The cabin smelt of woodsmoke and tomato sauce. Lucia decided to ask Mek to marry her. She wanted everything to be exactly like the first day they met. They built a large blanket fort and made pizza together. Lucia’s nerves were making her paws a bit clumsier than usual and Lucia isn’t Lucia if she hasn’t forgotten something. “Oh noh” Lucia Mumbled in disbelief “There is only one pizzabase.” She looked everywhere in the cabin for another pizza base because she really wanted to re-create their first day together again, but unfortunately there was none left. So she decided to let Mek eat the pizza and get herself a plate of spinach and potatoes. Lucia lit the candles on the table and called Mek for dinner. Mek looked at the candles confused. “Why is it so fancy tonight?” she asked herself. Lucia never lit the candles. I’m always the one doing that.” “ And why is there a giant blanket fort in the living room?” Mek let the questions slide and sat down to eat. After dinner, Lucia finally found the courage to speak. She took a deep breath. “Mek, I want to ask you something.” “Wait!” Mek interrupted with a big smile. “You have spinach stuck in your teeth!” Lucia felt very embarrassed. She quickly cleaned her teeth, and covered her face to hide her blushing face.

Well, let’s go into the fort!” Lucia said as she grabbed Mek by her paw leading her into the fort. After that she picked up her guitar, followed her way into the blanket fort and sat down nervously staring at her guitar. Her fingers trying to find the chords she had practiced for weeks. As she strummed, she poured out everything from their first meeting, the quiet mornings in the forest, and her hopes for the future into a song. When the final note sounded, Lucia took out a beautiful golden ring. The ring was very special to them because it melted into a ring with the golden jewellery from Mek and Lucia’s grandmothers. In the dim light, the engraving was delicate but clear: Song of Songs 4:7. “Mek,” Lucia whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You are utterly beautiful, my dearest; There’s not a single flaw in you. Will you be my wife?” The silence didn’t last long, there was no silence at all. Mek didn’t just nod. She was over the moon. She laughed and cried at the same time. “YES,YES, YES!” she said, jumping from happiness as she pushed the polar bear onto the pillows.

Life became digital once again. They spent a lot of time on video calls and texting. Lucia would show Mek the way the morning mist rolled over the forest, and Mek would play Lucia snippets of new songs she’d found. That was the one thing they talked about the most; Music. They both loved it so much. Lucia would stay at Mek’s house whenever she could and they would listen to and dance to their favorite albums together.

“I’m listening to the new Halsey album on repeat,” Mek said during a late-night call, her face buried in her pillow. “The album is amazing!” Lucia agreed, smiling at the glow of her own screen. She had already decided that she was going to the Halsey concert with her friend Ally the alpaca. She knew Mek loved Halsey too, but Mek didn’t have enough money for a ticket because Mek had recently lost her job because of her illness, so money was tight. She wanted to surprise Mek with a VIP-ticket for the upcoming Halsey show, but first she called Ally to ask if it was okay for Mek to join them. Ally responded that it was totally okay and thought it’d be fun. Lucia called Mek to share the good news. “You are coming with us to the concert!” She said, smiling. “Lucia, I can’t,” Mek said, her voice shaking as she spoke into the phone. “The train, the cost, I really can’t afford a night like that right now.” “You don’t have to,” said Lucia. “It’s my birthday present for you.” Her voice was steady and warm. “It’s Halsey, Mek. We have to hear these songs together!”. Mek was amazed that such a kind person still existed. She was very grateful and said thanks for the wonderful birthday gift.

A few weeks later, the night finally arrived. They had VIP tickets, so they were in the front row of the stage. The lights were bright, and the music was very loud.

Mek’s body was in a lot of pain. Her legs and back hurt from standing, but she didn’t show it. She would never show her pain, ‘that’s a sign of weakness’, she thought. She wanted to be strong and not weak and have fun with her friends. When Halsey got on the stage, it felt like it was just the two of them together, even though there were thousands of other people there. For those few hours, Mek wasn’t a wolf in pain, and she wasn’t a wolf living a digital life. She was part of a rhythm, held steady by the polar bear next to her and the alpaca’s joy that spread to everyone around it. As the final confetti cannons exploded, coating the VIP area in a blizzard of color, Mek leaned her head on Lucia’s shoulder. The pain was there, waiting for her in the silence of the journey home, but for now, the music was louder than all her silent suffering. She refused to give in to pain and she didn’t say a word about this to Lucia or Ally. She simply had the most wonderful night together with her new friends. Even though they were tired, they had fun and laughed the whole way back home.

Lockdown vs bubble

The high of the concert hadn’t even faded when the world outside began to be quiet because of covid. Everyone had to stay home, and the streets were empty. It was the first lockdown. The local transport, the buses and trains that usually connected their two forests, had new, strict rules. Lucia was working, so she couldn’t leave her cave until it was too late. The trains stopped running before she could get to Mek. “It’s only an hour away,” Mek said over the phone, her voice sounding small. “But it feels like a thousand miles if the trains aren’t moving.” “I can’t get to you, Mek,” Lucia sighed, looking at her work schedule. By the time I’m finished, the gates are locked. I don’t want to spend this lockdown alone.” “Well, then I’m coming to you,” Mek decided. “I’ll pack enough for a few days.”

When Mek arrived at Lucia’s door later that day, they hugged for a long time. The two labeled as ‘’Still just friends’’, were now forgetting the chaos the world was in. The world outside was starting a lockdown, but their world together was just beginning. And so a few days turned into two months. And because they hadn’t done the usual “dating” thing, moving in together felt like a beautiful, chaotic experiment.

A few days later, the living room didn’t look like a living room anymore. It was a sea of sheets and pillows. Here’s another cosy blanket fort. Mek crawled inside the dark, cosy space and switched on the TV. “It’s perfect, Lucia. It’s even bigger than the last one.” The screen lit up with the bright colours of a video game.”Okay, vault hunter,” Mek said with a grin, nudging Lucia’s shoulder. “You go left, I’ll go right?”“I’ve got your back,” Lucia replied confidently.

Every day, they filled the rooms with the sound of music. They found concerts on the screen and turned the small ‘cave’ into a great meadow of sound. They were on their feet, dancing to the music and spending ages in the kitchen, trying out different meals because Mek was on a new diet. Her dietitian told her to try a low histamine diet to help with her stomach issues. They were like two curious animals, finding new berries. Luckily, they were very creative with food. Most of the time, the meal was a success, and they ate with joy. Other times, it was a bit of a funny mess, but they’d just licked their paws and laughed.

Lucia also has two birdies to take care of. Mek loved them and they became buddies. Jack the oldest bird loved to sit on Mek’s shoulder and Blue the young bird liked to scream at her. When the weather was good Mek and Lucia would go on walks together. The outside world looked like a zombie apocalypse, the streets were empty and abandoned. On their walks they’d often talk about dreams of traveling the world together and what places they’d love to see the most.

Living together in their bubble was cozy and warm and talking about their dreams sounded nice, but it also meant they could no longer hide their shadows, the internal struggles they had, unresolved trauma and other deeply rooted fears or sorrow. Lucia soon discovered the true weight of Mek’s illness. It wasn’t like a tired back or aching legs that would get better if properly rested. Mek’s stomach often ached with sharp pains and deep inflammations causing agonizing pain that made it hard to move, sleep or eat. It would take over her entire body, mind and spirit. There were many sleepless nights where Mek would curl into a ball, and early mornings where she would cry because the fire in her stomach was too much to bear.

Lucia had her own shadows too. The stress of the world and her past trauma brought heavy clouds of anxiety and sudden panic attacks. There were moments when she felt like she couldn’t breathe and her heart racing like a trapped bird. Lucia also had chronic illness where her muscles could ache like she had run a marathon. Through all of this, they were there for each other. When the inflammation had reached its peak and Mek was in such terrible pain, Lucia would sit by her side, speaking in a low, calm voice until Mek finally fell asleep. And when Lucia’s breath grew short and her mind was full of fear, Mek would tenderly embrace her and remind her she was safe. Mek’s presence was exactly what Lucia needed and vice versa. They had each other and it softened every pain and slowly repaired what was once broken in their trust. And they stayed safe inside their bubble forgetting the world was in lockdown and chaos.

Thank you so much for reading and supporting us!

- Sanne and Mek

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Sanne and Mek

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Sanne en Mek

During their time spent apart from each other, their conversations continued online. Missing the calm and quiet time spent together, Mek felt like she had to keep moving. Even though at this stage she’s in a lot of physical pain, she was meeting with the rabbit, getting the energetic updates from the zebra and the occasional check-ins from the fox kept her busy. She was running around in the forest, not taking care of herself.

Back in Lucia’s cave, life was a whirlwind. Lucia’s friend the alpaca was mostly there to spend time together. Also Lucia’s sister and her boyfriend were constantly around, filling the cave walls with echoes of laughter. But even in a crowded cave, Lucia would find a corner to send a quick video of the sunset to Mek. They talked about everything: their favorite childhood memories, their biggest fears, and the small, day-to-day details that make a person feel like they know you.

During one of their conversations, they finally arranged to go on a date. ‘The Great Cave Festival’ was coming. It was near the edge of the forest by the caves where Lucia lives. She would go every year, as was the tradition, but this time she would only go if Mek would go with her. When Mek arrived at the station near the forest’s edge, she quickly hopped off the tram seeing Lucia headed towards Mek. Mek saw her white fur bright against the surrounding green grass. Lucia was happy and blushed when she hugged and lifted the wolf off the ground. “You’re actually here,” Lucia whispered, putting her face on Mek’s neck. “I wouldn’t miss it,” Mek said, as she blushed. “Show me this festival I’ve heard so much about.”

The forest and the caves had been transformed in a matter of days. Strings of glowing lanterns hung between the ancient trees like fallen stars. Long wooden tables were piled with forest berries, honey cakes, and savory pies and a group of forest animals played instruments made of wood with silver strings. Lucia’s friends were spread out all over the festival area, but the alpaca, one of Lucia’s best friends, was waiting for them and waving to get Mek and Lucia over there. Moving towards the cider stall, Lucia’s sister, who also spotted them, gave Mek ‘the nod’ from across the clearing. Her way of approval, Mek presumed as she started blushing, getting overwhelmed by the attention of everyone. All eyes were going to be on her, ‘the new friend’.

Lucia was a different version of herself here; confident, glowing, and completely relaxed. She guided Mek through the busy crowds, her hand holding Mek’s.

“Everyone!”, Lucia said as they got to the middle of the dance floor. “This is Mek.”

All eyes were now focused on Mek, but Lucia’s friends all smiled and welcomed her with open arms. A relief came over Mek, but she was still a bit overwhelmed because it was only the start of the evening. Enough time for her to make a fool of herself, she anxiously thought as she greeted everyone with an insecure but loud: ‘’H-hi, everyone!’’ Mek never felt comfortable being in a group and this was a different kind of group, a new kind of ‘wolf pack’. As the evening settled in and her nerves calmed down, suddenly the rabbit, zebra and her other friends back home felt like a world away. Here at the forest’s edge near the caves, Mek was somewhat of an honorary forest royalty. At least to her, that’s how welcoming the animals around here were. Her friends would’ve loved it here, but Mek was glad she went alone. ‘’Just me and Lucia’’, she thought.

As the party got louder, more drinks were consumed and the dancing became more intense, Lucia noticed that Mek was getting tired. Without saying anything, she quietly led Mek away from the main area of the festival to a high ridge where they could see the whole festival below. She felt this would be a better way to comfort her and give her some rest. From up here, the lanterns looked like a river of light. “Is it too much?” Lucia asked softly, as they arrived at the clearing.”No, it’s beautiful!” Mek replied, breathing in the cold, fresh air. “I’ve seen the photos you sent me of this view, but standing here beside you, being in your world is something else. It feels like I’m seeing colors for the first time! Everything is so new and exciting.”

After resting, they went back down to the caves. The music had changed to a slower, rhythmic beat that echoed the heartbeat of the forest. Mek went over to Lucia and put her paws on the polar bear’s white chest as they moved to the music, ignoring the crowd. When Mek was at home, she always felt she had to do everything she could to make everyone happy, like she had to be very careful around her mother and her friends. But here, in the shade of the big trees in front of the caves, with the polar bear holding her steady, she just felt like a wolf in love. “I don’t ever want to go back to my place,” Mek said quietly. “Then don’t think about it yet,” Lucia replied, pulling her closer. “Tonight, the forest is ours.”

Lucia and Mek were dancing until the floor was empty and the last songs were played. They had so much fun together. They didn’t even notice that Lucia’s friends were waiting for them to leave the festival. Once again, they were so busy that they forgot about the rest of the world and were in their own little bubble.

Let me know what you think

Board games and Chaos

The day after the festival was slow and calm. Mek and Lucia had plenty of time to get up and make breakfast so they decided to relax for a while. In the afternoon the friends of Lucia came to visit to get to know Mek and play some fun board games.

The alpaca named Ally arrived first, bouncing with energy despite the late night, followed by Lucia’s sister named Cath and her boyfriend Bobby. Zora the otter, a childhood friend of Lucia came with Cath and Bobby and is quite a comedian. Then, a tall silhouette appeared through the trees: the giraffe, a gentle, soft-spoken friend of Lucia’s with a clever glint in his eyes, walked towards the cave. When he arrived, he looked inside the cave. “So this is the famous Mek,” the giraffe said, his voice sounding deep and loud. He entered the cave and lowered himself to give her a friendly nod and a warm hug with his long neck. “Lucia has been talking about you non-stop ever since her last visit!” My name is Leo. “It’s great to finally meet you, Leo,” Mek replied. A strong feeling of warmth rushed over her because of his kind and energetic vibe. I hope the things she said about me were all good...?” She asked awkwardly. The giraffe replied with a wink and a smile, saying, “Maybe...”.

The energy in the room changed from the calm of board games to the chaos of “30 Seconds.” The rules were simple though: one person had thirty seconds to get their team to guess by acting, drawing, describing and guessing.

Bobby was the first to jump, he was fearless and loud, giving his all in the game.

He laid on the floor, pretending to sleep, and made a sound like a growling monster. “Who is this on a Sunday morning?!”

“Lucia when she sleeps!” Mek screamed and grinned “Hey! “I don’t snore!”Lucia laughed.

Now it was the other team’s turn. Leo was the describer, but his mind was moving at lightspeed. “It’s green, it’s tall, I eat the leaves off the top and oh, did you see that spark in the fire? It looked like a star! Anyway, back to the green thing!” Ally was fast to respond and screamed: “A tree!” An Acacia tree!” “Yes! Next! It’s what I want to eat for breakfast every single day of my life!” Leo described. “Pancakes!” Ally said excitedly. “Time is up!” as Zora explained looking at the hourglass.

The cave echoed with the sound of Bobby’s loud laugh and Ally’s excited cheers. Even though it was a close game, the score didn’t matter. Cath, the protective younger sister of Lucia, gave Mek a respectful nod. She liked that Mek was quick and didn’t get scared by Bobby’s loud energy. Leo was already busy explaining to everyone why charcoal is the best tool for drawing ‘pancake shadows.’

One by one, the friends left the cave into the quiet, moonlit forest.”Goodnight!” Zora called out as she headed down to the river .”See you soon!” Leo shouted as his tall shadow moved into the trees.​ The cave became quiet. Lucia looked at Mek and smiled. “I told you they would like you,” she whispered.

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The heart of the fort

Inside the blanket fort, it felt like the world was miles away. The light was soft, and the air was warm. The ingredients for the pizza were left on the counter waiting and waiting, but they were too busy chatting to notice. They spent ages talking about the challenges they’d faced and the lessons they’d learned. As they chatted, they realised how much they had in common with each other. Most of their experiences were similar, like pieces of a puzzle. Every story they shared just made this “bubble” around them stronger and they got really close really quickly.

Suddenly both their stomachs started making this loud grumbling sound, like an alarm that nobody asked for. They both looked at each other in shock. “We forgot to eat!”, Mek said hungrily. They crawled out of their fort and went quickly to the kitchen. First, they added the toppings on the base. Then Mek popped the delicious-smelling, self-made pizza in the oven. Soon, the room smelled of warm bread and fresh herbs. When the pizza was finished they sat down at the small kitchen table.

Mek sliced the pizza into triangles, placing the plate in the middle of the table. As they pulled away a slice, Lucia stretched a long ribbon of melted vegan cheese, while Mek took her cheese-free portion. Lucia took a bite and shook her head laughing. “ I still can’t believe we completely forgot to eat.” Lucia said with a mouthful of warm crust and sauce. “How do you even ignore your stomach for so long?”

“Right!?” Mek grinned, blowing on her slice before taking a bite. “We were so busy talking and building a fort, my brain just turned off the hunger signal I guess. If our stomachs hadn’t sounded like an emergency siren, we probably would’ve talked straight through until morning”

“Honestly, we probably would have,”Lucia admitted.

After finishing the pizza at the kitchen table, they felt full and happy, I mean, really happy. It’s midnight now and the forest was dark and quiet after a day of fun adventure and those deep conversations that somehow never ended. “I am so tired, it was a long trip to get here,” Lucia said, yawning. Mek nodded and replied, “Let’s go back to our fort.” They left the kitchen and crawled back into the blanket fort. Once they were there, in their little warm cave, it felt safe in a way that was almost unbelievable even if it was just fabric and dark inside. With blankets above them, they stayed close, keeping warm like they were melted into one. Mek laid down her head on Lucia’s shoulder and Lucia put her paw around Mek, very gently. They were in their own bubble, no noise, no worries, just quiet. Lucia felt calm and safe. “Goodnight, Lucia,” Mek whispered, knowing she herself wasn’t going to be able to close an eye. “Goodnight, Mek,” Lucia replied as she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning

It was a peaceful morning in the cabin for the wolf and polar bear. In the living room, everything felt quiet, like the sun was just starting to creep in through the windows. Out in the forest the other animals were busy with their work, but inside the blanket fort it was still dark and kind of snug and too comfy. Mek was the first to wake up. She lay there like a statue, not really wanting to budge, because she didn’t want to wake Lucia from her deep sleep. Even though the blanket fort was warm and cozy, Mek didn’t actually sleep much during the night. Her mind kept running and running like always. She would often glance over at Lucia sleeping there peacefully, right beside her. A few moments later, Lucia blinked and opened her eyes. Mek was silently glancing, and Lucia kind of looked at her for a second, then asked softly, “What are you looking at?” Her voice was low, slow, and sleepy. Mek smiled and answered softly, “Good morning.” “Good morning” Lucia mumbled tiredly, slowly waking up.

Time passed by and eventually, they crawled out of their fort like zombies. The wooden floor was a little cold, and the house smelled like herb tea, plus that self-made pizza from the night before. Mek went to the window to look at the trees. “The forest is peaceful today,” she said. “No loud sounds, no crowds… just us.” Lucia joined Mek to look outside and stood behind her. She felt safe here. She thought about her ‘rave cave’ far away and how different all this was. She enjoyed the quiet for a change. “I think I like it here,” Lucia said. Mek turned around and took Lucia’s hands. “I’m glad you like it here, let’s get some breakfast.” Mek said, kind of under her breath as she wandered over to the kitchen and put the bread in the oven. She couldn’t forget to grab the peanut butter and chocolate paste, her favorites at the time. After placing her two favorite spreads on the small table, they both sat down. Usually, breakfast is a happy time, but Mek had a serious look on her face. “Lucia…” Mek said, softly, and she kept looking down. “I need to tell you something, I have been very sick now for a while.” Lucia paused mid bite and listened, totally still. “I have a virus called ‘Helicobacter Pylori,’ ” Mek explained. “Or well, at least that’s what the doctors told me. It has been hard, really hard. Some of this I shared already with you. I have lost a lot of things in life ever since I had an accident a while back. And when I started getting ill, I lost my job, I lost many friends, well the ones whom I considered as my friends. They didn’t care enough to stay or to help. Mek’s voice sort of dipped, sadder than before. “I lost my health, my dreams, and my strength. I am still recovering and figuring it all out. Most days I am very tired and I feel bad. That is why I live so quietly now.”

Mek turned into a statue, fully frozen. Her heart was pounding, being so scared to say any of it out loud, because when she used to tell others about her hardships in life, they would just go away. They didn’t want to be around someone like her, is what they’ve said. Mek thought that was fair and understandable. So she immediately thought Lucia would react the same way. She thought she would see the illness, trauma and depressing situation and well, leave.

Mek stared at Lucia with worried eyes, holding her breath. She was waiting for Lucia to stand up, like, any second now, and walk straight to the door. But Lucia didn’t leave. She didn’t pull her paws away from Mek. She didn’t even think about leaving, instead she moved her chair closer to Mek. “Mek, look at me,” Lucia said softly but in a serious way. “I’m a polar bear from a rave cave,” she jokingly said, hoping to make Mek smile. ”I have seen a lot of things. I’m not looking for a perfect person. I was looking for you.” Lucia squeezed Mek’s paws and continued. “The other animals that left you, weren’t real friends. I am staying. We can take it slow. If you are tired, we rest. If you are sick, I will bring you some fresh delicious tea. I am not going anywhere.” Lucia said this without knowing the rest about the illness. She didn’t know how hard living with an illness like that really was. She didn’t know about the days Mek spent in bed, or how much pain Mek really felt. But even without knowing all the details, Lucia chose to stay. “I don’t need to know everything right now,” Lucia said gently but surely. “I just want to be here, with you.”

For the first time in a long time, Mek felt like she could breathe. As she finally allowed herself to breathe, tears ran down her face, happy tears. She felt like she wasn’t alone anymore. “You really mean it?” Mek whispered. “I really mean it,” Lucia promised.

Back to the cave

The warmth of the breakfast table soon faded into the frantic, heavy energy of packing. Back at home, there were classes to attend and shifts to work; life had no pause button, no matter how strong their bond. Lucia sadly started packing. “I hate this..” she muttered, folding her clothes into her backpack. Mek sat on the edge of the bed, her strength flagging from the emotional morning. “You have to go, Lucia. Your life is out there even though I’m also sad you have to leave.”

Finished packing, Lucia stood by the door, adjusting the straps of her backpack over her black hoodie. “I’ll text you when I’m back home” Lucia promised. After another hug of not wanting to let go, Mek watched her leave as the black fabric of Lucia’s hoodie disappeared around the corner.

Later that day, Mek had to gather her remaining energy. She planned to visit her mother. Mek’s relationship with her mother was complicated. Her mother loved her, but there was little understanding, especially concerning Mek’s illness. She would often say things like “pull yourself together” or “just eat the right things” like it was that simple. She didn’t realize at the time that Mek was dealing with a far more complicated battle inside her body and mind.

When Mek left her mother’s house and made it back to her own place, it felt different. Empty, sure, but also less lonely. There were traces of Lucia everywhere. Lucia’s scent was still in the air and then to Mek’s surprise, Lucia had left her hoodie behind for her to wear.

Mek put it on right away and, not even a minute later, her phone buzzed.
Lucia texted: I’m back in my cave. The journey was long because the train delays kept happening. I just arrived but my sister and my friends are here, they’ve been hanging out at my place, like they often do. They want to know everything about you!”

Mek curled up under her blankets from exhaustion and replied: I’m glad you’re home safe. It was a long day for us both. I’m glad I can rest now after seeing my mom. Have fun with your sister & friends, let’s call later!

Lucia and Mek spoke for hours on the phone later that day. They didn’t want to hang up but eventually fell asleep.

Abonneer nu

Daar stond een kleine vos met stralende ogen. Het was inderdaad Meks vriendin en buurvrouw. Zij had Mek die ochtend door haar overgeven en zenuwen heen geholpen. “Ik kon het niet laten om even langs te komen!” babbelde de vos, terwijl ze zonder gevraagd te worden naar binnen stapte. “Ik hoor al twee weken niets anders dan ‘Lucia dit’ en ‘Lucia dat’. Ik moest gewoon zien of deze ijsbeer echt was. Ze zijn tegenwoordig zeldzaam en bijzonder om tegen te komen.” Mek rolde een beetje met haar ogen, maar glimlachte. “Lucia, dit is mijn buurvrouw en haar vriend.” Lucia begroette hen wat zenuwachtig met een glimlach en zei ‘Hallo’. recap - hfst 4

“Ga maar zitten, dan zet ik voor ons thee,” zei Mek, terwijl ze een grote pot kruidenthee maakt van de kruiden die ze hadden verzameld. De vos en haar vriend gingen zitten en Mek maakte de thee af. “Zeg eens, Lucia,” zei de vos. “Is je leven in de grot net zo rustig en vredig als het gezellige hutleven van Mek?” Mek nam een slokje van haar thee, maar spuugde het stilletjes weer terug in haar mok. “Rustig en vredig? Dat is toch een grapje, hè?” dacht ze bij zichzelf. Met al die dieren die constant langskwamen, was het hier bijna nooit stil. Maar ze besloot niets te zeggen en het erbij te laten. Lucia lachte en schudde haar hoofd, terwijl ze zei: “Het tegenovergestelde! Het is de enige plek die ik me op dit moment kan veroorloven en het is eigenlijk een ‘rave-grot’. Het grotgebied bij het bos zit vol met buitenbeentjes, criminele activiteiten en luide muziek. Soms, als ik vrij ben, geven mijn vrienden en ik daar feestjes, dus het is nooit stil bij mij thuis.” Soms ga ik naar raves diep in het bos. ‘Maar,’ zuchtte ze, ‘ik word nu ouder. Ik geniet niet meer zo van het lawaai, de drukte, het drinken en het feesten als vroeger. Ik heb nu behoefte aan wat rust en stabiliteit.’ Het vriendje van de vos zat stil, nippend aan zijn thee, knikkend en luisterend naar het gesprek met een vredige blik op zijn gezicht. Mek’s ogen werden groot van opwinding. “Wacht even, ging jij ook naar raves in het bos?” Toen ik jonger was, ging ik er de hele tijd heen! Ik feestte en danste de hele dag en nacht door, en de volgende dag deed ik het gewoon weer!” Lucia glimlachte en zei: “Dus we hebben allebei veel gefeest, maar nu willen we gewoon een rustige plek, zoals een fort.” “Precies,” antwoordde Mek. De vos vertelde Lucia een paar verhalen over hoe Mek altijd als eerste dieren in nood te hulp schiet, en haar vriend knikte instemmend terwijl hij hiernaar luisterde. De buren op bezoek hebben was helemaal niet zo erg.

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Terwijl ze aan het kletsen waren, trok een vreemde geur hun aandacht. Een voor een merkten ze het op en keken ze met grote, nieuwsgierige ogen glimlachend naar de deuropening. Mek was vergeten dat ze de achterdeur open had gelaten voor wat frisse lucht, en een kleine kat was zojuist zo de woonkamer binnengelopen. Terwijl ze blij naar het katje staarden, liep het langs de tafel, cirkelde het om de stoel van de vriend van de vos heen en snuffelde het aan Lucia’s tas. Toen draaide het zich, net zo snel als dat het gekomen was om en liep meteen weer de tuin in. ‘Gebeurt dat vaak?’ vroeg Lucia met verbaasde ogen. ‘De hele tijd,’ lachte Mek. ‘De lokale dieren behandelen mijn huis als een openbaar park, maar ik vind het eerlijk gezegd wel geweldig.’

Na een lang, gezellig praatje bij een kopje thee namen de vos en haar vriend afscheid en gingen ze naar huis. “Ik vind je vrienden echt leuk,” zei Lucia terwijl ze achterover leunde, “maar ik ben blij dat we nu met z’n tweeën zijn.”Mek keek naar Lucia, met een peinzende blik op haar gezicht. “Oh oh…waar denk je nu weer aan?” plaagde Lucia. “Laten we een fort bouwen!” flapte Mek opgewonden eruit. Lucia’s gezicht lichtte meteen op. “Een fort? Hier in de woonkamer?” “Ja!” grijnsde Mek. “Een kleine, knusse fort, alleen voor ons.”

Wat volgde was een uur vol absolute chaos en puur plezier. Alle resterende ongemakkelijkheid verdween; ze waren nu een bouwteam van twee personen, dat elke kast in het huis plunderde. Mek kwam uit de slaapkamer tevoorschijn, bedolven onder vijf dekens, en zag eruit als een gigantische, donzige marshmallow. Ondertussen probeerde Lucia de ‘pilaren’ van de fort te bouwen met behulp van een bezem en een wasrek.

“Lucia, pas op! De bezem valt!” riep Mek toen hun constructie op instorten stond. “Oeps…” zei Lucia terwijl ze zich net op tijd naar voren wierp om de bezem te vangen.

Maar dat was niet de echte uitdaging; de grote uitdaging was om de matras van de slaapkamer naar de woonkamer te krijgen. Ze pakten allebei een uiteinde van de matras vast en kwamen al meteen vast te zitten in de deuropening. De matras boog zich in een U-vorm en duwde Mek plat tegen de muur. “Help! Het bed vreet me op!” mompelde Mek lachend vanachter het matras. Lucia barstte in lachen uit en verloor haar grip. De zware matras sloeg met een luide klap op de vloer, waardoor Mek eindelijk bevrijd werd. Giechelend sleepten ze hem naar het midden van de woonkamer. Ze zetten hun meesterwerk van bankkussens en bij elkaar geraapte dekens vast met een handvol wasknijpers.

Eindelijk kropen ze erin. Het fort was warm, donker en voelde helemaal veilig aan. “Het is perfect,” fluisterde Mek. Ze ging achterover op de matras liggen en glimlachte. Lucia kroop het fort in, vlak naast haar. Ze keek naar Mek en begon te lachen. “Je hebt een wit pluisje in je vacht zitten,“ zei ze. Ze stak haar pootje uit om een beetje kussenvulling uit Meks vacht te halen.

Ze lachten allebei samen en de paniekaanvallen, de harde geluiden en het chaotische avontuur van de dag waren allemaal verdwenen. De wolf en de ijsbeer hadden hun eigen rustige, verborgen wereldje gebouwd. De boodschappentassen met kruiden en pizza-ingrediënten stonden vergeten op het aanrecht, precies waar ze ze hadden achtergelaten na hun allereerste kus.

Hoi allemaal, dankjewel weer voor het lezen en tot volgende week!

- Mek & Sanne

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After their emotional meeting at the station, the world didn’t become quiet. They still had to collect herbs for tonight’s meal. While walking to Meks cabin they headed to a field where all kinds of herbs grew to quickly gather them.

Lucia found the herbfields to be a source of great distress. The smell of other animals and all kinds of noises sent her anxiety racing again, but as they moved through the fields, something changed. They stayed close, so close that their shoulders were constantly touching. Whenever the noise or smell became overwhelming, they would look into each other’s eyes and remember the long-lasting hug they had just shared. They were in a bubble of their own making, Two creatures navigating a chaotic and noisy world by holding onto each other’s presence. The idea for dinner was simple: a plant-based pizza. Lucia found the irony endearing. A wolf who lived in the heart of the forest had chosen an entirely plant-based diet. After a while, they gathered the ingredients: The base, some colorful vegetables, vegan cheese for Lucia and of course, there’s the freshly picked herbs.

When they finally arrived at Mek’s cabin, there was a scent of pine and the welcoming warmth of a cozy home tucked away deep in the forest. They carried the bags filled with fresh ingredients into the kitchen. As they began unpacking, the atmosphere slowly shifted. The frantic, nervous energy of the morning had settled into something deeper and much more intense. They moved around each other in the small space, their shoulders occasionally brushing as they emptied the bags. Mek watched Lucia as she reached for the last bag. The golden light of the afternoon filtered through the kitchen window, catching the polar bear’s eyes. In that moment, Mek felt an urge that was stronger than her usual shyness. Mek had never made the “first move” on someone in her life. She was the one who usually waited, living in the “curious glance” rather than the bold action. But, looking at Lucia, she felt she couldn’t hold back any longer. The shy, insecure wolf vanished.

Mek stepped across the small gap between them. While reaching out, her hands found Lucia’s waist and pulled her closer. Mek didn’t hesitate and leaned in, as their lips finally met in a soft, tentative, and incredibly sweet kiss. It was the perfect answer to every nervous text and panic attack that day.

The kiss in the kitchen was beautiful and felt like it could last forever. Suddenly, however, the loud ringing of the doorbell echoed through the house. Their “bubble” popped. Mek jumped a little, her face turning very red. Lucia laughed softly, her own heart still racing.

“I bet that’s my neighbor and her boyfriend,” Mek said, rubbing the back of her neck. She walked to the door and opened it. Standing there was a small, bright-eyed fox. It was Mek’s friend and neighbor. She had been helping Mek through her morning of barfing and nerves.

“I couldn’t help but come over!” the fox chattered, stepping inside without being invited in. “I’ve heard nothing but ‘Lucia this’ and ‘Lucia that’ for two weeks. I had to see if this polar bear was real. They’re rare and special to meet nowadays.” Mek rolled her eyes a little, but smiled. “Lucia, this is my neighbor and her boyfriend” Lucia greeted them anxiously with a smile and said Hi.

At the small cabin hidden deep within the forest, Mek was falling apart. Her normal wolf-like presence, sleek and confident, had been replaced with a desperate mess. Panic flared, and her stomach instantly twisted into violent, painful knots. “I can’t do this, I’m going to barf..!” Mek groaned, doubling over. She had already retreated to the bathroom twice, her nerves making her physically ill. Her friend, the fox, stood by the kitchen counter, holding out a glass of water. “Mek, breathe! You’ve been talking to her for days. She’s seen your soul and she probably doesn’t care if you’re a nervous wreck.” The fox said, trying to comfort her.

“But she’s a Polar Bear!” Mek cried, grabbing the fox’s arms to make her point. “She’s so steady and calm, and here I am... vibrating out of my fur.”

“Oh stop it,Go now!” the fox laughed, gently pushing Mek towards the door. -”Go wait for your polar bear at the tram station’ so you don’t have to wait here’. Mek did what the fox said. She grabbed her bicycle and waited for Lucia at the tram station. Mek was very early and didn’t know what to do so she was walking in circles. “Why am I feeling so sick?!” I hope I don’t throw up on her when I hold her” Mek Panicked. “No stop overthinking, you will be fine and definitely won’t throw up!” “Keep yourself together Mek.”

What Mek didn’t know was that Lucia was also struggling. The journey from her cave in the distant forest, near the mountains, had been full of anxiety. The calm polar bear was not as calm as Mek thought she would be. In reality, she was a nervous wreck. Every time the bus hit a bump or the train changed tracks, Lucia felt as if the air had left her lungs. She had gone through several panic attacks along the way barely holding it together. She had to close her eyes and count her breaths to keep from turning around and running back to the safety of her own woods. She was scared that the brave wolf would not like this fragile, trembling version of herself that was traveling from the mountains deep into the forest.

Meanwhile Mek had been waiting for Lucia at the station for 20 minutes now. “I can’t take this any longer, when will she be here?” Mek thought pacing in circles, her eyes fixed on the ground beneath her paws, feeling like she might faint. Then her ears shot up and Mek aimed her nose toward the stairs. A moment later she sees a line of animals making their way down the stairs. “Ah, the tram is here, about time.” Mek was searching for Lucia when her heart stopped. “She is so beautiful…” Mek didn’t know what to do or say, but the ‘wolf’ in her took over. She lunged forward, arms ready to embrace Lucia. With a gentle motion, she wrapped her arms around Lucia and buried her face in her shoulder, breathing in the cold air. She held Lucia more tightly now. Holding on with a desperation that was matched instantly. Lucia’s arms locked around Mek’s shoulders, as she let out a long, shaky sob of pure relief.

“I thought I wasn’t going to make it. The trip was horrible and I was so scared what you will think of me” Lucia whispered into Mek’s jacket, her voice trembling. “But you made it, I’m glad!”. Mek said and then confessed “I was barfing all morning, I’m a wreck, too”.
Mek now pulling back just enough to look at Lucia, a small but sweet smile breaking through the nerves. Knowing they were both “messes” broke the final tension. Mek squeezed her eyes shut and pulled Lucia back into the hug, holding her as if she were the only thing keeping her upright. She never wanted to let go.

At that specific moment Mek got something strongly pressed upon her heart. “You will marry her and be together until the end” She didn’t believe it and thought it was very strange. “ffft! Marriage?! I just met her, we are just friends. Let’s see how it goes, but never in my life I would marry, That’s insane.!” She thought to herself. “I’m a free wolf!”

Hii, Mek & Sanne here. Thank you so much for reading chapter 2, It means a lot to us. We hope you enjoyed it. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

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Deel Untitled: Life Sketches

Lucia slammed her front door shut and kicked off her shoes with unnecessary force. “If another sixteen-year-old tries to buy alcohol, I’ll lose it” she mocked in a high-pitched, whiny voice, throwing her jacket onto the couch. She let out a small groan and let herself fall onto her bed. “I’m so done with today.” she mumbled into her pillow. With the last bit of energy, she reached for her phone to set an alarm and scroll, but then a notification caught her eye. “It’s a match!” and also a message.

“A wolf? Why on earth would a wolf match with me?” she thought to herself, confused.

Lucia looked at Mek’s photo. It’s a wolf with bright, curious eyes. “I know that look, where do I know that look from?” she asked herself. Then she read the text: “What’s your favorite song at the moment?” “My favorite song? “I don’t know...” Lucia panicked trying to think of a song, an artist, a melody, anything, but her brain didn’t work anymore. For one hour she scrolled through her music finding the perfect song to send but the day’s exhaustion hit her all at once. “Nope, too tired. I’ll respond tomorrow.” She dropped her phone on the bed and fell asleep.

Days went by and Lucia forgot about her match on Yinder. Work and school filled her days. Until one evening, when she sat on the couch, staring at the TV, a shock ran through her and she remembered;“Oh no! My match! I forgot to reply about my favorite song. She asked for my favorite song and I ghosted! Great job, Lucia.” Panic settled in as she looked for her phone. After a few solid minutes of intense overthinking, staring at the wall, scrolling through her music and deciding what her favorite song is she found her favorite song and hit send. “Hey! My favorite is ‘Halsey - you should be sad’ and yours?”

To her surprise, Mek replied immediately. From that moment, everything changed. They settled into a lovely flow, avoiding the typical uncomfortable small talk.

Mek learned that Lucia was studying social work, a subject that fascinated Mek. They spent hours texting, trading stories about their pets, their hobbies, and favorite songs. Conversations even about how Mek’s dog would howl at the moon and how Lucia’s bird would gently comfort her after a long day at work. Mek, the restless wolf, found a strong sense of peace in Lucia’s grounded nature. Lucia, the weary polar bear, found a spark of wild joy in Mek’s energy. Their conversations quickly deepened. It felt comfortable to be honest with each other.

A strong connection grew with every passing day and they both knew that this friendship was becoming something very special. One night, they stayed up late talking on the phone. The quiet of the evening made it easier to share their deepest fears and thoughts. They spoke about the past and the people who shaped them. Silence did not feel awkward between them, Instead, it felt comfortable and safe. Lucia discovered she was no longer just talking to a friend, they were slowly falling in love. That scared Lucia, because she recently came out of a relationship and really wasn’t in the mood to fall in love again this soon. She made a promise to herself to be by herself and relax for a while. Despite her promise, she couldn’t just stop talking to Mek. It felt like she knew her for ages.

The more they got to know each other the more frustrated they became about their inability to find time to meet. Besides that, Lucia was too scared to meet but too proud to admit. So time flew by and Mek asked once again when Lucia was able to meet. “ Okay, I can’t keep saying I’m busy…” Lucia thought to herself. “I really want to meet Mek, but what if she sees me and I’m not what she expected me to be…”

Hii, Mek & Sanne here. Thank you so much for reading chapter 2, It means a lot to us. We hope you enjoyed it. Let us know what you think of it in the comments.

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Let’s be honest: Sometimes we wish life just had a map written out for us. Instead, we’re all just wandering around, figuring out which way to go. Doesn’t it feel like being thrown in the deep end without even knowing how to swim? They tell you how but they change the rules everytime you reach the surface.

We live in a world where the expectations are incredibly high and everyone constantly wants something from us. It’s exhausting right?! We’re all trying to meet those demands, but it feels impossible while we are all busy fighting our own battles.

Thats’s exactly what our hand-drawn illustrated novel “Untitled: Life Sketches” is about! This story is a reflection of our own journey through the wilderness. From navigating through spiritual things like spiritism and atheism, to ultimately find healing, faith and a new path forward. Through the eyes of Mek, a wolf, and Lucia, a polar bear, we share with you some life-changing moments and also how we got through the most darkest times of our life.

The first chapter is live now! Follow and subscribe to join the pack and walk this trail with us! Get new chapters every saturday by hitting subscribe!

Abonneer nu

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We hope you’ll join our pack as we navigate through the wilderness together. - Mek & Sanne

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It was a rainy evening in march when thousands of animals gathered for a concert. The doors were not open yet so they were all waiting in line. While the air hummed with excitement from all the animals, the sky was gray and air was freezing cold. Mek, a wolf, was also standing in line for the show. With shivering paws fighting the cold, she saw a small building nearby. “Wait for me here!” Mek yelled to her friend, the zebra, while she was already running towards it. “If I don’t find a heater in the next five minutes, I’m afraid I’m going to turn into an ice cube!” The zebra nodded, curled up in her scarf as she saw Mek sprinted towards the building to find the restroom. Inside the small building, the warmth felt like just what she needed. Mek was holding a speaker and turned up her music. She started to dance to get her blood flowing again. Standing next to a heater, she looked up and froze. A polar bear was standing by the sink, washing her paws. “Who is she?” Mek wondered. “I’ve never seen beautiful eyes like thát…”

Meanwhile when Mek was wondering who the polar bear was, the polar bear, Lucia, was having a mini-crisis. She caught the reflection of Mek in the mirror. “Why is she looking at me?” she thought, fidgeting her bandana. “Is my face red from the cold? Is there food stuck in my teeth?” Lucia was fighting not to look but.. she couldn’t help it and quickly gazed back. Mek didn’t speak. She just gazed at Lucia with a huge, bright and sweet smile.

The panic melted. Then… the door swung open, pulling them apart.

Weeks before this event Mek was visiting her friend the giant black bear, he had been on Mek’s Yinder account for fun to see, or rather swipe other animals online. Often he had liked certain animals that might be to Mek’s liking, as he explained it to her. Mek didn’t mind it and thought, “if it makes you happy doing this..’’, and kept quiet. Not knowing this would result in many things to come. The black bear would swipe for hours, left, right, left,right, laughing and judging the many selfies he found. Mek herself didn’t use her account that much anymore and thought it was rather strange. Thinking back of the many animals she had met, none of them were actually interested in really getting to know each other. So she quit using Yinder after a while and let her friend now have his fun with ‘swiping’. But.. At a certain time he had liked, with Mek’s permission, the profile of a polar bear. “A Polar bear?!.. hadn’t they gone extinct?’’ they both exclaimed in surprise, as they gazed at Lucia’s profile. They had immediately hit the “like’’ button and continued the rest of their evening singing songs together and play video games.

It was a new year and Mek was having stomach infections, caused by stress from past trauma. Sick and resting in her cold and empty place, her phone started buzzing with a “ping’’. She opened her phone and saw the notification ‘It’s a match!’. Curious to see with whom, she continued on reading the profile. It was the cute polar bear from 2 years ago with the most beautiful eyes! As she remembered all this, Mek’s heart made a strange little flip. Without knowing, she was moved into action, not by her own will but by some kind of force. She quickly typed out a message: “What’s your favorite song at the moment?’’ And hit send.

One day passed. Then two. Then three. Days passed and Mek forgot about this match by now and thought “just another one who didn’t feel like talking’’ and she went on with her life.

Then after a few days her phone went buzzing…