That decision set into motion the chain of events he would never forget. He felt the first tremor beneath his boots, dismissing it as a settling shift of ice. But when a second, heavier thump followed, Nolan’s senses sharpened. Far off in the wavering gloom, he caught sight of a hulking form. His gut twisted in realization: a polar bear.
Nolan knew all too well the reputation of these apex predators, famed for their ferocity and cunning. Heart pounding, he forced himself to breathe evenly. Running was suicide on this slick surface. Instead, he slowly edged sideways, hoping the bear would lose interest and wander off.