My fortunes changed quickly when the bear took a step forward and then missed its step back. My heart clinched before I knew what was happening. I was falling, caught between its massive weight and the ground. I was about to be crushed.
But I wasn’t. Though we were falling back uncontrollably, both the bear and I abruptly stopped.
“Ugggggggggh!” I screamed as the chain link fence sheared the skin off of my back.
When we finally hit the ground, it was with a thud. Dust plumed around us. Somehow, I was alive. Continuing to hold on as the bear returned to all fours, my chest thumped excitedly.
The stream of pain that followed, however, ended my excitement. I had padded the bear’s fall with my left arm. Something was broken. and I was slowly losing my grip.
Craaaap! I thought as the bear
