Read Online Bearly Holding On by Danielle Foxton - Free Book Online Page B

cried when he opened it. “There are wolves in the village—they’re attacking people!”
    “Wolves?” Keme asked quizzically. “In town?”
    The young man’s terrified face was the only answer Keme needed. He stalked back inside and grabbed his rifle, ensuring it was fully loaded.
    Mati sprung into action. “I don’t understand,” he muttered to Awen as he pulled on his shoes. “The forest calls to me when your village is under attack. I feel nothing!”
    “Well then cover me in branches and call me the forest,” Keme said grimly as he cocked his gun. “Because I’m hollerin’.”
    “I’m coming!” Awen called after the men as they stepped out the door.
    Keme spun around to face her. “Oh good, you brought your gun,” he said saucily.
    Awen looked away shyly. “Uh...well…”
    “Then you’re staying!” he ordered. “Else all you’ll be doing is bringing nails to a claw fight. Look after your mother.” And with that the two men were gone.
    As soon as Mati reached the yard he let the bear take hold of him. The beast was excited to have some action, and he hated wolves in particular.
    As Mati changed, Keme raced towards the sounds of screaming and snarls. A large wolf and four smaller ones had a boy pinned against an old storage shed, nipping at his heels. It was as if they were taunting him.
    “Keep the small ones busy!” Mati bellowed, his skin tearing at the seams. “I want the ringleader.”
    “You got it.” Keme was actively trying to ignore the fact that his companion was literally tearing at the seams. Instead, he aimed, shooting off a couple of shots. None of them seemed to hit home but they scared the wolves enough that the small ones bolted.
    Just as the larger wolf turned, snarling through ragged fangs, Mati’s bear form rushed forward. He roared loudly.
    The two squared off, circling each other and gnashing their teeth. The wolf was large, much larger than any wolf Mati had ever seen in the forest. He charged, heaving his bulk in order to swing his paw.
    The wolf dodged the attack easily. He leapt into the air and landed on Mati’s back, tearing at the scruff behind his neck. Mati stood, swinging wildly, until one of his paws caught purchase on the side of the wolf’s skull. He was thrown off of Mati, skidding against the gravel some distance. Several other wolves gathered around in front of him, protecting the large wolf while he righted himself.
    A bullet whizzed past Mati’s head as the village people began firing into the pack of wolves.
    “Don't shoot the bear!” Keme screamed.
    Two wolves began to approach the old man. He fired at them as they circled but they were too fast. Mati charged at them, a wild cry emanating from the bear’s throat. Before Mati could reach him, one of Keme’s shots managed to hit one of his attackers. The wolf let out an anguished wail and turned to the woods to flee. The others, too, were disappearing into the darkness. In one moment they were gone; it was like they were never there.
    Mati disappeared behind the shed to shift.
    “Patamon, what happened here?” Keme asked, still bewildered by the attack.
    The other man, who had been standing nearby shooting at the wolves, looked equally confused. “I sent Ouray out to the shed to grab a wrench. All of the sudden he was surrounded. I don’t know where they came from!” He looked around. “Where did that bear go? Maybe they were following it.”
    “No, the bear showed up after they came,” Keme answered.
    Mati listened from behind the shed, conscious of his nakedness. It would be even harder to explain away this time.
    “Why would a bear choose to fight a pack of wolves?” another man asked. “It was like he was trying to protect us.”
    “I don’t know,” Keme lied, “but I am grateful to him.”
    The men dispersed, muttering, and when the coast was clear Mati emerged. Keme nodded to him solemnly.
    Mati could feel blood trickling down his neck where the wolf had mauled him, but