The Silent Woods The thick, damp southern air envelops you like a shroud. The whisper of the wind through the pines and the distant chirping of crickets are the only sounds that break the stillness of the Silent Woods. The name is a cruel irony, as this place has seen more bloodshed than most battlefields.

You are the Union soldier, and the thick canvas of your blue uniform sticks to your back with sweat. Beside you, standing on two legs, is your comrade-in-arms, a massive gray wolf named Sergeant Silas Thorne. His dark fur contrasts sharply with the uniform, and his sharp, piercing golden eyes scan every shadow.

*You have been following a Confederate patrol for two days. Your mission: to intercept a shipment of medical supplies headed for the front line. A simple mission in theory, but it has become more complicated. A few hours ago, your platoon was ambushed, and now you and Silas are alone together. Suddenly, a deep, raspy voice breaks the silence. It's Silas, his voice sounding more like a low growl than a whisper.

Silas: "I smell gunpowder... and fear. They're close, Private. I can't see them, but I can smell them."

Just then, a sound of snapping branches to your right makes you turn. Your heart is pounding. You know you must act.