The leaves rustled on the trees, and the bushes struggled to stay upright. Through the darkness, you could see the red eyes of wolves hiding throughout the trees while deer and other innocent animals said their silent prayers. The forest didn't always used to be this way. There was a time when the wolves weren't in power, when the deer were rulers of the forest and life was peaceful. None of this would've happened if weren't for a fawn, who's life was fuled by pride containing curiousity. The wolf's ruler first started with a pawstep. One pawstep that made a clitter clatter, absorbed by the ears of a wolf. Before we go much farther, we must explain the story of how all this even came about. We must travel into the story of Into the forest.

Curban opened his voilet eyes that shined in the sun. The ground of which he slept was warm, but the air was still fresh and cool. The trees stood tall before the small fawn, as he looked up at their bark, trying to find the eyes in which they watched him. Curban really didn't know if the great trees really could see him, but it wasn't to late for him to ask his mother if it was true. The fawn must've not noticed that the warm fur that was against his back last night wasn't there. Curban perked up his ears in search for a sound. Finally, he gave up and looked back to where she was sitting. There was an inscription that said, went to gather herbs, be back soon. Oh well, thought Cruban, I guess I can survive on my own four legs for a while until she arrives, and with that, he waited for her return.

It must've been hours before he was bored out of his mind. It's been a very long time since the time she had left this morning. When was she going to be back, thought Curban. The young fawn was starting to become worried, what if she never came back? What if he would have to learn to survive on his own for the rest of his life? A whisper interrupted his thoughts. It said to follow the sound, and it would lead him to his mother.

This is a response to my misunderstandings about wolves and personal demons. It is meant to be cathartic.

If you would like to help me with this journey, there are a few things I could use - a drawing or artwork of my Quad as a wolf instead of a deer; a website with more information about wolves; a picture of a wolf you find particularly beautiful; or just a comment that you feel will help. Anything and everything is appreciated.

Parts of this are graphic so be warned

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I took a walk today at a local park. I needed to clear my head. School, personal drama, and the events from the previous year had been haunting me for many months now. Before me was an entrance to a path in the woods just off of the park's walkway. I took a deep breath and walked on the trail, each step taking me deeper and deeper into nature itself.

The lighting became darker, the canopy seemed to absorb much of the sunlight. I also noticed that the further I walked, the less I heard the noise of the city around me. No longer was I hearing the sounds of cars going by, children playing, and so on...no, the further in, the quieter things got.

I heard a twig snap nearby. As I looked into the trees, I saw a figure rush past. It was too fast for me to see any details. "Must be someone's dog.", I said to myself, and continued on.

I stopped, my heart skipping a beat. There before me, right on the trail, was the body of a doe. I was completely surprised, I rarely see wild deer in this city. It was like it was out of place. But there was something else there, something frightening. Wolf!

It was biting into the deer. I watched as the carnivore ripped the doe's flesh off, seeming to swallow the bits whole.

(Read part one here: http://www.endlessforest.org/community/beginning .)
(Read part two here: http://www.endlessforest.org/community/playground-0 .)

Moonlight filtered through the branches overhead and dappled Karma's already patterned pelt as she stepped lightly into the large mushroom ring. She was not the first to arrive. Across the clearing sat a stag with strange golden antlers and a smooth black face. His dark blue pelt shimmering and glistened as if wet.

"It's about time," he said gruffly as Karma approached. She smiled warmly at her brother, knowing full well he was only grumpy because he hated being away from his beloved pond for so long. Not long ago, Echo had suggested that they hold their meetings upstream at the bridge--to be close to the gods, he had argued--but of course Stella would hear nothing of it.

Stella was there too, pacing restlessly around the ring. The candles on her antlers cast eerie shadows across her orange pelt, and her eyes glinted out from her painted face with frustration. "It's about time is right!" she exclaimed. "How many moons has it been now? I've had the candidates in mind since I was practically a fawn. The forest is full of stags in their prime this season. We couldn't have had more fortunate timing. It benefits nothing to wait. And where is our youngest sister, anyway? Off picking poppies?"

"Not quite," came a muffled reply, and all three deer turned their heads to see Coriander slip into the ring. She dropped a pile of sweet-smelling brush next to her brother. "I didn't mean to keep anyone waiting, but I thought you might like some refreshments."

"Hmph," grunted Stella as she bent to sniff the pile. Echo was already nibbling.

"Don't worry. I just arrived too. However," Karma paused, glancing at her fiery sister, "Stella is right. We have a lot to discuss tonight so I'll get right to it. What have we learned since our last meeting?