Beware of Bear by Beran Godwinson There have been rumors of a large animal roaming the countryside about Drakesheath and surrounding villages. Local sportsmen and hunters who scoured the woods and glades reported finding tracks of an unusually large animal. One man, Sir William Bently, a world-renowned huntsman, identified the tracks as those of a large bear, possibly a Kodiak, one of the largest and most fearsome creatures known to man. These large, brown bears inhabit a small section of the Alaskan wilderness, most predominantely Kodiak Island, from whence they are named. If the creature is, indeed, a Kodiak, it most likely escaped from a circus or carnival. Readers are advised not to attempt to trap or kill this animal, but to report its whereabouts immediately to the local constabulary. Twist of fate (cont. from page 1) With men holding her down by her wrists and feet, Miss Miller claimed she could only struggle feebly against the uninvited advances of this band of 'ne'er-do-wells'. When one of the men stated loudly he was going to 'sample her hidden charms', the others laughed as he fell upon the hapless maiden. It was at that moment, with mere seconds separating her from ravishment and dishonour, that a loud crashing was heard in some nearby bushes, a deafening roar echoed through the woods and a large bear charged them. Miss Miller added that she wasn't sure at that moment which she feared the more: the bear or her human attackers. Within seconds the entire encounter was ended. The bear, surprising all with his speed and ferocity, killed two men instantly with two blows of his powerful paws. The remaining men ran off, leaving their hapless companions and the distraught Miss Miller to the tender mercies of a wild animal. Miss Miller said she fainted as the huge animal approached her. When she regained consciousness, she found the bear sitting as though waiting for her to awaken. The men whom the bear killed were no longer in sight, though she saw drag marks going into the woods. Miss Miller said it was growing dark and she was more afraid of the approaching night and the dangers inherent in being out after sunset than she was of the huge beast near her. When she rose to her feet and began to slowly move away from the animal, she said it began to follow her, though a short distance behind. She kept casting glances back, but the bear never came closer or otherwise threatened her. It was not until the lights of her father's cottage came into view that the bear disappeared in the darkness. The following morning, accompanied by her father and the local constable, Bob Wilcox, Miss Miller led the two men to the place of her attack. The bodies of two men were found surrounded by the prints of a large animal. Constable Wilcox reported he had seen the men hanging about Drakesheath and that they had caused some minor disturbances. They were also known to frequent Wyvern Tower, the current residence of Lord Drakesheath's former butler.