Differences in Love

 

 

Peering into the light through the long grass, Cyraith felt warmth against her bones. Beside her, lay two tiny pups cuddled into her thick fur while another was resting its tiny head on her neck. Cyraith heaved a great sigh, but she knew that she could not close her eyes for the smell of the cubs could draw others to them or even the smell of herself could draw many predators. Yet she couldn’t stay still. The cold ground in which she now lay was slowly becoming barren as a harsh winter set out to torment all as it had many times before. She shifted her weight slightly as the cubs began to wake and as she managed to slowly stand, she took a hard look at her surroundings.

Below her the cubs were crying for the hunger in which their mother had left them was now almost impossible to bare for such tiny cubs. Cyraith guessed they were no more than a couple of weeks old and they still wouldn’t have been weaned. She now turned her gaze to the cubs struggling amongst each other. She allowed a slight giggle at their game and then put her nose down to speak to them.

‘Cubs, what are your names? I am afraid I cannot look after you if you do not have a name.’ she whispered soothingly.

And yet the cubs just gazed back in wonder at the strange bleating coming from her mouth.

Cyraith tried again to make at least some sense to the cubs and yet her efforts were in vain.

She turned to the edge of the grass that surrounded her and found a small patch that was short enough for her to eat. She lowered her head and as she began to graze, there was a sound from nearby. Her head raised she trotted to the cubs and stood guard.

Cyraith ushered the cubs to stay still and as she stood there, her heart racing she felt the most peculiar feeling. She had never had a fawn of her own, and yet her mothering instincts were kicking in. However, it was not like those of a deer, more like those of a wolf. She was not going to run, she was going to protect the cubs.

The sound grew closer and louder, and with it, Cyraith became more stubborn. The three tiny cubs beside her, were cowering at the strength of Cyraith and at her determination. They did not understand what was happening and yet, they knew that if they moved or made a sound, then something would happen.

The long grass around them parted and a figure stepped into the clearing. Cyraith gasped as the shape became clearer and her whole body tightened. For there, standing in front of her, was Hairth. She squinted at him through the shade, and on his face, she could make out an expression of shock and wonderment. She stepped towards him menacingly and turned to make sure the cubs would not move. She gave them a stern look that only a mother would have and they understood instantly.

‘Why are you still here?’ quizzed Hairth.

Cyraith turned back to him, ‘Why am I not? Why would I have to leave this land, just because I am not part of the herd any longer?’

Hairth looked shocked at the tone of her voice, he had never known her to be this way, she had always been shy and quiet. ‘I did not mean it like that, Cyraith… I only meant to say that I thought from the intensity of the wounds that were inflicted on you that you would not be able to travel this far.’

‘And you came to see if I had passed? To see if I was not strong enough? Well I am glad you came! I am stronger in mind and in body than many of the deer in the herd. Did you not see that during the fight? Did you not see that I could inflict serious damage, without even trying? I could have done so much more if I was not part of that family. Did you not gasp when I retaliated in such a harsh way? I am sure I heard you whisper to your newest female that you never thought I was able to fight, that you presumed I was weak… And yet you stand before me, asking why I am still here!’ laughed Cyraith.

Hairth lowered his head slightly, as Cyraith spoke to him in the way that she did. It was true that he had said that, that he had gasped at her actions. And it was also true that he had came in search of her to see if she had lasted the night.

‘Cyraith, you do not need to prove yourself to me… I know just how strong you are from your posture and your voice. I never meant any harm in not selecting you in the rituals, and I certainly did not mean for this to happen!’

Cyraith stepped forward, and shook her head. ‘No, Hairth, you could never have anticipated the fact that I am more like my mother than you ever thought! How could you anticipate that I would show myself to you and then flee for I did not want to fight members of my own family? My brothers and sisters and even my mother turned against me, and yet I still fought back… I am not like others that will stand and take a beating, I am much stronger than that!’

Behind her, the cubs were quivering as the adults argued. Cyraith ushered for them to come forward but to still stay by her side. And again, they seemed to understand as one by one they crept forward and stood by her.

Hairth saw this, and as he noticed the cubs fully for the first time and saw just how unique it was for Cyraith to be able to communicate with them, he too stepped forwards.

‘Cyraith, I will be the only one understanding enough to not try and kill you and you small litter of wolves. The rest of the herd are on their way, and they too are looking for you. You must flee here, if you want to spare the lives of your cubs.’ he stated softly.

Cyraith glared at him. ‘I fought to get here Hairth, I fought my own family, my friends and my instincts. I now look after these three as their mother once did, do you really think I am going to flee when all we need is right here? The cubs lives will be in no danger at all if we stay. They have friends of their own kind, and if they get here on time to mourn a loved one, then the cubs will be safe. I can protect myself quite perfectly. I have no need for any help of yours.’

Hairth stood back at the tone of Cyraith’s voice. He nodded and whispered something under his breath as he turned and left the clearing.

Cyraith smiled within herself and turned to the three cubs shivering beside her.

‘Do you have family near by, that can perhaps help if we need it?’ she whispered.

The smallest cub nodded his tiny head and looked to his sisters. He whimpered to Cyraith and the wind picked up slightly. Cyraith heard the words that had been said by the cub, and smiled at him. She licked his nose and settled down in the grass. ‘Go’ she smiled.

Instantly the three cubs ran as fast as their tiny legs would take them out of the clearing towards the cliff where their mother lay on the rocks below. They ran past the edge of the cliff and into the undergrowth where they had lay when they first met Cyraith. They ran through the grass and the fallen trees, down by the river and over to a small cave where a single she wolf lay sleeping.

The smallest cub, the one that had spoken to Cyraith ran to her and as his paws softly hit the ground, the she wolf slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the tiny cubs coming towards her and she stood up and shook herself.

‘Lairf! What is it Lairf?’ she asked as the first cub reached her and stopped quickly at her front paws.

The two other cubs reached the she wolf and together they told the story of the two days that had passed since they had last saw each other.

The she wolf shook her head. ‘I’m sorry to hear about your mother, little ones! But at the moment, we have other things to do. Lairf, run ahead and go to the deer that is in the clearing. Me, Tylaigh and Lokly will come after you!’

Lairf let out a small bark and ran back the way him and his siblings had first come. The she wolf nodded to Tylaigh who ran to the cave. Lokly padded softly to the she wolf in front of her and nuzzled her soft fur. ‘I’m so glad we found you again Jarak!’

‘And I you, little one!’ chuckled the she wolf.

Behind them, at the entrance of the cave, Tylaigh appeared followed by a slightly larger cub. The other cub was no more than a few days older than Tylaigh and even so, he cowered over her.

Jarak turned her head to the direction in which Lairf had ran and took up a steady pace. ‘Come… We must help!’

nd I certainly did not mean for this to happen!’

Cyraith stepped forward, and shook her head. ‘No, Hairth, you could never have anticipated the fact that I am more like my mother than you ever thought! How could you anticipate that I would show myself to you and then flee for I did not want to fight members of my own family? My brothers and sisters and even my mother turned against me, and yet I still fought back… I am not like others that will stand and take a beating, I am much stronger than that!’

Behind her, the cubs were quivering as the adults argued. Cyraith ushered for them to come forward but to still stay by her side. And again, they seemed to understand as one by one they crept forward and stood by her.

Hairth saw this, and as he noticed the cubs fully for the first time and saw just how unique it was for Cyraith to be able to communicate with them, he too stepped forwards.

‘Cyraith, I will be the only one understanding enough to not try and kill you and you small litter of wolves. The rest of the herd are on their way, and they too are looking for you. You must flee here, if you want to spare the lives of your cubs.’ he stated softly.

Cyraith glared at him. ‘I fought to get here Hairth, I fought my own family, my friends and my instincts. I now look after these three as their mother once did, do you really think I am going to flee when all we need is right here? The cubs lives will be in no danger at all if we stay. They have friends of their own kind, and if they get here on time to mourn a loved one, then the cubs will be safe. I can protect myself quite perfectly. I have no need for any help of yours.’

Hairth stood back at the tone of Cyraith’s voice.

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