The animal set the fabric down on Mike’s lap, then turned back toward the forest. Confusion and terror wrestled in Mike’s chest. He stared at the cloth, adrenaline surging. The bear looked over its shoulder, as if urging him to follow.
Could this beast be asking for help? Mike struggled to make sense of it. He picked up the phone that lay in reach, shoved it into his pocket without ending the call, then slowly got to his feet. The bear began padding away into the trees.