The next morning, I was awakened by the noise outside the tent. Groggily, I opened my eyes and glanced at my watch. It was just past four in the morning.
I got up and stepped out of the tent, seeing Hunter and his team already dressed and preparing their gear for departure.
"You're heading out this early?" I asked, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
"We're going on our routine patrol," Hunter replied while checking his backpack. "We need to see if any animals are trapped in snares and observe the wildlife activity, recording their numbers and health conditions."
"Can I come along?" I asked, suddenly interested. "I'd like to contribute to animal protection too."
"Of course," Hunter smiled at me, "but be careful. The forest can be dangerous."
Ethan and Alexander emerged from their tent as
