The Journey

It's Time...thought the princess....and she set off down the path she had chosen....walking slowly, but with determination she wound her way deeper and deeper into the unknown...the trees closed in around her...the sky was obliterated by the tree tops...the further the princess went, the darker the forest became...the path became narrower and steeper as it wound up the mountain...she trudged on...stopping to catch her breath she sat down on a huge rock...she heard a howl in the distance....a lonely howl and something more...she felt lost..alone...frightened...

the princess could feel a presence...see shadows moving in the distance...she wished she wasn't alone..had a companion on this journey...but the prince was lost...far away and no one else would have had the courage to take this path she had chosen...she rose from the rock and took a step forward...the rocky path hurt her feet...her legs ached...every muscle rebelled...but she had to go on...find what was waiting for her at the end of this quest she had undertaken...

It seemed like days....but hours later she finally she reached the top....the path divided here into two different ways...one looked so easy...straight and true down the mountain...so smooth that it looked paved...the other still rocky...full of holes and bumps...twisting out of sight just a short way beyond the crest...the princess was tempted to take the easy way...her body cried, yes....but her heart knew she must take the other...find the answers that lay beyond...off she went before she could change her mind...around the bend...and down the mountain...soon a shadow appeared to her left...large and ominous it loomed...she couldn't move and stared as the being came out from the shadow and into a patch of light on the path...

a wolf...huge it was...it walked over to where she stood, frozen....the wolf sniffed her...walking around her..inspecting....as if it was sizing her up...for what she was afraid to guess...then it came in front of her...sat down and nudged her hand...tentatively she began to stroked its fur...the tension drained from her...a peace overcame and she felt rested....then a strange thing happened...she swore the wolf talked...not in words...speech...but in thought...she heard the wolf's words as clear as if he had spoken them aloud....
Follow me and I will take you were you want to go my lady...to the darkest cavern...the wildest glen..you will find what you seek there...I am to be your guide...your protector...your teacher...walk with me and together we will find the lost pieces of who you are...discover the love and trust...the belief you've lost...
The princess thought for a moment...dare she trust this wild creature...put herself in its care and continue on her quest...