Torrential rains poured from black clouds, and a swift wind increased the velocity of the pummeling beads. Thunder resonated through the deafening night. A small group of people, clad in furs, filed into the shelter of a cave. These people were ill prepared for what nature had cast their way.

A thin, nimble, white haired man stood still at the mouth of the cave, spear in hand. Rut, as he was called, was the leader of this small clan. His family consisted of him and his mate Lenn, and their two sons; they were accompanied by Lenn’s sister and her mate Aldur, and their young daughter. Rut, the eldest male, guarded and guided this tribe, seeing to their safety as they travelled between settlements through the harsh wilderness. 

A hint of sulfur was on the air. Lightning had struck alight a forested area not far off; even in the rain, the flames rose high, as they spread to several trees. The smoke blended in with the dark clouds above.

“We’ll wait out the storm here,” said Rut, when they had huddled together into the dry cave.

The bark of wolves added to the assaulting volume of the severely stormy night; their pack fled the burning woods they had once made home. Rut could make them out; the snow white wolves behind the trees stood out in the dark blue shadows. The largest of them crept slowly up to the cave mouth. Rut threw a stone at it. The wolf snarled, and another wolf came behind it. Then another. Aldur threw another warning stone.

“Take your spear and ward them off, Aldur!” yelled Rut, and he dashed from the cave mouth, into the raging storm, avoiding the white wolf. Aldur followed his instructions, jabbing with the flint tip of his spear to keep the wolves outside the cave.

Rut rushed swiftly into the burning forest. He grabbed a burning branch, disjoining it from the tree’s limb. Holding the sizable flaming branch high above his head, he approached the wolf, waving the flame, using it aggressively. This agitated the wolves, and they widened their distance, but they would not retreat without their Alpha’s command. 

“Aldur! Quickly- dispatch him!” bellowed Rut, motioning to the pack leader, whose gaze was fixated on the burning branch. Aldur slung forth his spear; its head lodged itself in the wolf’s shoulder, and disconnected from the wooden shaft. The wolf howled and thrashed in pain. Still, more wolves came slowly forth into the firelight afront the cave, each baring their teeth, and a malicious gold glint in every eye.

A wolf leapt into the cave, making a bite toward one of the young boys; a stone throwing axe was soon lodged in its hind quarters, thrown by Aldur. It yelped, and retreated a short distance, limping and whimpering. Another wolf leaped ferociously toward the same child; its fangs plunged into the boy’s calf. It attempted to drag off the screaming child, but was met with another stone axe, this one severing the wolf’s neck, a fatal impact. The boy stumbled, limping back to his mother.

Trying to drive them away, Rut waved the branch, still aflame, pacing nearer and nearer to the wolves. The savage pack kept more distance now, but remained in sight. 

Rut managed to maneuver himself back inside the cave. Even after more spears were thrown, the wolves refused to retreat. They wanted shelter from the tempest and were willing to kill for it. The humans were undoubtedly outnumbered.

Suddenly, heavy breathing, rustling and pounding sounded from deeper within the cave. By the firelight, two glinting eyes were now visible. Rut threw the branch, now merely smouldering, outside the cave, to where the wolves stood guard. “Everyone! Quiet! And flat against the wall!” Rut hissed. The tribe followed his orders, the wounded child’s mother guiding him into the secrecy of shadows. 

A carnivorous cave bear groggily crawled forth, from far deeper into the dark cave. Sniffing the corpse of the slain wolf, it let out a roar that rattled Rut’s teeth. The wolves outside were frozen in fear, until the Alpha at last let out a bark signaling the pack to scatter. 

As if to the same queue, the giant brown bear galloped forth, bounding thrice before he caught the fleeing Alpha wolf, which was already slowed by the spearhead left in its shoulder. The bear’s claws rended the wolf’s ribcage; it let out a harsh wail, just before the cave bear’s powerful jaw clenched in rage around its neck. The bear thrashed the Alpha wolf’s body around violently, then turned on the one whose hind legs were debilitated.

“Out of the cave, everyone! Quickly!” said Rut. “We shall venture on- this shelter is spoken for.” And the tribe slipped out of the cave, while the animals were locked in mortal engagement. They went ever forth into the storm, seeking the protection of the next wood, one not engulfed in flame. Aldur carried the wounded boy. 

The bloodthirsty bear stood on its hind legs, the rain pouring from the lightning cracked sky behind it. At full height it towered over even Aldur, the tallest of the humans. The vicious creature let out an overwhelming roar, blood dripping from the massive jaw, all claws fully drawn to display dominance. The only remaining wolves were the injured, who were now the slain; all others had made scarce. 

Once the humans themselves were safe under a leafed canopy, Lenn wrapped the bite on the boy’s calf. The leg was not broken, but there was a painful flesh wound. Their pace would be slowed as he healed over the next few days. “You have received the mark of the wolf, my son.” said Rut. “Though it hurts, you will survive- and be stronger for it.”

Rut watched from a distance while the bear dragged the wolf carcasses into its hibernaculum. To take down the mighty beast would have called for a full armed hunting party. He realised that the bear, by attacking the alpha wolf, had in fact saved their lives, without intention. It had passed over them, the easy kills, choosing on instinct to combat the fiercest adversary. Rut breathed freely, in an almost blissful relief, knowing that they had escaped far worse a fate than being caught in the rain.