A thin line of frozen blood traced from its flank to the ice below. “Caught between shifts,” Elias whispered. “A collapse.” Henrik dropped to one knee, unrolling the thermal blanket. “We’ll need leverage. Rope through the back. You lift, I pull.”
“And the bear?” Elias asked. Henrik didn’t look up. “We watch her. And we don’t mess up.” As Elias eased the rope behind the cub’s torso, it whimpered—soft and shrill. The mother bear immediately snarled and stepped forward. Just one step.