Mike willed himself backward, one step at a time. But on his third step, his heel caught on a loose bit of gravel. He fell with a thud, hitting the ground hard. The phone flew from his hand, skidding out of sight. His entire body tensed.
He braced for an attack, heartbeat thundering in his ears. But instead, the bear stopped just feet away, lowering its head. Carefully, it released the object from its jaws. In the dim glow, Mike saw a piece of torn clothing, with red smears.