A fresh wave of panic surged. Milo never ran off. Rubbing his stinging hands, Wade debated calling for help but realized every moment wasted might endanger the dog. He snatched a fallen branch and followed, heart thumping.
The forest turned dense fast. Under the canopy, the light dimmed to near-darkness. Wade stumbled over root tangles and shoved past snagging bushes. Milo’s barking reverberated in short bursts, guiding him deeper than he’d ever ventured. Unbidden visions of predators, pitfalls, and danger assaulted his mind, yet he pressed on.