Saturday's Storyteller: "The wolf's howl is fatal to all who hear it."

by Belinda Roddie

"The wolf's howl is fatal to all who hear it," it is claimed. Which, in retrospect, is really hard to fathom considering that if anyone heard the wolf's howl, he or she would die. Meaning who would be able to go back and tell someone that the wolf's howl was fatal? Certainly not a dead person. You see, a dead person has no capability of speech, ergo, no will to communicate. Because the person can't speak. You know. 'Cause the person's dead.

The truth is, the wolf has been very much wronged reputation-wise. You see, people have heard its howl - it just happens to be badly timed. Many people have indeed fallen dead around the time the canine's released a high-pitched wail, but that was due to a contagion. So really, bad timing is all there is to it. It also explains why not everyone died upon hearing the howl. Heck, I know people who have heard it and they're as healthy as unhunted bison.

I did plan to interview the wolf regarding its feelings on the matter. After all, it must be at least partially offended by the accusations. Shame the animal can't talk, though. You know. 'Cause it's a wolf.

This week's prompt was provided by Arden Kilzer.