• Filtiarn
    The rain came down in sheet making the trail I was following all the harder to see. My feet stumbled through the mud as my eyes, wide with fear, wandered the dark woods, searching the depth of the night for some small shred of proof that my last ray of hope would not diminish. I hoped That some how my minds eyes where deceiving me. Then out of the darkness those piercing yellow eyes appeared. I stopped dead in my tracks, petrified. A growl rumbled from deep within the creatures throat. A growl of rage. A growl of a beast.
    “STAY AWAY FROM ME” I yelled as I picked up a mud covered stone and threw it at the monster. I didn’t stick around to see if the stone found its target. Spinning around, I ran down the side of the mountain. The path was steep and I felt an abundance of pain as the under brush clawed at my hair, clothes, and exposed skin.
    A scream escaped my lips as I felt the ground give way beneath my feet. I tumbled down the rocky mountain side for what seemed like an eternity. I held my breath and my heart skipped a beat as I plummeted into the unknown.
    The wind was knocked out of my lungs as I dove into the cold water of a raging river. I clung to the branch of an over hanging tree. But I was tired and my hands were slipping. The water pulled at me like a hungry bird would to a worm.
    With my remaining strength I pulled out of the water to the base of the tree, To safety.
    I looked up at the sky but the dens clouds denied me the ability to see the stars. I had no idea how long I had been out here. Nor did I know where I was or how to get back.
    I lay there shivering. The cold cruel rain never showing sign of clearing. I felt as if I had been awake for many years, but I fought the urge to sleep. Somewhere nearby I knew that wolf was there, searching for me.

    * * *

    I was once again wandering aimlessly through the dense vegetation, searching without luck for the path that would lead me home. The rain had stopped and a fresh scent that the rain brings with it hung thick in the air. My pockets were filled with small stones that would be ideal to throw though I knew that it wasn’t much of a defense against the snapping jaws of an angry wolf.
    Filtiarn, the word flashed through my mind time and time again. It was celtic for “lord of wolves“. It seamed to fit my pursuer rather well.
    The sun sat low on the horizon, sending magnificent colors spilling out like water paints across the sky. On any other day I would have thought it as a beautiful sight, the rays of the tired old sun like gold against the clouds. On any other day, but not today. Today it only brings me dread and despair. Fear shot through my body like one hundred bolts of electricity. Night was coming. My struggle for survival would continue. I must not fail, but was I ready?
    The answer to that question didn’t matter for I wasn’t the one to reply. A howl rang out across the empty evening sky. That bawl was engraved in my memory for all eternity. I knew what it was, but that didn’t stop my nerves from shattering.
    My heartbeat quickened and I looked around for a place to retreat to. I spotted a tree close to me that would be relatively easy to climb. Without a moment of hesitation I shimmied up it, but something grabbed my foot.
    I looked down to see the piercing yellow eyes looking at me once again. The jaws of the beast where clamped around my foot and I kicked at it furiously. It yelped as it fell to the ground with a dull thud.
    Quickly I climbed higher. I felt the tree shudder as the wolf ran at the tree and leaped off the trunk. The rigid branch that my right hand clung to snapped off. I looked at it, bewildered. The branch was at least three inches in diameter, there was no way that I could have broken it.
    Oh no, I thought, it’s dead. THE TREE IS DEAD!!
    My throat dried as the realization struck me. I looked down at the wolf as it jumped off the base of the tree, teeth bared. A tremor ran through the core of the tree. I clung to the scratchy wood for support.
    “Don’t.” I pleaded as the wolf leaped for the tree again. It was too late, the wolf hit the dead wood with full force. This time the tree crumbled underneath and started falling.
    I jumped from the tree, hitting another before falling to the ground myself. I moaned knowing that I must have broken something, but I stood back up taking a stone from my pocket.
    The wolf looked at the fallen tree with confusion, but soon remembered its purpose. It turned its deadly yellow eyes towards me once more.
    I threw a stone at it and ran. The sense of fear filled my mind. Dodging trees and shrubs I ran, never looking back. I knew what I would see.
    I ran into a clearing. The light of the moon, sending elongated shadows onto the ground in front of me. Then another cry rang over the tops of the trees, long and low. I skidded to a halt in the wet grass and turned towards my purcuer.
    It hesitated, like it didn’t know whether or not to continue it’s hunt. Reluctantly it turned and bounded back into the dark.
    Tears of relief streamed down my face. I just laid there, my face buried in the crook of my elbows. A sharp pain in my ribs indicated that they were probably broken, but I didn’t care. That thing would be back. I had little strength left and I knew that I wouldn’t last long against the wolf.
    I faintly heard my name being called somewhere in the distance, but it might have just been my unconscious mind playing tricks on me.
    I opened my eyes and the ground suddenly became light. I tilted my head towards the sky and the sight left me breathless. Dancing across the sky in a mixture of colors was the northern lights. It was like someone had turned on a light for the first time in years leaving everyone stunned and bewildered by its presence. Warmth returned to me, I was in awe that something so beautiful could exist in such a nightmarish place.
    All of a sudden my view was blocked by a shadowy finger. I could hear the person, who now had their arms wrapped around me, crying. At first I was stunned, who is this?
    Then I caught the scent of the person embracing me. It was a scent that was engraved in my memory for all eternity. It was as sweet as wiled flowers on a warm spring morning. That scent, I now realized, was what I had been searching for the entire time in the woods. The scent of the candles my mother lights around the house.
    It was her. I was going home now. I smiled, letting the warm darkness of sleep engulf me. It was the darkness that was not meant to be feared, but welcomed. I welcomed it gratefully.
    To this day, I am not sure whether it was a part of my dreams or reality, but somewhere in the distance a bay rang out over the trees. It was a bay of defeat, disappointment, and deep sadness. This time there was a new victor to this deadly game of Filtiarn.