When they reached the beach, Tessa hurried to the car, her legs feeling like jelly beneath her. She slid into the front seat, clutching the cub close, trying to keep it warm as she drove. Her phone barely had a signal, but she managed to dial 911.
Before turning the key, she glanced through the windshield. The big bear sat on its haunches at the tideline, watching—too massive to follow a car, yet unwilling to leave. The sight felt like a silent pact: Hurry.