No fear.
"It'sdying, Keer."
"You arenotwalking toward a bear."
"I'mnotasking permission."
She steps around me.
I grab her arm.
She stops, looks at my hand, looks at me, and her scent hits—honey and chamomile. Her pulse hammers under myfingers. She's going anyway.
"Let.go."
I let go.
She walks.
Kestria steps in front of her, hands on Melori's shoulders. "Mel. Stop. That thing will tear you apart."
"The wound's infected. If I can clean it and pack it—"
"You can't clean it if you're dead."
"Then help me not be dead."
Kestria stares at her and Melori stares back, and neither of them blinks.
My sister looks at me.
Do something.
The bear's breathing is labored, the clink of chain against iron. Big. Probably a male, from the depth of the breathing.
Melori is walking again, Kestria beside her already pulling the waterskin off her shoulder and handing it over without being asked, shifted to damage control.
I look at Axan.
The humor is gone. He's the Beta now. The second.
"How do you want to do this?" Already moving.
"Pin, don't kill. Kestria stays with Mel—hands her what she needs, keeps clear of the head."
"Two of us on a bear."
His jaw sets and he nods.
"She won't forgive us if we kill it."
Axan reads that on my face and doesn't comment.
"I'll take the shoulder and the good legs. You take the head."
"If it swipes at her—"
"It won't. Because we'll have it down before she gets close."
