They’re out there, right now hunting me. The thought of being captured like some criminal and being forced to go back to that world of pettiness and greed made him want to hit something. He looked at the baggie at his feet and looked at the wolf that hadn’t moved throughout his tirade. He sighed and scooped up the baggie. He jammed it back into his vest and brushing his hair roughly with his other hand he walked toward his guide. “I’m not a criminal and I won’t let them catch me out here like a dog either.” He hunched down low in front of his wolf companion. He looked into her golden eyes and in a much softer voice he said, “I’m sorry. I know that was unhelpful and a waste of time. I’ve followed you this far and I will continue to follow you even if you are taking me hundreds of miles from here.” He stood up as a wry smile crept across his face. “I’ve always wanted to see Canada. I hear it’s gorgeous this time of year. But we won’t get there for a couple of months.” He put both his hands up in front of him motioning the wolf. “After you, my lady.”
The wolf kicked herself off the rock from which she was sitting and in a full run flew past him. He ran after her as they continued their trek over the barren landscape. The wolf did not keep her sprinting pace and soon she was jogging over the rocks. He fell back into his marathoner’s pace keeping a good distance between himself and his wolf companion.
The sun was already on its way down from its zenith and it sat just off his left shoulder. The sun was warm but not too warm and he was comfortable. His body was sweating and the cool air around him felt wonderful.
The wolf continued on her steady course north. He couldn’t see anything that might be construed as anything special about this area. All the rocks looked the same and the ground was rounded having been shaped by wind and rain. As he ran, he thought about how useless his earlier anger had been. I was being stupid and petulant as a child complaining, ‘Are we there yet?’ Still, he hadn’t really felt anger like that in a long time except two nights ago when his home had been invaded. There was strength to be had from his anger. He remembered that being the only good thing about it though. Anger is such a base primal emotion. Whereas he had learned to live with joy and happiness, the sudden rush of hatred and anger that had invaded his soul briefly seemed alien and hostile. He didn’t like it and he hoped to guard against his anger in the future.
They continued to run. His pace was steadily slowing and the wolf was matching his pace step for step. The energy that his breakfast rabbit had given him was long gone and his stomach protested to be being expected to work without being fed.
The old man in the sky was being drawn nearer to the horizon and he knew that soon the ocean would claim him once again. They would need shelter for the night. But the wolf continued to run. The ground was still warm from the sun’s rays and he chased after his guide with the stubborn determination of a younger sibling. If she’s not going to stop, then neither am I.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
As his eyes shifted from the ground to his guide and back to the ground again, his breathing became ragged. His vision blurred, and his legs scraped against themselves. The sudden friction caused him to stumble, and he let his body collapse onto the ground. He rolled and came to a stop with his back on the warm stone. He leaned his head against the ground and looked up at the sun. The long shadows of twilight surrounded them. He watched as the sun sank ever deeper on the horizon.
How many times had he watched the sun sink into the ocean? How many times had he watched it before he came out here? Even though he had lived out here for less than two years he was certain he had watched the sun set at least twice as many times as he had throughout the rest of his life in the civilized world. This is what life should be about. Living and surviving through your own sweat, and the strength of your back, enjoying the beautiful spectacles of nature. No movie could ever hope to duplicate the shear awesome and beautiful sight of a simple sunset. He closed his eyes and smiled as a breeze blew over his warm body drying the sweat from his face and chest.
He felt a soft, rough, and moist texture push against his shoulder. He could smell the deep musky smell of animal fur and he knew that his guide had come to check on him. He opened his eyes to find the she-wolf standing over him prodding him with her nose, nuzzling his shoulder. He reached up around her neck and scratched at her head. He started as he realized what he was doing.
He pulled his arm down from around her neck and heaved himself up into a sitting position. The sun was touching the horizon and soon it would be pulled down under the earth. He stood up and examined his body. He had sustained a few scrapes and a bruise on his elbow but there was no blood anywhere. He took a few steps and his legs worked without protest. He looked down at the she-wolf as she stood next to him.
“We need to find a place to camp.”
The wolf watched him, making no move to agree or protest with his suggestion.
He looked up and scanned his surroundings. There would be light left for about thirty to forty minutes. After that they would need to rely on moon and starlight which wouldn’t be a problem out here on the rocks. He was sure that he wasn’t going to eat tonight, and he hardened himself to that realization. What was important now was that they find someplace out of the wind. Without food, conservation of body warmth was essential. After the rocks cooled, he knew that they would suck every last ounce of warmth from their bodies if they had to sleep on the bare rock.
As he scanned the horizon for some place to sleep the wolf took off at a run. “Hey, wait,” was the only thing he could gasp out before he was chasing after her. She was in a dead out run and he was not going to keep up with her. She was running south now for some reason. She must have slowed down because he was able to just keep her in sight. The pace was brutal, and he knew that his body would not be able to hold out much longer.