What An Ugly Rug

He wasn't so far from Valhalla this time, since he only had a short time before his patrol so he needed to be nearby. He was basically burning time, kicking his heels off pack lands until he had to go back. It felt like a waste, like he should be actually out there in the world, gathering wolves together, actually doing what he'd planned. Admittedly, he could be spending time with his siblings instead, knowing that when he left the three of them who remained in Valhalla likely weren't going to be following him. But he hadn't admitted to any of them that he was leaving to start his own group, and he had been avoiding them to avoid the subject. He didn't kid himself into thinking that they didn't know he was leaving. He'd made no secret of his disdain for Aurielle, her false Adravendis, and Valhalla itself. But telling them he wasn't just leaving, but creating a group that might, theoretically, be someday in opposition to Valhalla... that made him unsettled. He didn't intend to go after Valhalla, not with several of his siblings settled there quite comfortably, but he couldn't guarantee that something wouldn't happen, and he certainly didn't know how they would react to the idea of him making his own group. Would they see it as a betrayal, if he were to leave the pack their mother had raised them in?

His head came up swiftly at a roar and sudden crackling of brush not far in front of his nose. If he'd taken a few steps more, he might have been right in the eyesight of the bear now rushing furiously towards... he squinted in amused disbelief for a fraction of a second. The very same duo who'd fought with him against the lioness, this time with trouble of their own. Artur rolled his shoulders, setting himself to his task. They'd thrown themselves into harms way for his sake, it was only duty for him to do the same. He wouldn't owe anyone anything.

Springing forward in a splash of mud and leaves - and ignoring the squalling infant bear - he dove forward, skidded, and pivoted neatly at the bear's hindquarters to sink his fangs into the back of her thigh, his not-inconsiderable weight slowing her in her charge. She jerked around in an attempt to grab at the infuriating creature who'd interrupted the potential murder spree, but Artur hopped awkwardly along keeping a step ahead of her grasping claws and jaws, keeping his own firmly in place.