The lamb streaked down the paths of the woods twisting this way and that trying to out run the boar, only to feel the ground shake as the boar charged closer gaining speed and ground on the lamb. For every tree or large stone the lamb turned behind or hid, the boar charged through smashing through every rock and splintering every tree in his mad dash. The lamb called out to the boar behind him. “Why are you chasing me? You told me not so long ago I wasn’t worth it”

“Cause I am consumed by my passions! I am driven by instinct to fight anyone that angers me and few angers me as those like you, spineless beings that have no passion to do anything but exist! Run if you can, I cannot falter on my rampage” The boar bellowed as he uprooted another tree in his charge. The lamb turned a sharp corner skidding almost before taking off again, the boar turning and slamming his body into a tree, though he shrug it off and charged again.

‘Can’t outrun him… can’t out power him… what can I do. Wait… he’s blinded by passion… then let’s make him really unable to see where he’s going.’ The lamb thought in his panic as he turned around and charged at the boar. The boar blinked but then grinned broadly as he picked up his speed intending to shatter the lamb upon impact. The lamb grunted and leapt onto the boar’s snout and forehead and bounded off of him to his backside as the boar charged into a large tree. The boar snorted angrily before ripping himself off of the tree splintering it in the process and turn back to the lamb, charging forward. The lamb lured the boar towards another tree and turn charging back to trick the boar. AS they gotten closer the boar turned to his side and swung his head around just as the lamb leapt up, wounding the lamb’s side and causing the lamb to fall onto the ground.

The boar laughed deeply. “Nice try, but one trick alone shall not put a stop to me.” He decreed as he pawed at the ground ready to charge as the lamb got up wobbling. The lamb grabbed a sharp rock with his jaws and ran away as the boar gave chase, though as the boar prepared himself to swing again as he saw the lamb turned around. As the boar swung his head expecting the lamb to leap the lamb dove downwards before jumping, getting the boar’s forelock with the rock causing the boar to squeal in pain before he threw himself, slamming the lamb away and into a tree. The lamb saw a flash of color before his eyes as his body shook with numbing vibrations from his impact with the tree dimly feeling the earth tremble. He instinctually leapt to the side as the boar charged, only to be greeted by agonizing pain as the boar’s bladed tusks impaled the lamb’s hind leg.

“Side wound and slashed leg, limp and lame. You are good as done” The boar retorted as the lamb struggled to stay on his legs. “No… not yet… I… I won’t be killed by you. I want to live… no… I’m going to live!” The lamb bleated before turning his head, taking a large bite out of the bulb growing from his shoulder and feeling the familiar pain killing and mind hazing effects kick in. The lamb took a shaky breath before charging at the boar and dove down between the boar’s legs sliding through, causing the boar to twist in confusion and nearly fall upon himself. The lamb stood up and kicked up his hind legs nailing the boar in his eyes causing the boar to let out a squeal of anger. Without waiting the lamb rushed onward trying to out run the chasing madden boar.

Through trees and growth the lamb ran, trusting his instincts and panic reasoning to avoid the boar taking more hazardous turns and jumps to cause the boar to stampede into them. With every delayed crash the lamb could hear the boar’s thundering hooves grow distant, and in time vanish as the lamb ran onwards till he came across a great tree. The lamb coughed a bit as he slowed down as tiredness and fatigue took over causing him to crumple into a heap exhausted. AS he closed his eye he felt the earth tremble and he open his eyes wide, just in time to see the boar charged towards him. The lamb tried to stand up, managing to wobbly hold himself upright but found no strength to run or leap anymore. He stood fast gazing at the boar as it came closer. “I will not die… spineless” the lamb said weakly as he closed his eyes waiting for the final assault. However instead of feeling his body pierced, he felt the hot air blowing out of the boar’s snout.

With trepidation he opens his eyes, and saw he was face to face with the boar’s own clouded eyes. The boar seemed calmer but none the less fierce. “Not bad, little one. It takes great guts to wound me. It takes greater guts to run bleeding.” The boar spoke in his gravelly voice. The boar backed up before going to the tree and plunged his tusks underneath it. With a strained squealing grunt the boar jerked his head upwards, uprooting the tree a portion leaving a hole big enough for a small animal to enter. He turned his gaze back to the lamb and used his tusks to push him into the hole before he lay down just outside. “Rest. Sleep. You earned the right to live another day, as you truly lived when you were dying. I’ll be gone when you wake up. Never forget the passion to live is stronger than the will to merely exist.” The boar rumbled.

The lamb too tired to argue closed his eyes, and he fell into sleep. Once again he saw himself standing over the pasture with his father, and the lamb turned to his father speaking softly. “I will not be a great leader… but at least I can try.” His dream-self noted earning a hard nod from his father.

“Passion guides all things into motion, whipping up will and desire to overcome any obstacle and conquer any barriers. But do not let your passion consume you least you forget yourself to it, and never lack passion that you have no drive for life. Passion burns the hottest when it is tempered by the will to achieve and the moderation of existing”