A Moment of Trust
With Peter en route, Hana returned her focus to the bear. It paced once, then settled beside the pup with a heavy sigh, panting softly. Steve, now kneeling beside her, whispered, “This isn’t aggression. It’s maternal. Protective.” Hana nodded, watching the way the bear nuzzled the pup and licked its wound gently.
The bleeding had slowed, but the animal still needed medical care. Hana stepped closer, gauze in hand, heart thudding. The bear stiffened but didn’t move. Slowly, Hana cleaned around the wound. For a wild creature, it showed unnatural restraint. She realized with awe that the bear had brought this pup for help.