THE BEAR MAX
TOUCH ME
Max awoke to the frantic sound of a smoke alarm and an acrid smell. Smoke filled his room clinging to the ceiling, blurring the familiar outlines of his bedroom. Coughing violently, he threw the bedsheets aside and stumbled onto the floor, nearly losing his balance in his panic. The alarm continued screaming overhead, then something else
caught his attention. A strange emerald glow seeped beneath the door of his closet, cutting through the smoke like sunlight through fog. The sign hanging above it, Field of Greens, began to rattle immensely against the wall. Max haulted. The smoke wasn't coming from the room. It was pouring out from inside the closet. Heart pounding, he
cautiously stepped forward. Curiosity pulled him closer with every hesitant step. He reached for the doorknob. It was warm. Taking a deep breath, Max slowly pulled the closet door open. The brilliant green light flooded the room, forcing him to shield his eyes. As his vision adjusted, the smoke mysteriously drifted away, disappearing into
the glowing doorway. Behind the plants that filled his closet, something impossible shimmered. A portal. Max carefully pushed aside the foliage. Beyond the plants stretched a stone road covered with hemp leaves disappearing into a world unlike anything he had ever imagined. Towering emerald trees swayed above a
jade-colored landscape, while warm sunlight filtered through the green leaves. Wildflowers blanketed the hills, and a mountain rose above the forest radiating with life. Then he heard it.
Bong...
A grandfather clock chimed
somewhere beyond the portal.
Bong...
The deep metallic notes echoed across the unfamiliar world.
Max - "This has to be a dream."
The chiming continued. He glanced around his bedroom
before grabbing the closest thing that resembled a weapon. Holding his guitar like an axe, he slowly stepped through the doorway. One cautious foot crossed the threshold. Then the other. The instant he entered the strange land, the portal faded behind him. Only the echoing chimes remained and an open gate. Max spun around. Where
the portal had stood only moments before was an enormous stone gate covered in twisting vines. Panic surged through him. Before he could inspect it, the ground began trembling. A low chorus of growls echoed through the trees. Max looked down the stone road. A sleuth of massive emerald-furred bears flood out from the
forest, charging directly toward him at full canter. Their paws thundered against the ground as leaves exploded into the air behind them. He frantically searched the gate for a way back home. Beside it stood a crude metal keypad. Nearby, numbers had been carved into the trunk of an ancient tree.
Max - "Oh, shit! Got to get the hell out of here..."
Without thinking, Max dropped his guitar and hurried to the keypad, entering the weathered sequence with trembling fingers.
Max - "Fuck, FUCK...dial this in. Oh, shhh...2...0 fucked up! Not real...last one, last one, last
one...what is it...not real. Open the gate, come on!"
For one terrifying second, nothing happened. The grandfather clock stopped chiming. The stone gate’s gears hidden within the rock began turning as green light seeped through its seams. The portal reopened. Just as he crossed the
threshold, one of the charging bears followed him in.
Max - "Oh, shit one followed me in. Shit...One got in!"
The gate doors shut.
Max - "Stay calm...stay calm. Fuck..."
Emerald light engulfed both Max and the bear. Their bodies created swirling streams of green energy before twisting together into something entirely new. Bones shifted. Muscles expanded. Fur spread across flesh. Memories collided and instincts merged. When the light finally faded, Max staggered forward on enormous paws.
He remembered his bedroom. He remembered music. He remembered Earth. But alongside those memories came another life. He knew the scent of every cave within the mountain. He knew which rivers carried too much copper-rich water. He knew where honey could be found. He knew...Hibearia.
The Bear Max lifted his head toward the distant peak. Without fully understanding why, he knew exactly where he needed to go. The bear caverns awaited.
HIBEARIA
Hibearia is a world draped almost entirely in shades of green. Towering forests blanketed the valleys and emerald rivers carved through the mountain. The land was divided into two great regions. To the north lay Indica, a cool mountainous wilderness where mist drifted between trees from
waterfalls. At its center stood the colossal Mt. Indica, a volcano whose slopes shimmered with veins of exposed copper. Although much of the mountain flourished with vegetation, the summit remained barren, its crater glowing with molten rock and oxidized metal. Far below its caverns rested the Portal Gate. The only known passage
between Hibearia and another realm. South of the mountains stretched Sativa, a tropical paradise bathed in relentless sunshine. Dense jungles, sprawling beaches, and fields of fragrant sativa plants covered the region. Warm winds carried sweet aromas across the landscape. Colorful birds and insects thrived beneath enormous
palm trees. Copper flowed beneath nearly every inch of Hibearia's surface. Volcanic eruptions over countless ages had enriched the rivers and soil with the metal, tinting rocks, streams, and even many living creatures with shades of green. Three factions now struggled for control of this remarkable world. Bears, bearats, and the knights.
BEARS
Long before the arrival of mankind, the bears ruled Hibearia alone. They resembled bears of Earth, yet their thick fur shimmered with a deep emerald hue that blended perfectly with the forests of Indica. The knights believed years of bathing in copper-fed rivers had stained their coats. The bears lived
inside sprawling cave systems carved into Mt. Indica. Fresh streams flowed through the caverns, while bees built enormous honeycomb filled hives on trees and nearby cliffs. Their days were peaceful, spent fishing, clawing down hives, and devouring the fragrant indica plants that grew abundantly throughout Indica. Though
gentle by nature, the bears possessed powerful strength. They fought only when forced and never forgot an enemy.
KNIGHTS
Everything changed the day the Portal Gate opened for the knights. The chiming of a grandfather clock echoed through the valley as bronze-clad knights emerged from another world. Their leader, known as the King's Guard, stepped onto Hibearian soil first. Behind him marched knights carrying
swords, tools, supplies, and frightened civilians. Finally came the queen. She turned and reached back toward the portal.
Queen - "My king!"
On the opposite side stood her husband. He did not move. Instead, he stared behind the queen at their son. The king
held an expression of dismay.
Queen - "Come!"
The portal began to close. The king remained frozen. The gateway sealed and green light swallowed him behind the bars of the gate. He vanished. The queen collapsed to her knees.
Queen - "No…"
Tears streamed down her face as grief consumed her. The knights stood silent. Her son rubbed her shoulder to offer comfort, but she shrugged. Hidden among nearby indica plants, a sleuth of bears watched the strange newcomers with cautious curiosity. They had been
gathering indica plants when the queen's cries reached them. Drawn by the unfamiliar sounds, they slowly approached. The King's Guard saw them first.
King's Guard - "Protect the queen!"
Metal flashed from dozens of scabbards. The knights charged.
The bears answered with tumultuous roars. One enormous bear met the King's Guard head-on. His massive claw swept across the knight's helm. The bronze visor tore free and sailed through the air before crashing into the forest. The King's Guard staggered backward. His knights hesitated. If their strongest knight could be wounded so
easily, then they had little chance.
Knights - "Retreat!"
Supporting their injured commander, the knights fled with the queen. The bears watched them vanish into the woods and calmly returned to eating the indica plants as though nothing
had happened. The knights settled near the Portal Gate. If the king still lived, the queen believed he would one day return. She refused to abandon the only doorway home. Their fortress was built between the regions of Indica and Sativa. Blacksmiths discovered rich deposits of copper and cassiterite buried beneath the surrounding
hills. Soon furnaces blazed day and night. Copper mixed with tin and soon fresh bronze armor replaced their battered equipment. Years passed. The shining armor slowly oxidized beneath Hibearia's strange climate until every breastplate and helm wore a green patina. They expanded rapidly with people from other realms spilling
in. Engineers recreated electrical devices from memory. Craftsmen forged stronger tools. Inventors improved machinery brought from Earth. With every generation, the fortress became less a camp and more a kingdom. Yet the King's Guard rejected every suggestion to crown a new ruler.
King's Guard - "There is only one king. Until his death is certain, no other shall take his place."
Those who challenged his authority often were thrown into cages with captured bears. Travelers who obeyed became knights and children were raised within the fortress. Eventually,
the knights learned how the Portal Gate truly worked. The chiming always announced an arrival. Never a departure. To test their understanding, one of the gate's guardians attempted to leave Hibearia alone. The gate opened. No chimes sounded. The guardian stepped through. Instantly, emerald light engulfed him. His body dissolved into
vapor and his empty suit of armor clattered to the ground. No one ever attempted the journey again. The queen refused to surrender hope.
Queen - "If my husband still lives, then there must be another way. One day..."
The years passed, but the queen's grief never stopped. Every morning she stood atop the walls overlooking the Portal Gate, hoping to hear the familiar chime that had stolen her husband away. Every evening she returned disappointed, refusing to believe she had seen him for the last time. She knows it would open for him once more.
Queen - "I know you're alive."
Her son said nothing. He no longer argued with her. Hope had become as permanent a part of the fortress as the stone beneath their feet. Life continued undisturbed.
BEARATS
A female bear wandered the forests of Indica, feeding alongside the rest of her sleuth. Unlike the others, however, she began eating far less of the fragrant indica plants than the others. Over time something changed. Her memory sharpened. She noticed details other bears ignored. She
remembered trails months after traveling them. She recognized individual scents. Yet the heightened awareness came with a cost. She became restless. Irritable. Unable to remain content with the quiet life inside the caverns. One morning she rose before sunrise and walked away from her sleuth. Two young males followed without
hesitation. Together they formed a new sleuth. No destination guided them. Only curiosity. Several days into their journey, strange voices echoed through the trees. The female bear lowered herself into the brush. The Portal Gate stood open. The queen struggled against several guards who desperately tried to pull her away.
Queen - "I have to find him!"
Guard - "My queen! Please. Remember what happened to the last guardian."
Queen - "I don't care!"
Son - "Halt, Mother."
The queen continued to push through. Now grown into a young commander, he gently took her arm.
Son - "Father chose to stay behind for me."
She looked into his eyes but could not answer. The Portal Gate suddenly began to chime.
Bong...
Bong...
Everyone turned. Hundreds of bats erupted from the portal. The black cloud exploded into the sky, throwing the guards into chaos. The bats struck helms and faces while panicked knights swatted wildly with their swords.
Now came the rats. They poured across the stone road like a living tide. The guards stumbled backward trying to avoid them. Confusion lasted only seconds but it was enough. The female bear burst from the forest. She slammed into the queen with all of her weight and went through the Portal Gate. The gateway shut behind them. Silence.
The two male bears heard the female's roar. Without hesitation they charged toward the portal. The guards had only begun recovering from the swarm when the Portal Gate chimed again. It reopened. Bats and rats were flooding out and the queen exploded from the emerald light. She was no longer human.
Great leathery wings stretched from her back. Her hands had become enormous paws. Her mouth expanded into a rat snout lined with razor-sharp teeth. Her body carried unmistakable traces of the bear. She shrieked. One tremendous beat of her wings unleashed a gust powerful enough to knock every nearby knight onto the ground.
Her long muscular tail whipped through the air as she flew toward Mt. Indica. When the knights struggled to rise, the two bears arrived. The queen’s son and another guard reached for their fumbled sword. Too late. Each bear clamped its jaws around their leg and dragged them directly through the still-open portal. The gateway closed
once again and chimes ceased. Moments later...The Portal Gate opened for a third time. Emerald light spilled across the stone road. Two creatures emerged similar to the queen and spread their wings. They looked toward the sky, then followed the queen. Together they circled Mt. Indica before disappearing above the volcano. There, upon the barren
summit, they built an enormous nest from hemp and twisted branches overlooking the crater below. The balance of Hibearia had changed forever, until another impossible arrival. Far beneath the mountain, emerald light faded. A large figure emerged from the Portal Gate. He possessed the strength of a bear. The mind of a man. Along
with memories belonging to both.
ANIMAL
The Bear Max climbed the winding trails toward the caverns, guided by instincts he did not yet understand. As he reached a rocky overlook, he paused. Spread out below him lay all of Hibearia. The emerald forests of Indica stretched across the mountains. Beyond them stood the massive stone fortress
near the Portal Gate. Farther south, the lush tropical canopy of Sativa shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. High overhead, a lone bearat circled the volcano. Watching. Waiting. Max narrowed his eyes. Whatever those creatures were, they were scouting. He turned toward the caverns behind him. Dozens of bears watched him cautiously.
Though unfamiliar, they sensed something of their own kind within him. Max slowly gathered armfuls of indica plants before approaching the nearest bear. The animal sniffed him and accepted the offering. One by one, more bears approached. By sunset, an entire sleuth stood around him. Max looked from the bears to the distant fortress,
then up at the smoking summit of Mt. Indica. He scanned the mountainside. A lone bearat circled high above the caverns before banking toward the summit. Max followed its flight until it disappeared into the ash. Deep inside, instincts and human reason reached the same conclusion. A war was coming and time was running out.
Max - "It's watching us."
If the winged creatures knew where the bears lived, it would only be a matter of time before the knights arrived. Max looked over at the bears and they were about to eat the indica plants. He growled.
Max - "We need sativa."
He started heading to Sativa and some of the bears followed. With Max leading the way, half of the sleuth began descending the mountain. The cool air of Indica slowly gave way to suffocating heat. The pine forests thinned. The mountain streams disappeared. Soon they entered Sativa. Warm ocean winds swept across broad fields of towering
tropical plants. Brilliant flowers bloomed in every direction, and colorful birds darted between enormous palms. The rich scent of flowering sativa filled the air so completely that even Max couldfeel its invigorating effects. The bears immediately wandered in the fields. Several collapsed happily among the plants, chewing greedily while rolling in
the fragrant leaves. Max laughed despite himself.
Max - "I don’t blame you."
After they finished eating the sativa plants, Max grabbed armfuls of it and headed back up. The bears gathered mouthfuls of sativa before following him. Unlike the exhausting descent,
the climb back toward Indica seemed effortless. Their pace never slowed. No breaks were needed. By dusk, they reached the bear caverns once more. Max smiled.
Max - "We made…"
His voice stopped. No growls. No cubs. No movement.
The caverns stood empty. He hurried inside. Fresh claw marks scarred the stone walls. Broken chains lay scattered across the floor. Dark streaks of blood stretched toward the cave entrance with the smell lingering in the cold air. The bears sniffed the ground. Low growls echoed through the cavern. Max knelt beside one of the broken chains.
Max - "They took them."
The realization settled over the entire sleuth. The knights had struck while they were away. The war had already begun. Max followed the trail out of the caverns. Blood stained the mountain path. Tufts of emerald fur clung to jagged rocks where struggling bears had been
dragged. The trail did not lead toward the volcano. Instead, it descended toward the fortress. Max looked back at the sleuth.
Max - "We're getting them back."
The bears answered with a chorus of roars. Night had fallen by the time they reached the fortress. Moonlight reflected
from the green-patina walls, giving the keep an eerie glow. Something was wrong. Smoke drifted lazily above the battlements. Music echoed faintly from inside. Not a single guard stood at the gate. Max motioned for the bears to stay low. They crept through the shadows until they stood beneath the fortress wall. The wooden
gate remained closed but completely unguarded. Max frowned.
Max - "Easy."
The bears crouched together, so Max could climb on top of them. Using their combined strength, they lifted Max until he could grasp the top of the battlement.
Slowly he peered over. Inside the courtyard, dozens of knights danced wildly around an enormous bonfire. Bundles of dried indica and sativa plants disappeared into the flames, sending fragrant smoke swirling through the fortress. The knights shouted, laughed, and stumbled into one another with little concern. Their swords and
shields rested against nearby walls. Helms lay scattered across the ground. No one watched the gate. Max quietly dropped back down.
Max - "They're high."
He pointed at the entrance. The bears immediately understood. One by one they backed away,
then charged. The ground trembled beneath their paws. CRASH! The wooden gate exploded inward. Massive splinters flew across the courtyard like arrows. Several unsuspecting knights were struck before they even realized what had happened. The celebration ended instantly. Panic swept through the fortress.
Knights - "Bears! To arms!"
Knights scrambled for discarded weapons while smoke clouded their vision. Before they could organize, Max launched himself over the charging bears and landed in the center of the courtyard. With one sweeping strike of his massive claw, he sent several knights crashing into
the stone wall. Bronze armor crumpled on impact. More knights rushed him from every direction. Fear made them reckless. Their swords clanged together as they wildly swung at the towering chimera, often striking each other's shields instead. The bears drove through the confused formation. Powerful jaws closed around
armored limbs. Claws tore off armor. The courtyard erupted into chaos. Several bears brought knights to the ground before ending the fight with brutal efficiency. Others simply barreled through the knights, scattering them across the fortress. Only a handful of knights remained but Max found himself surrounded. Half a dozen
swords lunged at him. Before the blades reached their target, two enormous bears slammed into the attackers from behind, knocking them sprawling across the courtyard. Max seized the opportunity. He grabbed one knight after another, disarming them with overwhelming strength before throwing them aside. Within moments, the
resistance had collapsed. Only one knight remained standing. With his armor was cracked and sword trembling in his hands. He laughed. The sound echoed strangely throughout the fortress. Max slowly approached him. The knight lowered his weapon and smiled.
Knight - "No bears here."
Max - "What did you say?"
The knight coughed.
Knight - "The rest of your sleuth..."
He laughed again. Max's eyes narrowed. The knight lifted his head toward Mt. Indica.
Knight - "Those who fly, will watch them die."
Max grabbed the knight by the throat and lifted him effortlessly into the air. The knight struggled for breath.
Knight - "...too...late..."
With one swift slash, Max's
claws ripped off the knights head clean. The trail of blood spiraled through the air. The body fell heavily onto the blood-soaked stones. Silence returned to the courtyard. Then...A faint whimper drifted from inside the keep. Max turned toward the great wooden doors. Without hesitation, he punched through them. The heavy doors crashed
inward. Dust filled the air. When it settled, frightened women and children were huddled together against one wall. None spoke. None moved. In the opposite corner, a woman hung in thick chains. Her body bore signs of the same transformation Max had endured. She looked up weakly. Their eyes met. Max immediately crossed the room.
He gripped the chains. With a powerful pull, he ripped them free from the stone wall. The exhausted woman collapsed into his arms. He gently lifted her onto his shoulder before turning back toward the terrified families.
Max - "You'll live, but things will change."
His gaze settled on the children.
Max - "Learn from your father’s mistakes."
Outside, the bears gathered near the dying bonfire. Max stepped into the courtyard and looked toward the volcano. Flames pulsed above its summit from the knight’s torches.
Max - "We're going up the mountain."
He laid the woman down gently on a pile of sativa plants. Without hesitation, they turned toward the trail leading up to Mt. Indica. Above them, ash continued drifting across the stars. Max looked back at the woman and she was gone.
INSTINCTS
The climb began before dawn. Ash drifted from the summit of Mt. Indica like black snow, settling across the narrow mountain trail. The higher Max and the bears climbed, the thinner the air became. Every gust of wind carried the scent of sulfur and burning stone. The women, children, and a handful
of bears Max had ordered to guard them stayed safely at the fortress. The rest of the sleuth pressed onward without hesitation. As they climbed, streaks of blood appeared across the rocks. Fresh. Max knelt beside one of the crimson stains. His paws brushed against a tuft of emerald fur snagged on the jagged stone.
Max - "They fought."
Broken lengths of chain and carriage tracks lay further ahead, gouging long grooves through the volcanic rock. Every few hundred yards another patch of green fur appeared. Another splash of blood. Another snapped shackle. The trail became a silent record of suffering. The bears
lowered their heads to sniff the blood of their sleuth. Some growled softly. The air grew hotter with every step. Soon the trees disappeared entirely. Only black volcanic rock surrounded them now. The mountain trembled beneath their feet. A deep thunderous sound echoed from somewhere beneath the crater. Mt. Indica was waking.
At last, the trail leveled. The summit stretched before them. Rows of caged carriages stood empty. Cage doors hung open from twisted hinges while broken chains dangled uselessly inside. Max hurried from cage to cage. Nothing. No survivors. Only claw marks and discarded shackles remained. A faint sound drifted across the crater. Bellow.
Then another painful cry. Max followed the sounds toward the crater's edge. Below, the battlefield unfolded. Dozens of exhausted bears stood surrounded by ranks of armored knights. The prisoners' emerald fur was matted with blood where swords had pierced them to force them forward. High above, bearats circled the crater,
screeching as they waited for orders. At the center of the formation stood the King's Guard. His green-patina armor gleamed beneath the fiery glow of the volcano. He raised his sword toward the sky.
King's Guard - "Another."
Two bearats swooped downward.
Their tails wrapped around a struggling bear. With powerful beats of their wings they lifted the animal over the volcano's vent. The captive bear roared defiantly. The King's Guard lowered his sword.
King's Guard - "Drop!"
The bearats released their grip.
The bear disappeared into the blazing crater. The eruption of lava that followed painted the sky orange. Several knights cheered. Max's breathing became heavy. His claws dug deep into the volcanic stone. The pair of bearats descended toward the next prisoner. That was enough. Max stepped onto the ridge overlooking the crater.
The surviving bears looked up. Their eyes widened. Hope returned to faces that moments before had accepted death. Max released a roar unlike anything the mountain had ever heard. The sound rolled across the crater walls with such force that loose rocks tumbled from the cliffs. Every knight froze. Each bearat hung in the air. Even the
King's Guard slowly turned. For a second, the crater fell completely silent, so the bears answered. Their united roar shook the summit. The chained bears surged against their captors. Confusion spread through the knightly ranks.
Knight - "The volcano!"
King's Guard - "No...the monster."
The first wave of bears charged. They poured down the volcanic slope like an avalanche of emerald fur. The knights scrambled to form ranks.
Knights - "Shields! Swords forward!"
Rows of sharpened metal leveled toward the charging bears. The impact came seconds later. The shield wall buckled. Some knights held their ground. Others were thrown backward by the sheer force of the collision. Claws tore into bronze. Swords snapped. The volcano itself seemed to roar in approval. The bearats wheeled through the
smoke-filled sky with deafening shrieks before folding their wings and diving at Max. Their emerald eyes locked onto him, recognizing the greatest threat on the battlefield. Before Max could turn, their long tails whipped around his throat. They tightened their grip, cutting off his air, and with powerful beats of their wings they lifted him from the
ground. The bears below roared helplessly as Max was carried higher and higher. The wind howled past him while the landscape rushed beneath his dangling body. Mt. Indica disappeared behind them as they flew toward the southern coast of Hibearia. Max clawed desperately at the constricting tails around his neck, his vision
beginning to blur from lack of oxygen. Below, the knights' harbor came into view. Rows of weathered wooden docks stretched into the teal sea where several ships rocked gently against the waves. Summoning the last of his strength, Max drove his razor-sharp claws deep into the bearats' tails. The creatures shrieked in agony.
Their grip instantly loosened. When Max pulled out his claws, they released him. For a brief moment, he hung weightless in the sky. Then gravity claimed him. He plummeted toward the ocean. The wind screamed in his ears as the sea rushed up to meet him. He struck the water with tremendous force, sending a towering plume skyward before
sinking beneath the surface. Darkness closed around him. His body drifted deeper into the cold depths. The world grew silent. Suddenly...A soft emerald glow appeared below. At first it looked like a distant star beneath the sea, but it steadily grew brighter as it swam upward. The mysterious creature moved gracefully through the water, its glowing
body illuminating schools of fish that scattered into the darkness. Its gentle light enveloped Max as it circled him, nudging his unconscious body toward the surface before guiding him with the current toward shore. Warm sunlight touched Max's face. He coughed violently, expelling seawater from his lungs before drawing a deep breath of fresh
air. Slowly opening his eyes, he found himself lying upon the golden sands of Hibearia's Sativa coastline. Gentle waves rolled onto the beach while tropical palms swayed overhead in the ocean breeze. His body ached from the tremendous fall. As he struggled to sit upright, something cool rested against his chest. A necklace. It was woven
from smooth emerald-green beads unlike any Max had ever seen. One by one, each bead illuminated with brilliant green light until the entire necklace pulsed like a heartbeat. A radiant emerald aura erupted from the necklace, wrapping itself around The Bear Max in swirling ribbons of light. Power surged through every muscle. The pain
faded. His breathing steadied. The tropical wind bent away from him as the glowing aura intensified, bathing the beach in a brilliant green light that could be seen for miles. His fur changed to a shade of teal. The violent tremors from Mt. Indica shook the island of Hibearia. The ground cracked beneath towering trees as waves of heat rolled
across the mountainside. A massive column of smoke spiraled into the crimson sky while molten lava oozed out from the volcano. The Bear Max abruptly rose to his feet. His glowing emerald aura grew around him like living fire. Every heartbeat sent another wave of energy coursing through his body, strengthening his muscles
and sharpening his senses. He looked toward the volcano's summit where the battle still raged. Without hesitation, he sprinted. His powerful legs launched him over fallen trees and shattered boulders. Each stride covered impossible distances, and every leap shook the earth where he landed. Loose stones exploded beneath his feet
as he climbed higher and higher until he reached the crater once more. The sight before him stopped him for only a moment. The battlefield had become a slaughterhouse. Broken shields and bloodstained swords littered the crater floor. Fallen bears and shattered armor of lifeless knights lay scattered among rivers of blood that slowly
flowed toward the volcano's vent. The Bear Max threw back his head and released a deafening roar. The sound thundered across the crater, echoed through the mountain, and rolled across all of Hibearia. Every knight fell. Every bear stood still. Even the bearats overhead turned toward the glowing figure standing atop the volcanic ridge.
MONSTER
His emerald aura intensified until it illuminated the battlefield. The brilliant light forced the knights to shield their eyes while the bearats answered with shrill screeches before diving toward him.
King's Guard - "CHARGE!"
The command erupted from every rank. The front lines abandoned their battles with the bears and stormed directly toward Max while the remaining soldiers desperately held back the advancing bears. Max stood perfectly still and watched them descend. He welcomed them. The pair of bearats swooped low, whipping their powerful tails
around his arms in another attempt to carry him into the sky. They never left the ground. Max seized both tails with compressing force. The creatures shrieked in panic. With one massive swing, he crushed them together. Their bodies collided with a sickening crack before crashing into the crater floor. Again...Again. The volcanic rock
cracked beneath every impact until both bearats finally lay motionless. The charging knights reached him just as Max grabbed each unconscious creature by its tail. He spun them overhead with incredible speed. Knights flew through the air as armor buckled beneath the blows. Shields shattered and bodies were hurled across the crater. The King's
Guard watched in horror as entire rows of soldiers sailed over him with screams sailing into the volcano's vent. The queen slowly emerged from her enormous nest of hemp with a swollen body that carries the weight of unborn offspring. She looked upon the mutilated bearats with her eyes widened. A piercing shriek erupted louder
than the volcano. With a furious beat of her wings, she launched into the sky. Meanwhile, the bears finished tearing through the remaining knights. With no enemies left before them, they turned toward Max and charged to aid their champion. At that very moment, Mt. Indica erupted. The volcano exploded with cataclysmic force.
A towering fountain of lava blasted into the sky, raining molten rock across the battlefield. Several bears were struck directly and their thick fur ignited. They growned as flames consumed their bodies, running wildly across the crater. Despite the unbearable pain, they turned toward the enemy. With flames engulfing them, they charged the
knights. Wrapping their burning paws around terrified knights and grabbing an appendage with their teeth to drag into the volcano. Together they tumbled into the volcano's blazing depths. The remaining bears watched them sacrifice themselves. Their grief transformed into fury. With reverberating roars, they rushed the back row of knights.
King's Guard - "Behind you!"
But it was too late. The bears crashed into the unsuspecting knights, knocking them to the ground before tearing through their formation. The King's Guard quickly rallied the survivors. The remaining knights formed a defensive circle around him, shields raised and swords
pointing outward in every direction. As the formation tightened, Max saw the queen diving toward him. He hurled both unconscious bearats into the shield wall, smashing several knights. He planted his stance. The queen spread her massive wings and descended with her claws spread. At the last possible second...Max drove his fist
upward. His punch rammed into the queen's swollen stomach. The impact echoed across the crater and the queen folded around the blow before launching backward. She soared over the stunned knights and went into the volcano's vent. Still blinded by Max's brilliant aura, the surviving knights raised their shields around the King's Guard.
Max crouched. Then exploded into the air. He smashed down with both feet directly atop the King's Guard. The impact pulverized him. A violent geyser of blood erupted skyward before raining across the stunned knights. Voices fell silent. The remaining knights slowly watched as crimson droplets splashed against their armor.
One by one, swords slipped from trembling hands. The knights fell to their knees before the glowing warrior. Max reached up and slowly removed the beaded necklace. The emerald light faded just enough for the knights to finally see him. Their expressions shifted from terror to awe. Around them, the surviving bears continued circling silently,
waiting for Max's command. Abruptly...A shriek echoed from deep inside the volcano. Everyone turned. The kneeling knights silently watched Max walk past them. He reached out and gently patted the bears that were near him. When he reached the edge, he cautiously leaned over. Without warning, the queen’s claw burst upward and
buried it deep into Max's leg. Before he could react, she dragged him over the edge. Max grabbed one of her wings with his free hand. With the other, he slipped the beaded necklace back around his neck. The emerald aura exploded around him once again. Power surged through his body. He grabbed both wings, causing the queen to lose her
grip. They fell together, passing walls glowing of orange as the lava swirled below them. Max planted his feet against the queen's back. With one mighty roar...He pulled. The wings tore free from her body. The queen screeched as she fell helplessly toward the lava below. Max desperately flapped the enormous wings, slowing his fall for only a
few moments. The unbearable heat quickly consumed them. Max began falling once again. The queen brutally struck the lava, then incinerated beneath the molten surface. The beaded necklace illuminated twice as bright. The molten lake began to spin. A glowing emerald whirlpool opened in the center of the lava, revealing a tunnel of
swirling green energy beneath. Max slid through the emerald opening. The molten lava closed above him with a hiss, sealing away the inferno. He continued falling. Darkness. Silence. A tiny green light flickered in the distance. It pulsed softly, almost like the glowing beads of the necklace around his neck. Drawn toward it, Max continued to fall.
The light slowly grew larger. As he approached, faint music drifted through the darkness. The deep, majestic notes of a pipe organ echoed around him. Soon after came applause, loud cheers and laughter. The light expanded until it became an enormous emerald spotlight suspended in the endless void. Max shielded his eyes as the music swelled.
The brilliant glow swallowed him whole. He blinked. Cold bars surrounded him. Chains clanged. His massive paws gripped the chains attached to a heavy cage mounted on wheels. The smell of sawdust, popcorn, and damp canvas filled the air. Beyond the bars stretched a massive circus tent. Hundreds of spectators filled the stands, their
excited chatter blending into the triumphant organ music echoing throughout the arena. Green and blue spotlights swept across the audience before converging on the cage. A man in a crimson tailcoat stood confidently in the center ring, raising his hands at the roaring crowd. The audience erupted with anticipation.
Ringmaster - "Presenting..."
He paused dramatically.
Ringmaster - "The greatest show on Earth!"
The crowd roared. The ringmaster pointed directly toward Max's cage.
Ringmaster - "Can you say..."
He grinned.
Ringmaster - "URSUS!"
His amplified voice boomed through the tent, making the audience scream URSUS in excitement. A circus hoop in the center ring was lit on fire. Max
stared in disbelief. His breathing became rapid.
"This isn't real..."
The flaring orange around the hoop changed to green.
Max - "Is that a portal?"
He lifted his arms up and snapped apart the chain links before grabbing the bronze bars. With a furious roar, he yanked against them horizontally, creating a huge gap wide enough for him to fit through. The spectators cheered louder, believing it was all part of the performance. The spotlights intensified. Their brilliant beams
became impossible to look at. Max jumped out from the cage, closed his eyes and leaped into the portal. The applause stopped. Darkness. The organ vanished. A heavy bass rhythm replaced it. He cautiously opened his eyes and the circus was gone. He now stood inside a crowded nightclub. Blue lights flashed through clouds of smoke,
while music pounded so loudly it vibrated through the floor. For one brief moment. People danced without noticing him. Then someone turned. Another followed. The music continued, but the dancing stopped. Every face in the club turned toward him. Whispers spread through the crowd.
Dude - "That's incredible."
Bartender - "Who made that costume?"
Chick - "No way..."
Phones emerged from every direction. Screens lit the darkness. People rushed closer instead of running away.
They laughed. Smiled. Recorded. No one believed he was real. Max slowly scanned the room. Then he was mesmerized. Across the bar sat a woman. Her face...
Max - "It couldn't be."
She looked exactly like the woman he had rescued from the fortress in Hibearia, but in
human form. She met his gaze. Confusion crossed her face, as though she recognized him too. Max took a step toward her. The crowd surged between them.
Max - "Wait..."
Arms stretched into the air holding phones. People pushed closer, eager to capture the
strange creature standing in the middle of the dance floor. Flashes exploded one after another. The club's blue strobing lights swept across him. The brightness became unbearable. Max shut his eyes tightly. The music and voices faded. Suddenly…Sirens. Max's eyes opened. He was lying in his bed and his breathing was ragged.
He looked down. His paws were gone. His fur had vanished. His hands were human once more. He slowly sat up and looked around the room. There was no smoke. No emerald glow. He cautiously walked to the closet and slowly opened the door. Plants filled it like before, but no portal. No light. Nothing but an ordinary closet, then he closed
the door. As he turned away, his hand instinctively reached for his neck. The beaded necklace was still there but dull. A chorus of sirens echoed outside and his heartbeat quickened. Blue lights flashed through the front windows, painting the walls of his house with pulsing color. Max slowly walked to the front door. He hesitated for a moment
before gripping the handle. As the door swung open, an intense wall of flashing blue lights blinded him. Max looked down and the necklace began to glow.
