Forest Wells - Author
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Big Bad Wolf

7/20/2014

1 Comment

 
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Recently, a friend and I were talking about my works in progress, both the two I'm actively working on, and those to be done at a later time.  When we hit on Luna, the Lone Wolf, his first comment was something to the effect of, "So they're vicious then."

I admit I recoiled at first.  Then I shook my head calmly, and fought down the urge to charge to the defense of all wolves everywhere.  "No," I said, "quite the contrary.  Wolves pretty much leave us alone.  Actually they're more afraid of us than we are of them."

His response?  "Really?  I always thought wolves were vicious.  But I guess you know more about them than I do."

The conversation went on to other things soon after, but the quick exchange stayed with me a while longer.

Is that the only difference?  I know better?  Makes one think a bit.

The wolf has enjoyed a rather varied history and place within our lore.  While the bad side seems to be the loudest, there are plenty of stories and legends where they're anything but vicious.  Some of them are real stories.  In many ways, I've come to think dolphins and wolves have more in common than we thought.  Something I find ironic since I really like dolphins too.  Guess I'm drawn to both animals for similar reasons.

"Wait a minute.  Dolphins are gentle creatures that have saved people several times."

So have wolves.  It's true!  I've read and heard stories of people collapsing from the cold, and when they wake up, they find themselves covered by wolves.  They were providing warmth to them, without a fang to be seen.

"Dolphins don't attack people."

Actually, they have.  It's far more rare, I'll grant you that, but dolphins are still wild animals.  They have harmed humans before.

But let's get back to wolves here.  Wolf attacks are quite rare.  While it's true they are predators (so are dolphins by the way), there's a lot more there that we don't see.

Within my research, I've found wolves are revered for their family ties.  It's not just mom and dad that care for the pups, everyone pitches in.  They all hunt for and protect the young.  The pack hunts together as a single unit.  When the hunt is over, wolves will often gather at a central meeting place.  I've found a number of researchers talking about the unique things that go on there.

For example, one researcher noted the alpha female will actually do practice hunts with the pack.  To the point of being taken down like prey so that, when going for a real kill, it's like a Special Forces squad attacking the target.

"Okay, what about the omega?  He's not exactly treated well."

Goes with the job.  As omega, the lowest wolf is also the defuser, the peacemaker.  He (or she) is tasked with easing tensions with-in the pack.  But for those of you with families, you know the hazards of getting between two brothers intent on combat.  You might also look at it this way: all the frustration and pent-up energy is taken out on one wolf, so it doesn't harm the pack.  So in many ways, he's got the biggest job, and the biggest sacrifice.  We might want to think twice before dismissing him.

According to my research, if the hunting is good enough, he gets a reward too.  In large packs where game in abundant, I've found notes of an omega pair breeding as well.

"All right, fine.  But they're still a threat."

To live stock they are, sure.  All they see is prey.  I don't mean that to lessen the hit to ranchers, because a single cow is a BIG hit to them.  But they aren't vicious.  They're predators.  They're wild animals.  Any wild animal is dangerous if not respected.  Even Bambi could kill a man if not treated right.  Wolf attacks are more often spurred by intrusion, or by a pack that's starving, or by people who don't know enough about wolves.  This is where the danger is greatest for kids.  They see a wolf and think "big dog!  Can I pet it?"

Wolves are far deeper than we know.  Deeper than I know, and I spent months digging up all the info I could about them.

Want to know more?  Ask!  Have a differing opinion?  Share it!  I'm not so proud to say I know everything, or that I'm right on everything.  I mean, I found a couple of places that said wolves don't mate for life.  We all know that's not true.

Though then again, there is the Casanova wolf, who has been known to mate with a female in the hopes of getting his pups cared for by the pack.  Bit risky though, since getting caught can be rather dangerous.  More trespassing on the pack's territory, only the alpha is allowed to mate.  Either could get the Casanova wolf injured if caught by the alpha pair.

And that's the beginning of wolves.  There's so much more left to learn.  We need only open our eyes and see it.


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The Making of a Bond

7/6/2014

2 Comments

 
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Some time ago, I had just put down an amazing novel about a young woman raised by "royal" wolves.  Oh it was great.  Instantly became a favorite of those I'd read so far.  I began following the author, reading more of her work as I found it.  When I went to her website, it was clear she had the same passion for wolves that I did.  So on a whim I decided to share that fact, as well as my feedback on the novel.

Ten years later, Jane Lindskold and I remain strong friends.

I can't believe I only just realized that it has been ten years.  In many ways it's her fault I'm still plugging along.  More than a friendship, she's become a mentor I look up to.  A comrade who's always been there to help me dust myself off when I'm down.  She's never been afraid to say the truth, but she delivers it kindly, so I can hear it better.  She even slapped me across the head once... er... figuratively speaking, without it really being harmful.

Still, it's interesting to me how such a strong bond was formed from something so... I guess the best word is innocent.  It was just a fan letter.  From a young teenager no less.  To think it stood out enough for the correspondence to continue, then develop into something so precious.  Yet all I did was share my thoughts on her book.  That and our shared love of wolves.


And before you think it, the first pages of Luna, the Lone Wolf were written long before I ever heard her name.  Though she did give advice on how to think that helped make it better.

It's curious how so much can be started so easily.  Makes me wonder how many such opportunities I missed.  The person sitting next to me on a bus, or train, or standing next to me while waiting for my fast-food burger.  It's always the simple acts that get things rolling.  You say hello, or compliment someone on their clothes, and suddenly you're off and talking.  At least two of my friends I met because I made a comment on the NFL team whose hat they were wearing.

I feel like I've wandered a bit here.  Then again, in a way that's the point.  Random movements that put us in the path of those we would soon call the closest of friends.  Does make you think, doesn't it?  Not only about the chance meetings yet to come, but also the same warm, fuzzy feelings I've got now.  Good thoughts of how the relationships I hold most dear started.

So how did they start?  Did you forge a bond over something trivial, or unimportant?
  Maybe all you did was say hello in line.  Maybe, that's how you met your spouse!  Think on it, and share if you don't mind.  Be rather neat to hear other tales of little nothings that turned into big somethings.

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    "Be You"

    "Let your words be eternal yet time honored.  True yet not betraying.  Strong yet uplifting.  Challenging yet harmless.  But above all, let all you say, do, and be, remain forever and exclusively you."
    - Forest Wells

    A blessing, and perhaps a personal hope, for this blog and so much more.


    REMINDER: Blog is now on Wordpress. You can find it via the link below.
    https://forestwells.wordpress.com/2018/06/26/coming-soon-impressions/

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