The Bear Leads

The door creaked open, and the bear rose. She didn’t growl or flee. She simply turned and padded out into the hallway, glancing back once at Hana. The officers tensed, hands brushing holsters, but held position. Hana followed, heartbeat drumming in her ears, eyes locked on the bear’s swaying form.

The creature moved with clear intent, ignoring the chaos around her. She went down the corridor, past the lobby, and out into the rain. Hana followed through the emergency exit, soaking instantly. Steve grabbed his coat and ran after them. Peter stayed behind to monitor the pup and alert the vet team.