The waiting was endless. Twice David had dropped down a branch and each time Mama Bear charged below. Her wrath escalated—faster, angrier, a little more out of control. Was she truly lying in wait for them? It appeared to be so. This bear was smart, and God help them, they inadvertently had come between her and her cubs. Heavy, thick snowflakes landed on the tip of David’s nose. He looked up into a palate of solid white. Heavy clouds had settled in and opened, dumping snowflakes—lots of them. The dim light appeared to give way to twilight. It wouldn’t be long before complete darkness surrounded them. David shivered. He knew if they stayed up here any longer they’d freeze and any hope of finding their way home tonight would be lost. David swallowed. His cracked, dry lips stung from the light wind brushing through the trees. Then, one by one, he lowered himself down a branch. A sharp sting seared his bare hands, even his feet, making each step excruciating.
