Gasping and shivering, he forced himself upright. Every nerve screamed at him to flee, yet he couldn’t. The bear’s stare was oddly plaintive, its eyes rimmed with an unspoken plea. Could a creature so deadly be asking for help, rather than planning his doom?
Time slowed as he reached into his pack for a piece of dried fish. His hands trembled uncontrollably, heartbeat thundering in his ears. The bear inched closer, nostrils flaring at the salt-laced scent. Nolan’s vision blurred with fear, yet something deeper whispered that he must act.