Chapter 1: The Cliffside Revelation

The narrative is still in the editing phase, but it will soon be available on Kindle. Unlike a thrilling adventure through the wild, this tale focuses on character development and is more appropriate for a teenage or adult audience due to its weighty themes. Keep an eye out for the release announcement. Thank you for your interest!

"Where are you leading me?" Wren inquired.

"Just follow me," was Cirrus's response.

As Wren trailed Cirrus to the cliff's edge, the two wolves observed a small valley below, where a herd of deer grazed peacefully. The deer appeared robust, their heads bent low to feast on the lush grass and vibrant flowers. The dominant stag cast a vigilant gaze around, searching for any signs of danger. Wren couldn't help but roll his eyes at the stag's futile efforts; he thought, You'll be hunted down soon enough.

At the back of the group, a buck glared at them with a menacing expression. Initially, Wren assumed he was an outsider. However, a doe nudged him aside with her hoof, pushing her way into the herd. The other bucks laughed at him as he retreated, disappearing from view.

Wren couldn't shake his confusion about the peculiar buck. He was strikingly odd, sporting only one eye and having large patches on his fur that appeared to be wounds inflicted by the other males. Despite being the same age as the others, he was treated as insignificant. The other bucks didn't see him as a rival, which seemed strange to Wren. Typically, bucks would compete for the attention of does, but this one was disregarded completely.

As Wren stared at the buck’s scars, he blinked hard, the marks on his own face seeming to ripple in response. He had similar scars running down his cheeks like tears, making him wonder if the buck had endured similar hardships.

"This buck bears a striking resemblance to someone you know," Cirrus remarked as they continued to observe the herd. The red-brown wolf sat still, his back to the cliff, facing Wren. All Wren could think about was how precarious the situation was.

I wish he would just step back, Wren thought with frustration. He hadn’t asked Cirrus to bring him here.

"Who are you talking about?" Wren asked.

"Take a guess," Cirrus replied.

Wren shook his fur with annoyance. They were meant to be searching for their companions, not watching potential prey. Yet, he understood that Cirrus wouldn't move on without getting an answer.

He reflected on the pack they had left behind, where no one dared to bully one another. That had not always been the case for Wren; he had experienced similar treatment as a pup, but things had changed since then.

"Are you referring to my mother?" he asked.

"Perhaps," Cirrus responded with a nonchalant shrug.

Wren sighed, feeling the chill in the air as the sky turned orange. His brows furrowed in irritation. "When will you stop with this? We’re running out of time."

"I'm not preaching; life will reveal its truths," Cirrus replied calmly.

"What do you mean by that?"

Just then, chaos erupted in the herd. A wolf, caked in mud, emerged, likely the reason the deer hadn’t sensed her presence sooner. Wren watched in shock as the stag fell victim to the wolf’s attack. Had the stag been aware of the threat?

"He just saved his herd," Cirrus said quietly. "Only the stag noticed the wolf. Had he stayed with them, he wouldn’t have seen her coming. But he understood the danger."

Wren was stunned. He had never witnessed such behavior from a deer. "Why would he risk everything for a herd that despises him?"

"Because he didn't realize how much he cared for them. They may have judged him, but they were mistaken, and now they'll never realize their error, even when they leave the valley and find him gone."

How does he know all this? But Wren's thoughts were consumed by a more urgent matter—the very reason they were out there.

He closed his eyes, finally grasping who Cirrus was referring to. Is this how she felt? Had I pushed her to this point?

Chapter 2: The Haunting Realization

Explore the enchanting Irish Mandolin lesson focusing on "Wren's Nest," a captivating jig melody that resonates with the themes of the story.

Dive into the octave mandolin lesson featuring "Wren's Nest" chords, enhancing your musical journey as you connect with the narrative's essence.