As he moved farther from the wrecked sled, a crushing sense of isolation descended. The familiar outline of his cabin faded into the swirling gloom. Gone was the safety of his well-worn routines, replaced by an eerie hush that gripped his heart in an icy fist.
Each footstep produced a hollow crunch, amplified by the utter stillness around him. Nolan half expected the bear to whirl and attack, but it pressed on, only pausing to glance back with that same unsettling look. Every glance sent a fresh jolt of terror through him.