The Wolf of Temple Shambo Forest
It was 1786 and I lived in a small mud hut on a small hill off Mt. Leinster. My childhood was difficult, as I only grew up with my father. My mother died when I was young. She was killed by a wolf who still roams around the Temple Shambo forest to this day. My father still feels hurt after the accident that happened with his wife when she was caught and killed by this wolf. To this day my father and I do not have a great bond as he does not talk much. We live on a slight Conner of land which we call a farm so when there is work, I would always ask him could I help as the was the only time we bonded. He still did not speak but being able to help him meant the world to me as it gave me a purpose.
To this day I still fear going to the forest from all the bad stories I heard from around village, from people disappearing to wolf attacks. My father would go to the Temple Shambo forest to track and hunt down the wolf. I would never go as I was scared; I would always stay at home and work on the farm.
I woke up one day and it was my 16thbirthday and today was the day I taught my father would finally speak to me, but he was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly I went into shock. I started to panic as this never happened before. Swiftly I ran and checked the farmland, but he was nowhere to be seen. I then went to the village but when I asked if anyone had seen him there was no information there. To my disbelief there could only be one place he could be Temple Shambo. I went back home to see if he was home but to my disappointment, he was not. I then realized his gun was gone so I figured he was gone hunting. Many hours past and I began to worry, thinking the worst. I told myself he would be fine, but every minute of every hour that went by I began to stress and almost cry.it was getting late and there was still no sign of his return so I knew what I had to do, go into the dark forest and face my biggest fear.
I walked towards the forest, the moon light beaming towards my eyes and along the path almost like it telling me were to go. As I went deeper and deeper in this dark, dense forest I noticed I was lost. I started to panic. But it was about to get worse. I heard a wolf howl in the distance. I was unarmed and my worst nightmare was about to become a reality. I heard a voice from the distance. I could not tell who it was. As I got closer the voice came from a cave in a rocky mound. I went inside. I could hear the voice calling out but to my disbelief it wasn’t my father but a woman’s voice. I was confused I went deeper into the cave. I picked up a sharp fist sized stone to protect myself. I saw two animal shady figures in the dark. Suddenly one of the shapes leapt towards me. Without thinking I fired the stone with great fear striking it in the head. It fell to the ground with a squeal. I walked closer to the figure and realized that it was the wolf. I had killed it without thinking. I pulled the stone from its head and looked at the other figure. The moonlight came through a tiny whole in the roof of the cave, it was a woman in ripped and ragged clothes. As I came closer to the woman, she called me by my name which made me confused. The woman burst into tears, she asked, ‘do you know who I am?’ I replied, ‘no I cannot say I do.’ My mind began playing tricks with me thinking until I realized. She said, ‘I am your mother, you’ve grown so big.’ I burst into tears then I helped her get out of the cave. I had so many questions and so did my mother. We got back to our mud hut to find my father there, he gave me a hug and held me tight. He then stood back and saw the woman. He couldn’t believe it, he taught he was dreaming, the love of his life standing there again. He taught she was dead then began to hold each other like it was the last time they would.
My father had so many questions, how did you find her I replied looking for you. My father said that reminds me I sold the gun to move on and spend time with you as life is to short to worry about the past its about taking it day by day to work on a better future. This is a day I will never forget my 16th birthday the day I got my family back.
by Padraig