Wild carnivorous beasts invade the character's camp. During the attack, the character finds that he has the innate ability to command wild beasts (not monsters) to do his will (so long as it does not seriously risk the animals' lives).
Martial training: In adolescence you trained with the weapons of your people and learnt how to use them proficiently (work with your DM to determine details)
While foraging or hunting for food, you have an encounter with a trapped predatory beast. Instead of slaying it, you free it. The freed beast disappears. Later, you are trapped by a falling log. The same beast reappears, aiding and freeing you.
Monster. A monsterous enemy could be something as weak as a goblin to as powerful as a ancient dragon. They consist of monsterous races and creatures. They might have done battle with the creature, been robbed by it, wanting revenge, or hunting it.