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Chapter Ten: Forget to Regret

A few days later and into the evening, the post-storm forest was still recovering from the recent downpour. The timeworn, battered, dry well that once held a fallen woman against her will, was now a vessel of overflowing rain water. What also was flooded, as well as trampled with mud, was the old, collapsed, rabbit burrow. Fortunately for its former occupant, that animal now had much dryer living quarters. For inside the quaint cottage of Jai-li and her family, lying relaxingly on a plush, woven rug was the large, gray, hungry-

BURRR-RRPPP!

Err, make that the large, gray, FED wolf.

With a long, lazily stretch, the once desperate, thin-as-a-reed wolf, shifted on his back, resting his paws on his round belly from another marvelous meal prepared by Jai-li. Wang peered down at himself; he couldn't remember the last time he actually had kept a belly. He poked his big underbelly as if he was waking it up from a nice, long snooze.

Wang: (Grins) So stomach, are ya done your complaining now, eh?

The wolf's satisfied stomach was too full to reply.

Wang: (Chuckles) Yeah, that's what I thought.

He sighed contently, shutting his eyes. Though he swore off eating people, their warm, cooked meals however, were a whole another kettle of fish (which was dinner the night before).

Wang: Mmmm… man, that was delicious. (Shrugs) Who knew that adding herbs to food could be so tasty and… digestible.

Wang was stuffed, but this time, he didn't regret it one bit. For unlike his previous mistake with encountering the old woman and her happy grandchild, he had learned to savor every morsel. After all, there was no need to wolf down his meals; he had main courses all to himself. That made the prideful wolf snicker long and loud. Just the thought of how his old pack's eyes would turn green at his achievement with living the life that a determined predator like himself deserved, made all his past hassles to this moment, well worth it.

Putting a paw to the side of his mouth, Wang took out a bone from the roast duck dinner that he was using as a toothpick, and with two claws, flicks it out the opened, living room window…

Voices: I got it! NO! I got it! NO! I got it..!

The lounging wolf, shook his head at the recognized, nasally deep, doubled speech. If his eyes were opened, they would be rolling nonstop, right now.

Wang: (Sighs) 'Sneaky as snakes'.

The two, plum plumed buzzards flapped their way to the window, their talons clumsily clutching the sill and bumping into each other while trying to fit together, side by side. Both had the tiny scrap between their beaks, fighting for possession.

Wangs: (Dryly) The Siamese twits have arrived…

After the narrow bone snapped in two, the buzzards clamped and swallowed and smiled at the non-impressed, furry predator.

Buzzards: Hey there, wolfy! Is that really you?!

The wolf slowly squint an eye.

Wang: Ah… who else would I be?

The buzzard brothers both pointed their wide wings to a carved wolf statue that was positioned outside in front of the house. He-ping had built the very home Wang now resided in. The man was very gifted with carving, and his children requested a statue of Wang. The wolf was pleased… and relieved that the peaceful woodcutter preferred to carve wooden wolves, rather than carve the real ones.

Buzzards: That wood wolfy looks just like wolfy, so we stopped to talk to him… (Annoyed) But wood wolfy never says anything!

Wang: (Sarcastically) You don't say..?

Wang didn't even want to wager how long they tried conversing with the statue and also if the not-so-bright birds actually noticed it was a non-living object or not.

Wang: (Thinking) Then again, one block of wood is suited company for two blockheads.

Buzzards: We heard a loud sound coming from here! What was that, wolfy?

The wolf knew that they meant his previous burp. He patted his filled stomach and smirked proudly.

Wang: That… my witless, failed fellows, was the sound of success.

The baffled buzzards looked over the plump wolf and then towards the young couple of the cottage tending to their garden, their minds putting it together; albeit quite slowly.

Buzzards: Ohhh! We get it now! (Pauses) Hey, wolfy! How did ya get to living in a people's house and eating people food, huh? Huh?! Huh?!

The wolf closed his eye. He was feeling too full to have a cliché flash-back of his storyline. He merely shrugged, though it was more like another stretch.

Wang: Let's just say… 'I'm moving up in the world'.

Buzzards: Oh, right! We said that too!

Wang: (Snickers) Did ya, now? Sooo… did you two ever catch that panda meal of yours, hmm?

The buzzards were about to explain how their prized panda feast escaped them by climbing into another tree that was too thick with branches for them to attempt to fly in, but the twin birds kept their big hooked beaks shut when they saw the wolf's eyes remaining closed; not needing a response from them.

Buzzards: (Both Laugh) Oh, we get it! Wolfy was being pumpernickel!

With half-lidded eyes, Wang stared at the dim-witted birds' strangely announced discovery.

Wang: (Arches an eyebrow) I was being… what?

Buzzards: Ya know! Pumpernickel! Wolfy already knows what we're gonna say!

The wolf then, rubbed his long face down to his snout.

Wang: (Groans) Oh, for Perrault's sake… you mean, rhetorical.

Buzzards: (Both nod) Yup! That's what we said!

Wang: (Rolls his eyes) Of course it was…

Suddenly, the buzzards craned their feather-less necks towards the soft jingling of a bell. After a pleasant graze outside, Puff-puff, the family lamb, came through the small opening on the bottom of the door that was carved just for her. She trotted over to the lying wolf, nudging his face with hers, baaing and licking with glee.

Having enough of the lamb's nose nuzzling, the gorged wolf sluggishly sat half up.

Wang: Yeeesh! Alright, alright, you can stay. Just… cut out the mushy stuff, alright?

Puff-puff: (Happily) Baaa!

Assuming that was a yes in sheep speech, Wang let out a relented sigh and patted Puff-puff's puffy head, making her wiggle her tiny tail in sheer delight. The lamb tucked her fuzzy peach limbs under herself as she yawned and curled up by him.

In the meantime, the two, meat-eating scavengers were gawking over the tender-looking, young creature. They wiped their drooling beaks, cocking their heads in curious, intense interest.

Buzzards: Hey, wolfy! Why don't ya eat yummy sheep?!

With Wang relishing his regular, big meals, the little lamb was no longer in danger being in his presence. But there was also another reason for the predator not devouring his prey… He gazed at the snoozing, young ewe; her chin resting atop of his paw. Though he would never admit it out loud, his smile showed otherwise; he didn't regret eating her at all.

The birds were too dense to pick up on the wolf's fondness for the lamb's company and were still hungrily awaiting his answer.

Wang rubbed his full belly and gave the usual nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

Wang: Nah, I'm already stuffed.

He turned half around and began fluffing up the sleeping, small sheep, making her wooly, white fluff even fluffier than ever thought possible.

Wang: Besides…

With paws resting behind his head, the wolf leaned into the comfortably plush softness and crossed a hind leg.

Wang: (Closes his eyes) …it'd be waste of a great pillow.

The buzzards share disappointed glances at each other, but then smiled excitedly.

Buzzards: If you say so, wolfy! But if wolfy doesn't wanna eat yummy sheep…

Wang: (Clears his throat) Oh, and by the way…

The wolf's keen, yellow eyes narrowed at them, letting out a low growl and this time, the rumbling came from his throat. He knew what the birds were going to ask… He had kept watched on their endless dribbling beaks as they stared at Puff-puff. Oh, Wang knew that look all too well since he practically invented it himself.

Wang: 'Wolfy' will enjoy roast buzzards in orange sauce if you two lay one talon on the cotton ball, understand?

The scared buzzards gulped and tucked their long necks into their feathers, nodding nervously and then… confusedly.

Buzzards: Uh… Yup..! Uh… (Shakes their heads) Nope. We don't eat cotton, just yummy sheep!

The sly wolf gave his black chin tuff a brief stroke and grinned.

Wang: Well, sorry to disappoint… not really… But, this sheep wouldn't taste… 'Yummy'.

Buzzards: (Confused) It wouldn't?

Wang: (Melodramatically) Oh, of course not! It would taste AWLFUL! Because this sheep's made of… COTTON. (Sticks out his tongue) Blah!

Both the birds blinked dumbly.

Buzzards: Oh… we didn't know that! (Both laugh) Silly us! Our bad!

Snickering, the wolf shut his eyes and shook his head at the fooled, unison-speaking scavengers' comprehension. They were idiots. He figured the only use for them was for short flight transport and maybe a random use as back-up singers.

From moving abruptly into a more comfortable position with his 'pillow', and the result from another hearty meal, Wang began to hiccup, which of course, even the dim buzzards noticed.

Buzzards: Hey, wolfy! We have a thought!

Wang: (Claps his paws) HIC-CUP! Congratulations… HIC-CUP!

Buzzards: Wolfy should drink to stop hiccups.

Wang: (Snickers) Way… HIC-CUP! Ahead of you.

Without moving his head and his eyes still shut, Wang tapped a claw at the napping lamb's bell. After a brief chime and wait and as if signaled by the ring, another pair of twins came into the room; to whom the wolf greatly preferred over the buzzard brothers any day.

Bao and Bao Yu knelt down, both of their small hands supporting a bowl of warm goat's milk. The aroma made the wolf sniff and re-opened his eyes at the creamy contents. He leaned forward and greedily lapped up his drink; soothing his hiccups. Once he had finished, Bao Yu took out a brush from her pocket and began stroking his fur.

Meanwhile the buzzards, with gaping eyes and beaks, watched in astonishment at the pampered predator's catering.

Buzzards: Wow… some dangerous beasts get all the luck!

The twin birds then flapped off to take their leave, but stopped to ask the wooden wolf outside if he knew of any sheep that were made of meat instead of cotton.

Soon after, Jai-li and He-ping came into the cottage, both shrugging off the sight of a pair of squawking buzzards having a heated argument with the ignorant, silent statue.

The kind-hearted woman and peaceful man stood nearby, smiling; seeing the untraditional sight of the wolf lying with the lamb while being adorned by their caring children.

He-ping observed his wife's gazing over the scene.

He-ping: My beloved beauty appears to be happy with letting Wang stay?

Jai-li: (Faces He-ping) Yes, my sweet, I'm quite happy, but I also feel regret.

He-ping: (Confused) Regret?

The woman's smile had faded as she looks over towards the resting, gray creature and back at her inquiring husband.

Jai-li: When I first met Wang, I called him a huge, ferocious wolf. That was wrong of me, for that is not what and who I see.

He-ping: You see a huge, honorable wolf, now?

Jai-li (Nods) And you?

He-ping: (Pauses and smiles) Just the same, beloved. But please, do not feel any regret. It was only fair to be on guard on your first meeting. A wolf's appearance makes it hard for them to be trusted. But… (Pauses)

Jai-li: But..?

He-ping: (Leans into her) Wang trusted YOU, so that accounts we can trust him now. And by the looks of him, I do not think he regrets anything and neither should you.

The woman's smile returns and she kisses her reassuring husband's cheek.

Jai-li: My sweet He-ping. A thousand gratitude's.

After a small blush, the man pecked his lips on his cherished wife's head.

He-ping: So are you feeling happy and no longer regretful?

Jai-li: (Nods) Happy and… relieved.

He-ping: Relieved on what we just discussed?

Jai-li: Yes and also for Wang.

He-ping: How so?

The woman recalled the wolf's state before her family accepted him into their own. She then spoke with emotional compassion.

Jai-li: Oh, sweet He-ping! Wang was simply too skinny for my eyes!

A low chuckle escaped her husband's throat and he embraced his wife.

He-ping: My beloved's kindness is boundless. But I wonder… do you think we are the only people to invite a wolf into our home?

Jai-li presses her cheek into her husband's chest and remembering a quote from a very clever creature, smiled once more.

Jai-li: (Giggles) There's a first for everyone.

The young couple resumed the tender view; their son siting and petting Puff-puff, carefully not trying to wake her, while Wang dozily motions to their daughter where to brush; which was now, his beard.

Wang: (Thinking) who'd thought that helping people was way better than trickin' them? (Chuckles) And it only took me ten chapters to figure that out…

And with a bellyful of warm milk, the sleepy wolf yawned and followed suit of his dozing, wooly pillow beneath his head.

So in the end, Wang the Wolf had learned another and even greater lesson: Showing kindness and mercy is in everyone's favor…

Even for a large, gray, hungry wolf.

Description
Chapter Ten: Forget to Regret

A few days later and into the evening, the post-storm forest was still recovering from the recent downpour. The timeworn, battered, dry well that once held a fallen woman against her will, was now a vessel of overflowing rain water. What also was flooded, as well as trampled with mud, was the old, collapsed, rabbit burrow. Fortunately for its former occupant, that animal now had much dryer living quarters. For inside the quaint cottage of Jai-li and her family, lying relaxingly on a plush, woven rug was the large, gray, hungry-

BURRR-RRPPP!

Err, make that the large, gray, FED wolf.

With a long, lazily stretch, the once desperate, thin-as-a-reed wolf, shifted on his back, resting his paws on his round belly from another marvelous meal prepared by Jai-li. Wang peered down at himself; he couldn't remember the last time he actually had kept a belly. He poked his big underbelly as if he was waking it up from a nice, long snooze.

Wang: (Grins) So stomach, are ya done your complaining now, eh?

The wolf's satisfied stomach was too full to reply.

Wang: (Chuckles) Yeah, that's what I thought.

He sighed contently, shutting his eyes. Though he swore off eating people, their warm, cooked meals however, were a whole another kettle of fish (which was dinner the night before).

Wang: Mmmm… man, that was delicious. (Shrugs) Who knew that adding herbs to food could be so tasty and… digestible.

Wang was stuffed, but this time, he didn't regret it one bit. For unlike his previous mistake with encountering the old woman and her happy grandchild, he had learned to savor every morsel. After all, there was no need to wolf down his meals; he had main courses all to himself. That made the prideful wolf snicker long and loud. Just the thought of how his old pack's eyes would turn green at his achievement with living the life that a determined predator like himself deserved, made all his past hassles to this moment, well worth it.

Putting a paw to the side of his mouth, Wang took out a bone from the roast duck dinner that he was using as a toothpick, and with two claws, flicks it out the opened, living room window…

Voices: I got it! NO! I got it! NO! I got it..!

The lounging wolf, shook his head at the recognized, nasally deep, doubled speech. If his eyes were opened, they would be rolling nonstop, right now.

Wang: (Sighs) 'Sneaky as snakes'.

The two, plum plumed buzzards flapped their way to the window, their talons clumsily clutching the sill and bumping into each other while trying to fit together, side by side. Both had the tiny scrap between their beaks, fighting for possession.

Wangs: (Dryly) The Siamese twits have arrived…

After the narrow bone snapped in two, the buzzards clamped and swallowed and smiled at the non-impressed, furry predator.

Buzzards: Hey there, wolfy! Is that really you?!

The wolf slowly squint an eye.

Wang: Ah… who else would I be?

The buzzard brothers both pointed their wide wings to a carved wolf statue that was positioned outside in front of the house. He-ping had built the very home Wang now resided in. The man was very gifted with carving, and his children requested a statue of Wang. The wolf was pleased… and relieved that the peaceful woodcutter preferred to carve wooden wolves, rather than carve the real ones.

Buzzards: That wood wolfy looks just like wolfy, so we stopped to talk to him… (Annoyed) But wood wolfy never says anything!

Wang: (Sarcastically) You don't say..?

Wang didn't even want to wager how long they tried conversing with the statue and also if the not-so-bright birds actually noticed it was a non-living object or not.

Wang: (Thinking) Then again, one block of wood is suited company for two blockheads.

Buzzards: We heard a loud sound coming from here! What was that, wolfy?

The wolf knew that they meant his previous burp. He patted his filled stomach and smirked proudly.

Wang: That… my witless, failed fellows, was the sound of success.

The baffled buzzards looked over the plump wolf and then towards the young couple of the cottage tending to their garden, their minds putting it together; albeit quite slowly.

Buzzards: Ohhh! We get it now! (Pauses) Hey, wolfy! How did ya get to living in a people's house and eating people food, huh? Huh?! Huh?!

The wolf closed his eye. He was feeling too full to have a cliché flash-back of his storyline. He merely shrugged, though it was more like another stretch.

Wang: Let's just say… 'I'm moving up in the world'.

Buzzards: Oh, right! We said that too!

Wang: (Snickers) Did ya, now? Sooo… did you two ever catch that panda meal of yours, hmm?

The buzzards were about to explain how their prized panda feast escaped them by climbing into another tree that was too thick with branches for them to attempt to fly in, but the twin birds kept their big hooked beaks shut when they saw the wolf's eyes remaining closed; not needing a response from them.

Buzzards: (Both Laugh) Oh, we get it! Wolfy was being pumpernickel!

With half-lidded eyes, Wang stared at the dim-witted birds' strangely announced discovery.

Wang: (Arches an eyebrow) I was being… what?

Buzzards: Ya know! Pumpernickel! Wolfy already knows what we're gonna say!

The wolf then, rubbed his long face down to his snout.

Wang: (Groans) Oh, for Perrault's sake… you mean, rhetorical.

Buzzards: (Both nod) Yup! That's what we said!

Wang: (Rolls his eyes) Of course it was…

Suddenly, the buzzards craned their feather-less necks towards the soft jingling of a bell. After a pleasant graze outside, Puff-puff, the family lamb, came through the small opening on the bottom of the door that was carved just for her. She trotted over to the lying wolf, nudging his face with hers, baaing and licking with glee.

Having enough of the lamb's nose nuzzling, the gorged wolf sluggishly sat half up.

Wang: Yeeesh! Alright, alright, you can stay. Just… cut out the mushy stuff, alright?

Puff-puff: (Happily) Baaa!

Assuming that was a yes in sheep speech, Wang let out a relented sigh and patted Puff-puff's puffy head, making her wiggle her tiny tail in sheer delight. The lamb tucked her fuzzy peach limbs under herself as she yawned and curled up by him.

In the meantime, the two, meat-eating scavengers were gawking over the tender-looking, young creature. They wiped their drooling beaks, cocking their heads in curious, intense interest.

Buzzards: Hey, wolfy! Why don't ya eat yummy sheep?!

With Wang relishing his regular, big meals, the little lamb was no longer in danger being in his presence. But there was also another reason for the predator not devouring his prey… He gazed at the snoozing, young ewe; her chin resting atop of his paw. Though he would never admit it out loud, his smile showed otherwise; he didn't regret eating her at all.

The birds were too dense to pick up on the wolf's fondness for the lamb's company and were still hungrily awaiting his answer.

Wang rubbed his full belly and gave the usual nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

Wang: Nah, I'm already stuffed.

He turned half around and began fluffing up the sleeping, small sheep, making her wooly, white fluff even fluffier than ever thought possible.

Wang: Besides…

With paws resting behind his head, the wolf leaned into the comfortably plush softness and crossed a hind leg.

Wang: (Closes his eyes) …it'd be waste of a great pillow.

The buzzards share disappointed glances at each other, but then smiled excitedly.

Buzzards: If you say so, wolfy! But if wolfy doesn't wanna eat yummy sheep…

Wang: (Clears his throat) Oh, and by the way…

The wolf's keen, yellow eyes narrowed at them, letting out a low growl and this time, the rumbling came from his throat. He knew what the birds were going to ask… He had kept watched on their endless dribbling beaks as they stared at Puff-puff. Oh, Wang knew that look all too well since he practically invented it himself.

Wang: 'Wolfy' will enjoy roast buzzards in orange sauce if you two lay one talon on the cotton ball, understand?

The scared buzzards gulped and tucked their long necks into their feathers, nodding nervously and then… confusedly.

Buzzards: Uh… Yup..! Uh… (Shakes their heads) Nope. We don't eat cotton, just yummy sheep!

The sly wolf gave his black chin tuff a brief stroke and grinned.

Wang: Well, sorry to disappoint… not really… But, this sheep wouldn't taste… 'Yummy'.

Buzzards: (Confused) It wouldn't?

Wang: (Melodramatically) Oh, of course not! It would taste AWLFUL! Because this sheep's made of… COTTON. (Sticks out his tongue) Blah!

Both the birds blinked dumbly.

Buzzards: Oh… we didn't know that! (Both laugh) Silly us! Our bad!

Snickering, the wolf shut his eyes and shook his head at the fooled, unison-speaking scavengers' comprehension. They were idiots. He figured the only use for them was for short flight transport and maybe a random use as back-up singers.

From moving abruptly into a more comfortable position with his 'pillow', and the result from another hearty meal, Wang began to hiccup, which of course, even the dim buzzards noticed.

Buzzards: Hey, wolfy! We have a thought!

Wang: (Claps his paws) HIC-CUP! Congratulations… HIC-CUP!

Buzzards: Wolfy should drink to stop hiccups.

Wang: (Snickers) Way… HIC-CUP! Ahead of you.

Without moving his head and his eyes still shut, Wang tapped a claw at the napping lamb's bell. After a brief chime and wait and as if signaled by the ring, another pair of twins came into the room; to whom the wolf greatly preferred over the buzzard brothers any day.

Bao and Bao Yu knelt down, both of their small hands supporting a bowl of warm goat's milk. The aroma made the wolf sniff and re-opened his eyes at the creamy contents. He leaned forward and greedily lapped up his drink; soothing his hiccups. Once he had finished, Bao Yu took out a brush from her pocket and began stroking his fur.

Meanwhile the buzzards, with gaping eyes and beaks, watched in astonishment at the pampered predator's catering.

Buzzards: Wow… some dangerous beasts get all the luck!

The twin birds then flapped off to take their leave, but stopped to ask the wooden wolf outside if he knew of any sheep that were made of meat instead of cotton.

Soon after, Jai-li and He-ping came into the cottage, both shrugging off the sight of a pair of squawking buzzards having a heated argument with the ignorant, silent statue.

The kind-hearted woman and peaceful man stood nearby, smiling; seeing the untraditional sight of the wolf lying with the lamb while being adorned by their caring children.

He-ping observed his wife's gazing over the scene.

He-ping: My beloved beauty appears to be happy with letting Wang stay?

Jai-li: (Faces He-ping) Yes, my sweet, I'm quite happy, but I also feel regret.

He-ping: (Confused) Regret?

The woman's smile had faded as she looks over towards the resting, gray creature and back at her inquiring husband.

Jai-li: When I first met Wang, I called him a huge, ferocious wolf. That was wrong of me, for that is not what and who I see.

He-ping: You see a huge, honorable wolf, now?

Jai-li (Nods) And you?

He-ping: (Pauses and smiles) Just the same, beloved. But please, do not feel any regret. It was only fair to be on guard on your first meeting. A wolf's appearance makes it hard for them to be trusted. But… (Pauses)

Jai-li: But..?

He-ping: (Leans into her) Wang trusted YOU, so that accounts we can trust him now. And by the looks of him, I do not think he regrets anything and neither should you.

The woman's smile returns and she kisses her reassuring husband's cheek.

Jai-li: My sweet He-ping. A thousand gratitude's.

After a small blush, the man pecked his lips on his cherished wife's head.

He-ping: So are you feeling happy and no longer regretful?

Jai-li: (Nods) Happy and… relieved.

He-ping: Relieved on what we just discussed?

Jai-li: Yes and also for Wang.

He-ping: How so?

The woman recalled the wolf's state before her family accepted him into their own. She then spoke with emotional compassion.

Jai-li: Oh, sweet He-ping! Wang was simply too skinny for my eyes!

A low chuckle escaped her husband's throat and he embraced his wife.

He-ping: My beloved's kindness is boundless. But I wonder… do you think we are the only people to invite a wolf into our home?

Jai-li presses her cheek into her husband's chest and remembering a quote from a very clever creature, smiled once more.

Jai-li: (Giggles) There's a first for everyone.

The young couple resumed the tender view; their son siting and petting Puff-puff, carefully not trying to wake her, while Wang dozily motions to their daughter where to brush; which was now, his beard.

Wang: (Thinking) who'd thought that helping people was way better than trickin' them? (Chuckles) And it only took me ten chapters to figure that out…

And with a bellyful of warm milk, the sleepy wolf yawned and followed suit of his dozing, wooly pillow beneath his head.

So in the end, Wang the Wolf had learned another and even greater lesson: Showing kindness and mercy is in everyone's favor…

Even for a large, gray, hungry wolf.