Kit thought for a long time about the story of Monster Bear and how the most fearsome of all the bears was overwhelmed by a flood of humans working together.

“Bear,” said Kit, “you said that you changed after Monster Bear was no longer part of the bear spirit. Do you ever miss that part of yourself?”

“Over time, all creatures change,” said Bear. “You have not spent much time around Grizzly Bear, and none at all with Polar Bear. The Bear Spirit is still plenty fierce! But now, I have become more thoughtful. I do not miss Monster Bear’s rage. More than anything, that rage made it too hard to feel the Spirit-That-Moves-In-All-Things. Just as all the bears share the Bear Spirit, all the creatures of the earth, all the plants, all the rocks, even the waters are connected by a single spirit. The world is not only rock, it is not only water, it is not the plants, it is not the animals… all things together are the Earth.

“Monster Bear’s arrogance, Monster Bear’s anger, prevented the Bear Spirit from being able to appreciate the gift of Humility. Beneath the fur, Monster Bear was no different from other bears. But Monster Bear feared that others would realize that. So even more than fur, Monster Bear wore a cloak of fear. Monster Bear was so fearsome that most humans thought Monster Bear was not even made of flesh and blood. This cloak of fear did not make Monster Bear brave. The gift of Bravery is being able to take action despite fear, not because of fear. This made Monster Bear a bully and a coward. So no, I do not miss Monster Bear.”

“Bear…,” said Kit.

“Yes,” said Bear.

“I am no bully… but I think that I might be a coward.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Bear.

“When I still lived with human beings… some things happened… bad things. I did nothing that stopped it. I am still afraid a lot of the time. I was so afraid of Wolf, even though Wolf had promised to help me, that I didn’t even ask about the Two Wolves that live inside all human beings.”

“Fear-of-Animals, the fear of being attacked, Fear-of-Water, the fear of being overwhelmed, are powerful,” said Bear. These fears live in our muscles. They live in the large muscles in our arms and legs and chest. They also live in the small muscles needed for speech.

“If you wish to be Brave, if you wish to feel the Humility that lets you sense the Spirit-That-Lives-In-All-Things, then you must walk The-Path-of-The-Warrior.

“The true Warrior is not just a fighter. The true Warrior accepts the fears all creatures feel, and takes brave action anyway. The true Warrior knows that there are always more powerful forces, and humbly takes action anyway. The true Warrior knows that no one can, every time, be successful; but still the true Warrior takes action.

“The true Warrior acts not to make others feel fear. The true Warrior’s actions inspire others to feel courage. The true Warrior acts not to receive praise from others, but because The Chief has given a mission, necessary to the good of the whole community.”

“Can you show me this path?” asked Kit.

“It begins with mastering the first of The Warrior skills – how to stay relaxed in body and calm in mind, even in the face of fear. This skill can be learned.

“I will teach you what Cougar taught me. Cougar lies in wait for hours, ready in an instant to pounce and kill. It can be frustrating to wait for your prey to come to you. Being hungry can make you angry. Staying ready for instant action can exhaust your senses. Staying still can make your muscles so tense that when the time to take action comes, there is no strength left in your body.”

“I think Cougar tried to teach me this skill,” said Kit. “But I just couldn’t do it!”

“Like any of the Warrior arts, staying relaxed and calm takes practice,” said Bear. “Cougar is not one for a lot of words. Cougar will simply show you, and say ‘now, you do it’. Some people learn that way, and other people learn better with words. Either way, a muscle-skill cannot truly be learned just by watching or listening – it must be practiced, every day, until it can be done without having to think about it. If you practice Cougar Muscle Relaxation every day for three moons, it will change you so that you are better able to take effective action, even when you are feeling the 7 Fears.

“This will take a little while. Lie down on your back in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Breath slowly, smoothly, and deeply.

“Now tense your front striking paws, feel your front-leg muscles become hard and tight. Hold that tension…. Now, relax.

“Now tense your whole front-legs. Hold that tension…. Now, relax.

“Now tense your rear-leg muscles. Point your rear-claws toward your nose. Feel the tension…. Now, relax.

“Now pull your stomach in as hard as you can. Think about how many of your muscles feel tense…. Now, relax.

“Now take a deep breath and hold it…. Keep holding it…. Think about how many of your muscles feel tense…. Now, slowly let out your breath and relax.

“Now push your jaw down onto your chest. Feel that tension in your neck. Hold the tension…. Now, relax.

“Now make a fierce face. Feel the tension. Hold the tension…. Now relax.

“Now make a hurt-angry face. Feel the tension. Hold the tension…. Now relax.

“Now relax all the muscles in your face and in your whole body. Breath slowly, smoothly, and deeply. When you exhale, silently say to yourself, ‘relax’. When you’re ready, open your eyes and sit up.

“How do you feel Kit?” asked Bear.

“I feel loose… I feel calm…,” Kit said with a small smile.

“If you practice that exercise every single day for three moons, you will still feel the 7 Fears of All Creatures, but those fears will not be able to live in your muscles. Those fears will not be able to stop you from thinking. Those fears will allow you to still feel the Gifts of the Elders. You may fear the cold, but you will also feel respect for the world and for all other creatures. You may fear being alone, but you will also feel love for others and know that you are loved. You may fear the woods, but you will still be able to seek the truth of the world and of your path. You may fear the dark, but you will still be able to seek honesty within yourself. You may fear being attacked by animals, but you will be able to take brave action. You may fear being overwhelmed by forces powerful as a flood of water, but you will face the future with humility.”