The Blue Eyes of Sparrow

Chapter 4: To be a Wolf

Fleck blinked open her eyes as a low howl jerked her awake. She groaned and rolled on her side, then covered her ears. Snorting, she closed her eyes again.

Finally, she gave up she sat up and shook herself to rid of the clinging sleepiness. Finch was on the largest rock near the pool, pointing his tawny-gold nose the hole in the roof, which was as wide as the pool.

Curiously, Fleck joined him on the smooth, flat rock, perking her ears. Faint howls echoed forest the forest beyond, filling the air with their voices. Finch noticed Fleck and broke off from his howling to sniff her wounds. "You OK?" he murmured.

Fleck nodded, looking at the star-splashed sky. "What are you doing?" she barked. "Well," said Finch thoughtfully. "I'm howling with every wolf in the forest."

Fleck blinked in amazement, eyes stretching wide. "How many wolves are there in the forest?" she squeaked. Finch heaved a silent sigh. "I don't know little one, there are many, many wolves I have never met."

"Many, many?" echoed Fleck. "Yes," agreed Finch. He twitched one ear and whispered. "Can you hear it? Kiloa is howling. Can you hear her?"

Fleck pricked her ears, straining to hear the female's voice. But she could hear it, singing its own silvery song. "Yes! I hear! I hear her!" Fleck yipped.

Finch chuckled. "She is singing to all of the pups in the forest."

Fleck again strained for Kiloa's voice, and soon found it again. It took a moment, but Fleck began to hear the words Kiloa was howling.

From the lands of the river,

To the woods of pines.

May each pup find its home,

When looking at the stars,

And the First Wolf among them.

Each day of each moon,

From dawn till dusk;

Every pup sees the story in the sun;

And the tale in the moon;

Till you run with The First Wolf once more.

Fleck yelped with delight. "How did she do that?" Finch looked at her, a distant, yet gentle looked shone in his green gaze. "In every wolf, there is a pull toward the moon when it's out, the only way to let it out is to sing it to the forest, and every wolf."

Fleck blinked, trying to find the pull that Finch had spoken about. She shook her head. "Where is it?"

Finch drew is gaze to the white-speckled night sky, then back to Fleck. "You have to howl for the first time, then the next night it'll be there."

Nodding, Fleck tipped her nose toward the starry sky, and let out a thin howl.

And the stars answered.

The stars formed into images before her eyes, swirling into visions of running star-wolves, of wolves swimming in lakes, and wolves walking under a full moon.

Fleck found herself howling loud, with a beautiful, silvery voice. Finch had joined his voice to her, his rich, yet light. Before she knew it, she had sung a song to Kiloa.

May the stars watch over you,

Guard you in your sleep;

See you hunt with the thrill of the chase.

Until the stars turn into shadows,

Even then you will shine like a spark;

A spark that bring light to dark dreams.

Soon the voices of the howling wolves faded into the night, until the last wolf stopped and covered with forest with silence. Fleck blinked, she didn't want it to end, but her legs were shaking with weariness.

Finch nudged Fleck to the fern covering where he slept, and her curled his body around her, his fur warm against her side. Fleck yawned and put her head on her paws, slipping into sleep, and pulling her into starlit dream.