Month: December 2013

It was autumn, and Wolf had his head buried in leaves, searching for signs of rabbits of any size. Without luck.

Shaking orange-red leaves from his head, Wolf said, “I do not wish to get old. I would not trade my freedom for experience.”

Owl, who was snacking on a rabbit that was small in size (but still larger than the rabbit Wolf was snacking on, which was of no size at all), replied, “What do you mean?”

“The young are free to think what they want. Because they do not know any better.” Wolf scratched his ear and thought of how best to explain. Finally, he said, “When I was an even younger wolf and with a larger pack, I had to fight for my place. One day, a particularly cunning and well-scarred older wolf sought to teach me a lesson in manners. I was faster and more enthusiastic – but he had fought many battles. I earned a few scars of my own that afternoon.”

Finishing his rabbit-sized snack, Owl asked with great patience, “And?”

Attacking another itch, Wolf, continued his story, “And after a few tussles, it became clear that while experience had taught the older wolf what worked and what didn’t, it also meant he was less likely to try something unexpected. He relied on what he knew. Whereas I, being young and fearless, was quite reckless and would try just about anything to win.”

“And did you win, Wolf?” Owl asked.

With his best wolf smile, Wolf said, “Let us just say that it _is_ possible to teach an old wolf new tricks. Provided the lesson is painful enough.”

While talking in the woods one day, Owl and Wolf came across a small, slightly-dead, mouse. The wolf, hungry, immediately pounced upon it and promptly caught his snout in a painful trap.

Whining, Wolf rolled onto his back, wiggling back and forth. He pressed his paws to the vise that kept his jaws closed, kicking and silently snarling, to no avail.

Owl watched with great amusement and just a hint of concern.

While twisting and rolling upon the ground, Wolf managed to catch the jaw on a small sharp stump. Using the stump, Wolf finally managed to pry the trap off. After a moment of exhausted panting, Wolf said, “I have learned an important lesson today.”

“To be wary of that which comes too easily?” asked the Owl.

Wolf pounced upon the unmoving mouse, swallowing it whole. “No,” said the Wolf, teeth bared in a friendly-like, and most satisfied, smile, “I have learned that meals taste even better after a bit of exercise.”

“It is a good thing we are both predators,” said the Wolf, “Or we’d be going hungry this winter.”

Owl landed on a branch nearby. “I am a predator, that is true.” Owl raised a wing, checking it carefully, “But isn’t it the nature of my food that will help me in the coming cold months.”

Wolf laid himself at the foot of the tree Owl rested in. He yawned. “Isn’t it though? Predators are spoiled for choice in their food.”

Beak to wing, Owl began to clean himself, but not before offering these words, “If your choice of food doesn’t survive far into winter, neither will you. I’d be careful in relying too much on your sharp teeth and claws and spend a bit more time thinking about what you will snack on if all the burrows come up empty.”

Baring his teeth in a friendly-like smile, Wolf settled his head upon his paws and dreamt of chasing rabbits.

“There are many reasons to be clever,” said Owl, “but at least one reason to be not.”

“I am clever,” said the Wolf, “And I cannot think of a single reason to be otherwise.”

“You never want to be so clever that people want to find less clever company.” replied Owl, who then took to wing and left the Wolf behind.