With every step, the distant noise of the city grew fainter, until it vanished completely. Evelyn’s sneakers crunched softly over fallen twigs and dry leaves, the only other sound being the measured footfalls of the two bears ahead of her. They walked with a strange deliberateness—neither slow nor rushed—always glancing back to ensure she was keeping up. The path wasn’t clear. No trail marked their passage.
Branches tugged at her sleeves, and thorns scratched at her legs. Still, Evelyn pressed on, brushing them aside as her curiosity started to outweigh her fear. There was something surreal about this—something that made her feel like she’d stepped into a dream she couldn’t quite wake from.
She found herself talking out loud, more to ground herself than to be heard. “Okay… this is insane. I’m following two bears into a forest. That’s normal. Totally fine.” Her voice felt thin against the silence. The larger bear paused for a moment, glancing at her with something that almost resembled recognition.