Wind howled through the slit, carrying the bear’s fading footfalls. If she ran, she’d never learn why it had spared her. Curiosity—sharp and reckless—won out. She crept after the shadow, heart hammering, every instinct screaming that darkness was a trap she’d regret.
Inside, the passage narrowed, damp and echoing. Seawater dripped from the ceiling, ticking off seconds she might not have. Panic swelled; she pictured the bear pivoting in the gloom, jaws flashing.