The cacophony of the bus was unbearable, a symphony of shouting, singing, and gossip from the final-year students of Prince William Sound College. Hazel, an extreme introvert with striking turquoise eyes, felt like a mismatch amidst the revelry. Her friends, Anna and Ruth, chided her for her habitual tardiness, but even their playful jabs couldn't quite shatter her reserved demeanor.

Two hours later, the bus finally reached its destination: the wild, dense Boreal forest of Taiga. The excitement among the students was palpable, a stark contrast to Hazel's quiet contemplation. As evening settled, she found herself wandering near the tents, torch in hand, her thoughts adrift. The monotonous sounds of wild insects offered a fleeting peace, until a faint growling pierced the quiet.

Hazel, drawn by the painful cry, followed the sound until she found him: a silver-gray wolf, its front leg covered in fresh blood, hopelessly entangled in a thorny net. Despite her fear, the wolf's human-like eyes pleaded for help, and without a second thought, she began to untie the trap, her hands working with an almost magical dexterity. A small crowd gathered, including her friends and Professor Henry, urging her to stop, but Hazel, stubborn and resolute, continued until the wolf was free. It lay silently as she cleaned its wound, its golden eyes fixed on her. As the wolf disappeared into the impenetrable darkness, Hazel sighed, a strange sense of contentment washing over her. She returned to her tent, unaware of the profound shift this encounter would bring to her life.