I had expected a restless sleep, with me not getting any more than a couple hours in total, before the excruciating change took place at dawn once more. What I did not expect, was the huge bear growling at me, startling me with a rude awakening.

Instinctively, my fight or flight instinct kicked in. Lashing out, I whacked the bear in the snout before rolling off the cot and bolting out the door.

An enraged roar told me that I had not done any lasting damage to it. Of course not, I thought. You merely hit it with the palm of your hand. What do you expect?

Behind me, my red cloak streamed. But I was too terrified to gather it closer to myself to hide my nudity, my heart galloping at a hundred miles per hour, thumping like it was going to burst out of my chest at any time. I was panting now, despite knowing I should not be winded at such a short sprint, but fear took hold of me, as the bear behind me closed in, its paws striking rhythmically on the ground.

I was in a race I couldn't win.

Word count: 195