Chapter 2: Sneaking out to the Forest.

The moon is so beautiful tonight, it shines so brightly illuminating the Forest at the end of our garden and calling me to it. I love the Forest; it always makes me feel so relaxed and more at home than I ever feel in town. My parents think it is too dangerous for me to wander in it and are always telling me not to go there. But I just can’t resist and find a way to sneak out whenever I can.

Tonight is no exception, and I’m feeling an extra strong pull to go out to the woods, and who am I to say no. I pull on my red hoodie over my t shirt, and put on my black sneakers, before I climb out of my bedroom window and land on the roof of the veranda. Then I use the trellis next to it to climb to the ground and race off into the trees before my parents see me.

I stop to walk and enjoy the sensations of the forest, once I’m out of sight of the house. It truly is a beautiful night and as I gaze up to the moon, it seems to glow ever brighter, as if calling to me. I hear a whimper in the distance and snap my attention to the trees around me. It’s dark out here but the glow from the moon is enough to help me pick out my surroundings.

As I wander closer to where I can hear the sounds coming from, I begin to see a shape form in the distance. I keep to the trees, as I attempt to figure out what this animal is, it moves and whimpers again, then I see what it is. It’s a wolf cub!

I am in shock, I have never seen a wolf in these woods before, although my parents do warn me that they are about. It’s one of the things that have always made me curious about the woods, I love wolves. This one looks exhausted, but it has a beautiful deep black fur that in the moonlight, has a silvery sheen to it.

I find it entrancing, and although it is a large size for a pup, I can tell it’s not fully grown. I try to move closer, but a twig snaps beneath my feet, and its head snaps up in my direction immediately. It lets out a growl which should scare me, but I feel more drawn to it than ever.

“Shhh, easy there, pup, I’m not here to hurt you, I want to help you.”

I speak out, hoping to show that I am no threat, but it growls again.

“Grrrrrllll.”

I realise then, that I am hidden in the shadows, so I walk forward a little, out from the shadow of the trees and I see the wolf still a bit, and stare at me. I get the sense that it is curious about me, yet still wary that I could be a threat, so I keep my movements slow and do my best not to startle it. I am almost within touching distance, when it gets a little startled, as though it just then seems to notice that I have moved closer.

It reacts by attempting to move back away from me, but for some reason it cannot move very well, and it collapses again. It lets out a whimper of frustration and pain, and I take a moment to really look at its condition. I can see that its fur looks wet, and I know it has not rained tonight. I know that doesn’t mean it couldn’t have gotten wet near a river, but when I sniff the air close to it, I smell a faint coppery smell, which can only mean one thing.

I touch the top of its head and stroke it’s ears, as a distraction and I feel it freeze then wait, to see what else I will do, that is when I notice the light sensation of warmth, spreading from where my hand is touching its fur. I use my other hand to lightly touch its back and when I pull away, my palm looks black in the moonlight.

My heart pains when I understand the meaning of this, the only liquid that appears black under moonlight, is blood, and this pups' fur is covered in it. I control my emotions before I speak again, I need to keep my voice calm, so I don’t startle this pup any further.

“It’s okay. Let me help you get better.”

It takes one last look into my eyes before it lets out a huff of acceptance and relaxes fully into my touch. My heart swells with pride and joy, to see this pup trust me so quickly and I stay there with it a few more moments, stoking the soft fur on its head.

“Okay, I need to get some supplies from the house. If you can walk then you can follow me, or you can stay here, and I will come back. I don’t think I am strong enough to carry you.”

I don’t know why I am speaking to this wolf as though it can understand me, but I feel the need to do it. It looks at me in a mild panic for a moment, before attempting to stand. I want to help, but I feel unsure that I should. After a few attempts however, the pup is standing, its legs are a little wobbly, but that is normal.

“Come, it’s this way.”

I hold my hand out and make a ‘follow me’ motion, then I walk a few steps before turning, to make sure the pup is following, which it is. We slowly make our way through the trees toward my home and soon the boundary comes into view, but I am unsure how my parents are going to react.

“Um I think this is as far as I can bring you for now.”

It looks at me with those beautiful golden amber eyes and I smile at it, before walking in front and keeping it within the tree line.

“Wait here for me, I will go in and get what I need. I will be back soon.”

It whines a little and tilts its head to the side, which I find extremely cute and I cannot resist reacting out, and scratching its ears, which it seems to enjoy.

“Back in a few minutes.”

I then turn and run to the house, when I reach the kitchen door I check to see if it is unlocked and find that it is. So, I sneak inside and head to where my mum keeps the first aid kit. While I am checking that everything I need is inside, I hear footsteps enter the kitchen.

“What are you doing Lydia?”

I am surprised and I drop some of the kit contents onto the floor. My mother sees this and her eyes narrow in concern.

“Hi mum, I was just checking the first aid supplies.”

“Why?”

“Because I found something in the woods, and it needs help.”

“You went to the woods at night?! Again?! Lydia, how many times do we have to go over this?!”

“I know that you don’t like it, but I can’t help it, I love the woods and I love being out there at night. I can’t resist it and tonight that pull led me to this animal. It needs me mum.”

She sighs but doesn’t argue further.

“What kind of animal is it?”

“It is a wolf pup.”

“A wolf?! Are you crazy?! Lydia you cannot bring a wolf pup here!”

“But it’s hurt mum. Badly, it can barely walk and if I don’t help it, it could die.”

“Then that would be one less predator to worry about.”

“But mum I can’t leave it to die. I’m going to help it and I won’t let you stop me. But I will agree not to bring it to the house.”

She looks at me for a few moments, but I refuse to back down and finally she relents.

“Fine, but remember, it is not to come to the house.”

“Thank you, mum!”

I jump into her arms and give her a big hug.

“What is going on in here?”

I hear my dad enter the kitchen, but I can’t stay here any longer to explain it to him too, so I grab the first aid kit and a torch and then run outside, leaving mum to explain. As I reach the tree line, I cannot see the wolf pup anywhere, and I begin to panic as I look around for it. But then I hear a small bark to my left, and it steps out of the shadows that it had been hiding in.

“Impressive, I couldn’t see you at all. Come here, let’s get you fixed up.”

It slowly walks to me and lays down at my feet, I set out my supplies and then using the torch to guide me, I begin patching the wolf up.