Ulmaria bounded toward the river, lured by the splashes and all the new scents. Her uncle was right behind her. They'd been to the battlefield but had no luck finding an opponent for someone her size but it wasn't a wasted trip for Álarr had found some herbs to take back to his pack. They'd taken a short jaunt to the northwest where a beautiful mountain rose. She could see a waterfall falling all down the face of the mountain. It was so pretty here! The splashing once more caught her attention and she wandered to the edge to see a bunch of fish.

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Birna had arrived at the north and her mood soared in the clear mountain air and the gorgeous fall colors that cloaked the land. She'd made a temporary home for herself in a small cave on Waterfall Peak. She wasn't for sure that she'd stay there but for now she couldn't be more content. This land was as close to her homeland as she'd managed to find in Boreas.

Today she headed down to one of the streams that led from the falls to the ocean. Pink Salmon spawned in the autumn and she had caught site of them starting to swim up the stream the evening before. She stalked along the stream, catching one of the distracted fish and eating her breakfast. With her hunger sated she looked for more salmon to catch and haul back up the mountain to preserve. It was then she noticed a familiar colorful pup and horned male. Ahhh… they were awfully far north.

She didn't get to think long on this for out of the corner of her eye she noted a large grizzly bear lumbering into view.

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Ulmaria's tail wagged as she examined the fish. She wanted very much to catch one but she'd never been fishing fishing before. Did she try to lure one in closer to her or just jump in and grab them? They seemed distracted and the water wasn't terribly deep so she figured she'd just go in after one but a low growl caught her attention. Uh oh… it was a bear! Wait, no, it wasn't just one bear there were others starting to appear. Most seemed far more interested in the fish than the colorful pup except for the bear that had growled. It headed straight for her and lunged.

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Birna normally wouldn't get involved but having spent some time with the pup and the horned man she felt an obligation to help out. She noted the arrival of more bears and in truth she wasn't surprised. They had lived in these parts longer than her and were probably very familiar with the cycle of spawning salmon. The male grizzly charged for the pup and Birna leapt to intervene. Her claws sank into the bear's left back leg, her paws sending a jolt of electricity. The sudden pain startled the bear, stopping it mid run as it turned on her with a snarl.

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Ulmaria yelped in surprise and dove out of the way as the bear charged. Being two seasons old her long legs afforded her greater coordination and speed. She'd just managed to get out of the way when the bear became distracted by something attacking it. She turned to see the snow leopard, Birna, assisting them in the battle. Her uncle was taking care of another bear that had gotten interested in the scuffle. Now two seasons old she was feeling more confident in herself and she didn't want to just sit aside and be rescued. She wanted to help! Ulmaria darted forward while the bear was distracted and bit down hard on his rump.

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The bear was fast but Birna was ready. The moment the bear's face was in view her claws raked down its face, cutting flesh and delivering a jolt of electricity. The bear stumbled back in surprise then bounded off as something bit him in the butt. Deciding swiftly that going after the pup wasn't worth the hassle the bear headed back down stream to find a different fishing spot. Howeever, the ruckus had caught the attention of another bear. A large brown female wanted to fish higher upstream and she wasn't thrilled that there was a cat and wolf in the area she wanted to fish in. She strode forward and stamped her feet, growling as she tried to intimidate them.

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The bear suddenly jerked forward and turned westward to go farther down stream. Ulmaria let out a whoop in celebration. She grinned at Birna who was cleaning some blood off her paws. She knew the leopard had done far more in the fight than she had but it felt good to actually contribute in the battle. She started toward the water, ready to grab a fish when a large female bear lumbered up toward them. Ulmaria frizzed up, setting her defenses. Emboldened by their earlier victory she wasn't ready to just turn tail and run, not yet. There was a whole stream here and plenty of fish for everyone so why did they have to move?

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Birna's ears flicked back, pinning to her head as she eyed the bear. Birna snarled aggressively, trying to show the bear that she was reasonably fit and not an easy meal. Perhaps the threat of injury would turn the bear from them. The beast continued forward then charged toward her. Birna leapt up at the bear's face and by some stroke of luck her claws pierced one of the bear's eyes, her claws dragging down the side of its face. The bear yowled, a horrendous sound bursting from it's lips as it struck her. Claws and a powerful arm pushed her brutally aside. She rolled across the mud and grass, wincing as she stumbled back to her feet.

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Ulmaria's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest as the bear charged. She tried to be brave though ever instinct in her body told her to flee. Birna struck back as the bear attacked but it knocked her aside. No! Ulmaria stared in horror. She had to help! Ulmaria sprang forward as the bear's head moved down to bite the fallen woman. Before it could get there though, Lukina's claws swiped brutally across its nose. The pressure of the impact activated her electrocytes, shocking the bear's sensitive nose. The bear cried out and stumbled back, pain and confusion evident in its face. It was outnumbered and wounded now. Would it back down?

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Birna hit the ground hard and let out a cry from the blow. The wind had been completely knocked out of her though she was lucky. In its blind flailing it was the bear's arm that had struck her and not its claws. The bear's fangs dove for her but in that moment the little pup scratched the bear on the nose. It startled back, giving Birna enough time to center herself and prepare a retalitory strike. The bear, distracted by the pup made the mistake of turning its back on her and that's when she bounded forward, her serrated fangs digging into the bear's back side. It yelped and lurched forward in surprise.

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Ulmaria's held her ground, her fur fluffed up as far as she could make it. Her ears pinned to her head and she growled loudly. Birna was able to get to her feet and bit the bear hard in the butt. It yelped and jumped forward, twisting back to look at what had bitten it. Birna snarled and bounded forward, hissing loudly. The bear hesitated and started to back up before finally turning away and running. "Yea, serves you right!" She cheered and hopped back over to Birna. "Are you alright?" She didn't see any blood but knew the other woman would be pretty bruised. Maybe when Álarr returned she could help out the leopard with her injuries.

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Birna snarled and leapt at the bear in a jump scare as it turned to face her. Thankfully the bear had decided it had had enough and turned and left. She sighed in relief. Maybe now they could get some fish. She nodded at Ulmaria. "Yea, I'm fine. Just a bit sore." This outing was definitely going to earn her some healing supplies. She was probably going to burn through everything just keeping track of this child. Turning back to the river Birna leapt in and snagged a smaller salmon. With the flailing fish in her jaws she hauled it up onto shore. She'd just set it down when yet another bear approached them. This one looking for an easy meal to steal from the smaller predators.

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Ulmaria was glad to hear that Birna was ok and the two turned their attention back to the fish. Birna was clearly more experienced and managed to catch a fish almost right away. Ulmaria flailed about in the water before she finally snagged a smaller salmon. She was just walking up on shore when she saw another bear approaching. Awww man. She growled low in her throat, padding farther onto shore. She knew she'd have to drop the fish and defens herself if the bear insisted on coming closer and if she did she didn't want her catch to go flopping back into the water and getting away.

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Birna was torn between running and trying to drive the bear off. This was getting ridiculous but there was something about the principle of defending her catch. She'd caught it for herself not to feed the bears. Birna frizzed up to make herself look bigger and she growled menacingly. The bear was either completely unimpressed or too hungry to care and a a second later he charged. She tensed and prepared to spring. Birna eyed an opening and charged at the bear's right side. There wasn't much in the way of vulnerable spots so she opted for the bear's right ankle. She bit down low and hard, thrashing her head to rip through fur and flesh as her paws reached up, claws digging into the leg. She wanted to wound the bear and slow it down. Maybe she could send enough of a message to get it to leave them alone before either obtained serious injuries.

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Ulmaria slowly set her fish down, placing her paws on the fish she took a few bites, insisting on getting a taste of her hard work just in case they needed to run. The bear charged and she tensed, watching as Birna charged for the bear, going for its hind leg. As the bear turned Ulmaria bounded forward and nipped at its other hind leg, lingering long enough to break skin before springing away as the bear turned to go after her. If they could tire and frustrate it enough maybe it would realize it was better off catching its own fish and just leaving them alone.

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Birna tensed as she saw the bears head twist around toward her but the girl managed to distract it. Perfect! She bought just the time Birna needed. Birna scissored her jaws, working further through flesh and muscle to the bears achilles tendon. White a fierce twisting of her head she sliced through the tendon and immediately the bear's stance changed as the limb was lamed. The bear roared and flailed. Taking that as her cue to get the heck out of dodge she let go and sprang to the side, the bear's claws clipping her left thigh as she got out of the way. She skidded to a halt and turned to face the bear. It stumbled to its feet, bloodied and battered. It seemed unsure if it wanted to continue. Birna's hackles raised as she took a step menacingly toward the bear, trying to look as fierce as she could to drive it off.

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Ulmaria yelped as the bear twisted around to swipe at her but as she'd only aimed for a glancing blow she was already working to get out of the way. The bear immediately turned back to Birna and the smell of blood perferrated through the air. Ulmaria watched as Birna frizzed up and stalked toward the bear. It hesitated and shuffled back. It was then she saw one of the back legs had been lamed. Ulmaria bounded over next to Birna, frizzed up and trying to be as frightening as she could. Deciding he'd had enough the bear turned and limped off. Ulmaria sighed in relief but then swiftly looked up and around her. Would the other beas finally leave them alone?