Bernard ran toward the source of the scream. His paws sent dirt and leaves flying as he forced his aching muscles into action. Comparing the pain in his shoulder to the ache in his heart was like comparing a firefly's light to that of the sun: the sheer magnitude of one rendered the other inconsequential.

A mixture of scents reached Bernard's nose long before he noticed any other signs of Arturo's presence. The male's odor had mingled with the stench of blood and decay until it was impossible to distinguish one smell from the others. Bernard parted his jaws to avoid breathing in the foul air through his nose. The majority of the animals in the area were similarly repulsed by the scent. Only a handful of ravens followed Bernard, and even they kept their distance.

Low hanging branches snagged at Bernard's fur as he raced through the forest. The foliage was so thick that he couldn't have avoided being scratched by the vegetation even if he had crawled through it at a turtle's pace. At the speed he was going, the branches inevitably tore away clumps of his fur.

It was only when Bernard reached an area marked by Arturo's passage that he was able to get through the undergrowth without branches scraping his back and sides. The limbs that would have smacked him in the face had been torn away, leaving behind splintered stubs. The amputee trees didn't dare to batter any bears that ventured near them. Reminders of their suffering lay strewn over the forest floor. Claw marks scarred the trees' trunks. Sap still oozed from some of the cuts.

After following the devastation and Arturo's scent, Bernard finally reached his mother's campsite. He could barely detect her scent beneath Arturo's as the massive bear rummaged through her food supplies. Although she had hung the bag containing her food in a tree at a height that would prevent most bears from reaching it, Arturo ripped it open with his claws while standing on his hind legs. The resulting cascade of fruits, vegetables, and various snacks concealed the sound of Bernard's approach as he slowed to a standstill.

Arturo nosed through the feast in front of him before curling his lip in disgust. "What is this woman, a deer? She couldn't possibly have come out here without any meat. I know I smelled it around here somewhere," he said. After pawing through the supplies, Arturo only managed to find a packet of beef jerky. He tore it open and wolfed down its contents, scattering jerky fragments all over his tracking collar. He approached the tent, growling and baring his yellow teeth. "Come on, you worthless human. If you can't provide me with more meat, then I'll come in there and get some myself."

The sound of Bernard's mother rummaging through the tent accompanied Arturo's thunderous growling as the massive bear lumbered closer.

"Leave her alone," said Bernard as he emerged from the undergrowth. His hackles rose as he stalked toward the creature threatening his mother. The growl that tore its way out of his throat made Arturo glance over his shoulder.

"Last time I checked, I told you to stay on your side of the border, Runt. I guess I'll just have to beat that message into you." He turned to face Bernard. "You have two options: either you watch me kill this scum and I let you live after giving you some scars to remember me by or I kill you before doing the same thing to her. It's your choice."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Orson asked. "There's no way you can beat someone his size on your own."

"I'm not alone," Bernard whispered. "Besides, I should at least be able to distract him long enough for Mom to get away. Are you going to help me or not?"

The cub's only response was to send a wave of strength through Bernard's body, dimming his soreness until it felt like little more than a memory. Bernard grinned. "You'll have to fight me," he said to Arturo.

A sudden, searing pain rocketed through Bernard's throat. He gritted his teeth against it and dug his claws into the ground. His agony vanished almost as quickly as it came, leaving a strange yet familiar sensation in its place as he yelled at Arturo.

"I won't let you hurt her!"

Bernard's eyes widened. His voice hadn't sounded so high pitched in ages. It almost sounded... human.

"Bernard?" asked a quivering voice. His mother partially unzipped the tent's entry flap and peeked outside.

Arturo cocked his head and snorted, puzzled, before rushing toward Bernard. His muscles rippled under his light brown fur.

"Get out of here!" Bernard yelled as Arturo charged at him. The larger bear roared as he drew closer. Bernard couldn't understand a word he said.

Arturo slammed into Bernard while he was distracted and battered his head with his paws. Bernard's ears rang as the older bear pummeled them. Bernard lunged forward, grabbing onto Arturo with his teeth and biting into his arm. Arturo retaliated by attempting to bite Bernard in the face, forcing him to release his grip so he could dodge. Blood dripped down Bernard's forehead. His opponent's teeth had grazed him.

They backed away from each other. When Bernard reared up on his hind legs, his opponent followed suit. Arturo towered over Bernard and easily slashed his forehead open with his claws. Redness entered Bernard's vision as he slammed his paws into the larger bear's chest and bit at his limbs. That left his weak shoulder defenseless when Arturo lunged at it and fastened his teeth into the vulnerable flesh.

Bernard screamed as Arturo's teeth sank deeper into his shoulder, grazing bone. Arturo shook his head, tearing into him. Blood and pus ran from the wound in thick streams as he bit deeper. Bernard jerked backward to free himself from the larger bear's grip only for Arturo to tear away a chunk of flesh.

They both returned to all fours, panting. The older bear spat out the piece of Bernard's shoulder he had ripped away.

Arturo regained his strength and charged once more, crashing into Bernard and sending him sprawling onto his side as his injured limb gave out. He pinned Bernard down and aimed for the trembling bear's throat.

Bernard clawed at Arturo's face, lunging upward as the larger bear roared in pain. Gripping Arturo's tracking collar between his teeth, Bernard shook his head back and forth.

A strange gurgling noise came out of Arturo's mouth as he struggled to free the collar from Bernard's jaws. Finally, he reared back, ripping the collar free from Bernard's grip and landing on his haunches.

Both bears rolled onto their feet. Arturo coughed, his sides shaking as Bernard gasped for breath. Bernard crouched and prepared to lunge at his opponent again as Arturo charged forward once more. His knees trembled as black dots danced before his eyes.

"Stay away from him!" Bernard's mother screamed as she ran over to where the bears were fighting and sprayed a can of bear spray at Arturo.

The spray came out in a large cloud. Most of it landed in Arturo's face, but some of it got in Bernard's eyes. Arturo roared, changing the course of his charge and scrambling to the edge of the clearing before wheeling around to face Bernard.

Bernard's eyes watered as the potent spray burned them. The world rocked beneath him, and darkness crept into the edges of his vision. Ignoring his throbbing shoulder, Bernard pawed at the ground in front of him and clicked his teeth together in a threat display.

Arturo cringed. He growled at Bernard and his mother one last time before trotting away.

"Good riddance," said Bernard as his legs gave out. His vision darkened as he hit the ground.

The last thing he was aware of before losing consciousness was someone screaming his name.