Its growls had quieted to soft, intermittent whimpers, but the tension in the air remained thick, pressing down on both of them. Julie stood a few steps behind, her hands clenched into fists to steady her nerves.
The forest seemed to close in around them, every rustle of leaves or crack of a distant branch heightening her awareness of how vulnerable they were. Even the moose, which had led them here, watched from a distance, its massive frame silhouetted against the dark woods.