I woke up around ten in the morning. I slept fitfully last night, I tossed and turned for a long time. I felt something weird in my body. The sensations were hard to explain like describing the taste of the color green. So I lay there awake and tried to keep my mind off the things I felt all over my body. That got me thinking about my life. I didn’t want to tell anyone, but facing the bear changed me. A lot.

I’m not talking about PTSD although I still get flashes of the bear chasing me and ruining my mood. What changed in me was that I hated feeling helpless and scared. It felt like the decision whether I live or die was entirely on the bear’s whim. I don’t blame the bear for following its nature but it’s in my nature too not to die so... so..easily. I also felt restless and I was starting to welcome the idea of going to Seattle.

I went to the bathroom and took a shower as If I wanted to wash away the bad mood I was on last night. As I walked to the sink I noticed a little circle above my belly button. I frowned as stared at it and leaned into the mirror to get a closer look. It looked like a mole and it felt like a scar when I touched it.

I shrugged and assumed it was from the core transfer and touched it one last time. I examined myself in the mirror and my body looked a little thinner and leaner like I was on a diet. I remembered the liquid food, the feeding tubes and I shuddered at the thought. Pleased with the reflection in the mirror, I flexed my muscles like a bodybuilder and winced when they felt a little sore.

I took a black shirt and a pair of blue jeans from the closet and wore them. My stomach growled in hunger so I went to the kitchen for some breakfast and found my parents talking at the table.

“Morning.” I greeted my parents and sat down. My mom was grading tests from a stack of papers her forehead was creased in concentration. I looked at her face and I was relieved. She looked better now. Dad was sipping coffee and reading the news. He looked up from his EPad when he heard me.

“Morning. Grab some chow.” He said and sipped his coffee.

“Sure.” I nodded and grabbed some bacon and eggs.

“Morning hon. Had trouble sleeping?” She glanced up and asked and I nodded while my mouth was full.

“Is it the pain? I have some painkillers here.” She started to get up until I interrupted her.

“It’s fine Mom. It’s not that bad. Just pins and needles.” I added a few more eggs to my plate because I was still hungry. My dad glanced at my appetite and raised his eyebrows. I shrugged and continued eating. Maybe dad has some idea of what I’m feeling. But with mom in the room...maybe later.

“If you’re sure. Maybe I should call the Dean and ask for a leave extension?” She took her phone and started dialing.

“I’m fine. Really. My muscles probably need some time to adjust.” I leaned forward and took her phone from her hand and placed it in the middle. Yes, absolutely later.

“Alright. But you tell me if it’s too painful. Okay?” She conceded and she took the pitcher of water. “Have some water.” She lifted the cooler to pour my glass.

“Sure mom.” I grabbed the glass in front of me it shattered into pieces. I immediately jerked my hand away and stood up. I checked my hand looking for cuts. “Shit!”

“Language!” “Ey!”

“Sorry.” I apologized to my parents not looking at them. I was still checking for blood.

“Careful honey.” My mom stood up and took a dustpan and starting cleaning the table. ”Are you cut?” she asked while sweeping the table.

“Huh? No. I don’t so. I didn’t even grip it hard” I was only using my thumb and two fingers.

I helped mom clean the table and I noticed the glass was not that thin. I carefully took a piece and examined it. My dad was quiet and was looking at me with his lips pursed. He then stood up and extended his hand palm up like a handshake

“C’mere.” “I wanna try something.”

“Why?” I stared at his hand for a few moments and place my hand on his.

“Squeeze it. As hard as you can.” I looked at him dubiously and did it anyway. I squeezed like a firm handshake.

“Harder. Are you afraid of hurting me?” He teased faking a sneer.

“Well. If you put it that way.” I squeezed hard as I could. It felt like I was squeezing steel. I leaned into my grip and bunched my face.

“Ahhh!” I yelled and stopped. I shook my hand it was throbbing with my heartbeat. I felt pins poking into my fingertips.

“Not bad. Not bad” My dad said smiling widely. My mom watched the whole thing silently.

“Do you think so, babe?” My mom asked dad her face uncertain. I was starting to get annoyed when my dad confirmed it.

“I’m sure.” My dad said nodding.

“What is it?” I asked both of them. My arms crossed in annoyance. My mom just smiled.

“Yep. Your Core's kicking in,” he explained nodding to my mom. “He’s eating a lot too.” He added.

“You'll need to be careful with fragile things” He cautioned. He went to the fridge and took out an egg.

“Here. Practice with this.” He placed the egg on a plate on the table. “This is how I did it before. You’ll get used to it in no time.”

“Oh. That’s how I practiced too!” My mom said picking the egg swiftly “See. Way too Easy.” she showed me the egg smiling smugly. She placed it back on the plate. “Practice!” she ordered pointing at the egg.

“Oh, I get it? I can't control my strength! I’m like superman now!” I finally understood what they were on about. I was happy and was no longer annoyed. Then I looked at dad’s hand. Maybe not superman. I was so excited that I started practicing right away.

“Stronger? sure. Superman? Hahaha. Not by a longshot!” “Hehehe. That’s cute! honey!” “Me Hulk. Me save you! Hehehe!” My parents swiftly popped my superhero bubble right away.

“I’m getting Bob. I’ll be back” My dad was smirking and left through the back door.

“Everybody’s a comedian.”

My mom placed another two eggs on the plate “You’ll need them.” she said knowingly then left the house for her class.

I sat on the chair and stared at the egg. I tried poking it with my finger and it didn’t crack. I slowly reached out and squeezed using my thumb, index finger, and middle finger. It cracked covering my fingers with yolk. I sighed and wiped my hand with a table napkin. I tried again and concentrated harder. I slowly squeezed and as soon as I felt some resistance I stopped squeezing and let go. I did it multiple times squeezing a just little harder every time. Dad and Bob came in while I was practicing and saw them carry the fur across the room. I stopped and stood up but my dad told me to keep practicing so I did.

I took another six eggs before I got a hang of it. I can now lift the egg up and place it back without thinking too much about it. I noticed there were a lot of scrambled egg sandwiches piled on a plate in the middle of the table. Dad was eating a sandwich while swiping his Epad with his finger.

“Dad, look at this.” he looked up and I showed him me picking up the egg and placing it on the table. I picked it up again like a holy object and smugly smiled at my dad.

“I thought it was hard.” I teased.

“Try rolling it in the air with only your fingers.” He said. I tried rolling it but it cracked and the liquid fell on my shirt. I sighed and I was getting frustrated. I threw the eggshells in the trash with the others from my previous unsuccessful attempts.

“You don’t need to master it in one go.” my dad said not looking up from the tablet. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.

“Yeah. You’re right. I gotta change” I agreed and went to my room and changed my shirt. I walked back to the kitchen because I wanted to talk to dad now that mom wasn’t around. I’ve thought a lot about this lately and I’m not sure mom would approve. That bear attack really puts things in perspective.

“Hey, Dad can we talk?” I asked as I sat down.

“Sure.” He placed his EPad on the table and waited.

“I was thinking. About after High School and...” I started but I couldn’t find the words. It was hard to explain but dad nodded. So I said the first thought that went through my mind.

“I want to do things. I don’t think I can just stay here and..,” I shrugged helplessly. “ I don’t know.”

“You want to join the military?” He raised his eyebrows. “I don’t hate the idea but if it’s..”

“Not the military dad.” Now that dad mentioned it. It sounded interesting but it’s not what I meant “No offense.” I added.

“Okay. Not the military. College overseas?” My dad sounded a little relieved.

“I can’t put it into words. All I know is that I got this itch.” My dad frowned. “Not the serial killer kind of itch” I added hurriedly.

“I understand.” he nodded “That’s why I joined the Marines. You’ll figure it out.” He assured me. “Like father like son eh.” he snorted and shook his head.

As I sat there I remembered Dad and Bob carrying the fur and I quickly walked outside to check. The fur was laying there on the truck bed covered by a plastic wrap. I went back inside the house.

“I’m heading out to the traders!” I yelled at my dad. I went back to my room and grabbed the bounty letter, bunny cores, keys. I got in the truck and drove away tires squealing.

Glenville is a decent sized town with a population of around five thousand. It’s mostly a farming town and the local economy is raspberry, apple, wine, wood products and others. It’s not too large that we don’t get big city problems like high crime rates and bad traffic and not too small that you get to meet new people. Sometimes. It has the amenities of a city like the local college, banks, theater, etc.

The place I’m driving to is called trader’s street. It’s actually a small alley fifteen feet wide and maybe a hundred feet in length. It’s filled with shops and a bar. It's was the place where aliens buy things from home. This was also the place where local hunters sell their... loot.

It was a twenty-minute drive and I parked near the entrance. There were two orc security guards standing near the entrance. To ease my mind I took out a ten dollar bill and folded it a couple of times. I asked the female orc leaning on the wall to watch my car and she palmed my cash grinning. “I Gotz yu!” She said slamming her fist on her chest.

I passed by the entrance and walked directly to my favorite place in the world. Tordan’s Emporium. As I walked into the store I saw a male Halfling hustler doing the three card monte and surrounded by other aliens.I shook my head and a flying dwarf almost hit me as the bouncer threw him out outside the bar. They don’t serve to minors too unless you’re a dwarf. There’s no justice in the world. As I dodged walking aliens I saw Tordan’s shop was in sight sandwiched between an elven clothing store and a restaurant.

As I entered Tordan’s store an orc guard stopped me and waved a device on my body. “Yu gudz!” He said dismissing me. I approached the owner, but he was negotiating the price with a man. Tordan, unlike the rest his species was taller than an average dwarf. He was also twice as loud as they argued on the price of the item placed on the table between them. It sounded like they were nowhere near agreeing so I studied the other items on display.

I’ve seen most of the items here before but there were newer ones. There was a large Warhammer sitting on a wooden stand and I looked at it closely. It was pale gold in color with stylish engravings. I tried touching the runes, but the orc grunted and said “No totz!” So I reluctantly pulled my hand away and just looked at it. A voice called out to me and tore my gaze away from the weapon.

“Excuse me gard laddy boye. His a neuw one on these shors.” The owner Tordan explained with a very thick accent.

“What’s with the accent Tordan?”I giggled and tried hard not to laugh. Tordan’s face was annoyed. He flicked his wrist and typed something.

“There! Happy! You young ones really have no respect!” He spat out and glared he at me. His accent now was back to normal. When I didn’t say anything and just raised my eyebrows questioning. The sighed audibly

“I had to keep up appearances. It raises the prices,” He explained with a pained expression. “Alright let me see the cores.” He extended his hand.

“I got something better to sell to you. It’s in the back of my truck” I said grinning. I looked around the shop finding no assistants.

“I need help bringing it inside though. It’s heavy and it’s bigger than this.” opening my arms wide and gave a lopsided smile. Tordan’s eyebrows raised and thought if I was being serious or joking.

“I’m not kidding man.” I said hurriedly

“Right. Just a second.” He looked at me with narrowed eyes and shrugged. He went through the backroom and shouted in dwarvish. After a minute he came out with four other dwarves following him.

“Carry his stuff back here” He ordered the assembled dwarves and gestured at me. I stood up and glanced at the following dwarves.

“Follow me, guys.” I said to the dwarves and a girlish harrumph can be heard.

“Oh. And girl. Sorry. ” I added. I rolled my eyes and walked quickly to my truck. I nodded to the orc guard watching my car and pulled the plastic covering away from the fur. I dropped the tailgate and stepped away. I watched with my mouth open in amazement, as the dwarves grunted and manhandled the fur and head. They made it look so easy carrying it.

The female orc guard who watched the truck asked me if I was the one who killed it and when I answered yes she patted me on the shoulder hard. “Gud Jobz. Vary Naiz ” the orc said eyes filled with envy and admired the fur. She then called her partner in orcish and she said to me.

“We Leadz”. She didn't wait for my permission went ahead of the dwarves who carried the fur.

We walked to the store and it became a mini-parade of sorts with the orcs leading the way and shouted at people blocking the path. The place became quiet, as the aliens watched our impromptu procession. They were clapping and yelling “Good job!” “Good kill!” and a grinning halfling food vendor even gave me a free barbecued kabab. I was a little hungry so, I said my thanks and happily munched away.

As we entered the store the orc woman leading the parade patted me hard again and left. I looked at Tordan and he had an incredulous look on his face. He controlled his facial expression giving me a bored look. I laughed inside. The look on his face earlier confirmed that this fur is worth a lot.

Tordan had his assistants spread the fur on the floor. Even though his store had some decent space, it still didn’t fit. The dwarf felt the fur and scanned it with a silver device. He then measured it while the assistants held up the edges standing on ladders. It took a while before he was finished and had it folded back. He waved me to join him and sat down on a stool in front of him. His face still had that bored look and I grinned at him like a fool. I waited for him to start. My dad taught me that trick. After a few minutes of silence, he broke the impasse.

“Hmm yes. I've seen bigger though. This might be worth something,” He started. He glanced at the scanner. “I’ll give you four thousand creds for the lot.”

“Excuse me?!” I blurted out. I was shocked by the amount. It was eighty thousand dollars when I mentally converted it. That was twice the money Althan promised to pay me for the tests. I then kicked myself for the outburst.

“I’ll raise it to five thousand creds.” he said hurriedly as he misunderstood my outburst. I was amazed at my luck so I made something up.

“I almost died for this. I was in a coma for weeks! Eight thousand and we have a deal!” I faked my outrage. I raised my chin and crossed my arms. Always double or half the first price. My dad also taught me when bargaining.

“I like you boy. But that’s too high even for me. I have to feed my children too.” He said sadly shaking his head. He pointed at the dwarves who carried the fur. I looked at them and they were all glaring at me. I felt guilty and almost gave in but I realized that this was just a tactic that Tordan played to his customers.

“Seven thousand creds. My parents mortgaged our house to pay for the hospital and therapy bills” I wailed to him pitifully and tried crying. It didn’t work but he thought I was holding back my tears. He said nothing and I thought this deal was bust.

“Fifty-five hundred creds and that’s a lot for the fur, but don’t you ever say I don’t have a heart.” Tordan said sighing. I was about to agree and I had an I idea and made a final push.

“I don’t know Tordan. How about six thousand and maybe something” I said looking around his shop. The dwarf thought about my offer and his eyes gleamed.

“Hmm. Okay. Let’s step back a bit,” The dwarf announced, “Why don’t you look for something you want.” He waved his hand across his store.

“Okay.” I stood up and looked his products. I looked at the monoblade and It was 300 creds. Dad said Bill the ranger had one. The bounties he’s getting must be good.

“Oh. I also have some other cores.” I said grinning. I fished the bunny cores in my pocket and gave it to him.

“Hmmm. Let me see.” He put the cores in a plastic container and used the device again. His forehead wrinkled. “Horned Rabbit cores? I thought..”

“The government took it. They said something about some national security thingy.” I lied feining indifference. I didn't know how to explain what happened to me but I think it’s best if I don’t spread that around.

“Ah. That’s a shame.” he was disappointed and his face fell. The bear core must be really expensive. Then he became silent rubbing his beard deep in thought. He took his device and fiddle with it and stopped after a while.

“How about this Brian. This is my final offer. I’ll take these cores and the fur.”

“In exchange, I will give you six thousand creds..” He forestalled me by raising his hand when he saw that I was starting to protest.

“Let me continue, please. Plus, I’ll make you a jacket from the leather, I’ll have my daughter make you a bear tooth necklace and 500 creds worth of items. That’s a good deal!” he offered his eyes shining.

I thought about it and this is the best I could get from him. A memento from the bear sounded nice. Something to remind me of my weakness.

“We got a deal!” I said grinning holding my hand out.

“Deal!” The smiling dwarf said his eyes became predatory and his smile grew larger every second

“Did I just get fleeced?!” I asked aloud.