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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Five, Snowflower's Companion: April 1, 2002: Snowflower walked through the forest, following the stream westward. She continued to sing her plea as she walked. The sun was above the horizon and long shadows rushed through the forest. They were flecked by the moving leaves and it seemed that the forest itself was alive. It was alive with other life. The sounds of the many birds and insects filled the cool air. They did not pause for Snowflower's passage for, though heavy with child, she knew the silent tread of the hunter. She had learnt it from her father, Silent Stalker, and she remembered. Snowflower thought with sadness of Silent Stalker. He had been slain before her eyes as she was captured by the Bandar raiders. Though but four summers, it seemed a life time away in the dim past. Now, with the spark of life within her, she had but one purpose in her thoughts. She would strive to bear her cub before she perished. Snowflower expected to perish, for her strength was waning as she walked. Her body was bruised and swollen from the stoning of the Bandar women. It was cut and scratched from the thorns. Some of the cuts were red and foul of odor. The power of the Great Spirit and the will of her inner spirit was all that carried her on. Her inner spirit still told her to follow the stream westward. Suddenly, she heard a yelp ahead. Then the forest went silent. Not a peep or a buzz did she hear. Snowflower stopped and peered ahead through the shaded gloom of the forest. She saw nothing. Carefully, she went several strides to the south. Then she stalked slowly westward. Time passed, for she moved but half a step at a time; stealthily; always watchful. When she came upon a rise of earth her spirit self warned her. Whatever it was lay over that rise. She found herself at the stream again for it curved southward to flow around the rise. Snowflower did not follow the stream for that was the expected path. Instead, she crossed it and trod upward, to the top of the rise. Looking down she saw the source of the yelp. A grey wolf hung, head down, from a hunter's snare. It's hind legs were caught in a loop of woven bark. The wolf was silent and still. It had not made a sound since it had been surprised by the snare. It had not yet noticed Snowflower for she had approached with stealth. After looking for danger in the forest, Snowflower began walking carefully down toward the wolf. It noticed her as soon as she moved and watched her with fierce and fearful eyes. Still it made no sound. Even as Snowflower came near, it remained quiet. Snowflower noticed that it was a bitch yearling. "Well, young wolf," she said, "what was your aim ere you were caught? Did you scheme to leap on me as I passed? Are you the one who visited my thorn tree? Are you the one who watched me through the darkness that first time? Have you no tongue?" Snowflower moved at a distance around the wolf. It strained its neck to follow her with those eyes. Still it made no sound. "What shall I do with you?" she asked. "I could try to kill you, but my weapons are poor. I could cause you much pain. My spirit self reminds me, that would be wrong. It is wrong to cause pain. Do you not agree?" Snowflower took a step toward the wolf. It cringed, but still chose silence. Only its eyes spoke; of fear and danger. "I could go on and leave you for the hunter," she continued. "He will surly slay you quickly. Will he come? When? You could hang here and perish in terror and pain ere he comes. What will you do if I try to help you? Will you reward me with sharp teeth? Dare I risk it?" She placed her pouch on the ground. Then, she reached out a tentative hand toward the wolf. It watched, but made no move. The eyes began to change, as though resigned. Snowflower stepped neared and the wolf trembled. She held her spear ready in her right hand and moved the back of her left hand to the wolf's snout. The great spirit put his hand on the wolf's heart and the eyes closed. Snowflower moved her hand to stroke the wolf's ear. It breathed slowly and remained quiet. "My spirit self tells me to set you free," she said. She laid her spear aside. With eyes on the wolf, she reached down to her pouch and found the sharp stone. Carefully, watching the wolf, she used both hands to saw at the snare around the wolf's legs. It took much time, but the twisted bark finally parted and the wolf fell to the earth. The spell was broken. The wolf scrambled up and hastened into the forest. Then it stopped and watched her. "You may go now," said Snowflower. She reached into her pouch and selected a small stone. She hurled it toward the wolf. The wolf stepped back, but did not retreat. "I said you may go," said Snowflower. Again she threw a stone with the same result. She threw several more to no avail. The wolf remained to watch her. "Very well," said Snowflower. "If you wish, you may come along then." Snowflower turned her feet westward and again followed the stream. It was larger now, having been joined by another small stream from the other side of the rise. The wolf followed along, no longer hidden, but in full sight. It kept her always in its view. Snowflower continued her song to the Great Spirit. All that day, she continued westward beside the stream. All that day, the wolf remained with her. She partook of whatever berries and nuts she could find. It was not enough and her strength continued to fade. Come dusk, she was spent. She relieved herself near the trail. She did not bathe and had nothing to eat. With the force of her will, she mounted into the lowest branches of a small tree. In an instant her eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep. The wolf remained and lay at the base of the tree. It slept as a wild animal does, with all senses alert. When eyes appeared in the gloom, the wolf raised its head and growled deep in its throat. The eyes faded away. When the sky began to brighten, the wolf moved away and waited. Slowly, Snowflower came back to life. She felt the weariness in all of her body. There was no center or point of the pain. It was through all of her. She tried to let herself down and fell. She dropped to the earth, but there was no added pain. She was already at the end of it. She struggled to her knees. She crawled to the stream and drank. Then, using a tree for lift, she pulled herself up and continued her path. Snowflower relieved herself on the trail as she walked. In mad babbling she sang her plea to the Great Spirit. The wolf continued to pace her a few strides away. It also watched the trail ahead. When the sun reached the top of the sky, Snowflower was finished. She stumbled several times. She fell and used a tree to lift herself. finally, she fell and lay there; unmoving; unable to summoned the will. The wolf watched a while, then moved away. Snowflower watcher her go. Tears ran from her eyes. "Goodby my companion. I am glad that I freed you. Perhaps you will fair better than I. My father would say, good hunting friend." Snowflower closed her eyes to await the end. A short time later the wolf returned. In its maw, it carried a small dead hare. It dropped it near her hand and stood back. Snowflower did not move. The wolf came forward and nuzzled her face. Still she lay there. Finally, the wolf whined and licked her face. She awoke and saw the wolf. It pushed the hare into her hand. "You have brought me food," she whispered. "Thank you. I will try to eat." Snowflower manage to lift the hare and bring it to her mouth. Using her teeth, she tore at the hide and pulled some of it away. She chewed on the raw flesh and slowly swallowed small pieces. Over time, bit by bit, she consumed much of the hare. Then she fell back again. Her eyes closed and she slept. The wolf stood guard. She slept through the night and the wolf stayed at her side. When the sky brightened again, Snowflower woke. Thick fluid held her eyes and she had to force them open. She scraped the stuff away with a finger nail. Rising on all fours, she crawled to the stream and drank. She used the water to wash the sticky fluid away from her eyes and the corners of her mouth. Snowflower knew the end was near, but her inner spirit roused her once again. There was another life within her. She crawled to a tree and lifted herself once again. She began to stagger westward, following the stream. She babbled her song as she went. The wolf followed along. When the sun was high, she could no longer control her direction. She wandered through the stream several times in her stumbling path. Then she fell. Even then, she continued on, crawling westward. Finally, it was over she could not move her limbs. She lay there near the stream and whispered to the Great Spirit. "It is over for me, Great Spirit. I have done my best and failed. It is all in your hands now. If the cub is to be, it is by your will. I ask nothing for myself, for I have failed. Please, save the cub if it is your will." She looked at the wolf and knew the Great Spirit had sent it to her. Perhaps there was still hope for the cub. "You must find help good companion," she said. "Find someone. Bring them here. Save the cub. Go now." The wolf turned and trotted off. Snowflower lay down for the last time and closed her eyes. She felt no fear or remorse. If better was in her, she would have done it. Her only hope now was with the grey wolf. She waited for the hand of the Great Spirit. Snowflower did not know how close to safety she had come. Just a short walk away, hidden by the forest between, lay the village of the Quiet Folk. It lay beside the very stream she followed. Had she known, she might have found the strength to continue. Instead, her hope of rescue was on the grey wolf. In one of the gardens near the village, a youth named Gentlehand worked diligently with a sharpened forked stick. He was removing the undesired plants from amongst the desired ones. He looked up to wipe his brow and was surprised to see a grey wolf a few strides away. The wolf turned and moved a few strides. Then, it turned around and watched him. "What is this?" wonder Gentlehand aloud. "What are you doing?" The wolf move back and looked at him. It came closer and sat. The youth took a step toward the wolf. The wolf turned and moved away and stopped. It turned back toward him and looked. "What is this?" laughed the Gentlehand. "What do you want?" The wolf came nearer to him. Then it sat and looked. Gentlehand took another step toward the wolf. The wolf waited. When he took another step, the wolf moved away again, but only a stride or two. Gentlehand took another step. The wolf moved a step. Gentlehand took another step and the wolf did likewise. Gentlehand began laughing. "What is it you want? he asked. "Do you want me to come with you?" The wolf turned and walked slowly away, looking back to him as it went. Gentlehand shrugged and began to follow. "Trust the Great Spirit," he said. He began to trot and the wolf trotted ahead. It was not far and the wolf stood by Snowflower; waiting. Gentlehand stopped in surprise. "What is this?" he asked. He approached the woman and the wolf moved away to sit and watch. Gentlehand knelt beside her and touched her forehead. It was hot and she moaned at his touch. She was deep into fever. Gentlehand looked at the wolf and wondered. ‘Time for that later,' he thought. "Thank you, good wolf, for bringing me to her. She is in dire need." Gentlehand was young and strong. He lifted Snowflower in his arms and stood easily. Gently, so as not to cause her further despair, he began carrying her toward the village. The wolf followed at a distance. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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