Another of Terry Bisson's short stories, "Bears Discover Fire", is an absolute gem, and free to read online: https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/bears-discover-fi...
The bears are filling in the gap left behind as humanity advances towards the future. Living in the medians both literally and figuratively. They're not replacing us, but what we were.
I wonder if there's a connection / reference.
We have all wondered about hidden meanings.
The bears wonder too!
After all, they are just beginning to discover fire.
What is this thing? We know how to make it happen, but we don't understand it.
Nothing is as obvious as we might hope.
Don't let this trouble you. Just bear with it.
"It looked like only a few of the bears knew how to use fire and were carrying the others along. But isn’t that how it is with everything?"
It was the gesture of leaving cut firewood that stays with me. They are neighbors now, and that's how you are with neighbors, even if you have nothing much to say to one another.
It’s gorgeous, but I found the story much better.
Bears Discover Fire is awesome.