way any moment.
    Aleu looked at Clara. "Why are you rocking back and forth? Or is that me?"
    Then, Aleu collapsed onto the floor. Though he wasn't in any danger of dying, he was still really tired.
    Clara leaned over and whispered into his ear, "You're killing yourself.  What would you like to eat?  I'll get it for you."
    Aleu groaned. "Nuts...berries...occasional funnel cake..." He meant it as a joke, but there was still a slim chance Clara would think it was funny.
    Aleu tried to push himself up, but found he lacked the energy.
    Clara showed her teeth in a beginnings of a smile.  "Can do." She dashed off.
    Max strolled into the room. "So, I hear you're not feeling too well. Oh, and just so you know, the humans already know you're gone. They're looking, but I can't promise they'll find you."
    Aleu glared up at Max. "They better not know about that other time you caught me. If you told them, I'll get up and I'll rip you to shreds, food or no."
    Clara scowled as she pricked her ears as Aleu threatened the harmless boy.  She ran back to Aleu.
    "There," Clara sounded satisfied.  "Nuts, berries," She giggled and shoved a box over to Aleu.  "And the occasional funnel cake... That's already picked at."
    Aleu smiled up at Clara. Her eyes sparkled, and it was enough to make Aleu want to live. However, he still wouldn't be watched eating. "Clara," Aleu whispered,"I want you to find my father, find him, and tell him... I forgive him."
    Clara's eyes shadowed.  "I know where he is," She sighed heavily.  "He..."
    Aleu looked up at her. "Please, Clara. It's important."
    "He... He...!"  Clara burst into tears.
    Aleu looked up at Clara. "What is it, Clara? You can tell me."
    Clara sobbed.  "He..."  She broke down.  "The humans!  Max and I found him and escorted him back to the cages!  Well, he apologized.  The sadness in his eyes, I trusted him.  I told him that, but then he attacked my babies and Max!  The humans..."  Clara gestured to the room.  "Stuck something in him and now he won't wake up!"
    Aleu snapped his head up. "They...they killed him? He's...he died?"
    Clara nodded.  "All because of those stupid humans!"
    Aleu tried to keep a straight face. "Well, mom always said his attitude would get him into trouble-" Aleu's voice cracked, and he turned away from Clara.
    His mother had told him never to let a woman see him cry. He would follow her advise.
    It was his last defense.
    "Aleu," She wailed, and padded over to him and nuzzled his cheek.  "I'm so sorry!"
    Aleu sniffled. "That wolf hit me, scratched me, and beat me senseless my entire childhood, but I never- not once- wished him dead." He broke down, crying, and turned away from Clara again.
    He didn't stop. He cried until he could no more.
    Clara licked him over and over on his head to make him feel better.  She started to regret that she trusted him, and got fooled by the trickster.  Her stroke became so rough, she thought she might hurt him.
    Aleu felt Clara's licking. he opened his eyes and looked up. "Clara, you're the only one who ever gave me a chance. Thank you, friend."
    The humans came in and found them.
    "It looks like they were just looking for food. Let's get them back to the nursing room."
    "Anything for my brother," Clara's eyes came to a slow.
    She helped lift Aleu up with her snout, and padded after the humans.
    Aleu let himself be carried. When he got placed back in his cage, he realized something: he was no longer afraid to eat meat.
    Clara looked up at the humans and pleaded for Aleu to come out.

    Three weeks later...
    Aleu grunted as he jumped out the back of the humans' sled. He had gotten considerably fatter, and was now being returned to the wild. Clara and the pups had been released two weeks before, but the had promised to meet him today in the forest.
    Waving goodbye to Max, Aleu started towards the rendezvous point. No need to keep them waiting.

    "Come along, my dear ones." Clara called to her four pups.  They had gotten as big as their Mother, and padded out behind her.
    "I can't wait to see Aleu!" Sapphire chirped.  Her voice was as beautiful as birdsong.

    Arriving at the rendezvous spot, Aleu noticed that he was the first one there. Though he was glad to have the forest back under his feet, Aleu thought the ground pricked more than it used to.
    Tess's golden eyes peered through the trees.  Her fur was long and think, and shone in the moonlight.
    "He's here."  Her voice sounded like bells.  Her chest fur swayed as she padded over to her family.
    Aleu flicked his ears joyously. "Is that my favorite little Tess? Come here!"
    "Aleu!" Tess's joyful howl split through the clearing.  She nuzzled Aleu all around.
    Aleu nuzzled Tess back, then said,"Lemme look at you!" He took a step back. "Who is this great big cub, and what did she do with my baby Tess? Look at you! You're almost as big as me!"
    Tess grinned so wide, she thought her cheeks would rip.  She showed her white teeth.
    Aleu nuzzled Tess again, then looked up and around. "Where are the others. I don't see them. Are they hiding?" He was a lot more energetic than he had been.
    "No, they're not.  They are a little behind.  Patrolling, you know?" Tess gestured her head to where they were.
    She yelped happily, "Come on out, guys!"
    Aleu was startled by how big the pups were now. "Whoa! When did you grow so much? You were only gone for two weeks!"
    Sapphire laughed her laugh.
    "We're almost 4 months old." She barked happily.
    Aleu ruffled Quintin's fur. "And how is the future man of the cave?"
    "I'm good," Quintin's voice was deep.  "How are you?"
    He wagged his tail.
    "I have literally never felt better."
    Aleu talked to each pup, one at a time, and got nothing but positive speech.
    Then, he came to Clara.
    Clara whimpered.
    Then nuzzled, then said,"I missed you so much!"
    Aleu nuzzled back. "Thank you for helping me through that. I hadn't realized how much my father had screwed up my life." Aleu looked down at the ground, right after mentioning his father.
    "That's what friends are for," Clara's eyes shone.
    After the joyful reunion, Aleu started to walk back toward his old den. "So much for not getting attached," he muttered.
    "Will you stay with us?" Tess asked.
    All of the puppies looked at him, "Pleassssssse?"
    Aleu looked at them all. "I don't know... I'm really more of a loner." Then, he looked up at Clara. "Besides, I think your mother might try force-feeding me again if I stay."
    Tess's shoulders slumped, and Quintin whimpered.
    "Oh..."  Sapphire said sadly.
    Seeing their disappointment, Aleu felt a pang in his heart. "But... I think I can risk it."

Clara, Tess, Quintin, Sapphire, and Lilly (c) to Wolf Girl ^^'
Aleu (Aleuisbest) and Max (c) to Ginga Densetsu Aleu