Moonspear bear necessities

When little Galaxy begged the wolves not to harm her, Kala squeezed the youngster more tightly to her bosom. "Oh, sweetie..." she sighed, nuzzling the top of the cub's head. She ignored the twinges in her hide where the wolves' teeth had scored and the smell of her own blood on the air. Her ears flicked but she did not otherwise acknowledge the canines as they shouted at her.

There was no sudden moment of clarity. Their message did not sink into her grief-addled brain. In Kala's mind, Galaxy was a bear, her offspring to protect. And since the wolves weren't going to back down and leave them alone, that left her only one choice. It wasn't one she wanted to make but there was nothing else to be done.

"Stay underneath me," she murmured, nudging the pup between her hind legs. "I won't let them hurt you, little one." Kala licked her jowls as she peered down at Galaxy, then finally lifted her attention to the angry wolf pack. Her face hardened and she gave a quiet roar as she lumbered back onto all fours, then rose to her full height once more.

There was a beat of silence where she hovered there, glaring down at the wolves. There were many but she couldn't let that matter. Kala's great jaws suddenly opened and she let out another thunderous roar, then bent forward like a hunchback and swiped one of her paws with murderous force and intent at a random wolf (@Terance).