A Rapid Pace

I would love to say there was a plan at this point. To say that would be stretching things a bit. There was running. The only plan there might have been would be 'avoid the bear'. Not a bad plan under the circumstances but nothing grandiose at the same time.

I am not a good runner. I sit a lot, far too much, and don't do enough cardio work to make running easy.  Fear is a great motivator and got me moving. Once that adrenaline faded, so did my ability to keep moving. I know the old joke states that you don't need to outrun a bear, just your friends that are also trying to outrun the bear. I wheezed, my foot hit a patch of ground on an uneven level, twisted, stumbled, and nearly tumbled down this steeply inclined hill. On the plus side, this helped me catch up with the rest of the group, mostly for those nice enough to stop to check on me.

“You okay?” Dave was keen to know. I gasped for breath in response. I'm not sure he was even winded. I hate that. I tried nodding as they helped me up, somewhat aware that this motion might be lost amongst the other actions.

Once I reached my feet, I leaned up against the chunk of exposed rock that was the side of the hill and worked to catch my breath. Panic faded slightly, allowing my reason to began returning. “Where... where is it?” I wheezed.

Dave and Tina looked around, searching for the odd looking beast that had chased us. “I don't see it,” Dave noted.

“I don't hear it,” Tina added.

I managed a deep breath.”Did it give up?”

“Possibly,” answered Dave. “Bears are defensive creatures. Generally speaking they don't attack for the sake of attacking.”

“What was this bear defending when it attacked us?” Tina demanded.

Dave shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno.” He considered this for a moment. “It was a bit small and baggy looking. Maybe it was sick?”

“Maybe,” Tina agreed. “I'm no vet. It would make sense if it was lashing out in blind pain. Or explain the lack of expression on its face.”

“Hey,” I interjected, “is this rock vibrating or is it just me?”

Dave laughed. “Are you that shook up from some running? That's just...” He stopped his mockery upon feeling the rock. “It is vibrating. Or pulsing or something.”

“Why would that be happening?” Tina wondered.

“I don't know but I think we should find out.”