What It Means To Us

As dangerous as fighting the polar bear could have been, the siblings and their companions work in harmony to weaken it. The bear has rounded toward him and Charlie catches sight of the damage Andy’s horns have already done to its throat. Blood sweeps down the front of its neck and down its chest and its leg is crippled. Getting in the water would be difficult for it now, and trying to leave by land would be even harder for it with the two yearlings and their companions lashing at it. Aquila was doing a fantastic job keeping the bear distracted with buffs of air, and Silveris continued to make noise between her calls, using her small size to dart above the bear’s ears and serve as an additional distraction.

The attacks continue, his sister and her snow leopards lunging at the bear’s unprotected back. The bear roars, spinning around wildly, swaying as it attempts to bite the cat as he climbs. The other cat leaps for the exposed wounds on his neck and, with its back to him again, Charlie marks for the good rear leg. He sinks his fangs in, feels the beast crumple forward. He can feel the front part of the bear working, swinging at the leopard, toward his sister. Charlie bites harder, feeling the bone beneath the flesh protest. Blood flows into his mouth and a snarl bubbles up from the tawny yearling. The bear crumbles forward, both rear legs now crippled, blood loss taking effect. It is breathing hard, labored breathing. It is almost over as the yearling releases it and circles around the front with his sister.

The scent of fear from the dying creature begins to mingle with the metallic scent of blood. Charlton’s breathing comes out in pants as his gaze flicks from Leo, holding the beast’s scruff, to Andy, and then back to the bear. It is dying… and the fight in it had gone from fierce fighting to realizing the end was near. It’s breathing was off, gurgling. It was choking on its blood, hardly able to breathe now. “It’s fading.” His words were soft. “It’s safer to stay away from its front now. It may be at death’s door, but I don’t trust it not to make a last throw at one of us if we get near it now.” It’d be kinder to put it down, but he didn’t want to risk injury… unless… his gaze flicked to Leo.

“Leo, are you able to get to the spinal cord in the neck?” He didn’t know how thick the thing’s neck would be but he was in the safest position to finish it off and end its misery.

"Speech," 'Thought.'