Nolan reached for more dried fish, heart hammering so loudly he thought it would give him away. The bear sniffed the air, lips curling but not in a snarl—more like anticipation. Each second stretched taut as a wire, his rational mind screaming that this was madness.
After gulping the second piece, the bear lumbered a few steps away and paused. Its head swiveled back toward Nolan, sending ice-cold spikes of dread through his gut. He thought this was it—his time had run out, and the bear wanted fresh prey.