I was inspired by a book called Wild Wisdom Companion by Maia Tolls, in the section about Early Winter. I used my bear OC Mazel, who appears humanoid and here she lives in a den with her mate. As for her partner I wonder who's the lucky mate?

---

Early winter was a time for waiting, when the energy of life settled into Mother Earth to await the spring and new growth. But until then, the roots, seeds, and creatures cradled by the strong earth were given the time to rest and gather their strength.

In a naturally dug den beneath the snow and soil, Mazel the bear lay breathing with the earth as she held her belly and her growing cubs inside. She was made of earth, she thought, and it was the same earth that surrounded her in it’s firm but comforting embrace. The soil too nourished the berries, root vegetables, and other foods that she ate for herself and her cubs.

Mazel sipped a simple burdock root tea while gently running her moonstone pendant between her paw pads. She waited for her mate to return with fish and other nutrient packed foods for her to gorge on. After a heart feast, her mate would groom her fur and lick her muzzle until they both snuggled in for the night and fell asleep in each other’s warm embrace. Their winter den was a womb of its own, where family bonds and shared warmth shifted and grew with a steady collection of heartbeats big and small.

The soon-to-be mama bear grunted happily when she felt a kick from her growing cubs. “Soon, my loves. Mama is hungry, too. Papa will return with nature’s bounty for all of us.”