Help Refused

Steve slipped inside, hands open, voice calm. The bear grumbled but let him kneel. Inside the jaws lay a pup-sized beast with coarse fur and a bleeding hind leg. Steve dabbed gauze, nodding to Hana for antibiotic cream. The bear’s amber eyes tracked each motion, tense yet permitting treatment.

Down the hall, Dr. Hargrove gathered staff, ordering security to await animal control and refuse entry. A new intern suggested helping, but was hushed. Hana’s overhead call for a pediatric set crackled through speakers, but Hargrove shook his head, citing liability. The team dispersed uneasily, leaving Hana and Steve isolated there.