Pisces. This was the place of Snowberry's hatching. The thick air mixed with the chilled temperatures sent him back to that day. It was also the day Blackberry had taken him under her wing. The thought of his adoptive mother made his heart constrict and anger rise. Was she dead? Captured? What about the others? Though he had known his adoptive family long before slipping into hibernation, he still felt close to them. Perhaps he was meant to find his scattered family.

Find them, and avenge those who won't be found. He thought grimly.

Either way, a journey through the caves would require energy. This nostalgic place doubled as a great source of food and in turn, a great source of energy. He lumbered towards the waterfall, stopping only when his front paws hit the water. He cast his eyes down towards the water and stood perfectly still, waiting for anything to swim by.

The crystal clear water held no secrets. The sleek form a fish slid into view. Snowberry moved in a surprisingly swift fashion, diving head first towards the fish. At first, his teeth only grazed the tail of the fish. It allowed him to just barely grab it before flinging it behind him on to dry land.

@sergei

A little ways away, another bear was fishing.

It was for the same reason; Pisces was full of cold water, and where there was water, there were fish. Patiently he waited, an expert at his craft. The moment a shimmering set of scales showed itself, he tensed--and as it rose to the surface, he pounced, both clawed paws and his massive head thrusting down into the icy shallows.

It writhed beneath him, and for a moment he felt alarm. TOO BIG. It nearly knocked him off his feet, thrashing and slick under his paws. His teeth then settled within its cold flesh and back he pulled, wading with streams of water pouring from him back onto the rock.

Quietly he paced away from the river, back up toward the lagoon. This was a big fish, a couple feet long and very heavy, and it would take some time to eat. He settled it down within full sight of the lagoon, oblivious to the other bear's presence, and began to carefully strip skin from flesh.

The fish smelled and tasted sweet, rich with fats and delightful on his tongue. He grumbled contentedly as he began to feast.

@Snowberry

The polar bear had turned around to grab the fish he had caught. It was rather small, but it would do. I can just ca- His thoughts were cut off by the sound of splashing water. Another bear was there, Snowberry had been so focused on his own fishing spot that he had not noticed the other gembound.

For a moment, he watched. The other bear seemed to struggle for a moment. Snowberry tilted his head in confusion. Why is he-OH. The brown bear had hauled one of the biggest fish Snowberry had ever seen out of the water.

The polar bear glanced from his catch to the other bear's catch, and back to his catch. I want that one, he thought greedily. A fish that big could easily sustain him. He needn't worry about fishing over and over. All he had to do was get it.

Snowberry stalked towards the other bear with his head lowered and ears laid back. As he neared a growl rumbled in his throat. "Give me your fish." His tone was low, leaving no room for questions. As far as he was concerned, he needed that fish more than that bear.

@sergei

Sergei was so busy picking at sweet fish flesh that he didn't even notice the polar bear slapping it sway toward him across the rock. At its demand his broad head swung up, brow wrinkling even as he chewed, his small, dark eyes staring at Snowberry as he processed his demand.

Had the other bear asked for a piece of fish, perhaps he'd have obliged. And this bear was his size--but that hardly mattered to him.

He finished chewing, and swallowed, and spoke. "No," he answered, matter-of-factly, pulling the fish closer beneath his body, possessively. He then quickly snatched another nip of fish, chewing on it while watching Snowberry warily.

@Snowberry

"I didn't ask," he barked. The other bear had pulled the fish under his body and was now eyeing him. Snowberry felt his frustration rise. If he wasn't going to give him the fish, then he would have to take it. "Give. Me. Your. Fish!" His voice rose with every syllable and as he spoke the final word he rose to his back paws.

Fighting with the gryphon was tricky, he was fast and small. But this was another a bear. There was more surface to grab. Snowberry dropped back down to his paws with his maw opened wide, aiming for the back of the other bear's neck. If he was lucky enough he might be able to pull him off. But they seemed evenly matched. So even that would more than likely present a challenge.

Round 1/5
Attempt: Git that neck
Defenses: None
Injuries: Healing scratches from past fight

@sergei

The other bear stood up high, and Sergei, instinctively, rose to meet its threat. They were about equal size--if there were a few inches difference in height, or pounds in weight, he couldn't tell. His black lower lip dropped and he let out a threatening roar--the other bear lunging toward him.

He shoved forward to meet Snowberry's thrust, trying to slam the other bear back, if not knock him over entirely. As he did so, he bellowed a prideful challenge. He had, after all, competed in the wrestling Olympics! He knew what he was doing!

"I HAVE WRESTLED!" he informed the other bear in a snarl.

Clearly, he had experience in this.

Round 1/5
Attempt: Slam chest-to-chest
Defenses:
Injuries:

@Snowberry

Snowberrys jaws closed with a hard snap on nothing but air. His attempt to bite his opponent was thwarted when the other bear rose up as well. Their chests crashed together with a heavy thud. The force that Sergei had caused Snowberry to stumble back a few paw steps and drop back to all fours. The wind had rushed out of his lungs at impact but only took a moment to return.

The white bear bellowed with frustration before rising up with paws outstretched to grapple Sergei.

Round 2/5
Attempt: Hold Sergei tight against him
Defenses:
Injuries: Winded

@sergei

The polar bear's arms reached out to draw him in; he was fine with that, pushing to get closer anyway. He'd done this once before--in wrestling. (He had experience.) But this time, there were no rules--no pulling punches. With a guttural, coughing bark of a roar, Sergei shoved his snout toward the other bear, aiming to get a savage and secure grip on the side of its face, and hold and tear.

If he was gripping its cheek and jaw in his own vice-like grip, he reasoned (in a very rapid, adrenaline-fuelled, instinctive sort of way), then it'd either have to tear its own face off to pull free, or just be stuck there unable to bite back.

Round 2/5
Attempt: Bite down on Snowberry's cheek/jaw
Defenses:
Injuries:

@Snowberry

As Snowberry wrapped his muscular arms around, he felt Sergei push against him as well. Teeth sank into the polar bear's cheek and under his jaw. While Snowberry's stone protected the area under his jaw, his cheek and muzzle took the full force of the bite. He felt the skin tear easily under his opponent bite force.

A pained, keening cry erupted from Snowberry. Or at least what cry could escape from a closed maw. His grip loosened on the other bear and he attempted to awkwardly claw at Sergei's chest to get him to let go.

Round 3/5
Attempt: Claw the chest!
Defenses:
Injuries: Torn cheek/muzzle

@sergei

Okay, that was new. The pain was searing, sharp and shocking, as the other bear's claws ripped past fat and fur and into the muscles of his chest. His ears pinned back and he bellowed in pain, the sound close against the polar bear's cheek.

He knew that the adrenaline rush had the pain dulled--the damage must be bad. And he feared letting go; the other bear would have a freer range of motion, then, able to claw and get a better bite. Feeling the desperation of a battling wild thing fighting for its life, Sergei twisted his muscled neck and back, bringing his full weight to one side--trying to take Snowberry (or part of his face) with him. He was aiming to tear the other bear down, to knock him to the ground, perhaps, so that he was not so great a threat.

Round 3/5
Attempt: Pull Snowberry down
Defenses:
Injuries: Clawed/Torn Chest

@Snowberry