Grimshaw found himself wandering much farther north this evening that he was used to traveling, but tonight like many he couldn't sleep. The nightmares kept him awake and he felt bad (and weird) sleeping with Malachai most nights. He was embarrased for himself, so he could only imagine what the other man was thinking. Was he just trying to be a good friend? He couldn't be more thankful if it were the case, but Grimshaw couldn't help but hate himself a little more each time he had to ask. It didn't matter how much he hated admitting that he liked being wrapped in the other mans warm, safe arms but something constantly ate at him telling him that it was weird and he needed to get a grip. He felt weak, but it didn't bother him with they were together. Only when they were apart.

The further he got from the Armada and the boy next door the more the thoughts hung heavy on his mind. At this rate it would be morning when he got back, so that was a plus side, but the urge to run home now and crawl in bed with him was beyond high. He almost had himself talked into it too until the low roar of a nearby bear caught his attention. Stopping in his tracks, Grimshaw carefully looked around as he tested the air for any sign of a scent.

"Speech."

Away from the rest of the group, Taiga had been out hunting. It was only right of her to do so away from the rest of her traveling companions. Some time prior, all three of them would have been on the menu for the women. Chance and a bad situation had saved her life and their own. It was strange and she was almost glad that it had happened. The giant feline quite liked the donkey, reindeer and elk that she traveled with. They were kind and protective and were more of a family than her own had been. It was interesting, to say the least.

As the monochromatic feline padded quietly along the woodsy terrain, the roar of a bear echoed in small, rounded ears. The woman lifted her head, scenting the air. No doubt the roar had scared off any prey that she may have happened upon. Well, if it came down to it, she'd just eat the bear. Altering her course, Taiga pushed through a bit of thick foliage. Coming out the other side, the cat's ruby eyes adjusted to the light just in time to see a hulking white form come up behind a rather distracted looking wolf. "Wake up!" the cave lioness roared, trying to get the brutes attention before she sprang forward on powerful legs and took a swipe at the ursine, thick, curved claws raking across the muzzle of the bear and instantly drawing blood.

Having been busy scenting the air, Grimshaw hadn't noticed the bear behind him because a massive cat sprung out from the foliage before him. Never had he seen a cat so massive that he actually flinched out of the way of her, believing initially that she was after him. Once was out of the way and then aware of the bear and that she was actually warning him instead of attacking him, Grimshaw gathered himself and lunged forward towards the massive animal. Although he was worried about the massive cat, they weren't trying to end his life like this bear was towards him. With angry, sharpened teeth Grimshaw reached for the arm of the bear to stop it's gigantic paw from swiping at the feline. Alone, he'd have no chance against this giant bear. Afterwards, he'd have no chance against this cat, but maybe leaving the carcass for her would save his skin.

With fangs sinking into the upper arm of the animal, it roared and shifted it's weight off of that arm to attempt flinging the wolf. Grimshaw held on, shaking his head in tandem with the bear to tear free it's flesh. Dropping to the ground squarely on four feet, Grimshaw snapped again this time for the delicate tender flesh of the ursine's side.

"Speech."

The wolf snapped to attention, spinning as she swiped at its muzzle to intercept a huge clawed paw that had been coming right for her. Before, Taiga wouldn't have bothered trying to save a wolf, but being with the herd had made her a bit more aware of other species. She'd decided to save the wolf's life because it was what her herdmates would have done. It was strange business to be sure, but she would puzzle over it later.

With the wolf biting into the bear, its attention was pulled away from her for a moment. Leaping forward, claws extended, Taiga landed square on the polar bears back, all seven hundred pounds of her. The ursine lowed loudly and buckled beneath the great weight upon its back. Teeth bit into the area right behind the bears skull. Taiga held on tightly, her powerful jaws biting down harder and harder with each rush of strength and adrenaline that poured into her. The feline's claws were lodged securely in the flesh of the bear. She wasn't going anywhere unless the beast rolled them both.

Grimshaw couldn't get over how massive the feline was, and as it found itself settled onto the polar bears back he was simply shocked. The bear was crumpling beneath their weight and he could easily admit that he'd never seen anything like this before. If he lived to tell the tale afterwards, then he'd easily be told he was lying or hallucinating. Or even better, dreaming. How he longed for something as simple as a dream these days.

As the bear roared and suffered underneath the weight and fangs of the feline, Grimshaw sank his teeth deeper into the bears side. With a few shakes of his head, he tore free a large opening into it's barrel spilling blood though hardly enough to kill the massive animal quickly. Spitting the flesh and blood from his mouth, he went in for a second attack, latching his teeth onto the fresh wound he had just made and repeating his earlier actions. With another blow from the feline, this bear wouldn't last much longer. Certainly this had to be some kind of record.

"Speech."

Each passing second brought Taiga's thick killing fangs singing deeper and deeper into the bear's neck just behind the skull. She could feel and hear the bones of the bear begin to crack and it only fueled her determination to bring the ursine down. It would make a decent meal and her stomach was already growling in anticipation.

The wolf was harrying the bear from the side and Taiga felt the beast lurch before buckling completely. It went crashing to the ground but she never lost her place upon it. Claws still dug into its hide, holding her firmly atop it. As she bit into the neck of the bear, Taiga began turning her head slightly, thus pulling the head of the bear with her. The creaking and cracking got louder and soon there was an audible pop. For a moment, the bears eyes went wide, then they quickly glassed over and soon the beast was dead.

Taiga could feel the life leaving the bear. The tension left the muscles that had only moments before been trying to get away. Only when she was sure that it was dead did she release her hold. Sitting atop the dead bear, the feline licked her chops with a wide, pink tongue. Ruby eyes settled on the wolf and her long, white tipped tail lashed back and forth languidly, as though she hadn't just murdered a bear. "You're lucky. You were almost lunch."