Diary from L'Aquila

Once the Ark landed again, all the creatures chosen to be saved according to an unknown design, got down on a place near the sea, under the warm rays of a new sun shining after days and days of black clouds and cold rain. They all came down, the tiger and the wolf, the lamb and the gazelle. They thought they were safe, inside the Ark imminent death had made them all companions of a common destiny. But as soon as they were down on firm land again, all the survivors of the Deluge, the wolf and tiger started little by little to forget the newly established friendships, their shields against the common danger, and some time later the wolf felt he was no more a forlorn, stranded creature but a wolf again.

All those that had been made meek by the cataclysm returned to their previous selves, and most of those that were meek before became still more fragile, if possible, though a very few were made stronger because they would be leading the crowds of the innocent. The meek, gentle gazelle had never had to change, and she had accepted with a new joy the wolf's friendship when they were in the Ark during the deluge, and continued to see the wolf as a friend for just a little too long, too late did she realize the change that was taking place in him.

The wolf exploited the new-formed friendship and led the gazelle to follow him far from the protection of her flock, far from the hammering hooves of the stronger animals. The wolf was speaking of an enchanted place he had just discovered, and she was curious to see this mysterious place too; there was no time for her to realize what was happening, the wolf struck her precious red heart with hungry fangs. Somehow the wolf did not kill her - had something changed in him forever? - and with blood streaking her soft mantle and her trust shattered the gazelle went in search of her mother, an ocean of tears and no need for words. The mother raised her eyes with a judgment that fell like a sword on the wolf, who was ashamed, and ran away to hide. Then she washed the wound, and her little one fell asleep, with her pain soothed in the warm safe nest of motherly love.

When the following morning the sun rose again, the young gazelle was healed, and her beautiful eyes shone as black pearls under the golden beams, reflecting the azure of the sky. Her legs were strong, her spirit proud, her hooves anxious, as she, more beautiful than ever, triumphantly ran among the waves, leaving a shower of sparkling foam behind herself, towards the splendid future at the horizon where sea and sky meet each other.