Jacob plunged into the forest, guided only by Bernie’s distant barks. He pushed through shrubs and thickets, the rough branches snagging his jacket and scratching his arms. The forest here was denser than he had ever dared venture. Each step was cautious, but his resolve to find Bernie overpowered his fear.
The sound of Bernie’s barking suddenly ceased, replaced by an eerie silence. The stillness was suffocating, broken only by the rustling leaves under Jacob’s boots. His heart thundered as the absence of Bernie’s voice clawed at his nerves. He quickened his pace, following faint paw prints in the soft soil.