I am not familiar with this part of the world that I had somehow wandered into. The new smells overwhelmed my nose and eyes and I was quite miserable in the summer heat. Though it felt nice to have the sun beat down on my back I was a stranger to it. I had heard my brother talk of the sun and how it could hurt you if you stood it in for too long. I remember tilting my head and saying the world was a scary place…because it, in fact, was very scary. Everything was out to hurt you and hardly anything was here to help you. I felt vulnerable.
My legs carry me slowly through the tall and grassy fields. I twist my nose to catch the passing scents of wolves that had been here but none of them were strong enough to tickle my attention. I flick my ears back to catch any sound that may be creeping up behind me but I hear nothing. The fields are frighteningly quiet today. I keep walking and keep my senses on high alert, honing them in and training myself to track someone by smell and sound rather than relying on sight alone. My mother and brother never taught me to differentiate between family and potential danger, and so I was going in this world alone; my instinct would kick in when it was ready.
It is then that my ears flick in the direction to my left to collect a low growl and my hackles stand on end. I had not smelled the body in which the noise had come from and I mentally scolded myself for being so childish and uncaring in my surroundings. My legs bend and I creep slowly forward and to the left hoping that I didn’t completely mess up and expose myself to potential danger. Whining wasn’t the next noise I had expected to hear as I topped the small hill that had been my only cover and my eyes caught a glimpse of the trail that had been left in the savannah-like grass. I inhaled deeply and caught his scent and started toward the flattened foliage.
My head breaks through the grass first, allowing my body to avoid the sharp edges of the blades of grass. I’m not sure what has caused me to be so curious and intrigued by the noises of the male, nor am I sure why I am content on starting a conversation with someone I had never met. It hadn’t gone as well the first time…being that I trespassed without knowing.
My nose lets a small whine escape and I keep my distance from him in case he isn’t friendly.