"Hu-wha?" He'd been busy watching the ground. Then he heard it! The heavy breathing, the rustling, the--rustling that was a WHOLE HELL OF A LOT CLOSER.

There was more rustling and before they had a chance to speak or take another step, something tumbled off the high stone it had been perching on and out of the bushes. It landed not two feet away and landed in a patch of moonlight and shook the leaves from its ears before turning to blink at them curiously.

It was a baby brown bear with curious snowy spots on its back.

The vampire let out the breath he didn't know he'd sucked in and let his arms hang limp. "Oh...hah. Geez."