Bear!

A huge, shit-eating grin is on the small Klein boy’s lips as the bear roars, short legs pushing Strix away from the swinging paw that is sure to follow. Morendo leaps forward, taking the opening that the small boy had given him and latching his jaws around the bear’s throat. The grizzly’s eyes widen and it tries to swing a paw at Ren but Strix rushes in, catching the offending appendage and pulling it away from his brother. With its leg stretched out, the bear has no options left except to die as Morendo deals the killing blow. Releasing the paw, the small boy watches as the grizzly stumbles backward before collapsing. It struggles against death, the encroaching darkness making it fight even harder. But, in the end, death would not be denied and the bear stills as its life slips away.

Tongue darts out to lick away the blood that paints his lips as he looks to Ren, mirroring the tail wag that is given. With a huge grin, Strix says, “Now that we got our blood pumping, what do you say we go work on that den!” He barks out a laugh, moving to his brother and offering a friendly headbutt in congratulations for killing the huge bear. Before they leave, the boy’s mismatched gaze falls on the downed predator and he muses, “Well, at least we have one fur ready.” Looking back to Ren, Strix gives his brother a wink before moving back where their project awaits.


"Strix Klein"