Jacob’s heart raced, He stood frozen for a moment, torn between calling out again and the sudden dread that whatever had caught Bernie’s attention might not be something he wanted to confront. Jacob hesitated, every instinct urging him to turn back, to return home and call for help.
But the thought of Bernie—loyal Bernie—out there alone drove him forward. He grabbed a nearby stick for comfort and stepped cautiously into the forest. The peaceful trail they had walked so many times now felt foreign, the silence heavy, broken only by the distant sound of Bernie’s frantic barking.