the search for legends

The more distant roar turned out to only be a distraction as another bear came charging from the brush beside him, making his hackles immediately bristle as he spun to face the grizzly with a growling snarl, instinctively putting himself between the bear and Ella as his sister dodged its initial heavy swipe. He shifted to dodge the bear's swinging paw as well and lunged forward to snap at its cheek, but falling short and having to hop back again to avoid its slobbery jowls. He almost missed Ellara slipping around behind the bear, but regardless he kept it distracted long enough for her to take a go at its flank. He hoped maybe he would look like enough of a threat to make the bear ignore her, but instead the lumbering creature immediately began to turn toward his sister with another swipe of its massive paw.

His heart leapt into his throat when the bear began to charge at her again before he could stop it. Luckily Ella was fast and was able to dodge out of the way, but even having her here in the mix of the fight was too close for comfort for him. He caught her gaze for brief moment, his gaze worried and warning her to not get involved, but he knew from the determination in her expression that his concern would be lost on her. Be was putting himself into position to charge in with another attack of his own when Ella went for the bear's back leg, but a heard kick from the bear sent her sprawling across the dirt. "Ella!" he called with worry, but he had to trust that she'd pick herself back up as his eyes darted back toward the bear that was now making him its target.

With a snarl he lunged forward again, latching his jaws around the bear's throat near the base of its jaw so it couldn't immediately turn its head down to retaliate. His teeth broke through skin as he crushed down, sending blood across his tongue. The bear roared in response, wheeling backward and swiping frantically at him as it began to rear up onto its back legs. Adriel quickly let go before the grizzly could pull him off of his feet, but he didn't quite avoid the bear's savage paws, its claws scraping across his left shoulder. He winced as he landed back on his feet and squared off with the bear again, his head lowered and lips pulled back in a snarl as he refused to let the bear regain any kind of ground as they continued to push it back toward the falls.

"Speech"