France was healing Californias leg, while Texas was helping replace the bandages on Britain. California, trying to distract himself from the pain, was watching Texas closely.

"What happened to him?" California asked.

"A bear therianthrope attacked him... allegedly at least," Texas said.

"Wh-what...? No... none of the bears I know even go near the human village... hell, I was unsure if you guys even existed," California said. Texas sighed.

"Huh... I wonder if Confederate was just lying again... I wouldn't doubt it," Texas said. France poured a strange looking potion on Californias arm that got caught in the trap, and he gasped in pain.

"Calm, child, this will seal the wounds," France said. California was breathing heavily, and Texas felt a pang of guilt.

"You... you didn't do it, huh?" Texas asked.

"N-no, I never met a human before... Ali was right about the traps...," California said.

"Oh... did they get caught in one?" Texas asked.

"Lost his leg to one apparently...," California said. Texas felt even worse.

"I'm really sorry... I just wanted to make sure nobody else got hurt," Texas said. California nodded.

"I-I... I understand... Um... what's your name? I'm California," California said. Texas smiled.

"My names Texas," Texas said. California stared at him for a moment.

"The mockingbirds weren't making you up!" California exclaimed.

"The mockingbirds?" Texas asked.

"Yeah, the three mockingbirds you supposedly feed every day?" California said.

"Wait! They're therianthropes too?" Texas exclaimed.

"Yeah! So is Virginia," California said, patting Honey on the head.

"Really? Who's Virginia?" Texas asked. Suddenly, Honey shifted to her human form.

"Hi!" Virginia exclaimed. Texas stared at her in Aw.

"Shoot, I feel stupid now...," Texas said.

"You're a human, you have an excuse," France said, patting Texas on the head.

"You're human too!" Texas exclaimed. France chuckled and took off her cloak. There were colorful wings on her back.

"Woah! What are you?" California asked.

"A rooster," France said.

"Aren't roosters male?" Texas asked.

"I was, but a few spells fixed that," France said.

"Oh, I see," Texas said. France finished healing Californias wounds, and gave him a croissant for being a good boy.

"Thank you ma'm," California said, before shyly looking over at Texas. "You don't suppose I can join you around the village... just to see?" California asked. Texas hummed in thought.

"If anyone sees your bear ears... you're dead meat... here, wear this," Texas said, handing him his cowboy hat. California smiled and put it on sideways.

"Hats, huh? Humans are into their fashion," California said. Texas smiled, and helped California put the hat on correctly. They went into the village, and Texas was answering Californias many questions.

"Wait, so, there's only one type of human, right?" California asked.

"I suppose so, I mean, sometimes we differentiate ourselves by color," Texas said.

"Really? Well, I guess there isn't really any other way to differentiate you all...," California said.

"So, does the animal food chain still count to therianthropes? Are you like, considered higher society compared to deer?" Texas asked. California chuckled.

"Oh no, civil war ended years ago, we all just live our lives peacefully now," California said.

"Do you feel guilty eating non-therianthrope animals? Do you eat them at all?" Texas asked.

"We do, and we don't feel too remorseful... they are kinda different to us, y'know? I mean, it is odd... we aren't quite animal, and not quite human... if I ate you would it be morally reprehensible?" California asked.

"Uhh... well, definitely to me," Texas said. California laughed.

"I guess since we can communicate... therianthropes are certainly more human than animal... at least, that's how I see it," California said. Texas nodded.

"It's just odd to know that you're real... do you think... I can see your village?" Texas asked. California opened his mouth to respond, when suddenly a large black bear ran into the village. Everyone was screaming and running to get to safety, but California looked at the bear with familiarity. The bear roared at him, and California looked down in shame.

"I'm sorry...," California said, before getting on the bears back. "It was nice to meet you," California said, before the bear glared at Texas and ran off to the forest with California. Texas stared at them leave, when suddenly Confederate ran up to Texas.

"Are you hurt? What happened? Does that man need saving?" Confederate exclaimed.

"Oh shush, and thank you so much for only rushing to help after the bear already left," Texas said, shoving Confederate away and walking home.

Meanwhile, California was getting lectured out of his mind.

"WE WERE SO WORRIED WE THOUGHT YOU DIED WE COULDNT FIND YOU AND ARIZONA WAS CRYING FOR AN HOUR STRAIGHT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE LOST YOU AND WHAT DID WE TELL YOU ABOUT GOING INTO THE VILLAGE?!" Alabama shouted. California was tired of hearing him shout, so he did the thing every smart youngest child knows to do; he started crying. "Oh my god I'm so sorry baby it's ok we're so glad you're safe!!!" Alabama exclaimed, hugging California.

"Cali, don't go into the village again ok? We were really worried. We love you ok?" Louisiana said, joining the hug.

"Did you steal anything cool from a human?" Montana asked.

"Be quiet child," West Virginia said, covering Montana's mouth.

"Never ever do that again, ok?" Alabama said. California just nodded.

That night, Texas was lying in bed, having trouble getting to sleep. He couldn't keep his mind off of the therianthropes that apparently frequented his day-to-day life, and the bear he had just met.

If he didn't attack Britain... who did?

Suddenly, Texas heard a knock at his window. He got up and grabbed his rifle. He cautiously drew back the curtains, but was relieved (and slightly confused) to just see California on the other side. Texas let him in.

"Hi! I just wanted to return your hat," California said, handing Texas his hat.

"Oh! Thank you... that's really why you visit me in the middle of the night...?" Texas asked. California looked at him weird.

"What, do you humans sleep the second it gets dark?" California asked.

"Typically," Texas said. California shrugged, and started looking through Texas's pantry for food. "You know, usually, you ask permission first before you steal food," Texas said.

"Oh... can I steal food?" California asked. Texas shrugged.

"I guess," Texas said. California picked up a cookie and ate it.

"Ohhhhh human food is good!" California exclaimed.

"Yeah, cookies are pretty great," Texas said.

"Who invented them?" California asked, taking another. Texas shrugged.

"Don't know, but I make em," Texas said.

"Can I keep you??" California asked, chewing on his third cookie. "That was a joke by the way, I don't kidnap people," California said. Texas laughed.

"You remind me of the kids at the orphanage... not in a bad way! Sorry... I... I am very awkward and can't talk to people normally," Texas said.

"Same! I always end up saying something dumb. I just laugh and hope the other person laughs with me," California said. The two chuckled, and began talking very normally in a comfortably awkward way. Before they knew it, it was dawn.

"Huh, that was fast... you wanna come over again soon...?" Texas asked. California smiled.

"Sure! I'll be here at the same time," California said. Texas smiled, and they said their goodbyes, California running off into the forest.