Bears

[Voltaggia]

PART 1

”Boy, do I have a deal for you!”, was all Riznik managed to say before one of the Taurens grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the wall.

“We’re not here for your cheap scams, we’re here for the information. About the bears.”

”Ah yes, the bears. Tell you what, listen to a story I hear-“
The Tauren holding Riznik pulled him close, then slammed him into the wall again, making the Goblin groan in pain.
“No. No stories. You will tell us what you know, or you will end your days inside our pets.”

“North... Go North”, the Goblin spluttered before loosing his temper, showering the Taurens with insults regarding blue Orcs and their mothers.

“We’ll stock up today. Moving out tomorrow, Kym will be arriving during the night.”

Riznik managed to squirm out of the grip of the Tauren and made his way inside the inn before plopping down in his regular chair.

“Oi sweetstuffs, you got guests! Taurens! And get me something to drink!”

She flipped him the bird and continued cleaning the tables.


“North is Frostsaber Rock. Why have they chosen such a dangerous place to hide?”
”Because these are not normal bears.”

PART 2

Two days had passed. Kym had not arrived. That was, though, not the reason why the two of them had not left Everlook. A blizzard was upon them, tons of snow covering even more snow. The roads were blocked.

“This is starting to get to me, Tharan.”
“This is the Mother’s work. She is cleansing the land beneth the snow. She does this in order for us to be able to travel even though She is working.”
“Why isn’t Kym here? This is the first time she is late.”
“She will be here, do not worry about her. Nature gives, Nature takes.”, he added with a grin.

You still have not told me what we are doing here, Tharan. Are you afraid, of what we will see? I have hunted by your side for the past twenty years, and you have never been as silent as you are now.
“What is the matter, Tharan?”
“The matter? What are you talking about?”
“Twenty years. You can not lie to me.”
“Bears... We are hunting bears. But they are not to be harmed.”

You are not telling me all.

Anger rises. The screech of a chair being pushed backwards resounds through the inn.
“What are you hiding?!”
A hand shoots forward, grabbing one that is has held before.

“Bears. You will see. I promise.”

“I..”, the voice is cut short, as the door opens. Along with a shower of sparkling ice crystals, a figure enters the room. She taps her hooves in turn against the floor, shapes made of hardened snow releasing themselves before shattering.

“About time, Kym. I reckon we will be set to go tomorrow morning.”
“We will”, she replied absentmindedly before disappearing upstairs.

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“Druids!? We are hunting Druids?!”
“Yes. Are you satisfied now? This is why I did not tell you anything. I knew what your reaction would be.”
Eyes fall to the ground, and an unusual warmth spreads in the cheeks.


Frostsaber rock. And even though Taurens posess great size, they hunch down to the heigh of Orcs, striding through the snow easily. Nearby, a feline shape agile enough to walk on the lower layers of half-melted snow disappears behind a tree. Emerging from behind the tree is Kym.
“We are here.”

The two hunters look at each other and chuckles.
“We know.”
”We do indeed.”
Kym narrows her eyes a little, and strides past their grins.

“The spyglass, Tharan.”
“What do you see?”
“The cave. There is quite a lot of carcasses at the entrance.”

A lure is made in the form of a stuffed frostsaber cub. Placed in the shadows there is little difference from the real counterpart.


PART 3

And so, a bear emerges. Spiritual markings covers its sides and face.
The spying glass shivers in tune with the fingers holding it.

“She is beautiful.”
“How can you tell it is a female? Tharan?”
“No. I did not say a word.”

Tharan puts a his hand on the shoulder of one who is holding a spyglass with trembling hands.

“Let us take a closer look.”

I fell asleep and now he is gone. Oh my precious son.
Thieves of fur, they stole my only living child. Thieves!
A hoof in snow, reveals a path, the path of death. Death to thieves.

But she could not move. There was no strenght in her paws.


The plan had worked perfectly, but at this point they were out of sedatives.

Tharan set a quick pace, plowing through the snow with relative ease.
But something was wrong. He could feel it deep within his bones.
He turned to his companions as the first shot rang. Then he fell to the ground.

A crudely made iron bullet had entered the back of his head, going straight through his brain and exiting a little left of his right eye.

The little one stirred, attempting to stretch his hind and front paws, only to the result of Kym pressing him closer to her chest. A low, whiny growl escaped him, and he set his teeth into the her leather vestments.

They advanced silently upon the three. One holding a gun, one holding a bear cub in her arms.

“In the name of the Earth Mother! What are you doing?”
“Hand him over. He is Grimtotem property now.”, their leader replied gruffly, his pitch black fur a stark contrast to the snow.

“I am sorry, Lyera. Tharan was a fine mate.”, Kym’s eyes grew teary.

The female beside her stared wordlessly at the body lying in front of them. Blood seeped out of its skull, discolouring the snow.


“The bear! Now!”

What had been a sudden silence was broken by a stone being hurled towards Kym. The Druidess spun around, falling to the ground as the rock connected with the back of her head. Lights travelled her vision, and the thing she saw next was the bear, struggling in the snow. It was far too deep for him. Cries of frustration resounded from the nearby mountainside.

She gained fur.
Yellow-spotted fur sprouted from her back, quickly covering her. Teeth grew into jagged spikes. Shots rang again. None hit her. She did not notice. Nor did she realise that she had picked the cub up with her teeth, his yelps of pain as sharp teeth tugged at his young fur, racing through the forest in blinding speed.


The trap had sprung. Even the Druid did not see it. Hah! The metal teeth of the trap had crushed her hind legs, unable to move. He picked up the tiny bear, nestling it in his arms.

“Now now, little one”, he said in a soothing voice.
“Let us leave this place.”

And so he rode away, leaving Kym a little off the road, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had failed. He was lost.


I found the thieves, but one were dead.
I found the murderers, they succumbed to my rage.
Where is my son, my precious son?

And with fur coloured by the blood of murderers, she collapsed.

THE END

Since Doodle said this kind of stories should be under fanfic... here it is. I wanted to post this earlier, part by part, but in the end I thought that posting everything at the same time will be better.