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![]() Posted: Post subject: The End of the Begining! |
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A spiral of drifting snow briskly slid across the white landscape as the sun tucked himself in amongst the cascading hills of the delicate back round. The light from the sun stretching the shadows of the white dusted fur trees that lined the valley. The shadows reaching down into the small valley's basin where a river, little more than a creek lazily began to break up its winter congestion.
With a muffled puff, a dark figure broke the ridge at the top of the valley. A cloud of snow dispersing like a quarter stick of dynamite had been detonated. The black figure rushed down the gradual slope of the valley, obviously in a hurry, the figure galloped.
Back at the top of the ridge another larger, slower but more confident figure appeared. Just a large head at first, it scanned the valley. This dark figure began descent of the valley as well, picking up speed only because it seemed more practical for movement, being larger in size the gravity helped the fuzzy figure along.
The smaller figure now reaching the basin of the valley stopped briefly; it seemed this "little jog" had been in motion for some time. She began to trot again towards the stream, after fifteen to twenty minutes she reached the stream. This time she looked back with desperation in her eyes, maybe the larger figure had slowed, or better; given up entirely? To her dismay a little storm of snow clouds with a dark center, steadily pushed its way down the incline. As if she was starttled her short brown muzzle opened and issued forth a roar. She then immediately turned her head and sloshed through the stream. She reached the other side, pulling herself up the icy muddy bank she slipped and slid back down. With a grunt she frantically pawed her way to the brim again. Once again her tiny paws not surely placed caused her to slide right back to the bottom.
The larger dark figure galloped right along, he reached the base of the valley and paused. He heard a light roar from the stream that lay ahead. Without a second thought he took a swelling breath. A deep rumble shook the valley, displacing clumps of snow from of the near by fur trees. It was as if a nearby volcano had announced its explosive intentions. He could make out a small speck ahead bobbing and weaving amongst the currents of the little stream. The stream to him of course resembed a trickle from a rain puddle as it makes it's way down a curb.
This time she had to make it, she could swear that she could feel his breath on the nap of her neck. Her smaller muscles poised and prepared, she used her weight to her advantage. She lightly tap danced up the slope for the last time. She flew over the top looking like a large, wet, muddy dog. Huffing and puffing her little furry paws began to spin, she bolted towards the opposing side of the valley once again.
His thumping, stout, muscular legs carried him. His eyes fixated on the figure now headed away from the stream. His breaths where steady, timing in perfect unison with his bodies motion for superior performance. His stamina had carried him most of the way, not at any notable speed, but never relenting, constantly paced, and always moving. His long tufts of grizzled brown hair rippled as each set of feet made contact with the earth. Sending a wave of impact up to the ridge of his back. There the wave ceased as it worked its way up the peak of his raised hair that ridged the line of his spine from his broad skull, between his shoulder blades, and down his back. Those fixated eyes almost never blinking, looked glassy and red with irritation. There was no doubt that this creature was feeling some sort of consuming, raging wave of emotion. He practically stopped the current of the stream as he pushed through the flowing water, like a moving boulder he waded out to the opposite bank. With one great bound and sure foot placement he was up the opposite bank. Pushing forward he began to pick up speed once more.
She at this point was less than forty yards away from the crest of the incline. Who knows what awaited her at the top of the valley wall? Maybe safety? Maybe better terrain? Or maybe nothing? Little clouds of air from her panting breath started to thicken as the tempeture dropped. The evening was soon drawing to a close and the last rays of light where fanning out from the ridge in which she had first started her decent. She knew that the darkness would provide her with some aid, but she had to keep moving. She reached the top and disappeared into the darker, colder, hopefully more suitable landscape that lay beyond.
The large male stopped for seven, very quick seconds. He raised his massive skull to the air and again issued a cry of rage into the darkening sky. This time the roar seemed to have a little taste of frustration as it curled from his lips and enormous gapping jaws. He just stopped long enough to assure her that he would not give up quite so easily. He too closed the gap between himself and the top of the incline. He disappeared over the top as the last strings of light pointed towards his exit.
Now one might ask, "what in the world was that about?" or "what is the big deal?". Well we would have to take a look back about three and a half hours previous to this fresh night. Three or so hours ago we look down into a vast expansive landscape of furs and aspen. Far off we can see an opening to a cave. There at the mouth lay the smaller dark figure with her lighter fur coat and much smaller skull. She gorged herself on the carcass of a baby moose. It seems that the carcass had been thawing from the near by snow bank, as the blood stains and disturbed snow indicated. As she picked away and filled her little tummy to her delight, she became oblivious to her surrounding. She had just picked the final bone clean as she raised her head and stopped chewing. Something caught her attention. Her head and ears, like a satellite dish, focused towards the direction of the cave.
A grunt and loud huffing came from the dark pits of the cave. She began to slowly edge back towards the dirt path she had followed there. A huge brown head, twice the diameter of hers, poked out of the cave. The eyes of the beast barely open. The huge males head and body instinctively shifted towards the spot he had stored the moose for the winter. As his eyes and ears adjusted to the light and sounds around him he walked towards his stash. He stopped in his tracks as if walking into a brick wall. He looked to his left and saw the remains of some animal. He cautiously approached and smelled it, then he moved a little quicker to the snow bank where his brunch was to be waiting.
By the time he had linked the puzzle and smells together, she was out of sight. Already quickly making her way down from the cave to the safety and cover of the forest floor. She paused to look back just once, she felt pebbles and rocks shower down from somewhere, somehow above. She gazed upwards and to her horror a massive head was peeking over the edge of the cliff from above. Their eyes met briefly. He broke the contact of gaze to raise his head ferociously and release a bellowing roar. She turned and ran as snow fell from the trees and fist sized rocks bounced off her back from above her. The chase was on! Now I can't speak for everyone, but wouldn't you be a little peterved if you woke up to someone finishing your brunch? I mean after all you probably would be kind of starving after 6 months of sleep. I wonder what he plans on doing if he catches her. He is the king of this mountain. Maybe he needs a queen. Well either way I hope it's resolved and maybe just maybe she will redeem herself. I don't know how, maybe a large pile of salmon, or an elk carcass left over from the wolves? Well folks this is how it started, and this is where the story ends. Wish our two companions luck.
The End of the Begining
(on June 12th 1989 an angel was given to this world, an angel that would represent a light in the darkness of life. And as of two days ago her birthday came, now I lay awake with a feeling of loss for being so insensitive. She radiates beauty, not only through her eyes, but through her soul as well. I feel that at times I fight with myself to learn how and in what way I can possibly learn truly to better appreciate a woman like her. A woman who makes the rebellious blood in my veins whisper to a soft purr. A woman who posses great virtue, though is still very young in realization of her full potential. I may never fully understand her, but all I do know is I will remain at her side as long as she scratches the fur behind my grizzly ears. This short story is yours sweetheart. ---- Love Big Grizzly
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