Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Wolf In The Woods

I found this gem of a little story deep inside Final Fantasy XII, it's a really nice little story, it's not too long and I really wonder exactly who wrote it... anyways, enjoy.

"A truth: Things there are in this world not meant to exist in harmony with one another, whether they be so close as to touch, or so far as to never know the other's being.
Actions were taken in defiance of this truth, and indeed, they stirred the imagination of the world, yet only served to hasten the inevitable end. Who can say this is not the preferable Outcome? - Amata, Philosopher.

Listen! A village there was between the mountains and the sea.
It was a peaceful village, yet with one abiding fear: a great wolf that had come to live in the forest nearby.
None knew when or whence this violent beast had come, yet his howls crept over cobblestone and rang in the rafters, setting the villagers trembling.
Yet the wolf howled not to threaten, but for loneliness. Indeed, he sought after friendship of the villagers, not their flesh.
A hunter from the village came, and saw the wolf, and understood its cry. So he sought to help the beast.
"Wolf, do you know why you are feared? It is because your aspect is frightful to us"
The wolf asked what he might do to amend this, upon which the hunter replied, "Wolf, I shall cast a magic upon you so that you might have the form of a human." And by the time the hunter finished speaking, the wolf had indeed transformed. The wolf thanked him, but the hunter gave him a warning, saying, "You are man only in appearance. Know this: you must never speak, for you are a wolf, and this is the way things should be"
The wolf that walked as a man left the forest and went into town. His new face glowed with joy, for now he would have friends. The people on the street viewed this stranger with suspicion at first, yet his smile won him their trust and welcome.
The wolf was moved by the smiles they returned him, for he had never seen men showing anything but fear. Yet he did not speak, for that is the way things should be.
So was this joyous time for the wolf. But sooner it grew dark.
The wolf returned to the forest, a wolf, no longer a man. That night he did not howl, but drifted off to sleep thanking the hunter who had given him such a wonderful day. And the hunter saw the wolf, and was glad

Listen! A village there was between the mountains and the sea.
A peaceful village, for fear was dead, slain by the proud hunter whose blood-song sounded over cobblestone and rang in the rafters, easing the villagers fitful sleep.
And the hunter did not doubt nor did he cease his song... until the day a great pack of wolves descended on the village.

For that was the way things should be."