How the Wolf Met the Swan

It was a Tuesday afternoon and the Swan was headed into town in order to pick up a fresh loaf of bread from the Farmers Market.  She weaved throughout the busy bustle crowded amongst the edges of the narrow street, lined up and down with local shop keepers trying to bargain with potential customers.  The Swan was in a particular hurry that day. She had to be back home within the hour in order to prepare a meal for her mother and father.  You see, her father, the Head Goose within the town's District of Authorities, had received a special accolade that week.  He was being nominated for Man of the year, and the recent buzz on the grape-vine had everyone believing he was a sure thing.   

As the Swan continued to head toward the market, lost in thought regarding all of the things she had to prepare for that night, she clumsily bumped into a stranger, causing both to fall over.  "Oh lord, I'm so sorry," she said.  "I'm afraid I've let my thoughts get the best of me today."  The stranger, wrapped in a thick, dark cloak, hiding all features except the deep glare of a set of eyes gazing back at the swan.  "It's fine," replied a ruffled, almost growl like, masculine voice.  "Apologies are not in order, but appreciated, for I fear I as well was lost in thought."

At this point, the stranger slowly revealed their face, pulling their cloak down, and to the shock of the Swan, exposing a young Wolf, not but what appeared to be only a few years older than herself. Now, the Swan had met a few Wolves before in her past, but her father always warned her about them. He said that Wolves were of a different time.  That they still lived within a lifestyle of the old days, thriving off of the thrill from hunting and gathering in the wild.  "They're beasts!" he would tell her. "Nothing but feral beasts. If you don't pay attention to where they're at when they're around, you might as well coat yourself up in butter and serve yourself for dinner!" 

To be continued...