He had backtracked somewhat, abandoning his journey straight north and traveling west alternating between a lope and a brisk trot, making many detours to chase a rabbit or a tasty field mouse. For the most part his sand and copper coat was endlessly damp under the drizzle falling from gray heavens, which was a bit of an annoyance but not anything he bothered to grumble about. The air smelled rather musty, and the wetness erased many a trail he could have followed towards a meal, but all in all the trip was enjoyable especially now that the Ghastly Woods were far behind him. The openness of this forest was a welcome change from the foreboding heaviness that place possessed, and if by chance a pack could be found here he wouldn't hesitate to find a place in it.

The huge Bielski was enjoying himself now, for the rain had sufficiently halted and his coat had for the most part dried out, and the breeze was delicious. Flashes of blues and yellows and grays danced in the treetops above; the many birds' voices created a harmonious song that made his spirits soar, for he had no cares in the world as of right now besides satisfying his stomach, and even that wasn't a problem just yet. Coal moved at a walk, bright orange ears swiveling to catch every noise, eyes sharp and taking in the activity of the forest. Since the rain had come to a pause critters were out and about and every few feet something new was detected by his ears, nose, or eyes. Nothing much was too exciting. Until now.

The scent of a bear and a wolf from the same direction and of the same strength wafted up his nostrils and they quivered excitedly. Coal broke into a lope, racing between the tall, sturdy trees, a flash of red and tan, headed towards the source. His goal was not to get himself hurt so he slowed before reaching the actual destination and instead poked his copper head out of the undergrowth to see what was going on. His eyes widened in surprise. A large silver male, only slightly smaller than himself, stood over a bloody rabbit and growled dangerously at a young bear who looked as if he was rather hungry. Coal rolled his eyes and grinned, almost wishing he could join the strange brute and stand up to the beast. The black bear wasn't very big, and bears weren't quite as fast as wolves, so it should be simple enough to retreat if need be.

Why not? Coal snorted and ran up alongside the stranger with a loose posture and vertical, wildly wagging tail. His tongue hung out of his mouth and his eyes glinted with mischief. The Bielski wasn't usually one for unnecessary danger, but he was a loner now.

He could do whatever he wanted.

"I'm Coal Bielski. Let's show this bear who's alpha 'round here?"

This silvery white wolf was a maniac charging the bear with such recklessness, and to Coal it was almost refreshing to meet someone who could cast aside any worries at any time. The world was full of those who disallowed themselves to enjoy life, to see beauty, to chase a bear. An amused grin curled the copper wolf's mouth as Erebos leaped aside at the very last second to avoid the bear's sweeping claws, and in only seconds Coal found himself sprinting forward to join in the fun. Not to defend the bunny, not to exalt himself, but simply to play.

The bear, however, was nearing the boiling point it seemed, for his threatening roars grew terribly loud and his thick forelimbs swung wildly at the two mad brutes who danced around him washed with glee. Coal's eyes burned with the excitement of everything, his tail wagged in rhythm with the ursine attacks, never doubting his and Erebos' victory.

Coal backed away for a moment to catch his breath, watching carefully the moves of the dark furred bear. A grin painted his face, exhilaration shone through his panting tongue, erect tail and perked ears. Never before had he challenged this type of beast, but now that he had he wondered why it was so. The bear was not clumsy, though driven with rage it appeared so at times, and even at its best moment Coal doubted such a huge animal could dance so well as a wolf.

His muses ended as something came into contact with his ribs and hip and he soared through the air and might have continued to do so for many yards if a thick cedar had not stood in the way. A crack resounded upon impact, and then a cold thump as his limp body fell to the ground. Rising partially his dark eyes could see a second bear, slightly larger than the first, move in towards Erebos. Heaving with the pain of severely bruised ribs Coal managed to stutter a warning.

""Erebos, another bear!"

Now their foolish venture became rather dire, for one wolf against two angered bears was hardly a fair match, and even if Coal was able to join back into the fight his skills would be worth nothing for the pain shooting through his body rendered him nearly immobile. They needed a miracle of some sort or things would not end well.

He could see the silvery male turn at his shout through the lumbering figures of two black bears. Coal felt a little hopeless from his prone position but, as he tried to get up the sharp pain shooting through his sides made him flop back down gasping for breath. He barely heard Erebos's frantic reply but lifted his head enough to see where the man danced around the beasts, eyes filled with worry. Again Coal tried to rise, forcing his limbs to lock in place and hold his large frame above the ground. He stared towards the bears and the wolf with determination dominating his gaze.

"I'm alright, I think! Just a little stunned." He had to muster up this strength, fight back. Blood was pooling below him as it trickled from the base of his ears. But it couldn't stop him. He parted with the ground as a wicked snarl ripped from his throat and he flew. His leap brought him right to the feet of the larger bear who stared down at its small foe with something akin to amusement. The blood within the Bielski boiled at the disgrace and he rose onto his hind feet, ignoring the awesome pain racking his body, and clamped his teeth down on the creature's jaws, hard. He felt a satisfying crunch and tasted blood before the bear's paws wrapped around his shoulder and pinned him to the snow with an incredible roar.

This was the end, he was sure. He watched the mutilated face as it breathed heavily into his own expressionless one, saliva and blood intermixing before falling in gross globs and blocking his vision. In an act of desperation he clawed at the bear's belly with all of the strength in his hind legs but knew it was hopeless. He wondered what Erebos was doing.

The huge, copper and cream brute passed out as what he expected to be the last blow came sweeping down to steal his life. But something intervened, forcefully drawing the bear's attention with expert snaps and snarls. Coal lay limp and cold as a quick battle raged between the bear and his friend Erebos. Only seconds later his mind drifted back to consciousness, only slightly aware of the insanity of his surroundings. The snarling and roaring did not penetrate through his ears but was thought a distant, gentle rumble, like that of a waterfall or welcome thunder.

Suddenly a blindfold seemed to be lifted from his senses and he snapped back to reality, rising from his prone position and searching wildly for the bear that had nearly killed him. An angry growl ripped from his throat and he backed away, gripped the earth with his paws, and launched himself just as the larger bear took a heavy swing at Erebos. Coal's teeth clicked together through the beast's paw and blood sprayed in all directions.

Before the bear could follow up with a swing by its other great paw Coal danced away, barely noticing the pain in his sides. "Erebos, run!" The large bear was too powerful to beat, unlike its smaller companion who had already fled and was gone, which was a great relief. Two bears was just too much to deal with.

"I'll keep it distracted while you get away!" He knew that he was going to die, for in this state he could not outrun the bear nor fight it and hope to win. But he would likely perish anyway, and Erebos had not taken any dangerous injuries, so it seemed like the best option.