Poke the bear

Flare trudged home after a long and exhausting hunt. He’d set the meat up to drain so he could package it and trudge it home to the Syndicate stores in the morning, and now had thoughts only for his bed. Weary as he was, he didn’t catch the scent until he entered the den he had procured for his hunting trip.

As he slipped through the door, he found himself suddenly awake and alert, adrenaline pooling his system when he realised he was not alone in the small space. The scent of another hit him, much too late. The first attack happened before he was prepared, much to his chagrin. The Black bear launched itself at him, and wiped his head to the right angle, catching the bear's shoulder in his sabre teeth.

Its own attack hit him hard, almost knocking him off balance as he felt its deadly claws scouring his side. Snarling with annoyance and no small measure of anger, he dug his teeth in harder. Coming away with a chunk of skin as the bear pulled back from him. The two predators circled each other slowly, looking for weakness, for an opening in their defences. Both were bleeding now, and the scent of it permeated the small of the small cave.

The wolf peeled his gums back from his teeth, snarling a warning to the bear. A threat that went unheeded as it struck again. This time, Flare was ready, and he was faster than the bear. He ducked out of its charge, letting it continue on for a few paces before he struck its back. Raking claws through fur and flesh as he attempted to use his weight and its momentum to shove it off balance. It worked, and the bear threw out a paw, catching himself awkwardly on the stone floor. Another opening for Flare, and he took it. He threw himself at the creature, tearing this time with his teeth as he ravaged its back. The scent of blood and yowls of pain filled his sensors. The bear was growing more frantic now. Trying to turn, to get its balance. But Flare had the advantage now, and he pressed it. Tearing deeper and deeper into the bear. It was not a slow, nor a merciful killing. By the time he was done, he was soaked in blood, and the scent was so thick in the den that it covered everything else. Flare spat a lump of meat onto the shredded creature. Clear disdain in the motion as he considered the quickest way to clean up, so he could finally get to sleep.

"Speech"