Cole had always had more violent tendencies with sketchy behaviors like stealing and getting into fights and breaking rules. He was bragging about stealing from a hardware store and a kid named Peter Driscal had overheard and totally snitched, which made Cole’s blood boil. So he bashed Peter outside of school and landed himself in juvie. Desperate to avoid juvenile detention, Cole asked to join a system that his parole officer, Garvey offered, Circle Justice. So he went to circle justice and they decide Cole needed to go to a remote island in Alaska that Garvey had offered. Cole, in order to escape juvie agreed

While on the island, Cole was told stories about Spirit Bears, but to him those were bullshit. On the first day, Cole attempted to swim away and failed due to the tide. Cole needed to be in control. He felt anger, and burned every bit of supplies Edwin and Garvey had paid for to keep him alive. Everything besides a colorful blanket from Garvey’s culture, an At.oôw. Passed down from Garvey by his elders, Garvey handed it to Cole in his pile of supplies, but the colorful blanket was the one item that remained intact. By the second day, Cole had seen the spirit bear and decided if he saw that thing again, he’d kill it. So he sharpened a spear and later that day, saw the bear again. He attempted to kill the bear and got mauled and taken care of. Cole had realized his importance and why we were all alive after getting mauled

Cole received another try on the island after healing a bit, he was going to stay for a year or more this time. And by the time 1yr+, he had changed completely. He was no longer doing the island to escape jail, he was trying to change and he did. Cole barely felt any anger anymore when he soaked in a pond or did other traditions Edwin had started. To prove he changed and for Peter’s wellbeing since he got depressed, Peter was sent to the island. And it was just Peter, Garvey and Cole. Peter was bad to Cole at first but they eventually got along. The three are still on the island.