The Grizzly

Only picture is AI story is by author

I was walking down a gravel road, enjoying the day with no clear destination in mind, just wandering the countryside. Sitting down on the side of the road to take a break, I noticed some kids playing in the field off to my right. I watched them as I pulled a bottle of water from my backpack. After about ten minutes, a younger guy sat down beside me. He watched the children for a minute before asking me who I was. His accent was strong, and I barely understood him.

“I’m Eddie, just passing through,” I told him. He nodded and sat there with me. It was strange; I felt comfortable around him, and that didn’t happen often.

“I’m Amos,” he said. I nodded, taking another drink. I looked around the field; it was a good twenty acres with waist-high growth that looked like wheat. That’s when I spotted him: a big old brute coming out of the woods at the edge of the field. I tensed, watching as he sniffed the air and turned towards the kids, wondering what he would do. After a minute or so, he turned, and I started to relax, thinking it was over.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t. He whirled and charged towards them. Without a word, I was up. In three strides, I leaped, placing my foot on the top of a fence post. I heard Amos grunt just as I did two twists in the air, landing at full speed. I was no longer a simple man but a full-grown grizzly. I picked up speed as I headed towards the other bear. About the time I flew past the children, I heard Amos shout for them to head to the house. I wasn’t sure if it was the other bear or me he was concerned about.

I hit him at full speed, tumbling over with him. We both came up with teeth bared and a mighty growl. This was one fight I knew I had to win; normally, I left animals alone, but not when they threatened children. My shoulder hurt from the impact, and I shook a little from the adrenaline rush. I spun and swung my claw at his eyes, catching his ear instead. He let out a roar of pain and slashed at me. I dodged the swing and went in under it to his belly. My teeth found their mark in the soft underside. With a shove, he dislodged my hold and spun out of reach to gather for the next attack.

We came together again, paws slashing and teeth snapping. Blood was everywhere, but there was no way to tell whose was whose. I got the one-in-a-million shot and took it. My teeth sank into the back of his neck, and I spun so I could pull with all my might. Tumbling over to his side, I almost lost my grip. At this point, he couldn’t move. I had found the one weakness Mother Nature put in most animals: the only place a mother can grab her child and completely paralyze them.

We stayed there for a minute or so, then I let him go. Taking several steps back, I stood up on my hind legs, now over eight feet tall. I let out a roar that could be heard a thousand miles away. He slowly got to his feet, knowing he had been beaten. Letting out a grunt, he turned back towards the woods to leave. I stood there until I was sure he had gone.

I turned back towards the road and started walking. As I walked, I returned to my normal self. After doing so, it took about ten steps, and I collapsed. The last thing I remember seeing was Amos and six or seven other guys heading my way. I was too tired to resist them if they decided to kill me to protect their families. I passed out.