The Masculine Mutant Man: Rahzar

I had to cross the Canadian border, driving for most of a day to reach the game preserve in Southern Ontario. It was certainly worth my time. There was a ranger's station atop a log cabin at the end of a winding dirt road where I was instructed to park. I had just gotten out of the car when I was met by a friendly human man with a bushy grey beard in a green ranger's uniform. He introduced himself as Clint. We shook hands and I introduced myself as well. He brightened. Apparently he knew who I was there to see. 

"Rahzar's in the midst of a patrol but should be done in about half an hour. I can walk you out to his den." Clint explained.

"His, um, den?" I echoed.

"Yeah. Sometimes he'll stay with me for a few days at my cabin, watch t.v., get cleaned up, have some conversation, but usually he's out here in all this, living like a true wolf." The ranger said, indicating the towering evergreen trees all around us, laden with December snow.

"I helped him email you about your project, Phil. He's really excited about it. He uh, he has trouble with writing." 

We reached an open field of white bordered on one side by trees and the other by a sheer rock wall. Clint pointed out a cave at the bottom of the rock face that was Rahzar's usual home. Then the ranger pulled off one of his gloves so he could put his fingers to his mouth and whistle. It was only a few moments before we heard a long answering howl. My ears perked up at the sound, there was something primal about it, my own canine blood stirred in response. Perhaps a minute went by in the stillness that followed, and then suddenly a shape burst forth from the trees to our right. It was huge, reddish brown and alarmingly fast. The wolf mutant bounded up to the ranger and stood in front of him. He happily lapped at the man's face, pulling him into a tight hug.

"Okay, okay, buddy! This is the photographer, now lay off would ya?" Clint laughed.

Rahzar turned his attention to me and then padded over through the crunching snow. He towered above me, close to 8 feet of thickly-muscled timber wolf. I stuck out my hand, but he wrapped me up in his arms as he had done the ranger. He buried his nose in the fur at my neck, taking in my scent, so I did the same. It's... easier to get to know someone sometimes through scent. Look, we dog mutants get it, I'm not gonna try to explain it!

"Hello Rahzar, I'm Phil Dooley, you can just call me Fido. Good to meet you!" I said.

"Hi Fido! Me Rahzar! You take picture?" The big guy said slowly.

I nodded. I guess I wasn't prepared for his way of speaking. Clint must have noticed this because he chimed in: "When Rahzar mutated, he got human vocal cords, the body, but he still has a wolf brain. He's real friendly, and smart too, but talking takes him some time."

It didn't take Rahzar long to warm up to me, and then he really was just like a big puppy. Convincing him to take off what few strange clothing articles he had on took little effort. It was clear he usually romped around the preserve in the nude. Part of me envied his life in the forest. Apparently he was technically employed here, keeping poachers and hunters out while protecting the animals within. He even fed on deer to help keep their population down. The three of us made a snowman together and even got into a snowball fight. I took pictures as much as I was able, and really had a wonderful time with my new friends. I should have taken more, but really got caught up in the moment.

"Fido take off clothes too!" Rahzar shouted happily.

"I, wasn't planning on getting naked today, besides it's cold! It's snowing!" I protested. 

"There's no one else out here." Clint chimed in. "Besides, I know Rahzar would love to have a romp with another dog in the snow."

"You don't mind?" I asked the ranger.

He smiled. "Being perfectly honest, I'd just enjoy the show. And, it would mean the world to my guy here." He said, pointing his thumb at Rahzar.

"You two are...?"

"Yeah, for awhile now. It still isn't overly accepted for mutants and humans to be together, but no one bothers us out here. We can just be ourselves." 

I stripped all the way down to my fur as the ranger and wolf watched me with interest. It was damn cold, but only until I started running around after Rahzar, barking and chasing. On my best day I couldn't have moved as fast as him, but it was a helluva good workout, and I really did try my hardest! We tussled and rolled around in the powder until the sun began to set and I was totally drained of energy.  I dressed and we headed back to the ranger's cabin for a nightcap. They both told me I could and should come back to visit anytime. I was grateful for the invitation and promised to take them up on their hospitality.