But staying still didn’t feel much better. His heart thumped hard against his chest as he took a careful step back. Then another. His foot hit something solid—his gear bag. He tried to recover, but the angle was off.
He stumbled, arms flailing, and landed hard on his side. The impact knocked over the bag, spilling some of the dried fish he’d set aside earlier. The scent hit the air. The walrus reacted instantly.