Post by Lynker on Jul 5, 2011 1:54:12 GMT -5
A small black wolf lay in the hollow space beneath a large tree stump. His eyes were closed and he was snoring peacefully. This was his home – it always would be.
The den had a soft sandy floor and smooth earthy walls, interlaced with the thick roots of the once-powerful tree above him. The entrance was covered, so unless there had been a lot of rain, water didn’t usually leak inside. The hollow was large enough to fit both of its occupants in comfortably, although it would be rather cosy when the pair reached their full size.
Lynker’s large hazel-coloured eyes blinked open lazily at a disturbance outside his den. A broad head with thick brown fur pushed its way into the hollow “Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead! I brought us some dinner”
The bear disappeared from view, and as Lynker sniffed the air he caught the strong aroma of fish.
“Not fish again!” he complained jokingly as he scrambled to his paws and shook out some of the sand that had been stuck in his fur.
The wolf padded over to where his friend had laid the prey out on a smooth flat rock on the shore. The clear blue pool provided the two with most of their food; fish was the only thing they were very experienced at catching. Sometimes when he needed some variation in his diet, Lynker could try to catch a rabbit, or steal a carcass from another predator. He tended to avoid physical confrontation when Curse wasn’t there to back him up, but if he waited long enough, he usually got a decent meal.
He had seen a few other wolves in the area but usually stayed away from them. They usually stayed away from him too; the closest any had come was to the opposite side of the lake. Two she wolves had been there just the other day. He didn’t think they would have been much of a threat to his little patch of territory, but he had kept hidden nonetheless. Maybe it was just shyness – he didn’t understand the ways of wolves; they were just so strange and unpredictable. Most of the time he forgot that he was a wolf, and had to remind himself of the fact that he and Curse were different species.
Lynker licked his lips as he finished his share of the fish. “Nice catch” he mumbled appreciatively to his friend.
Life was so good here, in this paradise. Although they had only been here for a couple of months, it already felt like home. He was glad that they had stumbled upon the spot.
He let out a contented sigh as he lay down on the beach, the evening sunlight warming his fur. A huge yawn contorted his face as he prepared for another nap. Curse ambled over to his companion and gazed admiringly at the sunset. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he grinned at Lynker “The way the sun goes down over the mountains, and tinges the snow with all those lovely colours...”
The two friends sat together for a while, just watching the sunset. The big brown bear finally broke the silence. “It’s been a long day... I guess it’s time I got some sleep. You coming too?”
Lynker shook his head “No, I think I’ll stay out here for a while. Might try to catch a deer or something later…” he caught the skeptical look on Curse’s face “Hey! You never know; I might get lucky..”
Curse grinned and ambled off towards the den. Lynker smiled back as he watched his friend disappear into the gap between the tree trunk's roots.
He turned back towards the sunset, and watched as the sun slowly made its descent towards the mountains. The small black wolf laid his head on his paws, content. This was his home – and nothing would ever change that.
.