Fortunately for Arthur, he was talking to a fox that turned into a human and spent his life severing troubled spirits from their lingering woes.

The werebear bit seemed quite normal to him.

"So that is why I smelled bear on you."

He recalled the peculiar scent when they had parted ways while he joined Arthur at the table. He had been giving his own wrist the occasional surreptitious pinch, just in case he was stuck in a pleasant dream - but no. This was real.

Arthur was alive and well and making stew.

"How much of a curse is it, I wonder? You are very well-suited to being a bear, I think."