Against all better judgment, he stretched out his arm. The bear leaned in, shoulders tense, ready to bolt or attack. Nolan could barely swallow. He felt heat radiating from its huge body, smelled its pungent breath, and tried not to imagine those lethal jaws snapping shut.
A soft grunt broke the tension. The polar bear accepted his offering, swallowing the morsel in one gulp. Nolan exhaled in a sudden rush, shocked at the realization that he was still alive. For a moment, predator and prey seemed locked in a fragile understanding.