Snippet #2614421

Tev observed his escort starting to head out, but then stopping. Cautiously, he watched the scene unfold. It took only moments; the wolf perked up, birds quieting, and then ran off. Tev began to rise out of reflex to pursue, before an odd variation of a very familiar sound stopped him. Whipping his attention around, he looked for the source of the noise. He knew bear, but... were there bears in Japan? Quickly he tried to recall the list he had been given on the flight over, detailing what he might encounter; plants and animals - both current and some extinct - villagers, the like. Pandas, maybe. Or were pandas Chinese?

Another confirmation sound distracted his thoughts. Tev hunched lower, hoping the scraggly twigs of the shrubs around them would be sufficient covering. He knew they wouldn't hide smell, and he also knew being within a mile of a bear's kill was a death wish. He was reminded that he was absolutely unarmed, the horses much too far away to be of use now - if alive at all - and without a tincture to go back. They were stuck.

With a silent protest, Tev watched the soldier begin first towards the source, then back again and motioned to follow. Reluctant to risk making sounds, he hesitated before slowly standing and beginning away from the bear. He kept a watchful eye on the general direction, mind playing tricks as it tried to identify shadows as black fur.