"So what exactly do we do now?" Nova whispered, his eyes fixed on the giant bear ahead like it might change its mind about existing if he stared at it long enough. "How are we supposed to reach that portal without waking that thing up?"
The bear stood between them and the glowing blue vortex Its low growl came through the ground more than the air, a vibration that moved up through their knees.
Lucas studied the clearing quietly, his eyes moving over the terrain, the spacing between the trees, the way the bear was positioned relative to the portal behind it.
Gideon spoke before Lucas had finished thinking. "That thing is enormous," he said, keeping his voice low and even. "Which means its close-range vision around its blind spots should be weaker than a normal beast." He pointed subtly toward the back-right side of the bear. "If we circle around through its blind area carefully enough, we might be able to reach the portal without triggering it at all."
