Peter Arrives Fast

Rain still clung to Peter’s jacket when he entered the ER, escorted quickly to the closed-off hallway. He barely paused at the glass before slipping into the room with confident, practiced steps. The bear shifted, muscles tight, but calmed when Peter knelt slowly, murmuring gently like he had done with wolves in the wild.

He scrutinized the pup, nodding in approval at Steve’s and Hana’s work. “It’s not a cub,” he said. “It’s something else. Maybe a hybrid, maybe something rarer.” Hana frowned. “Then what is it?” Peter didn’t answer immediately. “I don’t know,” he said quietly, “but the bear sure does.”