The trail he knew so well was long gone, replaced by an endless tangle of roots and undergrowth. If something went wrong—if the moose turned or if a predator emerged—no one would hear his cries.
Fear pulsed in his temples, a drumbeat in his ears. Still, he drew a shaky breath and carried on, determined not to abandon the injured animal. A glimmer of courage—perhaps recklessness—kept him moving.