Wolves

by
Sophie Walker

Deep in the green forest, a young wolf named Faolan lived with his family. His teacher was a wise, older wolf named Bardolf. One morning, Faolan asked, “How do we stay together in the big woods?” Bardolf smiled and said, “Did you know that wolves live in special families called packs? We work together, play together, and look after one another.”

As the sun began to set, Bardolf lifted his head and let out a long, beautiful howl. Faolan tried to copy him. “Are we talking to the moon?” Faolan asked. Bardolf shook his head. “Did you know that wolves don’t actually howl at the moon? We howl to tell our pack where we are or to tell other wolves to stay away from our home.”

The next day, Faolan found a small feather hidden under a bush. He sniffed it and then sniffed the air. He could smell things from very far away! Bardolf watched him. “Did you know that a wolf’s sense of smell is 100 times stronger than a human’s? Your nose is your most important tool for finding your way.”

Suddenly, Bardolf froze. He moved his ears back and forth. Faolan did the same. They heard a tiny bird chirping in a tree nearly a mile away. “Did you know that wolves can hear sounds from very far distances?” Bardolf whispered. “We can even turn our ears to catch the sound better.”

Bardolf decided it was time for a long walk. He ran with long, graceful steps. Faolan had to run fast to keep up! Bardolf explained, “Did you know that wolves are amazing travelers? We can walk or run for many miles every single day without getting tired. Our bodies are built for long journeys.”

Faolan stopped by a clear, blue stream to take a drink. He saw his reflection in the water. His fur was a mix of grey and brown. “Will I always look like this?” he asked. Bardolf replied, “Did you know that wolves come in many colors? Some are white like snow, some are black like the night, and some are red or grey.”

Bardolf stood on a high rock to look over the valley. He looked very brave. Faolan realized that Bardolf and the other parents were the leaders. “The leaders of the pack are called the Alphas,” Bardolf said. “They are the parents who guide the family and keep everyone safe.”

Later, Faolan and Bardolf practiced moving silently through the tall grass. They moved like shadows. Bardolf told him, “Did you know that wolves are experts at teamwork? We hunt and move together so that we can take care of the whole pack. No wolf has to do everything alone.”

Faolan looked down at his feet as they walked through some soft mud. He saw his own footprints. “My feet are so big!” he giggled. Bardolf nodded. “Have you noticed that wolves walk on their toes? This helps us move quickly and quietly. Our large paws also act like snowshoes in the winter.”

As the stars came out, Faolan felt very smart. He had learned so much about being a wolf. Bardolf sat beside him. “The wolves are very important for the forest. We help keep nature in balance.” Faolan curled up against Bardolf, happy to be part of such an amazing family.