Deep within the Twilight Mountain Range, patches of lingering snow dotted the forest floor, and the chill of early spring still enveloped the primeval woods.
At the foot of a leeward slope, in a cave half-hidden by withered branches and snowdrifts, a brown bear was stirring from its long hibernation.
Although the magnificent brown bear had grown leaner over the winter, its muscles were still solid and powerful.
It slowly opened its amber eyes, pupils adjusting quickly in the dim light.
A burning hunger gnawed at its stomach, awakening its instincts as an apex predator.
It deftly pawed away the snow and withered branches at the cave's entrance, its massive body squeezing nimbly out of the opening.
Despite its weight loss, its nearly three-meter length still made it look imposing.
It took a deep breath of the crisp forest air, and its keen sense of smell immediately went to work, searching for the scent of any possible prey.
Just then, a strange scent caught its attention.
