Title: The Call of the Wolf
Author: Rivermoon1970
Challenge: Writer’s Table Monthly Drabble – February 2019
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Rating: Gen
Word Count:

__________________

He had never been one for the desert, growing up most of his life around forests, but it called to him as nothing had before. Getting into his truck he drove all day and all night until the place to stop felt right. He was in the middle of nowhere, but he wasn’t lost, he didn’t know how he knew it, but it was feeling deep down into his very bones.

Getting out of the truck he pulled a jacket around him, defense against the cold night air, and looked up into one of the most brilliant skies he had ever seen. Taking out the telescope he kept perpetually in the truck bed, he set it up and took his time to appreciate the stars.

Stars, they had thrilled and fascinated him from a young age. His father and brothers always made time to travel deep up into the mountains and do some stargazing. An appreciation of what could be out there was fostered from a young age. Taking a deep breath he let the cool air surround him as he closed his eyes and let the worries he had been carrying within him, go.

Grabbing his other gear from the truck, he set up a small camp, ate a simple meal of sandwiches and chips, enjoyed a beer and left all of his worries behind. He opened the top flap of the domed tent so he could continue to enjoy the starlight and the brilliant display of colors and motion the night sky had to offer.

Sipping the still hot coffee from the overly large thermos he closed his eyes and settled more into himself. His mind blank, his breathing even and focused. He didn’t know how long he was in the meditative state before he opened his eyes once again. However, this time it wasn’t the desert or the night sky he was looking at. This time it was somewhere new. A different plane that was all blue. The forest was almost ephemeral, but the wolf standing there majestic and beautiful was something that made his heart ache. The wolf tilted its head almost as if to ask a question.

“Yes.” He knew the answer, he knew what it meant, and he realized he was ready for that which he had denied himself for so long. The wolf walked slowly towards him and he was rewarded with an affectionate head bump. He buried his hands in the wolfs fur and for the first time since he was a child, he felt whole and safe. He closed his eyes and sighed in contentment he had not felt in far too long.

Morning came and John Sheppard packed up his belongings and let the wolf inside of him lead his way. He knew he was going somewhere that would once again change his life forever.