Sunflower got down low, one knee to the ground and her other leg stretched out behind her. Her hands were to the dirt, fingers spread out. She kept her eyes on her target.

Still not getting an answer, Ellie repeated herself. "What's wrong?"

"When she takes off, we run as fast as we can in the opposite direction." Marietta murmured. "Whatever you do, don't move until she does."

"Why? We can't just leave her."

Marietta couldn't believe she had to spell it out for her. "There's a bear."

"I don't see anything."

"Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't exist." It was a wonder Ellie wasn't dead yet. Cluelessness was a death sentence she'd somehow managed to avoid. Marietta wished she had her luck. "We're in its territory."

"Okay, let's talk to it and explain we don't mean any harm." As soon as Ellie lifted her boot, Marietta pulled on the back of her tunic, hard, to keep her in place. "What the hell?"

"It's feral," Marietta hissed between her teeth. Four legged. Covered head to toe in fur. Claws capable of ripping off heads. Powerful jaw ready to swallow them, clothes and all. A brutal, mindless monster whose territory they were encroaching on. Even someone as thick as Ellie had to understand the gravity of the situation they were in.

Marietta could smell the drool on its lips.

A pig, a dog, and an idiot served up on a platter. Why did I agree to go? She eyed Ellie's bag. Right, the food. The food that made their trio all the more delectable. "New plan. Get rid of your bag. Drop it."

"I can't," she whispered back. "I can't let it go."

"Do it."

"No."

Sunflower stayed in her stance, ignoring Marietta and Ellie's back-and-forth arguing.

"You better drop it this instant or I'm dropping it for you."

"You better not." Ellie clutched the strap.

"You selfish fool." What was so important about her damn bag?

"You're the fool!"

"Keep your voice down."

"Sorry."

Marietta told her, "I'm giving you five seconds. Five..."

"Don't."

"Four, three..."

She damned the rest of the countdown and went for it. Marietta grasped the bag in her hooves, yanking on it to get it off of Ellie.

The contents inside clacked together, a loud clap of glass striking glass.

That was enough to set off the bear. It roared, spit flying free from its jowls.

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A/N: This is an interactive fantasy serial. Voting takes place on Thursdays through Sundays on the story's main site. The most up-to-date chapters can also be found there, but uploading will happen in parts on RRL as well.

The next post will be Chapter 4.3.

Chapter 9 is live on the site now. Voting on the latest chapter will end on Sunday at 11:59 PM EST.