Jade's Folk Tale

Wolves Howl When a Promise is Broken

Smoke gently curled toward the dark, star studded sky. Distant laughter, indistinct conversations, and rhythms played on bongo drums and reed flutes pulsed through the night air. An old man dressed in long flowing robes approached the large bonfire around which the people of his village were in various states of conversation, dancing, and eating.

The old man settled his wizened frame onto a weathered tree stump. All activity ceased as every eye turned upon him. He heard wolves howling from the forest’s depths. Good. They would be the perfect accompaniment to his story.

“Can you hear them?” he leaned forward to rest gnarled hands upon bony knees. Despite the deep lines in his face, his eyes twinkled with youth. “Can you hear the wolves?” He breathed deeply of the scent of burning wood, succulent food, and several people grouped together. “Do you know why they cry?” he asked. “They cry for the shattered soul that lived among them. They cry for the promise that was made to it and broken.” The old man settled back to begin his tale.
“The village was old, but the forest beside it was older. So was the creature that dwelt in it. So was the oath that bound it and the villagers together. The oath they had forgotten.”


Her rough wool skirt and cloak pressed against her legs from the wind as if trying to impede her walking. Stubbornly, Aurora continued on toward the village square. She held a lantern in one hand and a burlap sack in the other. The sack held her father’s supper. He was the town blacksmith, and had a habit of staying late at his smithy instead of coming home to eat the evening meal.

Darkness was coming much faster. Coupled with the increasingly colder wind meant autumn would soon arrive. Aurora glanced up at the hooded sky. There was not a single trace of a star’s glimmer. She hoped the night of the Harvest Festival would be clear and warm. Excitement tingled through her at the thought of the elders approaching her two weeks before to ask if she would be one of the dancers for the annual event. The story tellers would weave their intriguing tales of adventure and fantasy, a great feast would be prepared, and she and several others would dance as entertainment during celebration.

She paused in her struggle against the wind to glance toward the ancient forest that encircled three sides of the village. It was from those story tellers that Aurora had heard the legends of the creature that dwelt there. Everyone had. Most of the villagers feared it or claimed it did not exist. However, no one dared go more than a mile into the forests depths, not even the bravest or most boastful hunters. Aurora knew it meant no harm. She had met it once, though she never told a soul.

“Aurora!” a man’s voice brought her from her reverie.

She tore her gaze away from the forest. “I’m coming, Papa!” She could see the broad shouldered form of her father silhouetted against the open door of his shop.

“The wind is fiercer than I thought,” he said once she reached him. “Stay with me until I go home.”

“I’ll be fine, Papa. It will merely push me home this time.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “But I will stay until you’ve finished eating.” She grinned as she stepped inside. “You’d only continue working if I didn’t.”

Aurora glanced one more time at the dark forest as she shut the heavy wooden door. She was unaware that a pair of amber eyes watched her closely from the shade of the forest.


Aurora held tight to her cloak half an hour later as she made her way back toward home. She could still hear the ring of the hammer hitting the anvil, but knew distance and the wind would soon drown it out.

Aurora peeked at the forest once again. For some reason, an urge to enter it came to mind. She wondered, even as she took every step nearer, why the forest beckoned her so. Perhaps the reason was because it was forbidden; or maybe it was something more. She paused just in front of the tree line, knowing deep inside if she took one more step, something was going to happen. Her pulse pounded in her ears as every nerve ending tingled. Whatever the outcome, good or bad, she wanted to find out what it was. Aurora grasped her skirt with both hands as she stepped over the brush that marked the edge of the forest, and slipped into its cool shadows.

She navigated for nearly an hour using only the patchy moonlight that filtered through the foliage overhead until she reached an expansive meadow. She halted a few steps into the high grass. Aurora knew without looking she was no longer alone. A rustle in the grass drew her gaze to the left. A dark shaped moved towards her, but she was not afraid.

It stood, a great, fur covered mass of muscles and flesh. She had no other way of describing it except that it looked like a wolf that was the size of a bear and had horns on the top of its head. Though she would never forget the first time she had seen it, she still gaped at the sight of the beast.

“You should not be here, little one.” Its voice rumbled from deep within its chest.

Aurora remembered him saying the same thing when she first met him. She had been thirteen summers old and often wandered deep into the forest to play. He had risked his life to fish her from the river in which she had fallen when its bank unexpectedly collapsed beneath her feet. That was the day she stopped think of him as “the creature”. It was the first and only time she had seen him. Until now.

Aurora let the hood of her cloak fall back to reveal her face. “How did you know it was me?”

The creature looked away, but did not reply.

Curiosity compelled her nearer. “How did you know? I was just a child. I came back, but never saw you after that day.” Memory of her attempts to find him again came to the forefront. She even remembered shouting her name to the unresponsive trees.

“Zorn,” he finally looked at her. “Zorn.”

Aurora looked at him in confusion. Realization finally dawned. “That’s your name, isn’t it?” He must have been nearby that day.

Zorn gave a regal nod. “Yes, but your people have forgotten.”

“What do you mean?” Aurora asked, perplex.

“I have been here for many years, little one, but your people do not live long.” Zorn lifted his head to look at the sky. “The time passes slowly for me. Why did you come?” he asked, still watching the sky.

Aurora paused, “I’m not sure. I think I came to find you.” Curiously, she reached out and took his claw-like hand in hers and examined it in the moonlight. “Why do they fear you, while I do not?” She lifted her gaze as he glanced down. “I’ve never feared you, even when they told the tales of the hunts, and your killing every man who stalked you.”

Zorn drew back from her. “Did they mention the oath that stopped such folly?”

Bewildered, Aurora shook her head.

Something between a growl and a muffled roar escaped Zorn’s mouth before he once again looked to the sky. “Men fear what they cannot understand. You don’t see me as a monster anymore, little one, but that does not make us equals.”

Light suddenly filled the sky. Small, flashing streaks of fire arched overhead, but, steadily, the light increased along with the number of streaks. Some faded as they passed, but more seemed to come from no where to take their place. Aurora gasped first in fear, then wonder as she stood transfixed in awe at the strange sight. She forgot where she was, that Papa was probably on his way home, and that mother was waiting as well while she watched the sky until her neck ached.

“We are as different as light and darkness,” Zorn said, bringing her back to the present. He also stared at the raining fire. “But sometimes, the two coexist in a rare, but beautiful bond.”

“You’ve seen this before?” He truly must be very old, her people had never heard of such an occurrence. Aurora tore her gaze from the sky, but Zorn was no longer in the meadow. “Zorn?” she looked around. “Zorn!” she called, knowing in her heart he would not answer.




Aurora tried to push away the strange mixture of excitement and fear that roiled inside her as she gazed over the fields that were being used for the festival. The celebration had already started. She would have the honor of being one of the few asked to perform as part of the night’s entertainment, but only after the moon rose. The feast would come first, before sunset, then the wine and entertainment.

She made her way around the people already conversing, laughing, playing music, and telling stories. It would be a long but enjoyable evening.

Near the edge of the field furthest from the center of the gathering was a cage covered by a large, heavy blanket. Aurora stared at it curiously. Sometimes the other entertainers, especially traveling ones, brought animals they trained to do tricks in order to gain a few coins for their cleverness. Judging from the size of the cage, the animal inside could be a bear. Aurora inched closer to lift the blanket’s corner for a peek.

“Aurora!”

Aurora turned at Goven’s call. She couldn’t help but smile as her friend made his way toward her. The smile faded as she noticed the anxious look that made his features appear aged. “Goven, what is wrong?”

Goven grabbed her arm and attempted to drag her away from the cage. “Get away from that,” he hissed.

“Goven, you’re hurting me.” Aurora had never seen this side of Goven’s personality. It was frightening. “Let go,” she yanked her arm from his grip as the occupant of the cage shifted and emitted a low growl. Aurora froze. She knew that growl. Before Goven could stop her, Aurora grabbed the large covering and hauled it from the cage. She stood rooted with shock at what was revealed. “Zorn,” she whispered, staring at him covered with several loops of iron chains that bound him to the floor of the cage. There was even a loop over his mouth.

Goven nearly dragged her back a few steps. “Why did you do that?!” he shouted in her face. His shout must have drawn attention as all other noises ceased for a second, but quickly resumed as gasps and a few cries of distress.

Shouts of “It’s the creature!” finally broke through Aurora’s shocked stupor. She shoved free from Goven’s grip and placed herself between the cage and the crowd.

“He’s not a creature!” she shouted at the multitude. “How dare you treat him like this?” Aurora turned her back on them and reached through the iron bars to touch one side of his face as she pulled off the links that bound his jaw.

“What goes on here?” Papa bellowed from behind her.

Aurora turned to face him. “Let him free. Goven has no right to keep him caged.”

Papa stared at her, “Goven is not the one who captured it, daughter.”

“No,” Aurora shook her head in denial; he could not mean what she thought. Goven and her father were the best hunters in the village. No one else even compared.

“Your people have forgotten their promise, little one.” Zorn’s voice was filled with sorrow.

Astonishment rippled through the people gathered.

“You speak?” Papa glared balefully at Zorn, then turned his stare upon Aurora and her position between him and the cage. “You went into the forest.” It was an accusation, not a question.

Aurora met his glare with one of her own. “You can’t do this.”

Zorn shifted causing the chains to clink. Some people jumped at his movement. “Your fathers swore to never hunt me again,” Zorn’s voice rumbled. “You have broken their oath. I never broke mine!”

“What do you mean creature?” Goven kicked the cage. Zorn growled again. Startled, Goven jumped away from him.

“I’ve seen him twice, Papa. He means no harm,” Aurora pleaded. Papa ignored her. “He saved my life once!” Frustrated, Aurora turned her gaze upon all the people around them. “Listen to me, please. His name is Zorn. If he had wanted to hurt us, then why not me? He’s had the opportunity. I used to play in the woods. It’s where I grew up. He even saved me from drowning when I fell into the river before I had learned to swim.” Aurora saw some of their faces soften. “Tell me,” she asked. “Have any of you ever once been harmed by him? Just because he lives in the woods does not mean he would not come here if he was what we feared.” She shook her head. “Never once has he provoked you. You have no right to do this to him.”

“Why do you stand up for him?” Old Cooper asked.

Aurora looked at Zorn before turning back to the villagers. “He’s my friend.”

“I’m your friend!” Goven angrily grabbed her by the arm. “That thing will never be your friend. It will only kill you and everyone else here!”

“Aye!” several men shouted in agreement.

Papa took over. “It has always attacked the people of this village!” he shouted. “Now it’s time to be rid of it.”

“Aye!” their agreement was louder this time.

“I brought it here so the entire village would know and be a part of this! Our people should no longer live in fear!”

“Aye!” The villagers picked up anything they could use as weapons. Even the women picked up pewter plates they planned to hurl at the beast.

“We’ll slay it here,” Papa ordered. “And there will be one more thing to celebrate this night.” He unlocked the door to the cage and threw it wide to the frenzied mob’s glee.

Aurora saw her chance and slipped past her father to plant herself in the cage’s opening.

The shouting died away.

“Move, daughter!” Papa snarled.

“No,” she picked up the length of chain that had been around Zorn’s jaw and wrapped it around her arm. Unexplainable peace filled her as she took her stance. “I won’t let you do this. He’s not the beast you think he is.”

Papa stepped back in dismay. The sun’s last rays silhouetted him against a blood red sky. The feast should have begun by now. Aurora was astounded how fiercely the peaceful village wanted bloodshed.

In the few moments of the gloaming, several things happened at once. “Then you both will die!” Goven shouted as he ran toward them, grasping a heavy iron bar usually used to secure a shelter incase of rain. Roaring with fury, Zorn broke free from the chains and met Goven with a heavy blow that hurled him several feet across the ground. Aurora dropped the chain and let it slip from her arm as Zorn scooped her up into his arms and ran toward the forest.

Aurora held onto Zorn as he hurtled around trees and over logs. He was heading north toward the mountains that were beyond the forest. She heard a dull roar over the pounding of her heart and Zorn’s breathing. Neither one noticed the villagers were not following as they made their escape through the dense underbrush.


“That very night, it was as if the very Earth was angered, for it shook until the ground crumbled. As Zorn and Aurora made their flight for safety through the forest, the village collapsed and a great fire sprung up, consuming everything. When the hellish night was over, nothing, neither the forest, nor the village remained as anything but ashes.”

The old man paused in his story telling to look around at his enraptured audience. This story had been told in many ways, but still, they never tired of hearing it. He had been speaking for three hours now at this Harvest Festival. It was almost tradition to tell this tale. One day, he hoped, others would continue it. For now, though, it was time to finish what he began.

“For many long years they traveled together; both outcasts in the world. Still, they remained together until time took its toll upon Aurora’s body and made it frail. Her final resting place is said to be in the heart of the forest that surrounds this village. Prowling wild and beautiful, it is claimed Zorn continues to watch over the place where he buried her. A wild creature, Zorn lived among the other beasts of the forest. Every night he and they would howl. It was not the moon to which they cried their haunting dirge. Rather, it was Zorn’s grief over the broken promise and his loss of the only person who ever saw his soul. Now, the wolves howl to the night in remembrance. The reason the people of this village have never hunted, or maliciously killed a beast of the forest is because we know one among them was a guardian though now he is just a beast. Strangers who have passed through have often wondered about this tradition; some even believing us to be fools. Nevertheless, if a girl can see the heart of a beast and find it pure, how can we do no less? Surely we can keep this oath as her people did not, and not suffer the same fate as they.

“As Zorn said, we are all as different as darkness and light. However, if we look past our differences, and beneath the outward appearance, we will see what he and Aurora saw in each other. Though they failed to make the ones she loved see as they did, their story reminds us to look to the heart of a person to see them for what they truly are.”