A Fable About Shame

There comes a certain point in a wolf cubs life where he has to leave his den.
He may be tentative about leaving.
He may not want to leave.
But at a certain point if he has not left his parents push him out of the den.
He ventures out and becomes comfortable with the world.
He has no notion of what the outside world is so he is not afraid of it.
He explores freely and enjoys the freedom outside the den.
He hunts, fishes, mates and grows strong.
But he's still a cub.
He learns as much as he can but there are still things he does not know.
He is open to mistakes because he does not know fear or caution.
He has no restrictions because he has no need of them.
One day the wolf cub encounters a bear fishing by a creek.
That is my creek! Thinks the wolf cub.
The wolf cub attacks. He does not know bears, has never seen one.
He is filled with the confidence of youth.
The bear bats the wolf cub aside like a stray horse fly.
The wolf cub's ribs are cracked and blood is matted in his fur.
He slumps back to his den.
His parents lick his wounds and leave him be.
He sits and does not leave his den.
The wounds are one thing, his injured pride is another.
How, he asks himself, could I have been so stupid? So blind to my own danger?
He does not want to leave the den, does not want to show his tail to the other wolves.
But time heals all wounds.
When he is well again the wolf cub tentatively ventures out of the den.
He goes slowly at first, but only at first, now he knows pain, danger.
He is cunning.
At some point he has become a wolf.

He has a scar but fur has overgrown it.

Caution, friend.
Do Not Forget.