"The wolf trod carefully along the snowy path, the trees watching him pass. Only his footsteps could be seen dotted in the snow, but he was not alone.

A deer, a fox, a hare, and an owl accompanied him, but they did not possess footsteps, nor shadows. Their bodies were semi-transparent, the surrounding forest visible through their bodies. They were not of the living, the wounds on their bodies like words, telling the story of their last moments.

The fox turned to the wolf, its eyes ablaze with an otherworldly glow. It opened its mouth, but no words were said. Instead, a sound like a gentle breeze reached the wolf’s ears, and he could feel, rather than hear, what the fox was saying.
It told of its life, of the young it had to leave prematurely. It was clear, even in the whispers, that it was saddened for what it had to leave behind. With hesitation, it spoke of how it had stolen a farmer’s poultry to feed its young. When it unknowingly returned the next night, the hunter had been waiting, and a gunshot resounded. A bullet had plummeted into its leg, rendering it unable to flee. In the terror filled last moments, the farmer ended the life with a knife to the throat.

The wolf sighed. He had heard these sorts of stories often, as he led the souls of these creatures toward their resting place. But he could not provide comfort to them. He only hoped that what they would find at the end of this forest would ease their sorrows and regrets.

As they neared the end of the forest, wisps of light began to trail behind the souls, and their eyes shone like the moon’s light. They were almost there, to a place of peace, away from cruelty, harm and unnecessary death by human hands. A sanctuary for poor souls. The wolf watched them bound toward the light faster, steps becoming leaps and wings fluttering. He was the guardian of these souls, their saviour. With his guidance, they will find their resting place and be at peace forever more."


Art and text by Thank you ... Really <3