The winter months had been... tough for Heath.

Tougher than usual, at least. Each year, he dreaded the arrival of the frigid season, hated how it sapped his energy, made him sluggish and lethargic. But this year? It was a different kind of suffocating feeling.

He dragged himself across the cluttered floors of his tiny apartment day after day, the boorish walls seem to pack him in tighter and tighter. The loneliness festered like an infected wound, grew and stung with no salve. He'd lay awake most nights, staring at the ceiling as a hollow emptiness clawed and burrowed in his chest.

Work wasn't any better. The manual labor jobs he'd taken over the years had gradually worn him down, the repetition of it all was like a slow death by a thousand cuts. The pay was shit too. His rent was late more often than not, and he'd had to cut back on meals to make ends meet. Half the time he went to bed with an empty, growling stomach-- telling himself tomorrow would be better. Easier. (But it never was.)

He'd considered looking for something better once or twice, a career change. But the mere thought of sitting through interviews, have his soul sapped once more but behind a desk this time, wasn't appealing either. So he'd kept on keeping on. Least the manual labor kept him active.

Heath always thought that his life would get better in the city. Maybe he'd meet someone, have cubs of his own, have a family.

But in all what, 30+ years of his life? Never happened. Actually depressing when you think about it.

So when winter came around, Heath made a decision. He couldn't go on like this, not for another year. Getting away from the noise and grime of the city, if only for a short while, that's what he needed. A chance to breathe again, to clear his head in the solitude of the forest. Maybe then the fog would finally lift. Maybe he'd be able to heal.

Hibernation. It was something he'd done since he was a cub-- slipping into that deep, comfortable slumber every year to escape the bitter cold. But this time, it was more than that. He needed a break from everything. The noise, the chaos, the loneliness. Just...a reprieve from it all.

In the weeks leading up to his slumber, he'd gorged himself on whatever scraps he could scrounge up. Stale bread, instant ramen, some frozen dinners, expired canned goods, even the odd rat or two-- all consumed to build up his fat reserve. When the first snow fell, he ventured out.

Packed a small bag, grabbed his meds, and headed out into the forest, hoping to find a cave before the snow began to pile.

He ended up finding he perfect spot -- a small cave sheltered by towering evergreens. Settling inside, he popped triple of his medication, which usually makes him drowsy anyway. Heath hunkered down, shifting comfortably into his bear form to better endure the harsh temperatures. Always felt more like him whenever he did. After fashioning a makeshift nest of leaves and moss, Heath curled up, eyes fluttering shut as his exhaustion rose and rose. Till finally, it overcame him.

The world outside moved on without him. Weeks, then a month. Sometimes he'd wake for a brief moment, only to fall back into the slumber. Until eventually, spring began to peek through winter's icy shroud. The snow softened and melted, retreating to unveil the fresh buds of green.

It wasn't until some... noises that finally woke Heath up. A scuffling sound, faint at first but growing louder. Snapping twigs underfoot, the crunch of dried leaves being crushed. Then, a thump, followed by a muffled ... whatever, as something tumbled into the cave entrance.

Nothing registered, until another sharp snap occurred, causing Heath's eyes to snap open unconsciously.

A low growl came from Heath's throat as he blearily registered the intruder, adrenaline suddenly building.

Sluggishly shaking off his grogginess, he pushed himself upright, arms shaking with the sheer effort. Vertigo swam in his vision as the cave seemed to spin around him. Too disoriented to control his shifting, Heath's transformation kicked in haphazardly by mistake. His right arm ballooned outward, fur becoming skin. The rest of his body morphed, slightly. Legs becoming human, his torso, his head. Though his arms awkwardly stayed bear-like, covered in brown fur.

Too disoriented to notice.

With a grunt of exertion, Heath staggered to his feet, swaying unsteadily as the half-bear tried to defend his territory...only to promptly collapse back to the cave floor with a choked growl(more like whine) and a almost comedically loud THUD!, his body too fatigued to stay upright.

He was sprawled there awkwardly, his naked lower half fully on display. Too weak to even cover himself, he simply blinked up with a dazed, half-lidded gaze. It took a minute for his vision to clear after a few harsh blinks, and finally, he could make out a human figure.

This must be... humiliating. What a way to wake up. Expecting to feel more relieved but instead feel mortified.

Oh wait, his mouth is opening! Heath's chest rose, lifting up his form slightly as he inhaled. Wonder what he's going to say?

...

"Huuuufff."

A weird jumble of words and a ... growl. The air escaped him, his body deflating into a half-human half-bear puddle.