The lean, muscled beast, curled its lips back – emitting a snarl.
-“It seems that I have underestimated you, my scrumptious morsel. But know this, I will not be deterred. You might shoot at me, but I am an alpha predator.
My instincts are razor sharp. I have keen eyesight, highly developed olfactory, and hearing capabilities, and I’m built for optimum speed.
I will most likely dodge the bullet.
Then, my succulent little piggy, I will tear open your abdomen, and eat your entrails, while you are still alive and squealing.” This, the grey wolf said, with a malevolent gleam in his yellow eyes.
-“Know this wolf; I do not want to kill you. Yet, I must defend myself. If you choose to enter, you will sign your death warrant, for I will focus with intent on your vital organ, and with a steady hand, I will send you straight to hell.
Perhaps, that is what you seek - to end your miserable existence.” Michael said with a steady gaze, and a cocked pistol ready.
Laughing diabolically, the wolf changed its stance. –“Perhaps you are right little piggy, for I am too old, and weary of this life.
I howl at the moon, to appease the savage beast which lurks within me, for the moon’s cycles, play havoc on my senses. Those drive me to insanity and I feel a primal lust for flesh which urge me inexorably, to a feeding frenzy, until I can hold no more in my belly.”
-“You are the beast, wolf.”
-“Am I really? Or is it merely my nature? If so, is man not a beast too?
We are alpha predators, where the fittest thrive and survive. They too eat your kind without qualms, even though they could survive without it. They kill each other without honor, or fabricate reasons to do so.
Whilst I merely kill for survival - as nature intended it to. I regurgitate the contents of my meal, in order to feed my family. I also provide nourishment for other species, as they eat from the carcasses I leave behind.
I’ve been driven out of my habitat, by overdeveloping, and pollution of my drinking water - these man made.
You must ask yourself little piggy, why did nature intended it this way? Why is there light and dark, good and evil? You might find that they are just polarized energies.
I was a playful pup once, until a rival pack pounced on us and ripped to pieces my father. He was a noble, loyal wolf, with lush grey fur, and a regal bearing. He was loving and playful with us, and with our mother.
My father fought them well - until the end. Before, he had made my mother run away with us, and away from harm’s way.
I could not move. I hid and watched as they ate my father amongst them, tearing off his flesh, and leaving his carcass for vultures. Something cold and feral then gripped my heart and mind.
Ever since that fateful day, I hardened my heart forever. Hate resided there, in every beat of my lacerated heart.
I trained to be the fastest, strongest, most cunning, and vile of all wolves.
One day, I sniffed, and searched for that clan which had eaten my father. I gathered my posse, and to hurt them where it would hurt the most, - like they hurt me in the past – I ate their pups as they watched in horror, while the ones who belonged to my pack held them back. Then we killed the elders, of course.
Go ahead and judge me little pig. But first you must judge nature and its Infinite Intelligence, for making us devour each other, in order to survive.”
-“I’m sorry you lost your father that way wolf. But I also lost my baby brother to you, and I too hurt. Go search for smaller fare, and go away. I will spare your life, because I won’t kill you intentionally. I do not want to become a beast too.” Michael said with certainty.
-“Ah…you see my little piglet, it is not that easy. You must kill me then before I leave this den, because I am ravenously famished. I have not eaten in two weeks, and I must appease my aching hunger. Nothing will stop me.” The wolf said as it snarled and prepared to pounce.
With the intent and synchronicity of an intricate dance, the wolf leaped and met the bullet which perforated its muzzle. The impact caused it to fall back and slam against a wall.
Howling in pain which only hemorrhaged more blood, the wolf geared to attack once again fueled with blood thirst and a feral, all-consuming rage.
The second bullet met him mid-air on the right shoulder, which made the wolf reel with the force of the impact, to slam against the wall.
Michael had circled the wolf, and edged closer to the door, anticipating his renewed attack. When the wolf was down for the count, he ran outside and closed the door to stall for time. He ran towards his car and drove off without looking back.
The full moon lit the valleys and hills, as he drove to Brian’s house to protect him from the wolf. He knew the wolf was blood thirsty and royally pissed off.
They had to join forces to deal with this situation once and for all.
To be continued…
Photograph by Jim Brandenburg
