10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Oct 23 - Bear Attack

(Inspired; in-game event with very similar conditions and outcome)

She was already frozen. The icy wind cut through her light armour, her only serious defence being her natural fur. She shivered and rubbed her arm, tail swaying a little.

"Freakin' cold..." she grumbled. Her dagger bounced against her side as she slipped a little on the cobbles of the aged road. Few travellers ever wandered down this road, even though it would lead them to the territory's capital. She grumbled as she walked, but a low, menacing growl interrupted her thoughts. She spun on the spot, dagger flying out of its sheath. That was a bear. A large, white bear growled menacingly and reared up on its hind legs, roaring at her. She took a step back, growling slightly. Her feline grace wasn't much help in a fight, but nor was she helpless. She braced to fight it when a second deep growl came from her right. She looked. Her ears drooped at the sight of a second bear, rushing at her angrily.

-----

She stepped aside, barely evading its bite - just to step into swiping range of the first, a fact she realised the painful way. She recoiled, gripping her new wound and fumbling for a health potion. Her other hand flailed with the dagger, cutting into the bear's flesh, but it was so weak that it only served to anger it. Both roared and swung at the same time. She stepped back, worried, when she realised. The two had collided and growled briefly at each other. She grinned as she prepared to cast a spell. She was an adept illusionist, capable of tweaking the minds of others as she chose. One of her spells was capable of causing a group of her foes to turn to manic bloodlust. Sacrificing most of her magic strength, she cast the spell. The two stayed fixated on her, though; she was barely much better for it. She stepped back to avoid a couple more attacks, before turning and running. Fumbling in her pouch, she grabbed what she thought was another healing potion. She ripped it out and drank it quickly. Her body felt an unusual surge of energy as she felt herself... fading. She had drunk her only potion of invisibility! She slid to a stop and grew quiet, holding her breath. Without the ability to focus on her, the bear's bloodlust turned to each other and they clawed at each other furiously. She waited for one to kill the other, catching her breath as she carefully drew her bow. Nocking an arrow and drawing it, she held her breath and waited. As soon as the second bear was triumphant, roaring in its fury, she loosed the arrow. She was saved by her ingenuity and alchemy.