Bronze hadn't realized he'd crossed into a predator's orbit until he was pretty sure it was too late. A rain shower had just started and the damp air made it hard to get his bearings as he ventured through the woods. A heavy fog had drifted in and clung tightly to the forest floor as it began to drizzle, and he kept his nose low to the ground as he trudged on. The redwood trees helped keep the bulk of the rain from reaching the forest floor but he still felt the ground beneath his paws rowing damp and cold. Suddenly he saw something just out of his peripheral vision - something that looked unnervingly like a bear, disappearing behind the treeline, helped by the thick fog. He got the unnerving feeling he was being stalked, and his hackles raised instinctively as he slowed his pace and tried to prepare the best route for him to escape.

I'm Tired of Looking for Answers

Birna stretched up the trunk of a massive tree, digging her claws into the bark and pulling slowly, enjoying the feeling as she sharpened her claws. A gentle rain was falling all about her but beneath the shelter of the extensive boughs she was dry… for now at least. She was growing hungry and would need to hunt. In these new lands she didn't know how long the rain would last but she was used to the cold. Carefully she slinked across the ground from the cover of her shelter, glad that the bulk of the great boughs kept the rain from dampening her fluffy coat.

Birna scented the ground, sorting through the scents as she picked up that of a wolf nearby. She'd just spotted the yearling before her ears flicked back at the sound of something large lumbering through. She spun around in time to see a large grizzly bear appear. It snorted and glared at her before roaring and standing up on its hind legs. Well shit.

Speech

He wasn't alone with this bear, but Bronze didn't know that right away. Instead of being flooded with panic he remained calm and composed, carefully calculating the scenario and his odds. If there was more than one bear he'd be well and truly screwed, but as the beast drew closer he could only scent one of them on the air. That and.. a feline? He thought back to the cat her and his siblings had fought off, hoping he wasn't about to get ambushed by another one of those. The sound of the bear's approach only grew stronger and he slowly wheeled around, though he was surprised when he saw the lumbering figuring refocusing on someone else, someone obscured through the fog, and rising up tall. Maybe he ought to take this as a cue to flee while he could but he wasn't a coward, even if he was selfish. Weighing his options, he reacted quickly, charging toward the bear while it attempted to bring its weight down hard on hard on the feline. He aimed for one of its hind legs, snapping at the joint to hopefully cause it to stumble. It was only when he moved to strike did he realize the feline was not stalking him too, but rather was the focus of the bear's assault.

I'm Tired of Looking for Answers

Birna's ears flicked back, her fur fluffing up as she hissed at the bear. It was not impressed. It attempted to bring its front paws down on top of her. She swiftly dodge to the right as the wolf came up behind her, raced past and bit into the hind leg of the bear. The bear roared and twisted around for the wolf and as it did Birna lanced her claws forward dragging them down the right side of the bear's face, laying flesh bear and scattering blood onto the damp ground. The bear backed up, trying to keep opposite of the two other predators but Birna circled around, forcing the bear to choose between the cat and the wolf.

Speech

Fortunately the feline managed to dodge the bear's paws, stepping to the side swiftly. Of course its attention didn't stay on Birna for long when Bronze struck, teeth digging sharply down into the beast's leg, at least momentarily. He didn't have much time to react though before the bear thrashed hard to its side, wheeling around to face him when Bronze released his grip. Whatever Birna was doing was helping, but not quite enough, though the scent of blood struck him suddenly. Hopefully that meant the bear was at least beginning to falter. Birna circled behind them, the bear wheeling around in a wide arc as it tried to decide which predator to focus on. Apparently it chose Bronze at first, because before he could wheel away he felt the beast's paw come slapping the side of his head, causing him to lose his balance and go stumbling. The stinging wounds of where his paw had collided immediately begin to throb as he struggled to pull himself upright, charging back in for another bite as it turned sharply toward Birna for another attack.

I'm Tired of Looking for Answers

Birna wince as the bear suddenly whipped around and struck the youth across the face. While it was no skin off her she could feel some sympathy for him. As the bear turned towards her however she swiftly focused back on the fight. The bear raised a mighty paw and swiped horizontally at her. She ducked down beneath the blow and dove under the bear. Her fangs lashed out on the inside of one of its back legs. The bear roared, lifting the leg and shaking. She let go then flipped around and bit the bear right on its hind end. Her claws latched in and she held on as the bear spun rapidly around and around before it started to take off running. Birna swiftly detached herself and leapt off the bear.

Padding back to the youth she was glad to see he was alive. "Are you alright? If you need I will help you back to your pack."

Speech

Bronze wasn't the type to stop and feel grateful for much, but right now he felt completely indebted to this snow leopard and the fact that she was diverting even a fraction of this bear's attention away from him. Maybe cats weren't so bad, but he wasn't going to double down on that thought. As the bear lunged at her she dove beneath it and Bronze spun in a wide arc around them both, trying to stay out of the way while nipping at it where he could. Everything happened so quickly though and a moment later it was scrambling away from them both, clearly outnumbered and outstrengthed between the two of them. Either way, he was glad for it, knowing if it kept going that he might've been able to hold his own but he'd end up worse for wear and likely looking at a decently long recovery period.

Bronze straightened himself out, shaking off the soreness that had rapidly accumulated in his limbs, finally letting his breathing slow. Only then did his injuries make themselves apparent; he could feel blood pooling from his cheek where the bear had slashed him across the face. They were surface injuries at worst, but still stung. "Ah, yeah, I'm fine. And - I have no pack, so no thank you," he admitted carefully. Did she? Did cats live in packs, like wolves did? He didn't think so but he wouldn't presume."And you? Are you alright?"

I'm Tired of Looking for Answers

The pup was fine and apparently had no pack. She raised a brow curiously for as far as she knew wolves lived in packs but he was a young male, possibly even a yearling. Maybe this was the age wolven males set out to start their own packs or something of the like. She really didn't know much on the subject.

Birna nodded at his question. "Yes, I will be fine. Take care of yourself young one." She dipped her head and turned to leave seeing no reason to linger about longer than necessary. For all she knew there were other bears about seeking food and she didn't know if the commotion would garner unwanted attention.

-exit-

Speech