Jack looked at the invasive plant-like material floating luridly in the small glass dish. It was massive for something the size of the inside of a bear's head; the thought of it, coiled around in there, made him fume. It looked like no plant he had ever seen growing naturally in any forest he had ever lived in, and much to his eternal displeasure, that had been quite a few now.
More, the thought of nearly every living creature out in the woods outside, having one burrowing inside them, slowly driving them mad---
He started to see sparkles his face was so red with silent anger. He looked at Mama, sprawled out and drooling on the stable floor. It smelled of horses, which wasnt his thing-- but he didn't care too much. He knelt down, and curled up beside her, and snuggled her face into his chest, and put one of her heavy arms around, and over one of his sides. He just laid there, next to her, feeling her breathing.
Was it really over? Would she really get better? ..Would she remember him?
He stroked her pretty, brown head, and held it close. -- he hoped so, even though he also feared the outcome of that. He had promised to stay with her until she was better-- and if just like that, she was...
He was a tangled knot of complex emotions. On the one hand, he was so happy he thought he would die. On the other, he was so worried, he was afraid to know... and still more, he knew she needed to move on, and be free, but he longed for her to stay. He felt silly, admitting to himself that he had become quite smitten by the old she-bear.
He reconciled himself, asserting that whatever she wanted, he would abide by.
Her head and ears wiggled, and her breating changed. He adjusted his posture to look into her face, as life slowly sparkled back behind her eyes. It was like instinct-- and then he felt her all around him.
The horrible, throbbing pain was gone. Just some confusion, grogginess and mild nausea. Then curiosity-- an abstract recognition of a funny smell, then joy, at realizing he was there-- Contentment.
He didn't want to ruin it. He just held her head close, stroking it gently, gazing into those big brown eyes. As she came around, she began to become curious about the strange feelings he was holding away. Reluctantly, he brought them out, and did his best to explain each one, and why it was there. She had not really been so good at understanding them, and had been a bit irritable, so he had been keeping things very simple, but pleasant for her-- at least as much as possible. The sudden interest was not unwelcome, but it was surprising. He wanted to know what she would do now, now that the cause of her pain had been removed.
The answer caught him off guard; It was somewhat complicated for something SHE had come up with on her own-- The best he could interpret it was "Not done with you yet" combined with "I will stay", "I like you (a lot)" and "mine"-- Just before she slurped his face, and broke the connection.
Laying there on the floor next to her, in the stinky stable, he could feel embarassement creeping all over his face. He wasnt used to such directness, and intensity. But he liked it all the same. And... He was relieved.
He stayed there with her for some time, Just enjoying being there beside her. It really was nice....
Eventually, He helped her up, and they left through the large stable door, out into the sunlight.