know, dear, this wasn’t my cooking.” She tried to be coy to see if he got the hint. He nodded, eyes still closed, before speaking.
“Make sense you got the recipe from a friend? No shame in that you still made it, love, and it's good.” She frowned as it seemed she was too vague…
“No, dear, it was your son trying to impress you. You know he wants to be a cook; this was his way of showing you.”
He remained silent, then a grumble, then silent, and more grumbling… “Why do I have to work with that cub…” That surprised her. She thought he loved his son. Why was he saying that…?
“Do you not want to work with him? Why did you wait so long to say so?"
"It's going to hurt him more knowing that now or even later…” She glared a bit more, but he never looked. At least not at first. When he did, he just barked a laugh, making her frown more and even growl a bit, which just encouraged him more as he liked the challenge…
He did sober up after a few minutes and looked saddened. “ I already told you, Ro…”
“I…lost my touch, and this…” He held an empty spoon from the bowl he just ate. "Is proof I lost my touch if my son can make this in what? A month tops…”
“I’ve been trying to make new things for years, and… nothing changed. Well, a few new meat dishes, a little less sweat, but the same dishes in the end…” She sighed. She stayed out thier fight too long, it seemed, trying to let the bears work it out like mature bears, but now she had to treat them both like cubs….
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“Let him work with you, dear. Too long you both tried to be independent."
"Youshould know that isolating ."
"And that's not how we are as a tribe, nor should we be as a family…” He looked away, ignoring her, so she went on.
“Do you know why I fell in love with you…?”
“My looks?” he asked, unsure. She smirked but was a bit saddened when she saw he was serious in believing that…
“My love, it was your desire to help others why I fell for you. It is also why you cooked; you wanted everyone fed and happy."
"Maybe you lost that going to a city and being near humans, and that is why you can’t get close to your son, but he is a young you wanting to help and feed others."
"He loves people like you do and wants to share what he thinks is his dad's dream.”
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Icarus wasn’t sure what to say to that; maybe he had been lost to his failures for too long and lost his way… “Thanks, Ro…”
“Maybe I did lose my way.”
“I’ll… Give the cub a chance."
"I don’t want him going away just did not want him to see me as less than a bear…” She got up and held him.
“Let me do the dishes, dear, and I’ll meet you in bed; we’ll go from there.”
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Tyler woke up late but still had time before work; it was just later than he thought it should be. Maybe making that dish was more draining than he knew, wanting to make something impressive drained him a bit.
When he went to the kitchen, he was surprised the pot was empty… Did his dad come home and hate it so much that he did not even give him a chance to show it off?
Defeated, he was giving up when he saw a note next to a small wrap with a bit of food for him.
It seems both his mom and dad left already. They never left a note before, though; maybe it was to explain why the food was bad…
A bit insulting, but he would at least see why he was being mocked before he burned the letter and rejected his dad like he rejected him…
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Son
This is your mother. I fear your father is too stubborn to admit how he feels, much like you, it seems. I've been watching you both for a while now, and I know you both want the same thing, yet I fear anytime I try to mention it, it just drives a wedge in between.
So I write this instead in the hope you see you far exceed what your father or I hope you to be. He's just afraid to show you he's not the bear you thought he was, so he pushes you away instead.
We both ate and enjoyed your new recipe. Even if you did not make it originally, the fact that you are trying and pushing for new things is why it was loved .
P.S.30Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLitGhxbHx
Don’t share this with your father; he’s already grumpy. I told him he needs to quit rejecting you. He just doesn’t take change well and is afraid to face you as a bear vs. his cub son.
I myself will always keep you as my young cub son, even as you wish to stand next to your father as an adult bear.
Good luck, love, your mother.
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He read it a few times before tossing it into the fire pit, watching the flames eat away the words.
He knew he was like his dad, and like his dad, he did not know how to move forward. Why was it easier to run away and make spice elsewhere instead of fighting to do it with Dad…
As he thought about it, maybe that was the missing piece for both of them and why it was so hard for either one of them to work as a family but not as individuals with their own desires…
He sighed slowly. He wondered how his hero did it or even the random beastkin, everyone with their own desire, all trying to walk their own path…
As he thought about it, maybe they just kept moving forward regardless of how it went… He wanted to be with his dad, so he would tell Wolf and go from there…
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Wolf was having a good day. Nina and Teva seem to be more friendly. He had good employees, and though slow, he was making progress on his new soap and perfume ideas. Teva was ecstatic when she learned about new products and was wearing a nice flowery one he made recently.
Well, technically, the only one he made beside the few soaps, even now she was showing off wolfs new products, getting many random guests to keep asking for some, which filled wolf with pride.
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wolf looked around, seeing Misty in the distance, and was wondering why he had not seen Tyler yet. He thought he would be here already, so he asked Misty.
“He’s not late, Sir Wolf. He still has about half an hour or so based on the schedule we set.“ I nodded.
“Thank you, Misty. I tend to lose track of time."
“Nonsense. Dear Wolf, you are busy tending to many things; it is why you leave the details to me.“ She patted my shoulder with a smile and left.
I felt conflicted, as I had just been casually doing my own thing and felt a little too free. It was scary to change from how hard things were at the start…
“Why are you frowning, dear?“ A warm body held him from behind, making him smile.
“You smell nice,“ I responded to her, knowing it was Teva.
“I would hope so. You made it, and it is indeed selling well…"
"Mom was jealous; she wanted some but refused to smell like me, so I love wearing it even more.“ I laughed at that, knowing that they were borh playing a game, and neither held real malice.
“Didn’t she already have a perfume?" I asked wondering
"I could have sworn I smelled it on her before…”
“You did, but she ran out, and it was from the city. Auntie got it for her as a gift. Why she is getting pissy around me when I go home smelling of a perfume.“ She giggled after admitting that and was making me feel bad…
“I was working on a few new types, just because I knew you liked this smell, so this was my focus, and I kind of stopped trying new smells after that… "
"Now I wish I planned for more types …” She kissed my neck before walking away to straighten a shelf with a few misplaced items.
“Nonsense, dear, Mom needs to learn she won’t always get her way. It’s why I never said anything to you…."
"She asked me the same day I wore it home.” He did not agree, as now he gave it more thought; he already had a few more ideas for the scent lineup he would make soon… She saw his face and frowned. “Are you dating my mom or me ?” He barked a laugh at that drew a few eyes.
“Sorry,“ he replied as they nodded, going back to their own thing, respecting their hero’s space. “You know who I love,” watching her carefully, and she still frowned, but he saw it held mirth, “but I want people to be happy, and it’s easy to make if I try.”
“I also wanted to gift my sisters and Mom some, and I don’t want them smelling like you, so I do need to make more types.”
“I don’t think Nina likes perfumes,” she replied casually.
“Really?” That surprised me.
“You never thought it was odd the overexcited fox never once said where her perfume was after smelling me?” He did not think much about it and thought she was being shy, but now he thought about it, that was dumb. Nina was not shy….
“I can ask her later what she likes, but it’s not perfume, trust me on that.” Teva said casually. I nodded, letting it go as she danced away and went to help a customer.
I started to head to the back when I saw Tyler standing near the middle of the shop looking lost, surprising me…
“Hey Tyler, is everything ok? Misty already told me you're not late, so you're fine. Well, not like I would have been upset otherwise. We've been good."
He still saw the downcast of the bearkin before him and thought maybe he was too dismissive, so he tried to show more support: “ I love your spices. Teva made me curry the other night; it was really good."
"I prefer normal stew. My mom made more, but it's still good for a different dish."
“I…can’t work here no more…” Tyler said, downcast, Surprising him was the food comment that bad?
“I did not mean to insult you…” Wolf tried to fix things.
“ I do think you make good food; I just have a preference for other things, and you can still make new spices others will enjoy.” He saw Tyler grimacing. The kid had already made up his mind, and he hated he pushed him into this…
“It’s not that, Wolf… sir…” Tyler said slowly.
I was watching, waiting for him to explain; he just stayed silent. It was Teva's voice that surprised us both.
“He wants to work with grumpy again, Wolf; he always has…” He looked over at her and saw sadness in her eyes; when he looked back at Tyler, he saw the same…
“Is there anything I can do to help?” He tried to comfort him, feeling out of place and unsure what to do when even Nina chimed in….
“What's wrong, brother? Why is everyone gathering here?”
“Tyler wishes to work with his dad again.” I admitted bit defeated, I wasn’t wanting to hire the kid at first… But he was still a nice addition, and he felt they never got close.
“OK~” She sang happily as if it was no big deal, surprising us three with how happy she was being…
As we all gave her a dirty look, she just smiled and then looked confused. “What’s wrong? He's not leaving just going back to his family. We can see him any time.” With that, Tyler looked shocked, and even I and Teva felt like we got slapped awake….
“You’re… right, uh… Nina? Thank you…” Tyler said awkwardly she hugged him and said she missed him while she went back to the counter as if she never left.
Teva also gave him a hug and promised to visit him, and Grumpy, as a customer, was nearby needing help, so she too left, leaving me with Tyler.
“I hired you on a whim, but I’m still happy I got to know you.”
“Sorry we never got closer…” He saw my defeated look and laughed, surprising me and a few guests nearby…
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“Wolf…if I can be honest?” He asked, now full of pride, an odd shift…
“You a hero to me, well, to all of us, so … Just giving me a chance was more than enough.”
“But now that I got a chance to work with my dad and make new things… I need this.”
“And you’re welcome there anytime, and we can always catch up.” He looked at his hand, then extended it. “I saw the human do this: to greet friends and… people with respect.” He still looked unsure, but I grasped his hand.
“Thanks for helping my shop; you’re always welcome here.”
With those greetings done, Tyler went to say goodbye to Viper and Ben. In the back, Ben was happy, wishing him well. Viper just told him good luck and that he would see him at the inn.
Misty was looking forward to my cooking the most, as she knew I was trying to push the chili and other meat dishes she knew she enjoyed. All that was left was to make it official with Dad…
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The trip to the inn went well. It seemed there was a lull in business; few rumors were going around of new inns being built near different areas, as the amount of traffic and people coming to town was now expanding far beyond what a single inn could keep.
He greeted the few staff having a lazy, easy day as he went to confront his dad in the back—no surprise, or maybe it was…
He was staring at a slab of meat…
It amazed him that even after all this time, it seemed he was still in a rut…
He missed this: the smells, the building, the room, this world… He was smiling to himself in that moment, trying to build courage to speak, when his dad beat him to it:
“Just going to stare? Nothing changes with that cub…” His dad never looked still, staring at the meat…
So he walked up gently, pushed his dad to the side , surprising Dad as he went, and ground the meat down to ground beef.
He then seasoned it with his new herb mix and looked for some tortillas, which his dad did not have… So it would not be his preferred way to make it, and he used normal bread with cheese and other random veggies. It was sloppy and definitely not his best work, but I tried a bite, and it… wasn't bad.
He offered a bit to his dad, who grumbled but took a bite while staring him down, and his face softened and looked defeated… “It’s good, son…”
“Yea? Truthfully I can do a lot better; this is just a dirty version of the real thing,“ he tried explaining excitedly to his dad all his new ideas but just kept seeing his dad look more and more defeated… and wasn't sure why.
“Not even trying and already passed me, cub, and you’ve already proven you don’t need me…"
"I had your meat stew at home. I know how good you are, son; you don't need to keep telling me…”
“It was chili,“ Tyler said, annoyed.
“What?” Dad asked, unsure.
“It was chili, not stew. Well, maybe it was stew, but it was different,” he explained. His dad stared at him dumbfounded, then laughed.
“Really? You don’t care you surpassed me and don’t need me?"
“I never wanted to surpass you, Dad; I wanted to work with you…”
Dad looked conflicted, lost, and unsure until a voice broke the moment.
“Everything ok, boss?”
“What is it to you?” he asked boastfully to the voice that asked, which was one of the servers…
“We got customers smelling the new food you’re cooking asking if it’s a new dish they can try.” A loud bark of a laugh from his dad scared him, as it was an odd change from before he looked so defeated….
“Tell em, ‘Yes, my son is with me making new things, so sit down, shut up, and wait to eat will bring you something good.“
“Ok, boss, though I think they heard you just fine…”
“Then get em a drink on the house. I’m in a good mood.” He turned back to Tyler with a smile. “Thanks for believing in me, son."
"I spent so long thinking we had to be enemies I forgot you were my cub, son, not just some random bear…
I barked a laugh at that, losing myself to feeling the same joy. We did not need to fight, what for? Where family….
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Later that evening
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Rosa came home tired and worried, not knowing how her family could move forward yet. As she entered the home, to her surprise, she smelled new food being made.
Odd, her husband usually came home later? Yet she slowly walked to the kitchen and saw both her husband and son cooking together.
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“I told you, Dad, it works best with tortillas; that’s why the bread tasted off.“
“True, I do like that, but less veggie—hate that stuff, need more meat.“ They bicker and argue, but they are happy, and she wept… If by sense more than knowing, her husband looked and saw her saddened state.
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“Ro?”
“You ok, dear? Did someone hurt you?“ He rushed up and held her.
“Mom?” Tyler also ran up in concern as she held them both happily. She had her family… after a moment
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“You’re letting the meat burn, dear; I can smell it.”
“No, no, no !” He let her go and rushed to the meat, trying to save what he could, as her son still held her with concern.
“Mom?” he asked, full of worry.
“I’m proud of you, son; you saved our family.” He barked a laugh at that.
“No, we're always a family, just a bunch of bears growling, wanting our own way.” That got a laugh from his dad and his mom as they all went to try to make a new dish together as a family.
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It was a new life for all of them, growing little closer to their dreams. They did not know what tomorrow would bring, but for today? They were happy.
