The wolf snorts at me and so I keep petting it. The fur tickles my hand, it’s softer than I expected. “Are you a boy or a girl?” I ask like it can answer me. It does the snort again. “Boy?” He snorts. “Okay you’re a boy. I don’t know if you really understand me, but I’m Taryn. My parents just found out they have a cabin here, left to them by some family I’ve never met.” I look around wondering how far I’ve wandered into the depths of the forest. “Well somewhere nearby. I’m lost.”
He snorts again and starts pushing me with his wet nose. “What? Do you want me to follow you?”
Again, my new wolf friend pushes me with his nose. He leads me through the forest and even though I know he can’t really understand me, I decided to talk to him as if he could get to know me. Maybe it is driven by nervous energy, or the unknown of what is to come, or possibly because I feel so comfortable and protected in the presence of my wolf. I was not a girl lost in the forest any longer, that worry had long escaped me. A calm has settled over me as I walk along his side, his soft coat skimming over my arm with each step, the sound of his breaths and huffs the further we move along, it is all consoling.
“I always wished that I had a brother or a sister, but Mom says she almost died having me and they didn’t want to risk it. When I grow up, I’m gonna get married to the man of my dreams and we’re going to have lots and lots of babies.” I shake my head feeling foolish for talking to myself. “I know it’s stupid, but that’s what I want.”
I reach out and pet the top of his head. “You’re so soft. I could just cuddle you for hours. When I was little, we had a poodle named Pookie, but she got sick and went to dog heaven. I miss her.” It’s like I can’t stop talking. I’m not a talker, ever. Maybe it’s because he’s an animal and I’m assuming he can’t understand me.
“Do you have a family?” He snorts. “Good, I’d hate for you to be all alone out here”
Up ahead I spot the flowers I saw earlier and suddenly I felt sad. I slow my steps, wanting to prolong our walk. “Will I see you again?” I swear he shakes his head, maybe I’m delusional and losing my mind. I drop to my knees in front of him and start to cry, throwing my arms around his neck. The adrenaline I felt earlier has crashed and my emotions are now flooding my mind. I don’t want to let him go, what if this is the one and only time I am gifted time with him. Was this a dream? If so, I’m not ready to wake up. I know I should be scared, after all this is a wolf, a wild animal, an unpredictable predator, but nothing about him scared me.
What is happening to me?
My wolf friend licks my face, his tongue is rough, and not like I was expecting. “I’ll never forget you,” I whisper. “I hope you have the best life.”
Suddenly I feel sleepy. I try to fight it, not ready to say goodbye. I blink rapidly seeing him fade as my eyes grow heavier. Exhaustion overtakes me and I give in to and let go of my magical wolf and the comfort he has provided.
“Taryn? Taryn honey, wake up.” I peek through my slightly opened eyes. “Sweetheart?” Opening my eyes fully, I find my mom standing over me. Feeling dazed and heavily confused I glance around, realizing that I’m on the porch. “Baby, are you okay?”
“Umm…” what is going on? "I think so,” I say, though my heart is screaming otherwise, “I must’ve fallen asleep.” I look around and immediately feel lost. He’s gone, was it even real? It felt real, I swear I could still feel the tickle of his soft coat. My throat burns when the reality that I may never be able to have his powerful presence soothe me hits me hard.
“It’s time for dinner.” I follow her inside but pause at the front door looking back out toward the forest and wonder if that whole interaction was a dream. I see nothing, just a small clearing in the line of the trees and I wonder more than anything what lies beyond.
Merick
12 Years Later
“You are being careless.” I pause with the phone held to my ear registering the disappointment in my father’s voice becoming evident. Staring out the large fogged windows that line the east side of the abandoned warehouse. I’ve called this place home for months at a time throughout the years. “Someone will see you, they’ll grow curious and then—”
“What?” I bark, lifting my hand and running it through my long dark hair, tugging on the ends.
Even if Taryn saw me now, she would not recognize me. It was so long ago when I found her in the forest, scared and alone. That day I felt it, the instant pull, a connection so deep that every single day since I’ve felt as that a part of my being has been missing. She is in my soul, flowing through my blood, part of me. “I can’t walk away and you know it.”
“If you’re going to make this happen you need to move quickly.” I know my father is right. His voice is strained, so distant and
