The Lone Wolf – Part 3

Campfire

The winter was especially long this year. The cold reached out and embrace me like the creator of long past. Snow that cover the ground crunched and crinkled under the weight of my body. The tree limbs that hung low, brushed my fur with cold wet as my fur melted their frozen branches. The day was coming to an end and night was coming quickly, but I still had a chore to do.  

I was curious about a smell in the forest that came to my nose some time ago. A fire. Fire meant humans, humans were especially dangerous creatures that had to be taken with great care. I have had dealings with men in the past, for I have been charged with taking care of all creatures that reside in my forest. Man was no different to me than the deer that I ate. Man was capable of great things, for both harm and good.

I came upon a clearing where a small light could be seen. This clearing was once a favorite spot of the humans that existed in the nearby village. They came into the wood ever so often. They held parties and seemed to be more or less in reverence or awe in this particular clearing.  

But now, sitting on a fallen log sat a single man tending the small fire. I was on the edge of the clearing, hiding in the shadows. I observed the man to find if he truly was a threat. His clothes were animal skins, he carried no weapon, and he was old. Old by the standards of his people, but he still looked like a child to my eyes. His hair was white and thinning. He had seen many years, and perhaps that was his reasoning for being here. 

“Come on out.” He said ever so simply. “I know that you are there, Wolf.”

Seeing that he was no threat and, indeed, there was none that could truly threaten me in my forest, I stepped out into the light of the clearing. I approached him from behind and circled around him and sat down across from him. So that he could how truly large I was and how small he was.

I stared straight into his eyes and he stared back at mine. He held my gaze for a moment, then turned away and continued to poke at the fire.

The warmth that the fire produced was a welcome comfort and I laid down, but I still kept a watchful eye on the man. 

“You know,” The man began to speak in a quiet voice.”We met once before in this very spot. It was many years ago. You protected my daughter from the winter’s bite that would have surely claimed her life. She told me after you left that she had had the best sleep in her life thanks to you.” A few tears went down his cheeks. “Then again, while I was out hunting, you save my entire village from the fires of bandits. What have we done to lilicite such kindness from a protector such as yourself?”

He fell silent for a moment. Of course I couldn’t answer him, I am a wolf. I know my place, and I know that I am not to talk unless I am given permission. 

The man composed himself and started again. “My daughter saw you again in the light of the village fire. She said that you had not changed from that night in the forest. And we have no more troubles from bandits since that night. As you can see now, I am old. but I see that you still have not changed from the morning when I met you. I was hoping that you would come by tonight so that I could see you before I die. Perhaps that is the reason I have outlived my daughter. You needed to hear from me before I rejoin her.” He started tearing up again. “The villagers come to this spot every so often as thanks to you for saving the village so many years ago, but never once have I joined them. So here I am, saying my peace to you.

He stood up and cleared throat and raised his eyes to meet mine. His clear blue eyes belied a fire of passion, but I could hear his heart getting weaker. “Great Wolf of the Wood, I am thankful to you for saving my daughter, twice. Though she was not yours to protect.”

I stood at this point and took a step towards the man. The fire had begun to die, so I walked around it. And as I got closer to the small, withered man I felt something be lifted from my mouth as if permission was given. The man was about to die anyway, who was he going to tell. 

“You are most welcome.” The words drifted from my mouth. I walked nearer to the man and bowed my head down, and I rubbed against him and he patted me back.

I heard his heart stop as he touched my fur. His soul left but his spirit remained.