Inside the cockpit, Anna saw neither a body nor blood, as she had expected, but a neatly packed bag, documents, and a functioning emergency beacon.

Nearby — footprints leading away from the helicopter toward firmer ground. Whoever the pilot was, he had survived and managed to get out.

Anna quickly took the compass, memorized the landmarks, and without wasting time reached the nearest elevation where there was a signal.

Rescue teams arrived by evening. It turned out the helicopter had made an emergency landing due to engine failure, and the pilot was found several kilometers away — exhausted, but alive.

When the noise of the rotors faded, the forest filled with sounds once again. Anna slowly exhaled and looked at the basket of herbs.

She had come here seeking silence — and found something more. A reminder that even in the deepest wilderness, fate can suddenly change someone’s path.