One of the wildlife conservation organizations promised to send help. But it would take time. Maybe a week, maybe longer. “We don’t have that much time,” Mateo said. “The hu.nters will arrive in two days.” “So we’ll have to protect them ourselves,” Esperanza said with a determination that surprised her grandson. “How?” “I don’t know yet, but we’ll find out.” That night Mateo couldn’t sleep. His mind raced, searching for a solution, and then an idea came to him.
It was risky. Maybe even dangerous, but it could work. The next morning, he explained his plan to his grandmother. Esperanza listened attentively, and when he finished, she smiled. “You’re as stubborn as your grandfather,” she said, “and as brave. Let’s do it.” The plan was simple, but difficult. They needed to find the she-wolf and her pack before the hu.nters did. And they needed to lead them to a safe place, a place the hu.nters couldn’t reach. Mateo knew of such a place: a deep canyon high in the mountains, surrounded by steep cliffs.
The only way to reach it was on foot, along a narrow and treacherous trail. Hu.nters, with their trucks and ri.fles, could never get there. But convincing the she-wolf to follow them would be nearly impossible, unless she trusted them. And Mateo hoped that after all these years, she would. They packed provisions for several days: water, food, blankets, and flashlights. Esperanza insisted on bringing the old ri.fle, just in case. Mateo took a rope, a kni.fe, and a compass. They set out at dawn.
The path to the mountains was long and arduous. Esperanza walked slowly, leaning heavily on her walking stick. Her legs trembled with each step. Her breathing was labored, but she didn’t complain; she didn’t stop. Mateo watched her with concern. “Grandma, can we rest?” “I’m fine,” she replied. “Keep going.” They walked all day. As the sun began to set, they camped in a small cave that Mateo knew. They lit a fire and ate in silence. The wind blew cold outside, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth.
“Do you think we’ll find her?” Mateo asked. Esperanza looked at the dancing flames. “You’ll find her,” she said confidently. “She knows you’re here. You can feel it.” Mateo wanted to believe that. He needed to believe it. That night, while his grandmother slept, Mateo left the cave. The sky was full of stars, more than he had ever seen. The moon was just a thin silver line. Mateo took a deep breath of the cold mountain air and then howled. It wasn’t a perfect howl. It sounded human, clumsy, but he did it anyway.
He poured his heart into that sound and waited. The silence stretched for several minutes. Mateo felt hope beginning to fade, but then, in the distance, he heard a reply, a howl, clear, loud, unmistakable. Mateo felt tears welling in his eyes. “She’s there,” he whispered. “She heard me.” The next morning they continued on. They climbed higher into the mountains, following ancient trails that were barely visible. Esperanza slipped several times on the loose rocks. Once she almost fell off a cliff.
Mateo managed to grab her just in time. They both stood there trembling, too scared to speak. After that, Mateo tied a rope between them for added security. “We’re not going to be separated,” he said firmly. “No matter what.” Esperanza nodded, too tired to argue. At noon on the second day, they finally spotted them. The pack was resting in a clearing among the pine trees. Mateo counted eight adult wolves. He knew some of them; others were new. They had probably joined the pack over time, and there, in the middle, was her.
The she-wolf was no longer young. Her fur was grayer than before. She moved more slowly, but her eyes were still just as bright, just as intense. Mateo and Esperanza stopped at a distance. They didn’t want to frighten them. The wolves had detected them, of course. Their ears were pricked, their bodies tense, ready to flee or attack. But then the she-wolf raised her head, sniffed the air, and began walking toward them. The black wolf, whose muzzle was now almost completely white, tried to stop her, but she brushed him aside with a toss of her head and kept going.
Mateo knelt on the ground, making himself small, not threatening. The she-wolf approached. When she was close enough, she extended her snout and sniffed the young man. Then she licked him. Mateo let out a stifled laugh and hugged her. He couldn’t help it. The she-wolf let him hug her for a moment, then pulled away and went to Esperanza. The old woman was crying silently. The she-wolf pressed her head against Esperanza’s hands, just as she had done all those years ago. “I thought I’d lost you,” Esperanza whispered.
The she-wolf made a soft, almost comforting sound. Then she looked at Mateo and barked. Once, as if asking a question, Mateo understood. “I need you to follow me,” he said. “There are bad people coming who want to hurt you. I need to take you somewhere safe.” The she-wolf looked at him for a long moment. Then she turned to her pack and ran off. The other wolves got up. The black wolf approached, eyeing Mateo suspiciously, but the she-wolf spoke to him in her language of soft growls and whimpers, and finally, the black wolf nodded.
“They’ll follow us,” Esperanza said in amazement. Mateo nodded. They began to walk. Mateo went ahead, leading the way. Esperanza followed, battling exhaustion. And behind them, silent as shadows, came the pack. The path to the canyon was the most difficult Mateo had ever taken. There were sections where the trail was so narrow they had to walk sideways, pressed against the rock face with a precipice hundreds of meters below them. Esperanza was terrified. Her hands trembled so much she could barely hold onto the rope.
Mateo went ahead, patiently guiding her step by step. “Don’t look down, Grandma. Just look at my hands. Follow me. That’s it. You’re doing well.” The wolves followed him without difficulty. They were agile, light, and accustomed to the mountainous terrain. They watched the humans with curiosity, perhaps wondering why something so simple was so difficult for them. Finally, after hours of exhausting climbing, they reached the canyon. It was a beautiful place, a valley hidden between walls of red rock, with a small stream running through the center and shady trees.
There were caves in the canyon walls perfect for shelter, and there was only one way in or out: the trail they had just come up. “You’ll be safe here,” Mateo said. “Hu.nters can’t get here.” The she-wolf explored the area, sniffing every nook and cranny. The other wolves followed her. After several minutes, she returned to Mateo and sat down. She seemed content. Mateo and Esperanza set up camp by the stream. They were exhausted and sore, and Esperanza could barely move.
She leaned back against a rock, breathing heavily. Her face was pale and sweaty. Mateo was worried. “Grandma, you need to rest.” “I’m fine,” she lied. “I just need a moment.” But it wasn’t true. Esperanza wasn’t well. The journey had been too much for her old body. Her heart was beating irregularly, her chest ached, but she didn’t want to worry Mateo. He had already done enough for her. The she-wolf seemed to realize this. She approached Esperanza and lay down beside her, just as she had done that winter night years before.
Her warm presence helped. Esperanza closed her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately. Mateo prepared food and made sure his grandmother was comfortable. Then he sat and watched the wolves. They played in the stream, drank water, and explored their new temporary home. The pups he had seen years ago were now adults, and there were new pups, smaller and more playful. The cycle of life continued. Mateo felt a strange peace. They were doing the right thing. On the third day in the canyon, they heard the sound of g.unfire in the distance.
