Leaving the Forest, Part III
Nourd ran alongside Elder Wolf. She went nimbly through the forest; nothing could slow her down. He’d been raised with her cubs, but watching her, he knew how much he still had to learn. He often found himself jealous of the wolves for having four legs. The apes had always told him they were the lucky ones; wolves couldn’t pick up food or climb trees, and what was better than climbing trees?
Nourd followed Elder Wolf back to her den. It was hidden away in the forest, far away from where any humans went. The cave looked like a small outcropping of rock to the untrained eye. Unlike the deer, the wolves only went out when they had to. All the creatures of the forest knew how to absorb the sun’s energy for nourishment, which meant they didn’t have to hunt as much. Even then, the wolves did, because that’s what they wanted to do. Elder Wolf had always told him “A wolf is the hunt. A wolf is her pack.”
Her pups were waiting for them, and ran out to meet them. They jumped onto Nourd, tails wagging. They nipped at him, and he nipped back, laughing.
“Are you staying for dinner?” one asked.
“It’s not dinnertime, yet,” Elder Wolf said. “You’ve only just woken up.”
“So?” another said. “He can stay until then, can’t he?”
“We’ll see,” Elder Wolf said. “Where is your father?”
“Sleeping,” came the tired reply. “At least, I was.”
Janam walked out of the den, nodding to Nourd. His fur was dark gray, in contrast to the lighter gray, almost white of Elder Wolf. He was bigger than her, but she held an air about her that made everyone listen when she spoke.
“The birds are chattering away about something,” he said. “Woke me up earlier with their calls. I’d just fallen back asleep.”
“I’ve been invited to stay with the humans,” Nourd said.
All three pups stopped rolling around and stared at him.
“No!” one cried. She whined and ran to him, nearly knocking him over again. Despite being pups, they were as big as he was. “You can’t leave!”
“Mama, talk to Mother!” another said. “She can’t make Nourd leave! He’s one of us!”
Warmth filled him, and he smiled. One of us. He’d felt like one of the wolves his whole life. While the deer and boars didn’t trust humans, the wolves, the bears, and the apes had always welcomed him. He was a part of each of their tribes, and they’d always made him feel like one.
“If you were alone with the humans,” Elder Wolf said to her pup, “wouldn’t you long to live with the wolves?”
“But I am a wolf!”
“And Nourd is a human,” Janam said, glancing at Nourd. His nose twitched. “Even if he doesn’t smell like one.”
“I am,” Nourd said. The sadness Elder Deer had left with him returned. “Maybe I should go to them.”
“It wouldn’t be forever,” Elder Wolf said. “Like the forest-smelling humans, he would come here and see us. He would help protect us like they do.”
Nourd had never seen a wolf smile, but the way Elder Wolf looked at him, he felt that she was smiling at him. It was as though, like Mother, Elder Wolf was proud of him.
“You’ll come visit?” one of the pups asked, wagging his tail.
“Of course,” he said. “This is my home.”
He looked at Elder Wolf and Janam. Until that day, he’d been certain that the forest had been his home, but now he was filled with doubt. What if Elder Deer was right?
“And it always will be,” Janam said.
“I’m sorry we woke you,” Elder Wolf said to her mate. “Unfortunately, we only needed to stop by for a moment.” As her pups began whining, she added, “But we’ll be back later, if that’s what Nourd wants.”
Nourd nodded. Living with the humans scared him, but knowing he’d always have a home with Elder Wolf made him feel more at ease. He could always return, couldn’t he?
“Nourd, please, follow me.”
Nourd and Elder Wolf left the den. They ran through the forest together, taking a path Nourd didn’t recognize as leading to anywhere. Elder Wolf always had her reasons. Of the tribe elders, she was one of the oldest and wisest. She understood the balance, and she’d met many of the humans. She knew that humans weren’t all the same.
Nourd kept telling himself this as they ran. Not all humans were the same. He wouldn’t be a poacher like the humans that had given birth to him. He’d never known them, and he didn’t want to know them. He was more than that.
Elder Wolf slowed her pace. Nourd didn’t see the significance of the where they were.
“No matter what happens at the human nest, I want you to remember us. Pay no mind to what the boars or deer say. They fear humans, and fear that you will become like the humans that bore you. But those humans are not your family. We are your family. You were raised here, in the forest, by us, by the creatures of the forest, and by Mother. She knew it was wrong to kill you even though others feared that you might turn out like those people. It is clear to me that you haven’t, and I know you won’t.”
Tears ran down Nourd’s cheeks. He ran over to Elder Wolf and buried his face in her side.
“I’m afraid, Montala. I’m afraid that I’ll become like them. I don’t want to be a human. I don’t want to leave here. This is where I belong.”
“Come now, my pup. Not all humans are the same. The forest creatures should know that by now. And you won’t leave the forest. The human nest is inside the forest, and we see them every day.”
“I’ll come visit you. I promise.”
“You must follow the forest-smelling humans and their teachings. The one in the forest earlier, Gorkle, is a good human. You can trust him. He will teach you well, as we have done.”
Elder Wolf’s words comforted him. He didn’t want to leave her, but knowing she’d be there when he returned made it easier to say goodbye.