Stuffed Bear

A war was brewing in the country of Greia, and soldiers lined the streets. These soldiers were from the neighboring country, Döché, to try and keep Greia's citizens safe from the opposing country, Kawati. And this is the story, about the end of a little Greian girl.

It was like every other day for her; mother saying to be careful, dressing lightly, get water from the well, and always keep Mr. Bear with her. She was walking down the street, hugging her stuffed bear close, when she came across a soldier. She walked right up to him, shifted her bear in her arms, and tugged on his sleeve.

"Um, hi mister soldier! Today sure is sunny, isn't it! Well, I'd better be going, have a good day!" The little girl told him.

The man merely nodded, shifted the weight of his gun, and stood stoic-faced again. The little girl looked at him a bit longer and then went on her merry way. She skipped down to the well, gently set her bear down, and dipped her woven basket into the water. When the basket was full, she balanced it on her head, grabbed her bear and headed back to the village.

As she was passing through the gate to her home, she saw the same soldier from before, talking to another soldier she had never seen. She walked up to them, still carrying the basket of water and her bear, and greeted them.

"Hi there mister soldier and um, other mister soldier? How are you two doing today? This is my best-est friend, Mr. Bear," she said, showing the men her bear. "Would you like some water? I have some to spare for you."

The first soldier merely shook his head 'no', while the second soldier went rigid. He pushed the little girl to the ground and took out his gun, aiming it at her chest. The little girl had tears in her eyes, wondering why he had done that. The first soldier tried to hold the second soldier back, but failed. The gun clicked, the girl's eyes widened, and a loud 'BANG' echoed across the village.

The little girl fell down, her teary eyes glazing over. She lay on her back, coughing up blood, and more pooling around her. She turned her head to her little stuffed bear, who was slowly turning crimson, and whispered to him:

"Never give in."

The little bear's eyes gained shine while the little girl's lost shine. The little girl smiled at her bear, and hugged him close, as the world around her turned black. The bear's head turned ever so slightly towards the girl, and felt her grip loosening. When her hand fell to the ground, unmoving, he held her hand, laid his head down, and the tiniest of tears fell from his eyes.

— — —

When his tears touched the girl's hand, it twitched. She opened her eyes once again, and looked around. Her village was a barren landscape. She turned her head, and saw her bear, holding her hand and worn with age. She smiled at him and pulled him close.

"Thank you," she said, tears brewing and her voice wavering. "Thank you."

She lay back down, with her bear in her hands. The bear snuggled up on her chest. The duo of friends laid there, waiting for a second death to come their way. When their vision became dotted with black, they smiled, their grip loosening on reality as they turned cold. When their spirits finally rested, and they went to heaven, the left the world with a smile.

"Thank you."

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P.S. Here are the pronunciations for some words:

Greia (GRAY-UH)

Døché (DOH-SHAY)

Kawati (KUH-WAH-TEE)