Any hope of finding her was beginning to creep into his consciousness with each step, that she was gone for good.   As a wolf, Jane was probably on her way home by now, since four running legs would easily outdistance two walking ones.  Oskar sighed heavily and audibly, wondering when he should turn back and head for his own home.<br/><br/>With bent shoulders and a heavy heart, he finally decided that enough was enough.  He had no idea how deep he had journeyed into the woods, but she was nowhere to be seen.  Whether or not she understood his pleas to show herself, he was unsure.<br/><br/>Turning from whence he had come, he insisted on looking for her still.  He vowed to do so until he was back in the clearing.  And then he heard something.  Oskar instantly stopped walking, as his footsteps caused a noise of their own amongst the leaves, twigs, and brush of the forest.  It sounded like a wailing of sorts, with woeful undertones.<br/><br/>Ears now tuned in to his surroundings (for whatever that was worth), he heard the same sorrowful howl.  This time, however, he had a sense of where it was emanating from, and he headed in that direction.  Approaching a large tree, he slowly walked around it until chancing upon a part of its hollowed-out trunk.<br/><br/>A smile of relief and utter joy creased his lips as he looked upon that familiar pale blonde-colored fur.  Kneeling close to her, but not too close, since he had no desire to be snapped at or bitten, Oskar chose to watch her for a few seconds.  With his smile still on show, he softly said, “Hello, Jane.  I’m here.  It’s Oskar, remember?  You take your time and come out when you’re ready.  I’ll wait all night if I have to.”  The golden eagle had absolutely no idea if anything he had just said was getting through to her.  But he didn’t care, as he meant every single word.