The group traveled without rest, only stopping when night fell.
Someone found a bear cave nestled among a pile of boulders—a place that was easy to defend and difficult to assault.
As soon as they approached, its master shot out. It reared up on its hind legs, towering half a man's height taller than any of them.
The giant bear was covered in scars, and its glossy fur was marred and torn.
Seeing so many visitors, the giant bear turned and fled. Bounding away on all fours, it vanished into the forest in an instant.
"Well now, isn't this perfect."
The tall man grinned, tossed a lit fire-starter into the bear cave, and got a clear look at the messy scene inside.
The cave was quite spacious, just large enough to squeeze everyone in.
The only problem was the sheer amount of bones and pelts inside, which gave off an unbearable stench.
The tall man was the first to crawl in. He scooped up everything inside in a big armful and tossed it out.
