Wrestle bears

Though Seba made allowances for his human aide, he was a superior
creature of the night. He was stronger, faster, and more enduring than any
human, and his assistant had to keep pace. If Seba marched all night, Larten
wasn’t allowed to fall behind. If Seba wrestled a bear, Larten had to pitch in
and help.

Many assistants perished horribly before they could be blooded. That
was the vampire way—they only accepted the most resilient. If you failed,
the clan was better off without you. Larten knew he could expect no
sympathy if he came up short of his master’s expectations. Nor would he
ask for any.

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Birth of a Killer, Chapter 8