It was Sunday morning. The weather was sunny and warm. John and Mary woke up at 6 a.m. They ran back and forth across the house, full of excitement. Today was special—they were going on their first hiking trip to the forest without their parents.

They had to leave by 11 a.m. to catch the bus that would take them outside of town. Soon, they were ready and headed to the bus station. The bus arrived right on time at 11:30 a.m. The kids sat in the front seats, and the bus started moving.

Half an hour later, the bus reached their stop. The kids stepped off and turned toward the forest. From a distance, it looked peaceful and serene, like a magical escape. They rushed forward, eager to explore its hidden secrets. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something mysterious and unknown?

John was the first to step under the leafy canopy, with Mary following close behind. They pushed through bushes and shrubs, surrounded by the vibrant sounds of nature. Leaves crackled under their feet, and birds chirped overhead. They walked for about an hour before emerging into a meadow. The meadow was breathtaking—bright, open, and full of colorful flowers. And the massive tree stood in the center. As John looked closer, he noticed movement behind the tree.

"Mary, look over there," he whispered. Curious, Mary ran toward the tree to see what was behind it. But as she got closer, she suddenly froze. Her foot hit a rock, and she stumbled.

Near the tree, a massive brown bear sat slumped against the trunk. Its eyes were wild, its mouth foaming as it chewed on roots. Fear struck the kids. Their breath caught in their throats. The bear twitched and slowly turned its head toward them.

Then, it lunged.

John and Mary screamed and ran as fast as they could. But the bear had heard their footsteps. It charged after them.

John and Mary never made it back home to embrace their mother and father again.