A Touch of the Paw

(Part 4 of 4)

Note: The final chapter of "A Touch of the Paw", everyday life is examined from the view of the Wolf's grandchildren, Yasha, Sasha, Tasha and Oleg. The possibility of the future is opened and explored at some length and how this story can touch many. We could learn a lot from the Morphians.

"In our end is our beginning; in our time infinity;

In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see."—Some lyrics from the song In The Bulb There Is A Flower, written by Natalie Sleeth

Characters:

Phileas the Fox (male)

Calliope the Koala (female)

Ambrose the Siberian Tiger (male)

Crystiana Papillion-Wolf (female, wife of Feninir)

Feninir the Timber Wolf (male)

Mariah Papillion-Wolf (female, child of Feninir)

Franklin Papillion-Wolf (male, child of Feninir)

Tyberius Timber Wolf (male, first love of Mariah)

Toni Timber Wolf (female, first love of Franklin)

Jasmine Timber Wolf (female, true love of Franklin)

Napoleon Timber Wolf (male, true love of Mariah)

Yasha Timber Wolf (female, child of Napoleon and Mariah)

Sasha Timber Wolf (female, child of Napoleon and Mariah)

Tasha Timber Wolf (female, child of Franklin and Jasmine)

Oleg Timber Wolf (male, child of Franklin and Jasmine)

Leda the Lynx (female)

Isis the Peacock (female)

Rah the Jackal (male)

Janus the Black Bear (male)

Gaia the Gazelle (female)

Mia the Clouded Leopard (female)

Cody the Golden Eagle (male)

Tian the Panda (male)

Nene the Black Panther (female)

Dorian the Bald Eagle (male)

Coco the Gorilla (female)

Sydney the Echidna (female)

Kevin the Kangaroo (male)

Georgia the Scarlet Mac Caw (female)

Songa the Bengal Tiger (male)

Athena the Snowy Owl (female)

Zack the Zebra (male)

Chapter 1—Seeing Morphia Through Innocent Eyes

Our grandchildren, Yasha, Sasha, Tasha and Oleg were now at that age where they would be attending school for the first time. Again, we were amazed at how rapidly time progressed. It seemed like only yesterday when we were holding the wee ones in our arms and watching them sleep peacefully. Now the four children were old enough to start being educated and discover a plethora of concepts that would be altogether new to them.

Every day, our grandchildren would return from Elementary School telling us about what they had done for the day. They all spoke in turn and I was amazed and almost dumbfounded at the many places they had gone. They had seen all of Umi, our planetary system, but they had gone beyond that to systems I didn't even know about. They absorbed so much information, like sponges soaking up water. I hoped that they would never have to come in contact with violence or harshness from any outside parties. If they did, they had already learned how to tactfully approach situations and beings that had violate tendencies.

Every day was a new adventure for the grandchildren. No matter where they were, when they came to visit us. They always said, "You won't believe where we went today.", or "You're going to like this new insect I found. I believe it's a hybrid." I am convinced these children are geniuses. They are already doing incredible things at such a tender age. In fact, I could almost sense the spirits of my parents from the Everlasting looking down upon us all and smiling brilliantly. I often saw them in dreams and had told my grandchildren about them so in essence through storytelling, they lived on.

Chapter 2—Children's Understanding About Life and Death

Not all days could be filled with jocularity, as even Feninir and I knew. Our grandchildren had a pet of their own that they were taking care of. It was still a young, furry ball of fluff that loved them both very much. We were all shocked when we had heard that Furrykins had been killed in a most unfortunate circumstance. Luckily the grandchildren didn't witness the death, but they knew Furrykins was dead after about four days. He was always the loyal type and always came running when he was called. This was a distressing and harsh period of time for Sasha, Tasha, Yasha and Oleg. However, they coped with death rather well. To them, it was just a natural transition and the soul carried on into the Everlasting. If a soul was rotten, they have the chance to be reborn as another entity (but never a pet) until they learn from their evils while living and repent. If they do not, they continue this cycle for eternity. Pets are exactly like children. When they pass away like Furrykins did, they go to the Everlasting.

In time, the grandchildren had finished mourning for their pet, but had never forgotten the happiness and unbridled glee he had given them. It had been difficult, but in about a month's time, they had gotten a new pet. Her name was Gingersnaps. Gingersnaps had a different personality than Furrykins had, but she was loving, gentle, and kind. She was like a sentinel for the children should they ever come across any danger. Here, in such a quiet, peaceful place, it was uncommon. But, there were still bullies and those who only wanted to make life miserable only because they were mean spirited.

Chapter 3—The Passing of Time

Sasha, Yasha, Tasha and Oleg were now teenagers and they were attending accelerated schools. Before our eyes and the eyes of our very own children, they had blossomed into very successful scientists, researchers, and doctors. To admit, we were very proud of them. However, we didn't show our pride. We simply thanked the higher powers that be for their gifts and knew that they would continue doing magnificent things for Morphia in the future.

We never felt like we were pushing them or being too overprotective. Our children sometimes thought they were being too overbearing at times. Yet, Sasha, Yasha, Tasha and Oleg were grateful and understood that their parents loved them intensely. They only hoped that they could become such incredible mentors as their parents. Thus far, they had achieved so many things and had begun tutoring children during their extracurricular hours. Already they were becoming terrific mentors and were learning new concepts every day. I too, was learning from their example and I carried their spirit of good will with me as I continued travelling.

The furthest I had been away from Morphia was when I visited a quaint place called Earth. It wasn't like anything I had experienced before, but the rainforests reminded me of Amazonia. Our entire family had a gathering there. Many earthlings didn't know what to make of us. Even I was an odd sight to them, but I saw no difference. It was true what could be said about DNA. DNA is the structure that makes us all unique, but in that structure itself, it is what unites us, and makes us who and what we are.

The future, even to the eyes of the Council, were unknown. So many things had changed on our humble planet. More and more tourists were coming to learn about us and from us, and our bartering system had welcomed change on other planets. Many of us had never considered ourselves catalysts for diversity but were humbled that we could be so helpful to so many different creatures around the Universe. The way of peace was becoming more common on Morphia, as well as less and less weapons. Our weapons were now locked away, should we need them for anything. With our logical approach to life, and our compassion for all things, we were able to defeat apathy and ignorance.

From the diaries of Crystiana Papillion Wolf

By: Elizabeth Berndt

September 28, 2004