The Cabin, the Woods, and the Wolf #watty2016

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

           

Awareness came slowly. The warmth assaults my face as the fur comforts my body. My fingers burrow the long wisps into the thick protective layer; the skin under all the fur is exuding warmth. I swirl my hands around in the soft fur, soaking the warmth in.  The fur vibrates as my fingers trail further from my body. The next was the crackling of the wood burning in the fireplace, the beating of two hearts, not just mine.

            This is not just fur; this fur is attached to something that is still breathing possibly with very sharp teeth. At this thought my eyes open and look at the dark tawny colored fluff before me.  His eyes meet mine. The green-grey coloring is mesmerizing. Everything fades outs except his soft breaths that fall against my skin and my heartbeat accelerates to the best of a herd of galloping horses.  Heat flushes along my body.

My senses only register his nose closing in on my neck. His touch is wet and cold but my reaction is to pull away from the simple touch.

I bolt up right and away from him, falling to the dirt-covered floor.

At least I'm still dressed I think as I dust myself off but I still grr at him for my predicament. He quickly made an exit but later that night there were two rabbits on my front path, his peace offering for scaring me. I felt bad though because he gave me something greater my life when he saved me from the other wolf.

The days or maybe weeks are taking their time as we pass from one to the next with no real marker of time other than the shape of the moon. He lets me out of the cabin but is always two steps behind me either, making sure I don't bolt or that something doesn't threaten me again.  I enjoy the simple time we spend together. I came to rely on his presence for comfort and security. But his quick movements still frighten me. We both have learned he moves slower and I have come to trust him at least to not hit me. My fear now is being taken away from him, being taken back to my slavery.

            We grew in to a routine. I would take snow and melt it so I could have water to wash up in. while the water was heating he would step out to give me privacy. I have come to accept his intelligence without question now. Breakfast turned into to him leaving for short periods of time to do whatever he needed but by lunch he was back and laying down in the corner tracking my movements with just his eyes. Then there was the time he would leave to hunt for dinner or I assume that's what he did because he always came back with small game that was already stripped and clean. And then dinner is more of the same as lunch. But after dinner he let me escape the cabin for a bit t least until it turned dark.

On our late night walks if I look closely I can see the special glow of the flower but never see the falling of its petals or if its battle with the cold has stopped. He is moody on some days more than others but we never sleep next to each other again, always at arms length or further.

            On one night after our walk he disappears out the door not turning back or allowing me to follow. He is gone for days, the level of the soup slowly falls even though I try to make it last. The wood dwindles down too. I have no axe or weapon to kill with. Four days and night pass before a noise out side has me rushing through the door hoping to find my protector and provider one more time but it isn't to be.