the wolf from the corner of his eye and looked curious. He wondered why the wolf was there, why he was watching his friends. Was he planning to attack them, should he warn his friends, should he do something?
  No, if that wolf wanted to do something it would have by now... He thought, being unable to tell the gender from his high point. I'll keep an eye on it but... Was this the one Annabelle wanted me to wait for?

  Duncan blinked at the corner of the building. He was sure he had seen something there, something dark red, and started to move towards it. Suddenly he was picked up, and was soon turned by his scruff to look into the brown eyes of his Uncle, who was grinning.
  "Where are ya going scamp?" Zak chuckled. Duncan pawed his nose playfully.
  "I thought I saw something over there around the corner." The puppy replied. Zak blinked and looked around him, his cropped ears giving a twitch. "I'm sure I did Uncle Zak." The Doberman looked at the pup and then back at the corner.
  "We'll check it out in awhile Duncan, but right now they need our help." He gestured towards the others setting up boxes of fireworks. Duncan's ears flattened.
  "Please Uncle Zak?" He whined, then gave a puppy's natural weapon: the eyes. Zak blinked at him a moment then patted his head. He gave his pointed right ear a flick and smiled at the pup.
  "D'aaawww, how could I say no to that face eh?" He said, playfully setting him on the ground then rolling Duncan onto his back, starting to rub his belly with one of his huge paws. Duncan smiled and nibbled Zak's tan toe, then the big dog let him up and he rolled onto his paws. When the pup started leading Zak followed behind but a bit over him, in case it was a bad dog or a dog catcher.
  Hearing a shuffling noise from around the corner, the big Doberman hunkered down over his nephew, eyes narrowing a bit. Everyone stopped their activities to watch the two, wondering what was up. Motioning his nephew more towards his hind legs, Zak continued forward, short fur starting to bristle up. He looked around the corner a split second before pulling back as a red blur jumped at him, missing his face by a hair. And standing there, to all their surprise, was a red and orange wolf, growling.
  A sort of fatherly instinct kicked into Zak and he hunkered low, despite the danger of being in a position like that, shielding Duncan in case the wolf decided to attack and he growled. The others gathered around the tan dog, and all of a sudden the wolf whimpered and backed away. They all noticed something at that moment: The wolf was short, shorter than even Zero and Chandler, who were both fairly young.
  "I didn't mean any harm..." The wolf said, tail between his legs. "I just got scared when he came around." He nodded at Zak. "The pup I wouldn't have minded but seriously, that guy is huge!"
  Zak blinked at him, looking confused. Duncan squeezed out from under his Uncle and darted forward, dodging everyone's grabbing paws and went up to the wolf. Koko backed off slightly as he looked at the pup, who tilted his head at him.
  "You don't have to be scared mister." Duncan said, smiling. "What's your name?" The wolf blinked at him a few seconds.
  "Koko..." He said.
  "Pleasure to meet ya, I'm Duncan." Duncan offered his paw. After examining him for a moment, Koko shook and smiled gratefully. The young pup seemed to notice something. "Mister Koko..."
  "Yeah?"
  "Why aren't ya shaking like me?" He asked curiously. The wolf glanced down and saw the pup's paw could extend like a human's hand, just like the others.
  "I just can't..." After making sure it was safe, the other dogs stepped up and introduced themselves, smiling to reassure the lost wolf. After adjusting to them, he became a bit more confident, smiling  and he told them where he came from, how he got there, and why he was hiding at first.

  He can't walk or hold things like the rest of us? Lupus wondered. Maybe that's what this miracle is supposed to be for, to help him out... But I need one more so he can truly fit in...
  His plan was to make it so the wolf could stand and do other things like they could, and to be able to live there only if he wanted. If he wasn't going to stay, then he wouldn't use them, but if he was going to then he would help him become one of them.
  "Wait and see Cantus... Wait and see..." The Husky muttered to himself, lying down and looking down at them. Behind him, he was being watched from the plate by another Husky, who was going to make sure he did the right thing...

  After everything had been straightened out between all the canines, Koko helped in any way he could, even though he couldn't hold things. He dug small holes, used his claws to tear wrappings off, and helped pick spots for fireworks. They all worked fast, chatting about anything and everything, about how that year had been, New Year's Resolutions, and what they would do at the stroke of 12. Koko was happy to be apart of it all, sharing his history with his new friends.
  The wolf loved it there. The lights, the sounds, everything about the city around him! He was actually mentally deciding whether he would stay here or go home. Soon the rest were taking a break and the wolf took a seat beside Zak, who was opening a can of beer and licking his lips eagerly. Seeing the wolf's curious look, he grinned and offered the open can.
  "Come on, take a big gulp pal." He said. "My favorite kind of booze."
  "... Booze?" Koko looked curious.
  "Yeah, just a quick one before New Years, then I'm going all out. Try it!" Koko, being curious, took the beer can carefully between his jaws and tilted his head back, swallowing half the can before setting it down. Suddenly a jolt went through him that he had never felt in Nome, and he grinned.
  "Wow Zak! That stuff is good!" He said. "Can I have some more?" Zak shook his head and chugged the rest.
  "Just wait until night pal. That's when booze is like rain." He laughed.
  "If that stuff is always that good, I'll stay here!" He said, wagging his fluffy tail. Zak wagged his stub, hoping for a new drinking buddy to hang with.
  "Hey guys, come and help us inside!" Charlie called. "Gotta get decorations up if you guys are done setting up fireworks!" Zak and Koko stood up and headed inside to help as much as they could, trying to beat the New Year clock.

  "So he's staying..." Lupus muttered. "I suppose this miracle will be his New Years gift from me..." He held up the golden tag, eager to finally use it. He heard a small tinkling behind him and twisted around quickly.
  There was a second dog tag. He knew he could use for the next part of his idea: make it so Koko could stay without having animal control being called on him, keep him out of the zoo. He went over and picked it up, looking up at the sky.
  "Thanks..." He gave a smile. From inside the plate, which he wasn't paying attention to, the second Husky from before winked at him before leaving him with his own reflection, knowing his job was done to help his brother.

  It was dark out, 11:30, and everything had been set. Fireworks placed, tied by one fuse, decorations up, party hats handed out, and beer ready to be guzzled down by everyone's favorite tan mix. Charlie looked around, satisfied.
  "Well guys, we rushed through, but we got it done." He said, looking towards his friends and wagging his scruffy tail. He raised a red plastic cup with beer in it, and everyone joined him. "A toast to our speed, a toast to a new year, and a toast to our new wolf pal Koko!"
  Everyone howled and took a drink (besides Koko himself, he had to lap from his cup). Zak, unlike everyone else, took two cups, loving the rush of being buzzed. Joey paid special attention to the younger dogs like Zero, Chandler, and Duncan to make sure they avoided alcohol, and had gotten Pepsi specifically for them. Itchy had brought the TV down for them to watch the official countdown and was their spotter for when the final countdown came down.
  Practically everyone showed up to Charlie's New Year party: Zero's girlfriend Mishka, another drinking buddy of Zak's, Espee Timothy, Christian, Zak's girlfriend Molly Beth, Sasha, and, to everyone's surprise, Lupus and Pangari. It was odd, but it was New Years and everyone was more worried about watching the clock, conversing, being social and having fun.
  "Nice party. You help set up lazy-stub?" Espee asked Zak as he sat beside him. He was normally very dull, annoyed with everything and self-righteous, but around Zak he chilled out, considering him a close friend even if they were just drinking buddies. The Doberman nodded, grinning stupidly due to his drinks. Duncan sat on his other side, drinking his Pepsi and watching the two adults.
  Suddenly, Itchy called Joey over. After a hurried conversation, Joey let out a booming bark and everyone shut up and looked over.
  "Last minute everyone!" He called. Everyone looked over, still in anticipation. 50... 49... 48...
  Lupus reached into his fur...
  30... 29... 28...
  He touched the two tags and focused on what he wanted: for Koko to stay with them.
  22... 21... 20...
  Koko felt odd. He didn't know why, but it felt...