Soma,
The sleepy wolf pup.
The forest was quiet beneath a blanket of stars.
The only sound was the whisper of the wind rustling through the treetops and the occasional creak of branches as they swayed.
But inside the cozy den tucked into the hillside,
Soma was restless.
The little wolf cub rolled over again,
His soft fur brushing against the mossy floor.
No matter how tightly he closed his eyes,
Sleep wouldn't come.
His mind raced,
Images of his day flashing by like fireflies darting through the dark.
He felt a prickly unease in his chest,
A jittery energy that wouldn't let him rest.
Mama Luna,
Curled up in her usual spot,
Watched her son with gentle eyes.
She could see his tiny paws flexing and his ears twitching.
With a slow stretch,
She settled herself more deeply into her bed,
Her breath steady and calm,
A quiet invitation for Soma to match her rhythm.
But tonight,
Soma needed something more.
He thought of the stories he'd heard from the other cubs around the starlight grove,
A magical place where the air shimmered like silver dust and the ground glowed softly beneath your paws.
The grove was said to hold the most peaceful energy in the whole forest,
A place where every wolf could find rest.
Soma's heart longed to see it,
And his restless mind clung to the idea like a beacon.
Quietly,
He slipped out of the den,
His paws crunching softly on the frost-tipped leaves.
The night air kissed his nose,
Crisp and fresh,
Carrying the scent of pine and distant snow.
The stars above glittered as if they were guiding him toward his destination.
Soma panned through the forest,
His small frame weaving between towering trees.
The woods seemed alive,
Though they were hushed.
A creak of a branch here,
The rustle of an unseen creature there.
The air smelled earthy and clean,
Like damp bark and cold dew.
He didn't get far before he noticed a shadowy figure perched on a low branch.
It was an owl,
Its feathers fluffed against the chill.
Its round eyes gleamed in the starlight as its head turned toward him.
The owl hooted softly,
A sound that matched the rhythm of the breeze.
Something about its steady tone made Soma pause.
His chest felt tight,
His breaths too shallow.
He sat down,
Tilting his head to listen,
Letting the sound of the owl's hoot guide him.
Soma placed a paw on his belly and tried to mimic the owl's rhythm.
Inhale.
His belly rose,
Filling like a soft balloon.
Exhale.
It fell,
Slowly and steadily.
He did this again and again,
And with each breath,
The tightness in his chest began to ease.
The owl gave one final hoot,
Then took off silently into the night.
Soma felt calmer,
His steps steadier as he continued on.
The forest opened up to a riverbank,
Where the moonlight sparkled on the water's surface like scattered diamonds.
Soma padded closer,
The cool earth squishing beneath his paws.
He sat by the edge,
Letting his paws sink into the damp soil.
He focused on the ground beneath him,
The firmness of the earth,
The way the cold seeped into his pads.
He noticed the smoothness of a petal under his paw,
And the way the soil shifted as he pressed into it.
A breeze stirred the water,
Carrying with it the smell of wet stones and moss.
As Soma connected to the earth,
A warmth began to spread through his body,
Steady and grounding.
The restlessness in his legs softened,
Replaced by a calm energy.
He stood,
Shaking off the dirt,
And felt more balanced as he crossed the river and continued his journey.
Soon,
Soma came to a meadow,
Blanketed with wildflowers that glowed faintly in the starlight.
He lowered himself into the soft grass,
His coolness soothing his belly.
Closing his eyes,
Soma began to imagine the starlight grove.
He pictured tall trees draped in glowing vines,
Their leaves sparkling like tiny stars.
He imagined lying on the soft moss that radiated warmth,
Surrounded by a quiet,
So perfect he could hear his own heartbeat.
As the vivid picture filled his mind,
His restless thoughts seemed to drift away,
Replaced by the serene beauty of the grove.
He opened his eyes,
Feeling calmer,
But there was still a tightness in his shoulders,
A tension that hadn't quite melted away.
Soma reached a clearing,
Where the sky opened up fully,
Revealing a sea of stars.
The cool grass tickled his fur as he lay down,
His tail curling around his body.
He closed his eyes and began a body scan,
Just like Mama Luna had shown him once.
He brought his attention to his ears,
Noticing how they twitched at every little sound.
He let them relax,
Imagining them melting into the softness of the earth.
Next,
His shoulders.
He felt the weight of the day there.
He imagined it rolling off like a stone,
Leaving him lighter.
His legs were next,
Their restless energy still lingering.
He tensed them,
Then let them go limp,
Feeling the difference.
Finally,
His tail,
Which had been flicking back and forth,
Grew still and heavy,
Sinking into the ground.
By the time he finished,
Soma felt like a puddle of fur and peace.
The path led Soma to an archway of silver branches that shimmered in the moonlight.
He paused there,
The air around him feeling warmer and softer than before.
As he stepped through the archway,
He began to whisper softly to himself,
I am calm,
I am safe,
I am at peace.
With each repetition,
He felt the words sinking deeper into him,
Like roots anchoring a tree.
He felt his breath flow more smoothly,
His heartbeat slow to a gentle rhythm.
His paws tingled with warmth,
And for the first time that night,
He felt completely at ease.
Soma reached the starlight grove at last.
It was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
The ground glowed softly,
A gentle light pulsing beneath the moss.
The trees sparkled with starlight,
The branches arcing like a protective canopy.
A faint,
Sweet scent of blooming flowers and fresh rain filled the air.
He padded to the center of the grove,
Where the moss felt as soft as clouds.
Curling up,
Soma let out a long,
Contented sigh.
He realized that he had found what he was looking for,
Not just a place,
But a feeling.
The calmness he had sought wasn't in the grove itself.
It had been inside him all along,
Waiting to be uncovered by his breath,
His connection to the earth,
And the peaceful rhythm of his body.
As Soma drifted into sleep,
He thought of the grove,
Of the stars,
Of the steady beat of his own heart.
He dreamed of the journey he had taken,
Not just through the forest,
But into himself.
The wind whispered through the trees,
Carrying his calm energy back to the den,
Where Mama Luna rested.
She stirred slightly,
A small smile on her face,
Sensing that her little cub had found his peace.
