One of my favorite books of all time is Jack London’s Call of the Wild. The epic journey of the lead character, a magnificent dog named Buck, stays with you long after finishing the book. When I was growing up, literal calls of the wild included bobcat screams, owls, and hounds baying at the moon. Where I live now, I add coyotes to the list. Now and then, I’ll hear a pack of coyotes yipping and calling across the creek from a distant field. Their sounds awaken a combination of primal fear and fascination. Paying attention to those feelings puts me squarely in the moment, even if it’s at 3:00 am. Something deep inside me stirs when I hear them. Their voices remind me they know much more than I about the depths of night, hunger, and hunting. Yet there’s something in their call that also calls me, reminds me that somehow I am still part of the wild.
Remember that coyotes are predators - be mindful of things that might attract them too close to you and yours. For example, any trash that attracts smaller critters who are appealing as food. On the other hand, hearing coyotes sing and howl is a gift of the wild. They keep in touch with each other and their pack by vocalizing. Coyotes mate for life can run up to 40 miles an hour and are, for the most part, nocturnal. Coyotes adapt well to any environment, including urban areas. It turns out that coyotes made their first appearances in my home state of N.C. in the 1980s. Which is why I didn’t hear them in the foothills when I was young.
As writers and artists, we often focus on what instills fear in our subject matter. Try looking at this in the context of what triggers primal awareness. Which sounds cause absolute attention to the moment. Bring the reality of a character’s primal feelings to the fore and journey with them towards whatever awaits. And remember, that primal sense is also part of you. Listen to your call of the wild.
Photo credit: David Bogener in this article from News Cafe
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