In a deep forest of red pine trees, which surrounded an huge lake, and was nestled between a circle of mountains, live a young woman of rare beauty. Her hair was the color of the pine bark and her voice like the laps of water sweeping against the dark sands of limestone remains of the mountains.
Her eyes reflected the bright green of the tall grasses in the foothills, and her name was Tete. By the time this story begins, Tete was an orphan. Her old father and young mother, as well as as brother had died from the storm which caused the wolves to come off the hills into the valley. Her father went off to fight them and never came back. Her mother went to look for the father, and never came back. When Tete's brother wanted revenge, he swore he would kill all the wolves in the mountains. Tete begged him not to go, but he left and never came back. But, before he left, Tete gave him her small, little girls's ring, out of love. It was a sapphire, the colour of the large lake. She never saw him again. Years passed and Tete managed to live on fish and the many berries in the valley. She never saw any wolves, except the day before something else strange happened.
Tete was in the garden, as she loved roses, and grew many different kinds. The scents of her garden filled the little space between the forest and the lake. On this day, Tete was cutting back branches when she heard a breathing sound on the other side of her wattle fence. There, in the shade of the pine trees, was the largest wolf she had ever seen. Its coat was almost blue, and its face was three or four times the size of Tete's head. She backed up to reach the door to her house. Now, Tete's house was a Pit House. it lay in the side of one of the smaller foothills, which has escaped the large hills. Her Pit House was completely underground except for a small courtyard in the front, where Tete had a small bath and some plants. The problem was that the wattle fence around the garden ended where the courtyard began, and any animal could jump up onto the green grassy roof of the Pit House and jump down into the small courtyard. This is exactly what the giant wolf did.
It stood between Tete and the door of her house, and stared at her. Its teeth were larger than Tete's arms. She almost fainted with fear. Then, the animal opened its mouth and wonder, of wonders, it spoke.
"Do not be afraid, human. I shall not eat you. My days on this earth are short and I am no longer hungry."
Tete's fear fell off of her like rain water on the courtyard wall. "I am the king of the wolves, but I am also the last one left in this valley. All, all have been killed by men moving into the mountains and hills. Your own father killed many before he died."
Tete bowed her head and began to cry. This was the first news in years she had heard of her father and now she knew he was dead. The wolf continued, "Your brave mother died as well, but not by our doing. She died crossing the heavy stream leading out of the large lake. We saw her drown and marvelled at her courage. When she was washed ashore, the pack covered her with rocks so no one would touch her body."
The king wolf stopped. "But, your brother is still alive, and I am hear to tell you what you must do to free him."
"I have injured too many humans and want to die in peace, leaving the hatred in my heart and the fear in my bones from the encroachment of men in what was once my valley. I decided to make some amends for the great hatred in my heart for men by telling you that your brother lives but is a captive in a kingdom of men on the other side of the mountains west of here."
The wolf stopped talking. "May I have some water, as I am dying even now", he rasped. Tete was still afraid, but she had a bronze tub which caught rain water in the courtyard and she drew water for the wolf. Carefully, she brought it to him and let it drink out of a ladle.
"You are not like the other humans. You have kindness towards me in your heart." The wolf sank down on the stones of the courtyard. It was, indeed, dying.
"Quickly, listen and memorize what I am going to say. The path along the lake leads to a smaller path through the western mountains. Take that path. You will travel for three days until you come to a fork in the road. Take the left fork and continue up and up until you see the other side of the mountain range. Then, you will see a castle of white rock built out of the side of the mountain, very much like your small Pit House, only grand. Within that castle lives your brother."
Tete was so astonished she dropped the ladle. She began to cry aloud, "Why is he there? Is he in danger? I shall find him and free him."
The giantic wolf stared at Tete."You would have made a great wolf-queen. You have the heart of boldness. But, there is more. I have little time, so control yourself and listen." The wolf now laid its head on its front paws and closed its eyes. "Your brother looks exactly like the king's son, and when the courtiers found him wandering in the woods, they took him for the prince. But, they keep him as a servant, plotting to overthrown the prince when he is king by supplanting your own brother. He is duped into thinking the prince is evil, but he is not."
"You can free your brother but only in one way, as there is magic involved here. You will enter the castle and you will have to identify the real prince, who is disguised now as the prince's servant. The enemies of the castle and country want to destroy the real king, so your brother has been put in his place."
"Here is the test. You cannot mistake the servant for the master or the master for the servant. If you do, your brother will remain under a spell and eventually be used for evil. But, if you recognize who is the real master, the prince who rules the land after the death of the king, you will free your brother."
The wolf rolled to one side, then it stood up and walked past Tete, into the garden, through the gate and to the edge of the wood.
It looked at Tete, and then said, "I go to the land of dust. I shall leave you and die in the forest. I wish your people well, and I give up my hatred for humans by this tale and because of your kindness."
Tete watched the wolf leave. She wanted to run after it and beg it to stay, and she would take care of it, but the nobility of the animal spoke to her heart that it wanted to die alone. She turned and went into the Pit House, as it was now dark and cried for her dead parents as well as her entrapped brother.
To be continued.
