A Protective Instinct, Not a Threat

For a split second, everything felt frozen. The air was thick and heavy, with an unspoken tension that seemed to hang in the room. Then, without warning, something changed. The bear’s gaze, once wary, shifted into something deeper, primal.

Hana pressed her back against the door, her fingers digging into its cold surface. She could feel it—something was about to happen. The growl came next, low and deep, shaking the floor beneath her. It wasn’t just a noise. It was a warning. The bear wasn’t just watching anymore. It was sizing her up. And Hana knew she had to show it she meant no harm.