Behind him, the ominous snap of brittle twigs trampled underfoot grew louder. The beast’s gait had picked up, transitioning from a slow lumber to a trot. The low lying brush rustled as whatever was following him plunged brazenly through the undergrowth in pursuit. With his heart drumming against his ribcage like a frantic bat fluttering from its cave, Faris quickened his pace.

Tried to, anyway. His efforts resulted in him missing his next step and tumbling head over heels over a fallen log and down the subsequent hillside just behind. Faris’s battered body rolled to a stop amongst a bed of ferns at the base of the lush knoll. He tried to stand and screamed instead as pain rocketed up his ankle. “Muck!”

A gruff growl sounded above him.

No, no, no! A paralyzing chill blossomed within his chest, threatening to cut off his airway. With ice coursing through his veins, Faris forced his aching body back onto his feet. Not like this. He got to die in a fabulous house surrounded by money! Not by a bear. Gods, he hated bears. Why was it always bears?

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Figures. Here he was on the hunt for his idiot-witch best friend, whom he desperately needed in order to save his family and his village, and a damn bear had to go and muck it all up! It was hard enough with half the United Territories falling into open rebellion and his own ugly mug plastered on every wanted poster from Adderwood to Castle Bay, but noooooo. This misadventure couldn’t possibly have been complete without something trying to eat him!

Croak! A raven descended from the upper boughs of a paper birch to a lower perch, flapping its dark wings as it uttered unintelligible noises at him.

“For the last time, I don’t know what you’re saying,” Faris hissed under his breath. He really should have learned how to distinguish the ravens from one another, because he honestly had no idea which member of Rasp’s family he was currently yelling at.

Croak.

“Yes, a bear. I’m aware, thank you.”

The crunch of approaching footsteps reminded Faris that he was supposed to be running for his life. Gritting his teeth, he limped along, certain he could hear the huffing breath of the beast grow louder as it slowly closed the gap between them.