The hardened vines thudded against the ground as the connected two continually weaved between the strikes. As if the heat of battle pushed the bond to strengthen, the two formed a collection of shared thoughts to formulate a plan of attack. Kenan endlessly spun in his path, cutting away the vines as they withered at the severance. Dion left a blazing trail that forcefully attached itself to the green limbs.

They switched in the middle of their sprint. Both the bear and vines hesitated before continuing their onslaught. Suddenly a twisted green spike hurtled towards Kenan's chest. The dirus switched with him, letting the strike pass overhead harmlessly. A paw swiped at Dion, he easily lunged away. He responded with a howl, fire bloomed out of his mouth. Setting the bear's front left side ablaze. Noctis furiously spun the blade, setting it in a downward angle, he dug it into the front right leg. Easily it peeled away at the layers of skin and muscle. When he just started to get past bone, the forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. The chill of Nonesthic departed and heat settled back in. The blade, no longer lit with its power.

The bear roared furiously. Kenan yanked the sword out and stepped back in time to just swerve a giant maw. Noctis saw vines start to wrap around the giant leg and suture the large bleeding wound close.

The duo took strategic steps back, all the while defending and cutting down animate vegetation. They came together, Dion worked on defending his master, while Kenan put three rippling lines of fire in the air and concentrated. The bear gained confidence in seeing it’s foes retreat, and started to charge. Once it entered the Afterburns range, Noctis let go of the spell. An explosion set the beast's face and chest on fire. It jumped on its hind legs and tried to douse the flames with its forepaws.

In between it’s massive pectoral muscles was a conglomerate of pulsing vines. In the center was a green, alien moving organ. Kenan and Dion looked at each other. They swiftly communicated through the connection. In a smooth motion, Noctis put one hand in reverse grip and the other on the pommel. Similar to the stance for Salpirkos. He called forth the chill once more, and his blade responded. Dion became crouched, his fire surged as it changed into a light teal color. The ground beneath both of their feet crunched under their pressure.

The dirus set off, leaving a line of fire in the air as he launched like an arrow. Just below the bear's maw, Dion attached himself to its neck. Spurting blood and crushing it’s veins. The beast was forced to take a few steps back. Changing the spinning column of fire trajectory to it’s chest. Inside of Kenan, he circulated his built up qi. He gripped the blade until his knuckles became white. Leaving a small shockwave in his wake, he flew through the middle of the flaming cylinder. As he went, fire swirled at the tip of the sword, collecting into a ball of fire. Soon he reached the odd pulsing green organ. Vines sprouted from it, tens of them trying to make a cocoon around Kenan. It was too late as he plunged the sword into the green monstrosity and the chest of the bear.

The beast took a few more steps, but the momentum was too much as it fell to it’s back. Allowing for the blade to dig even deeper. Tinted fire spread all over the vines and green spikes, and the entirety of the being began to convulse. The duo quickly separated from the dying animal. Pungent smelling smoke rose in the air. Suddenly blood came from dozens of wounds previously covered by the vegetation. Strangely, the size of the beast began to shrink. When the vines became nothing more than shriveled, black strings. The bear came out to be smaller than Dion. It was nothing more than a cub.

Breathing heavily, Noctis flicked the blade. Sending blood in a spray pattern on the ground. Then he looked at Dion, who’s flame petered out. “You should've come back as a bear.” The dirus woofed in hushed agreement. Kenan walked to a nearby tree, and set his blade on his lap and head against the bark. Dion joined his master. Fatigue claimed consciousness.

***

Somewhere in the journey of sleep. Kenan found himself in a black landscape. A chill brought relaxation to his tense muscles and eased his turbulent mind. Nonesthic.

In the endless place, he saw a bear cub. It was growling and roaring, as best as it could anyway. It’s foe was a plethora of green vines coming from an opened corridor. The cub’s battle was uphill, as the limbs wrapped around the small bear's abdomen and legs. Then it started to drag it’s prey into the open door. Kenan took a step forward, readied. He was stopped by a large, black and white creature bumping into his leg. Dion. Surprise first overtook Noctis, then he remembered his conversation with Nattura. The dirus looked back at his master, sent instinct and emotion over, then set off towards the bear cub.

Bounding his way over, Dion tackled a group of green limbs. Using his maw to capture them, he flexed his neck and tugged at them violently. Breaking them. The dirus barked and flame hurled it’s way into the corridor. The creature, whatever it was, screeched in horror and slowly retreated. Ears back and growling, Dion continued to threaten it. Eventually, when the last vestiges of the vines disappeared through the door, it closed and disappeared.

Dion turned back to the bear. It hesitated for a moment. Bestial communication of scent and intent traveled. Suddenly the tiny cub sprinted towards the dirus. Whining and wailing the entire way there. As it bumped into Dion's chest, it curled up trying to hide. In response Dion licked its tough and dirty fur.

After a while, Dion snapped onto the cubs scruff. Lifted it, and walked forward. A door appeared and it opened. Inside was a landscape of a lake surrounded by tall trees and snow capped mountains. Dion then dropped the cub just outside of it. Using his snout he pushed it. At first it looked confused. Then, when a larger bear followed by more cubs came into view, it rushed into the door. It closed and was gone in an instant.

The dirus looked at his master, tail wagging furiously. Kenan smiled.

***

Noctis woke up to a very large, wet nose poking him on the face. When he opened his eyes, he saw Jefneds large snout taking over his field of vision. It neighed and danced in delight. Behind it were both Jorun and Doco, on their respective steeds.

The bard looked back at the dead and mutilated corpse of the cub. “It wasn’t that big, I could’ve taken it.” He looked back at Kenan. Who was staring death into his friend. “What?”