The man stared at the beautiful wolf that was standing just outside the firelight of his campfire. The wolf stared back, curious but cautious. Man has hurt her before.

The man was gentle and patient with the wolf. Every night, he enticed the wolf to come closer. He would offer food, warmth of the fire, and a soothing voice.

Over time the wolf allowed the man to touch her soft coat. She enjoyed the comfort and sense of security that she allowed herself to feel as she sat with the man. The man felt a sense of happiness and elation that such a magnificent creature would choose to be with him.

As time went on, the wolf considered herself and the man to be a pack. She joined her heart to his and committed to the relationship. The man, who at first felt elation around the wolf, began to take for granted the wolf’s trust.

The man started to change. He started to use harsher tones. He began to belittle and berate the wolf. The wolf, who had formed solidarity in her heart, tried to regain favor with the man. As she increased effort to gain favor, the man’s kindness faded.

One day the wolf closed off her heart to the man. She extricated herself from the feeling that she was formed in a unified pack with the man. She no longer slept in his camp, but moved just beyond the firelight of his campfire.

The man, recognizing what he was losing, attempted once again to gain favor with the wolf. He used soft words. He offered food. He offered the warmth of the fire. To the wolf, the man’s gestures no longer felt like security. The gestures felt hollow and empty.

Looking away from the camp and into the woods, she remembered who she was before she met the man and joined his camp. She felt the exhilaration of the memories. She took to spending more and more time in the forest. Now and then, she visited the camp, just staying in the periphery.  However, the visits became less and less frequent.

The man did not maintain his renewed efforts at kindness. His heart became hard and filled with hurt. His hurt turned to anger. He took out his rifle and began to hunt the wolf. The wolf, in turn, left the man.