A winter tale – December CW

The forest was as it always had been – deep and dark in the late evening.

Shadows masked already half-hidden paths and clearings as the remaining flakes from a recent snowfall settled gently onto leaves and twigs. A winter breeze ruffled through the trees as the wolf moved slowly, carefully, for this was a part of the great forest he had not visited before, but as ever he blended into the background, at one with nature and invisible to the casual gaze of forest rangers and the occasional visitor from the city. High above, an owl gave voice to a mournful cry. The wolf paused, one paw in the air, searching for the bird hidden in the darkened branches, but the owl remained motionless, as elusive as the wolf himself and giving no clue as to its location. The paw came down and the wolf paced forward again, silent and ghost-like through stands of trees and misty clumps of gorse and bracken. Familiar smells wafted across his nose – rabbit, vole and deer overlaid with damp earth and wet vegetation, yet the trails were new and unknown to him and he moved as always with caution. Suddenly, he caught sight of something that was not quite in harmony with the forest – a soft, stone cottage illuminated by a car’s headlights. He heard low voices and sat to watch and listen, head cocked to one side with ears erect in that engaging way that lupines once taught canines and which the latter have exploited mercilessly ever since.

“ Darling, it’s perfect and so peaceful!”, he heard her say to her husband. “It’ll be a dream to bring Susan up here .”

“But there’s so much work to be done”, he replied, doubtfully, “All the windows will have to be replaced for a start; the brickwork needs repointing and just look at the state of the roof.”

She took his arm and laid her head on his shoulder. “Darling, it’ll be fine, I just know it. Let’s go and have a look inside.”

“Mummy, can I stay out here? I want to see the garden.”

“OK, sweetie, but don’t go too far. It’s nearly dark and it’s snowing again.”

As the parents went inside the young girl excitedly explored what she knew already would be her new home. In the thickening snow and gathering gloom she walked through the abandoned vegetable beds, past the sagging roof of the greenhouse and on into the orchard. There was not a sound anywhere – one of those magical times when the silence itself becomes almost audible.

Then something caught her eye. At the edge of the trees she saw a shape deep in the shadows. Curiosity and innocence compelled her forward, but as she drew near amber eyes flared in the darkness and a lip curled to reveal gleaming incisors. She stopped, uncertain all of a sudden. The wolf and the girl regarded each other for a moment, neither making any move.

“Hello, Mr Wolf. My name’s Susan and I’m going to live here. Do you live here too?”, she asked, cocking her head to one side in an instinctive gesture the wolf recognised immediately. She took a step towards him yet the wolf remained motionless, watching, as always tensed and feral. Even sitting he was as tall as she and they looked each other levelly in the eye.

“Oh look, you’ve got some snow on your fur.” She reached up and brushed a few offending flakes from his head. The lip twitched, but no attack followed. This small creature was definitely not a threat. “There, that’s better. You don’t want to get all wet and cold now, do you.?”

“So, is there more of you or are you alone?”, she chattered. “I’ve no brothers or sisters to talk to, but I’ve lots of friends like you who I meet. I think we’re going to live here and I’d like that. Will you come and visit me again? You can be my special pet.”

“Susan, Susan, where are you? We’re going now”

“Coming, Mummy”, she called back. “Bye bye, Mr Wolf. I’ll see you next time, I hope”, and with that she ran back towards the car. He watched her go.

“Did you enjoy the garden, sweetie?”

“Oh yes, Mummy, I met a wolf. A big one with fur and big eyes and everything”

“Of course you did, darling. Come on, now. We have to go.”

As the car drew away the little girl looked back through the window. The forest was dark with shadows masking everything except for the moonlight highlighting the glade of her encounter.

The wolf watched the lights disappear in the distance before he himself faded silently into the night.

OZ