I stepped out into the brisk morning air with my bare feet, stretching tall as I filled my lungs. The sun peeked over the tree tops, lighting the morning fog in oranges and pinks. From where I stood on my cabin’s porch, I could just make out the glint of Shark River off in the distance. Perfect morning for a run.

That time of year—the wet season in Everglades National Park—the air was full of bugs in the heat of the day, but before the sun came up, the swarms were fewer and the air tasted cleaner. The temperature was just below 70, but in a matter of hours, the hot sun would raise it closer to 90. With the bugs, running would be unbearable, so I chose early mornings or late nights to tear through the forests.

I pushed down my shorts and boxers, stepping out of them both in one swift move. My feet touched dew-ridden grass for only a moment. Seconds later, my thick, hairy paws were trampling the wet blades in their place. I shook out my black fur and stood tall, roaring louder than any natural bear would dare.

Owen! Ezra signaled to me through our shared mind link, Up already, chief?

Surprised to hear you rumbling around, Ezra. I didn’t think you got up this early unless there was tail to chase.

There’s always tail to chase, man.

I could almost hear the wink in his words. Who else is around?

We both paused, waiting for another voice or two to chime into our mental conversation. All was quiet in the clan.

Just you and me, Ezra said. Though, I should clarify. I’m not up early.

I laughed. If you stay up all night until the sunrise, I think that crosses the line from up late to up early.

Whatever makes me look better. Where are you at, anyway?

I crossed the edge of my property into the boundary of the park. No one was technically allowed to live on park grounds, so my hand-built cabin sat just over the line. It felt like park living, but without the legal hassle.

Touring the park before heading toward the office. You?

Umm, you think you’ll need me today?

I rolled my eyes. You are the most unreliable ranger I’ve ever met.

Hey! he said back, I didn’t earn my place as your second in command by slacking off. Maybe you should ask me why I haven’t slept.

Okay. Humor me.

The cool air rustled through my fur and my nose filled with the scents of various animals. The small family of key deer who lived nearby were out foraging, it seemed. I sent a scattering of herons into the sky as I ran too close to their nesting place. Their wings stretched out far, letting the large birds glide peacefully. Smaller game bolted when they heard or smelled me, and I wished I could’ve assured them all, “It’s okay, it’s just me. I’m actually a really nice guy and I won’t hurt you.” Well, unless the full moon was out. Though I tried to not hunt in bear form too often, it was sometimes necessary.

Ezra took a mental breath and began his tale. Okay. So, it started out innocently enough. I was out with some of the clan last night, Mason and Conner, and we were minding our own business, having some beers. Then this asshole croc comes up to us and starts his shit—

Wait, wait, I interrupted. Which croc?

Dunno. I’ve seen him before, though. He’s local. Anyway, he was all like, “Pfft. Looks like you bear boys could use some company.” While he had, like, a chick on each arm. Whatever. We weren’t trying to pick up any ladies. So, we were all just kind of like, “Whatever, prick,” and roll our eyes. The place is crowded, you know? And he was just calling us bears in the middle of the joint. Stupid. But then he knocked over a beer, on purpose. Of course, he was all like, “Whoops, silly me.” Just being a jack ass.

Ezra, I interrupted again, when do you get to the part about why you were up all night?

Patience, oh wise, Alpha. I’m getting to it.

Is there a shorter version?

Fine. So, we ended up outside fighting the guys. Just fists, all humaned out. People are watching. Afterward, one of the chicks he was with was making eyes at Mason. I guess he impressed her with his mad fist throws. They ended up leaving together, but the croc did not like that one bit. He threatened to follow and attack them, so me and Connor beared-up and chased them home, keeping watch to make sure they were safe. The croc never showed, though.

So, you looked out for Mason while he took a booty call.

If that’s what you want to call it. I just think we were being good brothers, looking out.

Get some sleep. Come in at noon.

Thanks, Boss.

Ezra?

Yeah?

Did anyone get hurt?

Not us.

Good. Now get some sleep.

He went quiet after that, and Ezra wasn’t one for silence, so I assumed he had shifted back. When I finished my run, I rinsed off in the shower and dressed for work. Being a manager of rangers at the park, I was on the first shift in the morning. It was part of my job to assign the rangers to the tasks needing to be completed, man the radios, and check in with the other departments. Then, I’d go off to do my own tasks for the day.

I parked my Jeep and entered the ranger station, heading right for my office. The office assistant, Rachel, smiled when she saw me. “Morning, Owen.”

“Morning.” I poured a cup of coffee and picked up the thin stack of reports that had come in overnight. They were still warm to the touch and sitting in the printer’s output tray. “Looks like things were pretty quiet last night.”

“Last night, they were. This morning…” She widened her eyes and blew out a breath. “You have several messages waiting for you.”

“Great.”

I shut the door to my office and hit the blinking red button on my phone. I was told I had five waiting messages. Rachel wasn’t kidding. Usually, I had one or two at the most.

The last message had me running out the door the second I’d finished listening to it.

“Owen.” It was one of the human junior rangers, Pete. He sounded out of breath and distressed. “We need your help. A kid is stuck in the grass river by the overlook. I have the small cat, but I think we’re gonna need the big bear.”

I tried to stay calm as I hopped into our larger utility vehicle, lovingly called the big bear. I had no idea why Pete would have only taken the smaller utility vehicle—the small cat—for something like this. And I also had no idea why he hadn’t called my walkie. All the rangers carried walkie talkies so we could be reached immediately if there was an emergency, which it sounded like this was.

I drove fast over the dirt and stone paths that made up the roads and ranger trails through the park. One and a half million acres was a lot of space to cover, but luckily, Pete wasn’t too far from the main ranger station. It took me only a few minutes to reach the overlook he mentioned.

When he saw me pull up, he ran over. “Thank goodness!”

“Why didn’t you use the walkie?” I asked, holding it up.

“Oh, I…” He scratched his head and looked around. “Sorry, sir.”

“And why in the world would you bring the small cat for a rescue mission?”

“Oh, well, it didn’t seem like that big of a deal at first and I…” He turned and gestured toward the small crowd that had formed.

Two other rangers pulled on each of the kid’s arms while another junior ranger watched. A crying, shrieking woman, who had to be the kid’s mom, stood off to the side, loosely held back by a big man who was likely the father.

I took charge immediately. “Hello, folks. I’m Owen, the ranger manager here. Don’t you worry, we’ll get him unstuck in no time.”

I assessed the situation. The grass river was tricky. It looked like solid grass in many places, but water hid beneath. If you didn’t know and walked too far, it was nothing but mud and muck. And this kid had walked too far.

His hiking boots were barely visible in the mud. He looked terrified and could only be about eight or so. I walked as close as I could to him without getting stuck myself.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Robbie.”

“Okay, Robbie. The first thing I want you to do is stay calm, okay? Worst case scenario, we just untie your boots and your mom and dad get mad at me for losing them in the mud.”

He nodded and kept his eyes on me.

“Now. Take this rope and wrap it around your waist.”

I held the end of the rope out to him and he did as he was told.

“Now, I’m going to get in my UV there and press the gas real slow, but it will give you enough of a lift that you’ll start to feel yourself being pulled up and out. When you feel that, don’t panic and don’t fight it. Just hold on tight and let the rope do its thing, okay?”

Robbie nodded again and held the rope tightly enough to make his knuckles white. I walked back to the big bear, where the other end of the rope was attached to the back roll bar.

I watched in the rearview mirror as I slowly pressed on the gas; soon, I saw Robbie pop free and splash into the wet, swampy grass. When I got out to check, he was still mostly upright from hanging onto the rope, and he still had both shoes. I stepped into the water and scooped him up, then handed him to his grateful mother.

“Oh, thank you, thank you!”

The boy vanished from sight in a flurry of hands and arms making sure he was okay.

“Thanks,” Pete said, still looking flustered.

“I want a full report by noon,” I said and drove off, heading back to the station. I’d need a few more cups of coffee if the day was going to start like this.