The wind blew through the trees with a chilling bite, hailing the quickly approaching fall. The animals that felt it coming began to head for their dens. Their long summer had reached an end and it was time to curl up for a long nap...all but one.

A small red wolf crept through the woods, as was her curse. So familiar were the trees around her that even with her poor canine eyes, she could have traveled this path in her sleep, which is exactly what she would have preferred to be doing right now. However, she had a duty...or as much of one as any animal could have.

As she walked her path, the wolf found the familiar scent of home. Picking up her pace, she finally came upon a great clearing in almost the direct middle of the forest in which she had spent her lifetime. She walked the perimeter of the clearing, never chancing to go towards the center. After all, that was where it had begun. And maybe someday, it would have to end but for now, with the forest being explored more and more with all those nosy history people, it was going to be hard to do so.

But the wolf could wait...as long as it took. Not like she had anywhere to go in a world that would hunt her down for the rare pelt on her back; a world that had forgotten her so long ago.

Finding her home still in one piece and undisturbed by othe forces, the wolf gave a mournful howl, and then took off through the trees again. There was something she wanted to do yet and time grew short....though it always seemed to do so, even for someone with an unlimited amount of time.