The Luna's Deception
The stone beneath its massive paws seemed to hum, a vibration that traveled up through the cavern floor and into the soles of my boots, and the bear lowered its head slightly, voice dropping into something closer to a challenge than a greeting.
Answer, and the salt is yours. Refuse, and you leave with nothing.
I glanced at Kieran, who gave the smallest nod, and turned back toward the creature waiting patiently in the center of the cavern, ancient light gathering faintly around its massive frame as though the mountain itself had drawn a breath and held it.
"What is heavier than the mountain," it asked, voice filling every corner of the cave at once, "but lighter than a breath?”