Ursa Major [Bear; Cuddling, Hibernation, Minor Weight Gain (Bear)]: When it's time for hibernation, Anon helps his roommate prepare for her extended slumber. >You are anon >Your roommate is a bear >No, not THAT kind of bear >An honest-to-god Kodiak brown bear >Your slightly-more-than-a-friend roommate, Chyanne >The two of you met early in the year through mutual friends and really hit it off >You were both looking for a new place, and soon you were signing the lease together >At first things felt as natural as they could be for a human/anthro pairing >She may be female, but the species divide kept things from being too complicated, somehow >You were just an anon and a bear sharing a two-bed place in the city >Also sharing similar tastes in typical nondescript interests >After about a month, however, you began noticing just how compatible you two actually are >You’ve grown accustomed to her earthly scent >You love the way her fur looks after bathing >She has the kindest voice in spite of her imposing size >She’s a damn fine cook as well, always offering you some of whatever she makes >Needless to say, the girl can definitely put it away >You’ve tried your hand at making meals to reciprocate, but it’s a lot harder (and expensive) to prepare serving sizes for a bear >But Chyanne always appreciates the gesture >And she won’t take your money when you offer it >Chyanne works for some kind of decoration and design company, focusing on the spring, summer, and fall holidays >She’s paid well for the incredible effort she puts in, and in turn the company provides decent benefits >One of them being “Hibernation Leave” >You see, many anthros possess instincts from their primal heritages >Bears who live climates with harsh winters or drastic seasonal weather changes often get lethargic around certain times of the year, even if they don’t actually go outside much >This can be dangerous for bears who work in physically laborious jobs, and so laws were made to ensure job security during their absence >Think maternity leave, but for hibernating >To compensate, many bears are extremely hard workers the rest of the year >Chyanne is definitely no exception >Still, with autumn already in full swing she seems stressed about something >Neither of you have ever had to pull the “roommate intervention” card for disputes >You’ve gotten along together almost perfectly together >But today, she’s sitting on the oversized, mega-reinforced couch you two share for movie nights >She pats the empty space beside her for you to sit >”Anon,” she says, “You’ve been an amazing friend since we moved in, and I feel bad for leaving you alone all winter.” >Her huge paw reaches over to your lap, and you clutch it with both your hands >”I have enough paid time off to get an early start to my ‘vacation’ over these next couple of weeks, and I’d like to spend them with you as much as I can.” >You don’t have a lot of work ahead of you either, and you tell her you can probably call in a few favors to be with her longer >A brief fantasy passes through you mind of you and Chyanne as your bear wife >Employers are encouraged by the law to give a non-hibernating employee an ample amount of time off as well, so that they can safely acclimate their partner to a pre-hibernation condition >You regret not booking your time off sooner, but Chyanne understands >”You deserve to live your life,” she says. “Besides, I’m going to have to spend a few days just sitting here binging anyway.” >She’s fairly lean for a bear, likely from her active lifestyle, but there’s still an ursine amount of adipose to her frame already >She pats her stomach mournfully with her other paw >”I’m going to get so fat….” >You give her a reassuring pat >”There’s one more thing I wanted to tell you,” she continues. >”I’ve already paid my rent for the whole hibernation, but I also paid yours off as well.” >Wait, rent-free for the whole winter? >You tell her she definitely didn’t have to do that >She just smiles >”I would feel much safer knowing you’re close by. I don’t want anything to happen where you might leave or get evicted.” >The two of you embrace in a tight hug >The softness is heavenly, as is the gentle massage of her claws on your back >You and Chyanne are all but inseparable the next few weeks >When you’re available, you’re going out to virtually every fair and festival in the area >Pretty much wherever there’s a lot of food >She always has a snack close by, but she never fails to offer a bite >When you’re not around, she waits for you to return like a lonely pet >You can almost always find her sitting on the couch chowing down on lunch when you get back, ready to spring to her feet when you open the door >After about a month, though, she doesn’t really “spring” much anymore >When she rises from her seat it takes her some momentum to get going >Her paunch sticks out from under her shirt, making her pull it down constantly >She already had a weighty pair of breasts, but now they’re almost too mesmerizingly large to ignore >Apart from a little extra fluff around the neck, though, she fills out rather uniformly and subtle >Well, subtle until she stops fitting through most doors easily >For the most part she’s unbothered by the weight >Obviously she’s gone through this a few times before >Being around you seems to make her flustered more than anything >She’s self-conscious about every burp, everything she bumps into, and every broken seam or button >But you’re always there to cheer her up >Plus, she’s only looking cuter being puffed up like a teddy bear >Eventually she slides back to being comfortable with you >Comfortable enough to bring out her “hibernation clothes” and unpack them out in the open >Giant sweaters, enormous sweatpants… >When she gets to the bottom of the box she lets out a soft whine >”Oh no,” she says, “I forgot I trashed all my old nightgowns. I don’t have anything to wear to sleep.” >You have some curiosity about why a bear who naps through the winter would care about nighttime apparel >Then again, you’ve always been told not to poke a sleeping bear >”I tend to wake up occasionally for some ‘midnight snacks’,” she says with her little round ears folded back >”I’m usually not too worried about the mess I make, so my stuff is really dirty when the spring comes.” >You ask if there’s something difficult about buying bear-appropriate nightgowns >Is it a money thing? >Is it a supply thing? >She taps her black nails together sheepishly >”I just…I’m a little unsure about it,” she says. “I want to spend ALL my time with you, but that means I’d have to drag you through some embarrassing clothes stores.” >Come on, like your mother never did that to you >You tell her you’re going to be there for her, and she nearly breaks you in her hug >There’s a bear-centric department store not far out of the city >It’s unsurprisingly colossal in size >Not just in surface area, but even the ceiling seems to have its own atmosphere >Bears of all types are shopping here, not all of them preparing for hibernation >Those are the lucky ones >Or the ones who are hopped up on enough meds to power through their instincts >Sadly, a few openly mock those who wander over to the heavily advertised “Hibernation Station” >Chyanne is unfazed by the taunting, instead more concerned about finding the perfect nightgown >It catches you off guard how much input she wants you to have on the matter >What colors do you like? >Does this feel soft enough? >Is this too revealing? >She doesn’t wait for an answer for the last one before shoving the slip back on the rack >When she holds another one up you get a view of just how massive the things are >One by itself is like a whole bed sheet >She looks a little guilty for forcing you to come along >You reassure her again, and offer to pay for one of her nightgowns in sincerity >”Oh, Anon, I wouldn’t make you do that,” she says, actually laughing about it >Why not? >She pinches the price tag with her claws and holds it to your face >Holy >Shit >She just smiles and folds the nightgown over her arm, patting you on the head >”I appreciate it, though,” she says. “You’re a real gentleman.” >Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, here >You’re definitely imagining what she’ll look like in that dainty little number >Hibernation approaches fast >Chyanne is already looking more and more tired throughout the day >She’s also gained an impressive amount of weight >So much so that when you finally get to see her walk out of her room wearing the rosy pink nightgown she’s practically stretching it out already >It’s almost the weekend, and she announces the start of her “pre-all-nighter” >Basically, she wants you to join her in a sleepless sleepover party >She tries to stave off her fatigue as long as possible, afraid the next time she nods off it’ll be for the winter >You’re chugging coffees and blasting music right along with her >It goes on for well over twenty-four hours, and you’re starting to really feel it catch up to you the next midnight >She lets out a massive yawn and does her best to stand up >Pulling you with her >”Anon, I think it’s time,” she says >She points to the countertop where an envelope sits >”There’s enough in there to cover our utilities for the winter, but…” >Her dreamy eyes take an unexpected seductive shape, as she looks into your own >”We’ll save a lot of money on heat if you turn it down and cuddle up with me.” >Your body fights over where to send all the blood to; your pounding ears, or someplace down south? >Is she delirious from the lack of sleep? >”Anon,” she says in a hushed voice. “I want you to be here with me for at least the first night. It would put me at ease to be close to you.” >”You can come in and sleep with me whenever you want. Don’t worry about disturbing me when you leave in the morning.” >She doesn’t have to ask you twice >You undress down to your own sleepwear and follow her to her room >You’ve seen it in passing a few times, but unfortunately you see even less of it now >All electronics are unplugged and all the lamps are shut off save for a small night light that turns on when it senses heavy movement > Her bed sheets are pulled back and ready for the two of you >The mattress is remarkably spacious, even holding Chyanne in her full hibernation weight >She climbs in first, and pats the vacant spot next to her >You’re the little spoon, obviously >The night light dims to darkness as she wraps an arm around you >It’s not the smothering, crushing weight you feared, but an enveloping plushness like the world’s largest pillow >You can hear her exhale, her heartbeat, and every gentle shift of her body >Her paw clutches you close to her as though you were her favorite doll >You can’t help but feel a little aroused by having your head settled into her chest >She doesn’t fall asleep immediately despite her haggard state, fending off her hibernation for just a little while longer >You reach behind yourself, trying to touch and stroke as much of her as you can >She chuckles deeply in her throat >It’s finally time >”Good night, Anon,” she whispers. “See you in the spring.” >Goodnight, Chyanne >You sleep much longer than you usually do >It’s already the afternoon when you wake up >You would have gotten up sooner, but your first attempt was stopped by a whimper and a tightening hold on you >She’s deep in sleep, for sure, but that won’t stop her from trying to hold on to you >You manage to worm your way out of her grasp some time later >You’re beaming at the beautiful creature and go about the rest of your day >Every so often you can hear a snore or the sound of creaking springs from her bedroom >By the time night rolls back around, you’re ready to dive back in >She doesn’t stir one bit as you lift her arm and drape it back over yourself >It’s undoubtedly colder with the heat turned down, and the warmth from her body makes you wish you could hibernate with her >But at the same time be completely awake, so you can savor every moment with her >There are some nights when you have to sleep in your own bed >Usually from sickness, or when you need “alone time” >Still, more often than not you’re slumbering with your roommate, some of the most serene rest you’ve had in your life >You even put aside your whole day’s schedule just to stay with her a while longer >After a couple of weeks you’re startled by heavy movement sometime during the morning >It’s Chyanne, wandering around the place in complete torpor >She’s basically sleepwalking, raiding the fridge for a hearty snack or sometimes making a run (or rather, a lumber) to the bathroom >It’s something you’ve heard ancient bears didn’t have to do much during their hibernations, but the evolution of anthros must have downplayed their instincts >Eventually, you hatch a plan to help her >You measure and time her brief moments of “awakeness” and prepare a meal shortly before she enters the kitchen >It’s a tuna casserole, one of her favorites >She looks down at the dish in her drowsiness and begins to dig in >Almost an instant later and she’s licking the dish clean >But it’s enough to send her back to bed without much mess or destruction of the kitchen >You keep this up for a few weeks, feeling much less lonely around the place even though she’s practically unconscious most of the time >After a while, you start to notice some changes >She’s burning through the stored fat, and you can see a gradual decline in her overall girth >Her nightgown seems to fit better, but the fit of her body around yours during the cold nights is no less pleasurable >Spring is on the horizon, and Chyanne’s weight loss is much more apparent >So much so that her nightgown has become ill fitting even for her >You’re on the couch one morning when she makes her rounds, and you’re struck with a second round of morning wood >One of her gown straps had slipped from her shoulder, exposing a plump, pendulous breast >Her shaggy, overgrown fur is not enough to hide the dark nipple poking out >It jiggles as she consumes the meal you’ve made for her, catching some of the debris in her pelt as it falls from her mouth >You’re afraid to approach and fix it for her, but you’re also afraid to be caught staring should she prematurely snap out of her grogginess >You decide to slide it back on later that night >Around the same time, you notice changes in her sleepwalking behavior as well >She has a dreamy smile sometimes, and every so often you think she’s looking in your direction >Her trips to the bathroom become more frequent, now becoming daily occurrences >You also have to prepare food more often >But even then she’s still shedding the pounds >One morning, you awaken literally on top of Chyanne, splayed out trying to cover as much surface area as you can >Both her arms are covering you, and they almost seem to be stroking your back >She lets out a guttural sigh and tightens her hold >”Mhhhmmm,” she coos >You lift your head in surprise >You say her name softly >”Mhhhmmm…Ahhmmomm,” she moans >Did she just try to say “Anon”? >”Mmmaaahhh…Ahmmom…mm-I…hhhuuvvhh yooohhh.” >It’s slurred and breathy, but the message is clear >You clench tufts of her fur and nuzzle into her chest >And you return her confession in earnest >The day comes at last, and she actually beats you to the buzzer >A literal one, too >The girl had a hibernation alarm all set and everything >But she’s awake even before it goes off >When it rouses you from your own sleep, she’s ready to greet you with a smile >”Good morning, sleepyhead.” >Good morning, Chyanne >The two of you get dressed and enjoy the company of one another around breakfast >She’s close to her original size, but a little post-winter chub still remains >”I’ve got some time left before I have to get back to work,” she says as she pinches the excess adipose, “so I hope we can have some more time together. I really want to get some exercise in.” >You let her know you think she’s perfect as she is >”You’re so sweet, Anon, but I’ve been out cold for months now. I’m ready to go out and be active again!” >She really does hit the ground running, that girl >But her hibernation is still on her mind >”I hope I was a good roommate all that time. I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?” >Not at all >”How was I…in bed?” she says coyly >You tell her she talks in her sleep sometimes >”Do I?” she giggles. “What kinds of things do I say?” >You are silent for a bit, and she reads your face like an open book >”No…did I? Oh, no…” >She’s a little flustered >Now a LOT flustered >”I-I thought that was just a dream…I MEAN…A-anon, I didn’t …” >You’re nervous of what she’s trying to say, but also disappointed by what she’s trying not to say >”Anon…I don’t want to complicate things…unless,” she says >There’s something adorable about a giant brown bear tapping her nails together sheepishly >”Unless you feel the same way.” >You tell her you do >And you’re pulled over the kitchen table into her embrace >You’re ready to move things forward with Chyanne as you two share a deep kiss >But some part of you also can’t wait for the next winter