FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

There was once a sweet little mouse that was just as kind as she could be. She went out of her way to help others as she could, and never asked for anything in return. One day she had to go to the Old Forest to look for a particular plant that she needed. The closer she got to the border of the Old Forest, everything became darker and there were many strange sounds and scents that made her nervous. The little mouse kept looking over her shoulder as she made her way closer and closer to the edge of the Old Forest. Eventually the little mouse came to a wide stream that was too deep and swift for her to cross.

"Oh, what am I to do now?" she squeaked in dismay. "There's nowhere to cross!"

A large shadow fell across the little mouse, frightening her.

"EEK!" she squealed in fear when she looked up--a large, old Great Wolf had silently come to stand by her.

"I will carry you across, little one," the old Great Wolf said quietly.

"B-But...you're a wolf! W-Wolves eat mice!" she cried.

The old Great Wolf looked down at her, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light as he gave the frightened little mouse a sniff. He cocked his head as if he was studying her, and after a moment, he sat down. The little mouse heard his joints creak and saw the gray fur on his muzzle when he sat.

"Why would I eat you, my dear little mouse? You have a kind heart and a beautiful soul, and I must say you are a fair sight to behold for these old eyes."

The little mouse didn't know what to say. A coyote might try to trick her, but wolves--however fierce they could be--were known for their strong loyalty, bravery, and honesty.

"But...but I'm just a poor, little mouse..."

"...And I'm just an old wolf who admires a pretty face," he interjected with a toothy grin. The old wolf laid down next to the little mouse and said, "Climb up on my shoulders and hang on to my fur, I'll carry you across the stream."

The little mouse did as she was told, and climbed up upon the old wolf and situated herself between his strong shoulders, settling down into his thick, warm fur.

"Here we go," announced the old wolf when the little mouse signalled that she was ready.

The old wolf stood up, a few joints popping, and walked without hesitation into the cold water of the stream. The farther across he went, the water rose higher up his legs, then it reached his belly, and then up his sides. When he reached the deepest part, the old wolf had to swim though he was careful to keep his shoulders from getting wet. Finally he made the other bank of the stream, and as he climbed out of the water and went up the bank, the little mouse admired the sheer strength it took, for the bank was high and steep. The old wolf laid down so that the little mouse could jump down. He stood and took a few steps away and shook the water from his fur, starting at his head and working back all the way to his tail. The little mouse had to get under a broad leaf because so much water flew off the old wolf's fur that it was like a cloudburst.

"That was a lot of water!" she squeaked from under the leaf.

"Nothing like a little swim to wash away the stains of the world," the old wolf said with a grin.

The little mouse thought that was peculiar, and thinking on it, she asked, "Have you seen much of the world?"

The old wolf glanced at her, and then looked away for a time. When he looked back at the little mouse he spoke softly, "I've seen many things, though the seasons, many places far away from here. I have seen bad things...terrible things, and...I've seen some good, too." He smiled gently and added, "But seeing a smile on your face would make enduring all of the dark times worth it."

The little mouse's ears blushed with embarrassment, and she couldn't help but to smile at the compliment.

"There, you see? You've brought a little more light to this corner of the world," the old wolf grinned, and indeed, much to the little mouse's amazement, the part of the Old Forest they were in seemed to have grown brighter.

"So, what was that plant you were looking for? Perhaps I can help you find it--I've got one of the best noses in the forest, and I know a lot of the animals around here," the old wolf offered.

"It's a medicine plant that's good for coughs--a neighbor of mine, Mrs. Chipmunk, has a little one who is sick, and I said that I would try to find her some. There's none to be found in the Younger Forest, so..."

"...So you took a chance to look for it here," the old wolf interjected.

"I didn't know where else to look," the little mouse said glumly.

The old wolf leaned down and nuzzled the little mouse.

"I think I know who might be able to help."

"Who could that be?" she asked.

"Someone who is an expert with all sorts of plants," the old wolf grinned.

He lifted his head and howled towards the sky. His voice was carried on the winds, and the little mouse swore that the trees themselves whispered from one to another, carrying his call.

When he finished his howl, the old wolf said, "Now we wait; it'll take a little while for my friend to get here."

While they waited, the little mouse and the old wolf talked and got to know each other better. He was a good listener and enjoyed her voice and her expressions, and little by little, he became enamoured by the little mouse. In turn she enjoyed his stories of faraway places and unusual beings.

"For a big old wolf," the little mouse thought to herself, "he's very nice, and thoughtful, too. I never would have thought that one day I would feel safe with a wolf!"

After a time the little mouse's sensitive ears heard an unusual buzzing sound. The old wolf perked his ears up to the sound and smiled.

"Ah, here she is!" Hello, Miss Bee!"

The little honey bee came and landed softly on the old wolf's nose, causing him to nearly cross his eyes to look at her.

"Hey, old wolf, what I do for you today?" she buzzed.

"Miss Bee, little mousie here is looking for a medicine plant to help a neighbor's little one who is sick with a cough. I thought maybe you might be able to help us find it," the old wolf replied.

The honey bee thought for a little bit, and then did a little happy dance on the old wolf's nose.

"I do better! Have special honey in hive--wait here, I go get some!"

Off went the tireless honey bee to fetch just what the little mouse needed.

When Miss Bee arrived at the hive, she went straight to the queen.

"Old wolf come with little mouse. Little mouse needs special medicine honey for sick neighbor's little one with cough. Can we give some?"

The queen of the hive was surprised at the request, but she remembered that the old wolf had saved her hive from a bear the summer before.

"For old wolf, we give. He saved hive. Go fetch for him."

Miss Bee happily rounded up some other worker bees and they set to the task of removing part of a honeycomb that contained the special medicine honey. They dragged the piece of honeycomb to the hive's opening, which was in a hollow of an old tree, but they were faced with a problem--the bit of honeycomb was too heavy to fly with.

"What to do?" asked one of the other workers.

Miss Bee thought a moment, and then had an idea.

"I know! I go get Mr. Hawk, he lives close. Mr. Hawk strong, he carry to old wolf. Wait here!"

Miss Bee flew off; heading to a tall tree nearby where she knew the hawk family lived. Higher and higher her tiny wings carried her, all the way to the top of the tree. When she reached the edge of the nest, Miss Bee was out of breath--it was the highest she had ever flown in her life!

"Mr. Hawk! Mr. Hawk!" she buzzed excitedly.

"A bee, way up here to see me? That's quite a feat for a little honey bee. What can I do for you today?" Mr. Hawk asked.

"Mr. Hawk, old wolf needs special medicine honey to help a friend, but load too heavy for us bees to carry. You strong, will you help us help old wolf?"

The hawk remembered the old wolf.

"The Old One helped us one winter when food was scarce. He shared his catch with us, and we owe him. I will gladly help. Climb onto my back and show me the way, little bee!"

The hawk extended a wing and Miss Bee climbed up and held on to his neck feathers for all she was worth. He launched himself off the edge of his next, plummeting down towards the ground. At the last moment, he opened his great wings and swooped up to a low branch and landed gracefully. If Miss Bee could have closed her eyes, she would have--she had never gone so fast through the air before! Following her directions, the hawk found the tree her hive was in, grasped the piece of honeycomb with his powerful talons, and headed off to find the old wolf.

The little mouse was snuggled up against her new friend to keep warm when they both heard a hawk cry out, "SKREEEE!" the little mouse nearly jumped out of her fur--mice are terrified of hawks.

"Don't let it eat me!" she squealed, and buried herself as deep as she could in the old wolf's fur.

The old wolf barked a laugh and said, "I think I know this hawk. If he's the same one, you won't have anything to fear."

Soon the hawk swooped in and landed on the ground near where the old wolf was lying.

"Good afternoon, my friend, what brings you to this part of the Old Forest?" the old wolf greeted his friend as he stood up.

"An acquaintance of ours asked for my help to bring you this," Mr. Hawk said, releasing the piece of honeycomb that he had carried in his talons.

At that point, Miss Bee flew off the back of the hawk and again landed on the old wolf's nose.

"Got special medicine honey, but too big for us bees to carry, so got help from Mr. Hawk. He strong, fast, too! Little me never go so high, or so fast!" Miss Bee buzzed excitedly.

"Ha!" barked the old wolf, "I would imagine so!"

"So, where is this friend of yours who needs help, Old One?" the hawk asked, tilting his head inquisitively.

"Come on out, little mouse, Mr. Hawk won't hurt you," the old wolf called reassuringly.

With a little more coaxing, the little mouse slowly came out of hiding from under the leaves where the old wolf had been lying.

"Ah, there you are, come and take your gift from the bees. You are a friend of the Old One--I will not harm you, you have my solemn word, little mouse," Mr. Hawk said with a bow of his head.

Hesitantly, the little mouse made her way towards the piece of honeycomb, nervously glancing up several times at the hawk.

"I am no trickster, little mouse; I say what I mean and mean what I say. Always."

The little mouse sat up on her hind legs with her ears back, holding her front paws together.

"Before this day, I never imagined having a wolf as a friend, or a hawk, or even a bee! This is a strange day for me! Maybe...maybe someday I could hear your stories, too?"

The old wolf smiled and nodded to his friends, Miss Bee and Mr. Hawk.

"Perhaps we can meet from time to time and share our stories, but for now I must return to my mate. May I return you to your hive, Miss Bee?" the hawk asked.

"Okay, I go with. Bye old wolf! Bye little mouse!" Miss Bee buzzed and she landed on the hawk's back and hung on to his neck feathers.

"Until next time, my friends!" the hawk cried out as he lifted off from the ground and flew away with the little honey bee clinging tightly.

"I suppose I should get you home, my dear little mouse. Climb on, and don't forget your medicine honey!"

The old wolf laid down so that the little mouse could climb up upon his back near his shoulders. He trotted off back the way they had come. He carefully crossed the stream that flowed between the Old Forest and the Younger Forest. After shaking off the water once again, the old wolf carried the little mouse all the way to her home. The little mouse wasted no time in taking the special medicine honey to her neighbor.

"I had quite an adventure to get this from the bees in the Old Forest, Mrs. Chipmunk," she said handing the piece of honeycomb to her neighbor.

"The Old Forest?! How in the world did you get there, child? No animal ever goes there and returns, except for two that I know of. One is Raven--a strange one, she is. Some say she talks to the Old Ones who have crossed the Great Stream; others say she flies between this forest and the Old Forest. She sees the ones who have Gone Away. If Raven ever talks to you, pay heed! They say it's not wise to ignore Raven, no, never wise at all! Oh, and the other one! He's in league with that Raven, I know it!"

"The 'other one' wouldn't happen to be an old wolf, would he?" the little mouse asked nonchalantly.

"An old wolf? Dearie, he's as old as they come, why, he's positively ancient!" Mrs. Chipmunk exclaimed. "Oh, and let me tell you, wolves are a dangerous lot--they'll eat a mouse as soon as look at one!"

"*Ahem* The old wolf...he's right outside. He carried me across a deep stream on his back and into the Old Forest. His friends, Miss Bee and Mr. Hawk, helped get the special medicine honey to soothe your sick child." Little mouse breathed on the sharp little claws on one of her front paws and buffed them against her fur.

"He's WHAT?!" Mrs. Chipmunk squeaked loudly, giving the little mouse a shrewd look, and asked, "Have you been eating the seeds of that crazyweed, missy?"

"No, ma'am, he is right outside--you can look for yourself, if you don't believe me."

"Well, of all things! There is no wolf outside _my_door! Why there haven't been any wolves in this part of the Younger Forest for a long time!" Mrs. Chipmunk shoved aside the piece of bark that covered the entrance to her nest and emphatically stated, "See? There's no...," and just then she saw a large amber lupine eye staring at her.

"Hi."

"EEEEEEK!!!"

Mrs. Chipmunk shrieked and ran across her nest with tail sticking straight up in fright, she dived into her bedding of dry moss, and then covered herself up to hide.

"Well, I see you made quite a first impression on Mrs. Chipmunk," the little mouse laughed softly.

"That happens a lot," the old wolf said with a sigh.

Eventually they got Mrs. Chipmunk calmed down so that she could give some of the special medicine honey to her sick little one. They stayed to help out, with the little mouse tidying up Mrs. Chipmunk's nest and taking turns watching the little one while his mother went out to gather food; the old wolf's presence insured that no other hunter came around while the little chipmunk got better.

A day came when the old wolf had to leave for a while, though he assured the little mouse that he would return as soon as he could.

"But, why must you go?" she asked, not understanding.

The old wolf nuzzled the little mouse tenderly.

"Even I need to eat, my dear little mouse, and it will be better if you stay here. Hunting can be dangerous, and I don't want you to get hurt."

The little mouse gulped and looked up, remembering how powerful a hunter a wolf can be. He smiled a sad little smile.

"I will be swift--my prey do not suffer needlessly."

The little mouse found that to be a small consolation, but she understood that he would take no more than he needed, and that he was not a vicious soul.

"Be safe--I will be here when you get back," she squeaked softly, nuzzling him in return.

Several days went by, which seemed like a long time to the little mouse, and she tried to busy herself with her daily routine, but as time went on, she grew listless and would watch for the old wolf. Then one night, after the little mouse had settled in and was fondly thinking of snuggling again in his thick, warm fur, she sat up with a start. At first the little mouse was afraid of the primal sound, but the more closely she listened to it, the more she realized that she recognized the voice. The little mouse listened carefully--she could hear sadness in the ancient song, though little by little, the song spoke of a strong respect for Life and of the Great Balance that all are a part of. The little mouse had never heard such a touching song before, but then, she had never looked into the soul of a wolf until recently.

When the first birds began chirping in the faint twilight of early morning, before the forest began to stir in earnest, the old wolf returned like a silent shadow slipping through the trees. Sitting on a low branch near the little mouse's nest was a dark shape that seemed to be there, and not, at the same time.

"Hello, old friend," croaked the dark shape. "I have been keeping an eye on your little friend while you were hunting."

The old wolf looked up and saw the dark shape--his amber eyes saw more truly than most, and even though he knew the voice, he could see clearly who it was.

"Hello, Raven. Thank you for watching over her," the old wolf replied with a wag of his tail.

"She is a tiny thing, but...," Raven looked down at the little mouse's nest with her starkly penetrating yellow eyes, "...she is as you said, of course." Raven turned her gaze back to the old wolf. "You know the price for what you seek, old friend."

The old wolf sighed and looked wistfully towards his little friend's home and closed his eyes.

"You and I have been dancing together a long time, Raven. Surely an old wolf like me might have a moment of joy in this life. You know what I have seen--you have seen it with me."

Raven rustled her feathers.

"I remember," Raven said in her raspy voice. She looked off into the distance for a time. "You will have your moment of joy, and I will give you this because of our long friendship--I will continue to watch over your little mouse until it is time for her to cross the Great Stream, and then I will carry her across."

The old wolf lowered his ears and slowly wagged his tail.

"Thank them for me," he requested respectfully.

"They know," Raven croaked softly, "and I will let _you_know when it is time."

"I would rather it be you than that pesky owl, old friend," the old wolf said with a small grin.

Raven chortled, "Our hawk friend has a bone or two to pick with Owl, I think."

"I definitely will if he comes anywhere close to her," the old wolf said with a hint of a growl in his throat."

"Owl is _my_problem, my friend. If I were you, I'd keep an eye out for that cat--she's a mean-hearted one, and hateful to the bone."

The old wolf had heard stories about the cat--she spread terror and woe everywhere she went. The old wolf vowed that if the cat ever came into his territory, he would hunt her--and if the cat threatened his beloved little mouse, then the cat would know the true meaning of terror.

"It will be an epic battle, no doubt," Raven speculated.

"And you will have a front row branch, I'll wager."

"I wouldn't miss it," chortled Raven.

After Raven flew off to deal with other things, the old wolf shook himself and then laid down next to where the little mouse had her nest.

"Anyone home?" he asked quietly.

The little mouse awoke instantly to the sound of the old wolf's voice and ran out to greet him.

"You're back!" she squeaked excitedly and threw herself against his muzzle. "I missed you..."

"I missed you, too," the old wolf said, carefully cupping his large paw around the little mouse.

It was still dark as they talked, but after a while the old wolf noticed that she shivered in the cold morning air. He curled up and she snuggled deep into his thick fur, content at last with his bushy tail over her body. It was the soundest that she had slept in a long time.

The little mouse and the old wolf became nearly inseparable, except for during the times that he had to hunt. He found safe places in his territory for her to stay while he hunted, and often he would bring back choice berries and other treats. When he wasn't hunting, the little mouse rode on his shoulders as he took her around his sizeable territory. She saw many marvels that she had no idea even existed, and he delighted in her company. As the cooler days deepened into winter, and the snows came down the mountains and settled into the valleys, the old wolf was ever vigilant for traces of the cat. There were times that he thought he had caught whiffs of cat scent near the edges of his territory, but he saw no traces to speak of. Occasionally the hawks would find the pair and while the two females talked, Mr. Hawk and the old wolf stepped away and quietly exchanged what information they had.

"A blue jay told me he saw some strange animal that moved like Puma, and sort of looked like Puma, but was smaller, about the size of a groundhog and had yellow fur with white stripes. He saw it torment a little squirrel that it had caught over and over again. The blue jay sounded the alarm and stayed near to point out the strange cat, and then the crows heard the fuss and came to see what the matter was. They eventually drove the cat away. The last thing they heard was a dreadful hiss and it saying, 'I hate_you! I hate _all of you! You took my fun away!'"

The old wolf was disgusted by what he heard.

"No hunter takes another because it's fun," he growled.

"You are right, my friend, and one must do so swiftly. Even Puma honors her prey in her own way, as do we," Mr. Hawk agreed.

The two hunters turned their gaze to watch Mrs. Hawk and the little mouse as they played a simple game. Mrs. Hawk was very careful with her sharp, powerful talons as they played.

"I see why you like that little mouse so much--she is very special, and charming, too."

The old wolf slowly lay down and watched a moment and then said, "Who would have thought that an old wolf such as me would ever fall for such a sweet little mouse like her. Ah, if only I were younger..."

The old wolf laid his head down on his front paws and heaved a long, slow, sigh.

"And only if she were a wolfess or you a buck mouse," chortled Mr. Hawk.

"That, too," agreed the old wolf. After several moments had passed, he added, "Raven said she will watch over her for me."

Mr. Hawk looked at his friend--his sharp eyes saw how much more gray there was around his muzzle.

"You have seen a lot of winters, my friend."

"I was the first of the Great Wolves to come to this place, and now I am the last. I hear their voices on the winds--they say, 'come with us--cross the Great Stream, we wait for you on the other side.' I have stayed this long because I felt there was more that I could do, but there have been a lot of empty times over the many turns of the seasons. Sometimes I envy you, my friend--you and your mate have been together a very long time."

"We could have left, to try and find a home somewhere else, but we chose to stay and watch over this place, even through the hard times. You helped us by finding food to eat with that nose of yours. If not for you, we might not be here," Mr. Hawk said.

"And if not for her, I might have gone sooner," the old wolf said with a gesture towards the little mouse. "She made my part of the Old Forest a little brighter, at least for a while."

Mr. Hawk extended his wing and rested it on the old wolf's shoulder.

"I understand, old friend." He paused a moment and then added, "She is such a beautiful little mouse."

The days seemed to flow one into the next for the old wolf, for he was happy and not alone in the world. Although they were the most unlikely pair, the little mouse and the old wolf were content and they enjoyed their time together. The old wolf stayed close to the little mouse and protected her from other hunters. Word spread, and soon they all knew to leave his little mouse alone. The pair became known as story tellers, so the other animals would gather around during the time of the full moon and listen to the stories told by the little mouse and the old wolf, of adventures, faraway places, strange beings, and heroic deeds. All seemed well in the Younger Forest, but...deep in the shadows, a pair of eyes burned with hate and malice.

"Ah, so the other animals listen to you, do they? Well, you old fur, I see how you are with that juicy little mouse...without her, you won't have a reason to hang around. Without one of you old Great Wolves always sniffing around, I'll be able to take what I please and play my way. You just wait, sometime when you're not paying attention, I'll sneak up and take that little mouse away from you! She'll be a tasty treat, and you will never know what happened until it's too late! Ha-ha-ha!" laughed the yellow cat with white stripes.

The sound of flapping wings caught the cat's attention.

"You are a fool with a death wish, cat," croaked the dark shape that settled on a branch close by.

"Go away, you nosy crow, before I find your nest!" hissed the cat.

"You weren't the brightest kitten in your momma's litter, were you?" the dark shape taunted, and hopped down to the ground, and doing so, changed shape into a tall female figure with long black hair, pale skin, a cloak of black feathers, and a mask on her head shaped like a bird's face. Dimly, though all the hate, the cat finally recognized the being for what she was.

"Raven!" spat the cat, arching her back and fluffing her tail.

"Persist on this path, cat, and you will see me again very soon...just before it ends."

And with that, Raven pulled her mask down, transforming back into her bird shape, and flew off into the night.

"I'll do what I please, when I please," the cat growled quietly to herself, turning her hate filled eyes back on the little mouse. "I'm going to take you right out from under his nose, just you see!" and then she slinked back deep into the shadows to wait.

On one bright sunny morning, not long after the raven gave the cat her warning, the old wolf was taking the little mouse around so that she could dig around to look for seeds and other things she could eat. Sometimes the old wolf helped by pawing at places where snow had accumulated to make it easier for her to look for food. It amazed her to know that while she ate several times a day, the old wolf went for days without eating.

"It's much harder when you have to catch your food, so I have to save my energy for when I need it," the old wolf explained.

The rare times he ever talked about hunting always made the little mouse feel uneasy, but she was thankful that he kept the details to himself and never mentioned who he hunted. Today, though, the old wolf said something that he hadn't said before.

"You may think this is harsh, but when we wolves hunt, we are careful about how we select our prey--we only go after the sick, the injured, the weak, and so forth. This helps to keep the others healthy and strong. It also makes our job a little easier--hunting is dangerous work, so we are careful when we must hunt. We can't do what we need to do if we're hurt, and since the pack takes care of its own, anyone left behind has to be cared for."

The little mouse thought about this, and she remembered something.

"I haven't seen the rest of your pack--are they around somewhere?"

The old wolf looked off in the direction of the Old Forest, and the little mouse saw a sad look on his face.

"I was the first of the Great Wolves to come here, now...now I am the last of my kind. There is no one else."

The little mouse's heart ached for her friend--she had family and friends, but all of his had gone away. Well, not all of his friends--there was Miss Bee, the hawks, and there was one other that she had caught glimpses of now and again.

"Who is that big black bird I see you talk to sometimes?" she asked after a moment.

"So, you've seen her, eh?"

"Sort of, I think."

"That's Raven," replied the old wolf.

"Who is that?" inquired the little mouse.

"Raven...is a very special bird. She flies between the land of the living and the Land of the Ancestors, and other places, too. She knows a lot of things, an sees where others can't. if raven ever talks to you, it's best to pay attention. Sometimes she may bring a message, and may carry one if you ask nicely. Even if you don't see Raven, she will be watching you. Oh, and she likes shiny things and little treats, so if you ever need her help, giving her something nice will go a long way."

"I'll try to remember that," smiled the little mouse. They walked a little ways and then she asked, "Ho do you know so much about Raven?"

The old wolf grinned and said, "Raven and my kind go way back, to the Younger Days."

The little mouse's jaw dropped. The mythical Younger Days--often spoken of in reverence by elders, who have passed the stories down from one generation to the next. It was the time when the Great Ancestor Spirits walked the world.

"Surely he's not that old...is he?" the little mouse thought to herself in awe. She thought about what he had said--raven and the Great Wolves had been around since the Younger Days, and he was the first of his kind. "Oh, my! He...he's a...a..."

Suddenly, the old wolf's head jerked up and he began sniffing the air, his ears went from relaxed to fully upright, swivelling about as if trying to catch the faintest sounds, and then the fur on his back raised and he held his tail high.

"What's wrong?" asked the little mouse, who was growing afraid.

"There is evil here--I can smell the scent of hate. You need to be someplace safe," the old wolf said firmly.

"Evil? Hate? W-what are those?" she asked nervously.

"Very bad things--maybe another time we can talk about those, but for now, you need to be somewhere safe," the old wolf insisted.

"B-but, wouldn't I be safer with you?"

The old wolf gave the little mouse a look that she knew he was greatly concerned.

"I may have to fight," he replied quietly.

The little mouse understood then how serious the situation was.

The old wolf lifted his head and howled, alerting the denizens of the Younger Forest and the meadow--it was carried on the wind and passed from tree to tree, until it reached even the Old Forest itself. "Danger has come!" he howled, "Defend!" at once the smaller animals scurried to their places of safety, and the larger animals such as the deer took up defensive positions, shaking their antlers and pawing the ground with sharp hooves. The crows circled overhead, their sharp eyes watching for anything that shouldn't be there.

"I don't know what to do!" squeaked the little mouse nervously, wringing her front paws.

The old wolf quickly looked around for a safe place for her to hide.

"Over there," he said, pointing with his nose, "that big tree, there is a hole where the trunk meets the ground. I think it should be deep enough that no one can reach in and snatch you. I doubt if the squirrel will mind you using it to hide in this time."

Just as the old wolf was about to walk the little mouse over to the tree with the hole, the crows began cawing excitedly, "We see! We see! Over here!"

He looked to where the crows were circling and then to the tree. The tree was closer, so he barked, "Run, Mousie! Run for the tree! Now!"

The little mouse ran for all she was worth towards the tree as the old wolf bolted in the direction of the crows.

"Those fool crows!" growled the cat, "They've spotted me somehow! That old wolf is coming this way...I need to move quickly if I'm to catch that juicy mouse he's so fond of!"

The cat ran off though the undergrowth at the edge of the clearing, heading in a direction towards the big tree, hoping to stay hidden long enough to intercept the little mouse before she made it to safety. The cat stopped long enough to see the old wolf sniffing where she had been hiding.

"Hairballs!" the cat hissed, "He's got my scent--it's now or never!"

The cat bolted out of the undergrowth and ran straight for the little mouse, who had not yet made it to the tree. Being much larger than the mouse, the cat rapidly closed the distance between them.

"You're mine! Yeowled the cat when she was close to the little mouse.

One of the crows spotted the cat running across open ground towards the mouse and cawed, "I see! I see! Over here! Quick!" as he dived towards the cat.

"Oh, no!" the old wolf said when he lifted his head from the cat's scent trail.

He sprinted as fast as his old bones would let him--would he make it in time to catch the cat before it hurt his beloved mouse? He wondered as he ran.

"HELP ME!!!" the little mouse squealed when she saw the maniacal gleam in the cat's eyes.

The crow buzzed the cat close enough to peck at it as he went by, pulling out a beakful of the cat's fur. The move kept the cat from raking the little mouse with her claws, but didn't slow the cat by much.

The little mouse thought she was a goner--she didn't think she could reach the tree in time, but just then she heard a sharp "SKREEEE!" from above. It was the hawks! Mrs. Hawk slammed into the cat with her powerful talons, and lifted it yeowling loudly into the air. Mr. Hawk quickly, though gently paused long enough to grasp the little mouse and carry her to safety. Mrs. Hawk wheeled in the air and swooped towards the old wolf, dropping the cat in front of him.

"A present for you, Old One!" she squawked, and flew off to join her mate.

The cat hissed and growled at the old wolf, who was circling slowly while giving "the stare" wolves are known for.

"You brought this on yourself, cat," the old wolf growled back. "It never would have come to a fight between us if you hunted honorably."

"Ha!" the cat spat back, "I do what I want, when I want--I don't answer to you or anyone else!"

"There are rules all must follow to keep The Balance, even you must follow them. We hunters do not torture our prey--a kill must be quick and clean. Everyone, from the largest bear down to the smallest shrew, knows this," the old wolf said carefully.

The cat looked around and saw other animals gathering around in a circle--several deer bucks lowered their heads, pointing the sharp tines of their antlers towards the cat; two porcupines raised their quills; a badger was there, too, with its formidable claws. Of course, the two hawks were nearby, ensuring that the cat wasn't going to run too far if she tried. Then she spied Puma walking up.

"Puma! Help me, there are too many! This isn't fair!" the yellow cat yeowled, making her way over to Puma. "You're a cat--help me!"

Puma snarled and swatted the smaller cat with her large paw back to the center of the circle.

"I claim no kinship to you, you twisted little wretch. Fight your own fight," Puma said with a throaty growl.

"I HATE YOU!!!" spat the smaller cat, picking herself up.

"That is how you got yourself into this mess, you fool of a kitten; you're full of hate and wickedness. You torment and kill for fun--that is not The Way. Whatever happens, you deserve it. I've said what I came to say," Puma said, and then she turned to the old wolf and added, "That...is all yours, Old One."

The old wolf gave a quick nod of his head towards Puma as she withdrew to a place where she could watch.

The old wolf began circling the cat, his teeth were bared in a silent snarl, and he kept his gaze fixed on the cat's body instead of her eyes so that he could see how her muscles tensed.

From the branch where the little mouse sat, holding on to one of Mr. Hawk's legs, she could see how the event unfolded below. In the time she had known the old wolf, she had never seen him hunt. This time, however, she watched with a sense of morbid fascination.

The old wolf made feints to keep the cat off guard, darting in and out as he circled. The cat's ears were pulled back as she yeowled and hissed, keeping her very sharp claws positioned so that she could lash out at the old wolf. He dived in, nipping at the cat's flanks, only to have the cat twist unexpectedly and slash wildly at his face. His thick fur was good protection from the cat's claws and fangs, however, and he kept her unbalanced as he darted to and fro. Cats, particularly small ones, were not ones to fight for long periods of time, but wolves, she found out, had tremendous stamina and endurance. There would simply be no way to out run the wolf. Just before an all-out attack, the cat saw a dark bird that was as black as the darkest night, appear nearby. The black bird landed, and pushed up under its beak with a wing, and transformed before the cat's eyes. No one else seemed to see what the cat saw.

"I told you, cat, you would see me one more time before the end, and your end is upon you."

A fog seemed to appear from nowhere, and in it, the cat saw shapes stepping forward. The shapes became clearer, and the cat saw that they had faces. The faces looked upon the cat with a grim sadness.

"They say that they tried to teach you right from wrong, but you refused to listen. Now you must come with me to face the Ancestor Spirits. Fortunately, unlike you, the Old One will be quick and merciful--your transition will be swift."

The cat knew, now, that it was Raven who addressed her. She shook her head and the images disappeared. Furious, and scared, the cat launched herself at the old wolf, aiming to grab a hold with her fangs and front claws, while raking with her hind legs. The cat caught the old wolf's shaggy mane and tried to work her claws, but the old wolf had one more trick--he dropped and rolled over the cat, knocking the air from her lungs. When he got up, he grabbed the cat by the neck in his powerful jaws, and shook violently once.

The little mouse hid her face in Mr. Hawk's feathers when the final moment came.

"It's all over, little mouse," Mr. Hawk said softly, after a few moments.

"It-it's...all over?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Mrs. Hawk said reassuringly. "Watch now, and learn."

The little mouse peeked out and saw her old wolf gently laid the cat's still form on the ground. He sat down and lifted his head to the sky, and howled the most mournful song she had ever heard. All of the other animals, even Puma, lowered their heads in respect. In time, the old wolf stood and began digging a hole. Soon Badger, Ground Hog, and even a little mole joined in to make the hole large enough and deep enough to bury the cat. This was not a kill for food, so the remains could not just be left lying about. When the cat's body had been placed in the hole and covered up, the gathered animals parted to let a momma squirrel through. When the squirrel stopped where the cat had been buried, she took the acorn she had carried from her mouth and held it in her front paws. She looked up at the old wolf with sad eyes.

"This was the very nut my little one was carrying when the cat...," her words caught in her throat and she closed her eyes a moment until she could regain her composure. "I-I'd like to plant it, here, in his memory. Maybe one day, the tree will grow and provide for others to come."

The old wolf looked about, and then nodded his head to the momma squirrel. She dutifully dug our a little hole and pushed the acorn into it, before covering it up. The momma squirrel barked once, and then turned to go back to her home tree. The other animals began to leave, and eventually the old wolf was the last one remaining. The fight had tired him, so he laid down to rest.

The hawks came down from the tree they had been watching from, carrying their little furry friend. The little mouse ran to the old wolf and nuzzled him.

"Are you alright?" she asked, looking for signs of injury. She saw a deep scratch on his face where the cat had clawed him and became concerned. "Oh, you are hurt! We need to clean that before it turns bad!"

The little mouse busied herself scooping up pawfuls of snow to rub on the wound, which cleaned it as well as stopped the bleeding. When she was satisfied that the wound had been properly cared for, the little mouse climbed up on the old wolf and snuggled into his thick fur.

"Thank you my friends, for all your help," the old wolf said to the hawks.

"We all did our part to protect against hate--it must never be allowed to take hold or else its poison will spread, and the world will be worse for it. Life is difficult enough as it is, without hate destroying what joy we may gain from," Mr. Hawk replied thoughtfully.

"That is so, my dear," Mrs. Hawk agreed. She went over and extended a wing across the old wolf's back where the little mouse was snuggled. "Take good care of this one, mousie--he's earned a bit of happiness. I'm sure we'll see each other again."

"I will, and thank you for keeping that sick cat from catching me!" the little mouse squeaked happily.

The two hawks said their goodbyes and took to the air, leaving the old wolf and the little mouse to enjoy their nap together in the sun.

It was a rather mild winter, as winters went, with not many days of intense cold. The snow was deep in the higher elevations, which would ensure plenty of water during the summer months. Food was plentiful for all, so when the first breaths of spring came, the animals were happy. Even the plants seemed to be rejoicing the return of the sun's warmth and the lengthening days with an abundance of flowers and new growth.

The little mouse began noticing that the old wolf was staying nearer to the wide stream that separated the Younger Forest from the Old Forest, and that he sometimes looked across with a mixture of sadness and longing, of old memories and half-forgotten dreams. When the old wolf wasn't looking towards the Old Forest, he was still his charming self, though sometimes he seemed as if he would hear things that she couldn't. The little mouse tried not to think on it too much, concentrating on simply being happy with her special old wolf. Eventually, the little mouse also began to notice that when he was off hunting, he was gone longer, and came back just a bit more tired. Still, the two continued their unlikely relationship, growing closer and closer as they could possibly get, enjoying the time they had together to its fullest.

A day came when the old wolf quietly announced that he had to go away for a while. The little mouse assumed that he had to go hunting again because she had heard his belly rumble, so she nuzzled him and said her goodbye. This time, however, he looked at her for a long time before tenderly licking her face. "I miss you already," he said to her with a bit of sadness in his eyes. Somewhat surprised, the little mouse stood on her hind feet and licked his muzzle. "I'll be right here waiting for you," she squeaked sweetly. When the old wolf started to walk away, he stopped a moment to look back to see his beautiful little mouse one more time, and she stood up and waved goodbye. The old wolf heaved a wistful sigh and disappeared into the trees. The little mouse didn't see the raven land in a nearby tree, where it stayed, keeping a watchful eye on her.

Many days passed, and the little mouse grew worried. "He's been gone an awfully long time," she said to herself. When more days passed, the little mouse squeaked sadly, "Old wolf! Old wolf! Where are you? I miss you!" The little mouse became quite sad when there was no reply from her old wolf, but then she heard the flap of wings coming towards her. Startled, she looked up to see a large black bird land on the ground near her, clutching something in its talons.

"Hello, little mousie. You haven't met me before, but I've been keeping an eye on you. Do you know who I am?"

The little mouse thought quickly, remembering something the old wolf had told her.

"Um, you're...Raven?"

"I am. Oh, the Old One asked me to give these to you--they're two strawberry plants from his part of the Old Forest. He said you should plant them near your nest and care for them. They will take root and grow, and make sure that you have something sweet," raven said quietly.

"Oh, you've seen my old wolf? Where is he? When is he coming back?" the little mouse asked hopefully.

Raven sidled up to the little mouse and put a wing around her.

"He's...not coming back."

"He...he's not? But why?" the little mouse asked, suddenly afraid.

"The Old One has crossed the Great Stream, little mouse," Raven said with sadness in her voice. "He said he will wait for you, when it's your time to Cross."

"He...he's gone...really gone then?" the little mouse asked tearfully.

"Part of him is gone, yes, but part of him remains. He will always be with you, little mouse; remember that. You will see him again, I can promise you that, though until then, I will be watching out for you."

The little mouse closed her eyes and squeaked out such a mournful farewell that even Raven lowered her head. After a dignified amount of time spent in remembrance, Raven turned to go. She walked a short distance away, but before she took to the air, raven looked back at the little mouse.

"He loves you, you know...more than he could ever tell you." Raven watched as the little mouse curled up into a little ball and shook. "This is the part of what I do that is the hardest," Raven thought sadly to herself, and then she took to the air. "If you need me, just call out and I'll be right there," she cawed as she flew off.

The little mouse eventually made her way back home with the two strawberry plants and found a place to plant them where they would thrive. Every time she tended them, she thought of her old wolf, and a tear would fall on the plants. When the two plants grew and expanded into a hardy patch, the berries were always the sweetest anybody had ever tasted.

The little mouse had a long and peaceful life, for a mouse, though never a day went by that she didn't miss her old wolf. One evening, the little mouse--her once sleek brown fur now was gray--had an expected visitor come knocking.

"Just a moment," the little mouse squeaked, "I don't move quite as fast as I used to."

When she peeked out to see who her visitor was, the little mouse was somehow not surprised.

"Raven. So, you've finally come for me," she said with mixed feelings.

"The Old One has been waiting for you all this time. Are you ready to be with him?"

"I've had a good life, I suppose, and I'll miss everyone here, but I've missed him so much...may I take two of the strawberries with me, one for him and one for me? You may have one, too, if you wish," the little mouse inquired.

Raven looked away for a moment, and then said, "For you, they will allow it, and...that is rather nice of you to offer."

Raven helped herself to a strawberry from the patch, and eyeing two others, she picked them and set them down by the little mouse.

"Are you ready?" raven asked softly.

"I-I guess so," the little mouse replied meekly.

"Hold onto one of my legs, and I'll carry you in my foot," raven instructed.

The little mouse did as she was told, and the raven grasped the two strawberries with her other foot and then took to the air. Raven cradled the little mouse with her foot, and they flew for what seemed like a long time into the night, until the little mouse spotted a bright silver ribbon glistening in the moonlight. The closer they got, the lower Raven flew, and the sleepier the little mouse became.

"Rest easy, little mouse...when you wake up, you will be with you wolf again," Raven croaked softly.

The last thing in her life that the little mouse remembered was the rhythmic flapping of wings, and the smell of water mixed with the scent of old growth pines.

* * * * *

The first thing the little mouse felt when she was waking up was thick, soft fur. The smell seemed somehow familiar, like something she remembered from a long time ago. Slowly she opened her eyes, but at first all she saw was a misty fog. A shape began to appear, vague at first, but becoming clearer.

"I told you I would bring her myself," the little mouse heard someone familiar say.

"And so you did, my old friend...thank you. I've been waiting for her," a very familiar voice replied, almost as if it was coming from what she was lying on.

"Ah, she's aware of us now."

"Little mouse? Can you hear me? Can you see?" asked the very familiar voice.

The little mouse blinked a few times, and then a face came into focus, a face that she was so happy to see again that she cried out, "Old wolf!!!" and she hugged him tightly. After a time, she pulled back and reached for his face...but then she stopped to look at her paw, and then at her foreleg.

"Wha...?" she looked in disbelief--she sort of looked like a mouse, but strangely different, and he looked like the old wolf she knew, but also strangely different.

"What...what's happening?" she asked, having difficulty comprehending.

"Stand up and look, little mouse," the other voice said.

The old wolf and the little mouse stood up, but not on four feet; they stood on their now longer hind legs. The little mouse saw that she came to the old wolf's shoulders, which were much broader than before, and that she had different curves that she used to. The two wore strange things on their bodies that the little mouse had never seen before.

"I-I don't understand...," the little mouse said in confusion.

"Watch and learn, little mouse," croaked a familiar vice down low. When the little mouse looked down she saw Raven, who then did something very strange. Raven pushed upwards underneath her beak with her wing, and then she transformed into a much taller form with pale skin, long black hair on her head, and something covered with black feathers draped around her shoulders. Raven had a new taller, and curvier, figure just as the little mouse now had.

"You both can do this now. Try it--follow my lead," raven instructed.

When they pushed downward on their muzzles, which raven explained were now masks, they transformed into their former shapes. The items draped across their bodies were cloaks, which became their old bodies. When they pushed up under their chins, their masks slid up on top of their heads and they transformed into larger shapes that walked upright. Both the little mouse and the old wolf marveled at the new ability.

"From this point on, you, little mouse, will be known as Mouse Woman, and you, old wolf, will be known as Grandfather Wolf. I will teach you what you need to know about this existence, but for now, let me take you to your new home where you may live together as you wish," Raven instructed, and then led the two out of the misty fog and into a beautiful new land.

"What is this place?" Mouse Woman asked in wonder.

"This is the Land of the Ancestor Spirits," replied Raven.

"What are you called here?" Mouse Woman asked Raven.

"Just simply 'Raven'--I serve Great Raven and those like him in other realms. You might say that I help keep an eye on things, and also carry messages and warning. They keep my busy, but I don't mind, there's always something interesting to do," Raven explained.

"But what is there for us to do?" Mouse Woman asked.

Raven laughed and said, "Aside from loving one another? You're story tellers, of course--figure it out."

When they arrived at their new home, Raven slipped the two strawberries into Mouse Woman's hand, and with a wink, she left the two alone for a time.

"Oh, remember those two strawberry plants? Well, they grew into quite a patch, and these two came from it," Mouse Woman said to her old wolf.

He gently took one of the strawberries and held it up to his nose to smell.

"I remember," Grandfather Wolf said with a smile. "The plants were my gift of love to you."

"Do you still love me as you did then?" she asked sweetly.

Grandfather Wolf smiled even more and said, "No...I love you more this moment than ever before, and tomorrow I will love you even more."

Mouse Woman hugged him tightly and cried tears of happiness. When she finally looked up she said, "And I shall share that love with you." She put her strawberry into his mouth, and he put the strawberry he held into hers, sharing the fruit of their great love together.

And so Mouse Woman and Grandfather Wolf settled into their new home, and their new existence together. They learned from raven how to travel between the realms, and Mouse Woman and Grandfather Wolf told their stories of love and trust, of courage and sacrifice, of healing and of hope. One of the Greatest Stories, of course, was their own, which became the inspiration for the great love stories told by poets, song writers, and other story tellers in many realms through the ages. Now you know the origin of...

"...and they lived happily ever after."

The End