czarnulacom

Another day has passed, I say to Luna as I lie down right next to her. And she understood everything. Without words. Four years of companionship in every moment of my life. I switched off the night lamp and let myself drift into Morpheus’s hands. Luna rolled onto her side, curling against me.

At dawn, the first bird chirps pulled me from sleep, promising a beautiful, hot day. A day of miracles. Getting out of bed, I only glanced at Luna. She wasn’t thinking of getting up yet. “Keep sleeping, my dear,” I thought and went to the kitchen.

I put the kettle on and then went outside to free the chickens. “Look! Luna is already running wild in the garden.” “Good morning, sweetheart,” I said as I released the impatient, noisy birds.

Good. First morning rituals done. I must have slept awkwardly because my lower back ached during morning exercise. “You didn’t warm up properly,” I murmured to Luna, now comfortably settled by my feet. Just one more sip of coffee and then work…

Wait! Just beyond the fence, right before the path leading to the forest, I spotted a small brown creature nervously moving on the ground. I stood up to get a better look. It was a tiny fawn! I shouted in my mind and headed towards it. Worried Luna followed.

The fawn trembled with fear. After a quick check, I saw it was whole and healthy. “But what are you doing here all alone?” I thought as something rustled in the bushes under the trees. Luna’s fur stood on end as she watched closely, not leaving my side.

Despite my concern, I crept closer and spotted a small marten feeding low. My eyes landed on the ragged corpses of a hind — probably the mother of this little deer. “Probably the wolves again,” I thought and took the fawn home.

Of course, I contacted the nearby vet. Then I bought everything the fawn would need, including a bottle with a large nipple, and just like that, we had a new member of my humble homestead. Luna seemed to take well to the new situation and assumed the role of a mother. She especially took to cleaning the fawn, licking it thoroughly from every side several times a day.

My job was feeding. While they played, I tended the garden — mowing the lawn in front of the house — and so the day flowed into evening.

I decided to linger a bit on the porch, bathed in the light of the full moon and thousands of stars in the sky. It was so bright that artificial light wasn’t needed. My faithful Luna lay unmoving by my feet. And nestled against her was the softly snoring fawn.

This sight warmed my heart. Three different creatures living in perfect harmony, united by heart and mutual dependence.

The last clucks of hens in the coop marked the coming of night. The next morning, as usual, the birds’ serenade pulled me from sleep. I glanced at the empty space beside me in bed. “What’s going on?” I thought.

I leaned out from behind the bed and saw the most beautiful sight in the world. Luna, sprawled on her back, had made a bed for the fawn. Both were lost in deep sleep, paying no attention to me.

I went to carry out my morning rituals when an urgent noise from the henhouse caught my attention. “This is going to be another interesting day,” I thought as I headed toward the coop. Out of habit, I glanced past the fence where something was stirring again.

Ah! I know what’s causing all the nervousness — I changed course toward the gate. Right behind the entrance stood a wild, truly wild guest.

My breath caught at the sight of a huge grey wolf — beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I was surprised that it did not back away a step as I approached. I froze. “Here for the rest of dinner?” I asked.

The wolf just tilted its head from side to side, like Luna does when trying to understand me. Looking into my eyes, it gently passed by and sat sideways in front of me. I looked briefly toward the house. Luna sat on the porch, nervously glancing between me and the fawn, who was happily skipping about, unaware of the tension.

I noticed the wolf was injured. Its left side near the front paw had a bright red stain. Very slowly I moved closer and crouched next to it. The wolf kept looking straight into my eyes, as if sensing I would help it. I gently lifted its left front paw. The wolf trembled, overcome by pain and emotion. I stayed calm and silent.

I saw that its groin was torn—probably from barbed wire. Maybe it had carelessly pushed through a neighbor’s fence. “You have to come with me,” I said softly and opened the garden gate.

“You stay,” I told Luna, “just watch over the fawn please.” Heading toward the shed where I kept my tools and chicken feed — yes, I needed to let the hens out at last. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luna pick up the fawn gently by the scruff and carry it to a cot on the porch.

Behind me, the wolf followed cautiously but with trust, limping on its left paw. In the shed, I showed it a corner to sit safely. I was really surprised how docile it was, but even more amazed that it obeyed as if it understood me.

I cleaned and bandaged the wound when suddenly the huge wolf rested its head on my shoulder. We froze for a moment, listening to the echo of our hearts beating. In that instant, we were one heart, one rhythm.

After a while, the wolf lay down on the floor and simply fell asleep. I was glad to see its steady, trusting breath. “You are safe here,” I thought, slowly backing away from the shed.

I prepared water and a bowl of raw meat, then returned to my chores. The chickens, clearly annoyed at being let out, vociferously expressed their feelings. “Alright, alright, my darlings, forgive me,” I said smiling at their offended egos.

Luna, calm now, resumed grooming the fawn. The weather was marvelous — a clear sky and sunlight made the apples glow vividly — some still on the branches, some fallen to the ground. “Perfect for cider,” I thought, grabbing a large basket for the apples.

The hens clearly forgot their grudge and happily pecked at worms in the dirt, squabbling over who found the fattest. The fawn seemed to be playing tag with Luna around the trees — such a lovely scene.

Apples gathered, grass mowed. I went to check on the wolf in the shed. The meat bowl was empty, water almost gone. The wolf snored loudly — satisfied and safe.

“You must have suffered a lot, poor thing,” I said, retreating to the garden. Dusk fell. The hens returned to the coop, meek and obedient as never before. Luna and the fawn, both fed, sprawled out long on the porch.

I heard movement in the shed. “Ah! The wolf has woken up,” I thought, rising and heading their way. There it was, sitting and looking curiously in my direction.

“Hello, dear. Feeling better?” I asked. The wolf tilted its head again, listening. “May I check your wound?” I inquired, approaching slowly. It didn’t flinch or move — which I took as permission.

Once more, I cleaned the injury and applied my herbal healing ointment. Bandaging the paw, the wolf licked my forehead in thanks and softly growled. I refilled the water and wished it a good night, then stepped outside.

The wolf circled a few times and settled down to sleep. Emotionally exhausted, I decided to go to bed earlier tonight. On my bed were already two curled-up bundles near my usual spot. I smiled at the sight.

“We might need a bigger bed,” I murmured and lay down next to them. Moments later, I forgot all about this world.

In the morning, I was awakened by frantic footsteps in the bedroom. Something urged me to look out the window — and there was a pack of wolves by the garden gate.

“Oh my God,” I thought and got out of bed. “You stay here for now,” I told Luna, then closed the door behind me. I hesitated on the porch but felt a strange peace emanating from them — a glow telling me there was nothing to fear.

They sat calmly in a semicircle, watching me.

I headed to the shed, where the wolf was waiting, slowly lifting its injured paw toward me. I knelt, removed the bandages, and examined the wound. It looked good. I cleaned it again, applied herbs, and re-bandaged.

We walked toward the gate together. Happily, I noticed the wolf was no longer limping. “Just come back to take the bandages off,” I said, opening the gate.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The wolf nodded as if it understood everything and walked out to its pack. Each wolf slowly turned left and right, then disappeared into the forest.

At the last moment, our eyes met, and we stayed like that for a minute.

I smiled, and it turned back to the others and vanished like them.

I stood there for a moment until a familiar clucking from the coop broke my reflection. “I’m coming to you, my darlings,” I said more to myself.

I was so moved by this extraordinary encounter that I wiped away tears.

Alright, loves, I turned around and returned to my everyday life, with an open heart and readiness for whatever this beautiful, hot day might bring.