And I truly love the idea for your story, as well as your final sentence there. Not sure it’s entirely related, but the feeling I got reading it reminded me of the feeling I get when I run across these hunting programs on TV. To hunt is one thing, but I’ve often wondered what was behind the almost fawning “love” these guys have for their prey once it’s been destroyed. The part when they raise the head of the expired animal and talk about how beautiful it is…it just strikes me as deeply perverse.

Good luck with your story and if you remember, please let me know where I can find it when it’s completed.

Well one night, when Hal was dying (I thought it was Vivi) and the images and impressions I received were so sad as this animal labored to dig out and later struggled just to breathe. It was truly the most terrible experience to connect with a dying animal and the next morning I read where Hal had died and I knew that the poor creature did not want to die alone – animal spiritual natures are quite fascinating. I was very annoyed with the wildlife preserve for keeping him so long – probably to run their tests – when they should have released Hal right away…..but of course, science knows best (not)!

And when writing my Wolf Story – that is not yet published, I ran across an out of print book about these wolves that would not be caught (true story written by one of the hired government agents)_ – so the governement hired bounty hunters to track these very smart wolves across several states – It is a sad and wonderful story at the same time. After all, how can man let animals live that can outwit the law?

And funny you mention “Hal”. I just learned about him yesterday as I was shamelessly borrowing my photo for the entry. They mentioned that he might have had some pre-existing condition, but that sounds like a lame spin to me.

Coyotes and cougars come up and prowl the neighborhoods – early in the morning or late at night. I don’t know if one can tame a coyote. I own a wolf hybrid, 86%, and he is quite tame and I treat him with great respect. His ball is his ball and no one takes it away. I really really like the idea of the a coyote maybe that bonds with a teenager – for some good reason that you will think of I am certain. Mismatched pair of misfits. I see dead coyotes on the roads when I drive to work. Even though the area where I live, is the burbs, it is also surrounded by fields with goats and livestock…..but it is easy pickings to catch and kill a small dog. Good luck on your idea – it’s a great idea and I like it alot.

I will seek out some first hand experience for sure. I must say I’m deeply fascinated by them, and their current plight.

Thanks so much for your comments.

The ones that chased me at the river, marked their territory by taking a dump on the road in front of us (14 feet away) at the time I had two coonhounds with me, huntrs, fighters, full of courage, so I knew we would win against a nasty coyote. The female stalked us and then when we passed, she sat in the middle of the road behind us, like a lion, ready to charge if we made one false move. She was protecting her cub den nearby in some tall dry weeds. Still, it unnerved me. At one point I was ready to release my hounds so they could protect themselves. But ordinary dogs, even big ordinary dogs, are no match for the coyote. I use a lot of coyotes in my stories. I hope you get some first hand experience with them so your story will “shine” with truth.

But I see what Josh is saying. My preceding description of a “boy and his dog” throws the idea off a bit. But when you add demonic possession and hiding out in the Psycho House on the Universal Studio Lot, maybe then you can see that I’m taking a very different tone.

Guess it didn’t help to break out the tissues for runaways first either.

Either way – movie or novel(la), it sounds fascinating.

It would probably make a fantastic novel.