Evelyn’s sneakers crunched softly over fallen twigs and dry leaves, the only other sound being the measured footfalls of the two bears ahead of her. They walked with a strange deliberateness—neither slow nor rushed—always glancing back to ensure she was keeping up. The path wasn’t clear. No trail marked their passage.
Branches tugged at her sleeves, and thorns scratched at her legs. Still, Evelyn pressed on, brushing them aside as her curiosity started to outweigh her fear. There was something surreal about this—something that made her feel like she’d stepped into a dream she couldn’t quite wake from.