[Osse]

The soft ground was yielding and soft under Bear’s feet. He heeded it little. His wrath had been lessened very little since he had left the hill and as he walked he slashed at the foliage on both sides with his axe. Though his mood was surly and his mind was elsewhere, his instincts still caused his eyes to scan the areas around him and in the periphery of his vision he caught movement.

Suddenly, without thought, he had stooped behind a nettle bush. His hand had moved subconsciously to his axe hilt and in the back of Bear’s mind he wished he had put his stolen dwarven-mail on that morning. He fingered the strap that bound his large round shield to his back and prepared for fight or flight. Bears fears were soon relieved when out of a thicket emerged a stag of great stature.

His coat gleamed with drops of water and steam issued from his nostrils like smoke from a fire-mountain. The majestic beast passed Bear’s hiding place and like a fire spirit flowed off into the forest. Suddenly horns brayed through the thick air and the stag raised his proud, antlered head in alarm. He broke into a gallop and passed out of Bear’s view. The horn sounding had brought Bear out of the daze that he had entered in with the arrival of the stag and he once again gripped his axe-hilt and crouched as he went in the opposite direction to the sound, the same direction the stag had took only moments before. Suddenly the sound of voices stopped Bear in his tracks.

He lay almost flat on the damp earth in time to see two tall men stride through a slight clearing in the trees. One now had the great stag slung across his shoulders, its proud head now hung limp and lifeless. An irrational, fierce anger was suddenly kindled in Bear’s heart and he reached to unhitch the shield on his back. Without the consent of his mind, his eyes took in the position and type of weapon each man bore. The Man carrying the stag’s bow was strung across his right shoulder and was hindered by the dead bulk of the stag.

The other man had a long sword strapped to his hip and Bear could see at least two knives strapped to his person. Before Bear knew what he was doing, he was on his feet and roaring towards the two men. His shield felt both heavy and comforting on his left arm and his right hand was sweaty where it gripped the leather of his axe-grip. The Man bearing the stag suddenly became aware of his approach and attempted to untangle himself from the dead weight he bore.

As he attempted to free himself from his burden the Ranger yelled out to his companion, who in a flash had his long, keen weapon facing Bear. Bear’s onslaught was furious and he broke through the man’s offhand parry with ease. However, his axe was not the best weapon for such a foray and he was unable to land any blows on his adversary. This man was cunning and skilled with his weapon and Bear was soon put on the defensive.

The man bearing the stag had finally detangled himself and was fitting an arrow to his bow. A sudden break in the blows of the man with the sword allowed Bear to swivel in his bearings. Sudden instinct caused him to bring his shield arm up and as he did, it thudded with vibration as an arrow slammed into it. Bear aimed a savage blow at the bowman, and just as it was about to hit, the other man had thrust his sword out and parried the blow. Bear’s axe was flung aside and panic stricken, he grappled with the swordsman. He felt a gashing blow hit his upper forearm and a searing pain filled his mind. In frenzy, with his bare fist, Bear landed blow after blow upon his assailant and he heard the Man’s weapon fall to the ground. Bear aimed a savage blow at the Man’s head with his shield and felt with a bitter relish the sensation of its impact.

His thigh suddenly felt as if it had been burnt with searing ice and he felt the sticky, warm blood flow down to his ankle. The arrow had lodged itself far into his upper leg and he could put little weight on it.

The swordsman stood dazed and staggered as if he would fall. Bear’s shield had knocked him almost senseless. Another arrow whipped past Bear’s shoulder and he realized just how much peril his folly had landed himself in. Hope seemed to die in Bear’s heart and he started to advance towards the bowman. The man fitted an arrow to the string and began to bent toe bow.

Wolf could not have picked a better time to enter the scene. He ran screaming into the fray like a wild thing. The savage blow he aimed at the bowman with his long spear had swung wide as the Man turned to face the new threat. The bowman turned and fled, helping his still dazed comrade as he ran.

Wolf began to follow, but hearing a pain-filled groan escape his brother’s lips, he stopped and turned. The blood had congealed around the wound in Bear’s leg and breaking the shaft of the arrow, he placed his hand upon the wound to stem the flow. His dark red life poured silently from his leg and he began to swoon.

“Quickly brother, we must get you to aid!” Wolf slung his brother’s arm around his shoulders and the two hobbled towards their village.