David froze. His heart pounded as the bear’s eyes locked onto his. For a moment, they simply stared at one another. David slowly took a step back.
Suddenly the bear growled, its body tense. David felt the primal urge to run, but something made him stand still, rooted to the spot. As the bear circled him, David realized it wasn’t attacking, just watching. Its movements were slow, deliberate.
The bear turned and began moving deeper into the forest. David hesitated, unsure of what to do. Being lost had left him disoriented and weak, and he could feel the grip of exhaustion closing in. The thought of facing the wild alone, trying to find civilization after being lost for over a day, seemed hopeless.