A Bear Encounter

On day in Skyrim I just wanted to wander the countryside and enjoy being outside. The weather was beautiful, it was spring in some of the lower edges of the mountains north of Riften,  and the flowers were blooming and the butterflies flitting. I had been crawling through a cave for hours and needed some fresh air and sunshine.  I was tired of killing things and bandits!

As I was nearing some large piles of rocks which had tumbled down the mountain side,  I started hearing distant growlings, and animal mutterings.  Not wanting to encounter anything I would have to battle I dropped into sneak and crept forward cautiously. As I got closer to the rocks, some as large as a house, I stopped to listen.  Soon the growlings turned into some intermittent roars,  and seemed much closer.

I backed away and duck behind another boulder and waited. But sensing, that what sounded like a bear,  wasn't going to go away, I inched forward and took a quick peek.  There, several yards away, was a magnificent golden bear!  These creatures can be quite breath-taking, they are so big and beautiful.  Well,  and frightening,  if encountered face to face!  I watched to see what he was trying to intimidate and saw a mage trying to attack him with ice-spikes. I didn't know, from this distance if this was a good mage or an evil one, so I really didn't know who I wanted to win, at this point.  But since this was the bears territory, and all he was doing was trying to warn the mage away,  I was leaning on the side of the bear.

The bear gave the mage every chance in the world to leave his territory.  I noticed they were quite close to a cave opening which was no doubt his habitat.  Finally the bear had been threatened enough and was losing his temper. He made a run at the mage, who ducked behind a rock. The bear kept going and rounded the rock and attacked. By that time the mage was running out of magic and had no defenses left. The bears jaws clamped down on the mage and soon it was all over.

I then notice the two tiny cubs which had emerged from the cave entrance. The bear waddled back to the cubs as the mother was peeking her head out of the entrance.  This golden bear would have made a beautiful winter cloak, I thought, but no, he has a family who needs him and he has done me no harm...and, he rid the world of another, no doubt, evil mage. 

The bear was aware I was near and looked over at me as if to say...are you next?  But we seemed to lock eyes, boldly, and there seemed to be an understanding pass between us.  He turned away, as I crept on passed, relishing the wonder and beauty of nature and of it's animals. They have families, just like we do. They need to hunt and provide, just like we do.

I went on my way, continuing my wanderings and enjoying life, beauty, and the world....

                                      .....I love Skyrim!!  How about you??