Sister Wolf

Wolf in the wild

I was so excited by the events during the marathon, meeting my wolf friend and all, that I didn't even realize until now, when I'm getting ready for bed, that Wolfie, the stuffed wolf my dad had gotten for me, was MISSING!

I was so upset, even after the day I had. I don't know how I could have been that careless! My DAD had gotten that wolf for me! Dad called that nice guy from the park up. (You remember, John that took us for the ride?) John promised to look for it, but somehow I just know it's going to be lost and alone forever!

(Dramatic sigh😓)

Dad said if they can't find it, he'll get me another one, but it just won't be the same. That wolf and I have had so many adventures! I guess maybe it's time he had an adventure on his own! I might have to tell his story, lol. Maybe that nice wolf I met will find him and take him home and treat him nice. (I'll be very upset if he becomes that Wolf's chew-toy!)

So here it is, the story of a young wolf out on his own!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Shelly, come look at these mushrooms! They're growing on the side of this tree. Have you ever seen anything like it? Shelly?"

Eolf turned around, expecting to find the neighboring alpha's daughter behind him. His brow furrowed in confusion at seeing no one. "Shelly!"

A touch of fear for his companion rose within him. He was going to be alpha some day, even if he was only eight years old. He needed to protect her! He frowned in frustration.

"Shelly, stop hiding!" The young some-day alpha stomped his foot, demanding an answer. "Shelly!"

It took a few minutes before the young boy realized it wasn't Shelly who was missing, it was himself who had somehow gotten mixed up in the woods and gotten separated from everyone, even the guards. It confused him, because he hadn't planned on slipping away from the guards. Every time he had actually tried to lose his guards, he never could! How had he managed it this time?

He wasn't sure if he should be worried about being alone or ecstatic. He was worried about Shelly, but figured the guards would watch out for her. After standing there, walking a few steps here and there, coming back to the place where he realized he was alone, Eolf decided he really was all alone, and no one was going to appear through the trees.

A smile, more of a grin, spread across his face. Now, for the first time, the eight-year-old could do whatever he wanted! He gave a small leap and took off running. When he fell and rolled along the ground, he could only laugh. Getting up, Eolf brushes himself off, wondering what to do next.

He looked around. The ground was mostly dirt, with strange plants growing below the canopy of tree branches above him. Wrapping his arms around the biggest tree he could find, he wondered how old it was. He pressed his cheek against the rough bark. Going from tree to tree, the young boy said hello the forest around him. His hands brushed against the rough bark, his feet stepped around the sparse underbrush.

It was as if the trees themselves led him to a small creek, where Eolf drank his fill of the water that tumbled over the smooth rocks. He held onto the exposed roots as he drank. He thought about taking a swim. He splashed through the water that at its deepest barely came up to his ankles. laughing at his foolishness. As if he could swim in the water that barely skated over the ground!

When Eolf came to a small field, he lay back, resting and watching the clouds. He dreamed a wolf made of sunbeams was prancing among the clouds, playing in the midst of his airy fluffy field. Eolf must have dozed for awhile, because he woke to shadow standing over him. He blinked a few times, taking another look at the giant wolf that stood over him.

"Hello," Eolf mustered up the courage to say.

The black wolf that stood over him snorted, then moved, melting into the tall grass around him. Eolf wondered if he dreamt the wolf. As he looked around, he noticed the sun was going down. The air was getting cooler. The guards would be looking for him by now.

He got up, stretching. His hands gently brushed the colorful flowers in the meadow. The flowers in the gardens back home were much bigger. Eolf decided to pick a bunch of the tiny flowers for Shelley.

The boy smiled as he finished. It was a grand bouquet, filled with white, purple, and yellow flowers. He spun around, frowning as he realized he had no way to give them to her. He had no idea where Shelley was. He had no idea where he was! Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, tears he refused to shed. He was a future alpha!

Eolf took a deep breath. "I will find Shelly," he proclaimed.

"Is that the name of the girl?" a voice asked from the grass behind him.

Eolf spun around, thinking to face whoever spoke. He saw no one.

"Show yourself," Eolf demanded.

An area in front of him grew darker, coalescing into the black wolf he'd thought he'd dreamt up.

"Are you real?" The youngster asked, reaching out to touch the wolf.

The beast in front of him gave him a wolffish grin, taking a step away. The black wolf looked back over his shoulder, encouraging the boy to follow him. Eolf took a hesitant step. The black wolf nodded, taking another step, but not answering the youth. After taking a few steps, the black wolf vanished again. Eolf wondered how he did that.

"Wait up!" the boy called out, chasing after his elusive prey.

It became a game then; sometimes it was follow the leader, sometimes it was hide and seek. The boy kept a grip on the handful of flowers he had picked, refusing to give them up to make traveling easier for himself. He was getting frustrated and tired following the silent wolf. Part of him wondered why he was even following the stranger.

The black wolf, for his part, was amused by the young boy crashing through the woods. The youngster had a lot to learn. It took a few hours to guide the boy back to the border of the neighboring pack where he had come from. The black wolf grinned to himself. The boy's father had asked for help training his young son.

Alpha Adam was now looking forward to an assignment he had once thought to refuse. He liked the young alpha-to-be. He was energetic, fun-loving, and considerate. Adam was reminded of himself at that age, only Adam never thought to bring anyone flowers. He smiled, turning back toward home as a guard called out and the boy answered. He would contact the neighboring Alpha when he got back, agreeing to the proffered arrangement.

Adam headed back to the flower-filled meadow before heading home. A few flowers around his normally austere home setting might be nice! He couldn't wait to see the look on the boy's face when they met again!