A Circling Of Life

• Maddy Stokes
• Short Story
• 2008

She carefully trod over the sleep river leaving her scent in its wake. Stalking ever so quietly she made her way to the clearing which overlook the valley below. She stood and stared out at the round and fading dun that stained the sky for miles either side with vivid bushfire colours. Breathing deeply she prepared herself for her first leap into adulthood. Then the she-wolf howled.

Her cry could be heard all across the valley and the wind took it hight into the far away mountains. At first there was no response. Again she howled, an endless love song that echoed and circled over the plains of the range seeking a friend to answer its call. Once again it faded with the sun. The she-wolf didn’t cry out again for if anyone were interested they would have heard her previous cries.

A mixed pang of hope, fear and anger bristled over the she-wolves fur when she heard another wolf call out to the night. It was however another she-wolf on the same eternal quest to find a mate. Sadness filled her heart as she turned to walk back to her den. Suddenly a strong howl carried its way effortlessly to the clearing circling around the she-wolf, drawing her hypnotically to its sound.

Moons later they entered mateship. Many more moons passed and then the she-wolf went into isolation. It was more than a half circling before the male –wolf returned to the den of the she-wolf. He was a few circlings older than her and had had a mate once before but that had ended long ago leaving him torn and lost without purpose like the youngest of sprigs standing next to its old ancestors, the great birches and oaks of the wood. When he had heard the young she-wolves nervous call into the night it had reminded him of his mate and his heart had been filled with pity and compassion for his kin. All he had to do now was sit and wait for the she-wolf to come out of the den.

Every now and then he would wander curiously to the circular mouth of the cave where the she-wolf hid in the shadows but was sent flying by her vicious snaps and growls. After many failed attempts the male sat down and waited for the she-wolf impatiently to emerge.

The sun set and the moon rose showing off her radiance and beauty to the forest dwellers below. It was then the she-wolf left the safety of the cave nervously to join her mate. He sat up eagerly and looked on fondly at her and admired her lovely coat of white with black socks over her paws. But she was not alone; ambling along at her sides were three tiny pups wondering carelessly to the larger wolf in front of them curiously. The she-wolf did not stop them but she did growl viciously at her mate, warning him not to hurt her pups.

The wolf did not hurt them. For a while all he did was sniff and stare at the plump little pups playing gently with his fur and tail, their big shining eyes filled with innocence. Soon the she-wolf dropped wearily to the ground and lay next to her mate watching her puppies trip over themselves, yipping and whining when the hit the soft earth.

It was then that the male made his move. Slowly he bent his head to the nearest pup and opened his mouth showing his long pink tongue. The she-wolf eyed him carefully and growled softly in vibrating patterns. Carefully he began to lick and caress his newborn pup then he lay down next to his mate and groomed her lovingly.