There was something about Aleu that I couldn’t see when I first met her. Now that my eyes have finally opened, I had realized something. I was missing out on something much larger than life itself…

 

 

 

Balto: And what’s that?

 

 

 

Niju: Love… And when I experience it with Aleu I experience it all… When I’m with her, I’m not on earth anymore, I’m in Heaven. When she talks to me, I get lost in her words. When I walk beside her I feel like I can walk forever.

 

 

 

            Balto began to realize it. Niju must have really meant it when he said he was in love with Aleu. He looked at Niju as he continued to speak.

 

 

 

Niju: Aleu is the best thing that has ever happened to me, Balto… She’s the one that let this second chance be possible, she’s the one that taught me how to love… and if I ever lost her, I… I don’t know what I’d do…        

 

 

 

Balto was moved. He had never heard anyone speak like that about someone they loved. He started to think, Maybe Aleu and Niju are meant for each other.

 

 

 

Niju: So I ask this of you, will you let me be with her?

 

 

 

            There was a long pause.

 

 

 

Balto: I want you to do something for me, Niju…

 

 

 

Niju: What is it, Balto?

 

 

 

Balto: I want you to get off my boat, go back to the forest…

 

 

 

            Niju began to loose hope. It seemed obvious that Balto didn’t want him in his sight. He started to think about Aleu. What was he going to tell her?

 

 

 

Balto: And I want you to tell Aleu… that you love her, that you’ll always care for her, and that you have never been happier with anyone else in your life. That always tends to do the trick.  

 

 

 

            Niju couldn’t believe it. Balto was accepting it. He was accepting the fact that they were in love. All of Niju’s hopes were coming true.

 

 

 

Balto: (smilng) And you can add in a few things if you want to.

 

 

 

            Niju smiled at Balto. He had never felt so much hope in his life. It seemed like everything was going to be alright from now on. He wished more than anything to have Aleu with him at that very moment.

 

 

 

Niju: (smiling) Balto, I don’t know what to say… except thank you… Thank you, so much. I swear I’ll do everything to make her happy.

 

 

 

Balto: You better. 

 

 

 

Niju: You have my word…

 

 

 

            Niju couldn’t describe how happy he felt inside. It seemed like he had already completed his task, that he was now completely forgiven.

 

 

 

Niju: Thank you so much…

 

 

 

Balto: (softly) go to her, Niju.

 

 

 

            Niju began to turn to run in the other direction, back to the woods. He stopped to look at Balto a last time. He would never forget him, how he made it possible for him and Aleu to be together. Niju turned back around, jumped off the boat, and ran to the woods to meet his lover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 45

 

 

 

 

Sarah: Well, it’s great to have you back, Farris.

 

 

 

Farris: I tell you what, guys, it’s great to be back. I missed you guys.

 

 

 

Aleu: I missed you too, Farris. And I’m sure everyone else feels the same, right guys?

 

 

 

            They all said “right” as if they were going to get in trouble if they didn’t.

 

 

 

Farris: (with a chuckle) Thanks, guys.

 

 

 

            Farris looked over at Aleu and winked. Aleu gave him a friendly wink back at him and continued to lead them. Farris watched Aleu as she got ahead of them. He was so glad that things worked out between the two of them after what happened. Aleu is such a great person to get along with, he thought. She’s so reasonable and forgiving, and kind… and caring… and beautiful, he thought. In a sense he was sort of glad that they had argued. He now knew that if something like that happened between them, it would all work out alright in the end, and knowing that, he felt that what he and Aleu had was special. He began to admire her with every minute that passed. The way she directed and led them, the way she reasoned with them and talked to them. She’s so kind to all of us… unlike Niju!  He thought. He couldn’t get over how much he despised that wolf and how he treated them. If I ever see him again, He thought, I’ll make him wish he was never cruel to us, especially Aleu!   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 46

 

 

 

 

     Niju continued to run towards the forest with all the confidence in the world. He couldn’t wait to see Aleu again and bring her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her. He felt so glad that he almost knew for certain that the clan would accept his apology and welcome him back. He didn’t have a doubt in the world, for he was too happy to have doubt.

            He loved Aleu so much. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her and then some. He wanted to marry her. He wanted to have pups with her and watch them grow up with her at his side. And when they passed on, he wanted to spend the rest of eternity with her in Heaven. That being thought, he thanked God for his opportunity for this second chance to change his life, to change him, and most of all, to let him realize that change was the very thing that made all of this possible.

            Niju could smell Aleu. She was close, he could feel it. But he also smelt something else. Something that he knew he hadn’t smelt in a long time. He tried to ignore it to keep track of Aleu’s scent.

            He ran past a group of thin trees and saw a large group of bushes. Aleu’s scent was stronger than ever, as well as the other strange scent. But he didn’t care; all he wanted was to reach Aleu as soon as he could. He sprinted through the bushes, ignoring the slight pain he felt with the branches scratching against his side. As he got closer and closer to the opening, he waited for what there was to see on the other side.

 

 

 

_

 

 

 

            Aleu could hear a thick rustling of bushes to her right. She wondered what the heck it could me. After she heard it, it stopped immediately. She looked to her right to see a dark wolf like figure leaping out of the bushes, running out into the open. She got a better look at the figure and saw to her surprise that it was Niju. Oh, no! She thought. What’s he doing here?!

            Niju slid out into the middle of the opening as he tried to stop himself from running any further. He could hear the gasps of surprise by everyone around him. It was the clan that he had smelt, and they were all there, every single one of them. They surrounded him as he looked all around. He saw Nuk, Yuk, Sumac, Sarah, everybody. He could see Aleu among the crowd, looking more worried than he had ever seen her. And next to her, was Farris, not looking happy at all what so ever.

 

 

 

Nuk: Niju! What are you doin’ here?!

 

 

 

Yuk: Yeah. You’s not supposed to be here!

 

 

 

            Niju’s heart felt like it was going to break out of his chest. He looked all around him. He could see the faces on all the wolves distorting into anger. This looked all too familiar to him, and he knew it wasn’t good.

 

 

 

Sarah: It looks like the coward has returned.

 

 

 

            Niju could see the wolves begin to growl as they agreed with Sarah’s comment. He looked in front of him and saw Farris walking slowly into the circle, head lowered, and fangs bared.

 

 

 

Farris: So… you’ve come back. Haven’t you learned your lesson the first time we told you to leave?!

 

 

 

            Niju looked over Farris’s shoulder and saw Aleu. She began to panic. She looked so afraid, but he knew he couldn’t go over to her to comfort her.

 

 

 

Aleu: Farris, wait!

 

 

 

Farris: Stand back, Aleu! He could be dangerous!

 

 

 

            Niju thought this was an outrage. He would never hurt Aleu. But he didn’t want to have the nerve to show anger; it would only persuade them more that he hadn’t changed.

 

 

 

Farris: Why have you come back?!

 

 

 

Niju: Farris, please. I mean you no harm-

 

 

 

Farris: The heck, you mean me no harm! You think you can just walk back into this clan and think nothing’s changed?!

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