"AA!" The young indian backed away from the roaring forest fire in front of her. Black smoke rose, making her cough slightly. In this situation, being blind was not helpful. She could feel the flames, lapping at her skin and smell the smoke, but she could not see to find a way out. "HELP!" She screamed, scrambling away from the heat of the flame. A bright light was shining above her, if only she had the strength to just let go. If she did, this life would be gone and a new life would come.
Finally she did. REalizing that no one was coming, having had the rest escape, leaving the cripple to die, Aki gave in and let the fire engulf her. The light blinded the area and closed over Aki's dead, charred body. A voice chanted, the voices of a hundred indians:
From this body
A new life shall begin
Bears will see
The fire shall die
And new life shall begin
The words chanted around the now alive girl who seemed to be floating above her body. Aki looked around, but saw only darkness. Obviously, when they said that bears would see, they didn't mean her. The fire below her had taken the rest of the dry area and then when it reached dampness, it sputtered and died, leaving only Aki's body. Suddenly, the body flickered from bear to human and then stayed on bear. Aki's spirit floated downwards and the bear awoke, still unable to see, but alive, thoguh at the time, she had no way of seeing how she had changed...