The berry grove will soon be a part of Hallowed land and Fern, along with other members of the Hallows, have increased patrols in the area. Some predators still have not figured out that a pack has stakes a claim to this land and need to chased off. Today, the gray girl left her sword back in the castle, along with her companion Puff since it is still early in the morning. Sunlight filters through the large maple leaves, casting shadows that dance upon the ground. Gray form weaves around heavily laden berry bushes, the sweet scents filling her nose. The heavenly aromas make her mouth water and, when Fern draws in a long breath, she finds that the irresistible smells have drawn something else too. Paws swiftly change course, taking the gray girl to where the unwanted guest awaits. A large grizzly bear sits, snacking on one of huckleberry bushes, its lips stained black with juice. Fern shakes her head, body hidden in the shadows of a maple tree as she watches, the bear too focused on its meal to notice her. Lifting her head, she releases a howl calling for help to remove the trespasser. Broad head turns to where Fern waits, big eyes blinking in confusion. Gray form slides through the undergrowth, racing toward the snacking beast. It roars in rage as she delivers a painful bite to its backside, the bear quickly shifting to stand and face the new threat. "Fern Lark"

She was patrolling the far side of the new territory they were claiming, simply enjoying the warmth of the day as she did so, thought cleared away as she focused on the mindless task of walking the border and adding scent markers. The monochrome girl was about to head back in to tend to a few other things when she heard a call for backup coming from the other side of the grove. Ears perked, and the fluffy woman raised her head as she looked in that direction. It took her a moment, but the unfamiliar howl soon told her that it was urgent. Moving with more urgency this time, Claire made her way across the territory, leaping over smaller bushes and winding her way around larger ones, until the sounds of a bear and a wolf reached her ears. As she broke through the shrubbery, her mother's former companion screeched in the air above her and Claire spotted the grizzly as her paws touched the ground. She uttered a loud bark, a message to Tan to go in and do her thing. The goshawk dove in, dropping like an arrow straight for the bear's head, talons reaching out as she sought to aim a stabbing blow at the bear's face as well as offer a distraction. The grizzly roared with pain and anger as it swung at the hawk, but Tan was too quick. Taking advantage of its distraction, Claire raced in and leapt at the paw that had swung for her companion, her jaws clamping shut on the exposed paw, and used her heavier bulk to drag the limb to the ground. "Speak

The snacking bear quickly becomes angry as Fern rushes in, snarling and biting its backside in an attempt to make the creature leave the abundant grove. A huge, fat paw flies toward her head and the gray girl ducks under the attack as a monochrome form appears through the trees. All that Fern knows is that the newcomer is a packmate and as a high pitch whistle rents the air, the gray girl looks to the older woman in quiet assessment. A goshawk suddenly swoops down from the sky, an arrow shot straight at the bear’s face and its talons claw deep, bloody furrows into the beast’s tender flesh. The hawk’s attack allows the gray girl to drop back and reset her stance, her blue eyes following the older woman as she moves in. As the woman bites the paw that had swung at the hawk, latching on to drag it to the ground, Fern darts back in, grabbing the opposite paw as the bear roars and tries to dislodge the girl’s packmate. A growl rolls past her lips as she latches onto soft pad and she viciously shakes her head, shredding the tissue and tendons underneath. With the paw now rendered useless, the gray girl releases her hold to fall back, teeth bared at the grizzly while looking to the other woman in silent question. Should they kill the beast or just drive it off? Fern leaves the decision up to the older wolf, ready to engage whatever the choice is. "Fern Lark"

The bear roared in anger and pain as the two wolves went at it. Claire kept her hold on the paw she had grabbed, and when the other paw came swinging, her new packmate had taken hold of it, shredding it and causing more pain to the grizzly while rendering the other limb useless. It tried to rear on hind legs, practically dragging Claire as it tried, but she dug her feet into the ground and pulled back like a game of tug of war. A snarl ripped through her, surprising, really, since she seldom made such a sound. But in this situation? It was definitely warranted. In the air, Tan did tight circles before dive bombing the bear over, and over, and over again. Beak and claws raking the bears head. Its ears. Its face. Distracting it right up until Claire released the paw, sending the bear stumbling backward and off balance until it landed clumsily on its rear. Its maimed paw from Fern tucked against its chest as it bellowed at the wolves. Claire didn't intend to kill this creature. It was simply hungry, she was sure. What right did she have to take the life of another predator that had been minding its business? All it did was trespass, and honestly, she didn't even know if it was aware of that fact or not. She decided that they'd drive it off instead. If it came back, they'd deal with it again. She snarled and barked, nipping and snapping at its haunches as it struggled to get up. "Speak

The two women attack the bear who’s only mistake was choosing to snack on pack land. However, if the creature was bold enough to cross the clearly marked scent border, it would need a reminder to never set paw over the markers again. Fern shreds the paw she has ahold of while her packmate keeps ahold of the other paw. The beast can learn to walk with only three legs and, while the pain may be great now, the grizzly can still escape with its life. Her packmate’s bird keeps dive bombing the grizzly’s face, opening bloody wounds that sting and irritate the already angry bear. The other woman releases the paw she is holding, sending the creature stumbling backward until it lands clumsily on its rear. If this wasn’t a dance of life and death, were the slightest misstep could leave Fern or her packmate dead, the gray woman would have laughed at how comical the situation was. A glance is given to the other woman, a silent understanding passing between them that the grizzly would be chased off and not killed. Blue eyes turn back their target and Fern rushes toward it, snapping and snarling, growling and nipping as the bear got up, mirroring the other woman without causing any real damage. The grizzly finally struggles upright and the gray woman backs away, silently showing it a path of retreat. Luckily, this bear is not stupid and after a little more harassment, it lumbers off in search of easier food to eat. Panting, the gray woman turns to offer her packmate a bright smile, saying, “Thanks for the help! My name is Fern! I am glad you are on my side.” A soft, warm laugh fills the air as she winks at the other woman while turning to begin heading back to the castle, inviting her packmate along for a well-deserved drink and snack. "Fern Lark"

Her partner in action had gotten the hint and helped her to drive off the bear. The pair harassed it, forcing it to stumble to its paws and Claire would urge it to leave. It wasn't an old bear, with the way it seemed to struggle against two wolves, there was the chance that it was fairly young still. Maybe a couple of years at best. Its inexperience had shown, so she was even less keen on injuring it further lest they sentence it to death. A bear that couldn't walk was a dead bear should it face another of its kind...so secretly she hoped the damage they had done would heal enough that it wouldn't affect it much. She hoped it had gotten the message and wouldn't return. Finally, as the bear hobbled out of the territory and her fighting partner turned to her with a smile. Claire did her best to get her breathing under control after that ordeal, panting and flashing a friendly smile of her own as the other gray woman introduced herself as Fern. "It's a pleasure, Fern. I'm Claire, I'm glad we're on the same side, too!" She turned to follow her back to the castle, eager to get to know her packmate in the near future as well. Perhaps it was time to start making some friends, no? "Speak