Little Wolf

Ch 53 Sister's Story

While the video unfortunately isn't Sister's story, it does show how shadow puppetry is done using different techniques. Who knows, some day I might get creative and do the story myself with shadow puppets! In the mean time, this will have to do.
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"Long ago, in the most ancient of forests, lived a pack of wolves."

We slid the tree cut-outs on one side of the make-shift stage, along with some cut-outs of wolves. Their shadows leaped on the screen behind Sister.

"They had neighbors, a group of monks who built a small stone monastery deep in the forest to live isolated from their fellow man."

A cut-out representing the monastery was slid onto the far side. It was made in two parts so the top part could be easily removed later.

Gypsy King took up his place, carefully holding a book so the shadows would show it.

"One monk in particular would often go outside and read from collective writings from the great philosophers and scientists of those days, for the monks' goal was to preserve the learnings of man. He gained an audience in the local wolf pack, so he would read out loud to them."

Lobo moved in on four paws. I watched the reactions of the council members in amusement as they watched what they thought was a big dog go to play his part without direction. I pulled the line of wolf cut-outs from the stage.

"One wolf in particular seemed to focus on him intently while he read, often bringing something from his hunt to share with the monk."

Lobo made a show of dropping the stuffed animal at the Gypsy King's feet. He moved back a bit, then sat at attention, then slid down to a laying position with his head and ears up, glancing to verify his shadow was right.

"Now, you all know Spirit Wolf walks the whole breadth of the world, and he watched the brotherhood develop between man and wolf. One day he couldn't tell the difference between the two. They had drawn so close together, their spirits merged together!"

Lobo moved toward Gypsy King, who stood to join him in the middle of the stage, wolf in front of man.

"Spirit Wolf decided to finish what the two had started on their own. He merged their bodies, the wolf and the man becoming one."

The two shifted, holding the mid-shift for a moment. We had already worked it out so Gypsy King would turn his head to show a wolf head profile. Lobo was hid by his friend, the two making one shadow.

Running Elk stood by some of the council members who were reacting to the scene before them. He had a bucket ready just in case, putting a hand on the one man's shoulder. Lone Wolf was on the other side, physically catching the one man who instinctively started to turn away. The older council members whispered assurances to the newer members, arms around shoulders. Eyes were wide, and most of them threw looks my way. I just smiled and nodded. My turn would come. Sister's voice never paused.

"The man gained a new appreciation for the world, how all of life is connected together. He saw the flaw in the monk's thinking, how separating themselves from the world did not enhance the world.

"The wolf gained an appreciation for man's innovative thinking, the way men could shape the world for their own wants and desires, using creation to provide for and protect themselves to compensate for their lack of fur and fang."