The bear thing was now only one row above Caydance. Standing behind her triumphantly, it raised the rubber-headed mallet and hit her on the head. Caydance slumped to the ground.

Griff emerged from inside the locker room, where the Stanford football team was silently packing, preparing to head out the exit door and then to the road that led downhill to the place where the team bus was parked.

He looked up at the stands, expecting to see Caydance waiting patiently for his appearance. What he saw was a monstrous creature. Its shaggy, ill kept fur was a dark brown; its claws were sharp and lethal looking. It's face seemed permanently set in aroused bear mode. A growly sound issued from its open mouth.

Intent on its evil purpose, the bear thing yanked Caydance onto the stadium seat. From inside its grubby bear uniform, it produced only slightly used polyester rope.