Something massive shifted behind her and she turned as fast as she could. The energy she'd seen, the bright source was right there. A black bear, maybe three hundred pounds. A female, old and grizzled, her pitch black fur ending in white tips that glistened with the reflected light of stars. The bear made no sound'she didn't growl.
She was beautiful. She stood on her hind legs, her eyes looking directly into Nilla's. There was something there. Understanding? Recognition? Impossible. Nilla was undead, unnatural while this gorgeous animal seemed carved out of the very earth she stood on. Was this some kind of spiritual awakening, Nilla wondered, was she meeting her spirit animal? Maybe this was the moment when everything would make sense.
The bear swiped one paw across Nilla's stomach, the claws digging great bloodless gouges through her midriff, slicing up her tattoo. The blow had enough force behind it to kill outright a full-grown deer. It knocked Nilla off her feet and sent her falling into the body in the tree. Looking up at the corpse Nilla finally understood. The bear had been having a midnight snack'breakfast after a long winter's hibernation. Nilla had just gotten in between a full-grown black bear and her meal.
Monster Nation
Chapter Nine
Relocation camps are now open at Cathedral City, Winterwarm and Oceanside. A map to these facilities is on the back of this handout. When entering a camp you may bring with you: personal (PRESCRIPTION) medication, TWO changes of clothing and ONE small toilet kit. All weapons, illegal items and communication/recording devices (laptop computers, PDAs, CELL PHONES) will be confiscated. [Flyer handed out at bus and train stations in Los Angeles, emphasis as per original, 4/1/05]
The bear didn't growl or roar or make any sound at all as she advanced. Her fur shivered in the breeze and her eyes glowed with fire as she pressed her snout wetly against Nilla's leg. She had to be seven feet long and her legs were all muscle. Hot breath jetted up Nilla's thigh and she cringed.
The bear looked up at Nilla and panted for a second. She stepped closer, her mass making the ground shake and Nilla cried out as she rolled away. Slowly, keeping her hands in plain view she got back to her feet. If she just walked away, backwards so the bear wouldn't think she was running, well then surely the bear would leave her alone. Right? The bear didn't want to eat her. She was undead'rotting flesh, full of toxins.
Nilla glanced at the corpse hanging from the tree. Oh. Bears must eat carrion, she decided.
It wasn't food the bear was after, though, she could see it in the animal's eyes. The bear knew what she was. It was the same look she'd seen in Lost Hills'and from Charles, less than an hour earlier. The bear was intelligent enough to recognize an abomination.
Nilla turned and ran, her bare feet slapping on the slickrock, her arms pistoning as she'
The bear tore past her at a gallop, not even exerting herself. She rolled one shoulder and slammed into Nilla, sending her sprawling down a slope of loose shale. The pain was intense as she bounced from one sharp rock to another, her skin bruising and tearing as she rolled. When she finally stopped she could only curl around herself, her body screaming.
The bear came lumbering down the hill, a black shape that obscured half the sky, headed right for her.
No, she thought, she didn't want to' to die like this, not alone in the dead wilderness. No.
No.
The bear stopped not three feet away from her and sniffed the air. She lifted her head and opened her mouth, then moved in, her paws smacking the rock. She would have stepped on Nilla if Nilla had still been there.