One day, the forester ventured into the woods to gather blueberries to surprise his grandson with fresh fruit. He knew these areas well and understood that to find the biggest berries, he needed to delve into the dense thicket.
Upon reaching his destination, the elderly man crouched down, placing his basket beside him, and began to pick blueberries with his homemade scoop. He was so engrossed in his task that he failed to notice a deep pit nearby. Suddenly, a fierce growling broke the silence.
It was a large bear. Apparently, it sensed a human intrusion into its territory and decided to confront the unwelcome guest. However, the seasoned forester always carried a rifle and fired a shot into the air.
The bear backed off but lingered around the dangerous spot.
The forester quickly realized why. A small bear cub lay on the ground.
The cub had been caught in a trap and couldn’t free itself. The mother bear was merely protecting her offspring, unsure how to help. The man pulled out a pocket knife from his bag and freed the cub from the trap within minutes.
Choosing not to test his luck further, he hurried away, aware that the mother bear might soon recover. On his way back, he felt as if he was being followed, forcing him almost to run. Only upon emerging from the woods did he look back.
The bear mother stood behind the trees, watching him with an unusual gaze. It was not just a wild animal, but a grateful mother wanting somehow to thank the forester for saving her cub. At the time, the forester didn’t understand this. He thought the bear simply hadn’t managed to catch up with him.
About a year later, the forester was at home, waiting for his daughter and son-in-law, who had gone to the city to buy a baby crib as the family expected a new addition. However, they were delayed, and the old man grew worried.
- Suddenly, a neighbor burst into the cabin, exclaiming that disaster had struck.
- A bear with bloodied jaws was seen in the village, carrying something in its mouth.
The forester and the neighbor rushed out. The village men gathered on the street and fired shots into the air to scare the beast away, but the bear mother didn’t back down.
Upon seeing the forester, she lowered her head, placed a red bundle on the ground, and retreated into the trees. It was the same bear mother from a year ago.
Approaching, the man discovered a newborn baby wrapped in a dress on the grass — his grandson. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He knew he had to follow the bear mother. Indeed, the bear had shown him the way.
She led him to an abandoned bridge, long since unused, but it was evident someone had recently tried to cross it, and the rotten planks had given way.
The forester rushed to help. Below, on the rocks, lay his daughter and son-in-law. The woman was still breathing, but the man showed no signs of life.
With the aid of neighbors and doctors, they managed to save the forester’s daughter. When she awoke, she explained that she had convinced her husband to walk the last stop to reminisce about her childhood. They decided to cross the abandoned bridge, which subsequently collapsed.
The stress induced labor. At that moment, the bear mother approached her, then retreated into the forest, and the woman lost consciousness.
The old man realized that the bear mother had chosen to repay him for saving her cub in the most fitting moment. Without the predator’s intervention, he could have lost three loved ones that day.
