Ruadh

 Ruadh is a wolf with a bright red fur and mesmerizing yellow eyes. That fur, despite being beautiful, was the source of many issues in the life of this wolf. His mother never believed he has a chance to be a good hunter. "Your fur is visible from the end of this forest! Everyone can notice us easily, so better hide and wait!" -she used to say. Ruadh's mother critiqued him in different ways, but conclusion was always the same. Her son's fur made her nervous every time she saw him. Because of this, Ruadh became a very silent, introverted and shy wolf. 

 It was a late fall when they joined a wolf pack and finally stopped to live a life of lone wanderers. Even though Ruadh's mom started to be more optimistic, open and kind to everyone, including him- Ruadh couldn't get used to living with so many other wolves. Sometimes when he was in a good mood and wanted to play with others, he noticed every conversations stop when he appears around. Other young wolves just looked at him silently, and Ruadh had no idea what to do next. He used to run away and hide in his favourite place, far away from the pack. He just sat silently and looked at the horizon. He drifted in his daydreams. Created his own world in imagination, where everything was so simple. Sometimes, Ruadh could spend all night just laying on cold ground, lost in his thoughts. Even when Ruadh heard his mother howls, he never answered any of them. 

"Is that all? Is the life just about hunting, eating, sleeping and thinking about things that would never happen?" -he used to ask himself this question more and more often. 

 One night, when the red wolf wandered alone at the pack terrain boundaries, he noticed something unusual. First of all, something smelled intensively. Like a wood, but very differently. Then he saw a bright light in the distance, moving in a very peculiar way. Ruadh was sure that a piece of sun melted away, fell on the ground and now it wants to get back to the sky, waving desperately. 

 The curious wolf decided to come closer and examine what he just saw. When he arrived closer, he noticed two creatures he never saw before. They were standing at two paws, they were higher than a wolf but didn't look as scary as bears. In fact, they looked rather miserably and weak. But they had sticks with pieces of sun attached to them somehow. They were intimidating with such weapon. Way more dangerous than claws and even teeth! 

Ruadh looked from the distance, feeling almost hypnotised with bright flames. Then he noticed the full scene. There was a pack of coyotes, fighting with unusual creatures, but they were terrified of their weapon. Without daring to attack, they just looked at their enemies and tried with a huge effort, not to be hit by the light. The pack decided to leave, and after few hours of observing the place, Ruadh left too. He found a safe place on his pack territory, and went to sleep.

___ 

Everything was covered in dancing flames. The forest was burning and everything was red and bright, even more than Ruadh's fur. The confused wolf looked around. There was no way to escape, but bright dancing lights caused no harm to him. He looked at the ground, thinking what to do, when he noticed a huge wolf paw appearing just in front of him. Its claws were so bright it was almost impossible to look at them. They looked like a sun, and the paw was covered in moving, shiny fur. Ruadh looked up to see who approached him. He was frightened to see a big wolf, constructed of lights and fires, with stars in his eyes. 

"Ruadh". He spoken up with a deep and loud voice. Or was this voice just in Ruadh's head? 

"You are worth more than You think. I am the spirit that leads most powerful and intelligent wolves, to achieve the glory and highest power. The thing You saw today was one of most dangerous elements the Earth ever knew. That's why I picked the fire to manifest my spirit before Yourself. Nothing catches attention of all living creatures more than fires, but still, they are so dangerous and they just consume whole lands, they devour all life they see on their pathes. When the fire start, even from a small spark, it becames a huge danger in a moment. The flame doesn't look behind, it only moves forward, with an incredible force. Do You get what i'm trying to say? 

Ruadh, You can be the ruler of all this lands, You can be might and impressive leader. Just find and befriend wolves who are like a blazing spirits. Who have flames in their hearts, and became such wolf too. Then, nothing will be impossible. I will be the guardian of your soul, just don't be afraid and finally start to live!" 

The spirit ended his monologue, he started to change the appearance, his silhouette transformed into the moving flames. 

 Ruadh opened his bright yellow eyes. There was no more sadness in them. He knew what to do and he was sure, that if there will be a powerful fire burning inside his heart and soul, he will notice who is a worthy companion without a doubt. 

 He left the pack's territories behind and started walking forward, followed by his intuition. Finally, this wolf with a crimson fur knew precisely what he wants to do. He needed to find more Blazing Spirits.