Woman Lupas

Once upon a time mystical creatures of both the light and darkness walked the earth, along with a spirit blade warrior. A lone woman, a girl really, was destined to wield that spirit sword to ward off evil. This is her story…

The forest grows suddenly quiet. Too quiet. I feel eyes all around me. Turning slowly, I peer into ever shadow and shrub, waiting for an attack. Then to my left, a crash. I whirl around to face my unknown enemy only to be tackled to the ground by a…a furball?

"Dawn, what are you doing out here, so far from your den?" I shrilly ask the young wolf pup. Receiving only a few playful nips as an answer, I laugh. The pup nuzzles my neck and licks me with her rough tongue.

''Come along then, let's get you back home to the den. These woods can be dangerous at night, especially for one so small." An excited bark is the only reply as I pick up the small furball and begin the long journey back to the den. Along the way we pass a small pond that immediately catches dawn's attention. As I pause to take in its sunbathed beauty, Dawn leaps out of my arms she grips my hand lightly in her small mouth and gives it a slight tug

"Ok, a quick swim it is."

Without so much as a pause, dawn dives into the cool water, snout first, surfaces and looks back at me through fur matted eyes. Giggling, I follow her example and plunge into the elixir. We splash around and play for awhile, but all too soon the sun begins its quest to its quiet resting place. Shaking ourselves off, we continue on our journey.

As we near the den, my awareness intensifies. There is an eerie stillness and dark foreboding in the air. Placing the now whimpering pup behind a dense bush to hide, I stealthily creep into the clearing. What I see now, I know I will never be able to forget.

The earth is bathed in blood. Amongst the trampled grass and broken branches are pools of life blood… too much for whatever creature had once held it in their veins to live. The shimmering substance gleams and sparkles as if its still alive. A struggle has taken place here.

In the middle of the clearing lies a sight now burned into my mind. Lying like a sacrifice is the broken body of Asoka, Dawn's father, pack leader, and my friend. His blank eyes stare up at the sky. Dead, not at all like how he used to dance and engulf me with his wisdom and love. His fur is matted down with drying blood, blood that even now seeps from the tell-tale cut ranging from his strongly muscular hind leg up to his stomach. The rest of the pack is no where to be seen as I walk up to and crouch by Asoka's body. I trace a finger along his jaw and stare into his eyes. His blank eyes. Eyes that used to fill with emotion of the greatest purity. Staring into those eyes, I hardly recognize my voice as an anguished howl burst forth from my dry lips. Thrusting my head back I stare at the moon and scream my outrage and grief in howl after howl until my voice gives out.

Placing my hand upon Asoka's forehead, I whisper goodbye and make my vow…

"I promise to avenge you, my friend."

Gently I place my finger upon his wound. First one cheek, then the other, I smear with his blood. Letting all know that his blood is on me, in me, and that I will spill the blood of those that cost him his life. I stand up and survey the area once more. The place I once called home is no more. I walk out of the clearing, picking up the now crying pup, and disappear into the forest.

"Goodbye Asoka."

My heart is filled with sorrow. I feel lost in a sea of shadows in which Dawn is my only anchor against the waves. Dawn and my thirst for revenge, for closure. How I long to rip the hearts out of those who killed my beloved Asoka. With him they killed my heart, my father.

The forest is quiet, subdued. As if the world shares my sorrow. Dawn walks silently beside me. Her head bowed, eyes moist. She truly has lost her father. Her guide in the world. Now all she has left is me and the hope of finding the missing members of our pack. I wonder if the others did survive. I know that Aurora, Dawn's mother, is a survivor by nature. We won't stop looking.

We walk immersed in sorrow to another clearing. The forest once again fills with the sound of life. We work together to clear a small area for a fire, hoping the work will clear our minds as well as provide protection against the cold, harsh night. Smiling weakly, I pat Dawn on the head and take from her mouth a small branch. Together we gather wood and start a fire. Leaving Dawn to bask in the fire's warmth, I reenter the dark forest. I can hear the gurgling of a distant stream and head towards it.

Breaking through the foliage to the stream, I pause and sit beside it, asking for guidance from the moon. Silently I pray that the remaining pack is alive and that I'll find them. Opening my mouth I let out a long anguished howl, letting my feelings release into that mournful sound. Turning back to the stream I thrust my into the icy cold water and continue to quench my thirst. Standing, I make my way back to the clearing.

Curling around Dawn, I close my eyes, allowing my other senses to expand. Maybe in the day's light I'll awake to find this all a dream. Then this hellish nightmare will be over and I'd be back where I belong, surrounded by the wolves. With that thought I open my eyes, place a brief kiss against Dawn's muzzle and wipe a lone tear from my cheek. I close my eyes and drift to sleep, my last thought, "Let this all be just a dream."

The rustling of footsteps on dry leaves rouses me from slumber. Opening my eyes I instinctually growl and rise to my feet. My eyes come face to face with… myself?

No, this one is different from me, it’s a human male. He stands a few inches taller than I and seems ill at ease in the forest. In his hand lies a knife, its edge darkened with dried blood. Seeing him start towards Dawn, knife extended I hurl myself at him. Knocking him down, we wrestle for the knife. We struggle over the hard ground for what seems like eternity. Dawn suddenly leaps on his arm and digs her sharp teeth into his hand, causing him to drop the blade. Wiggling out of his grip I grab the knife and place myself between him and the wolf pup.

He looks up, eyes darkened with pain and disbelief ands utters, "So you are the wolf woman. I have come to save you from the savage beasts yet this is how you repay me?"

"Savage? The only savage I see now is lying before me. You have murdered my friend, Asoka leader of the wolves, for no reason. You are a monster. His death shall be avenged."

I move to stand over him, knife in hand. Looking into his eyes I see acceptance in them. I quickly slice his throat and lay him once more upon the ground. The difference between wolf and man, is that wolves only kill if their intended prey accept their deaths and take their places willingly in the circle of life. Man kills as he wishes. I turn and walk once more into the forest, Dawn at my side. My home is with the just, the wolves.

Rebecca Lee Archer