A Lover’s Rose
 By Aljan Darkmoon © 2008


There was a time when all the roses in all the lands had only one simple color – white. It symbolized purity, innocence, and all that which is good. But why do we have all these other colors now? Some say that the roses were stained and lost their purity. Others say that mankind has grown evil, and the one-sided war between men and wolf made the roses realize just how cruel the world was. Thus, they changed their color to mirror the colors the world reflected. No one knows the true story behind the sudden change in the color of the roses… except for two beings, for they were the cause behind the change.

A two dogs alone know of the true story. Well… more specifically, an husky and a she-wolf. The husky was admired for his strength, yet feared for his wrath by all – dog and wolves alike. The dogs feared the young dog’s power and strength, while the wolves feared for their lives and the husky’s infamous hatred towards them. Thus, it came as a shock when the husky saved a little wolf pup from death itself. Some say he merely wanted to test his strength against all odds—not to save a mere wolf pup. They heard the story from the dog’s Steele-loving, unofficial bulldog-husky mix servant, Cohen. He was there when it all happened and said that his ‘lord’ had spoken such words. However, population of dogs and wolves began to wonder over the husky’s true motives as time began to pass. The young wolf, that was with him so many years ago, was no longer a pup. She had grown into a beautiful young she-wolf, whom was said to have put a spell over all who looked at her. The males would be shot by cupid’s arrow and come to the castle bearing gifts for the goddess. Others would admire her from afar, simply basking in the joy of her presence. The she-wolf would either dolt her with compliments or seethe with jealous scorn over the attention she received with effortless ease. The envy she obtained from the females equaled that of the favors from the males. Males, both dog and wolf, and occasionally Man, desired her beauty, and the rewards they could receive if they won her favor. In matrimony, they would also gain the favors of the husky who has taken her in as his own. There wasn’t a day that passed by without having suitors line up at the cave or house the two occasionally lived in day after day going from town and forest, for just a glance at her, but the line was equally as long for the husky of the town. Females, mostly huskies, would come to the lead dog, usually in heat, hoping to bear his pups and become his mate. He had many attributes that most huskies would fight a war for – strong, independent, handsome, deadly, powerful, indescribably rich, and the list goes on. However, both their suitors would always come out of the castle disappointed. The beautiful she wolf would sincerely ask for their forgiveness and decline their offers, while the well known husky would turn his suitors away with indifference. There were rumors, of course, explaining why this is so, which led to the doubts concerning the dog’s rescue of the wolf. The husky racer was in love… in love with the wolf he had saved so long ago… and it was not unrequited.

And our tale begins… but what would a fairy tale be like without beginning it with “once upon a time…”?

Once upon a time in a land almost on top of the world….

A emotionless strong built race dog sat waiting, his eyes ever so slowly narrowing, waiting with suppressed impatience for an old husky to speak…

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Steele stared at the old dog with a deadly look. With narrowed eyes, he asked, “How?”

Behind her dark, black bandana, the old husky crackled, “The wolf pup, who you have in your care, will be your downfall, Steele. She will strip you of your pride and dignity, leaving you weak and powerless. She will destroy everything you proud yourself in.”

Before the husky could even blink, Steele had leaped on her chest, slamming her body into the wall. Eyes red, teeth ever so close to her throat, Steele asked again his voice laced with venom, “How?”

“I do not know, Steele,” said the old husky, surprisingly calm. “I simply read the future and that is what the future has in store for you. I have defined what I have seen in the words you yourself would have used.”

Steele threw the dog across the floor, and she fell unconscious as she hit her head on a table, one of many in the old mill. “Get her out of my sight,” Steele growled at the trio, Nikki, Kaltag and Star—who were his usual group of fans who had accompanied him to the mill-- as he left the room.

His sensitive nose picked up Luna’s scent immediately, and he followed it to the gardens of his owner's property. He found her standing under the star filled sky. Out of all the flowers that she had given him, roses were her favorite. Naturally, Steele had asked an entire garden to be filled with them, so that she may bask in them daily when the warm season came. The sky was a clear, black color, contrasting greatly to the beautiful, shinning stars. However, no star shone brighter than the wolf standing under them. Luna’s white grey fur moved in the late night breeze and glittered in the soft moonlight. As the winds softly blew by her head fur making it sway lightly, she looked like the goddess that those in the villages claim her to be. Slowly, Steele walked to her.

Sensing him more than hearing him, Luna shifted her gaze from the beautiful night sky to the even more beautiful husky coming towards her. She smiled like she always did when he was near – full of trust and magnificence, although this time a bit sad. Steele noticed this.

“What’s wrong, Luna?” asked Steele as he reached her.

“Nothing, Steele-forna[1],” Luna said as she sat down and motioned for him to join her. After he sat down, she put her head on his shoulder. Steele was a bit surprised but made no move to stop her. “Steele-forna, what happens when someone dies?”

“I don’t know, Luna,” Steele said softly. “But some say that when we die, we will pass on to a better place.”

“I don’t think that’s true… at least it won’t be for me,” Luna said equally as soft. Then, she started coughing, and blood came out. It landed on a white rose nearby, and it also seeped into the soil of the earth.

“Luna, what’s wrong?” Steele asked, his left arm holding her shoulders. “What happened to you?”

“I’m going to die, Steele,” Luna said. This was the first time that she left out his title. “When I heard what the old husky said… I couldn’t bear the thought of destroying you, so I…”

“Why?” Steele asked, when Luna didn’t continue. She didn’t need to. He already knew.

With a sad smile, Luna looked at her lord. All these years, she secretly wished that those rumors about her and Steele were true. She wished that Steele did love her, but when he sought her out, she knew better. “You were planning to kill me tonight, weren’t you?” When he didn’t answer her, Luna continued, “I would die for you, Steele. I would give my life to you without a second thought. All you had to do was ask.”

“Why?” Steele asked again, calm as always.

Not daring to look into his eyes, Luna softly breathed, “Because I love you.”

Steele stayed quiet, as he held the dying wolf

“I have nothing to look forward to, except the day when perhaps I will see you again. I promise I’ll wait for you,” Luna said, looking at his golden eyes again.

Steele saw something in those eyes that made his heart ache, but he couldn’t put a name to it. “I won’t be going where you’re going, Luna.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll go with you. You said that when people die, they go on to a better place. Well, the only place I feel good at is by your side, Steele. I’ll always follow you, because I am happy with you,” Luna said, blinking back tears from her eyes.

As Steele leaned in, he heard Luna gasp in surprise. He kissed the tears away. “Then, wait for me. I shouldn’t be long.”

“Kai[2]…” Luna whispered, breathing against his face. Luna closed her eyes one last time and began to wait for him at that special place.

Steele still had his face against Luna’s peaceful one, long after she died. Even in death, she still looks beautiful… Steele thought. He didn’t even move when he heard someone come up behind him. He didn’t care.

“Steele?,” the old husky said.

“What exactly did you see? You said that the words you used to describe the scene you saw would be my words, but what about yours?” Steele asked, his bangs covering his eyes.

“I saw a sunny garden with beautiful flowers in full bloom. Two pups are playing by their parents – one a male, the other a female. Their lo-akan[3]is watching from a knoll, the soft grass holding her swollen belly. She will be expecting another pup soon. She turns and smiles at her mate… and I see you smiling back… at Lady Luna. You asked me how she would destroy you. I truly didn’t know how something so beautiful could do that.”

Steele was quiet for a long time. When she started to leave, he said, “You’re wrong, you know.” It wasn’t a question. “Or I’m wrong since those were my words. Luna didn’t destroy me. I destroyed her.”

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A single tear slid down his muzzle. His eyelids still covered his eyes, but one need not see them to know the emotions hidden in their depths. It was the only, single emotion he expressed for the girl.

The old husky left without saying anything, leaving race dog to his thoughts.

Later that night, it started to rain. Soaked with water, he started clawing at the ground. His lover’s body lay beside him. His paws were dirty with mud and blood, but he continued to dig relentlessly at the ground. Soon, he made a hole, and the rain had stopped, leaving a clear sky in its wake. It was almost morning. The proud once arrogant husky, who had hurt hundreds without a thought, buried the young wolf with a heavy heart. Picking up the rose that had her blood on it, he laid it on top of her grave and went back to his owner’s house… never once looking back.

Once again, he was the cold-hearted arrogant lead dog racing husky, despised by all… perhaps now, even by himself. He waits until that day to come when he will finally join her and be at peace. To begin something that could not be in their former lives.

But had Steele looked back, he would have seen the morning light shine upon the garden. The colors of the roses have changed. The roses furthest away from the grave were still a pure white. Getting closer, one would see the white roses changing to yellow, symbolizing the times when the maiden was younger. The little pup then had offered her husky friendship, which is what a yellow rose stands for. Going closer, one would see a field of pink roses. It symbolized the times in her teenage years, when she would gaze shyly at her mentor and wonder what this feeling inside her heart is. A pink rose symbolized a growing fondness. Then as one reached the grave itself, they would see the single rose Steele left on it. It was, without a doubt, the most beautiful of the roses. There was only one in the entire field and that only made it all the more precious. It was a red rose. Its beautiful scarlet color came from the blood of the she-wolf, unlike the other roses that sprung from the wolf’s blood that seeped into the ground. Its magnificent color symbolized love. The young wolf loved her Forna fully and unconditionally, thinking only about his own welfare instead of her own. The beautiful wolf marien[4]was buried in a field of roses.

THE END

[1] Forna—the wolf term for friend, dearest, or, for formal address such as wolf packs, lord.

[2] Kai—wolf word for “yes” “understood” and so on.

[3] Lo-akan—wolf term for “parent” or “parents” if plural

[4] Marien—Wolf term for “maiden” “lass” “young woman”