Moonbeam Stories
Moonbeam
Anyone who has spent real time with wolves is struck, not only by their absolute passion for living, but by their deep love of family that is in every fiber of their body. The joy at greeting each other after an absence is the same joy our dogs show when they greet us – but intensified because everything a wolf does is more intense, perhaps because life is so much more precarious for them. The adoration of puppies is complete by mother, father and the rest of the pack. When babies are born, the excitement ripples through like lightening. Babies! Babies! They vie among themselves for the privilege of feeding them and taking care of them. And when there is a loss in the family there is profound grief.
A wolf called Moonbeam, a delicate free spirit, was chosen by the huge stunning white wolf called Cloud to be his mate. Their delight in each other was obvious and mutual. She became pregnant. He watched over her the night she gave birth. All three pups were born dead.
She grieved and grieved. Eventually she laid two of them to the side. The third she could not part with. She carried it around gently, laid it down, licked it, carried it for one day, two days, three days, four days, five. The person looking after her went to take it from her on the evening of day six but she hid it from him, panic stricken. Distressed at her pain, he tried to communicate to her that she could have it one more night to say goodbye. In the morning he would have to come and take it.
When he returned in the morning it was gone.
Moonbeam, free spirit, sank into the depths of severe depression. The caretaker worried for her life. For days she did not eat and barely moved. Cloud was distraught. Eventually she began eating, just enough for survival. It took her months to recover.
When we shoot a wolf we shoot a family member. If we do it, at least we should be aware of the additional suffering we cause and not do it lightly.
10 Comments
Healing Animal Voices by Rose De Dan
And the religious fanatics try to tell us that animals have no souls!! Beautiful story I will never forget
Comment by Lelsey Lovelace — August 13, 2010 @ 11:28 am
I have instinctually known this about these beautiful and intense animals…how do people not see their lovely spirits and love for life? Their compassion? Their devotion? This story struck the depths of my heart. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Comment by Molly Nelson — August 27, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
I am in tears. Thanks for sharing this story of utter devotion. There are no words can express my gratitude for the work you do.
Comment by Colleen — August 31, 2010 @ 10:40 am
I have long admired the valiant, beautiful wolf. I am sure, shy as they are, they want connection with humans. What a sad story – I am longing to know if Moonbeam had a chance for more babies, that perhaps lived. Thank you for the wonderful work you do, teaching all of us the humility of communing with nature through animals.
Comment by Bobbie Scheide — September 5, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
Thank you so much. I’m reading carefully all those stories wondering one day be able to visit this paradise. Thanks to the love you share.
Comment by Sheyla Costa — October 18, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
Sheyla — we hope to implement retreats here at Earthfire next year that will be hosted by co-founders Susan Eirich and Jean Simpson. Please let me know if you would like to be on our e-newsletter mailing list and look for updates on our website.
Comment by Earthfire — October 18, 2010 @ 4:29 pm
Thank you, you captured the esscence of Moonbeam and her species.
Jan
Comment by Jan — October 21, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
This poignant story of Moonbeam (and Cloud) is one of life, love and loss. We are, all, in this together.
By telling these stories, you help us to understand it better. However, I felt emotionally ambushed by the last sentence; anger–even righteous anger–always draws more attention to the speaker or writer than to the story itself and serves to hijack the story’s integrity and authenticity.
Comment by Connie Glavin — October 24, 2010 @ 8:07 pm
This story touched me deeply and gave me a new appreciation for this species, which I’ve always admired for their strength and beauty but regarded with detached caution (I am a cat person).
As a follow-up to this story.. I am hoping that Moonbeam was subsequenty able to have another litter- that presumably survived?
Comment by Lisa — December 17, 2010 @ 12:58 pm
I loved this story too…like everyone else, but I am puzzled at the last two sentences about shooting a wolf. What does that mean and what was the purpose to add it to the end of the beautiful story?
Comment by Blue — July 15, 2011 @ 1:17 am