Masha Berova's Arc

Chapter 1 of 2

Masha Berova stood at the forest edge, sniffing the morning air. His massive brown frame blocked the narrow game trail. Scars crisscrossed his thick fur like battle marks. The scent of gun oil drifted from somewhere beyond the trees. Hunters were coming closer to his home. He needed to protect this forest and drive them away before they destroyed everything. Masha lumbered deeper into the woods, his mind working. He needed a way to watch for the hunters from above. High in an ancient oak, he found what he was looking for. A treehouse sat nestled among the thick branches, nearly invisible against the bark. From up there, he could see across the entire valley. He climbed up, testing the wooden floor with his weight. It held firm. Back on the ground, Masha gathered stones from the creek bed. He stacked them into a solid storage space at the base of a cliff. Inside, he placed sharpened sticks and heavy rocks. These would be his weapons if the hunters came too close. The stone walls kept everything dry and hidden from view. At the forest's main entrance, Masha built a tall wooden marker with a triangular roof. This would be his defense post. From here, he could see anyone approaching on the main trail. He sat down in front of it, his yellow eyes scanning the forest edge. The hunters would find no easy entry into his territory. This forest was his home, and he would guard it with everything he had.