slowly started to walk towards the cave. Her heart started to beat faster as she got closer. She then reached the doorway of the cave. It was a little dark, but since the sun was out, it wasn’t too dark.

            Aleu started to quietly walk into the cave, keeping her head down and looking around the whole room. She didn’t see Niju, so she started to walk deeper into the cave until she was in the center of the floor. Aleu looked around… he wasn’t there. Aleu was confused, she could smell his scent as though he was right there in front of her, but he was nowhere to be seen.

            Aleu started to walk along the walls of the cave to see if there were any rooms in the cave he would have gone in. There were none she could see. Aleu stood in the center of the cave, wondering where he could be. Then in the light she saw another shadow next to hers on the wall of the cave. Aleu quickly turned around to see who it was. It was Niju, standing in the entrance.

Aleu: Niju! - I mean, hi. 

Niju: (Sounding upset) what are you doing here? 

Aleu: Niju I-

Niju: I thought you said you didn’t want to catch me in your sight again. 

Aleu: Niju, please listen, about that… I know what I said was mean, and maybe a bit hurtful. And I just (sigh) I know that it’s hard to hear me talk like this to you after what I said yesterday. 

            Aleu tried to gather her thoughts. She didn’t really thing about what she was going to say before, but she still had the main idea.

Aleu: And now I think it’s my turn to apologize.

            Niju then looked at her in shock. Was she telling the truth? Did she really want to apologize to him? Niju couldn’t believe it.

Aleu: Niju, when you came here yesterday, I didn’t give you anywhere near a good greeting. And that’s because I thought you were still the way you were.

            Niju stepped forward and listened more carefully.

Aleu: And you tried to say sorry to me… and I didn’t believe you. I now understand that I shouldn’t have done that, and I should have listened to you. ‘Cause it seemed that it was hard to believe you after… well, you know.

            Niju nodded his head as if he was agreeing with her. He knew very well what she was talking about.

Aleu: I guess what I’m trying to say is… I’m really sorry about the way I treated you yesterday.

            Niju’s heart sank. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Aleu: It was completely wrong of me. It’s just that, I couldn’t see the chance of you really changing.

            Niju stepped closer to her.

Aleu: I should have given you a chance, and I’m really-

Niju: (Interrupting her) what’s your name? 

Aleu: Excuse me?

Niju: Your name. I don’t think I have clearly gotten it before. What was it?

            Wow. She thought. He travels miles and miles to say sorry and he doesn’t even know my name?  

Aleu: Aleu.

            Niju smiled and took a deep breath.

Niju: Well, Aleu… and that’s a very nice name.

            Aleu had to admit, that was a rather sweet thing for him to say.

Aleu: Thank you.

Niju: I understand how you felt.

Aleu: You do? 

Niju: Yes… completely. And that’s why I forgive you. 

            Aleu was beyond surprised. She didn’t expect such a quick forgiveness.  

Aleu: Really?

Niju: As I said, I know how you felt.

Aleu: I- I thought you would be mad. Aren’t you?

Niju: No, of course not. Aleu, I completely understand why you have said what you have.

            Niju lowered his guard and walked forward.

Niju: I just need you to forgive me, for what I’ve done.

            Aleu took a moment, and thought for a while.

Aleu: Niju, if you meant what you have said… have you?

            Niju looked directly into her eyes.

Niju: Yes. I mean it with everything in me…

Aleu: Then, I forgive you.

            Niju lit up. He was so glad; he had never felt so good in his life. He did it. The one he had hurt the most, actually forgave him. He had the greatest boost of confidence in him now.

            Niju exhaled in relief. 

Niju: You do? 

            Aleu gladly nodded her head yes.

Niju: I… I don’t know what… to say.

            Aleu started to walk closer to him, and Niju slowly stepped forward. They both looked each other deeply in the eyes as they got closer and closer to each other. It was a little awkward, but at the same time, pleasant to both of them. Niju began to feel something, something he’d never felt before.

            Then all of a sudden, they were interrupted by Steven; calling Aleu’s name.

Steven: Aleu! Aleu where are you, girl?! 

Aleu: Oh, I forgot. It’s Steven. I have to go.

Niju: Whoa, wait. When will I see you again?

Aleu: Later, maybe.

            Aleu walked past him, and when she reached the door way of the cave, Niju quickly ran after her.

Niju: Aleu!

            Aleu turned around quickly and saw him right behind her, smiling softly at her.

Niju: Thank you.

            Aleu smiled back at him. She actually felt really good about what she did. She would have never thought that Niju would have changed so much, but she was happy.

Aleu: And thank you.

            Aleu then turned around and ran out of the cave. Niju watched her as she ran to Steven, but when he saw him, he hid behind a wall.

Steven: There you are.

            Steven bent down and pet Aleu.

Steven: What were you doing in there, huh? I’ve been looking all over for you. C’mon lets get home.

            Aleu turned her head around when Steven started to walk away, and saw Niju’s head sticking out behind the wall. They both shared a quick glance then Aleu turned back around to Steven as they started to walk home. 

Chapter 15

            Ever since Aleu and Niju apologized to each other, they have both been thinking of one another. But Niju was the one who thought of Aleu the most. When Aleu forgave him, even though he hadn’t apologized to Balto or the clan yet, he felt completely free of his guilt all together. He had a feeling that there was something special about her that made him feel this way. He gave it a lot of thought, but he also thought that for the time being, he should just let things settle for now.

            Aleu and Niju started to visit each other more and eventually became close friends. Farris started to notice that Aleu had been acting different ever since that one morning she went for a walk. But unfortunately for Farris, that is all he thought that happened. Farris, trying to be as patient as possible, was never given any detail about what exactly happened that morning, and as Farris held his tongue, so did Aleu. But Farris tried not to worry about it; he knew she would tell him sooner or later.

            All the snow had melted, and spring was just around the corner, and Aleu and Niju got closer as friends with every day that passed by. They started to walk with one another and they visited often, and every time Niju was with her, he forgot about almost everything. It was like she was his ticket away from reality when they were together. When Aleu wanted him to go with her, he went. When she was talking to him, he listened, and without interrupting. And he was the finest gentlemen to her. He let her lead the way when they walked in the forest, and when she wanted him to, he insisted that she should. 

            It made it seem that they had known each other ever since they were little, and they were always happy when they were together. 

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