The Chase

By: Alex Miller

The majestic arctic hare is chased by many and envied by man for its stunning snow-white coat. The savage arctic wolf prowls the barren arctic desert combing for any morsel of food. The two beasts are in an epic battle of life and death, each one dependent on the others capabilities and shortcomings.

The ravenous wolf glimpses the hare far off in the vast expanse of the tundra and the perilous dance commences. The hare sprints and leaps as lithe as a leopard; its every primal instinct screaming fear and flight as the hare frantically tries to escape the pounding footsteps of the wolf. The famished wolf is not new to the chase, but a skilled hunter. He has not eaten in weeks, and must feed his scrawny puppies. This chase is a crucial moment for him. He sees his chance. He can taste his prey's fear and hear each of the hare's frenzied amplified heartbeats. Ba-dum, Ba-dum, Ba-dum! As the hare attempts to escape the inevitable, snow flurries peacefully from the icy-blue morning sky seemingly unaware of the anxiety and tension of the moment. There is still a glimmer of hope. The hare sees his rabbit hole not a hundred meters away. With the last of his energy he makes his final dash. The wolf sees his intentions and hastily picks up his pace. He has to eat and feed his cubs in this wasteland. Without a second to loose, the hare dashes underground and to the warm safety of his den. The forsaken wolf will go hungry tonight.

As I watched the enthralling Discovery Show program, I realized that though people wonder how these creatures could ever be so primal in their will to survive; we are all truly animalistic at heart. Society has its villains that prey on the innocents just as the wolf preys on the hare. Humanity sees itself as the superior species, but in the Chase we all are animals.