A Strange Sound Below

After twenty breathless minutes, the bear stopped near a thicket of brush and thick ivy. Hana stepped forward, breath fogging in the damp air. Beneath the undergrowth was an old, moss-covered well—its stone rim cracked and overgrown. From below came soft cries, faint and rhythmic, unlike any sound she’d heard before.

Steve crouched near the edge, shining his flashlight into the darkness. “There’s movement down there. A lot of it.” Hana leaned in, heart thudding. “More pups?” she whispered. The bear let out a low moan and touched the rim with her nose. Hana understood immediately. Whatever was down there needed help.