The massive bear stood shoulder level with the second story windows of the standing houses. Its head, somewhat disproportionately large, brushed the peaks. But by far its most striking feature was its body, nearly completely hairless save for ragged patches of black fur that clung to its sides.

A bear like that could rip a building from its foundations.

The creature's roar rattled my bones. It dropped back down on all fours. Claws the length of my forearms dug deep furrows in the packed dirt of the square. It moved with a stiffness in its limbs, as if its joints lacked the flexibility of its smaller kin. The bear paced back and forth, sizing us up.

I carefully surveyed my companions out of the corners of my eyes, though dared not turn my head. The others held similarly still. A total of six lycans had descended into the village, plus us three humans. Nowhere near a match for this creature.

The bald bear chuffed again. It watched us with dark eyes, seeming as unsure of us as we were of it. But that uncertainty wouldn't last long though, sooner or later, someone would have to move.

A projectile whizzed through the air, burying itself in the bear's side. The creature reared, roaring it's anger, then charged.

The lycans spun in their hind paws, leaping into action. Human shouts echoed behind us, but it was impossible to discern their exact location. I ducked, narrowly avoiding as one of the bear's massive paws crashed through the thick timbers. The animal's weight alone leveled any wooden structures beneath it. We were far too busy avoiding being crushed as well to concern ourselves with the sudden human presence.

Across the street, I saw Shirah flattened against Shadowfoot as the two lept across a fallen building. Ahead, Crimson Claw led the group. Cyrus had his saber drawn, but I doubted it would be of any use against this adversary.

More of the projectiles shot through the air in streaks of red and orange. Another found purchase on the bear's back. It let out a loud bellow. I glanced back in Shirah's direction just in time to see the Shadowfoot swept sideways into an abandoned cart. Shirah tumbled in a somersault on the surrounding snowbank. Without hesitation Scorchedpelt crashed into her, allowing her to grab onto his fur and vault to his back. The lycans clawed their way up the embankment, nearly barreling through the others.

"What the-?!" Nightmoon yipped in alarm, rearing back to avoid collision.

"Just run!" I screamed. It was a useless order, as it was impossible to miss the angered bear charging our tails. The pack stumbled over one another in an effort to turn.

My instincts immediately screamed for me to find Alice. For one panicked moment she was lost in a sea of lycans, then I spotted her. Sunshine ran with a desperation I hadn't seen on the usually calm lycan. His feet pounded against the snow and dirt, carrying him at speeds I would have thought impossible for the small captivebred to reach. The blond six-year-old clung to his jacket for her life.

The bear plowed through the forest after us, using its disproportionate head to uproot trees and knock the slower of the lycans to the side. Red and orange rained down. Several canine yelps came from around us as they were struck. The projectiles now littered the creature's back, serving only to anger it further.

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We couldn't run forever. It would catch us soon. I trembled to think what the giant would do once it did. My cheek pressed into Cerberus's fur as I prayed at least some of us would escape this alive.

The bear dropped its head as it ran. The stance seemed odd to me, unnatural. Somehow it's gate became even more jarring and stiff. Its bounding run slowed. Finally its black nose caught the ground, tripping it and sending the massive creature tumbling over itself.

We slid to a stop a little ways away, though many of the others chose to climb the next hill before halting their retreat. I didn't blame them, the bear had left a wake of upturned trees and injured lycans. Now it lay still, chest rising and falling with a slowed breathing, but motionless as we took a few cautious steps in approach.

It appeared to be sleeping.

My heart continued to thunder wildly in my chest as I stared from Cerberus's back. The creature's eyelids flickered slightly, but didn't open. Its hairless body gleamed with wetness from the snow. Steam rose up to join the mist around its body.

The human shouts came again along with the clattering of hooves. Horses white with foaming sweat appeared in the path of destruction. Their riders hunched over their manes, but still cheered and congratulated one another as they rode toward the bear. That was, until they spotted us.

Several soldiers raised spears, while others dressed in a uniform I didn't recognize rested hollow tubes against their mouths. I hadn't personally seen such weapons before, but could hazard a guess as to what they might be. Seemed Askance had adopted a division of men dedicated to blow-darts.

A lone rider, a woman appearing to be in her early thirties, came to the front. Dirty blond hair was pulled into a harsh bun. She wore a more decorated version of the dartmen's uniform. By her attire and general attitude, I judged her to be a commander of sorts. Her barked orders verified my suspicion.

"Don't just stand there! We got a lot of work to bring this beast back in the cart before it wakes up!"

"But Ma'am, the lycans..." one of the other dartmen pointed out.

The woman tisked, staring us down as if we were some sort of nuisance rather than a legitimate threat. Her dark eyes scanned over me unconcealed disdain. "It is a shame the Gici Awas didn't make it another hundred yards, I would have loved to report to our Lord his war was finished before it started."

For once I wished Cerberus was taller, so I wouldn't sit lower than her. The way she stared down her nose grated my nerves.

"Don't worry," this time she addressed me directly, "I'll still take pleasure in announcing your arrival." She twisted in her saddle. "Pay no mind to the lycans." Her eyes met mine. "It would be stupid of her to interfere while it is only a matter of time before the beast wakes itself."

The soldiers under her command reluctantly rode forward, throwing heavy chains about the bear's limbs. I didn't like seeing any creature restrained in such a way, and I certainly wasn't fond of the huge cage pulled by a team of draft horses rattling up the hill. I wanted to defy her judgement and order an attack on her men. They were nowhere near numerous enough to take us, but neither were we equipped to deal with the giant bear.

So I sat, and watched the soldiers hoist the bear into the cage. I may not like it, but I couldn't chance putting the lycans in that danger again.

"Howens will be most interested to hear you're already in Askance," the commander woman said to me. "He was under the impression you were with the rest of your human army. Seems the outer villages weren't bluffing when they said their lady had returned." Her horse tossed its head as her gaze passed over my companions. "Interesting company you keep, Shirah."

I twisted around to stare at the girl beside me. The dark skinned woman glared at the commander. Her hand rested on her pant leg pocket, but she made no further movements. "I have my reasons."

"You always do." The commander turned her horse. The bear had been successfully loaded into the caged cart. The driver now directed the drafts downhill, as their leader did with her own mount. She called over her shoulder, "I just hope they're the right ones."

The company of Asken soldiers rode off down the hill. As soon as they disappeared Cerberus turned back to Shirah, taking me along with him. To my surprise he stood up, causing me to slide to my feet.

"Scorchedpelt!" he barked. The lycan flipped, tossing Shirah from his back. The woman coward under the alpha's heated glared. He towered over her, snarling.