She was caged but never tamed.
At first he thought she lived in hundreds of cages; large and close. Her family stifling her spirit with love and concern; creating a burning jealousy and rage at the petite girl.
He didn't think she would ever understand the wild.
But Maddy was as wild as they came; she was just cunning about it.
It was like a string connected him to her; feet dashing and arms swinging as he chased her bouncing hair in front of him. The color flashing muted brown to gleaming chestnut when the sun fell through the leaves. His arms itched to reach out and touch it; slide down the slim but strong arms before wrapping around her middle. Cradle her against him in a strong sense needing to stand by her and protect her.
He never wanted to catch her.
Maddy never slowed down but never disappeared from his sight.
He ran faster.
Their breath would come out in huffs of gasping laughter; at one point or another she would slow down to dart around a tree, bounce off a log, or daringly skip across river rocks. Her smile, front teeth gleaming and cheeks flushed, would be glances to him as he scrambled to follow her chaotic parade of the forest. Close enough to reach out if she slipped but far enough to keep her going. Keep her running; keep him chasing.
These were the times when he felt as if they were one. At first it was friendship, he loved how she would catch his eye, and they'd be off on a romp through trees and smells. Then somewhere along the fights and concern he realized that her much smaller body would be there in front of his; demanding those who threatened him to bow down and leave or else. That this made him feel safe and terrified; his arms always reaching out to bring her back behind him.
Then, one day after they collapsed on the ground after running for what seemed like hours, bodies aligned together in content companionship did he realized they were one wolf as two. That she was what made him feel like a place was home, that her presence - even at its prickliest and most stubborn - was what made him feel as if there was an answer to everything.
Even if hers was wrong.
Maddy was his life, even if she wasn't the center of it, she made it more. Just more.