Hunger
We were sitting on a wooden bench outside of an ice cream shop. It was a perfect night, the sun was setting from the field across from us, and the ambience from the nightly creatures were buzzing. We were going on a sunset drive with my new car as we happily stumbled across this remote little stand. There was nothing around it for miles, just a winding road, forests and what appeared to be old farm fields. The three of us each got our favourite flavour of ice cream, and everything seemed to align in that moment, just enjoying each others company creating blissful summer memories.
As we were sitting, chatting and watching the beauty of the world engulf us, I noticed from across the road there was what appeared to be a man standing in the middle of the field. He looked like he was wearing what you would expect a monk to wear, very flowy and serene. I found it strange that I hadn’t noticed him earlier, so I watched him intently. Something felt off about him. The others didn’t seem to notice him, as he was a ways in the distance, so I guess he was easy to miss. As I watched him and kept conversation as to not startle the others, the man started doing what seemed to be tai chi or some variety of yogic movements. I was more curious now. What were these actions? What were his intentions?
A little time passed before the first wolf came out of the woods. The last bit of light was glowing in the red sky as the sun was going down. It was getting darker: the hour of the wolf was nigh and the man knew this. I saw the wolf’s head peek out of the dense forest that lined the field as he came closer to the man, and in that moment I knew the man was trying to summon the wolves. As he continued his meditative practice with this wolf approaching I became watchful, anticipatory and nervous about this situation. More wolves drew in, slinking out from the woods all around. It didn’t take long for there to be a full pack of wolves surrounding this man. Tensions were high, and I could notice a slight hesitation as the man clued in to how many wolves were around him. He was nervous. This was not good.
The wolves can sense your emotions, even the slightest hint of an irregular heartbeat or shallow breath, they will know. It was important to remain calm in these situations, I knew it and he knew it, but the anxiety and pressure to hold it down was too much for him. His movements started to get sporadic, his balance was off, he opened his eyes and let out a slight gasp as the wolves got closer. One should not try and wield such power if they can’t handle it. I held my breath as the wolves circled him. His faltering failed him, the gig was up. One of the wolves drew in quickly and bit at his side like a piranha. He let out a wail as I saw both fabric and skin being ripped away, and after that it was a frenzy. I watched this man being eaten alive, each wolf tearing at his flesh until it was a mass of blood and bones. I heard his painful cries as he was dying at the mouths of the hungry wolves.
The situation arose panic in us, and we quickly rushed to the car as the wolves, blood and vengeance in their eyes, began howling with hunger and running toward us: their next victim. Dusk began to settle, the wolves were shadows in the dying light, the remains of the man, unseen. He is gone, like he never existed. Maybe tomorrow a lonely traveler will find a stray tooth on the side of the road, and wonder whose this belonged to, but by his ignorance, his legacy became the sacrifice. Once you summon the wolves, they cannot be stopped, even innocent bystanders will become casualties in this failed attempt at taming the untamable. By natural chaos, they will bring mass destruction. They will not be stopped.
With ice cream thrown, we ran to the car and locked the doors just in time for the flood of the wolves to barrel into the parking lot. Soon they will calm down but not without scouring for more death and violence. Their hunger consumes us all eventually.
