only about maybe twenty more yards. Balto and Aleu were trotting on his sides, watching Farris as they walked. He was fast asleep. Although Steven knew this, he tried to talk to him soothingly.

Steven: It’s ok, boy. Don’t worry, we’re almost there.

            Aleu looked over Steven’s right arm, trying to get a good look at Farris. He was asleep. Aleu could tell that because he was slightly turning his head sideways for comfort. So he wasn’t exactly unconscious.

            Steven looked up and saw his father, jogging toward him from town. Aleu had the courtesy to wag her tail a bit. Aleu knew Steven’s father well enough to greet him fairly. Balto was keeping a watchful eye on him, looking for any sudden movements on Aleu.

John: Steven! Where have you been?

            He slowed down a bit and lowered his tone. Steven’s father didn’t have a really big temper, as long as what ever Steven was doing at the time seemed to make sense. He noticed the wolf that he was carrying and thought: Something must have happened.

John: Your mother and I have been looking every where for you. You can’t just run off without letting us know.

            Steven stopped for a moment when his father reached him. He started to pant from the heavy weight that he had been carrying.

Steven: This was urgent; Pa. Aleu came to my room from my outside door. She wanted me to follow her to the woods. When I got there this guy was lying on the ground unconscious.

John: What happened?

Steven: He hurt his chest and now he can’t move his shoulders.

John: How did this happen?

Steven: I don’t know. But we need to get him to your office.

            Steven started walking again. His father moved to the side stopping him in his tracks.

John: Whoa, hold on. We can’t just bring him into the building, he’s a wolf.

Steven: So what if he’s a wolf? We can’t just abandon him.

John: Steven, the vets are going to go ballistic when they see this wolf, they’re not going to let me help him.

Steven: Well, if the vets really care about animals, they will care about his one.

            Steven’s father looked at his son and thought of it for a minute. Aleu really didn’t like where this was going. If he said “no” then Farris was in trouble. So Aleu tried to look as innocent as she could.

Steven: C’mon, Pa.You know how much this means to me.

Steven’s father looked at Balto. He knew his story, but how was he involved in this? Does Balto know this wolf? He asked himself. Then he looked at Aleu. She must know him. He thought. He had seen her run with a pack some time ago.

            He figured that he couldn’t just leave this wolf. As a vet he took it upon himself to help all animals, wolf or not. And if he did say no, Steven would never forgive him.

John: Alright. Steven. We’ll take him in and try to convince them.

            Steven’s face slightly lit up. He knew his father knew that he loved wolves. He was very happy with him for helping Farris.

Steven: Thanks, Pa.

            Steven’s father gave his son a reassuring smile in return. Steven started to walk again, walking with his father.

John: Here. Let me take him.

Steven: Alright. Careful, you’re going to have to carry him on his back.

            Steven then gently handed Farris into his father’s arms. Aleu was so relieved when she saw that they were walking. She was so relieved that Stevens father was going to help Farris. Everything was going to be alright. She started to trot after Steven and his father. Balto followed her. He couldn’t help but smile when he agreed to take Farris in. He was proud of the human for helping him, although he was a wild wolf. Balto caught up and walked beside his daughter, while the four of them took Farris to the Nome vet.

Chapter 34

     The vet had taken Farris with the help of Steven’s convincement. But Balto and Aleu had to stay outside. They found a window to the side of John’s office. They ran around the side to the window and put their front paws on the rail to see what was going on. Steven’s father had carefully laid Farris on a bed for an X-ray scan. As he slowly went into the large tube, Aleu and Balto watched with curiosity.

Aleu: What are they doing?

Balto: I’m not sure. It can’t be anything bad or Steven wouldn’t allow it.

            Aleu was glad to hear that. She knew that Steven would never try to hurt any animal.

            Aleu saw a machine spitting out black shiny papers. They had white images of Farris’s bones on them.

            John took a good look at the X-ray results.

John: It doesn’t look too bad. There is a disconnection on his left shoulder where the scapula meets the humorous. It must have been some type of heavy blow to the chest, or else he wouldn’t have gone unconscious. Plus two parts of the scapula are fractured.

            John thought hard about the possibilities of what had happened.

John: I don’t know, son. Maybe he fell off a small cliff and landed on his chest or something.

Steven: It couldn’t have been. There were no cliffs around the area where they were.

            John tried to take a closer look. Steven looked over his shoulder and noticed how sharply fractured the two spots on the scapula were.

Steven: There are two different spots on the scapula that are fractured right?

John: Yeah.

Steven: Then maybe he was hit by something by force. Like a moose trying to defend it’s self or something.

John: Hmm. That could be very likely. Why don’t you follow my studies? You could be better than me someday. I mean you’re great with animals. And it seems that you know more about cause and effect than I do.

Steven: I’ve been looking into it a bit.

John: That’s good. You should keep up with it.

            John and Steven walked over to Farris and picked him up lightly from the X-ray table and gently onto a patient bed. Steven had helped his dad put some support on Farris’s shoulders where they were sore. Farris was sleeping soundly, breathing gently in and out.

John: He will have to stay here for a few weeks until he recovers. Some slight surgery would have to be performed on him to fix those fractured spots on his scapula.

            John took off his gloves, turned around and put his hand on his son’s shoulder.

John: Don’t worry. He’ll be just fine, son. I promise.

Steven: Thanks pop.

John: You’re welcome, son.

            As John turned around and walked over to his desk, Steven took a last look at Farris. He was still asleep. He looked like he was sleeping well too. He was so glad to help him. He looked to his right as saw Balto and Aleu in the window. Aleu was aching to know what was wrong; Steven could tell it by the look on her face. He gave her a smile, hoping that she would get the message. She did, and returned the favor.

Balto: What is it Aleu?

Aleu: I think he’s going to be alright.

Balto: Really?

            Balto turned and saw Steven running his hand along Farris’s side over and over.

Aleu: Yeah... He’s going to be fine.

            Balto and Aleu sat there in the window and watched as Steven petted Farris, for they had a feeling that everything was going to be fine, and it was. Farris would be out of the vet in a few weeks, and he would be up and running again in no time at all, so it seemed.

Chapter 35

            After Aleu ran off, there was nothing more to see. The clan had left the forest in the other direction, thankfully. Niju backed out from the bush and began to walk back to the cave he was staying in.

            He was more than relieved of the fact that Aleu still wanted Niju to be her friend, he was happy as can be. He couldn’t stop thinking of Aleu. He thought of what she said before she left. “Maybe this afternoon. If not, tomorrow, I promise.” She Promised! Niju thought. That meant that he was going to see her for sure. He started to get a little excited. His feelings started to reach out towards him. He loved being with Aleu, more than he loved being with anyone else. She’s the one. She’s the one, I know it! He thought to