Katelin knew her parents didn’t like her going into the forest alone. People stronger and smarter than Katelin often did not come back. Yet she went anyway; all the time. Katelin had long red hair that flowed in curls, over her shoulders and down her back. She usually had her hair tied up, but today was special.
But it wasn’t her hair that alerted the wolf that she had returned that day– it was her smell.
Katelin was the village midwife, and she had just delivered a baby yesterday. Though her hands were scrubbed clean, the wolf could still smell the blood from at least a mile away. He wondered if her hair would be down or not. He began running as fast as he could to her.
Katelin knew the forest was dangerous. And truth be told, that’s one of the reasons she came so frequently. But what she told herself was that she came for the flowers that only grew in the wild forest. It was a tradition of hers to give them to the women who had just delivered their babies. Whether they would be placed in their hands or on their grave.
When the wolf got as close as he was comfortable to the smell, he looked in Katelin’s direction. The wolf saw her picking flowers by the spring several hundred yards away. Her hair was down; the baby and the mother had survived. He loved seeing Katelin happy. Though she wasn’t smiling – he could sense it in the way she walked. She actually looked afraid. He had never seen her without a slight tinge of fear; he had only ever seen her in the forest. Though she loved it there she was always afraid in the forest.
He felt bad that she was afraid. She was afraid of creatures like him. And he knew if she ever saw him, that he would only cause her more pain. He wished there was some way he could let her know that she was safe; that he would never let anything happen to her while he was there.
CONALL RETURNED TO HIS DEN. Unlike other wolves, he lived alone. He had tried to belong with one of the packs in the forest – but they could sense that he was not like them. To stay he would’ve had to accept a position far lower than he was willing. These attempts always ended in him being attacked, and barely escaping with his life.
On his way back he actively avoided the grave in the ravine. It felt wrong for him to go there after seeing Katelin.
Conall curled up in his small cave and looked out at the trees. He watched his breath coming out of his snout lilt through the air in front of him. Winter had come quickly. Conall hated being wet and cold, so he rarely left his cave – only for hunting and seeing Katelin. Her fiery hair looked even more beautiful – contrasted by the pure white snow. He laid still as stone until he fell asleep.
CONALL WOKE TO THE sound of snapping branches. He could immediately tell it was Katelin. Sometimes Katelin would wander this far in the forest – but he would usually run to the graveyard to avoid her. It was too late. After identifying her scent and looking towards the sound, he saw that she was watching him through a bush.
Conall panicked. He could tell she was trying to hide. He bore his teeth, and pressed his ears against his head. His tail jutted towards the floor, and he widened his stance. Katelin stood to run. Conall whimpered and retreated backwards in response to her quick movements. He was afraid.
Katelin stopped as she realized this. She looked at him with concern and curiosity. She scanned his body for wounds, and looked around for cubs or other wolves. She saw he was alone. Conall felt shame for causing her fear. Trembling, he took a deep bow.
KATELIN BEGAN COMING TO the forest more often. She felt safe with Conall.
Conall loved Katelin. It was torture for him to not be able to speak to her, or understand what she said to him. He desperately wanted to be known by her. Eventually, Conall took her to the grave in the ravine.
Katelin followed the wolf down a hill to a solitary tombstone. The wolf sniffed the grave – then turned his gaze quickly back up to the stone. There were no etchings, and it looked crudely made. The wolf froze – staring deep into the stone. Katelin could feel that this place was sacred to the wolf. It took her a moment to break the stillness in the air.
Katelin looked around and could see that there were items scattered all around. A sword, a horn, a breastplate. She wondered what had happened here. She placed her hand on the back of the wolf – touching him for the first time. She felt his back muscles restrict in response, and knelt down beside him.
Conall turned to look at Katelin, but avoided looking in her eyes. Katelin was filled with compassion, placed her hands gently under his head, and brought the wolf’s gaze up to her eyes. Katelin was surprised to see his eyes were full of expression. They were a bright blue – they looked human.
In an instant Conall’s heart rushed with love, fear and memory. He felt a deep pain in his chest and pulled away from Katelin. Conall looked down at the forest floor and began to growl and paw at the grave with his claws. Conall stopped digging and looked up at Katelin. Katelin saw that his eyes were now completely black. She wondered if she had imagined his blue eyes.
Suddenly, the thought was broken by a loud howl followed by a fiercer growl than she had ever heard from the wolf. Conall had become predatorial, and in an instant Katelin knew she was no longer safe. She knew that he was about to attack.
Katelin turned to run. Without hesitation -- Conall bit the back of her leg. Katelin screamed in pain. She turned and hit the wolf hard across the side of the head. The wolf snapped backwards – releasing his jaws. Katelin scurried back, grabbed a nearby tree branch, and threw it at the wolf. The branch connected sharply with the wolf’s snout. The wolf whimpered and retreated back in pain.
Conall suddenly came-to, and could see Katelin pull the nearby sword from the ground and quickly limp away from him as fast as she could. Conall tasted the blood in his mouth, and was filled with horror realizing what he had done. He ran again towards her – but stopped when he saw her fall over the forest foliage due to her panic.
Katelin looked behind her and saw that the wolf’s eyes were blue again. She felt she was safe again – but was still filled with immense fear. Conall walked slowly and cautiously towards Katelin. When the wolf was close enough to pounce – his eyes transformed again in an instant back to the menacing darkness. He once again became poised for an attack.
Katelin raised the sword in her hands high above her head. She let out a terrible scream at the wolf. The wolf growled at her – then interrupted the growl with the licking of his teeth and the swallowing of the blood in his mouth. He was threatened by her display of aggression and paused, contemplating his attack.
Katelin then did something that she had done many times. She ran towards her fear. She dropped the sword – leapt forward – and wrapped her arms around the wolf. The wolf struggled against her and scratched her leg with his claws. Moments before the wolf’s teeth sunk into her neck – the wolf calmed. Conall settled into Katelin’s embrace.
Katelin held tightly and felt the wolf relax. The muscles and bones in the wolf began to shift and move in great waves. Conall was being changed. Katelin held on tighter. She closed her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. Katelin felt peace and love flow through her like a raging river. She held even tighter.
Katelin felt two strong arms hold her back. She opened her eyes and was immediately met by Conall’s compassionate blue eyes. She was now looking into the face of a man. Conall had been changed back into his human form.
MANY YEARS AGO, CONALL the soldier had traveled deep into the woods with his bride to be. He was unaware that a dark wizard dwelt in the forest. Catching the two unaware, the wizard – filled with a jealousy and a hatred that knew no satisfaction – cursed Conall’s bride. And transformed the young maiden into a wolf.
Conall stayed with her as long as he could. But as time passed she became more and more wild. She was lost to the wolf, and in a moment of great sorrow – Conall ended her life to save his own. When he buried her body the curse was transferred to him.
KATELIN'S LIFE WAS CARING for Conall, and her bravery and love continued to save the lives of many. Conall built her a safe and strong home; he protected and cared for his family till the end of his days. He loved watching her bold and free spirit bless everyone, like she blessed him. He couldn’t believe that she was his forever.
When Katelin died, Conall returned to the forest and buried her in the ravine. He expected to be transformed back into a wolf – but the beast never came.
Alternative Ending
Katelin raised the sword in her hands high above her head... [and] then did something that she had done many times...
In great sorrow, she felt she had to choose which life to save. The wolf leapt towards her — she closed her eyes and lunged the sword forward with all her might. The blade bore deep into the wolf’s chest.
Conall came-to lying on the floor. He looked up at Katelin as life seeped from him in an instant. Conall realized what had happened – he understood Katelin and was filled with terrible sorrow.
Kateline felt a deep sense of relief. She felt proud of herself for doing what needed to be done. She had saved her life. She was grateful for the wolf and her new found bravery. She knew she would never be the same because of him. Katelin walked away from the grave and the dead wolf. And though her leg hurt terribly, she let herself breath, and enjoyed the forest around her. She kept the sword close, still in fear of further danger. There were worse things than wolves that dwelt in the forest.
As Katelin walked away, her muscles and bones began to shift and move in great waves. Katelin was being changed. She was filled with fear. Katelin closed her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. Katelin felt despair and anger flow through her like a raging river. She was filled with even greater fear. She opened her eyes and knew something horrible had happened to her. Katelin had become a wolf.
MANY YEARS AGO, CONALL the soldier had traveled deep into the woods with his bride to be... [A] wizard... transformed the young maiden into a wolf... Conall was forced to end her life to save his own. When he buried her body the curse was transferred to him...
KATELIN LOST HER LIFE like Conall that day. However, unknown to Katelin — she had freed Conall from the curse. Conall now understood what he had truly done to his bride to be. And though his spirit yearned still to dwell near the wolf with red hair, in the hopes that one day he still might be seen by her. He chose to let his spirit soar home; over the misty sea into a bright unknown — to find a love that saw past the beast.
Katelin, with greater fear, freedom, and loneliness than she has ever known, roams the forest like Conall. And hopes — and not in vain — that one day she will have an opportunity to bravely love another, like Conall loved her.
Alternative Ending
Katelin raised the sword in her hands high above her head... [and] then did something that she had done many times...
She ran towards her fear. She dropped the sword – leapt forward – and wrapped her arms around the wolf. The wolf struggled against her and scratched her leg with his claws.
Katelin held tightly. However, despite Katelin’s act of pure bravery — the wolf frantically sunk its jaws into Katelin’s neck. In spite of how much she felt something was inside of the wolf, there was nothing she could do to set it free. The wolf clamped his jaws until he felt Kateline loosen her grip. She closed her eyes as tears began streaming down her face. Katelin felt great sorrow flow through like a raging river. She lost her grip fully and fell to the forest floor.
Katelin felt life drain from her arms. The last thing she saw before she closed her eyes were Conall’s dark eyes. She searched for the compassion she had seen before, but saw nothing but the wild animal. No matter how much Katelin loved him and yearned for his and her happiness. Conall never would have come to. Conall was now fully a wild animal.
MANY YEARS AGO, CONALL the soldier had traveled deep into the woods with his bride to be... [A] wizard... transformed the young maiden into a wolf... Conall was forced to end her life to save his own. When he buried her body the curse was transferred to him...
BOTH CONALL AND KATELIN lost their lives on this sad and avoidable day. Katelin’s family and friends were wise to fear the woods. The wolf spent the next few days eating Katelin’s remains. A pack of wolves smelled the blood and came to feast with the outcast. They could tell Conall was different, and he finally became accepted into their pack.
After weeks of searching in vain, Katelin’s family and friends accepted her fate, and held on to what was precious to them even tighter. In spite of the apparent danger of the woods, and to the great tragedy of their loved ones, many brave, naive and young maidens and men continue to traverse the woods. And as it goes in dangerous woods — many still fall prey to the beasts that dwell there.
Katelin's spirit was freed from this harsh world — but she chose to still try and find peace there. She comforted her family and friends for a time, and tried to understand and help Conall even in death. She yearned to understand what to do with her loyal and brave love. But the longes she stayed in this state she became filled with anger and hatred. She yearned for justice. For years she haunted the forest — tormenting Conall and his pack. But as is with hate, and its ravenous appetite, it found no final satisfaction there. Katelin hunted animals and travelers for many years.
Eventually, the humans continued to spread and build further into the woods. A kindly priest built a church in the woods that caught Katelin’s attention and scorn. And though Katelin tormented this man and the congregation — the priest learned her heart, and showed her the love that once had seed in her. Katelin finally chose to let her spirit soar home; over the misty sea into a bright unknown. She let go of her hate — and watered the seed of her youthful loyal-brave love dormant in her heart, with wisdom and forgiveness. This knowing love ruled her heart from that day forward.
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