This is a short story I've been wanting to share for a while, It's just a small glimpse into one of the most terrifying things that can happen on a hunt in my world.

A bright blue, cloudless sky stretched over the small snowy village of White Rock in northern Eormenland. A young Drake, seemingly in his teens, with brilliant blue eyes, glistening white scales, and horns that curved to give him a tusked appearance, ran through the village square with an axe in hand.

“Where are you going, Yet’efa?” called an elderly human.

“It’s Father’s birthday today. I’m going to surprise him by catching a Flying Boar,” Yet’efa replied, stopping to talk to the elder.

“Well, tell him I said ‘Happy Birthday’ when you see him. Oh, and be careful. Some hunters have seen Crying Bears in the woods,” the elderly human warned.

“I will, danke schön!” Yet’efa said before running off into the woods.

The trees glistened with snow, and the sounds of chirping birds echoed through the wintry forest. Trudging through the snow, Yet’efa searched the ground for hoof tracks, eventually finding what seemed like a commonly used path by many creatures. Pleased with his find, Yet’efa looked up, searching for a branch he could perch on in wait. A few meters down the path, he found a thick branch on a large Sun Oak. Unfurling his wings, he flew up onto the branch and sat, waiting for anything to pass through the trail.

Hours went by with only a few Tusked Deer, a Mammoth Moth, and a pack of Dire Wolves passing underneath him. No Flying Boar, until he heard the shrill cry of one. Yet’efa readied his axe as the sounds grew closer. Within moments, a Flying Boar rushed down the path. When it was within a meter of his perch, he jumped off and pinned the boar down, digging his axe into its head. Yet’efa stood over his quarry, examining it. “Well, don’t you look like a prize,” he said proudly. He noticed one of its wings had been torn off recently and large claw marks marred its rump.

A sudden realization hit Yet’efa as he heard a distorted Boar cry nearby. He turned to see the scarred visage of a massive Crying Bear. The bear looked down at him and spoke in a horribly distorted voice, “Is anyone there? My leg… it's broken.” Then it rose on its hind legs and slashed at Yet’efa.

“Scheiße!” Yet’efa screamed, dodging the attack. He landed hard on the ground, feeling a burning pain in his back. Ignoring the pain, Yet’efa got up and tried to run. The Crying Bear let out a horrid roar and gave chase. Hearing the roar, Yet’efa attempted to fly, but the pain in his back kept him grounded.

“I need to get to the village for help. Hopefully, Father is back,” Yet’efa thought to himself. He kept running, but the bear was gaining on him quickly. Out of desperation, Yet’efa looked back and released a thick, frosty mist from his mouth, freezing the snow-covered ground and trapping the bear's front legs.

“That should buy me a few minutes,” he thought, running toward the village.

As Yet’efa neared his village, he started yelling, “Bear in the forest! Bear in the forest!” He heard the heavy footfalls of the Crying Bear behind him. Running faster, adrenaline pumping, heart pounding, he escaped the forest. He felt the hot breath of the bear on his neck and thought, “I’m going to die.” As Yet’efa felt the spittle of the Crying Bear drip on his head, a loud whack and crunch snapped him out of his shock. He turned to see the bear’s crushed corpse fly about 10 meters back.

Yet’efa looked up and saw a giant wielding a tree as a club, his long hair flowing in the wind and a thick beard covering half his face. “Father!” Yet’efa yelled, rushing towards the giant. His father dropped the tree and drew a symbol on his chest, shrinking down to a more human-like height.

“Yet’efa, I'm so glad you're alright,” his father said, tears welling up in his eyes.

“I’m sorry, Father. I was going to bring home a Flying Boar, but then… well, you know,” Yet’efa said, turning to look at the bear.

“Well, look on the bright side. Instead of a roast boar, you got us some new coats and a blanket,” his father said, laughing as he looked towards the bear.

Yet’efa and his father brought the Crying Bear to their hut, where they prepared it and enjoyed a happy birthday celebration.