At the same moment as Arrin told Clayton about the bear Ron looked up, and his eyes widened in fear at sight of the bear, which reared up on its hind legs and roared. “Dad?” Ron squeaked as Clayton whirled around in response to Arrin’s warning and the bear’s roar. “What should I do?”

“Don’t run. Make yourself as large as possible and make lots of noise.”

Ron took a few slow steps backward, after which in spite of his father’s admonition he yielded to terror, turned and rushed past his father and Arrin with the bear in hot pursuit. It was so intent on catching Ron it ignored Arrin and Clayton as it lumbered past. Clayton picked up a thick branch from the ground nearby and whacked the bear on the back, but it splintered and pieces lodged...

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