Bearclaw Valley They grow into adults, and become dangerous things

Their teeth met with a loud clack that reverberated uncomfortably between Aventus' shoulders. He drew back and flicked his tongue over them, already calculating another angle, but Astara was moving away by the time he was ready to strike again. He stood fast in the running water, watching his dam haul herself out of the river with a canted head. Their training was over so soon?

He sloshed after her, exiting the water and preparing to shake himself as well, but stopped and grit his teeth together as soon as the ache started again in his side. Bad idea. He had no choice but to stand there dripping water and shivering lightly in the cool autumn while he fixed Astara with a questioning gaze. The water had buoyed and chilled him, making it easy to forget the pain, but now that he was in open air again, it settled back into his ribs with a vengeance.