| The den, the place where you will finally meet your guide. It doesn’t look like much, a simple cavern in the side of the mountain, and yet, you seem to feel an aura of power seeping from within. Carefully, you approach the darkened opening, still unsure if you are truly welcome here. Just inside the entrance, a line of glowing stones lead deeper into the cave. They give off a gentle light; in fact, they remind you of the moon’s glow. At the rear of the cave, a beam of moonlight suddenly shines down, blinding you. You blink quickly, trying to clear your eyes, and then you stop and stare in amazement. The back wall of the cave has disappeared. In its place is a beautiful landscape, a large field surrounded by mountains. Nearby is a clear lake, fed by a quiet stream, and ringed by willows, oaks, and pines. 'Welcome, Stranger,' says a familiar voice behind you. You turn to see the dark fox sitting there, a smile on her face. 'Welcome, to our home, our resting place, the haven for our dreams, and the refuge of our fears. As you explore, you will find paths to other places. Do not be afraid to investigate them, for nothing can harm you here. By taking different paths, you will fall further into our world. But fear not, for if you are afraid that you have gone too far... you can always... go back...' She begins to lead you on a simple tour of the meadow, pausing at each path, and telling you a little about it. She stops next to a rocky path leading up the side of the mountain. 'This trail will take you to the Gathering Place. There you learn about Wolfhome, a chat program. Further on, you will find screenshots, showing what can happen when you get a roomful of wolves together.' She stops again in a moonlit clearing. 'In Moonlight Musings, we tell the tales and voice our songs. Here you find poetry, stories and essays, and a series of books, written by the members of the pack.' Further on, she stops next to a wall decorated with pictures. 'This is our wall of Painted Fantasies. Here you will find some of our artwork.' Then, she stops at the lake and steps out onto a ledge, overlooking the water. 'This is our Private Sanctum. Here you will find information about me, Strenoche, and my mate, Magus, as well as the other members of the Silent Woods.' Finally, she gestures with one paw towards a distant path. 'That will take you to Other Trails. There you will find links to other places.' She turns back to you with a stern, but gentle look. 'One last thing Stranger, in this den, our word is law. Those who obey may stay, those who do not... will not live long enough to realize their mistake. I will now leave you to explore on your own. All the work here is credited to its creator or creators; otherwise, it belongs to me. Please do not steal anything you find here. If you wish to use anything of mine you find here, please leave me a message before you borrow.' Leave me a message at: strenoche@yahoo.com |