Orphanage.

Quiet Valley: what is known about it

The name "Quiet Valley" seems specifically crafted to lull one's vigilance: it sounds peaceful, almost cozy, like a place where one can breathe and sit in silence. But this silence isn't peace, but the calm before the storm.

The official version: why it was named that way

*Because of the topography. "Dol" is a lowland, an elongated hollow between hills where the wind barely blows. Because of this, it's always quieter here than in the neighboring forests.

• An old name. In old 19th-century land survey books, this place was already listed as "Tikhy Dol." People were still living here then, and the name seemed appropriate: no noisy river, no ravine winds, only the rustling of leaves.
  A tourist image. The rare brochures for local historians describe it as "an ideal place for meditation and birdwatching." In reality, there are almost no birds here.

The silence is oppressive. In the Quiet Valley, it's not just quiet—it's as if sounds are fading. Footsteps become muffled, voices sound unnatural, and whispers carry farther than they should. That's why the children in the orphanage whisper: they know that in this silence, even things that shouldn't be heard can be heard. Strange acoustics. Sometimes, from the depths of the forest, sounds emanate that are inexplicable: not howls, but barks, sharp cries, as if someone is twitching and unable to hold their body still. Then everything falls silent again—and the silence becomes even heavier.
The trees stand too straight. Local hunters say the forest in Quiet Valley seems to have been "trimmed" by an invisible hand: the crowns close together so tightly that even on a clear day there's semi-darkness below.

*The shelter stands on the edge of a valley. It seems wedged between the forest and the cliff, as if it were purposely built where the forest can't reach. But werewolves still find a way in.

• Disguising themselves as children. The werewolves use the silence of the valley as cover: they approach the shelter almost silently, their twitching movements attributed to fear and stress. They hide the bite on their hand, but it's still visible in the shelter's utility room—and that's where the fate of the newcomer is decided.
  Nighttime forays. During the full moon, werewolves emerge from the forest to hunt. They say that on these nights, Silent Valley "comes alive": rustling sounds and the crunch of branches can be heard, but when you follow the sound, there's no one there. The orphanage is called "Henderson Orphanage."

*A damp lowland. Because it's a valley, fog often covers the area, especially in the mornings and after rain. The fog makes the forest even more impenetrable and hides any traces.

• Rare Plants. The lowland is home to plants rarely seen elsewhere: pale grasses, strangely colored moss, and dark-veined mushrooms. Children sometimes collect them and whisper that "the forest gives signs."
  Tracks that disappear. Paw prints are clearly visible on damp soil, but after just a couple of hours they seem to dissolve. This baffles even experienced trackers.

*The scanner reacts to the forest itself. Sometimes the device in the utility room emits weak signals even when no one suspicious is nearby—as if the very ground in Quiet Valley is "emanating" something inhuman.

• The boundaries are not arbitrary. The shelter staff know that the shelter is located precisely on the border of two zones: where the forest can still be monitored, and where it's best not to enter, even during the day.
  Children sense the forest before adults. Some children develop a strange sense of smell: they know in advance when someone is approaching from the forest, and begin whispering even before the staff notices anything amiss.

*"Silence is a warning." Elders in nearby villages believe that if the Quiet Valley becomes completely silent, it means a stranger is nearby, and the forest "holds its breath."

• "You can't call someone by name here." There's a superstition: if you shout someone's name loudly in the depths of the valley, you might attract the attention of the one who doesn't respond with a voice. Therefore, the children at the orphanage call each other in whispers and only by nicknames.
  "The forest remembers your steps." Hunters say that if you walk through Quiet Valley twice, the second time the trail will lead in the wrong direction, as if the forest is deciding who to let in and who to confuse.