Hazel was lost in thought when a soft grunt from the bear snapped her back to reality. The bear’s unblinking stare held her in place, and every move she made was subtly mirrored by its massive, gentle form. The bear’s rhythm—moving a few steps, then halting to peer back—seemed almost deliberate, a chilling invitation in the depths of the dark forest.
She muttered to herself, a mix of disbelief and dread in her voice. “What am I doing? Why would I think the bear would understand me?” The absurdity of her situation hit her hard; she was talking to a creature in a place where logic had long since vanished.