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He could crush her with one paw. She didn't want to know what he was capable of if he got to her.
But that seemed to be the bear's aim as he wobbled from side to side towards her.
Another step back and Noelle knew there was no way out of it.
Once more, it was either the bear or her.
And as always, she chose herself.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she pressed the trigger, the shot erupting in the air and injuring the bear in his side.
But going by the howl of pain followed by the loud growl, it wasn't enough. It certainly wasn't enough to stop his advance.
Noelle's eyes widened, and she barely charged her rifle again before he was close to a foot away from her.
Though she was a good shot, at that moment, every atom in her body was shaking. She couldn't have gotten a kill shot regardless of how much time she had. She simply could not stop herself from trembling with fear and delayed adrenaline.
The bear's paw went up high in the air, and she knew it was a matter of seconds before it would hit her.
Breathing harshly, she looked around. She could run, but her legs wouldn't work, damn it. She could barely move her fingers enough to settle once more on the trigger. As the bear took another pained step towards her, she squeezed the trigger, the shot catching him right under his jaw.
For a moment, Noelle didn't know if she'd managedanything. She could only stare at the bear, he at her, and she believed that was her end.
But just as she was struggling to reload her gun, the bear teetered from side to side before falling to the ground. Not before he released one of the most earth-shattering sounds Noelle had ever heard.
The bear collapsed a few feet from her and she could still not muster the strength to move. She could only stare, dumbfounded.
She'd won. She'd…
A hiccup escaped her just as her legs turned to jelly. She barely kept herself from collapsing next to the bear too.
Especially as she took one step closer and noted that his eyes were still wide open. Wide open and blinking.
He wasn't dead, was he?
Noelle took one step closer until she reached his side. His legs moved, but barely. His eyes, though, were watching her intently. So much so that she felt herself lost in those depths.
She could see what he was asking for.
Mercy.
He wanted her to kill him, to put an end to the pain. Remembering Cisco had done the same to the rabbit, Noelle went back for her bag, removing a knife. She would never be able to snap his neck as her brother had done with the small bodied rabbit. But she could spare him pain like this.
Leaving everything behind but the small knife, Noelle tentatively walked to his side, getting too close for comfort but knowing it was necessary.
Though she saw he was still able to move, he didn't try to reach for her. He just watched, a silent plea hidden in his gaze.
Terrified but determined, Noelle took the last step that was separating her from the bear, her hand making contact with his fur.
A shiver went down her back, and for a moment her palm simply rested atop his fur.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, and she could almost swear the bear understood her. He blinked, as if he was telling herit's ok.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she brought the sharp edge of her blade to his neck. She needed to be swift and not cause him any more anguish.
Her face scrunched in pain as she placed her other hand on top of his head.
She'd shot him. She'd done this to him, so why was it so hard to deliver the last blow.
