"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"
My hands were shaking, and my sweaty palms made it even worse! Frantically tearing and pulling on the leather rope around my waist, my eyes darted from my trembling hands and down again.
"Fuuuuuck..."
I didn't know why I did this; I cursed like a sailor, like it was helping in any way. But I couldn't help it; it doesn't matter right now. I need to get this off now! Muttering another colorful sentence under my breath. I have no idea if the cursing is for my uncontrollable hands or that massive beast climbing up the three! Honestly, both deserve all the curse words I could muster right now!
Brown, almost black fur moved in hectic waves, and the monster moved so much faster than I could understand! Despite the massive size, he moved easily and quickly like a cat. The three moaned and swayed from one side to the other as huge claws slammed against the tree trunk, again and again. A thud rumbled through the air each time, and his claws curled into the wood like it was nothing but warm butter. And with each thud, the growling beast came closer. Growling, thuds, the moaning three.
Forcing myself, I tried to breathe calmer, deeper, a last attempt to make my hands stop shaking. Make my hands stop sweating so I can get a better grip on this leather. It didn't help. Instead, it felt like my heart upped its game; every beat pulsated through my body. Pressed my chest, craved more room inside my head, and my palms became even more sweaty. Panic. This feels like panic! My pulse rushed, pulsated, and filled my ears. It made my skin warm and made breathing harder, and I swear the pulse pumping through me made my fingers beat. Like an infected wound, warm and thudding, pressing and itching.
Canines, drool, claws, and dark fur moved up like waves in a storm. They moved towards me like a train, and I was stuck. The train is about to run right over me, honking its horn and making screeching sounds of the breaks that can't stop a massive force like this as fast as I need it to. Spit and drool sprayed out of the bear's mouth every time he breathed out. A sharp, almost irritated growl hid beneath the heavy breathing, like a constant deep bass accompanying the lyrics of a song. It is so hard to pinpoint, but you know it is there, and you know what it is. It was dark, and scary alone, but it gives a different meaning in the background. I rolled my eyes. What the hell was wrong with me? Who thinks like this? No sane person, I am sure.
My eyes darted from the climbing bear down to the bear waiting on the ground, and I jammed my hand into my backpack. I didn't need to think, didn't even have to look; my hand closed around the handle and yanked the knife out. My eyes still darted between the two beasts, desperately looking for a way out, franticly searching for my next move. My eyes locked with the moving bear's round and black eyes just as I grabbed my backpack and jumped.
Not as graceful as I had imagined, I managed to grab the branch stretching out from above me and crawl up like a long-legged Care Bear. My ass and feet never felt so heavy as the moment I started to lift myself up on the massive branch. However, I did it! I was sweaty and gasping for air like a fish on land, but I did it! Very unlike me, I locked eyes with the bear again, Intentionally. He continued slamming his paws higher and higher up the tree; muscles and thick fur moved with the massive body climbing towards me. My focus searched deeper and deeper down into his pitch-black eyes while I got my backpack on. I adjusted and tightened it on my back; we never broke the intense stare. Crutching down, every muscle tightened, tensed like a pressed spring, and I smiled. A deep, strenuous growl pushed out between his heavy, grunting breaths.
With my smile, the comfortable, cold calm spread out from my chest. Every single heartbeat spread the confidence further out in my body. It infused my muscles, veins, nerves, and skin. My hands stopped shaking, and my insecurity switched to something that resembled amusement. It had to be because of the massive grin on my face, giving me a fake boost of endorphins. The beats I just watched in fear made me smile even more, almost laugh! I could see him for what he was; a heavy, cocky creature out of breath and struggling. Why would I fear this huffing, drooling teddy?
His breaths are now ragged and strained, foaming drool dripping from his open mouth. With ease, I jumped, grabbed the next branch over me, and pulled myself up. Crouching, looking down on the struggling monster, I cocked my head to the side and waited. Then I jumped to the next branch and climbed to the next like a sleepy monkey. The three swayed more the higher up I got, but it didn't bother me; actually, I found it funny. I liked to see him struggle, and I wanted to see him waste his energy and strain his muscles to the max.
"Hi! Mr. Huff and puff Fluff ass, you look so tired? May I suggest some running and a little more fruit?"
His jaws slammed shut, baring his canines, and a drained growl gurgled in his throat. I busted out laughing. White, thick foam splatters into the air, only to fall right back in his face. I laughed all the way to the top of the three, well, at least as high as I could get without the tree breaking. Over and over again, I saw that thick foam hit him right in the eye. I made myself comfortable there, waiting for him to catch up. And, only to bother him even more, I dangled my feet in the air and folded a little cloth on my lap before eating my dried meat.
A strange roar caught my attention, and I looked down. Ah, I had almost forgotten about the second bear! So, I waved at him, slowly and awkwardly, with all my fingers spread like a toddler. He was only a couple of meters below me now, so I packed up my backpack, chugged the rest of my water, and turned my attention back to the climbing beast.
"So, this was fun, and obviously, you needed the exercise, but I am done playing!"
He struggled more now; the three trunks were thinner and weaker, and even though he knew his weight threatened to snap the wood in two and let him fall, he didn't stop or give up. His black, round eyes were glued to me.
"Idiotic stuffed panda, stop while the fun lasts. This is my final warning. Stop, go down, and let me be. I will not ask again; I will not play again."
A deep, ragged sound echoed from his chest, and I smiled even wider, realizing he just laughed.
"Okay then, Teddy, you asked for it!"