Rising Sun Valley annual rate of return

Peregrine didn't hear Fox's second cry, as blood was rushing to his head and pounding in his ears. He managed to clip the beast's shoulder with his teeth, yet the thick fur and fat thwarted him. Realizing he was in a precarious position, he attempted to bound backward, out of reach if the bear swiped at him with one of its massive paws.

Even as he leaped clear, he saw his mate running back toward them. "Fox, run!" he shouted at her, springing in her direction and giving her a rather rough shove.

His eyes flicked around, searching for Lasher, even as he crowded his mate away from the irate bear. He didn't see the ocher male. Swallowing, Peregrine nipped Fox's rear end and then dug his paws into the earth, propelling himself forward. They could probably outrun the larger predator on this flat ground, or else lose it in this thick forest of conifers.

For a while, Peregrine didn't dare look behind them. He could hear the thunder of the bear's paws as it pursued them. Eventually, these sounds faded into the distance and yet he did not slow or stop. Only when he realized there was nothing but the whistle of wind and Fox's delicate footsteps in his ears did he chance a glance over his shoulder.

The bear was nowhere in sight. But neither was Lasher. Peregrine braked roughly to a halt, looking around in a panic. Had they left his lover behind to be killed by the bear? He lifted his muzzle into the air and didn't smell blood. But that didn't mean anything. The swarthy Alpha male stood there, legs trembling from exertion, trying to decide what to do.

When Lasher erupted from the brush beside them, Peregrine peed a little. "Taltos," he said with relief, feeling weak in the knees as he pressed his muzzle into his lover's ruff. Over Lasher's shoulder, he caught Fox's eye and, still panting heavily, said soberly, "We definitely won't be settling anywhere near here."