Despite exuberant cheering and being pressured to eat more, the poor bear was experiencing the strange mix of sensations that frequently accosted him this time of year.

Being physically stuffed to bursting, while remaining ravenously hungry.  


Well, at least the mind-altering edge had been taken off.

He had polished off a good 2/3 of the cauldron by himself, but the large quantity of water in the stew had bulked it up. He would have practically sloshed when he walked, causing him to have a rather profound need to find the little bear's room. (Do bears go in the woods? Yes. Yes they do.) Given that he could not physically consume any more, but would certainly be able to finish it in a few hours, he asked if they could move the remainder to the inn, where the rest of the group was holed up.

"better check with them on their end first-- They aren't usually keen on outside food being brought up."

In hindsight, it seemed like a sensible enough objection, given the nature of their business, but on the other... 

He looked at the cauldron with a sad expression.  He REALLY wanted to eat the rest of it, but was already suffering the effects of fluid overload.

"[color=7bcdc8]I'ma go fin' out 'en[/color]" he moped.

"You SURE you can't finish it Mr Bear?" chortled the farm-hand that had sold the lot. "Eyes too big for your stomach?" 

Cedar rolled his eyes at the comment. "[color=7bcdc8]I saids i' woun'na be all at oncet! Dayum! Ain't no ways 'at whole thang gonna fit in muh gut![/color]"

"I dunno, it's pretty close! You got most of it in there!"

The entire crew got a chuckle out of that at his expense. 

"Let us know if they say it's OK Mr Bear. We'll hold on to it a bit longer until then."

Cedar thanked them kindly, stood up, and immediately had to lean on his walking stick.  The need to find a secluded tree was very pronounced. He waved at the farmers, then started hobbling down the road, before dipping to the side into a densely wooded copse of trees to see to his business.  One of the farmer's dogs had followed him in curiosity, but took off terrified the moment it caught wind of what he was discretely letting out back there.  Cedar chuckled at the dog, finished his business, then sauntered back onto the road, and toward the inn.

The sun had moved noticeably in the sky, and he guessed it was early afternoon. 

Feeling like a new bear, he went through the door.