Chapter 3: The Bear Encounter

The night was alive with the crackling of the fire and the scent of roasting food in the cool mountain air. Shree, along with his friends, sat around the campfire, enjoying their meal and each other's company. Laughter filled the air as they talked about everything and nothing. The vibe was relaxed—until the calmness was shattered by a loud rustling from the woods.

At first, no one took it seriously. It was just the wind, they thought. But the rustling grew louder, more frantic. The firelight flickered as a large shadow loomed near their campsite. Then, the unmistakable sound of a growl echoed in the air.

Everyone froze.

A bear.

The huge creature emerged from the trees, its eyes locked on the chicken leg Rutu was holding in his hand. It was a magnificent creature, its fur dark and thick, its paws as big as dinner plates. But as it approached, it was anything but peaceful.

"Run!" Prajwal shouted, panic rising in his voice.

The bear let out a terrifying roar, its eyes fixed on Rutu, who was so paralyzed by fear that he couldn't even move. The rest of the group started shouting at Rutu to throw the chicken leg, to do anything, but he stood there, unable to react.

Shree's heart raced. Part of him wanted to flee, to leave his friends and save himself. But something held him in place, an instinct to protect those around him. His eyes met Rutu's, and the sight of his friend frozen in fear, unable to move, made Shree hesitate for just a moment.

Without thinking, Shree bolted toward Rutu. In one swift movement, he twirled Rutu out of the way, pushing him to the side as the bear charged toward them. Rutu stumbled backward, still in a daze, and Shree grabbed the chicken leg from Rutu's trembling hand.

"Run!" Shree shouted.

He didn't need to tell Rutu twice. Both of them turned and sprinted in the opposite direction, with the bear hot on their heels. The forest echoed with the bear's growls and the pounding of feet against the earth. Shree ran with all his strength, the adrenaline fueling his every move.

But as he ran, memories flashed before his eyes—memories of how Rutu had always been there for him.

There was the time they were riding bicycles down the road, when Rutu had gotten a brand-new bike for his birthday. It was shiny, fast and lightweight with exceptional looks. As they raced downhill, Shree lost control, and the two of them crashed to the ground. The bike's front tire rim was shattered beyond repair. Rutu had tried to stay calm, even as his new bike was ruined.

Shree remembered how he took the blame immediately, standing in front of Rutu's parents and apologizing profusely for ruining the bike. Rutu's parents, although upset, assured them both that it was just an accident. But Shree couldn't shake the feeling that he was responsible.

There were countless other moments like that. Times when Rutu helped him, stood up for him, or offered advice when Shree was feeling lost. Rutu had always been a dependable friend, and now, in this moment of crisis, Shree couldn't leave him behind.

But the bear wasn't slowing down. It was gaining on them. Shree's heart pounded in his chest as he realized the bear wasn't just interested in the chicken leg—it had targeted them. With a sudden burst of energy, Shree threw the leg as far as he could. The bear's eyes followed the food, and it charged after it, giving Shree the opportunity to distance himself from the beast.

But as the bear lunged for the chicken leg, the force of its movement sent Shree stumbling. He lost his footing and fell hard into the earth. The ground gave way beneath him, and before he could react, he tumbled into a small cave hidden beneath the rocks.

His body collided with the jagged stones inside, pain shooting through every part of him. Blood seeped from various cuts, and his limbs felt like lead. Dazed and weakened, he tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. The world spun around him, and the last thing he heard was the distant call of his friends—calling his name, frantic and worried.

The bear's growl echoed in the distance, but Shree barely registered it. In his blurred vision, he saw a strange, ancient disc lying on the ground. His blood, still dripping from his wounds, fell onto the surface of the disc. As the blood touched the center, a strange, glowing pattern appeared on the stone, pulsing with an energy Shree couldn't comprehend.

He could only stare at it, a mixture of awe and confusion filling his mind. Everything felt surreal. It was as if time itself had stopped. The last thing he saw before his vision went black was the inscription on the stones surrounding the disc—strange symbols, unlike anything he had ever seen.

The last thing he thought, as the pain overwhelmed him, was: At least the bear won't hurt my friends now...

And then, darkness claimed him.