Scent of the Wolf

A fragmentary myth from eastern Laramidia of unknown origin in time, though likely the early age of gods.

Summary

...Given the boon of the (wolf), men under (his) shepherding hunted freely, Not bound by the blindness of man's nose, the world was as if opened to them. Before having been a flat page, now one of all dimension. Man would not go hungry with the bounty provided- deer, elk, buffalo, rabbit and pheasant that all could not escape their senses. Even if not seen, even if not heard, the men could follow better than any hound or wild one. Untiring, with quick wit for traps and trails... ...Even if fed, the men were still men. Even if scenting prey like a wolf, they were not wolves themselves. Among even the wolf-men among the naked, furless human men, sleep was the first to go. Haunted by the ever present smell of prey, the men would be awoken throughout the night, with stomach pains and hunger for what reason was there not to hunt when prey was so near? What reason not to eat, if food was awaiting to be caught and killed? ...stomachs befell emptiness in time. What reason to eat the bountiful berries and fishes of glacial streams? There was prey and prey abountied. Hounded by the constant assaults of their noses, the men bewailed their conditions. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, my nose burns from the ashes. Anything not ash is like an iron, drawn hot in fire, so demanding in attention I cannot sleep. ...Man of the elk concurred, furs and straws drawn into his ears until bloody and raw- I hear the ever rustle of the woods, for the elk has cured me as well of my human ears. Naught cure but a curse upon us. We naught are the elk or the wolf, but human man- we naught are meant to listen or smell or see as they. ...men not yet drawn insane by their senses, the constant smell of prey's tracks and dung and corpses, shielded their noses. Once a boon, now yield of yowling in the night, (wolf)'s cursed gifts upon all sleep, all peace, and quarry of rest...

Historical Basis

Many spells that alter the senses, such as scent as stated in the myth, can have extreme or adverse effects on their targets. It is very likely that the myth is a retelling of such spells used in the early age of gods and how they affected the users as way of dissuading their use. It is hotly debated, however, whether the wolf in the myth is Ferventi himself. Accounts from Ferventi are unable to verify using such boons on his own followers, mainly due to "...Giving so many, it is unknown who I have given what, exactly." to directly quote him. Although most tellings are certain that the god in question was the wolf, the myth may have predated Ferventi himself, though there still exists the possibility, as noted by many scholars, for the divine to have been a different similar god, such as Mą’ii, the Coyote God, one of many fox gods, the jackal, or a wild dog.

Cultural Reception

It is widely believed that urban legends and retellings of this myth are the basis in which many gods commonly give out boons to change an entire person's form, rather than simply alter their senses. In the cases of gods offering the latter, many mortals are known to be hesitant to accept them, and instead request the former if not declining entirely. The myth may also have originated as a cautionary tale from those opposed to, or at least, not directly allied with the pantheon. Many scholars agree that it is entirely possible and even very likely why so many details are inconsistent, and why that the boon itself or god is never directly named, for such groups may not have known them.

Related Locations