The Pleasure and Joy of the Wolf

By Aljan (Sam) Copyright 2006-Forever

 

When I went north to study the wolf

Little did I know

That I was going to experience the joy and happiness

Emotions that I did not feel when I began my journey

 

Cold and windy it was

Hardly a creature or living soul within sight

Many nights I spent, cuddled around a dying fire

Listening to the mourning call of the wolf as it flew across the sky

 

My mission was simple

As well as cruel, depending on the point of view

I was to terminate a wolf pack and check their stomach contents for caribou flesh

Such a mission I accepted gladly, for I had no love for wolves at the time

 

It was the sixth day of my arrival did I finally see my quarry

The wolf was white and sleek with muscle

His yellow piercing eyes seem to bore into mine

Then he turned, flicked his tail up in a manner that I could not understand, and fled

 

His tracks were easy to follow

They led me to a lake that seemed to be a mirror upon the grassy meadow

The surrounding mountains isolated this beautiful place from the world

Never before have I seen such a beautiful place in the world

 

I set up camp and began to lay out my plans

Smoke bombs I carried in my supplies

To choke the wolf while in his den and bring him in the open

Such a plan seemed simple yet it was easier thought then done

 

Late morn I went to the wolf’s den which lay close to the lake across from me

Rifle and a dozen smoke bombs in hand

One could’ve said I was trembling

Though I would’ve said in reply, it was the wind, though…there was no wind

 

My fear was obvious when I reached the den

I don’t deny it

I dropped the gun and half of the smoke bombs

All of them went off

 

The clash of thunder hurt my ears

And the smoke made my eyes tear

With a cry I retreated back to camp

I spent the next day healing myself

Though I was unscathed

I seemed quite deaf in the ears

And my eyes were quite dry for most of the morning

 

I was glad none of my people saw my unusual attempt on the den

However I was seen by no other then my wolf neighbor

He stopped near his den and put himself so that he could be seen from my view from the tent

He seemed to smile at me then his grin got wider

 

He got a mouse and pretended to chase it

Then he began to chase his tail—the mouse fled with out a backward glance

I had a weird feeling he was mocking me as I watch his show

Then he stopped and looked at me once more

 

I could obviously see the glint of laughter in his eyes as the sun shined on them

He lifted his upper lip, done in such a way that I knew he was laughing

He barked and howled at me, showing me he was quite amused

Then he went into his den and retired

 

Many days passed

And soon my hatred and anger for the wolf just disappeared

After studying the wolf for many days and months

I see them in changed eyes

 

Now my friend the wolf, whom I have named George

Has a mate, whom I have named Angela

Pups soon appeared in the spring

I assure you, they are very unlike the pups raised by dogs

 

They’re quite rough and love to wrestle

A human, I bet, wouldn’t be able to stand a single pup for an hour after what I seen

Even an adult wolf has his or her endurance for their own young

Thus I’ll tell you what I saw

 

George was away, hunting for his family I assume

Angela was looking after the pups, which was an easy yet difficult task I assure you

Two of the pups would go for her tail while the other two would go for her ears

After a while, I could’ve sworn that I saw tufts of fur flying on the wind

 

Angela endured this until she had enough

She sat on her tail and covered her head with her paws, in an attempt to protect her well chewed tail and ears

This, I discovered, didn’t improve her situation

The pups just went for her paws

That afternoon I had a good laugh

I still do when I look back at the memory

A spectacle of the demon killer of the wilds

Trying desperately to cover her paws, tail, and head all at the same time

 

In the end, she fled from the pups

Who in turn gave chase

She would’ve been forced to flee beyond the mountains if Uncle Albert hadn’t showed up

Much to her relief, he did

 

Uncle Albert was and is still unknown to me

He must be part of the pack yet his coloring is much unlike George’s and Angela’s

Gray and strong he is

An elder compared to the young parents

 

He ran to meet the pups as they ran to lay a final siege on poor Angela

Who still ran, wailing and howling her grief to the world

He, much to my surprise, bowled a pup over with his shoulder

And quite deliberately and neatly, flipped the other three pups onto their backs

 

Then with a strong muzzle, shepherded all four of them to a flat of short grass

A place I realized to be the playing area

The pups jumped upon him

He played with them as if he was one of them

 

Many of their games were familiar to me

Tag, which was played many times, was a favorite

Uncle Albert was ‘it’ the whole time

With such skill, he weaved through the pups, while staying in the playing area

 

Finally he rolled onto his back and invited the pups to do mayhem

They were game

They jumped onto him, biting him with their small white teeth

One even kicked sand in his face

 

The other three began to use their hind legs to jump into the air

To land, much to their enjoyment, on Uncle Albert’s stomach

Though I didn’t believe the pups’ teeth to do much damage

I had to wonder how long he could last

 

In the end, his endurance held

The pups soon rolled off him, quite exhausted and tired

Soon they were asleep

The grey wolf laid down and also began to sleep, only waking every few minutes to see if the pups were safely near at hand

 

Pups may seem quite rough

However the adults are even rougher

Surprise and speed are the tools used in their games

Which you’ll see as I tell you

 

Uncle Albert had risen from his afternoon nap to get a drink from the lake

He sipped a little which seemed to bring his senses on line

However when he stepped out of the water

He seemed to lose the energy he had already gained

 

His eye lids were drooping as he looked back at the lake

From what happened next, he must’ve decided not to relieve himself

He fell to the ground and lay there sleeping

Even though I knew he was sleeping, at first I believed he died

 

Moment later, I realized I wasn’t the only one watching Uncle Albert

George was as well

He got to his feet and quietly walked toward the sleeping elder

Then his stance changed

 

His walking became more cat-like

His body even lower to the ground

The closer he got to sleeping Albert

The clearer the appearance of his intent seemed to build

 

To be truthful, I was rather fond of all my wolf friends

To see this made me wonder if Albert did something that made George like this?

The expression was unmistakable

George looked like he was going to kill

 

Uncle Albert still snoozed quite unaware of his approaching predator

George stopped approaching, leaving a fair amount of land between himself and the elder

The white wolf drew up his hind quarters and leaped, roaring as he went

At that sudden move I jumped to me feet

 

If you were there you would’ve asked, “Why are you surprised?”

In return, I would’ve said, “Being hit with one hundred and fifty pounds of wolf would, without doubt, leave you breathless.  However, Uncle Albert seemed to have enough to give a high pitched snarl of shock and outrage.”

 

George ran like a bullet from a rifle as wailing and howling if the hounds of hell were after him

I couldn’t blame him, for Uncle Albert was hot on his tail, the expression to kill now on his face

 

 

The two ran past the den

Angela’s head popped out, took a quick look, and joined the chase with enthusiasm

With the odds two against one and the land running out beneath him, for he was coming towards the lake’s edge again, George swerved, turned, and ran in such a way he was now headed for the sides of his pursuers

 

Uncle Albert pulled up adeptly

As George bowled deliberately into Angela, sending her tumbling head over tail into the lake

Despite the laughter that escaped George’s lips, which I heard, Uncle Albert was now side to side with George

 

With a roar equal to the one George did when he attacked him, Albert leaped onto the white wolf, sending them unbalanced into the lake

Angela leaped through the water and joined in the melee that followed

Soon it was over

After much shaking, touching muzzles, and tail wagging, the three retired for the day

 

It was a game I realized

Such games of surprise, strength, and speed helped the wolves develop physically and in relationship

Despite the fierceness of it all, I find it quite amusing

 

Wolves, I discovered

Love and play in many ways

Some similar and others different

In conclusion, I believe all humans have a bit of a wolf in us

It just has to be brought out…

 

  

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