THE WOLF.

The wolf sat under a shining silver moon that sent it bright light slashing its way through the trees on the rugged mountainside where he has come to hunt his next meal. The huge peaks tower high either side of him reaching into the heavens like giant fingers kneading the clouds. The valley running down from the peaks are heavily wooded with pine trees that march their way row after row for as far as the eye's can see. He remembers much of his past, the fun times, and the times he would sooner forget but these memories see to be stronger than his others. He lifts his head and sent his call across the valley and up the sides of the mountains it rose. Others call back sending their own sound onto yet others who carry it forever onwards. His yellow sparkling eyes are forever watchful and his ears strain to catch whatever sounds may be extracted from the air. His coat is silver grey and long to keep him warm in this cold winter air. His paws are big and wide with claws to climb the snowy peaks and track the game that lives in those barren areas. He calls yet again looking for a mate to share his future with. In this cold winter air his breath is like steam that rose from the hot pools down by the lakes edge. A sound so quietly is picked up by his sensitive ears and he crouches low ready to spring forward should danger be present. He sees the boy child in his mind as he frantically scrambling up a tree, with a Bear in pursuit. The Bear snarls and shouts out his mighty roar in frustration that one so small has yet moved out of his reach. His claws slash at the trunk of the tree sending bark and splinters flying through the air. Thick globules of saliva splatter the tree trunk and run down his fury chest. His anger is taken out on the tree as he pushes with all his strength and the tree bends under his weight. The boy is thrown around back and forth; his arms and legs clutching the high tree bough with all the strength that his bony arms and legs can manage. The voice of the boy screams out in panic and despair. I cannot hold on much longer, help me wolf, I need your help. Dust, soil and pebbles fly into the air from the driven thrust of the wolfs limbs as he takes off at a run. Before the dust has settled he has disappeared into the trees at a full run, never stopping to get his bearings or have his eyes adjust to the darkness of the forrest. His speed is beyond belief of the legged creatures of the land and watching him move at the run, he seems to glides and swirls, is seen one minuet and not the next.

The weight of the Bears body on the tree trunk causes it to crack loudly. The Bear senses something coming his way and snarls and lashes out with his mighty arms at the tree sending the boy whipping back and forth as he clings to the bough. The Bear turns about, advances forward ready to counter any attack that he feels is close by and coming his way. The Wolf comes face to face with the Bear and rushes forward sinking his teeth into his hind leg causing screams of pain and anger to erupt from his snout. Swip;s out at his foe with clawed paws, only to find the wolf has long since departed and sunk his teeth into his other hind quarter. The Bear screams with the torment of his hurting body and rumbling empty stomach, his meal now stolen by this mange creature, this tormenter. Blindly he slashes out one way, then then other, back and sideways his arms a blur his mind spinning and he falls to the ground. The tree comes crashing down pinning the Bear under its thick trunk. The boy is thrown past the wolf landing in the bush on the other side of the clearing. The wolf rushes forward, sinks his fangs into the throat of the Bear, ripping out fur and flesh. Blood spurts forth thick and plentifully from the wound, wetting his fur with bright red blood. The Bear tries to free himself from where he is pinned, sending his limbs slashing at the air above him, a gurgling noise where his voice box use to be. The Wolf holds his stance out of reach of those paws which could kill him with one swipe. He waits fangs showing from his drawn back lips and a rumbling growl vibrating from his throat. In no time at all the Bear lies dead beneath the tree trunk in the clearing. The boy scampers from his entanglements in the bush, hits the clearing at a run. His arms, engulf the Wolfs neck, and he burries his face into wolfs long hair. The joy beams in the boys face as he meets his trusted friend again. Wolfs eyes shine with love, as his lick and pushes with his head showing his pleasure at seeing his young friend again. Words are unnecessary between then.

                                       The end