
Winslow the Wolf Pup is told by his mother to show everyone in the forest that he will become their future ruler, and earn their respect. The problem is that he often howls in a weak and off-key way. Thus, all animals make fun of him. But when a hunter comes to the forest and puts the animals and his mother in danger, will Winslow have all it takes to save them all and prove himself worthy of being the future ruler of the forest?
Inspired by an animated short that marked my childhood.
Winslow the Wolf was a carefree little wolf pup. For him, life was just running through the forest and playing with his animal friends. His mother, Winona, ruler of the forest, did not approve this. Glancing out of her den, she called her son:
“Winslow!”
Upon hearing his mother, Winslow hurried to where she was.
“Yes, mother?” he said to her.
“Son, I know you like to play and have fun.” Winona said. “But you are the future ruler of the forest! Do you think you will earn the respect of the animals if they see you toying around and chasing bugs?”
“Um… no?”
“Then I need you to act like a true ruler. First, growl at them. Grrrrrrrr! And finally, give them a BIG howl!”
Winona gave a howl that was heard all over the forest. Even some nearby animals run away.
“Wow!” Winslow said.
“Think about it, son. I’m already old enough to retire, and soon, you will take my place.”
“Oh… Don’t worry, mom! I’ll make you proud!”
“I know you will, my son.”
Winslow went running to another place, eager to show everyone that he was worthy of being the future ruler of the forest. First, he came upon a moose, who was grazing.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the moose.
He tried to howl, but he let out a very weak and off-key howl. Annoyed by this, the moose lifted the little wolf with one of his horns and launched him away like a catapult. Fortunately, Winslow didn’t get any injuries. But the moose laughed at him.
Next, while trying to show the animals of the forest that he would soon be their ruler, Winslow stumbled upon a bear. He was eating honey from a beehive he had plucked from a tree and no longer had bees.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the bear.
He tried to howl once again, but he let out another weak and off-key howl. Bothered by this, the bear grabbed the beehive and put it on Winslow’s head.
“Hey! What’s going on? Help!” he said, with his voice muffled by the beehive.
Unable to see anything, Winslow tumbled away from the bear, who also laughed at him. Luckily for him, there were no bees that could sting him. Besides, he ended with a tasty yet sticky treat!
Later, once he got rid of the beehive, he was walking through the woods, when he met with a chipmunk on the branch of a tree. She was trying to break the shell of a nut.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the chipmunk.
He tried to howl one more time, but he let out yet another weak and off-key howl. Pestered by this, the chipmunk dropped her nut and it fell right in Winslow’s mouth like a cork, thus stopping his howling. Winslow spat the nut and it hit the tree’s trunk, breaking itself open. The chipmunk descended from the tree, grabbed the nut, and said to him:
“Thank you!”
Then, putting the nut inside her mouth, the chipmunk ran away. Winslow felt disappointed because he didn’t look intimidating for the squirrel, like a future ruler should do. In fact, he didn’t look intimidating to any of the animals he had met. No one gave him the respect he deserved.
Then, Winslow noticed something was moving underground. Suddenly, a mole came out! Winslow decided to try one last time and show him that he was worthy of being the future ruler of the forest. He stood in front of the mole and said:
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!”
Winslow howled, off key as in the previous times. However, the mole seemed to panic, and went back to his mole hole. This surprised Winslow, who encouraged, kept howling off-key. What he didn’t notice is that behind him, the mole came out, leaving another mole hole. He grabbed Winslow’s tail and put it there. Then he pushed a nearby rock until it fell in the mole hole… and on Winslow’s tail! The little wolf’s howl turned into a yowl as he flew into the air while grabbing his hurt tail! The mole laughed at him, too.
Poor Winslow gave up, for no one seemed to understand that the future ruler of the forest must be respected, and not everyone’s laughing stock. As he was walking through the forest, sad and crestfallen, he suddenly heard thousand voices making a scandal. He turned around and saw lots of animals running away. But, why? The answer soon showed up in front of Winslow’s eyes. A hunter!
Pointing his gun at him, the hunter prepared to shoot Winslow, but the little wolf quickly ran away from him. Winslow hurried to get to his den, with the hunter still chasing after him and shooting. When he arrived, Winslow looked for somewhere inside to hide. Winona noticed the hunter approaching, and valiantly jumped toward him, ready to fight! The hunter repeatedly shot around him, trying to strike down the female wolf, but she pounced on him and tried to bite him. However, the hunter managed to get Winona off him. She backed off, while growling, but the hunter cornered her against a tree! He pointed his gun at Winona, but then, Winslow watched from the den that his mother was in grave danger!
“Mom! No!” he cried.
Then, something awoke inside Winslow. In order to save his mother, he had to act like a true ruler. The spark he needed to do so was ignited. Growling, he came out from the den and taking a deep breath, he let out a majestic, bone chilling howl. Before he could pull the trigger, the hunter turned to look at him.
“Stay away from my mother!” Winslow yelled at him.
He jumped onto the hunter’s face, knocking him down! Screaming in horror, the hunter dropped his weapon. Quickly, Winslow jumped off the hunter’s face and grabbed the gun with his mouth.
“No!” The hunter yelled.
He tried to retrieve his gun, but Winona stood in his way, growling. The hunter had no choice but to flee. He ran out of the forest, never to be seen again.
“You saved my life, son.” Winona said. “Thank you. You have indeed proved that you are ready to be the new ruler.”
All animals that had previously mocked Winslow showed up.
“Wow, you really are the ruler of the forest!” the moose said. “I-uh… I’m sorry for launching you.”
“Yeah, and I’m sorry for putting that beehive on your head.” The bear said. “In fact, we’re all sorry for laughing at you.”
“I didn’t laugh at him.” The chipmunk said. “I only dropped my nut in his mouth to stop his terrible howling, then he helped me break it open, and I’m thankful for that.”
“It’s just we thought you were bluffing.” The mole said. “But now, we know you were serious. I’m sorry for dropping that rock on your tail.”
“Don’t worry.” Winslow said. “I forgive the three of you.”
“Now, all of you will give my son the respect he deserves.” Winona said. “For he will become the ruler of this forest. Quiver at his howl!”
Winslow howled again, with his howl now being majestic and beautiful.
“So that’s his real howl?” the moose asked.
“Now that is amazing!” the mole said.
“All he needed was some practice.” The chipmunk said.
“Practice? I’d say motivation!” The bear said.
Next day, all animals gathered around Winslow and his mother’s den, for it was the day of Winslow’s coronation.
“Inhabitants of the forest!” Winona said. “Today, I am more pleased than ever to announce that my dear son, Winslow, the Wolf Pup, will take my place as your ruler. All Hail King Winslow!
“Hail King Winslow!” all animals said.
Then, everyone cheered. Winona turned to look at Winslow and said:
“My son, I’m so proud of you. Your howl… has triumphed.”
Mother and son hugged. And everyone lived happily ever after.
THE END
Inspired by an animated short that marked my childhood.
Winslow the Wolf was a carefree little wolf pup. For him, life was just running through the forest and playing with his animal friends. His mother, Winona, ruler of the forest, did not approve this. Glancing out of her den, she called her son:
“Winslow!”
Upon hearing his mother, Winslow hurried to where she was.
“Yes, mother?” he said to her.
“Son, I know you like to play and have fun.” Winona said. “But you are the future ruler of the forest! Do you think you will earn the respect of the animals if they see you toying around and chasing bugs?”
“Um… no?”
“Then I need you to act like a true ruler. First, growl at them. Grrrrrrrr! And finally, give them a BIG howl!”
Winona gave a howl that was heard all over the forest. Even some nearby animals run away.
“Wow!” Winslow said.
“Think about it, son. I’m already old enough to retire, and soon, you will take my place.”
“Oh… Don’t worry, mom! I’ll make you proud!”
“I know you will, my son.”
Winslow went running to another place, eager to show everyone that he was worthy of being the future ruler of the forest. First, he came upon a moose, who was grazing.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the moose.
He tried to howl, but he let out a very weak and off-key howl. Annoyed by this, the moose lifted the little wolf with one of his horns and launched him away like a catapult. Fortunately, Winslow didn’t get any injuries. But the moose laughed at him.
Next, while trying to show the animals of the forest that he would soon be their ruler, Winslow stumbled upon a bear. He was eating honey from a beehive he had plucked from a tree and no longer had bees.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the bear.
He tried to howl once again, but he let out another weak and off-key howl. Bothered by this, the bear grabbed the beehive and put it on Winslow’s head.
“Hey! What’s going on? Help!” he said, with his voice muffled by the beehive.
Unable to see anything, Winslow tumbled away from the bear, who also laughed at him. Luckily for him, there were no bees that could sting him. Besides, he ended with a tasty yet sticky treat!
Later, once he got rid of the beehive, he was walking through the woods, when he met with a chipmunk on the branch of a tree. She was trying to break the shell of a nut.
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!” Winslow said to the chipmunk.
He tried to howl one more time, but he let out yet another weak and off-key howl. Pestered by this, the chipmunk dropped her nut and it fell right in Winslow’s mouth like a cork, thus stopping his howling. Winslow spat the nut and it hit the tree’s trunk, breaking itself open. The chipmunk descended from the tree, grabbed the nut, and said to him:
“Thank you!”
Then, putting the nut inside her mouth, the chipmunk ran away. Winslow felt disappointed because he didn’t look intimidating for the squirrel, like a future ruler should do. In fact, he didn’t look intimidating to any of the animals he had met. No one gave him the respect he deserved.
Then, Winslow noticed something was moving underground. Suddenly, a mole came out! Winslow decided to try one last time and show him that he was worthy of being the future ruler of the forest. He stood in front of the mole and said:
“I will become the ruler of this forest. Grrrrrrr! Quiver at my howl!”
Winslow howled, off key as in the previous times. However, the mole seemed to panic, and went back to his mole hole. This surprised Winslow, who encouraged, kept howling off-key. What he didn’t notice is that behind him, the mole came out, leaving another mole hole. He grabbed Winslow’s tail and put it there. Then he pushed a nearby rock until it fell in the mole hole… and on Winslow’s tail! The little wolf’s howl turned into a yowl as he flew into the air while grabbing his hurt tail! The mole laughed at him, too.
Poor Winslow gave up, for no one seemed to understand that the future ruler of the forest must be respected, and not everyone’s laughing stock. As he was walking through the forest, sad and crestfallen, he suddenly heard thousand voices making a scandal. He turned around and saw lots of animals running away. But, why? The answer soon showed up in front of Winslow’s eyes. A hunter!
Pointing his gun at him, the hunter prepared to shoot Winslow, but the little wolf quickly ran away from him. Winslow hurried to get to his den, with the hunter still chasing after him and shooting. When he arrived, Winslow looked for somewhere inside to hide. Winona noticed the hunter approaching, and valiantly jumped toward him, ready to fight! The hunter repeatedly shot around him, trying to strike down the female wolf, but she pounced on him and tried to bite him. However, the hunter managed to get Winona off him. She backed off, while growling, but the hunter cornered her against a tree! He pointed his gun at Winona, but then, Winslow watched from the den that his mother was in grave danger!
“Mom! No!” he cried.
Then, something awoke inside Winslow. In order to save his mother, he had to act like a true ruler. The spark he needed to do so was ignited. Growling, he came out from the den and taking a deep breath, he let out a majestic, bone chilling howl. Before he could pull the trigger, the hunter turned to look at him.
“Stay away from my mother!” Winslow yelled at him.
He jumped onto the hunter’s face, knocking him down! Screaming in horror, the hunter dropped his weapon. Quickly, Winslow jumped off the hunter’s face and grabbed the gun with his mouth.
“No!” The hunter yelled.
He tried to retrieve his gun, but Winona stood in his way, growling. The hunter had no choice but to flee. He ran out of the forest, never to be seen again.
“You saved my life, son.” Winona said. “Thank you. You have indeed proved that you are ready to be the new ruler.”
All animals that had previously mocked Winslow showed up.
“Wow, you really are the ruler of the forest!” the moose said. “I-uh… I’m sorry for launching you.”
“Yeah, and I’m sorry for putting that beehive on your head.” The bear said. “In fact, we’re all sorry for laughing at you.”
“I didn’t laugh at him.” The chipmunk said. “I only dropped my nut in his mouth to stop his terrible howling, then he helped me break it open, and I’m thankful for that.”
“It’s just we thought you were bluffing.” The mole said. “But now, we know you were serious. I’m sorry for dropping that rock on your tail.”
“Don’t worry.” Winslow said. “I forgive the three of you.”
“Now, all of you will give my son the respect he deserves.” Winona said. “For he will become the ruler of this forest. Quiver at his howl!”
Winslow howled again, with his howl now being majestic and beautiful.
“So that’s his real howl?” the moose asked.
“Now that is amazing!” the mole said.
“All he needed was some practice.” The chipmunk said.
“Practice? I’d say motivation!” The bear said.
Next day, all animals gathered around Winslow and his mother’s den, for it was the day of Winslow’s coronation.
“Inhabitants of the forest!” Winona said. “Today, I am more pleased than ever to announce that my dear son, Winslow, the Wolf Pup, will take my place as your ruler. All Hail King Winslow!
“Hail King Winslow!” all animals said.
Then, everyone cheered. Winona turned to look at Winslow and said:
“My son, I’m so proud of you. Your howl… has triumphed.”
Mother and son hugged. And everyone lived happily ever after.
THE END
Category Story / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Wolf
Size 120 x 84px
File Size 15.9 kB
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