The wolf's appearance is sudden and dramatic, signaled by the cracking of dry branches in the dense undergrowth.
It is first seen as a head peeking over a rocky ledge, its stance and gaze described as alert and intense, as it observes a falling stone.
The man and woman call out to the wolf, and the dog-like response (flattening its ears, seeming to nuzzle an unseen hand) suggests a familiarity and a dual nature, part wild wolf, part domesticated animal.