Jeremy gently laid the bear cub near the fireplace, wrapping it tightly in a thick blanket. The warmth of the fire filled the room, but it seemed to do little for the bear, whose breathing remained labored and shallow.
Jeremy watched helplessly as the bear cub’s condition continued to deteriorate, its once alert eyes now barely open, flickering with the barest signs of life. The fear of losing the animal gripped him, the thought of it dying after valiantly protecting the puppies was unbearable.