Abruptly, Milo’s barking ceased. The silence left Wade’s ears ringing. He forced himself to move faster, searching for footprints in the soft leaf litter. Every cracked twig underfoot sounded thunderous in the hush. Shadows warped around him, an eerie stage for the confrontation he sensed was imminent.
Breaking through a final thicket, Wade found a small clearing where the moon’s pale glow revealed Milo standing rigid. The dog’s entire body quivered with tension, gaze fixed on a towering figure. Wade’s breath caught: it was a moose, broad-shouldered and undeniably massive, its antlers an impressive crown of bone.