Nolan knew what the animal was capable of. Running across the slick ice was out of the question, so he edged sideways, hoping to avoid attracting its attention. But the bear kept coming, its massive frame growing larger with every step. Nolan’s carefully controlled breathing turned ragged. There was nowhere to hide, and the nearest help was back at his cabin.
His boot slipped. He stumbled backward, landing hard on the ice as the bear loomed over him. Desperate, he reached for his radio, but before he could call for help, the animal’s enormous paw came crashing down. Plastic shattered beneath its weight, leaving Nolan with nothing but the sound of his own panicked breathing.