It was a quiet evening, the forest still as Jack moved through it, his steps barely making a sound. The usual rustling of leaves was absent, and only the faintest breeze disturbed the air. In the distance, he heard the excited bark of an animal. Intrigued, Jack followed the sound until he reached a small clearing. There, a large black wolf stood, its tail wagging as it barked joyfully at someone—or something—out of Jack’s sight. The wolf’s energy felt strangely out of place in the otherwise silent woods, and Jack watched from the shadows, his curiosity piqued.