The Wolf QUeen

The Wolf Queen

“Stay far away from the woods, Lance!” My mother would always warn me when I went out with the other village boys. “It’s dangerous!”

As a young boy, I had always wondered what my mother had meant by that.

How dangerous could that cluster of pine be?

Of course, there were rumors. The old men who frequented Town Square said that there was a spirit lurking in the forest, which brought death to any who dared set a toe inside its boundaries.

The huntsmen all had their own stories about a vicious monster that they had “Seen with their own eyes” and narrowly escaped.

Two facts were known to be true about the forest, however. Every effort to level it had been a failure, and no one, save the hunters, had escaped the woods alive.

When I and the other boys from town went out, we’d always stay just outside its boundaries, daring each other to enter. No one ever did.

No one, mind you, except for me.

On that cold winter afternoon, many years ago.

……

It was near the end of December as I trekked up the slope of a snow-covered hill.

The boys around me were all shouting and jumping around, throwing snowballs or rolling around in the feathery powder in rowdy wrestling matches.

We are boys, after all.

Normally I would have joined in the revelry freely, but for some reason, I didn’t seem to have any interest in rolling around in the snow.

I gazed out at the forbidden pine forest, my breath curling from my lips in a sultry steam.

The trees stretched for acres around, spiking into the pale sky like the spines of a giant porcupine.

I was paying no attention to the other boys, and was surprised when a snowball hit me in the back of the head.

“Oi! Lance! If yer so int’rested in those woods there, woi don’ y’try goin in?” Dared one of the bigger boys.

I drew myself up to my full height, though that wasn’t too impressive, and replied

“I suppose I will.”

It was as if a gun had gone off. The boys stopped roughhousing and stared at me dumbly.

The large boy who had given the dare didn’t seem to believe me.

“Alrigh’ let’s see y’do it, then.”

Once again I stared out at the monolith of trees, and doubt wrapped around me like an icy blanket.

The trees looming before me seemed to grow taller before my eyes, the shadows growing larger and more foreboding.

I took a deep breath, and before I lost my nerve, plunged into the wintry verdure.

……

The dense mass of trees was dark and eerily silent. The only sound beside my own breathing and my feet crunching through the snow was the sound of the great pine’s branches rustling as the wind swept through them.

As I slunk through the snow-dusted foliage, I became aware of another sound.

Quick, pattering footsteps.

I stopped, and cast a wary glance around for the danger my mother had warned my about, cold fear seeping into the pit of my stomach.

That was when I saw the eyes.

Pairs upon pairs of glowing orbs, staring coldly back at me.

My heart began to beat faster.

I could just make out their pointed ears, their bushy tails and muscled forelegs.

Wolves.

I held my breath and stood rigid.

The woods seemed to freeze as well, time itself stopping as the wolves stared at me.

That was when one of the wolves threw back his head and let out a long, blood freezing howl.

I turned on my heel and ran full-pelt, not knowing or caring where I was going.

The forest suddenly became alive with the sound of paws trampling through the snow.

The bays of the wild dogs filled the air, a chaotic song that drove my pursuers forward.

My breath came out in short gasps, my lungs and legs screamed from exertion, but I pressed on, fear giving me energy.

I dove into the trees, dodging roots that threatened to trip me, the pine needled stinging my face as I ran.

The wolves knew the forest much better than I did though, and when I dared to look over my shoulder, I found them almost upon me. One of the wolves lunged, knocking me to the ground, and I let out a cry of despair.

The other wolves began to swarm, their lips curled to show their wicked teeth.

The wolf on top of me leaned in so close I could smell its fetid breath.

I raised my shaking hands in front of me in a feeble effort to protect myself.

‘I don’t want to die…’

“Hold!” The voice rang though the forest, it’s commanding tone reverberating inside my ears.

The wolves fell back at the sound of the order, bowing their heads submissively. I sat up slowly, watching the wolves warily.

Out of the shadows between the trees, a human figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

As it passed into the light, I was able to get a better look at the figure. A wild looking girl with matted black hair. The wolves crouched lower, parting to allow the girl through and thumping their tails respectfully.

Who was this girl, who commanded even the wolves of this wild place?

The girl looked down at me, a feral sort of dignity shining in her brow eyes.

“Stand.” She ordered.

I did so, still watching the wild dogs out of the corner of my eye.

The girl studied me silently, and I shifted under her intense gaze.

“Why have you come here, village boy?” The girl said her voice deathly quiet.

I dropped my gaze.

“My name is Lance—“

“I did not ask you your name! I asked you what brought you into my forest.”

I flinched at her tone.

“I—I just wanted to see what it was like.”

There was another silence as the girl seemed to reflect upon my answer. The wolves looked up at her, as if waiting for her to pass a verdict.

Her gaze returned to me.

“And you think what?”

The words here out before I knew what I was saying.

“It’s beautiful here.”

The wolves shifted, glancing from me to their leader, who continued to stare at me.

After a time, the girl raised her hand on her palm was a large scar. It was shaped like a paw, with four triangular marks like claws.

“I am called Runis, Queen of Wolves.”

At the sound of the title, the wolves simultaneously thumped their tails on the ground three times.

Not knowing what else to say, I repeated my name.

Runis nodded a greeting.

“You are unlike the others, Lance from the village.” She informed me. “No one ever enters the woods and those who do…”

Runis cast a long look at the edge of the forest. “They do not go back.”

They do not go back.

Those words sent another thrill of fear through me and I pushed past Runis and her wolves, ignoring their growls, and sprinted towards the edge of the woods.

A few of the wolves started to bark and I briefly heard the sounds of pursuit, but a command from Runis stopped the animals.

I burst into the clear valley that encircled my village and sped past the boys still on the hill. As I looked back at the forest, I thought I saw the shadow of a girl, watching as I raced back into the safety of my home.

……

Later that night, I was woken from my slumber by a shrill scream, accompanied by the distressed baying of dogs.

I jerked into a sitting position, throwing the covers off me and flying out of bed. I dashed to the window, sticking my head out to get a look at the commotion outside.

Men were pouring from their houses, guns in hand.

A few wolves already laid dead in the square.

And in the middle of the chaos, looking around in confusion and anger was Runis, surrounded by a small escort of wolves.

A few of the men attempted to get closer to Runis, but were forced back by her lupine friends.

I scrambled away from the window and out the door, swiftly making my way towards Runis.

“Stop! It’s not what is seems!” I shouted, but my voice was drowned out by the men’s guns and the baying of the wolves.

The wild dogs fought the men with a devoted ferocity, but the villager’s guns proved too much for them.

Soon the dogs were nearly all dead.

Runis looked around at the bodies, dismay and grief evident in every inch of her face.

Ordering the remaining wolves on her patrol to leave, Runis faces the villagers.

The men turned to the girl, and she took a step back.

“Wait…” She faltered, raising her hands in a sign of surrender.

The square fell completely silent. Time froze at it had in the woods, as the men stared at her palm.

At the scar.

A villager broke the frozen calm with a savage bellow.

“Beast!” He roared, raising his gun to his shoulder.

“No! Please, don’t hurt her!” I pleaded, leaping in front of her.

The gun filed and I felt a fiery pain scorch up my shoulder and neck. I collapse, my vision dimming.

I heard another crack as the gun fired once again, before an impenetrable darkness overtook me.

…..

I woke in the woods. The wound in my shoulder was gone, but something in my hand was stinging unbearable. I sat up, vaguely realizing that I was surrounded by wolves.

I looked down at my palm.

On it was a scar.

A paw print, with four triangular claw marks.

I turned my palm to the wolves, and they regarded it with reverent respect. Then a big black dog lifted his head and howled. One by one, the others took up the cry.

Unlike that day when I’d first entered the forest, this howl was slow, softer, but still fierce.

It was a salute.

A salute to me, Lance.

King of Wolves.