The cry of the wolf

Previously

…As the sun began its descent, casting long, golden shadows through the trees, Carter felt a profound sense of peace settle over him. He was no longer just a boy from a small cabin. He was a part of something ancient, something powerful. He was a protector, a guardian, standing beside a creature of legend, at the threshold of a mystery that stretched back to the dawn of time. The path ahead was unknown, fraught with untold dangers, but for the first time, Carter felt truly alive, truly connected to the world around him. The whisper of the wind through the leaves seemed to carry a promise, a subtle hum of magic, and he knew, with absolute certainty, that his journey had only just begun.