Those curious but terrifying grunts and sniffs turned to deep rumbling growls as a branch broke nearby. The beast turned around and faced something in the darkness. The hair on my neck and arms stood up as the cave rumbled; growls and snarls echoed off the walls around me, but besides scaring the living hell out of me, nothing happened. The beast's growl died down and disappeared into the darkness. But I didn't dare to move, breathe out loud, or crawl out to check. I stayed put and did my best not to fall asleep through the night. Again, I must have fallen asleep in the late-night hours because I jerked up and realized the sun was shining outside.
I listened to birds, wind, and insects. That's it, so I breathed out. My body was aching and sore, and I felt drained after a long night wi
