Tanner felt paralyzed by the sheer weight of his situation. The cold seeped through his clothes, chilling him to the bone, but it was the fear for his life that truly froze him in place. His mind raced, scrambling for a plan that might get him out of this nightmare.
But all he could think about was the vast, empty expanse of ice stretching out in every direction, and the boat—his only lifeline—vanished without a trace. The tiny cub pressed closer against him, its warmth a small comfort against the overwhelming fear.