Nal and the Wolf

By Laurence Swinburne

Nal, a lone hunter, finds himself in a difficult situation after an earthquake destroyed his
village. He struggles to survive, as he cannot survive on berries and roots. He is unable to
join another tribe due because he is a stranger. ok One day, he hears howls from wolves, who
he doesn't like as they aren't good for food and hunt the same animals as people. He is
intrigued by a wolf pack that has trapped a creature, which he finds to be a smaller, lighter-
colored, and black spot. The wolves grinned at their prisoner, but a wolf would attack the
wounded animal, causing the attacker to limp away.
The wolves were attacking their prisoner, causing the animal to weaken and eventually
dying. Nal, feeling betrayed, hurried a rock at the wolves and hurried into the clearing,
waving his spear. The wolves scattered, except for the wounded wolf. Nal felt foolish and
left the clearing, only to hear a sound behind him. He tossed a stone at the wolf, who
retreated and watched Nal. The wolf remained silent, indicating that Nal was not interested
in the wolves' affairs.
Nal, a hunter, kills a rabbit and cooks it with dry twigs and a stick. He feels sorrow for the
loss of his family and tribe but has food now. A chill creeps up his back as he sees the wolf
staring at him. Nal questions why the wolf followed him and tries to explain it. The wolf
continues to stare at Nal's meat, and he throws more. The rabbit disappears, and Nal and
Wolf are still hungry. Nal hurries a stick at the wolf, but it misses. The wolf returns the stick,
seemingly thinking it's a game.
Nal washes a wolf's leg with leaves and sleeps with him, feeling less lonely. They travel
together, and the wolf gains strength. However, Nal's vigor sank as the wolf's strength
increased. The wolf brought a part of a dead mouse but Nal snarled it saying that isn't fit for
a man. The wolf looked up and seem to laught, too. The next day, they leave the forest and
entered a large plain. They encounter a small herd of reindeer.
Nal, exhausted, runs towards a group of deer, fearing they will starve him to death. The wolf,
despite his warnings, runs away, circling around them. Nal, exhausted, watches the wolf go
away. When the deer run towards him, he realizes the wolf's barking has frightened them and
they run in his direction. Nal hurls his spear at one of the deer, causing it to fall dead. The
wolf returns, yelling loudly. The boy and wolf share a happy moan, and they discuss their
potential friendship. Nal reveals a large black spot on the wolf's back, and Nal calls him
'Spot'. The boy pats the wolf's head, symbolizing their bond.