King of the Grizzlies

Moki serves as a Cree foreman on Colonel Pearson's ranch. He works the land under Pearson's command and becomes central to the ranch's daily life. The story unfolds in the late 19th-century West.

A grizzly intrudes on Pearson's property and kills a steer. Pearson shoots the mother bear and one of her cubs, while the other cub escapes, tumbling off a cliff into a river and being swept downstream. This event seeds the tale of Wahb, the four-toed cub found later.

Moki searches for the cub and discovers it has four toes on one paw. He names the cub Wahb, meaning four-toed grizzly, and begins to form a bond with the animal. This marks the start of Wahb's long connection to Moki.

Moki captures the bear and then releases him on the outskirts of Pearson's land. Wahb survives and grows in the wild, building a wary relationship with the humans nearby. The act sets Wahb on a path toward maturity and continued contact with Moki.

Wahb grows to maturity, and at three years of age he appears and startles a ranch hand. Pearson orders Moki to trap the bear, but Wahb proves elusive and evades capture.

Years later, Moki encounters Wahb in the mountains and the non-threatening exchange convinces him that a mystical tie links their destinies. He interprets Wahb's presence as more than chance.

Wahb reappears on the Pearson ranch during roundup time and stampedes the cattle. The bear's return triggers Pearson's desire to kill him and protect the land.

Pearson rides out to confront the bear, while Moki tries to warn him of the danger and the bond between Wahb and himself. The pursuit intensifies as the bear evades capture.

As Pearson closes in, Wahb marks a tree with his claws, signaling his territorial claim. Moki tells the colonel that this mark means Wahb will not return to Gray Bull.

The colonel remains unconvinced, but Moki produces rifle shells in his hand to show how the bear means something to him. The sight of the shells shifts Pearson's mindset in the moment.

Pearson raises his gun once more, but the sight of the shells calms him, and he relents. Moki and Pearson head back home with Wahb in their shared frontier.

Wahb does not return to Gray Bull; instead he stays and defends his territory, establishing a mutual protection dynamic with Moki. The bond between the man and the bear guides their futures.