In the shadows, he was watching. A silverback gorilla, a king of his domain, observed the intruder. He had seen humans before, usually in noisy groups with clicking cameras. But this one was different. She was alone. She was quiet.
He moved closer, his massive knuckles pressing into the soil without making a sound. For a creature of his size, he moved with the grace of a ghost. He was curious. And curiosity in a wild apex predator is a dangerous thing.
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Tiara felt the presence closing in. Her heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird. Instinct told her to run, but logic told her that running triggers the chase. She had to stand her ground.
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She reached out blindly behind her, searching for a tree trunk to steady herself. Her hand trembled as it extended into the void behind her back. She needed something solid. She needed an anchor.