Clara rushed through the forest, the branches scraping her face and hands. She couldn’t see what was in hot pursuit but could hear it chasing her. The soft, grumbling sound crept closer and closer. Clara gasped for breath and retreated behind a tree as its presence reached her vicinity. The soft grumbling sounds disturbed the peaceful ambiance of the evening crickets. Clara put her hands over her mouth, hoping it wouldn’t hear her as it sniffed the ground, raking its paws on various trees. It seemed to be searching for something. Slowly, as the creature was sniffing a neighboring tree, she stepped out and prepared herself to run. As she did so, her undying curiosity told her to turn around. But Clara refused to listen and picked up her feet to run. Just as she was about to escape, Clara stepped on a lone branch, which alerted the creature. What was just soft grumbles turned into harsh and guttural growls of surprise. Shit, Clara thought. She sought to run faster and faster but tripped over leaves, hiding behind a huge rock. Behind it, she sat, knees tucked into her chest, trying to stay as quiet as possible.
The thing padded over to the rock and sniffed. She covered her nose and closed her eyes. A sharp metallic scent drifted her way, stinging her eyes and nearly making her gag. Something soft brushed up against her hair, almost like dog fur. Clara balled her fists up. The creature’s nose pushed into her face, dragging something wet across it. She fought to remain still as it pawed its sharp claws through her clothes. Seeming to find nothing, it suddenly rose and began to walk away. Clara waited several seconds before getting up. The footsteps slowly inched away as she crept to peer over the rock. Once she did, she had to cram her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming. There were at least three carcasses laid out on the ground. Soft pink fur stained red with death, eyes lifeless and still. As Clara sat wondering what could have killed them, the bear tore one of them open and began to eat, pinkish-red blood on its nose.
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