tilted stem and greening leaves
leaning into soft furs
        dreaming komorebi things,
tail twitch, brushing the flies away
        ladybug on black snout
caressing warmth between gentle grasses
         long springs and longer autumns
waiting for the beauty that will revive
         between the pads of the wolf;
dancing dandelions, scattered wishes
         it hopes and prays
waiting for the quiet salvation
         daunting, but not alone
never alone
         though the winters are terrifying
it cannot go at it alone,
         but it’s not alone, never alone
not when the alpha stands beside it
         not when the pack is behind him
so safety looms comfortingly over it
         and it stretches towards the wolf
protected again