I riskeda glance at the boy and my pulse raced. His right hand pressed  against the gashed in his thigh. Blood surged between his fingers, darkening his jeans until they looked streaked by black paint. Slashes in his shirt barely covered the red lacerations that marred his chest. A growl rose in my throat. 

I crouched low, muscles tensed, ready to strike.The grizzly rose onto its hind legs. I held my ground.

Bryn's cry sounded in my mind. A lithe brown wolf darted from the forest and tore into the bear's unguared flank.The grizzly turned,landing on all fours. Spit flew from its mouth as it searched for the unseen attacker. But Bryn, linghtning fast, dodged the bear's lunge. With each swipe of the grizzly's trunk-thick arms, she avoided its reach, always moving a splitseconds faster than the bear. She seized her advantage, inflicting another taunting bite. When the bear's back was turned, I leapt forward and ripped a chunk from its heel. The bear swung around to face me, its eyes rolling, filled with pain. Bryn and I slunk along the ground, circling the hug animal. The bear's blood made my mouth hot. My body tensed. We continued our ever-tightening dance. The bear's eyes tracked us. I could smell its doubt, its rising fear. I let out a short, harsh bark and flashed my fangs.  The grizzly snorted as it turned away and lumbered into the forest.