i awoke, for no particular reason, sensing something was wrong, my lover was not in my in arms nor in bed. i sat up, looked around for her shadow or silhouette, neither of which i found.

i got out of bed, walked the chambers and hall, to no avail, she was not  here. “where would she go, in the dead of night,” i thought to myself, “and why.” i walked to the terrace, into the moonlight, felt the cool of the night, the slightness of a breeze. i looked out across the terrain to the horizon, all was still, only the crickets chirped unaware.

i strained to see, to hear, anything, for a clue to where she was. in despair, i turned and walked back into the chamber, when i heard a fading echo. i spun around, trying to hear more of the sound, to get a bearing, a direction which to follow.

i heard it again, low, far away, faded from the distance, a woman’s voice, crying, pleading for help. i jumped from the terrace to the ground, running in the direction of her voice. i ran, faster and faster, my heart pumping hard, till i could hear my blood pulsing in my ears.

i jumped a stream, into the forest, dark, damp and cold from the night air. the voice grew louder, her pleads more desperate, i could hear the terror in her screams. i ran oblivious to the branches tearing, ripping at my flesh, or the rocks and stone against my feet.

i started to recognize the landscape, the direction i was headed. i was going to a cave, that ***** gentle into the earth, giving the appearance of an amphitheater. i ran into a clearing, to the entrance of the cave, looked down, and saw her, curled up, fetal position, in the middle of the cave, laying on ground, naked.

i hurried down the entrance, to the floor of the cave, where the moonlight started to disappear. i approached her slowly, she did not move, i was afraid, she was dead. i got closer to her, when out of the dark, i saw glowing eyes, heard a growl. i stopped to assess, trying to understand what i was up against.

it stepped out of the dark, into the faded light. it was a wolf, a black wolf, walking towards her, until atop of her, growling, snarling, gnashing its teeth at me. i stopped in my tracks, not knowing how or what to do. i was unarmed, partially naked, barefoot, looking at a huge black wolf that could, would tear me to apart.

my chest heaved, back and forth from from running and now fear. i looked at the black wolf, our eyes met, i could feel, see the viciousness of this apex predator, sensing it strength and power. the black wolf, stopped snarling, stared back at me, his expression softening to indifference.

“was the wolf realizing who i was,” i thought to myself, “that i am here to rescue, save the woman that i love.” the black wolf lowered his head, until his snout touched her shoulder, licking her, as if cleaning a pup, then popped his head back up, meeting my gaze again, and what felt like an eternity, started backing up into the darkness, till he was gone.

i rushed to her side, cradled her in my arms, looking, feeling for signs of life. i felt her shudder, saw her breathing, her eyes remained closed. i moved her hair from her face, kissing her lips softly, tears streaming down my face. i picked her up, and carried her out of the cave of the black wolf.