Sunlight sparkled on top of the snow as Rœkia pushed her way through the snow, grumbling as she worked her way south. Why wasn't it getting any warmer? She still didn't know what to do. "You keeping up squirt?" she called to her tiny cousin. It was tricky sometimes to keep an eye on the wee albino girl whose coat blended in so well with the snow. Movement caught her attention and her head jerked up to see a grizzly bear lumbering toward her. Her blood ran cold. Had it seen the pup? She hoped the bear was just going to try and drink from the lake, if it were unfrozen, but it growled and made a beeline for her. It was then she noticed its gaunt frame and the pieces fell into place. She couldn't imagine waking from hibernation into a land of winter. Rœkia set her defenses and prepared for battle.

Lukina bounded through the snow after her cousin, her little tail wagging as she tried to jump into each set of foot prints. It was rough going for her size but it was a brand new day and her energy level was high. "Yea, I'm ok!" She called out as Rœkia asked how she was doing. Her little paws outstretched as she pawed at the snow before bounding forward again only to smack right into the back legs of her caretaker. "Hey! Why'd you stop?" She peeked around the older wolf to see a huge bear coming toward them. Uh oh… she frizzed up and pressed herself next to Rœkia. She didn't know much about bears other than they would eat pups. She was torn between trying to flee and helping out her cousin.

Balthier found his way outside Abaven more often than not, it was hard adjusting back to life without his mother again even if he didn't feel connected to her while they were at The Hallows. He made his way a little northward, just at a quiet wander. He was getting older, and with that came more freedom but also responsibility, not that he minded. While he was lost in his non-thoughts, the visual of the bear in front of him caught his eye, but before he could quickly escape as the bear's back was facing him, he noticed the two other wolves, one that was young, about to be caught in the bear's path. He leapt forward, quickly closing the distance between them and jumped up to take a bite of the bear's back along the shoulder blades. He was hopping he could at least distract it long enough to let the three of them escape without harm. But was he putting himself in danger? He hadn't really cared, saving others was always more important to him. Walk "Talk" Think

Rœkia snarled aggressively, trying to show the bear that she was reasonably fit and not an easy meal. Perhaps the threat of injury would turn the bear from them. The beast continued forward then just as it started to charge a boy leapt out of nowhere onto the bear's back. It snarled and twisted around trying to get at him. Well, shit! She couldn't just run and leave the poor boy to his fate. "Stay," she commanded Lukina before she darted forward. Rœkia leapt up at the bear's face and by some stroke of luck her upper fangs pierced one of the bear's eyes, her lower fangs latching onto the side of its face. The bear yowled, a horrendous sound bursting from it's lips as it struck her. Claws and a powerful arm pushed her brutally down into the snow.

Lukina's heart felt like it was going to beat right out of her chest as the bear… beared down on them. Suddenly, another pup attacked the bear from behind. Lukina was struck in awe. Look at that, a pup like her taking on a bear! Rœkia told her to stay and before she could say anything her cousin attacked, a vicious attack that rendered the bear's face a bloody mess. However, the bear paid her cousin back in kind by slamming the older woman brutally into the snow. Oh no! Lukina sprang forward as the bear's head moved down to bite the fallen woman. Before it could get there though, Lukina's claws swiped brutally across its nose. The bear cried out and stumbled back, pain and confusion evident in its face. It was outnumbered and wounded now. Would it back down?

Balthier clung on the best he could, the woman was able to pierce the beast's eye and once she was thrown onto the ground, the young pup like himself went up to defend her. He found himself climbing up the bear's back like an agility track, immediately grabbing a bite of the bear's ear and ripping it off before his body lost it's grip and he fell to the ground. He found his footing on the ground and was still ready to fight the bear off, but they were maiming it enough you think it would have the sense to run off itself. maybe not. Walk "Talk" Think

Rœkia hit the ground hard and let out a cry from the blow. The wind had been completely knocked out of her and the bear's claws and cut into her left shoulder. She could see the massive jaws diving for her but in that moment her foolish, wonderful, little cousin scratched the bear on the nose. It startled back, giving Rœkia enough time to get shakily to her feet. She then saw the boy rip one of the bears ears off. It twisted and howled and stumbled back. Yes! She could see the regret on its face as it backed up and turned around to retreat. Just to make sure the bear got the point she darted forward and nipped it right on the butt. The bear startled forward.

Lukina held her ground, her fur fluffed up as far as she could make it. Her ears pinned to her head and she growled loudly. Rœkia was able to get to her feet and then the boy took off one of the bear's ears. Lukina let out a cheer. Yea! That would teach it for being mean to them. The bear turned around like it wanted to run and her cousin bit the bear in the butt. Lukina bounded forward and growled as loud as she could. "Yea, go away!" She hissed. Hoping the bear would leave them alone now. That would teach it for picking on them and maybe Rœkia would start taking her a bit more seriously. See! She could help!

They did enough to make the bear run off, and the other two made it clear to push it off farther. Though Balthier would feel troubled as the bear disappeared into the distance. He knew he was defending himself and others, but Allegro had taught him how to respect the life of all things and he couldn't help but wish he could have put the thing out of it's misery at least. It was hard to believe a bear would be scared and coward after it was beaten by the three wolves, but he couldn't help but imagine it just going back to it's cave to die. He turned his attention to the other two. He didn't know them but that didn't make him any less attentive to their safety. "Are you alright?" He looked over the older woman's wounds. He knew nothing in the ways of healing, even though his mother was a healer. But he still didn't want to see the woman hurt, and he would do anything to help her if he could. Walk "Talk" Think

Rœkia continued to eye the bear, snarling fiercely until it turned and lumbered off. There, that was more like it. Most interactions between predators in nature could be resolved in shows of aggression without coming to blows. For a lone predator like a polar bear, the serious injuries could impair its ability to hunt or become infected if the bear had no knowledge of healing arts. She was content to let starvation or disease take it.

She turned as the boy spoke and nodded. "Yea, what about you?" She stretched, rolling her shoulders a bit where she could feel bruises forming. Lukina seemed to be fine which was good. She eyed the youngest wolf. "Well, we better get going twerp. Still a good ways to travel." She turned to the boy again and with a nod, she turned to lead the way southward. She could smell the scent of pack on the boy now and didn't want to hang around til the rest of his pack or his parents showed up. She had reasons for her reservations and didn't want to get caught before finishing her task.

-exit-

Lukina grinned, her tail wagging as the bear wandered off, seeking to lick its wounds. They'd done it! She puffed up her little chest and looked at Rœkia proudly. She wasn't totally worthless. She glanced at the boy curiously and opened her mouth to speak to them when Rœkia interrupted that it was time to continue traveling. "Awww… we just fought a bear! Can't we relax a bit?" It was true they hadn't gone that far but all the excitement and the nerves left her feeling tired and she wanted to chat with the strange boy that had appeared. Who was he? He smelt like pack. Maybe his pack would share food. It swiftly became clear that Rœkia didn't want to stick around. "Bye! Thanks!" She chirped at the boy before scrambling after her caretaker.

-exit-