Mountain Airy Bear… from the Dawn of Magick

Garnetberries were also among the favorite foods of displacer bears, rare beasts also called mountain airy bears. Displacer bears inhabited mountainous regions and oft vanished right before an observer’s eyes. Actually they were very good chameleons…and displacers. The deceptively intelligent beasts had a natural ability of Magick that always made them appear to be three feet to the right, left, front, or rear of their actual position. Displacer bears were akin to infamous six-legged panthers with horny-ridged tentacles growing out of their shoulders that lived in deep swamps. A hungry mountain airy bear neared the hidden garnetberry patch. About the only thing the beasts enjoyed more on their menu than garnetberries was Blue Pegasus and young sorcerer. The wily beast used its camouflage ability and took advantage of the ill-advised inattentiveness of the sorcerer and Pegasus to get near its intended prey. Then with a roar, the creature lunged at Boton. The young sorcerer narrowly avoided the airy bear’s slashing talons.
Dean stopped munching on berries and lamented, “Alas. If the airy bear doesn’t kill me, I’ve got to face Maranna and admit to getting you in trouble. But I’ve got a sorcerer with me! Attack him, Boton! He’s not where he appears to be!”
The young sorcerer scurried behind a rock outcropping with the airy bear hot on his heels. the angry bear crashed into the rock about three feet to the left of where Boton saw him and gave the young sorcerer time to roll aside and get some separation from the beast. the bear’s talons missed his flesh but ripped Boton’s riding cloak.
“What do you mean, he’s not where he appears to be? Attack with what?” the youth finally managed. He ran, reached a cluster of thick underbrush that would at least slow down the airy bear, rolled under the brush, and scooted behind a tree.
“Use a spell!” Dean urged.
The Pegasus reared on his back legs, belted the areas to the left of the large hazy furry shape, and missed. The mountain airy bear concentrated on making Boton his meal and ignored Dean’s coming up behind him. The airy bear roared, swiped its massive paw backward, and delivered a raking blow to Dean’s left foreleg. Dean withdrew and Boton used the opportunity to mosey up the hill a bit and sneak behind another clump of bushes.
“Do something!” Dean shouted again as he limped across the meadow with the large bear close behind him.
Boton yelled to the bear, “Go away, bear! Is he like Urra the Cloudmare? Your hooves passed right through him!”
The airy bear swiped at Dean again. the winged equine jumped aside and screamed, “No, he’s got the ability to appear where he is not. I suppose he resents our taking what he thinks are his garnetberries! Use a spell!”
Boton hesitated.
Dean struck to the right of the bear’s apparent position and actually hit the beast! The Pegasus then flew away from the bear’s grasp. The frustrated predator turned its attention back to Boton.
“Cast something! Do something! Run, then!” Dean clamored. The bear neared the youth.
Boton chose the latter and ran as fast as he could toward another clump of trees, but the growling animal closed the gap. Anger changed the animal’s hue to red orange. Sensing Boton was in deep trouble, Dean flew as fast as his wings would carry him, kicked furiously three feet behind the bear’s image, delivered hoof blows to the animal’s back, and knocked the beast off balance. The bear fell to the ground and gave Boton enough time to reach the trees. The bear soon again gave chase, ripped the underbrush asunder, and exposed Boton to attack.
Dean again slipped between the predator and its intended prey. The Pegasus reared and flailed his forelegs wildly. He scored a lucky blow to the beast’s sensitive nose. The bear howled, moved backward, and fell into the Rainbow Luck Tree. The force of impact knocked one of the red fruits from the branch. The unripe cherry bomb exploded and ripped large wounds into the beast. The animal’s ichors fell to the ground three feet to the left of where the beast appeared to stand, all in all creating a macabre scene. Blood flowed from invisible wounds and splattered onto the ground at the base of the Rainbow Luck Tree. The wounded mountain airy bear yelped and scampered away.
Dean licked his wounded leg, and Boton wiped his forehead in relief.
Dean avowed, “You can’t fight worth a hoot, Boton!”
Boton protested, “I didn’t want to hurt him, Dean.”
Dean answered in bewilderment, “Hurt him! He was trying to eat us!”