Make of it a parka
For your soul.
— Alice Walker, from
Before you knew you owned it
Old Red
Old Red lives for death. He hovers around villages at dark, urging sober to take just one sip, urging lonely to take in snakes, urging fists instead of hugs.
His first memory is of crawling in a cold cave, wearing a filthy diaper, hungry, and crying until his cheeks are dry.
A wolf’s call echoes the stone. He stops crying. He’s not alone.
The She-Wolf enters the cave, nose high, sniffing. She sidles around him, to his mother, her flesh under the tattered dress still, frozen. He watches the wolf tear into his mother’s belly.
After, she lays down beside him. He crawls into her warmth and finds the teat.
Spring comes.
It’s ten winters with the pack when a hunter blasts her and takes him to the human world. When he has words, he thinks, make of it a parka for your soul.
top image: Mowgli 1895 illustration
[144 words]
I am today’s host for dVerse’ Prosery Monday. I say:
write a 144-word story using the top quote.
Tao Talk 
Love the reimagining of growing up with wolves, it sound so cruel, yet the human world might really be worse…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Exactly, Bjorn. You’re very intuitive, as always.
LikeLike
What an enchanting story. I am very taken by it and yet filled with questions at the same time. If your intention was to make me think, you hit your mark. But oooo a wolf pelt parka would be divine up here in my home state.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Violet. When a story makes the reader think, I consider it successful.
Only in the same vein as your comment, I’m sure the wolves would find your body a tasty meal (even though wolves killing a human is exceptionally rare, if ever.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s rare up here to find a parka with a wolf collar or cuffs, but not unheard of. They are pretty elusive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooch, that bites! Utterly compelling and true to itelf; I ache for the fate of the she-wolf, and for the pain of Old Red.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not Anon, I’m Kathy! A wolf-running woman too, like you…
LikeLiked by 1 person
My wolf’s eyelash senses that, Kathy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 <3 <3
LikeLike
That was riveting, Lisa. What a fascinating read. The nature of the beast.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Nancy. Yes, it is…
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wild and very creative story, Lisa. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much, Dwight. It’s a call of the wild story, where death and life walk hand in hand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In very scary ways!! :>)
LikeLiked by 1 person
A a raw, vicious world you created, Li. Reminds me of Romulus and Remus.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is the world of eat or be eaten, kill or be killed. Yes Rom and Rem, also Mowgli, from The Jungle Book, is raised by animals, I think. Most of what I saw out there when looking for images were mostly mythical. Not many cases of real humans being raised by animals. I did see a documentary on netflix called, “Misha and the Wolves” that was interesting. No spoilers from me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This does have a mythical quality to it. I think our childhood memories always remain more vivid than anything that comes after. It’s certainly true for me. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kerfe. I think so also, as it works as archetypes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
the different moods in this yiny story, stunning
Bravo!!!
Happy you dropped by my blog
much♡love
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gillena, thanks so much for the feedback. Always appreciated.
LikeLike
That final paragraph to your story was perfection, Lisa! A great read!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carol, thanks so much! <3
LikeLike
Your Prosery has echoes of Kipling’s Jungle Book in your Prosery, Lisa. It also reminds me of a story from Germany in the 14th century. Canines can be very protective of young humans. But how awful that a hungry mother wolf had to feat on a frozen human mother, and how amazing her child survived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim, I appreciate your thoughts on the story. I am also amazed the child survived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one will be with me for a while. Especially as I consider your comment about archetypes. So provocative!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks much, Kim. Looking at it now, it feels very dreamlike and full of meaning for me.
LikeLike
The prompt line was used so creatively, I liked the thrilling story very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jay, I’m glad you feel the prompt line fit in there. I wondered if it would. Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Insightful :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Chris.
LikeLike
When I read this yesterday I thought it was just SOO good”…the seeds of something bigger…and then thought…”what on earth am I going to write, after reading that!” So I reached out here and there in desperation! No, seriously, there seems to be the seeds of a bigger story for me there. Supweb stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ain, thanks. It came in and said here you go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
i loved it Lisa! the writing style reminded me of grimm’s fairy tales (which my mother used to read to me at bedtime when i was little).
LikeLike
I confess that when I read The (original) Jungle Book and the story of Mowgli, I didn’t really appreciate it in the way that I so appreciate this now, Li! Mowgli’s story is not for children but layered with so many adult meanings…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pleased as punch that you enjoyed the story. I never read the book but I saw the Disney cartoon, which I’m sure is not at all the same. I do remember reading a poem by Kipling, called, “If” that I quite enjoy.
LikeLike
Beautifully composed, Lisa. Lots of take-aways for me … don’t know if you were a Yellowstone fan [I watched every episode thru five seasons] a lone wolf played a prominent roll in several episodes for a major character. Mystical, magical, prophetic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Helen. Yes, I *love* Yellowstone and the spinoffs also. Yes, I love that scene with Beth and Rip and the wolves. Be still my beating heart.
LikeLike
And Kayce!!!! Another be still my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol YES!
LikeLike
A very vivid and graphic portrait of the events
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome. You’re looking great in your new picture Li
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sadje, thanks :) I took that pic the day I went for my job interview.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome my dear friend
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great retelling of old myths, Lisa! I enjoyed it.
Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yvette, much appreciation for seeing it that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Comparative dystopias, Lupus or human, danger. So love the way you told this Li, gritty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Paul, gritty is a good word for it. Thanks for reading and your comment.
LikeLike