The cat’s eyes tracked his every move, but it didn’t hiss this time. Instead, it shifted slightly, revealing something hidden beneath its belly. Alan’s heart pounded as he heard faint, strange sounds—soft, muffled noises that were unfamiliar and unsettling.
The strange sound sent a ripple of dread through him. Alan’s first thought about the mystery of the hidden creatures was bear cubs. He lived in bear country and in harsh winters, it was common for bears to invade people’s backyards. Did a bear cub get lost and stuck in his yard?