Shivers

Grizzly

In the dense, unforgiving wilderness of the Canadian woodlands, three friends embarked on a hiking adventure they would never forget. Mary, Sophia, and Mae Yim were a close-knit trio, but a palpable tension hung in the air.

As they trekked deeper into the forest, the atmosphere grew colder, and the shadows of ancient trees loomed above them. The smell of damp earth and decaying leaves permeated their senses, and an eerie silence enveloped the friends.

"What's the matter, Sophia?" Mary asked, sensing her friend's bitterness.

"I think you know," Sophia replied, shooting a glare at Mary.

Mae Yim sighed, stepping between the two women. "Come on, guys. We're here to enjoy ourselves and escape the city's chaos. Let's not ruin it with old grudges."

Mary and Sophia begrudgingly agreed, but the tension remained.

As the sun began to set, the friends made camp near a clearing. The wind whistled through the trees, and the sounds of nocturnal creatures serenaded the darkness. The friends huddled around the fire, sharing stories and laughs, when a deep, guttural growl echoed through the night.

"What was that?" Mae Yim whispered, her eyes wide with fear.

"I don't know," Mary replied, gripping her flashlight tightly.

The three friends listened, barely breathing, as the growling grew closer. The trees rustled, and a massive shadow loomed over their camp. A grizzly bear of mammoth proportions emerged from the darkness, its eyes gleaming with a sinister intelligence. It stood on its hind legs, towering over the friends at nearly fifteen feet tall—a perfect predator and a rare freak of nature.

Sophia gasped. "It's a giant!"

The trio stared in horror as the monstrous bear sniffed the air, seemingly aware of their fear. Mary, a sudden burst of adrenaline fueling her actions, grabbed her backpack and shouted, "Run!"

The three friends sprinted through the forest, their footsteps pounding the earth as they tried to outrun the colossal beast. The giant grizzly pursued them, its roars echoing like thunder throughout the woods.

"Split up!" Mae Yim yelled, her heart pounding in her chest. "It can't chase all three of us!"

Sophia and Mary reluctantly agreed, each veering off in a different direction. The bear followed Mary, its predatory instincts locking onto her scent. Mary, her legs growing weak from fear and exhaustion, tripped on a root and fell to the ground. The grizzly loomed over her, its massive paw raised to strike.

Suddenly, Sophia appeared from the shadows, brandishing a large branch like a club. "Hey, you overgrown furball!" she shouted, drawing the bear's attention.

The grizzly turned, giving Mary the chance to crawl away. Sophia swung the branch, striking the bear's snout, but it barely flinched. It lunged at Sophia, but she managed to dodge its attack, buying her friends time to regroup.

Mae Yim, who had circled back, found Mary and helped her to her feet. "We need to do something!" she cried.

A plan formed in Mary's mind. "Sophia, lead it to the river! We'll set a trap!"

Sophia nodded, understanding the unspoken plan, and dashed toward the river, the grizzly hot on her heels. As the bear pursued her, Mae Yim and Mary gathered dry branches and leaves, creating a makeshift pit. They covered it with a layer of foliage, concealing the trap.

Sophia, her energy waning, sprinted toward her friends, the colossal bear
snarling behind her. "Now!" Mary yelled, signaling for Sophia to leap over the pit.

With a final burst of strength, Sophia jumped, narrowly avoiding the concealed trap. The grizzly, unable to stop its momentum, plummeted into the pit, its massive body crashing through the branches and leaves. It roared in frustration, its razor-sharp claws tearing at the earthen walls as it tried to escape.

Mae Yim, her heart racing, hurried to the riverbank and filled her backpack with large rocks. The three friends, working together, hurled the rocks at the trapped bear, driving it deeper into the pit. The grizzly's roars grew fainter, exhaustion overtaking its monstrous form.

The friends stood over the pit, panting and covered in sweat, but triumphant. The giant grizzly lay defeated, its once-menacing presence now reduced to a whimper.

Sophia turned to Mary, her face a mixture of gratitude and regret. "Thank you," she said quietly.

Mary smiled, reaching out to place a hand on Sophia's shoulder. "We're friends, Sophia. That's what friends do."

Mae Yim nodded, her eyes shining with relief. "I'm glad we could put our differences aside."

As the sun rose, bathing the forest in a golden light, the three friends gathered their belongings and began the journey back to civilization. The ordeal had tested their friendship and pushed them to their limits, but they emerged stronger than before, bound by their harrowing experience.

And though the giant grizzly remained a haunting memory, the friends knew that together, they had faced the darkness and emerged victorious.