The water caressing her skin like chilled silk, the woman submerged herself. Allowed herself to be cleansed in the bubbling stream that was so much deeper than it appeared. Her dark hair floated on the surface of the water as she held her breath and opened her eyes to the beauty that lay beneath the surface. Watery plants swayed with the gentle current, fish darted in obscure patterns, oblivious to her presence in their world.

As she surfaced for air, her dark eyes met those of a wolf. There was no fear as she gazed into the creature’s eyes and after several long breaths, she moved toward the opposite bank. The wolf remained where he was, watching her with intent curiosity. As she drew nearer, the animal stepped into the water to meet her and nuzzled the hand she held out to him. Her caress was as gentle as a breeze on his luxurious fur and she moved forward again to lay in the long grass.

She felt the weight of the wolf’s head on her stomach as she lay on her back looking up at the stars. Lovingly, she stroked his head. It never occurred to her to be scared of the animal that most considered vicious. Somehow, she was sure he was there to be with her.

The wolf stood abruptly and nudged her with his nose, causing her to turn her head to look into his eyes once more. The knowledge within them seemed something more than animal and infinitely more than human. They shone with a preternatural intelligence, the eyes of a being not of this world. And as she watched him, the wolf began to shift. First into a large dog, the likes of which she had never seen before. Then came a tiger, then a lion. The shifts became quicker, the shapes more varied, some of them creatures only thought to exist in myth. Finally, he took human form. Tall, broad shouldered, tawny skinned, with the same deep silvery brown eyes of the wolf. His hair flowed down his back in an ebony cascade that ended at his waist.

When he held his hand out to her, she accepted the unspoken invitation and laid her own in it. As she was brought to her feet, she tilted her head up so that she could continue to look him in the eye, somehow convinced that if her gaze faltered, it would all vanish. The man led her through a lush forest that had not been there when she had left the water to a bed of moss. Gently, he lifted her and laid her on the soft moss before stretching out beside her and covering her mouth with his. There, in the middle of the forest, he showed her a love like no other had ever given her.

She woke to find herself alone, lying once more in a field of grass. Memories of the night before were strong in her mind as she gathered her clothing and dressed. She could feel his eyes following her as she moved toward the stream and crossed it to find her way home. She never once wondered if it had all been a dream. Within her was a deep certainty that he was still there with her, moving with her unseen. Though she could not see him, he would always be at her side.

A soft, gentle smile touched her lips as she laid her hand on her stomach. The child born of their union would be a blessed one.

C. O'Keefe 3/26/2008