“Come on, Kuota,” said Zion with a reassuring smile. The white Akita and his adopted bear son, Kouta were fishing in a lake. Kouta, having lacked a mother to teach him how to find food for the past year, was due for a few lessons. Zion pointed to a fish swimming a few inches from the bank. “There’s one. Use your paw to knock it out of the water, just like I showed you.”

“Yes, Papa,” replied the red-backed male. His dog-speak had greatly improved, and though he had the blood of Akakabuto in his veins, he was as friendly as he was as a cub. Kuota dove his paw into the water, accidentally splashing Zion as he swiped the fish into the air. Eagerly, the bear caught it in his moth, gobbling it up quickly. “I did it! Did you see that, Papa!?”

“I did,” Zion chuckled, shaking out his pelt. “Great job!” Zion was about to speak again, when he caught an unfamiliar scent. He looked around, his nose quivering. A stranger? Zion’s eyes widened, and he glanced at Kouta. They wouldn’t understand that the bear was friendly, especially not with the red fur on his head and back. “Kouta...go back to the den...alright?”

“Hmm?” Kouta tilted his head. “Why, Papa?”

“Just...Just go, alright? Papa needs to make sure the territory is safe...”

“...Ok,” Kouta said, his ears flattening a bit. Zion frowned; there was nothing he hated more than lying to the bear. But sometimes...it had to be done. Zion watched as Kouta walked away, before he turned in the direction of the scent.