The Ring of Fire!

Dag grinned as the boy introduced himself as Ardyn. She appreciated his help with gathering wood for the fire. With the structure of the fire built the kestrel flew to the travois and pulled out a chunk of flint and a metal stick. The bird set them down on the edge of the fire ring. "Now, I'll show you how I start these fires. You'll want to aim for the kindling. It'll catch fire more quickly than the sticks. Strike the metal against the flint to make a spark. Try and get the spark to hit the kindling, like this." Sperla picked the metal stick up in her beak and clunched the flint between her talons. She then whipped her head to the side, striking the metal against the flint. She did this several times until at last a spark leapt from the flint onto the kindling. The spark slowly turned into a small flame that grew larger and larger as it consumed the wood beneath it. Hooray!

Her celebration was cut short as she saw Ardyn staring at something. She turned to see what he was looking at and her heart leapt up into her throat. It was a bear! Before she could react Ardyn drew the bear's attention. Oh no, he needed help! Grabbing one of the sticks with fire she bounded toward the bear and whipped her head to the side, slamming the fire into the bear's butt. It roared and whirled around toward's her. At that moment Halla leapt forward and grabbed Dag by her scruff. She dropped the fire stick in surprise as her caretaker attempted to carry the pup away. But with her mouth full she failed to see the bear's arm as its swiped her paws out from under her.