The sudden addition of horse and rider to his attentions caught Sorrel unexpected and his first, very first and foremost instinct, was to be more afraid of the Seeker than the Bear. It made enough sense in his head; of course the bear would only kill him because it was what bears did. What humans did, what chantry humans did to wandering elven mages, caught away from their clans, was very, very different.

So, he startled away from Aleron, looking up with wide, frightened eyes at the proffered hand, uncomprehending of the offer-- or perhaps, its sincerity. And then he ran. If the bear wanted a meal, it was going to have to choose one of them, and a horse had a lot more meat on it than an elf.