Year 509, 32nd day of Spring
Ursus Umosa was a content Kelvic battle squire. His master, the Honorable Captain Knight Kendri Umosa was a noble, brave and kind man. A veteran of many a quest and campaign Sir Kendri commanded respect from friend and foe. It was Sir Kendri who held the line at the battle of the Bronze Wood along with his blood brother Sir Udan Losmi, rallying the Syliran forces from certain defeat. Ursus was there, albeit still very young and serving as a warrior for the Knights.
"Take heart men!" Sir Kendri shouted as him and Sir Udan fought like tigers against formidable odds. In the confusion of the battle he found himself cut off from his men and Sir Udan. He was surrounded by a dozen barbarian bandits. The bandits screeched and gathered for the kill. Dazed and momentarily defenseless all Sir Kendri could do was say a small prayer. The nearest enemy, a large oafish looking fellow with an ax raised it up for the final blow...
"Ursus! Ursus!" A woman's voice broke through Ursus' memories. It was Sir Kendri's young wife, Lady Isalla. She was a beautiful raven haired beauty, twenty years Kendri's junior and daughter of a high ranking member of the Sylirian knights. Isalla smiled brightly as she found Ursus sitting against a straw bale, Kendri and Isalla's young daughter Wren fast asleep in his lap.
"Shhh..." Ursus brought a finger to his smiling lips. "The little one sleeps mistress."
"She loves you so much, as do we all..."
A roar shook the battlefield. The oafish bandit forgot all about Sir Kendri and was frozen with fright. Kendri, still groggy, saw a large brown blur slam into his attacker. A large paw took the bandit's head clean off. His friends quickly rallied and attacked. Metal met fur met teeth met shield met claw. One by the one the bandits were slain by the bear which protected Sir Kendri.
"I need you to go town to collect a few items." Lady Isalla instructed Ursus. "Cheese, sausage, and a you know what for you know who..." She bent down and picked up the sleeping girl. It was Wren's birthday soon and Ursus had a carver friend in town. A week prior he had asked him to carve a splendid rocking horse for young Wrenny.
"As you wish mistress." Ursus stood and kissed the sleeping girl on the head. For a long moment Isalla and Ursus' eyes locked. Ursus lightly brushed back the hair from Isalla's eyes, smiled sadly, then he turned and headed to town.
The bandits were routed and fled into Wood. Sir Kendri had regained his strength by now and raised his mighty sword to the sky.
"Sylir!" He shouted and his men followed suit. His men were jubilant and celebrated both the victory and being alive. Udan and Kendri hugged vigorously and pounded each other's backs. Kendri smiled and turned to his savior. However his eyes grew suddenly concerned- the bear's breathing was labored, he was bleeding from many wounds. Suddenly the bear gave a sorrowful moan and fell mightily to the ground.
Ursus awoke a week later in Syliras. The first thing he saw was the smiling face of Sir Kendri. Ursus would learn later of the frantic voyage Kendri undertook to save the young Kelvic's life.
"My lord..." Ursus croaked.
"Rest my son. You need your strength." Kendri put a hand on Ursus' shoulder as the young Kelvic passed out again.
Another week and Ursus could sit up. Sir Kendri had brought Ursus a wonderfully raw steak and a large bowl of blackberries. Ursus ate it greedily and his body welcomed the nourishment with . They talked about this and that. Kendri about wanting to marry and start a family, Ursus about his fascination with the katana. An hour passed and Kendri stood to leave. A firm grip on his arm prevented him from leaving, Ursus was regaining his strength quickly.
"My lord allow me to serve you." Ursus pleaded. "When I am better I will be an excellent squire."
"I accept." Kendri nodded seriously. "With you and Sir Udan by my side I shall fear no evil."
Smoke, Ursus smelled it on the horizon. A mile away from the Umosa house Ursus froze. His hands dropped the groceries and wooden rocking horse. He ran.
The manor, barn, everything was smoldering or in flames. Ursus sniffed frantically for his master's scent.
"Master!" He shouted with tears in his eyes. His head twisted around in panic as he looked around for his family.
He found them in the back of the manor, the house servants' bodies laying around them. They had thrown themselves to protect their master but were cut down mercilessly. In the middle laid the bodies of Sir Kendri and the Lady Isalla. He sobbed uncontrollably as he knelt down and cradled his master's dead body in his arms.
"No!" Ursus reached for Kendri's dagger which was laying nearby. He tore off his shirt and kneeled beside his master and readied himself to follow his master into death. At the moment he intended to plunge the dagger into his gut a frail hand gripped his arm.
"Ursus..." It was the Lady Isalla, barely breathing.
"Mistress!" Ursus dropped the dagger and gathered her into his arms. "I can take you to town, I can save you!"
"No Ursus, I have but a few moments left..." Isalla coughed. "No time. Ursus you must save her. You must save our daughter..."
The pounding hoofs terrified the young girl. Her mother had seen the dark riders first and sent her running towards town. Instead of running, she hid in the nearby tall grass and watched as her parents tried to buy her precious time with their lives. Poor Wrenny screamed as she saw the riders slaughter Pierre the cook and she ran. Her legs did not get her far and the riders had heard her scream. Knowing she was a small child they were not in a rush, instead they took the time to properly torture Sir Kendri.
And finally there was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The riders circled her with brutal amusement and laughed amongst themselves. So sure they were of their new found prey and game they were oblivious to the giant brown bear who sprinted towards them.
The horses sensed something amiss and whinnied. Ursus took down the nearest horseman to the ground and tore out his throat with his jaws. One by one the riders perished, all but their leader who watched his henchmen meet grisly ends. The man's horse was panicking, so much so that the man dismounted. He drew his sword and charged, as did Ursus. Bear and man slammed into each other the man swinging his sword at the bears head. A large foreleg blocked the blow but the sword cut through to the bone. The bear roared and drove his free claw into the man's unprotected throat. The man gurgled and fell to his knees.
Ursus changed back to his human form and stood before the dying man. The man's helmet tumbled off and Ursus was shocked to recognize the man. It was a Sir Udan Lomsi, a man whom Ursus and Sir Kendri loved and trusted. The man tore off his armor and shirt. On his right breast was a Gnosis Mark of Rhysol, the god of evil and chaos.
"You wouldn't understand...Ursus..." These were Udan's last words before his body thumped to the ground.
Ursus stood in anguish at the events. Once again a frail hand brought him back. Tiny hands hugged his legs. Ursus looked down and saw small Wren crying, afraid. Ursus looked at her and realized that all she had was him. After this, could he trust the Knights? Could he trust humanity? Isalla's words burned into his soul and he realized all they had were each other. He would take care of her and he would see that her parents' murders were avenged.