I jumped when someone whispered my name.
"Faolan…"
----------------------
Faolan, it means 'Little wolf'. I've asked my mother often why she called me Faolan. She has never given me a reason. Just that it "sounded right".
"Faolan…"
I followed it. At first I thought that it was my mother or brother calling me in their sleep. I heard it again, it wasn't coming from them.
I crept outdoors, careful not to let the front door creek. The voice seemed to vanish off into the distance as a breeze blew it away. I shuddered and pulled the jumper tightly around me. The colder air was a shock from the warmth of the fire. The mist had cleared and now was replaced by the light of the full moon. The land was splashed with a blue grey light. I couldn't help letting out a gasp at the sight. Snow capped mountains were icy blue against the black sky. The stars glimmered brightly, but were blotted out against the light of the moon. The trees surrounding the cottage no longer seemed to stand like old men, but seemed to come alive again. The moon seemed to light them with knowledge and wisdom. They stood like guardians over the cottage, protecting it. A grassy valley unfolded from the cottage. The long strands blew in ripples in the gentle breeze. A stream gurgled at the foot of the hill.
It was truly magical. For the first time that night, I didn't regret coming.
I took a step forward and the voice came again. It's tone was soft but sad in the night.
My senses came alive. The air was fresh and cooling on my face. I moved a strand of hair out of my eyes. I was fully awake now.
I looked back to the cottage. I made excuses in my head. I just wanted to go for a walk… because they would think I was crazy if I told them that I'd heard a voice calling my name. But none of it mattered. I'd be back before they knew I'd even gone.
I stepped out into the grass. I took small steps at first as I scanned the horizon for movement. The rustle of the grass and the occasional chirp of a cricket were the only things that disturbed the still night. After feeling braver I ran into the night, my legs rhythmically swishing through the long grass.
I felt alive. I picked up my pace until I felt I was flying. It was almost like a dream. I smiled and laughed, it was the strangest feeling. Like I had found something that was dear to me after loosing it long ago. Like a deep freedom. Almost like, some kind of defence inside me had melted.
I laughed and danced in the meadow, spinning and singing I fell onto the grassy hill to catch my breath.
Looking back at the cottage it looked like something out of a fairy tale. The glow from the fire made it appear friendly and warm. From this distance, you couldn't see the faults in it. I scanned my eyes across the valley.
I froze.
There on the other side of the hill, I spotted movement. I surprised myself but I smelt something different in the air. I was down wind of it. I watched for a while as it came closer. I was afraid. The wind even seemed to grow still to listen. The creature stopped and looked in my direction. It lifted it's head to the sky and howled. I could see it's breath rising in a mist around it.
A wolf.
The strangest thing was, I didn't hear a howl. I assumed there was a howl, but the sound I heard was very different.
"Faolan…"