Suddenly, a rustle of wind rattled the branches overhead. Both Mike and Nicole tensed again, instincts screaming that predators could be anywhere, especially in a forest this dense. For a fleeting second, Mike imagined a pack of wolves or another bear lurking in the darkness, drawn by the scent of blood. Would this bear protect them, or would it simply flee?
But the bear seemed far more interested in the direction of the pit than any new threat. It angled its body, letting out a short huff, as though impatient for Mike to resume what he was doing before Nicole arrived.