little, she remebered she too had once been all alone in the woods, just like the boy was alone now, and then Aleu's words echoched in her ears "Everyone is meant to have someone"  Yet it seemed the boy had no one.

    Adele snuck carefully from her hiding place and headed to the small figure lying in the cold snow. She crept up to his body and walked carefully along the lining of his red jacket. His eyes were closed and a tear escaped his eyes. Adele took one look at him and smiled, licking his face and whining trying to sound happy. The boy opened his eyes and at first looked a little startled then he smiled too.

  "Hi" He said ever so gently tryin to sit up a little, Adele backed away just a little.

  "What are you doing out here little girl?" He asked wiping away a last falling tear. Adele waged her long white tail and sat down as he talked, tilting her head and analyzing his movements. He was small with black silky hair and little freckled cheeks, he couldnt have been more than ten or elven, and his voice was gently and he seemed very kind.

     "Come here" He grinned gently tapping the ground beside him. "Come on it's ok I'm not here to hurt you"   Adele stood up and took a few steps toward him. "Thats right come on" He said whistling a little with an outstretched hand that Adele sniffed then licked politely. She then resited no longer and allowed the boy to pet her.

   "You sure are a beautiful little thing" The boy complimented, bringing her closer to his body as she wagged her tail excitedly licking the boys hands thankfully. "Are you all alone too?" He asked seriously, Adele whined looking into the boys eyes with her bright blues. 

    "Well then looks like we have something in common already" He smiled.

   "Come on what do you say we get out of this cold?"   Adele whined agreeingly as the boy tried to get to his feet, but it seemed very hard for him and even harder with Adele in his arms, but she barked to him encouragingly and soon he was on his feet.

            The boy talked to her the whole time they walked along the street. He told her his name was Dillon and how he lived at the boys home on the opposite side of town. He also explained how he really wasn't supposed to have a dog so he was going to have to sneek her in. Then he explained how he had gotten lost with his group because he is slower than the rest of the kids and how he was afriad the headmaster was going to be mad if he found out. Adele listened intently putting her little input into the whole converstaion.

  "You know I really think your understanding everything I'm saying" Dillon laughed, Adele barked. Of course she understood.

   "Well here we are, this is my home"  Dillon said at they approached a building with a few warm lights on and a few people scurring around inside. 

"I have to hide you" Dillon explained as he zipped up his jacket. "Be quite girl ok and try not to move around too much"  He said.

  Dillon's jacket had a small whole on its side and Adele was able to peak out and see what was going on. He knocked on the door and soon it was opened by an older man who looked as if he had been dreadfully worried about something.

  "Dillon where have you been" He asked, rushing the boy inside. "We've been calling people all over town and the sheriff was out looking"  

  "I'm sorry Mr. Wyett I got lost, I didn't mean to honest I'm real sorry"  Dillon tried to explain.

  The old man looked at him kindly and smiled, seeming to be relieved. "It's ok, we were just a little worried, I'm glad your safe thats all"  He said.  "Alright, its been a long day, take off your coat and get ready for bed with the other boys" The man instructed reaching for Dillon's coat.

  "No, um I'll put my coat up thats ok" Dillon smiled trying to fake what he was really hiding.

   'Alright" Mr. Wyett said a little suprised "You better hurry"

   Dillon hobbled off toward the back room where Adele then saw about twenty differnt boys, all differnt sizes and ages, running back and forth as two women rushed them around, tucking them into beds, getting teeth brushed, slipping on small sleep shirts, and stopping pillow fights.

   "Dillon" The old woman said coming to his side

   "Where have you been?" 

   "Long story Mrs. Wyett" Dillon said with a tierd yawn. 

     She smiled putting her arm gently around him. "Alright, tell me about it tomorrow, go ahead get ready for bed." 

      "Yes, Mam"   Dillon said going to the sink and brushing his teeth. 

        Soon he was sitting on the edge of a small bed in a room with some other kids his age.

   "Here Dillon I'll help you"  A young woman said coming to his bed and kneeling down.

    "Why havent you got your clothes off yet?" She asked reaching for his jacket.

   "No Mari, I can do it" Dillon siad pulling away.

   "You need to go ahead and take that jacket off" She said

     "I'm cold" Dillon blurted out, but just as the fight for the jacket was going on, Adele got the worst itch she had ever had in her life.

    The inside of the jacket was woolly and it pressed agianst her fur sending small shivers through her body. She squiremed trying ot turn around in the small space as she tried t scratch, she was apparantly tickling Dillon because he suddenly let a giggle escape.

    "What are you hiding in there?"  Mari said un-zipping the jacket and reaching inside.

   "Don't" Dillon siad still laughing even though he was trying to be serious.

      Mari paid him no attention and soon her hand hit a furry body, she lasped around it, and immediately, Adele bit her.

   "Ow" Mari said bringing her hand out quickly revealing the tiny bite marks that hadn't quiet broken the skin.

    "She didn't mean to, you scared her thats all" Dillon explained quickly as Adele peeked out from the corner of the jacket.

    "Here girl, it's ok" Dillon said showing her his hands before he gently put his arms around her lifting her into the open. A gasp escaped the room and the other boys, who were supposed to be asleep, quickly gathered around the bed all looking with wide eyes and expectant smiles.

     "Dillon you have a dog? Where did you find it?" A boy with brown hair and bright hazel eyes asked.

    "In the street, she was all alone"

    "She sure is pretty" Mari said looking at Adele strangely.

     "Shes not mean honest Mari, you just scared her thats all" Dillon explained "She helped me find my way back here" 

    "She did?" Mari asked

   "Ahuh" Dillon nodded

    "Dillon I don't think thats a dog" Mari said "You found a wolf, her parents are going to be looking for her" Mari said a bit concererned

    "Mari she was all alone out there I checked there was no one else around, something bad could happen to her if I had just left her, besides she kinda saved me, she was all alone just like me" He let his voie trail off.

     "Can I keep her please" Dillon aksed his green eyes wide with hope and all the other boys looked at Mari too.

     Mari sighed looking around  "For tonight" She rolled her eyes at how she had given in agian. Dillon and the others let a smile escape there faces as they quietly cheered so the Wyett's wouldn't wake up.

    "But then" Mari stopped "Then you have to take her back"  

   "OK, but at least I have her for tonight" Dillon said Hugging Adele close as she barked licking his face. "Sshsh, not too loud girl" Dillon said bringing his finger to his lips. Adele immediately obeyed, being content to lay her head gently on the boys chest.

    "Looks she likes you already" One of the boys smiled.

    "May I pet her Dillon" Another asked

    "Sure Henry, but you have to be very gentle" Dillon said insrtuctingly, beaming with pride that Adele was his and already they seemed to share a bond.

     Henry extended his hand carefully and Adele rubbed agianst is playing with it with her paws to the little boys delight. Then each boy wanted to pet and play with her, and Adele entertained each one knowing it would bring a smile to thier tired faces.

   "Alright its late everyone to bed"  Mari said with a smile.

   "Aww" All the boys objected "Come on Mari"  Jackson yawned "Just a few more minuets"

    "Nope you gotta get up early tomorrow buddy, come on" Mari said slipping the little boy into bed.

    "Here let me help you" Mari said agian bending down, and rolling Dillon's pants leg up.

    Adele watched with curiosity almost falling off the bed, as she leanded to see what Mari was doing to Dillon. Soon though her curiosity went from Mari to Dillon's leg, and then she knew why he limped so bad. Dillon was cripled he had a large medal brace on his leg, but you wouldn't have known it was there, because the pants covered it well enough. Mari was unbuckling things here and there, and it seemed a little painful, Dillon kept grimaicing everytime she moved it. Adele whined cheerfully, climbing on the boys shirt and licking his face to make him feel better, he smiled thankful she was there.