Reaching a small clearing, Jacob halted. There, at the center, stood Bernie, stiff and motionless, his gaze fixed on something ahead. The dog’s tail was low, his body language alert but silent. Jacob’s breath caught as he stepped closer, his eyes following Bernie’s line of sight.
And then, he saw it. A bear. Massive and imposing, its dark fur rippled as it shifted slightly, staring back at them. Jacob froze, his mind racing. He had read about bears—how dangerous and unpredictable they could be—but none of that prepared him for the raw fear that now gripped him.