A story dedicated to a friend of mine. [A black sheep in a white wolfpack]

I dedicate this story to Chris, a friend I trust deeply, and while we haven't seen each other, he is someone I can confide in, trust and rely on. While I met him online, I trust him as much, if not more, than many I've met offline.

The sound of riflefire echoes in between the trees, sending birds flying and animals running, quickly giving life to the otherwise silent and calm forest. The bullet barely misses the now awake wolf, which now is fleeing deeper into the forest.

”Fucking beast” the hunter curses, blaming the wolf for his own bad aim. He reloads his rifle and continues his search, muttering curses and incoherent insults towards everything. The local villagers have a superstitious fear of wolves, perhaps not entirely justified, but fear nontheless. Being located next to a thick forest is not exactly the best place for superstitious people to live, but the minds of humans are indechipherable. They decided to hire a group of hunters from a neighboring village. These hunters are the best of their kinds, and as of yet they've not failed anything anyone has asked of them.

As night begins to fall the hunters gives up for the day, returning to meet his fellow companions at a nearby cabin. This cabin is rarely used, as it is located just inside the forest, and the fearful local villagers usually stay a long way away from it. That aside, it is a nicely kept little house, with well isolated walls and a fireplace to keep it warm during the cold, harsh winter.

For the hunters, the night passes quickly in their cozy cabin, but for the wolfpack the night is not as enjoyable. The prey has left, leaving them to search for stray animals whenever they go hunting, but there never are any, and the pack is slowly doing. Being on the run from humans and hopelessly searching for pray, the wolves have grown closer than ever before. Perhaps mankind can learn from these noble creatures, but alas, the hybris of men will be, as it always has been, both their doom and greatest asset.

This night, the wolves has been blessed with the gift of life, a new cub. A beautiful blessing that will help the pack grow, and perhaps survive the threat of humans and being hunted. This night, it will be calm and quiet in the forest, but the hunt will begin anew in the morning, for both the hunters and the wolves.