Closed Fight or Flight (Sterling)

[Letixia Raigner]

Spring 13, 514 Letixia was sitting on a large rock overlooking Pavi Lake, fishing pole in hand. Her kit sat next to her with her pail and net. Her sword hung from her right hip and shield from her back. It was nice to have a day off from her studies, and she always enjoyed a relaxing day of fishing. It was therapeutic for her, it let her think about her trainings without stressing, let her escape. She held the pole loosely in her fingers, so that if anything tugged at the line, she would instantly feel it. She hoped her bait would work properly. She'd spent hours trying to catch brine shrimp in the shallows with her pail, and succeeded in getting a couple dozen. She'd threaded the hook through the middle of the tail, so that it would still be able to move. She scanned the lake's surface, studying the strange white structures that seemed to have grown out from it. Leti wondered why she didn't see many insects around this lake. Maybe it was because of the saltwater. She didn't really know though. As she cradled the pole in her long fingers, she felt it bounce slightly, once. She perked up, waiting, keeping attention. It bounced again, and she knew something was interested in her little shrimp friend. Then came the big tug, and she had to force her fingers to grip a little tighter. She waited a moment, two, and a third. Then she tugged back. She felt a weight added to the end of her line. She'd caught it. She began the tug of war, the fish pulling one way, her pulling the opposite. It kept up for several chimes, until finally it tired out, and she lifted it out of the water. She held it on the line in front of her, smiling, seeing how it had whiskers, just like a cat. What she didn't see was the bear that was walking up from behind her, equally interested in her catch.

[Sterling Theron]

Large noon-hour sun rays played across Sterling's back as he crouched low to the cold earth under a beech tree. He was pleased with the sporadic warmth the sunlight gave him. His current concentration was given to finding the fallen beechnuts that lay scattered all around beneath it's canopy. Pavi lake had many beech trees growing along its shores in the early spring. One of Sterling's favorite treats for himself was a warm brewed cup of beechnut coffee. He had run short on his supply this last winter and had to spend two miserable months without the warm start to his day. This year he would have to put enough away to last him the entire winter. Two months without beechnut coffee was unacceptable.

As he sifted through a handful of nuts to pick out those that weren't rotten he heard the unmistakable sound of heavy breathing. He looked up his hand instinctively unslinging his bow from his back. Just behind the line of trees he could make out the black fur coat of a bear.

I didnt realize they would be out of hibernation so soon. He thought to himself. He kept low to the ground and tried not to make any sudden movements. It seemed the bear hadn't noticed him and he wasnt about to startle it by moving too quickly.

The black bear lumbered along already past the line of sight of the beech tree where Sterling remained still.

This might be a good time to practice stalking. Sterling thought to himself. He slowly raised up from the ground and moved as silently as he could trying to stay downwind of the animal.

As he tracked behind the bear he stopped behind a large oak and watched as the it walked out of the wood towards the lake.

Most likely moving to the lake to take a drink of water. He thought calmly.

Sterling moved swiftly from behind the oak to a small bush directly behind the bear. When he looked up from his hiding place he saw what the bear had really spotted. There perched on a large rock was a woman with a pole in hand just bringing up her catch of the day. She looked tall and elegant but hardened by work. Her back was covered with long brown hair and underneath all of it he could see a shield which was slung over her shoulder. Unsure of what to do he waited crouching behind the bush. It was only then that he realized his mistake. Now that he was up wind of the animal he could tell the bear had picked up his scent. It sniffed lazily at the air raising itself onto its two back legs. As Sterling watched from his cover the woman turned around. She gave a stifled cry of surprise as she caught sight the bear. Realizing the situation was quickly getting out of control and dangerous Sterling slowly stood up from behind the bush where he had been hiding. The animal already knew he was there anyway why shouldn't she know as well?

"Dont make any sudden moves" he said as calmly as he could manage. He tried his best to keep his voice monotone and nonthreatening in every way.

"Leave the fish on the ground and slowly move to your left. With both of us on either side he is likely to feel threatened and charge one of us if we are not careful. Move slowly and I will meet you in the middle."

Sterling looked the stranger in the eyes waiting for a signal that she understood, then slowly started moving to his right.