That misty morning remains etched in my memory, vivid and surreal. As the colourless tiny beads of water trickled down my window, the rain gently tapped against the windowpane, signalling the arrival of dawn. A faint rainbow, whose colours were delicate, like faded brushstrokes, curved across the sky. With my heart heavy with the monotony of life’s constant rhythms, I leaned against the windowpane of my room. Everything felt predictably dull, until Spike nudged me. My pet – golden-brown retriever, standing beside me, pressed his moist nose against my leg, his dark eyes gleaming with an unspoken, unrevealed secret.
With the pure, unwavering loyalty, an unaltered devotion unique only to dogs, he gazed deeply into my eyes.
I sighed and pressed my forehead to the glass, “Oh, Spike, don’t you long for a bit of excitement to shake things up? Something more thrilling to break the routine?” The same old routine that a typical child follows is getting to me!
I turned my head away from the window and prepared myself for another ordinary day. At that moment, I heard a low voice break through the silence of the morning.
“Today feels like the day.”
My heart leaped into my throat. There was no one around. Just Spike, calmly sitting on the rug, his eyes holding an intelligence that froze me in place.
“Yeah, it’s me,” he said, his voice filled with certainty and assertiveness. “And yes, I’m talking.”
My mind struggled to catch up. “Spike?”
His floppy ears twitched a little as he nodded. “I’ve always had the ability to speak. Just never had a reason to, until now.”
I pinched myself, hard. The sharp sting confirmed it; I was wide awake. “What do you mean?”
Spike’s usual happy and playful demeanour vanished, replaced by an unusual intensity and seriousness. It felt as if he was about to reveal a secret. “You are not entirely human! You are a half wolf! Your mom was part of the wolf clan.”
Those words hit me like a blast of strong wind, leaving me breathless. My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor. “Immmmmm…… what?” A plethora of questions ran through my mind. Was my mind clouding as well, like the weather? I felt dizzy.
“Think about it,” Spike urged gently. “Your love for the woods, the way animals trust you without fear, how effortlessly you run without tiring. That’s your wolf spirit. It’s been there all along, just beneath the surface.”
Memories surfaced, fragmented but vivid. I remembered all the times I felt different from other children around me. How I could understand the animals more than any person. Birds perching close to me, rabbits nuzzling my hand, an irresistible pull toward the dense forest behind our house. It all connected, like puzzle pieces falling into place. Maybe Spike was right after all.
“Your mom kept it a secret to protect you,” Spike continued softly. “But now, the wolf clan needs your help. Are you prepared for that adventure you’ve always dreamt of?”
My heart pounded fiercely, echoing like a drum. “What do we do?” I felt a mix of fear and excitement, ready to embrace the new journey.
“First stop…the old oak tree. The massive one deep in the woods with the gnarled roots.”
The earth sparkled, and the atmosphere was rich with the fragrance of wet soil after the rain had ceased. With trembling fingers, I fastened my jacket against the cold and hurriedly put on my yellow rain boots.
The forest welcomed us with a bouquet of moss, damp foliage, and the subtle sweetness of rotting leaves. Everything smelled fresh, wild, damp, and alive.
The towering trees stood tall. The gentle movements of unseen animals in the thicket, the far-off songs of birds, and the constant trickle of water from leaf to leaf blended into the vibrant chorus of the forest. With each step forward, I sensed the welcoming embrace of the trees and their creatures surrounding me.
Beside me, Spike trotted, this time with a deliberate gait. He told me stories about my mother, the wolf clan’s sacred duty, and their role as forest guardians, preserving the circle of life, as we continued to venture farther and farther into the woods.
At last, we reached the ancient oak, a colossal giant with roots sprawling down. Its bark was rough, and the branches stretched skyward, adorned with leaves that whispered secrets with every rustle. The tree exuded an almost tangible energy, as if it breathed alongside the forest.
Spike guided my hand to the gnarled trunk of the ancient tree. The moment my fingers brushed the bark, a wave of warmth surged through me. Suddenly, I could feel the forest’s energy pulsing all around, catching the fragrance of blossoms and the faintest whisper of leaves. It was as if the forest itself was communicating with me, more alive than ever before. The air was pierced by a howl. Spike’s excitement was unbridled as his tail waggled wildly. That’s who they are. They’re waiting for you!
We could see an ethereal light. A pack of wolves stood, their eyes gleaming with wisdom older than time. A magnificent silver wolf with a piercing yet compassionate gaze led them. She bowed her head elegantly before speaking in a voice that spoke right into my head rather than using words. Ironically, I had a perfect understanding of her.
They needed someone to guard their home from an invading threat and to bridge the gap between people and the wild. That day marked the beginning of everything new. With Spike, my extraordinary, secret-keeping companion by my side, I discovered my voice and purpose. We rallied people, fought for the forest, and in doing so, I uncovered who I truly was.
Life has been anything but boring since then. Turns out, the greatest adventures often begin when you least expect them, perhaps even on a quiet, rainy morning, with an extraordinary friend by your side.
Written by:
Ayesha Syal, Grade 5, Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi.
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