He took another step forward, this time more slowly, his every muscle tense. The bear growled once more, but David didn’t stop. The weight of the decision felt unbearable, but his instincts pushed him to keep moving forward, hoping against hope that this would be the key to his survival.
And then, just as quickly as the aggression had begun, the bear seemed to relax. Its massive body loosened, the tension easing. It didn’t turn around to face David, but its movements were now more measured, more controlled. It kept walking, its eyes still alert, but its posture had softened. Every so often, it glanced back toward David, its gaze fleeting but acknowledging him.
David didn’t know what had changed. The bear, once an intimidating figure, had become something else—a guide, perhaps. There was no way of knowing, but the hope it sparked in him was enough to keep him moving. For the first time in what felt like hours, he didn’t feel entirely alone in the forest.