"Be careful of the woods, as the mighty beasts rule the meadows. If you come across one remember to run. You must never face it, as that would be your last day on Earth."
The older woman who managed the small meat stand told Colt this on one of his many adventures down to the woods that surrounded their small village. He had always ignored her words, for as a boy who has nothing, and can only escape into the woods to escape his daily abuse, his only solace was the swaying trees. Hunting for his own food had become a daily occurrence, as that was the only way he would be able to eat, and he thought that today's hunt would be the same as all the others, but was proven wrong as he found it.
The shining white fur, brilliant blue eyes, a small wolf cub that seemed to stare deep into his soul. At first Colt thought he was lucky as the wolf cub would make a great feast for that night's meal, but he couldn't bring himself to shoot it with his bow as he became captivated with its beauty.
A fearfully loud growl came from his left, and he jumped as he saw what seemed to be the parent wolf come from the shrubbery. It looked identical to the cub in front of him, yet a lot less docile. It approached him slowly, saliva dripping from its bared teeth. Colts legs vibrated against the ground and he couldn't move even an inch as the beast came closer to him.
His father always called him a good for nothing cowered, and he hated that it seemed like that man's words came true as he faced the beast in front of him. He should shoot it, run away, or do anything other than standing around! But of course the last option was what his heart had taken.
A whimper sounded from behind the beast, and the cub came forward. It looked as if it was communicating with its parent as the two locked eyes. A long breath seemed to be drawn out from Colt as he stared at the pair until finally, the parent wolf backed down and the cub came forward. It's eyes seemed to convey a peaceful sensation, as if to say 'I won't hurt you'.
The boy instinctually gripped his bow but a stern growl from the parent seized any thoughts of retaliation. He shook violently as he cub approached, wincing as it's head reached down to his leg. Shockingly, the cub simply licked his small knee, which had been cut up from an earlier fall caused by one of his fathers drunken rages.
The boy was beyond shocked, and when he was nudged by the cub he realized it was letting him go.
'What luck I have to be let go alive,' he thought to himself. A wolf, the symbol of the King himself, was an honorary animal. It was known to be the strongest, and if it wanted to kill him then he would be dead. It could have killed him on the spot.
Before the pair could change their minds he quickly turned and ran back to his house, elation quicklime changing to disappointment as he had realized he had no food to eat that night.'I guess that means there's no dinner for me tonight.' He thought to himself.
YOU ARE READING
The Little Wolf and Mighty Boy
WerewolfA boy who has nothing, and can only escape into the woods, always found solace with the way the trees sang. Getting away from the drunken abuse his father offered him was one reason, finding a way to fill his stomach by hunting would be his other re...