Twelve-year-old Nollan believes the Lie: Brave scouts don’t get scared.

At Camp Timber Creek, the legendary Bravery Badge is the ultimate prize. To earn it, Nollan must survive a solo night hike through the "Cauldron", a ravine filled with local myths and pitch-black shadows. But when Nollan hears a cry of pain off-trail, he faces a choice that no scout handbook can prepare him for.

In the brush lies a fox kit trapped in a wire snare. To save it, Nollan must break the cardinal rule of the hike: Never leave the path.

What starts as a quest for a patch becomes a high-stakes battle of wits against a ruthless poacher and a grueling survival mission during a mountain flash flood. Alongside his rival, the "Golden Scout" Felix, Nollan must lead a patrol of younger boys to safety using only their wits, their knots, and a brand of courage that doesn't require being fearless.

A heartwarming and tense adventure for fans of Hatchet and Wilderlore, perfect for readers ages 10–13.

Chapter Nine: The Sheepshank Snare

The man in the camouflage jacket took a step forward. The gravel hissed under his heavy boots, a sharp contrast to the soft, rhythmic drumming of the rain on the canopy. He was tall, but it was the way he filled the space, like a predator who knew he was at the top of the food chain, that made the younger scouts shrink back.

“Give me the traps you pulled,” the man said. His voice was like a low-speed grindstone, rough and grating. “They’re private property. You’re interfering with a licensed harvest.”

“There are no licenses for snares in a youth camp,” Felix said. His voice wavered, but he didn't move. He stood his ground, the silver whistle around his neck glinting in the poacher’s flashlight beam. “That’s poaching. It’s a felony.”

The man laughed, a dry, cold sound that reminded Nollan of dead leaves skittering over a tombstone. “A felony is only a problem if there’s a witness who can make it back to the ridge. Now, hand over the gear.”

He lunged.

“Run!” Nollan screamed.