The forest ranger's office sat at the edge of the trailhead, a low wooden building with a green metal roof and a bulletin board covered in faded notices about trail safety and bear sightings. Evelyn kept her grip on Jane's arm as they stepped inside. The air smelled of coffee and damp paper.
A man in a khaki uniform looked up from behind the counter. He was somewhere in his late forties, broad-shouldered, with a neatly trimmed beard and a name tag that read Officer Jolly Henderson. His expression was calm, the kind that came from years of listening to panicked hikers and lost tourists.
"Afternoon, ladies. What can I do for you?"
Evelyn's throat felt tight. Jane gave her a small nudge, and she managed to speak.
"We were in the woods a couple of nights ago—near the old rose thicket—and I found an injured dog. Really big one. It was bleeding from thorns. I tried to help, but I think I might have made it worse." She swallowed. "I used some leaves I thought were medicinal. Turns out they were Raven Bud."
Officer Henderson's eyebrows rose a fraction. He reached for a notepad. "Raven Bud. That's not good. Describe the animal."
"Dark grey-black fur. Blue eyes. Bigger than any dog I've seen—looked more like a wolf, honestly, but it acted tame. It let me get close, even when I was cleaning the wounds."
Jolly wrote steadily, but his pen slowed. "We don't have wolves in these woods. Not real ones, anyway. This area only sees foxes, hares, the odd jackal, and whatever strays people dump. A wolf-sized animal with blue eyes? That's unusual. More likely a big mastiff mix or some escaped guard dog. Still—" He set the pen down and gave her a measured look. "Raven Bud on an open wound is serious. If the animal dies and we find traces, you could face a citation. Interfering with wildlife without training, even with good intentions, can carry a fine. We've had cases before."
Evelyn's stomach dropped. She hadn't considered that angle at all.
Jane cut in quickly. "She was trying to stop the bleeding. We didn't go back in because we figured we'd only make it worse."
"Good call," Jolly said, nodding once. "I'll send a team out at first light tomorrow. We'll check the area, see if there's a carcass or any sign of the animal. Raven Bud can cause shock and heart issues in larger canines, but some have surprising resilience. You did the right thing reporting it instead of going back yourself."
Evelyn nodded, guilt still heavy in her chest. "If you find anything… can you let me know? I just want to know it's okay."
"We don't usually give personal updates, but I'll see what I can do." Jolly tore off the top sheet of his notepad and slid it across the counter. "Leave your number. And next time you're in the woods, stick to the marked trails. Some of those plants bite back harder than you expect—and next time, call us before you try playing vet."
They stepped back outside into the late afternoon light. Jane bumped her shoulder lightly.
"See? Professionals are on it. You've done everything you can for now."
Evelyn exhaled, the sting behind her eyes easing a fraction. "Yeah. Thanks for coming with me."
They walked back toward the parking lot in companionable silence, the worst of the panic dulled by action. Still, Evelyn kept glancing toward the tree line, half expecting to see a dark shape watching from the shadows. The possibility of a fine lingered in her mind like an extra weight she hadn't asked for.