i'll see you in hel - no that isn't a typo

 The bear was weak.

It was old, to be respected for living so long, but also quite desperate. It had already been denied food by its arctic cousin, a gash on its back leg hindering movement. That is why it decided to attack Torben - for survival. Only fools rush in. The albino man had come across an arctic hare or two, killing them and continuing on to a suitable location to feed. Alone. Sadly, the bear had other plans. It was just a black bear, grizzled, but put up a fight.

He gave a warning growl, a paw on his kills. Since coming to Canis, Torben refused to lay down and die. He refused to mope. He wanted to survive too; the bear was in the way now. It rushed him, panic and fear in its eyes - but bravery too. It would make a fancy rug when he was done with it. Torben rose but refused to budge, acknowledging the bear could swipe his food and run. He aimed a bite at the bear's neck as it neared, turning his body to block the other.

 Unaware another was nearby, Torben focused on the now.

He was no fool to believe someone would come to his aid without a purpose.

@Niklaus

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The night had just begun, at least for those like Klaus that managed to oversleep during a midday nap and wake to a rumbling stomach.

He had left his resting place with a series of begrudging yawns, his mouth widening and closing with a snap each time. It did not take long for him to notice the series of rumbling roars that quaked the tundra, easily traveling across the relatively flat land to reach his ears. From his vantage point, it could have been coming from nearby or just over the horizon - the vicious hum of a battle beginning did not bother to muffle when there was no trees or rocks to block the sound. It was undeniably familiar, that wild, ferocious call - bear. And not a very pleased one, at that.

Wondering what had enraged such a large creature, Klaus walked briskly to what he thought was the source, keeping his attention and muscles on edge just in case he walked too far into something he'd rather avoid. After keeping a good pace and managing a bit of distance, his gaze fell to what looked like another wolf and a bear, facing each other head-on.

That couldn't be right.

The scene itself screamed danger, and red flags began sprouting from every orifice in the earth surrounding it. From what he could see, the bear was slightly injured, but nothing that would deter it from taking a chunk out of the man before him. In his experience, frankly, injured bears were more dangerous than healthy ones. He would be an idiot to fight something like that, especially alone.

So why was it his feet were already carrying himself forward?

"Damn it, damn it, damn it," he started to curse as he pursued, fearful that the larger predator would swing before he reached the other wolf. Whatever drove him to their side - an empty belly, or some semblance of courage - it thrusted him swiftly into the battle, and he was quick to saddle up beside the other male with a disparaging, bewildered look. "You're insane." Was all he muttered, before turning to face the beast in front of them, the mouth that favored cheshire grins turning to a snarl.

Damn it.

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 Well, maybe he was a fool.

But the other man was also a fool. Helping him, risking his life for a stranger... It was something Torben would do. Especially if someone was in danger and he could help. But it was clear the man - @Niklaus - didn't do it often enough. While Torben applauded his bravery, all the same.

 Guess it was time to dance.

The bear looked a bit bewildered too, shock crossing its features. All it wanted was the food. All it had wanted was to survive. It picked the wrong target, and someone rushed to his side to defend. The predator took a hesitant step back before lunging back. It was slow and hurt, blood pooling around the ground.

 Not in waves though.

Torben would strike first, angling his body to the side to avoid a particularly nasty bite. The bear's jaws tried to seize a mouthful of meat but were met with a thick scruff of fur instead. He used the opportunity to grab hold of the bear's equally thick neck, chomping down on meat. Where it failed, he survived a bit longer.

 The roar of pain cut the air around them.

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There was a moment of shared incredulity - the two men regarding each other, regarding the bear. Klaus had already made his decision, but he didn't look all too pleased to do it. What would he have done, anyway? Watch a stranger get mauled, turn the other way as if he hadn't gotten the chance to rush to his aid? He didn't even want to imagine the karmic implications of such a thing. He'd be rolling in bad luck for weeks.

The battle converged upon them, and he knew what it would feel like. Phases of attacks, all quick but also captured in such a way that it would draw out in one's mind when they weren't actively lunging. It was how it felt when he watched the stranger tear through the tension with his first attack. The bear was obviously wounded, but it fettered rage with the blood it had spilled, seeking to take chunks out of the other man and instead only grabbing thick skin. Klaus snarled, circling low, waiting for his moment to jut in. When an opening presented itself - the bear had his back to him in favor of the other wolf - he took a running start, before leaping on the larger predator's spine.

He took purchase with his nails digging into meaty shoulder, his teeth wildly clamping onto the neck of the beast. In this position, the only way down was to be thrown. The bear made a sound caught between a choking roar and a cry of surprise, quickly followed by thrashing. He held fast to the creature, sinking his teeth deeper with each thrusting motion. He could only hope this gave the other man some time to counter.

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The other man wasted no time in leaping on the back of the bear. Between the two of them, it quickly became bloody. Less for them, but more for the bear, the blood staining the ground was enough of a tell. Torben kept up the assault from his position, clamping down harder against the bear's neck. He yanked himself to the side suddenly, aware from the cheek and jaws. A spray of liquid came with his movement, but it wasn't as heavy as it seemed to be.

He let go, backing away as the bear composed itself. It groaned, creaked, and tumbled a bit; Torben only hoped the other man held on. It was a bad thing to be thrown, especially onto hard ground. He half-circles before an opening presented itself, courtesy of the darkly colored man. And like the leopard with Hawking, he scooped up a paw of snow and threw it just as the polar bear crashed to all fours. It's snout shot at him, but Torben had thrown the snow to distract it.

Icy pain probably got into the other's eyes. It reared back, bellowing. Torben lunged again, lifting himself to his back legs as he jumped upward, catching the other side of the neck. He held on, crunching and thrashing and yanking.

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