The Silent Lute – Why Bards Play Slowly

Greetings, worthy friends. You have found your way back to my campfire – and just as I’ve decided to talk about the lute, even though there are far more exciting tales to tell. Like how the business with the kindling in my garden turned out, and why Vela agreed to join me in visiting an … Read more

Under the Apple Tree

The first light of the sun woke Fian. He stretched out comfortably in his bed, savoring for a moment the warm light streaming in through the window. Yes, the last few weeks had been strange, in a way. Or had it been months? He couldn’t quite recall… In the end, he decided it must have … Read more

Chroniclers, I have a riddle for you

Dear chroniclers, There are stories that seem, at first glance, like casual chatter over a garden fence. Only when you lay the sacred texts of the wolves beside them does the shattering depth of what transpired reveal itself. Consider the arrival of Fresco. Who is this old grey wolf, truly? His voice sounds like grinding … Read more

A Message from the Post Office

Dear travelers, There is a curious thing about stories … Sometimes they do not change because a new chapter adds an answer. Sometimes they change because a new chapter asks the same question a second time. And yes, you may focus on the collar. Or you may be more interested in the tavern … Some … Read more

The Task

Dusk was falling. Fian stepped through the door of his small hut and undid the straps of his basket. Holding it before him, he caught the scent of the fresh herbs once more. He loved that earthy aroma—hints of forest floor, wild chervil, sorrel, woodland mushrooms, and fresh herbs. Yes, he knew he was late—far … Read more

The Mentor

The bucket of spring water sloshed softly as Fian set it down on the wooden decking in front of the hut. His lower lip was split, his left eye was a swollen mass of blue and violet, and every rib burned with each breath. He crept slowly through the doorway to clean up his worst … Read more

The Wisdom of the Forest Lake

Worthy travelers—have you come this far just to find out what happened after the forest lake? Well, who am I to deny such a desire to learn more of this tale? Take a mug of hot tea or meat and sit down; stay a while and listen… There is so much to tell, and my … Read more

A Lake in the Forest

He sat by the forest lake … and self-consciously plucked softly at his lute, while she, paws clasped behind her head, lay comfortably on her back with her eyes closed, visibly enjoying the early autumn sunbeams. He looked at her as she lay there, stretched out. After a while, she spoke softly: “I can hear … Read more

Wolfish Pedagogy

They left the tavern. Fian walked silently beside her. “You know, choices matter…” the the white guardian began, gently placing a paw on his shoulder. “Yeah, that was stupid,” Fian muttered, looking down in shame. “There’s no question about that.” She walked on in silence for a moment. “But that’s not the problem.” Fian looked … Read more