Cedar did not like the situation. There were horses, but an odd number. 

Maybe they were broke to pull with a lead horse?  Be that as it may, there was no way they could squeeze him into that closed top carriage. He'd be sticking out both sides of the darned thing, and putting him on the back could make it tip over.

Even then, there wasn't enough room for everyone.

Then there was the old codger, Reinhold, and news of that shifty thin man with the odd speaking habits, offing himself suddenly and without warning.

There were clearly some things about full blooded humans he would never be able to understand.

He huffed, then padded over to the injured old hunter.

"Hey 'ere ol' timer... ya still alive?"

The old man gave a weary grunt and a hard stare.

"I dun unnerstan' none a dis 'revenge' business ya got, but didya git what ya came fer?'

There was a pregnant silence, then 'yes.'

"Well, ya looks like shit. I prolly don' look much better muhself, but lemme have a lookatcha."

Reinhold raised his arms feebly from where he was laying, in a laxidasitical posture that screamed 'as if I could stop you' without saying anything.

'At wizard gone an' fucked us both, looks like. I's a boney shriveled up prune, an' yas' looks n smells like roasted pork. Well, at leas' one a us kin look a sight better in a bit.. jus' try ta relax..'

The bear settled in beside the man while the others caught and harnessed the horses, essentially curling up around him like a giant dog, or maybe a cat might, gently embraced the injured man from behind, and held him close.

"I'm not into that." Gruffed the old man crossly.

It took cedar a moment to process, but then he started laughing.

"Ain't wat it looks like fellar, hones'. You jus' fucked up good. Need all muh concentration, so gotta lay down, an fer it ta work, I gotta be holdin' ya. Don' get ya panties in a twist."

weary resignation dripped from the man's hoarse voice as he sighed in resignation. "Fine-- just get it over with."

Cedar chuckled mischievously, then sucked in a deep breath, held the man close, closed his eyes, then set to work with the magic.

Blue light glimmered all over the old man's body where-ever it was visible through his charred hunting outfit, as skin regrew, and charred flesh fell away to reveal healthy skin beneath. The man tensed as the unpleasant experience washed over, around, and through him, Caught in the bizarre talking creature's grip.

several seconds passed, then the light faded.


"Wooooof... muh head's swimmin..." drawled the bear, just before Reinhold elbowed him in the ribs.

"Let me up, you." The old man protested.  

"Feelin better 'en?" Asked the bear, being cheeky.

"Yeah, fine, now cut it out."

Cedar chortled, rolled to the side and raised his arm and paw to release the distressed, no longer roasted old man, who got up, then tugged and shook his clothes, sending bits of charred skin tumbling out of his shirt and pants-- which still bore the tell-tale where the wizard's magic had torn through.

Cedar sat up shortly afterward himself, taking only a few moments to shake the dizziness from his head.

"They aint enuff horses." Cedar gruffed.

Reinhold stopped to look at the carriage, and made a dour face.
"I can see that."

"Would ya lend a bear a han' in roundin' s'more up? Horses be right cowardly thangs-- less willin' ta cuddle a bear an you is ol' timer." He joked. "And from what I sees, anuh we finds gunna need it, same as yuh did."

"Do I got a choice?"

"Well... s'pose we coul' jus' stay 'ere, git caught wit' our britches down, an' killed in our sleep, but I wouldna recommend it."

The old man closed his eyes, held a hand to his head as if he had just been subjected to the dumbest thing he had ever heard, shook it off with derision, then started walking.

"Enough--  let's just go get it over with.."

"Naw 'at's da spirit!" Drawled the bear happily, as the two plodded closer to the group to announce the plan.

"Hey yo! Me an' da ol' fellar gonna go roun' up more horses. We'll be right back."