The fox slowly moved towards a broken up log at the base of a tree, burrowing beneath it and settling in for a brief rest. As the foxes eyes closed, the owl flew to the lower branches of the same tree, perching on a branch that reached out over the sleeping foxes temporary den. Surveying the forest, the owl saw no movement, heard no rustling, and settled in for a brief and attentive sleep.
A few hours later, the owl could hear the breaking of dead leaves under the paws of a not-too-large-but-not-too-small animal. Eyes now wide open, the owl pierced the darkness with a steady gaze, searching the shadows for the source of the noise. A glint of moonlight reflected off a set of eyes creeping slowly towards the tree the fox was under and the owl was in.
A grey wolf, its pelt peppered with black streaks, appeared in the small clearing beneath the tree. The owl could now see the eyes of the fox, wide open and filled with fear. Dropping from the branch, unfolding its wings, the owl swooped down towards the wolf, talons ready to strike. While generally silent, the owl was flapping its wings to get the attention of the wolf, delivering something like a greeting and a warning at the same time.
Hearing the owl’s descent, the wolf looked up, but without menace in its eyes. Tail tucked between its legs, it backed up quickly as the owl hovered in front of it, talons out protectively.
“I have not seen but a few creatures around this forest in many days, and none of them of your ilk. What brings you to this part of the forest where your kind has not been welcome?”
Sitting on its hind legs, the wolf relaxed, being as unassuming as possible. “My family fled out of the forest, towards the bleak mountain slopes, many days ago.” Holding up its front paw, the wolf continued. “I was injured and could not make the journey. Though I was strong, my speed was too slow, and I was left behind.”
The wolf arose and walked in a circle within the clearing, a small limp evident in his front leg. After a couple circles, the wolf sat back down on its hind legs and then settled down completely on the ground.
By now the owl had settled on the ground between the fox and the wolf, though its feathers remained fluffed out to project a larger size. As the owl could see more and more that the wolf meant no harm it gradually settled down as well.
The fox, having crawled out from under the rotting log, crept up to wolf, cautiously sniffing it. The wolf licked the fox on the top of the head.
“That better not be a taste,” the owl said.
“Of course not,” replied the wolf. “Just a greeting.”
Rays from the rising sun were slowly creeping up the horizon, gradually spreading light to the early morning, slowly warming the eyes of these three strange new friends.
“We all seem to be heading the same way,” said the owl. “Maybe we should stick together, at least for as long as makes sense. I can fly ahead and scout the area, look out for any more wayward souls.”
“I am slower than usual but I can move quickly,” said the wolf.
The fox spoke up next. “It seems a good plan, but you both travel so much faster than I do.”
“Ride on my back,” said the wolf. “We can travel almost as quickly that way.”
The owl took flight, zooming up into the air to view the surrounding forest. Flying in ever-shrinking circles, the owl spiraled down to the ground in the clearing, settling between the fox and the wolf.