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I find myself thinking a lot of that wolf, living on the island. He was quite the mysterious one, and the stories that I heard about it weren't helping my curiosity. I wanted to find out what this wolf was all about, what his purpose was. My mum and dad were always telling me not to venture near the small island, which was a short way from the bridge crossing the same river that it happened to be on.

Joseph came up with the idea of going out there to keep an eye out, and we agreed, only under the condition we wouldn't get too close, or that we didn't stay out too late, which would alert our parents that something was up. For most of the time that we watched, we didn't see the island wolf at all. Sometimes we would see him come out from the hidden interior of his island. For years we had no idea who he was or what he did until I decided that I didn't want anything to do with it. Joseph had long since given up on the idea that this island wolf had any real meaning, or needed anything from the rest of society, and he was right about telling me that this wouldn't have any point. There just wasn't.

As the sun began to set, I turned to head down back the way I had come over the past 5 years. The time passed was plenty lost, although I was able to reflect on how simple the island wolf's life was compared to my own. Everything seemed much better, oddly enough. Though my parents had told me the difficulties associated with living out alone in the midst of nowhere, I knew I could argue that it was a matter of circumstance, and that one would eventually become accustomed to the toughness of life, like in that one book I read, Hatchet.

It was as I had almost had the island out of sight of my mind's consideration that I felt as if there was someone following me. I snuck a glance back so as to not alert whoever it was and I couldn't help but stop.

The island wolf was standing behind me, dressed only in what appeared to be some tattered trousers. He looked young, but at the same time worn down. When I turned to face him, he became rather nervous as I saw his ears fold flat on his ears. Admittedly, I too became a bit nervous. What was I supposed to do or say to a wolf who I had been watching for years?

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but instead made a motion with his left paw, a request for me to come with him. On the whim I followed after him, and I found myself wading across the river. The cold wetness as water splashed onto me seemed lost in my mind, wanting answers, wanting them now.

We came to a small clearing at the interior of the island, and I was surprised that there was so much open space there. In the midst of it stood a quaint little house, built of stone and framed on old yet sturdy timber. It looked like something from a fantasy setting, so distant! Yet it stood here in front of me, and the wolf beckoned me inside. My rational thought tried to dissuade me, to go back now before it was too late, but I continued in.

The place was clean yet appeared quite well lived in, with ornaments and photographs resting on a few shelves. As we walked into the main sitting room, I saw a fire gently going in the fireplace, and above it, a painting of the landscape that I couldn't help but gasp. It was the bridge that I had been standing on, watching the island for months and months on end. The timing of the painting seemed unreal, with all four of the seasons of the year depicted in the same frame. It was then that I caught sight of the wolf staring back at me in the painting. It was me.

It was at this point that I knew that I had to find out. The wolf motioned for me to sit, and I did so, watched as he sat down. His eyes shone amber, a colour I hadn't expected of a wolf. For a while there was silence, and neither of us spoke a word, until I knew that I had to say something.

"Just... I don't know... Who are you? What's your name?" Not the best sentence I ever spoke, but I was fairly nervous about all this. This wolf was pretty much a complete stranger to me.

"My name is Einar." His words were slow, but stood strong. "I am, as you think, a wolf of this island. I was born here, I grew here, I live here."

"I see." I said.

"Um... What is your name?" Einar looked up at me. "What brought you here, year after year?"

"It's Simon. I found myself watching the island, hearing of a wolf living on it. The stories I heard got my curiosity, and my friend Joseph suggested we go and take a look at it. He eventually lost interest, as did I..." I thought for a moment before I continued. "I was leaving for the last time when you suddenly appeared, and here we are."

"Indeed." The wolf appeared more relaxed than before, having gotten slightly more used to my presence. I then asked, "So why did you come after me?"

"Because I... Because I saw something in you." Einar stammered slightly, possibly because he was stepping into the unknown. I wondered if he had ever spoken to anyone else his entire life. "You did? What was it?"

"I... I don't know. But I still see it in you right now. Can you see it?" His eyes met mine, and I wasn't sure what happened, but I saw something as well. It was like shimmering light, yet it wasn't coming from the fire which was burning slowly away. It was something else entirely, something I had no idea of.

"I think I see it too, in you." What else could I say? I didn't have a clue as to what was even happening!

I was then caught offguard as the wolf suddenly wrapped around me in a hug, tears and muffled sobs I could feel and hear around my shoulder. I didn't know what to do. It was all so sudden, and I didn't even know why! All I could do was hold him close, his warm body pressed against mine. I began to remember something else, something that was beginning to make sense.

***

"How did you and mum meet?"

My father looked surprised when I asked him. He clearly hadn't expected me to make such a question at such a young age. "It's something mysterious, yet simple, Simon."

"Really?" I asked, not really stopping to let my dad finish. "What was it?"

"Hey, slow down there young fella!" He laughed back. "You're going too fast!"

I smiled sheepishly, and as we took a seat on the front porch, he began to tell. "It was some years ago when I met your mother. She was a very strong woman, both in speaking and in strength. I didn't think that she could possibly be the one for me, since she seemed on so far a station above me. But then I saw it."

"Saw it? Saw what, dad?"

"It's hard to say what. It was like when you turn a light on, and you find that it's beautiful. Really beautiful. I didn't know what it meant, so I went to Father Brian."

"The same Father Brian that we see every Sunday?"

"Yes Simon, the one we hear at mass. I came to him to ask what it meant."

"And what did he say?"

"He said that the spirits had shown me guidance, to lead me to my soulmate. From there, I ended up meeting with your mum many times. We eventually got married, and then we had you."

I thought to myself before I asked another question. "Dad? Will I see that someday?"

"You may, you may not. Father Brian told me that not everyone receives such guidance. Many people have lived happy lives never having heard of it or believing it. But if I personally had to say it..." Dad brought his eyes up in thought before smiling at me, "I'd have to say that I think you'll need it."

"Dad! I'm not silly! I don't need the spirits to show me!"

I giggled as he tickled me and he laughed. "Well, you might not. But just do one thing for me, will you son?"

"Yeah dad? What is it?"

"Just remember that story. It means a lot to me, and to your mother. Don't forget."

"Don't worry dad. I won't."

***

Einar smiled at me, eyes still slightly teary from the overwhelming emotion he had felt. I blinked back a few tears as well, the emotions and flood of memories barely contained somehow. "I... I need to get home. My parents might get worried."

"You'll return, right?"

"I will," I promised.

The sun was just about to begin its setting for night, bathing the world in amber. Birds chirped as they returned to their homes for rest, and the water of the river had calmed since I first arrived. Einar saw me off, and waved happily as I crossed, and I waved back as I headed home. I wasn't sure how I was going to explain to my parents how I had gotten so wet, but all that didn't really seem important right now.

There was the wolf on the island.