Wolf Alive

Dream dreamt on Summer Solstice, 2011:

While out walking, I saw a huge, black, starving wolf bound to a steel cable in a garden. Vipers and cobras had been set out, guarding the length of the wolf's reach, to hem him in and cow his spirit. I brought the pining w(olf)lupus food and water day by day, using sticks and rubber snakes to push and bully the snakes into the tyrant sham-owner's house. Day after day, the wolf pawed and nosed me when I came back, until one day he laid his heavy feet on my chest while I rested next to his warm body. We lay weary side by side, lonely for touch, trying to regain our sapped strength. From this point we could not be separated. At long last, finally daring, I took off the wolf's chains and freed him from the line. As soon as he was free, a red collar of silk appeared around the black-fur neck. After a murmured exchange, I pulled myself onto his back and rode him like a horse to the house door.