Next day dawn at a nearby cave, they woke to the sound of distant thunder—except it wasn't thunder.
"What is that?" Alex asked, sitting up carefully in the nest.
Leo was already at the window, ears pricked forward. "Drums. Bear drums. They're announcing something."
[CULTURAL NOTE: Bears use drum signals to communicate across their mountain territory. That particular rhythm means: 'Gathering at the main den. Important announcement.']
"Can you understand drum language?" Alex asked the system.
[I contain multitudes, remember? Also yes. I downloaded 'Basic Bear Communication Protocol' while you were sleeping. You're welcome!]
"Sometimes you're actually useful," Alex admitted.
[SOMETIMES?! I am a TREASURE!]
They packed quickly, ate a rushed breakfast of dried fruit and nuts, and set out as the sun crested the mountains.
[Oh! Right. Let me check the drum pattern more carefully...]
[*listening intently*]
[Okay so the rhythm is: BOOM-boom-BOOM-boom-boom-BOOM-BOOM]
