B-b-b-Bear!!

Kali had heard the whisperings from the pack about how odd it was that spring still hadn’t arrived. According to them, the weather should have started warming and the snow should have started melting, but instead, the winter continued to rage on and they continued to gain several inches of snow seemingly every other day. On top of that, there had been mentions of strange creatures roaming around. Being so young, there were many creatures that the girl hadn’t seen for herself, but these seemed to be extra strange. Animals bigger than anything they’d ever seen, with teeth and horns thicker than her and a temper to match. But, Recluse had told them to be careful and to stay near the den whenever possible.

That day, however, she’d had enough of being good and staying by the den when her crazy siblings did whatever they wanted. Surely nothing bad would happen as long as she stayed inside their well kept borders anyways? The creatures couldn’t possibly be so stupid as to not understand what the pungent odor meant and the ferocious punishment they’d endure if they crossed. Which was why, when she came upon the biggest animal she’d ever seen in her entire heckin’ life, she could only stare in horror. It was easily 5...no 10 times the size of her, clad in brown fur and rippling muscles that told her it could definitely squish her just as easily as her mother had suggested. Its beady eyes looked at her and it opened its mouth to let out a roaring growl, showing off its teeth that could pop off her head like a daisy.

The snow beneath her yellowed a little bit

It took a step toward her and she took a step back, this process repeating until she felt her back hit one of the redbud trees. It got closer and she felt her heart hammering in her chest like a hummingbird. She was going to die, she couldn’t die! She was too young and far too pretty! Taking in a deep breath, the girl turned and took off at a spring as fast as her legs could take her toward the mountain where Mom had ensured her she’d be safe. She heard the creature bellow behind her, the sound seeming to shake the ground beneath her and she let out a panicked howl of her own for the wolves of Habari to come to the aid of their princess.