• Amber eyes glowed from the darkness of the forest. Black lips pulled back as he snarled, revealing razor sharp teeth that gleamed like newly polished pearls. Grizzly orange and black fur covered his advancing body. His ears twitch. His black-tipped tail lashed back and forth in anticipation. Lean muscles rippled beneath thick skin. He prowled forward, never making a sound. I stood captivated by his strange beauty. His tensed his haunches. His whiskers twitched. Our eyes locked. That's when i couldn't take it anymore, i turned and ran. The chase had begun.

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    I trusted him. He swore to me that this was the right path and we'd be out of the pass by sundown. It was a very narrow ledge, and my paws slipped. He lurched and grabbed my scruff, his whiskers brushing my fur, teeth cutting into me. When he hauled me back up, he only did so half way, and I was scrambling to keep my grip. "It is time." he growled. I stared at him with pleading eyes. He put his heavy paw against my forehead and pushed. The last face I saw that day was his as I fell, and when I hit the bottom, his wicked expression was burned into my mind as I lost all consciousness.