A Wolf Called Wander

Wander is relieved to have escaped the cougar, but his emotional response to the horses dampens his spirits because it reminds of his own loneliness. In this new region, Wander does not need to worry about locating water or food, but his need for family and community become all the more pressing now that the basic needs of survival have been met. Resting by a stream in the afternoon, Wander’s senses perk up when he suddenly detects the scent of a wolf trail. He finds a perfectly rendered paw print in the mud. It belongs to a female, not a member of his pack, but the print contains a scent that he has encountered before. From the size of the wolf’s pad, Wander can tell that she is at least as big as he is. He wants to follow her tracks but knows that his best chance of creating a favorable impression is to capture her interest and respect with an offering of food. In pursuit of this goal, Wander attempts to hunt a herd of pronghorns but finds himself unable to match their great endurance and top speed of 55 miles per hour. Although he exerts himself as much as his body will allow, the pronghorns easily outrun him, and Wander gives up, discouraged.

Crossing another arid landscape, Wander sees what he thinks are mountains in the distance. He does not realize until he has gotten closer that the dark gray shapes in the sky are not mountaintops but clouds. Thunder and lightning begin to erupt across the sky, and Wander is filled with dread when the crackle of fire reaches his ears and billows of smoke come into view. The fire moves quickly, obstructing Wander’s ability to use his sense of smell to navigate to safety. His only hope is to follow the wise instructions of Growl, who once taught him to seek water in the event of fire. Wander runs as quickly as his feet can take him, mindful that he must maintain his footing to avoid being overtaken by the flames. Other animals emerge near him, both in the sky and on the ground, seeking the same safety. The fire begins to catch up with him, singeing his fur and blocking his path, but Wander hears in his mind the sound of his father’s voice and the message of his last howl to “carry on,” and so the young wolf pushes forward. To his relief, at the bottom of a ravine he tumbles into a river and submerges himself to avoid the flames. Wander looks around at all the other animals wading in the river, some of which he might have considered prey were it not for the strangeness of the circumstances.

After Wander has rested, he follows the river, unable to walk on the now scorched earth surrounding its banks. His heart lifts as he starts to recognize familiar plants and trees and identify the smells of specific animals. He is elated when he crests a ridge and sees a range of mountains spread before him. He finds reassurance in all that is reminiscent of the home range he loved and takes in all that is new and promising. Pausing to rest beneath an enormous cedar tree, he feels an intense longing for his family, for although he has finally found the perfect home territory, his satisfaction is overshadowed by his wish that he could share it with them.

A howl floats through the air as the moon rises. Wander is eager to see who it belongs to but remains cautious after all that he has seen and experienced. He waits through the night. In the morning, he hears the howl again and proceeds in its direction. As he nears the source of the howl, he is excited and encouraged by the lack of wolf pack territory markings that would have impeded his path. There is no one to challenge him and no one to fight in order to secure his new home. The scent of elk cements his decision; Wander has found his new home. He begins marking the area, leaving his scent for all others to interpret, declaring “MINE” (194).

Wander raises his head to the sky and howls back to the mysterious wolf. She continues to howl so that Wander can find her, and he finally locates her in a meadow. She has solid black fur and brown eyes, just as he remembers from his encounter with her next to the black river. He barks, posturing to impress her, but she is just as large and formidable as he is. He introduces himself as Wander; she says “Night. I am Night” (198). Although Wander expects her to immediately acknowledge his dominance, Night does not acquiesce to his request for deference but instead stares him down and approaches slowly but boldly. She pounces, and together they run, wrestle, and spar. Wander realizes that she wishes to be his equal. Together they turn their attention to a herd within their range and bring down an elk, sharing the meat as they solidify their bond.

Time passes, and although Wander is happy sharing this abundant new home territory with Night, he thinks often of his lost family. In the winter, after the two wolves have spent several months together, Night digs a den and retreats into it. Wander brings her food and waits. The night he finally meets his three brand-new pups, Wander feels a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. With the first generation of new life, Wander believes that his journey has been worth all that he has endured, for now he knows that the legacy of his beloved family will endure in this new generation of wolves.