It was a she-wolf, terrifyingly thin, her skin clinging to her bones. Her fur was dirty and matted. But her eyes… they shone with a strange light. No fear, no aggression. Just pain.

John knelt down slowly. He took a piece of dried meat from his backpack — his last one — and gently placed it a few inches away. The she-wolf, cautious, sniffed and then ate. Slowly, silently.

— “You deserve a second chance too,” he whispered.

Then, without waiting, he walked away, thinking she would disappear forever.

One year later…

John returned to that part of the forest without any real reason. Perhaps out of nostalgia. The silence was peaceful, until a voice — or rather a strange whisper — murmured:

— John…

He froze. No one in sight. Suddenly, a figure emerged from the trees: a majestic she-wolf with gleaming fur.

She approached without a sound, her gaze just as intense. Soon, more wolves emerged around them. A pack. But none bared their teeth.

In his mind, the voice returned:

— You saved her. Now it’s your turn to be protected.

John dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by emotion. He understood then: when you respect nature, it knows how to return the purest of gestures.