"Ever since I picked up her scent,
I've been trying to find her.
And when I did, my father told me
I had to hunt, destroy her.
All the while, I knew could not, felt I should not
But stolen moments neither of us forgot
Drive me to balance beliefs an...
"A bunch of hikers are taking a much easier trail, firefly," Uncle Jesse said. "Why don't you go with them?"
"Dad has been taking me hiking and living off the land since I was ten, Uncle Jesse," I said as I filled my canteen. "I'll be fine, promise." Whether he realized it or not, this hike was easy. I wasn't staying overnight, and in turn that meant I wouldn't need to make a fire. The boat would leave at midnight. I'd make it. I was starting early just to give myself time. My backpack wasn't even as full. Even the website said it was low impact, and I was used to far, far more advanced.
As civilization disappeared, nature opened up before me and I felt all the better for it. I climbed trees to look for short cuts, and cut through the woods when I could. I finally found a waterfall, a small one, and decided to stop to eat and drink a bit. I opened one of the books Dad gave me called The Monster Hunter's Handbook, hoping to get one chapter in before setting off again.
I sat there, just watching the water. I actually got surprised by a deer, but it seemed pretty oblivious of me, so I watched it. It was quiet, beautifully so, and for the first time I truly felt alone with my thoughts.
Could I just...live here? Not be found?
I munched on an apple, looking at the birds. God I wanted to fly. I put the book away, just observing the natural beauty around me.
Suddenly, I sensed something...watching me...and for awhile. The scent knocked me over like a figure emerging from night mist. "Hello?" I looked around. "Hello?"
Out of the woods a huge wolf came. I dropped the apple and slowly backed against a tree, ready to turn and climb since I knew it couldn't. And here I am away from main roads! Damn!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The wolf watched me. Slowly it made its way to the apple I dropped, and ate it as I got to the lower branch of the tree. I watched it eat, noting its size and fangs and claws. "Good Lord." I breathed. After finishing that snack, it looked up at me expectantly.
"Hi?"
It gave one nod.
"Oh, God." I stretched down a little, but not close. "You understand me."
It laid down, and looked up at me.
"Gotta be kidding, here," I shook my head in disbelief. "Wow, uh...you're hungry?"
It gave a wolfish grin, but then whined.
"I don't mind sharing, but I--" I took a deep breath. "You won't hurt me?"
This was definitely a "he." He put his head down, but looked at me.
"Unbelievable!" I gasped. I slid down slowly. "Wow, if I'd've known you were coming, I'd've brought more, seriously!" I dug into my pack. "I got Prosciutto wrapped up in mozzarella? That cool?"
He sat up and started panting.
"Oh...okay. We used to give the wolves in the forest steak back home, raw." I rolled my eyes on the last word. "But Dad would season it, though. Weird." I looked in her bag. "I'll be a vegetarian today, and I'll give you these, okay? I got plenty of fruit and cheese." I sat and tossed him one at a time and he wolfed each down, pun intended. "What to call you." I watched him eat. "Wolfie?" No answer, if I didn't know better he was ignoring me. "Xander? Max? Vince...Blackie? Okay, Leonardo! Fave ninja turtle, sorry. Rafe? That means wolf, you know." Then I laughed, "How about Kyros?!" The wolf's ears perked, and he raised his head. "Dear God, you've got to be kidding! Not Kyros-" The wolf barked softly. "Kyros?" The wolf barked again. "Fine, whatever. God has a sense of humor. I dream of Kyros, now I find a wolf who responds to the name...Who is Kyros?" The wolf cocked its head to the side. "A...frenemy? I don't know, but I'm running away so he won't find me. If he is anything like his father, I need to."
Suddenly Kyros stood, looking around. He began to growl and then push me. It was the first time the wolf touched me, and my first impulse was to rub his head.
"What's--" I looked around. "Kyros, that smells like...something....dead....wrong."
Kyros pushed me again, and I rose, looking at the waterfall, trees all around me. I'd have to climb or swim the stream to get out. "Wow, good place for an ambush, huh?" I looked around feeling vulnerable. The wolf pushed me on. "I hope you mean well."
