"ROAR!!!"
A deafening roar jolted Su Feng awake in his sleeping bag. He'd only meant to rest briefly in the cave's warmth but had accidentally dozed off. Wriggling free from the bag and gently shifting Combusken and the Cubchoo off his stomach, he sat up groggily.
The fire still crackled—he hadn't slept long. The livestream drone hovered silently, capturing everything.
[What the hell was that noise?! Scared me awake!]
[I threw my phone across the room! Screen's shattered—thanks, Feng!]
[At least you didn't pee yourself like me…]
[Wait, peeing yourself is worse…]
Another roar shook the cave, followed by thunderous footsteps. A massive white figure loomed in the entrance—a Beartic.
"ROAR!!! (Big Cub! Little Cub!)"
The Beartic's gaze locked onto Su Feng beside the older Cubchoo and the still-sleeping younger one. Rage ignited in her eyes. With a swing of her paw, she hurled an Icicle Crash straight at Su Feng's face.
"Holy—!" Trapped in his sleeping bag, Su Feng could only raise his arms defensively.
But Combusken moved faster. A fiery blur, it launched two swift kicks at the icicle, redirecting its trajectory. The ice spear grazed Su Feng's head and embedded itself into the cave wall behind him, spiderweb cracks radiating outward.
"Sweet Arceus…" Su Feng stared at the icicle, his heart pounding. This is why you don't mess with mama Pokémon.
The older Cubchoo woke to the chaos and screamed, "ROAR! (Mom, STOP!)"
The Beartic froze, the ice in her paw dissolving. "ROAR? (Big Cub! Are you okay?)"
She scooped up the older Cubchoo, ignoring Combusken's defensive stance.
"ROAR! (Mom, the human saved Little Cub!)" the older Cubchoo explained urgently.
The Beartic rushed to her younger cub, now stirring in her arms. "ROAR? (Little Cub… you're better?)"
"ROAR! (The human gave me yummy medicine!)"
The Beartic's fury melted into guilt. She turned to Su Feng, who was still pale-faced.
"ROAR… (Apologies, human. I… overreacted.)"
Su Feng waved weakly. "No worries. You're the boss here. Or… boss lady."
"ROAR… (I could've killed you…)" The Beartic hung her head, avoiding Combusken and Haunter's glares.
[OMG, that icicle would've turned Feng into popsicle!]
[Beartic's a beast! RIP Anchor if Combusken hadn't reacted.]
[Never mess with momma bears, virtual or real.]
[And I was just packing for a snow trip… NOPE.]
Su Feng sighed and packed his sleeping bag. Outside, the blizzard had stopped.
As he turned to leave, the older Cubchoo clung to his leg. "ROAR… (Don't go! Mom didn't mean it! We're sorry…)"
Su Feng softened but muttered, "Your mom nearly turned my head into modern art."
The Cubchoo's ears drooped. "ROAR… (Humans hurt us before. Mom thought you were like them…)"
Su Feng paused. "Hurt you?"
The Beartic lumbered over, revealing scars on her belly and back—jagged marks resembling shotgun pellets. The drone zoomed in, broadcasting the gruesome details.
[Those scars look like bullet wounds!]
[12-gauge shotgun. Someone unloaded on her. Brutal.]
[Why would anyone shoot a Beartic?!]
Su Feng's jaw tightened. "Mind if I check?"
The Beartic nodded. Parting her fur, Su Feng confirmed the chat's suspicions.
"You didn't get these here," he murmured. "My country bans firearms."
The Beartic growled low. "ROAR. (We migrated from colder lands… where humans hunt us.)"
Su Feng's eyes narrowed. North of H City is Russia—no gun restrictions. Hunters must've targeted her.
He patted the Beartic's massive paw. "You're safe here now."