Ayush laid his black, button eyes on Mary. As Mary fixed her eyes on Ayush and saw beady eyes blinking like broken headlights in a chimney. His blood-red teeth were like petals from a rose. Ayush’s nose was as sparkly as a golden buzzer on X-Factor. His fur was as soft as a comfortable feather relaxing on a bouncy mattress. His ears were like tunnels leading to cuteness. Quietly, Mary tip-toed to the bear, let him lick her face and stroked Ayush’s fluffy fur. Mary was appalled. 

The brave bear bolted back into his home near the beach. As they trudged up to their lonely house, the wind whistled and howled like a werewolf.

“I found him last winter hibernating in his cave whilst I was out fossil hunting, his stomach was growling along with his vocal cords! He looked famished!” Announced Mrs Queen. “This secret’s only between us two. He’ll be more hurt than he was before, if ANYONE finds him!” 

The next evening, Mary dreamt about Ayush, hiding in his little cave, his voice echoing out of the cave and into the deep sea, where his growls clear the shade. A part of Ayush’s soul was in sync with Mary’s young, almost unevolved heart. 

 In the morning, when Mrs Queen was still asleep, Mary would go fishing with Ayush to find the bulky bear some food. Ayush looked for food for himself too. He would eat; blackberries, active ants crawling around in the sand and worms poking out of the cave walls. He was fearful but Mary would calm him down by sitting next to him, feeding him and stroking him.  

One late evening, Ayush gave Mary permission to sleep with him. Every so often, he would sniff Mary to make sure she didn’t go fishing without him. Mary transformed. She didn’t wait to come back home in London now and once she had finished supper, she would collect some fish, pretend to go to bed and run all the way to Ayush-happily. 

As the sun appeared and disappeared, Mrs Queen saw how the lost bear brought happiness into the lost girl’s life and how both broken hearts had been mended.