But soon he saw that the wound was
mortal, and knew his own life was in danger if he stayed. The hyenas
would turn on him next, and he had no illusions about what would happen
to the body of his friend. He turned to the northwest, and disappeared
beneath the silently whispering pines.
Kalus was left alone with the dying wolf. And as he watched its
terrified eyes grow dull slowly like a fire that had burned itself to
nothing, he felt he watched his own death as well. He had failed again,
miserably, and felt all chance for survival, and the will to continue,
evaporate. He fell to his knees in exhaustion, and heard the lone wolf
at its distance release a long howl of despair. Night fell, and darkness
was all around him.
*
Walking back alone was perhaps the hardest thing he had ever had to do.
In his darkened state he felt he had no reason to live, but some
stubborn and unvanquished voice told him he must return. Weak and
trembling, genuinely ill, he had no other goal but to reach the cave and
collapse. Digging deep, time and time again, he searched for the will
to go on, just a little farther, holding the image of the girl like an
icon and a Quest before him. Many times he stumbled, and had to rouse
himself to keep from lying down to sleep, and die, in the snow.
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