ground fast, hitting his head on a rock, being knocked unconscious.

            Aleu looked in shock at Farris’s body, lying stiffly on the ground. He wasn’t moving, not one inch. He had never made that kind of move before; he had always done what she said when it came to hunting.

            The clan started to follow the moose as it started to run away. They didn’t know that Farris as unconscious. 

Aleu: Abort, everybody! Farris is hurt!

            Aleu ran over to Farris. He hadn’t moved one bit from where he was laying. When Aleu reached him, she saw that he was still breathing.

            She started to move his shoulder with her muzzle. Balto stood behind her.

Aleu: Farris?! C’mon, wake up! 

            Sarah and Nuk ran up to them.

Sarah: Is he alright?

Nuk: What happened?

Sarah: Were you paying attention at all?!  

Aleu: Don’t start, guys! This is no time to argue!

Balto: Is he going to be alright?

Aleu: I don’t know. Please, Farris, wake up!

            Aleu was terrified that he wasn’t going to be alright. She knew that it was really stupid to do what he did, but then she thought about what happened earlier.

Sarah: What should we do?

            Aleu didn’t quite know at the moment, but she knew she had to think very quickly. They needed to find a way for him to be carried to Nome. She knew that they couldn’t drag him the whole way. It would take too much time. They would have to get a human.

            Then Steven came to mind. Perfect! Aleu thought.

Aleu: I’ll go into town and get Steven. His father is a doctor, he knows about medicine.

            Balto ran up to his daughter as she started to run.

Balto: Wait, Aleu. I’ll go-

Aleu: No, Papa. I’ll go.

Balto: Aleu, you can’t go into town now. You’ll get shot!

Aleu: I’ve been into town before, Papa.

Balto: That was early in the morning, Aleu, when everyone was still asleep. It’s only a few hours from noon. People are to be out of their homes by now for sure.

Aleu: Papa, we don’t have time! Plus I’m the only one Steven can understand. I’ll take the alley ways.

            Aleu stated to run towards town, and then turned back around.

Aleu: Make sure everyone stays here with Farris. I’ll be back soon, I promise.

            Aleu started to run again, and then her father called out to her.

Balto: Be careful, Aleu!

Aleu: Don’t worry about me, Papa! I’ll be fine!

            Balto watched Aleu as she ran. Then he turned to the clan.

Balto: Alright, everyone. Aleu said stay here until she gats back. She’s going to get Steven.

Sarah: We need to receive direct orders from the Alpha-Female herself.

Balto: Well, I’m her father. I think that qualifies.

            Aleu ran as fast as she could towards Nome, hoping to God that Steven would be home, and at the same time, if Farris could gold on until she came back. 

Chapter 24

            A few minutes after Aleu had left with her clan, Niju had taken a walk to get some food and exercise. He thought it did him some good taking walks every once and a while. He had found a useful hobby to get away from everything and to clear his head. He rally needed it.

            The first thought that had come to his mind was if he would ever see Aleu again. He didn’t know if she was forced to explain what had happened and if she was with him that night. Or if maybe she thought it would be safer for the both of them if she had stayed away from Niju, and if he had done the same. Niju really didn’t want to think like that, but the thought never escaped his mind. What if that does happen? He thought. What if Aleu was forced to never see him again…? Or if maybe, what if she didn’t want to be friends with him anymore? That was the thought that scared him he most of all. He didn’t know if that apology meant, “I’m sorry, I’ll see you later.” Or “I’m sorry; I can’t be friends with you anymore.” And that word “friend” haunted him. He knew he should have told her how he really felt about her before she left, but it wasn’t either of their faults. The clan arriving and the bother of them being in the cave at the same time was all just bad timing, and there was nothing either of them could have done about it. But still, it haunted him.

            Niju had stopped at a stream to get a drink. And the first thing he smelled was the clan. The scent was very strong, so they must have been very close. The possibility that they may have been watching him made the hair on his back stand up. But then he heard voices. He recognized on of them. It was Nuk. Niju knew the tone of his voice like the back of his paw. Then he heard Sarah’s voice almost immediately. The two of them were arguing again, predictable. But then, he heard another voice, one he knew he had heard before, but just couldn’t put his tongue on which it came from. It sounded like whoever it came from was trying to break up the argument, like that was ever possible.

            Niju heard that it was coming from behind the bushes on the other side of the stream. He quietly crossed it and put his ear closer to where it was coming from. It was maybe about fifteen or twenty feet from where he was standing right then. He started to slowly and quietly work his way through the bushes, trying to make as less noise as possible. 

            The bushes weren’t very thick, which was both good and a bad thing. Because the bushes were so thin, he could see better and wouldn’t have to go as far into the bushes. But having them be so thin could have risked the possibility of him being seen, so he just prayed that no one was looking in his direction.

            He had gone far enough into the bushes to a point where he could see fairly enough what was going on. He could see the clan, all of them standing in one area. They were all there. Sarah, Nuk, Yak, Sumac, everybody. But he couldn’t’ see Aleu anywhere. Where could she be? He thought. He looked around everyone, she was nowhere in sight. But then, something else caught his attention. It was Aleu’s father, Balto! Niju was both glad and not glad to see him. Now he knew that he lives close, so he could apologize to him. But he knew if Balto saw him now, he would not be happy. So Niju gladly kept his distance.

            He noticed that they were all surrounding something. There was a wolf lying on the ground. He wasn’t moving, and it seemed that that was what all the commotion about. Niju tried to make out who it was laying on the ground. It had been a very long time since he had seen his clan, so he couldn’t remember everyone. He hadn’t had the slightest clue of who it was until he heard them mention his name. It was Farris. He was unconscious. What could have happened to him? Niju thought. He could only remember a bit about Farris. He knew that the two of them didn’t get along very well. Whenever Niju had an opinion on something, Farris’s thought was the complete opposite. They had never agreed on a single thing in the past, so that made them enemies. Niju didn’t know what to think of it now. Maybe he owed Farris an apology too.

            Then all of a sudden, Niju head Balto mention Aleu. Niju’s ears perked up once he had heard her name. Niju started to listen very closely.

Balto: Look, everyone. Aleu should be at Steven’s house right now. I don’t think this is the time to be arguing over whether or not you should listen to me.

Sarah: With all do respect, Balto. You aren’t a member of this clan.

Balto: I understand that, but I’m telling you what she told me with sure honesty. She promised she would be back soon. 

Sarah: I hope you’re right. If Aleu isn’t back with that human, we may loose Farris.

Balto: Trust me. My baby always keeps her word.

            Niju was confused. Who was this human named Steven? It must have been someone that Aleu knew. It was strange to Niju; a wolf befriending a human? What happened ever since I left? He thought. He knew the only answer he would get to that question was from Aleu. But he’d have to wait either until she was alone, or until she came back to him. And with the chances that they might not see each other again, the possibilities seemed very slim.