Joanne led Mr. Darcy to the northeastern corner of her property, her thoughts consumed by JD's unsettling expression from that morning. The usual soothing breeze did little to ease the unease in her stomach, and the rhythmic thud of hooves, a normally calming sound, felt distant, like it was muffled underwater.
She followed the power cables, searching for damage. It had been a while since she visited this side of the property; the grass was overgrown and wild, threatening to reclaim the land. Weeds curled around the wooden fence that separated her property from the federal reserve land beyond.
This was Tanya's territory.
Joanne had always respected the mother bear's space. Female black bears, especially with cubs, preferred to stay near human habitation to deter larger predators. Tanya had lived in the area for years, raising multiple litters, with this year's two playful cubs looking particularly healthy in the sunlight.
