Hazel watched in stunned silence, her body trembling, as the bear’s presence filled the clearing. For a moment, everything was still, the only sound was the traveller’s fading footsteps. The mother bear stood there, a silent guardian, her eyes meeting Hazel’s for a fleeting moment before turning away.
The realisation hit Hazel like a tidal wave—she had been saved. The bear had protected her, and now, more than ever, she felt a fierce determination rise within her. She knew she had to save the cub, not just for the bear, but for herself, to prove that even in the darkest moments, she could be strong.