Chapter 194: An unfair death.
Sunshine’s boots thundered against the forest ground, every muscle in her body coiled tight. She gripped the handle as she rushed forward, time was not on her side. The cry continued, the closer she got the more she felt like the creature was crying for help out of sheer desperation. In a place like this, Sunshine knew that she was not the only one that heard the call, more predators would be joining the party soon.
Not if I get there first. She thought.
She pushed through the thick vines until the clearing opened before her. The sight stopped her cold.
A familiar massive creature lay in the pool of its own blood, it’s snowy white fur-stained crimson. Its breathing was really shallow, each breath rattling like it was being dragged from the depths of death itself. Next to it lay two smaller bodies. White cubs. One was already still, glassy eyed. The other barely alive, clung weakly to its mother’s side, pressing its tiny paws into her fur as though begging her to raise and fight, to save it.
A knot formed in Sunshine’s stomach especially when she took a better look at the other creature that had attacked the white one.
Standing on the other side was a bear or what looked like a bear with massive paws and long claws. Its razor-sharp teeth were dripping with blood. It was monstrous in its darkness, black ink fur rippling over bulging muscle, eyes glinting with a mix of cruel hunger and anger. Its presence was as intimidating as it was suffocating, its breath steaming in the warm air.
It leaped once and reached the white one before Sunshine could make a move. With a flick of its paw, it tossed the injured cub aside. The little bear gave a helpless cry, it’s body rolling over the dirt like a discarded rag. Then the black monster turned, massive claws unfurling, ready to finish the white bear where she lay.
Sunshine’s breath hitched. Memories run through her mind. She remembered the white fur bear creature. The last time she visited Veldek she had crossed paths with that creature. It had not attacked her, instead it watched her with interest, so she threw some of her harvest it’s way.
Kindness was not just found in humans; it is found in animals too. In a world where all creatures wanted her dead, the white furred bear had not bothered her.
Her hammer trembled in her grip. She wanted to fight. Every instinct screamed at her to rush forward, to split the beast’s skull and protect the wounded mother and cub. But she knew better. Not now for she did not have the time. The creature was massive; it would not die easily.
Not all wars are meant to be fought. That is what she told Ariel; it was time to take her own advice.
She reached for her grenade sling instead. With practiced hands, she hurled it far into the opposite direction. Two seconds later, the detonation sounded, echoing in the quiet forest. The black furred monster’s head snapped up, its nostrils flaring.
With a snarl, it bounded towards the noise.
The moment it vanished, Sunshine bolted forward.
The cub whimpered, dragging itself backward, eyes widened with fear. Sunshine dropped to her knees, lowering her hammer. "Easy....easy champ, i am a friend of your mother."
She turned to the mother. Blood pooled thick beneath her, the wound was deep, far beyond what the croast leaves or anything in her space could mend. Sunshine’s hands hovered helplessly, her heart ached. It was always the good ones that had bad endings.
[One minute left.] The system reminded her.
Her throat burned as she patted the head of the bear. "I am sorry friend," she whispered.
The white bears eyes fluttered open, locking into hers. It gave a low growl, not a threat but a plea. Its gaze shifted from Sunshine to its remaining cub then back again_continuously, as if we’re speaking without words: Protect my child.
Sunshine’s vision blurred, she swallowed hard and nodded. "I know what you mean."
The cub squeaked, like it was begging its mother to live. The mother growled one last time and pushed it towards Sunshine. Then it gave one shuddering breath and went still.
She did not have enough time to bury it so she sent it to the space, along with the other dead cub. Then, she carried the little one in her arms, cradling it like a baby. The cub leaned weakly on her arm, still squeaking sadly.
They both heard a roar of outrage in the distance. The black bear was furious. Maybe it realized that it had been tricked.
Sunshine and the little bear vanished from the forest.
Thirty seconds later, the black bear returned and found that its prey was missing. It roared again angrily and sniffed the air.
It walked in circles, roaring louder and louder, threatening hell on the one that dared to take its kill.
****
Sunshine did not stay in the space to count her proceeds. Other than her, or someone on oxygen, the space could not keep living things inside for long.
She returned to the real world immediately, with the white cub in her hands. It was squeaking and squirming in her arms.
"Shhh." She said, bouncing it like a baby. "You are safe with me. Let’s go and bury your mother and sister."
[The dead cub is a male." The system informed her.
She nodded. "Brother then." She continued to bounce it lightly against her chest. "System, I want all the information on this creature and how I can raise it here on earth."
[First deposit a fee for a stitcher]
"You can handle all that for me without needing my permission."
She left the bedroom with the cub in hand. On her way out, she met Cathy who was leaving for her second job in the dining hall of the first wall.
Cathy looked at the cub in Sunshine’s arms and took a step back. Lately, every critter they heard about was somehow mutated.
Was this a mutated puppy? She frowned. No....it wasn’t a puppy and more like a bear with very large paws and purple eyes! She had questions, but she did not dare to ask them.
Sunshine did not attempt to explain herself either. She made her way to the car and Corporal Day drove her to the training field which was now mostly empty as shooting lessons had ended.
She found a part of the field where trees stood tall. In the spot between the trees and pink flowers, she hammered the ground, breaking it open. Then she dug through the soil until a large pit was formed.
Hades found her there and he frowned.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
She waved her hand and the mother bear, and the dead cub appeared on the ground.
"Woah!" He jumped back in shock. "Where did these come from?"
"Another world." she answered solemnly. "I saved the last cub."
It poked its head out of her jacket and started squirming. She let it out and it ran its mother’s side, squeaking mournfully.
One tear slid down her left eye.
Hades wiped it for her and then he started helping out. A minute later, Dwayne and Owen joined them. None asked questions.
They buried the mother bear and the dead cub together.
"I will get your vengeance for you." Sunshine whispered.