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Willie the coyote lives deep in the National Mammoth Cave Forest of Kentucky with thousands of miles of hilly, mountainous terrain…
Willie travels alone. He’s always been a loner. Oh, he tried to become part of the pack, but they never would accept him. He was a handsome male coyote with far too many females taking a fancy to him, making the others jealous of his charms.
The male ‘Alfa Coyote’ let him know in no uncertain terms, he was to be gone on a permanent basis or harm would surely come to him.
Willie was no fool; he wasn’t fully-grown, and many skills he’d not yet acquired to even think of challenging an older Alfa Coyote.
As Willie roamed the forest floor, he picked up the scent of rabbits, raccoons, wild turkey, and deer. Walking softly while peering around bushes and trees for his prey, he was usually in luck, and met with many a good feast.
One day, out of curiosity, he wandered to the edge of the forest, and discovered a farmer with chickens, sheep, pigs and even baby calves. Thinking to himself what a lovely feast any one of these delicacies would be, he decided to try his skills at the farmer’s pantry.
He spent his days resting up for night hunts, listening and watching all the activity from his forest den. It was well hidden, safe, and secure. He felt great pride in the care he took to preserve his safety, and well-being.
One cold and frosty night, the moon shone bright and silvery. Willie thought it was the perfect time to try for some of the farmer’s wonderful bounty.
Off he went thinking this would be an easy task since he’d decided on chicken for his late night dinner.
As he made his way to the farmer’s chicken coup where they were roosting for the night, he didn’t realize what squawking and noise would come from those chickens. It was chaos; feathers flying, and the old hen he’d managed to grab was raking him with her long talons, and putting up an unexpectedly good fight.
He decided to try to take her by the neck and stop her loud squawks, ending the noise the farmer surely would hear.
Too late—Lights came on in the farmhouse, and out ran the farmer firing something sounding like thunder with fire rolling out the muzzle.
Willie dashed across the barnyard to the open field. He knew he would soon be out of range and sight of the farmer.
As he leaped across the field in a mad dash, he heard what he thought was thunder again.
Looking back, he saw a mule bearing his teeth and striking at Willie with his hooves to stop the crafty thief.
Willie suddenly knew this attack on the farmer’s animals wasn’t going to be so easy afterall. The mule was gaining on him, and he had to move faster. With chicken still dangling from his chops, Willie scurried under a fence.
Realizing he had run more than half a mile, and barely escaped death’s door, he rested in a quiet bush to eat his excellent dinner, but he wasn’t sure the risk was worth it.
As months passed, Willie grew into a large and very handsome coyote. He could now have his pick of any lady in the pack he so desired. He was tired of being a loner, and wanted the company of family.
Biding his time, he selected a pack, and confronted the male Alfa. The male wasn’t going to give up his females easily. Willie could see that, and knew the battle would be fierce.
As it began, teeth were gnashing, fur flying, and blood dripping from the many wounds and deep gashes on both fighters.
Finally, Willie remembered what it took to gain over this foe just as he had with the farmer’s chicken; Grab him by the neck.
Willie made a lunge for the male’s throat. In seconds the Alfa coyote surrendered his pack, crawling away to lick his wounds.
Willie looked at the five female coyotes, and felt pride in his selection. He lay down to rest, and give the females time to get used to his coyote scent, and become acquainted slowly.
Shy at first, they snuck furtive glances at Willie, looking him over, making sure he would be good stock to raise their children of the future. At last, they started licking his wounds to welcome him into the pack as their leader and Alfa male.
Brenda Clark Pike
©2012
