thought you stopped worrying about Aleu?

Balto: I thought so too.

            Boris looked over Balto’s shoulder to see Farris lying on the ground unconscious. He then walked over to him.

Boris: What happened to him?

            Sarah then stepped in and stood next to Boris.

Sarah: We were hunting a moose; and he attacked it head on, and got himself thrown and knocked unconscious.

Boris: Ugh. That’s terrible.

Balto: Aleu should be back with Steven soon, right?

Boris: Yes, they should-

            Boris then saw a wolf and a human running in their direction. It was Steven an Aleu. They were almost there.

Boris: Ah! They’re here!

            Boris started jumping up and down, pointing behind Balto to here Steven an Aleu were coming from. Balto saw them running towards them in the distance. It was a great relief seeing them. Farris is going to be alright. Balto thought. He had complete confidence in Steven that he was going to take care of him. All Balto could do was stand and wait for them to arrive.

     It wasn’t very long until Niju started to get a little tired. He wasn’t standing where he was for very long as much as he was maintaining the position that he was in. He had to stay where he was, not a single movement, or he would totally blow his cover. Wolves have a keen sense of hearing as they do a sense of smell. Niju obviously knew this, but at this moment, he hated that fact for his sake.

            Niju was really ready to just quietly walk away. But then, something caught his attention. Out of the corner of his eye, Niju saw a goose flying about thirty feet in the air. He was doing a clumsy job. A goose that doesn’t know how to fly? He thought. This is an odd place. Then he saw the goose stop because he stopped flapping his wings. He was screaming. Stupid goose. Niju thought. Shortly after that, he began to spin in circles towards the ground. He took it as entertaining how this goose was acting. I wonder if Aleu knows him.

            Then he heard this goose yell Balto’s name several times. Balto knew this goose. Ok.Niju thought. Now I know Balto knows weird animals, and of a completely different species at that. Niju meant no offense, but Aleu’s father was a little weird, but only from what he’s seen of him so far… ever since the first time he met him that is.

            Niju squinted when he saw the goose crash into a bush. Ow. That has to hurt. He thought. He heard Balto mention the goose’s name. Boris. A funny name for a goose, he thought. But Niju didn’t know any gooses, so he couldn’t really say anything.

            Niju tried to listen closely to what they were saying. The goose got a little frustrated at first, but calmed down really fast. Then he heard them mention Aleu and that human. Niju tried his best to listen as closely as he could. He even tried moving his head forward a little.

            Niju was standing as still as he possibly could, trying to stretch his head a little closer to hear better. He heard the goose mention that he was sent there to tell Balto and the clan that they were coming. Aleu! Niju thought. She’s coming! Niju really couldn’t wait to see Aleu again, although it had only been that morning that he saw her. Niju as extremely urgent to tell Aleu how he felt about her… But then, that thought came to him again. He really tried not to think of it. He thought that they had come way too close as friends for it just to end that way, and so soon. Everything will be fine. Niju thought, or he hoped.

            Then he saw Boris walk over to Farris lying on the ground. He wasn’t moving one bit. He saw a little movement where his belly was from breathing ever so gently, but that was it. Then Sarah walked over and started talking. Niju listened closely. She was explaining what had happened. He could catch a few things that she was saying. It was something about a moose.

            Only a few seconds after Niju hear Sarah talking, he heard Boris yell out. “Ah! They’re here!” It must have been Aleu. Aleu? Niju thought. He had turned his head around in an instant, seeing Aleu and the human running towards the clan from the distance. She was here. Niju couldn’t help but say something.

Niju: Aleu!

            But then Niju remembered instantly that no one knew that he was in the bushes. Thankfully he had only whispered loudly. Niju lowered his head a little.

            Niju was so glad to see Aleu. Despite the very possibility that they probably can’t see each other, Niju felt very confident that they would be able to. Just the sight of her gave Niju that kind of confidence. She wasn’t just any friend to Niju; she was special.

Chapter 29

     Aleu was really trying not to rush Steven. He was running as fast as he could but he didn’t know where they were going, so Aleu had to wait for him. Aleu had noticed that Steven wasn’t the fastest sprinter, but she had to give him credit for trying as best he could.

            Aleu had been looking behind to see if Steven was keeping up. He was falling a little bit behind. She noticed that he started slowing down, which obviously was not good. He was still trying to maintain his recent pace, which made Aleu happy, knowing that he was still trying his hardest. When they got there, she wouldn’t stop him from taking a break, she wouldn’t even urge him one bit when he carried Farris back to Nome.

            Aleu looked strait foreword to see if they were close. They were in fact very close. She saw her father standing in the opening, waiting for them. She was hoping to God that Farris was still ok. She began to run faster towards her father who is standing in the open. They were close enough for Steven to see where Balto and the clan were, so it was ok for her to rush ahead.

Aleu: Papa!

Balto: Aleu! Thank goodness you made it.

            Aleu reached her father within a few seconds and then stopped in front of him.

Aleu: How is Farris? Is he alright?

            Aleu was panting and was speaking in an urgent worrying tone.

Balto: Don’t worry. He’s fine.

            Balto stood aside an Aleu poked her head over to see Farris still lying on the ground.

Balto: He hasn’t moved but he’s still breathing.

            Unfortunately, Balto was right. Farris hadn’t moved at all. But Aleu was still very glad that he was still, in a sense, alright. Aleu rushed over to Farris. Sarah, Nuk, Yak, and Sumac who were standing in front of him, made way for Aleu. When she got there, she stood still for a moment, staring at Farris. She came closer to him, trying to get a better look at him. She slowly got closer and closer. When she got about two inches above his head, she stopped. Aleu reached down and nuzzled Farris under his neck, slightly lifting his head up, and then gently putting it back down.

Aleu: C’mon, Farris. Please, wake up. I’m so sorry. I should have told you where I was going. Please, forgive me.

            Aleu then lied own in front of Farris and nuzzled him again. Aleu had never meant for this to happen to Farris. She thought maybe if she were a little more humble with her apology, Farris wouldn’t have done this.

            Then Aleu heard the slightest whisper.

Farris: It’s alright.

            Aleu was shocked, but more than glad to hear his voice. Farris was awake! He looked tired.

Aleu: Farris!

Farris: Hey, Aleu. Hope you didn’t mind, I was a little tired.

            Farris made the slightest chuckle. There was nothing like some of his “wrong time humor” to make someone laugh or even just sigh on how lame the joke was. Farris was talking in a very raspy voice.

Aleu: Oh, I’m so glad you’re ok.

Farris: Yeah. I’m alive.

            Farris gave another quiet chuckle.

Aleu: Are you alright?

Farris: Yeah, I’m fine.

Aleu: How bad are you hurt?

Farris: Not too bad. I can’t really move my legs. My left shoulder’s a little sore.

            Aleu heard someone walking from behind. It was Steven. He was quietly approaching Farris, slowly