Claude had traveled the frozen white steppe with Frosty— on a hunt to avenge a child abducted and likely killed by frost-kobolds over a year ago. In his journey he trained to temper his predatory instincts, hunting and tearing through stampedes of massive white-bison.
He wasn't entirely successful.
And he wasn't entirely planned on his process, which led him to resting at a cave where he found a massive bear that had the young girls scent.
A steppe-bear. A much more violent and predatory breed of bear that was built for violence in ice and snow.
As Claude stood facing the bear, his mind rattled off anxious scenarios born out of fear and lacking experience.
"She was eaten by the bear— she was captured by the bear. The bear wasn't a regular bear— it was a werebear looking to bite and build a pack of murderers—"
"[Mate….]" Arne interrupted his mental whirlwind of idiocy.
Claude swallowed, "What?"
"[Look.]"
Claude didn't quite register the man's words as the white eyed titanous bear sniffed in his direction once more.
"[Look at its back.]" Arne repeated.
Claude pulled his gaze away from the beasts thunderous white eyes and scarred wolf-like snout. Up on its razor-furred back, a torn red cloak was stuck and matted to its fur.
Whether it was due to focus, impulse, motivation or a mix of them all, the skin around Claude's eyes darkened. The veins went black and bulged as his eyes shifted to their Lupine form. The iris became a little more jagged in its circular form. The color gradient blazed.
His vision bloomed, flickering between the many visible spectrums before settling for something he could handle.
"[I suppose now is as good a time as any to tell you, the Lupines of Romulus— specifically the Potentials, were said to have the ability to see not only farther than any normal Lupine, but they could also process most of the visible light spectrum. They could even see dormant Mana.]" Arne said.
"Like bird eyes?" Claude asked.
The bear huffed.
"[Yes. But most only were able to after decades of training. Another feat for you, Claude. Congrats.]"
Claude didn't feel like celebrating as he looked at the cloak on the bears back muscles.
With his enhanced eyes, he could now see the reflective strands of blonde hair stuck to the red fabric.
"[She may have been hunted down and taken by the forces of nature— as is natural. But I'd like to see what else your senses are telling you.]" Arne said.
The bear's black nose twitched as it continued to smell for Claude and Frosty's food.
It also smelled for him.
Claude did the same. Nothing was different. The bear smelled like it's wet stone home. It smelled like the sky and ice and old fur. He scented deeper.
"Female."
"[What else?]"
Claude was prepared to turn around and grab the remaining bison femur but Frosty already had it between his jaws.
He trotted over and dropped it at the bears feet.
"No blood. Not new or old. The bear was sleeping. For a long time. It didn't kill her. I …. I think I'd smell her fear…." Claude looked around the cave, "Or at least see more violence. I smell her here. But I don't smell disturbance. I don't feel ….."
The bear tore apart and ate the leg in minutes.
It was then that Claude finally noticed the beasts grey hairs and deep old scars.
"[She's an old one.]" Arne said.
"And the girl wasn't…." Claude said as he eyed the bear.
The beast yawned and sat down like a dog.
"[I believe that was obvious from the jump.]" Arne said.
"That's not my point."
"[What is?]" Arne asked.
"Relation." Claude turned away from the bear and sat back by the fire.
He whistled Frosty over— interrupting the God-Eater Lupine from licking the bears butt.
Frosty came over and sat beside Claude.
They waited.
Slowly, the bear came over and laid in front of the cave entrance, blocking off the cold breeze and steady downpour of heavy snowflakes.
"[Bloody hell…. You're a princess straight out of a children's book.]"
"Funny."
"[Is it?]" Arne asked.
"She's half-bonded."
"[What?]"
Claude watched the bear's fox-like ears twitch at every word he spoke. Awaiting command or invitation.
"I read once that Beast-Tamers can sometimes partially imprint or form a bond with a creature and leave its behavior permanently altered. Some die in the process of forming a bond due to assassins— or ambush predators in the wild. Sometimes— even more rarely, a child who hasn't yet awakened as a Beast-Tamer can simulate the effects of a bond to a certain degree. It makes the process more seamless when they awaken. It's why nobles will sometimes buy their children exotic pets." Claude rambled.
"[Wait— so you think the girl did that with this bear?]" Arne asked.
Claude shrugged, "It's possible. It's the only thing that makes sense. This bear was in the process of committing suicide."
"[WOAH WOAH HOLD ON—]"
"I smell no food here." Claude sighed as he felt the warmth of the fire, "She's not taking care of herself. She keeps the girls cloak on."
"[The girl was her cub.]"
"I wouldn't be surprised if she lost the ability to give birth a while ago with all those scars she's got." Claude said.
Frosty whined and trotted over to the bear to take a seat by her head.
"[Well then, we've got an update to our mission report. A girl was stolen from her home by frost kobolds. She escaped— found safety with a mother bear before disappearing once more with the possible power of Beast-Tamer waiting to awaken within her. We're fucked.]"
"Not really." Claude dug through his bag and pulled out the lock of hair.
Even with the winds away from them and the stale heat so strong, the bears ears perked up.
"Certain breeds of bear have better sense of smell than wolves. Not to mention, she's spent more time with her than we have."
Claude approached the bear as she stood up.
He held his hand out to her with the locket of hair in it.
When he looked up into her eyes, they shifted— matching his own wolfish green for a moment.
"Help us."
The bear took off.
Frosty and Claude followed.