Post by Tawnya on Jul 22, 2006 20:41:16 GMT -5
The Shade
“I am going out for awhile,” she told him, grabbing her keys and heading for the door.
“Where?” he asked, “For how long?”
“Not long,” she said noncommittally, “and the where is my own business.”
She went out and got into her car. She drove the short way to the little two-track road quickly. She went along it until she couldn’t, and parked the car, getting out to walk the rest of the way. The other had said to meet her here today. She would be alright now, she hoped.. This was extremely tiring.
She found the giant pinion and sat beneath it quietly, waiting. Before long, animals were coming out and gazing at her curiously. She just looked back at them, stroking a small fox that had come close. He was quite tame—for her at least. She had that effect on animals; she always had for some reason. She could call the wild birds out of the sky to eat from her hands; she could talk to the squirrels and rabbits; and the snakes and even the spiders were not afraid of her.
After an hour or so of waiting, she began to grow restless. She was about to get up and leave, when the wolf appeared. Black, with golden eyes, the she-wolf cautiously approached the woman under the tree. They stared into each other’s eyes as the wolf neared the woman. The wolf sat down not half a foot away, still staring into the woman’s eyes. Then, not suddenly, but fluidly, the wolf changed shape, taking the form of the woman in front of it, until she sat staring at a perfect, though naked, image of herself.
“Thank you,” the newcomer said slowly, “I am sorry it took me so long. You must be exhausted.” She put her arms around the other woman as she slumped forward.
“It is alright,” whispered the woman weakly, “It is what you created… me… for…” she trailed off on a soft, tired sigh and closed her eyes.
The wolf-woman kissed her softly.
“Thank you,” she whispered again as the shade melted in her arms.
All that was left was a pile of the wolf-woman’s own clothing, which she quickly put on.
She patted the fox gently and walked to her car.
© Copyright 2006 by Tawnya