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"You'll be okay," Janice said, as much to herself as to the fox. "The area will get cleaned up. The watershed will recover. You and your mate will raise kits in the spring, and life will go on the way it's supposed to."

The fox sat again, tail wrapped around his paws, and they regarded each other across the snow. Two creatures who'd shared space without interference, who'd respected boundaries while acknowledging connection.

Then the fox stood, turned, and trotted back into the forest. He paused once at the tree line, looking back over his shoulder, before disappearing into the shadows.

Janice stood there for a long moment, tears gathering in her eyes, watching the place where he'd vanished, feeling the significance of the goodbye even if she couldn't quite articulate why it mattered so much.

Cole's hand landed gently on her shoulder. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She turned to face him, swiping at the tears that escaped, seeing understanding in his eyes. "I'm okay. Let's go home."

They climbed into the SUV, and Janice took one last look at the cabin as they pulled away. But she wasn't alone anymore. And as the cabin disappeared behind them and Cole's hand found hers across the center console, Janice realized she was ready for whatever came next.

38

Three Months Later

Janice knelt beside the examination table, her hands gentle as she checked the bandage on the young hawk's wing. Three months since Alaska, and she was back where she'd started… her parents' veterinary clinic in Washington State, surrounded by the familiar smells of antiseptic and animals, with the soundtrack of barking dogs and meowing cats filling the air.

"How's he looking?" Her mother appeared in the doorway, still wearing her surgical cap from the animal she’d just saved when it had been brought in with a broken leg.

"Good. The fracture's healing nicely." Janice ran her fingers carefully along the wing, feeling for any swelling or heat that might indicate infection. "Another week and you can start working on flight conditioning."

Her mom moved closer, peering at the hawk with the practiced eye of a veterinarian who'd spent thirty years treating everything from hamsters to buffalo. "You did good work setting that wing. Clean break, perfect alignment. He'll fly again."

"That's the goal." Janice returned the hawk to his recovery cage, making sure he had fresh water and the small pieces of meat she'd prepared earlier. "Wild things deserve to stay wild."

Her mother's hand landed on her shoulder, warm and familiar. "You sound like me when I was your age.

Janice smiled, thinking of all the times she'd shadowed her mother on wildlife calls as a kid. Injured deer, orphaned raccoons, a bald eagle that had been hit by a car. Her mom had taught her that the goal wasn't to tame wild animals but to heal them and send them back where they belonged.

Just like that red fox in Alaska. The memory of him sitting in the snow, watching her leave, still made her chest tight with emotion.

"Speaking of wildlife," her dad called from the front office, "Janice, you've got a call on line two. Says it's about the Alaska research."

Janice stripped off her gloves and moved to the phone, her heart picking up speed. She'd been waiting for this call, hoping it would come before she left for Montana tomorrow.

"Dr. Lynch speaking."

"Janice, it's Marcus." Her former supervisor's voice came through clearly. "I wanted to give you an update on the Alaska situation before you heard it through official channels."

"What's happened?"

"The EPA completed its assessment of the contamination. Your water quality data and wildlife documentation were crucial in establishing the extent of the damage." Marcus paused. "Charles Penson and three of his senior executives were indicted yesterday. Federal charges included environmental crimes, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice. They're looking at serious prison time."

Janice sank into her dad's desk chair, relief flooding through her. "And Cheryl Whitten?"

"She cut a deal. Testified against Penson in exchange for immunity. Turns out, she had been documenting everything for months, including financial records, internal communications, and photos of the illegal operations. Her testimony is what made the case airtight."

"She saved my life," Janice said quietly. "I'm glad they recognized that."

"The university wants you to know that your research is being published. Modified, obviously—it's no longer just about climate change impacts. Now it's a case study in how corporate greed can devastate an ecosystem." Marcus's voice held pride. "Your name is going on it as lead researcher. This is going to be significant for your career, Janice."

She should feel excited. This was the kind of recognition that could open doors and lead to grants and positions at prestigious institutions. But all she felt was tired satisfaction that justice was being served, even if she was pissed at the university.

"Thanks for letting me know, Marcus."

"There's one more thing." He hesitated. "The university is dealing with some embarrassment. Turns out a major donor who'd pledged significant funding was connected to Northern Summit. You can imagine who. The board is scrambling to distance themselves from the whole mess."