Saving a King

Torn Apart

I can’t contain the gasp that slips from my lips. Nervously, I reach out to the beast. I allow it to smell me, trying to let it know that I am here to help. To my utter shock and surprise, it does not bite me! Instead, the beast turns its head away, showing me it understands. Or maybe, Ive just gone crazy.

I approach the leg that is caught in the barbaric trap. The trap is now set very deep into the wolves leg, to the point I can see its bone. This is not good. I know that if I try to yank it open, I won’t be strong enough to hold the pressure from snapping closed again. I did not anticipate this, and didn’t bring any tools to help.

Trying to think clearly while still be hyper aware of the giant predator I’m next to is very hard to do. I look around, searching for something to help me. I’ve got it! I need a thick tree branch, I can use that as a pry bar. Standing up slowly, as to not startle the wolf, he whimpers slightly. “No, I’m not leaving you”, I hope it understands.

Finally, after several minutes of searching, I’ve found a branch that will do the job. Heading back over to the wolf now, I hear a slight rustle in the brush behind me. My anxiety sky rockets! What if it’s the poacher coming to collect its prize? I will fight, fight for this wolf.

I turn around to face this poacher, only to be greeted by yet another wolf! This one is smaller with red fur and sky blue eyes. I don’t know what to do, I don’t want it to attack me if it thinks I’m going to hurt its friend. Slowly, I point to the black wolf, “I’m going to help him get free”. Again, it seems to strangely understand me.

I won’t waste anymore time pondering this strange encounter. I quickly make my way to the trapped wolf and begin my work. I put the branch between the steel teeth of the contraption, and pry it open. It is very hard to do but, I manage using all my weight. He pulls his leg free and without a pause, bolts into the dense forest.

I look around, a bit shocked. Even the other wolf has seemed to disappear! I cannot take much time to figure out this mystery as, I am still in the woods, now fully aware there are wolves in here. I walk over to the trap, grabbing the big chain and swiftly shaking it, making sure it is no longer usable. Good, one life saved today.

Then I notice, there is no trail of blood. The black wolf was hurt, bleeding, where did it go? I search in the direction he ran off in but, there’s not even a drop! How is this possible? I must have squirrel brain because, I take note of the setting sun once again. Time to go home, I can think about this for hours, just inside the safety of my walls.