Aleu wandered through the woods. He was looking for his best friend, Clara.
    Clara trecked through the bracken.  She heard twigs snapping and picked up a scent...
    Aleu heard running. He turned just in time to be pounced from behind by Clara. "Well, hello to you, too!" He giggled.
    Clara screamed.  She was shaking from nose to tail tip.  "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She burst out laughing.
    Aleu Mocked being surprised. "I snuck up on you? You were the one to pounce me!"
    "I think we both snuck up on each other," Clara giggled.
    Aleu giggled again. "Hey, you wanna go down to the lake today? I hear there's going to be a fair, and humans drop food all the time!"
    "We're wolves," Clara growled.  "We don't scavenge."
    "Aw, come on, Clara! You haven't lived until you've gotten a free meal! Besides, Human food is the best stuff ever! They have these things called 'Funnel Cakes' that are really...Why are you staring at me like that?"
    "You're tempting me," Clara drooled.  "Look, I'm Leader of the Gaurdian Wolves and it is prohibited to see humans."
    "Oh, yeah. You're the fake leader of a group that doesn't exist,"teased Aleu,"I have never actually met any of the guardian wolves." It was true; Aleu was not in any pack. He was more of a loner, and he prefered not to see any wolves anywhere, with Clara as his only exception.
    "Don't tease," Clara growled.  "They are real.  Do you need proof?"
    "Not if it involves other wolves,"Aleu whimpered,"You know how I feel about visiting others."
    "Then don't say they're fake," Clara growled.
    Clara padded over to the cliff to look over town.
    "Alue, you can go to the festival.  If I went, I could put my Pack in danger."
    Aleu thought about it."Nah. This is supposed to be our day together, remember?" Aleu thought some more."I know! We can go to the ice caves!"
    Aleu looked over his shoulder, then turned white as a ghost. He whimpered, and ran. Another wolf was standing just on the edge of the forest, watching them.
    "Why not go to Wolf Rock?" Clara said.  "My wolves are loyal to thier leader, and I'll tell them not to."
    Clara sniffed and gawked in horror.  
    "Who is it?" She growled.
    When Clara turned to look, the stranger was gone.
    Meanwhile, Aleu stopped running and sat by a river, panting. He knew who the wolf had been. He was the very reason that Aleu liked to be alone.
    Aleu waited for Clara to find him, and watched for the wolf who had been watching him.
    That wolf was his father.
    "Alue!" Clara called.  "Alue, where'd you go?"
    Clara picked up Alue's sent down by the river.
    She padded through the trees, and saw Alue's pelt.
    "Who was that wolf?" Clara asked when she reached him.
    "I don't know,"Aleu lied. "I just know that I don't like other wolves."
    "I could sense you knew him," Clara growled.  "Us wolves sense fear.  That's how I smelt you through the thick stench of water and fish..."
    Aleu thought about running away again, but something held him back. He studied his paws, then said,"It was my father. You know, the wolf that beat me as a pup. He's found me, he's found me at last..."Aleu broke down crying.
    "What father would do that?" Clara growled.
    Aleu didn't answer. He just heaved with wracking sobs. Then he turned and buried his face in Clara's fur."Save me, Clara! Don't let him catch me! Save me!"
    "Come to my pack," Clara whispered.  "I promise with all my heart you'll be safe there..."
    Aleu silently gave his approval, and let Clara lead him to her pack. Though he was not nececaraly comfortable around other wolves, he was terrified of his father.
    Clara licked Alue on his head.  "If you're father comes to get you, we'll pretend to hold you as prisoner."
    Aleu sniffed and nodded. He knew that his being held prisoner wouldn't help save him from his father, but it might slow him down.
    "Hey," Clara nuzzled.  "You'll be safe."
    Once Aleu had calmed down, he looked around himself, then went and sat in the corner of the cave, away from all the other wolves. Even hiding in a pack, he was a loner.
    Suddenly there was sniffing at the entrance of the cave...
    Aleu curled up into a ball. He could hear someone sniffing. He scrunched himself up as far into the corner as he could fit. "He's coming...he's found me..." he muttered.
    Suddenly, a little white and grey nuzzle came through...
    Aleu relaxed a little. This scent didn't smell like his dad...
    Suddenly, a tiny body came into the cave.
    "HI!" It squeaked.
    Aleu heaved a silent sigh of relief. 'At least it is not my dad' he decided. It could be worse than being in a cave with a bunch of wolves.
    "My name's Tess!" She bounced.  "Who are you?  You smell funny!"
    Aleu grumbled and pushed Tess away. "Leave me alone, kid."
    Tess whimpered.  "Okay," she padded away, little, delicate steps.
    "Dadblammit kids, scaring me half to death." Aleu muttered to himself. Even kids couldn't appeal to his better nature.
    "Why are you friends with my mommy, and aren't even nice to me?" Tess whimpered.
    Aleu looked at Tess. "Look, kid. I have had a really hard day, so please don't bug me."
    "Okay," Tess disappeared.
    Aleu felt a little guilty. After all, the kid had just been trying to be nice. He half expected her to come back just because he was having second thoughts.
    Suddenly, Tess's head popped back through the cave entrance.  "Why are you here, Mister?" Tess squeaked.
    "I'm hiding from my mean daddy." He said, somewhat relieved that her feelings weren't too hurt. "He wants to hurt me, so I'm hiding here."
    "Why does he want to hurt you?"
    Aleu thought for a minute, then said,"I don't really know. He's just wanted to hurt me ever since I was born."
    "Then, he's a meanie!"  Tess giggled.  She bit her lip.  "Well, bye!"
    "See ya, kid." Aleu said. But what was running through his head was,"I will not get attached, I will not get attached, I will not get attached..."
    Tess called again.  "What's your name?" Her eyes were that way when you couldn't look away.
    "Aleu." Then he thought,"This is all seeming familiar from somewhere...It makes me think of bears..."
    "Well, bye!" Tess said.
    She padded back out then dashed back in... Again.
    "Would you like a mouse?"
    Aleu started. "What?"
    Tess giggled her teenie-tiny giggle.  "A mouse, silly!  Would you like to eat a mouse?"
    "No, I'm not hungry." Aleu said, horrified. Of course, as is the way, his stomach chose that exact moment to growl.
    "You sound hungry!" Tess giggled, wide eyed.  "Well, if you need anything, ask me!"
    "I'll be sure to do that, kid." Aleu said. He curled up, and tried to sleep. He was almost hoping that Tess still wouldn't leave.
    "Aleu?" Tess called.
    She padded over to him.
    "My brother and sisters are fast asleep and I'm scared.  Can I sleep with you?"
    Aleu uncurled and smiled at Tess. "Sure, kid." He said. He smiled as Tess curled up with him. "Ok, maybe I will get attached,"he thought.
    Tess yawned her little cub yawn.  She smiled and closed her eyes...
    Aleu curled ever so slightly around Tess. This was the first contact besides Clara he'd had with other wolves in well over a year.
    The next morning, Tess nuzzled Aleu awake.
    "Wake up, Aleu!  Wake up, there's a rainbow outside!" Tess squeaked.
    Aleu stood up and stretched. "I'm coming, kid, I'm coming." He walked next to Tess to the cave exit.
    At the entrance, Tess was bouncing up and down.  "Look, look!" Tess squeaked.  "So many colors!"
    Tess was amazed.  She thought about something, and her face squished in thought.
    "What makes rainbows, Aleu?"
    Aleu thought for a moment.
    "Butterflies, and waterfalls, and little bitty baby pups, that's what makes rainbows."Aleu said.
    "Itty... Bitty... Baby... P-pups?" Tess whimpered.
    Aleu looked down at her. "I'm sorry. Did I say something that offended you?"
    "I don't wanna turn into a wainbow!  I wanna stay wif you!" Tess nuzzled into Aleu's fur.
    "Great,"Thought Aleu."I scared the kid." Then, he got an idea."It's all right. Only the bad little pups turn into rainbows."
    "Am I a widdle bad pup?"
    "I don't know. You tell me."
    Tess lowered her gaze and squished her face to think.
    "I'm a good guy like you!" She bounced.
    "Well, then,"Said Aleu with a chuckle,"I guess you'll never be a rainbow!"
    Tess bounced.  "Would you like to see my siblings?"
    "I don't know. Are they all as cute as you?" Aleu nuzzled Tess's side.
    "I don't know," Tess giggled.
    "Hmm, Okay." Aleu said. He let Tess lead him to an area of the cave close to where Tess had found him. There were six puppies besides Tess, most of them girls.
    Tess prodded 3 cubs on their sides, one by one.
    "Guys, wake up!"
    They were out and about within heartbeats.
    All 3 pups lined up, and gazed at Aleu.  One she-wolf smiled.
    "This here is Quintin," Tess nuzzled her only brother.
    "And these two are Lilly and Sapphire."
    Sapphire was the one who smiled.  They were all white like their parents, with silky pelts...
    "They are very pretty, Tess."
    All four smiled and nodded.
    Aleu heard one of the others whisper, "So, you gonna introduce the rest of us?"
    "Who do you mean?" Quintin growled.
    Another of the pups whispered,"Somebody. I wanna know Tess's new friend..."
    "Tess, who's your friend?" Lilly asked.
    I'm surprised she didn't say anything about me calling her "Kid" all this time, Aleu thought.
    Tess bit her lip.
    "What... Is your name?  I've never asked..." Tess whispered.
    "Yes you did, silly! Remember, last night? You asked my name, and I said it was Aleu..." prodded Aleu.
    "I... Forgot." Tess blushed.
    Quintin waved his snow-white paw.  "Don't take any offense.  She does that a lot." He giggled.
    Tess shot a quick glance at him, her lips curled over her teeth.
    A snarl sounded from outside. Some wolves said,"Who are you? What do you want?"
    Tess and Lilly ran and snuggled into Aleu's fur.
    "Who's that, Aleu?" Lilly cried.
    Aleu looked at the pups surrounding him, then said," I don't know."
    A rough voice sounded from outside. "I'm looking for my son, and I've tracked him to here. Let me in!"
    Aleu felt all the blood drain out of his face. "And now I do," He said, darting to the back of the cave. "It's my dad!"
    All four pups stood in front of Aleu, trying their hardest to protect him.
    "Remember what Aunty Night Shade taught us?" Tess said loudly.  "We growl our hardest and bare our claws!"
    Tess, Quintin, Lilly, and Sapphire growled and flawed their claws in the air.
    Aleu would have chuckled at how silly the puppies looked, but he was scared out of so much as blinking.
    Tess growled.  "GET IN HERE!"
    The challenge brought Aleu back to his senses. "Um, Tess, I don't think that's a good idea..."
    Aleu's father ambled through the clearing.
    The pups started yowling with all of their might!
    Aleu looked at his father: jet black, and even now a good 6 inches taller than Aleu at the shoulders. "Yeah, that's why." Muttered Aleu.
    Tess and the others growled.
    Quintin yowled.  "Get away from Aleu!  Don't touch him!"
    Sapphire swiped her paw at Aleu's father.
    The larger wolf sat, then rolled to his back. "I'm not here to hurt you, Aleu. I'm here to bring grave news...and to apologize."
    Lilly growled.  "It's a trick..."
    Aleu knew the move. It was one his mother had often used, in an attempt to escape a beating. He walked up to his father, and used the counter, placing one front paw against his father's throat, and the other on his chest.
    "Speak, but don't make any sudden movements."
    The rest growled but Lilly whimpered, "what does he want?"
    "Aleu, I bring sad news about your mother. Unfortunately, she has...passed from this world. Her final wish was that I be the one to tell you. I am sorry, Aleu, but I could do nothing."
    "DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, ALEU!" Tess's screech pierced the air.
    The dark wolf growled. "Who is this insolent cub, to call you by your name, instead of the respectful Sir?"
    Aleu pressed on his father's throat until he turned blue, then unblocked his throat and said,"She is my friend, which is more than I can say for you. You will leave now, and never return." Aleu felt the eyes of the entire pack on him, but he didn't care. He released his father. "Go now!"
    Tess went up to Aleu and swiped her paw across Aleu's father's face.  She left a tiny scratch.
    Tess sat, chin high in triumph.  "That's how I, Tess, rolls!"
    The large wolf growled, but left. Aleu turned to look at the other wolves, the ones staring in awe. "What are you looking at?"
    A large black and purple wolf growled.  "It's a little odd to see something like that..."
    Aleu was confused. "Like what?"
    "You just come into our camp and almost kill a wolf without permission..." The wolf growled.
    "Yeah, it was me or him, buddy. I would prefer him, after what he did to me."
    The wolf growled deeply.  "You think you can talk to the deputy like that?"
    "I'm leaving right now." Aleu stated, walking toward the cave exit. "And I'm not coming back." Right after he said it, Aleu wished he hadn't. Tess had started to cry.
    "Don't go!" Tess wailed.
    Aleu leaned down and nuzzled Tess's cheek. "I have to, Tess. These wolves don't want me here."
    Tess screamed.  "Aunty Night Shade was just weirded out!"
    Aleu jerked back in surprise. "What?"
    "She's pregnant," Tess whimpered.  "She's just a little edgy..."
    Aleu went into panic mode. "Do you know what weirded her out?"
    "You almost killed your own father," Tess whispered.  "I was scared, too."
    Aleu sighed and walked outside. He sat down just outside the cave. "I did almost kill him. How could I deal with that when I can't even stand to see a mouse killed?"
    Tess whimpered.  "Stay... I've never had a friend like you..."
    Aleu glanced over his shoulder. For the first time, he noticed that he didn't see a certain face...
    "Where's Clara?"
    Tess breathed in and out.  The tears that had been there 5 minutes ago, came back out of her eyes.  She's not there... Tess thought.
    "MOMMY!"
    Aleu sniffed the air. There you are! He thought triumphantly, but the glee didn't last long. Oh, no... The scent was exactly as strong as his father's...and they were going the same way.
    "Where's Mommy?" Tess whined.
    Aleu looked at the poor pup. He couldn't lie to her, but he also didn't want to tell the truth. "My dad has her," he found himself saying,"and I'm gonna save her."
    Tess screamed at the top of her lungs.  "What's he going to do?!"
    Aleu put his paw over Tess's mouth. "I don't know, but I have a feeling it's a trap."
    "So, what are you gonna do?" Tess's squeak was muffled by her best friend's paw.
    "I'm gonna walk into it," he said, then he leaned down and whispered his plan in Tess's ear.
    "Do I come?" Tess whispered back.
    "No, you stay here. If I let you walk into danger, your mother would kill me herself." Whispered Aleu.
    "Mummy would never kill you..." Tess looked away.
    "Oh, Tess. It's an expression. It means...yell really loud and really long at someone you know."
    "When are you gonna go?"
    "Right now." Aleu's stomach rumbled like an angry bull, but he ignored it.
    Tess reached up to nuzzle Aleu's nose.
    "Goodbye..."
    Aleu tapped his snout to the top of Tess's head. "I'll be back. With your mother."
    Tess watched Aleu pad out of the den and through the clearing.
    
    Meanwhile...
    Clara watched Aleu's father pacing back and fourth.  She growled in her chest.
    Father glared at her, then said,"Oh, be quiet. Unless I'm mistaken, this is outside your land, so when he comes to save you, I can kill him without penalty."
    "Shut up, you moron." Clara snarled.
    Aleu could hear the voices, but not loudly enough to hear what was said. He started to put his plan in action.
    Clara's eyes blazed with fire as she looked up at Father, as she was held hostage...
    Aleu jumped on his Father's back and rode him until he was thrown off. "Run, Clara!"
    "Aleu!" Clara called.  "I'm staying with you!"
    "Then you wanna help me before he kills me?!"
    "I'll go for his throat..."
    "Hurry, He's coming for me!"
    Clara ran toward Aleu's father, yet enemy's, throat.
    She took a swift bite to the neck, and blood oozed out...
    Seeing the blood, Aleu shied away. "I...I can't!" He said.
    Clara growled.  "You can't what?"
    Aleu gestured to Father's blood. "You know how I feel," he muttered.
    Unfortunately, Father got the gist of it, too. "So I raised a vegetarian wolf, huh? I must fix this!"
    Clara growled and launched herself to father.
    "Don't you dare touch him!" She yowled.  "What did he ever do to you?!"
    Aleu shied back some more. This was not part of the plan.
    He watched the battle between Clara and Father.
    Clara growled and shook her head.
    What is my problem?  She thought sadly.
    Clara pulled Aleu by the scruff, and out of the cave.
    Aleu was shaken out of his "phobia trance" when Clara dragged him out of the cave. Popping to his feet, he ran. "Come on, Tess is waiting for us."
    "What about your father?!" Clara yelled.  "He'll hunt us down!"
    Aleu was silent for a moment. "He won't bother with you; he learns from his mistakes. You have nothing to worry about, you'll never see him again."
    Clara looked deep into Aleu's eyes.  "I was talking about you..."
    Aleu shifted his gaze to the ground in front of him, and kept running. "Tess is just ahead. I can see her."
    Clara growled.  "Shut up, Aleu.  I don't want you to get hurt or even worse... Killed!"
    Aleu swished his tail. He sat down. Stared at the ground. Felt Clara's glare burning into his skull. Remembered why he didn't like being among others of his own kind.
    "You're just like the others,"Aleu mumbled,"Acting like I can't take care of myself. Just leave me alone."
    Clara's eyes teared up.
    "I'm sorry you feel that way..." She whimpered.
    She walked away sadly, a tear slipping down her cheek.

    Aleu turned and slipped into the greenery, not making a sound. He was sad about losing his only friend, sure. But he was sadder that, in the end, she had turned out like all the others: too caring to realize he didn't want sympathy.

    Clara hid under a dead tree.
    She tried her hardest not to, but she started wailing.

    Aleu went to his old cave. He didn't care if his father found him now. Clara was safe; that's all that mattered.
    With a start, Aleu realized that he was crying.
    He let the tears come. For the second time in his life, he was all alone.
    And his mother couldn't help this time.

    Clara wailed.
    "Why did I have to lose my only best friend?!" She screamed to the sky.

    Aleu rolled over. How long have I been asleep?
    Then, memories from the day before hit him like a train.
    Fresh tears rolled to his eyes. Through them, he could see a shape in the entrance to his cave...

    Clara's tears reappeared to her eyes.  She looked over and saw a shape through the tree.
    Who the heck...?

    Aleu blinked rapidly to remove the tears from his eyes. "Who's there?"

    Clara squeezed her eyes shut to remove the tears.
    "Wh-who's th-the-there?" She stammered.

    Aleu's vision cleared to show a pup. Her name was...Aleu concentrated and tried to remember. "Sapphire?"
    Sapphire padded into the den.
    "What are you doing?" Sapphire asked politely.
    "You made Mummy cry." Another voice came: Quintin.
    Aleu sighed. "Your mom and I had a fight. We're...not talking anymore."
    Aleu curled up to ignore the pups and wallow in self-pity.
    Sapphire growled.  "From what I've heard, it was your fault..."
    Her eyes blazed into Aleu's pelt.
    Aleu uncurled. "Look, there's a reason I like to be alone. Your mother became the reason, I told her so, there was a fight, we went our separate ways."
    "You were the one who let go of your friendship," Sapphire growled.
    She looked at Quintin.  "Come on, let's go."
    Aleu watched them go. "Wait." He sat up. "Weren't there four of you?"
    Sapphire sighed and started to cry.  "Tess and Lilly tried to bring you guys back together, but got attacked.  They're at the Nurse now..."
    Aleu jumped to his feet. Not Tess...
    Sapphire and Quintin padded away.
    A breeze drifted into the cave. A scent carried on it... "Wait!" Aleu said. "Not that way. " He walked to the back of the cave, and slammed his shoulder into the convincingly rock wall, feeling it crumble. "This way. Hurry."
    Sapphire growled.  "Why should we trust you?"
    "I saved your mother, didn't I?"
    Sapphire's face turned red.  "You did, but only from your sick father!  YOU, leaving her, is causing a lot of damage!" She screamed.
    "So you only trust me if I'm saving you from my dad? Go to the entrance, and take a smell. I'm sure what you find will be much worse."
    "No!" Sapphire spat.
    Aleu sniffed again. "Hunters, with dogs. And guns. They're hunting for wolves, for our fur and for sport. You can stay if you wish, but I'm leaving." Aleu dashed into the tunnel that had been hidden. He went around one corner, and waited for the pups to get scared.
    "MOMMY!" Quintin screamed.
    Aleu felt a tiny impact, and looked down. Sapphira had run into his leg, and was still trying to run.
    Sapphire looked up.  "HELP!"
    Aleu put his paw on Sapphire's back. "Have a seat, we will hide some more." Aleu looked up. Quintin came around the corner.
    "I want Mommy!" Quintin whined.
    "Yes, we'll go get your mother. I know exactly where she goes when she's upset." Aleu started walking down the tunnel. "In fact, this comes out right under it."

    Meanwhile...
    Clara's head smashed against the stone wall of the cave.  She slid down, blood oozing into her eyes.  She could just see the faint shape of Father.
    "What..." Clara coughed on blood.  "Are you trying to do to me?"
    Father pounced on Clara with a growl. "Nobody makes me bleed! You will pay for that!" The ground underneath Clara started to crack.
    "What-" Father began, then Clara vanished into the dark below.
    Clara yowled in fear.  She vanished into the dark hole.
    Aleu was trying to remember whether the exit was up, down, or straight ahead when the ceiling admitted a lupine form. Glancing through the hole, Aleu started to run the other way. "Sapphire, Quintin, we have to go back this way now. There's bad news through this exit."
    Clara was still falling.
    This is the end...
    Aleu reached out and snatched Clara out of the air. He deposited her gently on the ground. "C'mon! We have to get out of here before Father gets here!"
    Clara's blood oozed into her eyes again.
    "I..." She coughed. "I... Can't"
    Aleu saw the blood and blinked. Then he heard his father struggling to get through Clara's tiny hole. More afraid of his father than the blood, Aleu scrambled to underneath Clara and pushed up with his legs. She came up surprisingly easy.
    Aleu set his vision straight ahead, and ran.
    Clara's cheek smacked against Aleu's bone, and it hurt, but she didn't care.
    She was getting close...
    Aleu could feel Clara's strength ebbing away. "Hang in there, Clara, we're almost there..."
    Clara fell off of Aleu.
    Aleu turned back around and nuzzled Clara. The pups were gathered around their mother. Suddenly, voices- human voices- drifted to Aleu's ears.
    "The she-wolf is hurt pretty bad, isn't she, Frank?"
    "Yup, but I think we can help her."
    "Grab your kit."
    "Help...!" Clara coughed.
    Aleu stood in front of Clara and faced the approaching humans. He let out his deepest, fiercest growl, and gnashed his teeth. One of the humans shied away.
    The other one was a lot braver. "Whoa, boy. We just want to help your friend, there. C'mon. Let us through."
    Aleu nipped at the closer human, but he pulled out some kind of dart and stuck it into Aleu's neck.
    Everything went dark.
    Sapphire and Quintin shied away and whimpered.
    "What did you do to Aleu?" Quintin wailed.
    "And what are you going to do to Mommy?" Sapphire whimpered.
    A third human approached cautiously.
    "It's okay, Phil. Steve tranqed the adult male. We have a pair of cubs, and a wounded adult female. Looks like she got in a fight."
    "I brought the kit. You need me to detain the cubs?"
    "Couldn't hurt. Pass me some disinfectant and bandages. Keep another tranq ready, just in case." The humans kneelled in front of Clara and began to wrap her in some white cloth.
    "Quintin," Sapphire whimpered. "I'm scared."
    "Don't worry," Quintin said slowly.  "I think they're helping us."
    Sapphire padded up to the humans.
    "Whoa! Frank, you are supposed to keep them separated from the mother."
    "Look, Phil. This one is pretty bad. We're gonna have to take them to the shelter."
    The humans gathered up the medical stuff. One of them carried the equipment, one carried Aleu, and the third carried Clara. The pups followed behind.
    Sapphire wailed for the humans' attention.
    The human carrying Aleu loaded him onto a waiting sled. "I'll get the cubs." He turned to Sapphira. Kneeling, he patted her on the head. "What is it?"
    Sapphire spun in circles.  She looked up with pleading eyes.  Her stomach growled loudly.
    "Hey Phil! What's keepin' ya?"
    "I think these pups are hungry. We have any jerky left?"
    One of the humans tossed a bag, out of it came dried meat.
    Quintin came over.  They looked at the jerky, lips wet, and tails wagging.  They yelped.
    The human fed the pups a bit of the jerky, then put some into his hand, clicked his tongue, and placed it on the sled. "Come on."
    Sapphire and Quintin chewed, and chewed, and chewed, and chewed.  It had taken them a few minutes to get the jerky almost completely chewed.
    "This is so chewy!" Sapphire growled.
    "Right back atcha!" Quintin replied, giggling.
    The humans had started the sled as soon as Sapphire and Quintin had climbed in. Aleu was just waking from his drugged sleep, but he was still drowsy.
    "The floor is...spinning..."He groaned.
    Suddenly, Aleu collapsed onto Sapphire.
    "Gah!" She yelled.  "What's wrong?!"
    Aleu blinked at Sapphire. He couldn't quite recall her name...
    "I don't know if I feel so good."
    "Aleu!" Sapphire wailed.  "What did they do to you?!"
    Aleu wobbled to his feet, then fell down again. "Dunno..."He mumbled. Then, Aleu glanced over the side of the sled. "Oh...now I know I don't feel so good..." Aleu dry heaved. "Glad I didn't eat for the past week."
    "The humans are mean!" Sapphire cried.
    A building came into view. Aleu felt a sharp prick on his neck, and yelped. He saw a dart appear on Sapphire, and one on Quintin.
    "Ow..." He muttered.
    Sapphire and Quintin heaved a big sigh.
    Sapphire yawned.  "Quintin, I'm a little sleepy."
    Quintin nodded.  "Me too."
    They both slumped to the ground and fell asleep.

    Aleu awoke to see metal strips in front of him. A voice called," Hey, Fred! The one you overdosed is awake! Man, he don't look too good."
    Sapphire and Quintin woke up, and squinted there eyes.
    "Uh, I don't feel so good..." Sapphire moaned.
    Aleu was removed from his cage and muzzled, then taken to an examination room.
    A human's hand reached out towards the pups and picked Quintin up by the scruff.  He wailed and wailed, calling for his sister.
    Once in the Exam room, the human stuck a needle into Aleu. Almost immediately, Aleu felt a little better.
    "Sorry about the O.D., buddy, but you were pretty aggressive back there, and you slept that tranq off pretty quick."
    Sapphire struggled and restrained herself and jumped out of her cage, and ran as fast as she could, after Quintin.
    Aleu's vision began to clear, and he became aware of another mass in the room moving. He moved his head. There was a dog, sitting good-naturedly at the other end of the room.
    The human put Aleu on a machine. "Just a routine checkup, to make sure you're put together right." The machine came up with some digits, then the human went pale. He walked over to an intercom button and spoke into the mike. "I need another doctor in exam room A. We seem to have an incredibly thin wolf."
    The dog, now seeming curious, trotted over to read the digits. He also went a little pale. "Hey, buddy! How long has it been since you ate anything?"
Aleu spoke, hearing himself slur embarrassingly. "I dunno. How long was I out?"
    Quintin was taken into the examination room.  The slightest bit, he looked up, and saw Aleu.  Quintin coughed and put his head slowly on his paws.  He did not have energy.  At all.
    The dog tilted his head to one side as Quintin was brought in. "You were out about two days, because you were overdosed on tranquilizer fluid."
Aleu thought about that. "Then, it's been about a week. And two weeks before that. But that time, there was more than I usually scavenge in a whole month."
    "Aleu!" Quintin whispered, in a scratchy tone.  "Help!  I think somethings wrong!"
He started having trouble breathing.
    The dog's eyes went wide. "That's far too long between meals! Why don't you just hunt, like the rest of your species?"
    Aleu tried to fight back as the human moved him to the same table as Quintin, who appeared to be hyperventilating. "Quintin, deep breaths." To the dog, he said," Don't even get me started."
    "I can't!" Quintin coughed.  "My chest hurts!"
    Aleu was by now almost fully awake. "Try. These humans will help."
    The dog went over to the humans and tugged on one of them' pant leg. "The pup's hurting. Hurry!" He barked.
    The humans exchanged glances with each other.
    "What is it, boy?"
    The dog rushed over to the table with the humans behind him. They looked at Quintin, then at each other. One rushed out of the room, and the other got out a pointy glass-metal thing and used the pointy end to fill the glass section.
    Quintin's breath slowed, as well as his heart.  His eyes went up into his head.
    The human jabbed Quintin with the pointy tool, and the other returned with a machine. One cranked the handle, while the other places it against Quintin's heart. "Clear!" Said the human cranking.
    Quintin jerked when the cold, gel-covered thing shocked his heart.  His heart thumped, but went slower.
    Aleu panicked, seeing Quintin being zapped. He jumped off the table and slammed against the door, which had been left partially open in the rush. When it opened, he ran out of the room and went to find Clara.

    Clara woke up slowly.  She looked around the room.  "Where are my pups?" She whimpered.  She was dizzy.  Suddenly, she heard the rush of paw steps.
    Aleu ran in the direction he had come from, before the examination. Then, the fact that he rarely ate kicked in. His stomach roared like an earthquake, and his legs gave out. He skidded across the floor, barely conscious.

    Quintin's heart was bolted again.
    Sapphire scrambled to her brother's side, and screamed, "HELP!  QUINTIN'S DIEING!"
    Another human walked into the room, and looked at Quintin. "Um, guys? What's wrong with that guy?"
    We don't know. We only know he wasn't breathing too good, and his heart started to fail."
    "Did you ever consider he was CHOKING?!"
    He was choking!
    Quintin realized with a jolt his throat ached.
    The jerky, he thought, and let out a silent wail.
    The dog climbed up onto the table. "Lay on your back, kid." Then, the dog pressed on Quintin's stomach to make him gag up the jerky.
    Quintin heaved out the jerky and it hit the dog's face.

    Aleu lay sprawled on the floor. He could see Clara, but he was so hungry, he couldn't move. He would have to lay here until the humans found him.
    Clara shook her head and got up.  She jumped off the cool table, but slumped to the floor.  She wobbled her legs as she got up.  She was weak, but she could do it.  She rammed herself against the door.  She stopped, for she had seen a familiar shape on the floor.
    "Aleu...."
    Aleu heard a slamming noise, and Clara came to the side of the cage. "Clara... Get the humans... hurry...." Aleu whispered, the loudest noise he could manage. He could feel what was left of his strength fading.
    "Aleu, don't leave me!" Clara wailed.  She wailed, and wailed, and wailed.  She regained herself.  She shook her tears away, and licked Aleu's cheek.
With all of her strength, she let out the Mournful Howl.
    The humans came running almost immediately. "Are you sure you heard a howl?"
    "Yes. One of the population check sample was howling like mad down here." The humans came around the corner. "Oh, my. Isn't that the underweight?"
    "Yeah, I think it is. He ran out while we were trying to save that choking pup. I think that female is his mate."
    Clara howled and howled.
    "Help..."
    "He's slipping into a coma! Get him hooked into an IV!"
    "We can't let him sleep! Keep him awake!"
    "Heart rate, failing!"
    "Breathing is slowing!"
    The humans rushed around Aleu, back in the examination room. They were hooking him into all kinds of machines, and doing their best to not let him sleep.
    If Aleu fell asleep, there was a slim chance he would ever wake up.
    The world started to fade. "Clara, help..."
    "Aleu, listen." Clara growled.  "Stay awake."
    "Clara. So... tired..."Aleu moaned.
    "Aleu..." Clara choked.  "Hang on.  You'll be okay."
    In the cage behind Clara, Aleu saw dark fur on a tall, bulky frame. There were eyes in the face, and they were genuinely sad.
    "Clara...father....behind...you..."
    "Shh.  Don't talk." Clara didn't understand what he said.
    By now, the humans had finished hooking all their machines into Aleu. He felt a surge of energy as the liquid nutrients from the IV hit his bloodstream. It wasn't much, but he wasn't in as much danger of dying.
    "You're okay." Clara whispered.  "Believe in yourself.  You can do it..."
    "You know," coughed Aleu," What I hate more than being near other wolves? Inspirational speeches."
    Clara tilted her head to one side.  "What do you mean?"
    But Aleu had already drifted into sleep. He slept deeply, calmly, and safely, to awake the next morning, when birds would sing, the sun would shine, and the air would be clear, and grudges would be forgotten, if only for a while.
    "Aleu!" Clara screamed.  "Wake up!  Don't go!"
    The humans were watching the small screens intently. "Heart rate is stabilized."
    "Breathing is normal."
    "He should be safe now. We just have to get him to eat something."
    "He's asleep. Is that okay?"
    "There's little to no chance of a coma now. He'll be fine."
    Clara nuzzled Aleu on the cheek.  "Come back when you're ready, okay?"
    She padded out of the room.
    In his sleep, Aleu smiled.
    He was dreaming about Tess.

    Quintin lay on the table, fighting for his life.
    He had broken his rib cage.
    The dog looked at Quintin. "I bet that hurts, huh? My name is Max. Wanna know why I'm allowed to help?" Max was trying to keep Quintin's mind off the pain.
    Quintin moaned.
    "Max, why are you allowed to help?" He winced but stayed strong.
    "I'm actually part wolf. The humans know they can trust me when I'm dealing with wolves, because I know their customs. I'm one of them." The human doctor snuck up behind Quintin and carefully pricked him with a needle, so he wouldn't feel anything.
    Quintin cried quietly.  "Will I live?"
    Max thought for a second. "I can't tell him that they're going to do surgery. That would only scare him,"thought Max.
    Out loud, he said,"I think you will be. But to get better, you'll have to rest."
    Quintin yawned.  "Okay."
    He fell right to sleep.
    Hours and hours ticked by...

    The first thing Aleu noticed was somebody breathing on his fur in the back of his neck.
    The second thing he noticed was how HUNGRY he was. He was so hungry, he felt like he would puke if he didn't eat.
    The humans were talking. "I put him on something to make him want to eat. It should help get him the way he's supposed to be, but don't keep him on it for long, or he may get addicted. We better keep him in RC for a few weeks, until he starts gaining weight and eating properly."
    Quintin woke with a start.
    Max heard a noise and looked over at Quintin. Bandages covered most of the pup's back, and an IV led into his paw.
    "How convenient,"thought Max," They're both waking up at the same time."
    Quintin shifted and sprawled out on the table.
    "I feel... Better." He said, quietly.
    "That's good." Max said. However, he knew that Quintin would be singing a different tune when the anesthesia wore off.
    Max turned to Aleu. "And how are we feeling this morning?"
    "Hungry." Aleu complained. "Just hungry."
    Quintin realized he was hungry too, for had he felt the yowling of his belly.
    "Me too!" He chirped.
    Max grinned. "I'll tell the humans right away." Humming some tune or the other, Max padded over to the humans.
    "What's wrong, Max?"
    "Hey, look! We have some wakers!"
    "I'll get some chow for them."
    Quntin stifled a giggle.  "Humans are so funny!" He chirped.
    Aleu looked at Quintin. "So, why are you all wrapped up?"
    "I broke my rib cage." Quintin said, sighing.
    Aleu winced. "And I thought not eating for weeks on end was bad."
    Quintin coughed.  "We're both lucky to have survived," He said.  "If you haven't of eaten sooner, you would've starved.  Wolves can only go 3 weeks TOPS."
    Aleu frowned as his stomach growled so loud the table shook. "I guess you might call me a picky eater. I rarely come across something I'd be willing to eat. But you can't tell your mother! Promise me!"
    "Tell Mommy what?" Quintin asked.
    "Quintin, you can't tell your mother why I got sick. Promise me."
    "Okay," Quintin promised.  "With all of my..." He winced. "Sore heart..."
    Max trotted back over. "Yeah, that would be the pain killers wearing off. Here comes the human with some food for you."
    The human set a slab of meat in front of Aleu, and a much smaller one in front of Quintin. Aleu just sat there, staring at what he was given.
    Quintin devoured the meat and stared at his best friend.  "Come on!" He encouraged, and his yelp was muffled by the meat.  "It's good!"
    Aleu just sat there, staring at the meat.
    Max put his paws up on the table. "What's the matter? I thought you said you were hungry."
    Aleu simply stared at the meat in silence.
    Max followed Aleu's gaze. "Ah. I see."
    "What is it?" Quintin asked.
    Max looked at Quintin. "I think your friend is... a non-carnivore."
    Quintin stared at Aleu.  "But.... You HAVE to eat!  You'll die!" He wailed.
    Aleu looked away. He couldn't bring himself to eat another animal. Not since he was small.
    When Aleu looked away, he saw the last person he wanted to know about his problem. Clara.
    Clara walked over.  A poker face.  It was hard to understand what she was feeling...
    Aleu silently watched Clara. He knew his secret was out. There was no way he could deny it. This was why he had wanted to stay away from wolves, and why he had not eaten when Tess had offered food.
    Clara padded over to Aleu.
    "I know it's harder for you, Aleu," she sighed.  "But, this time, you must eat.  You need the energy."
    Whining, and trying not to taste it, Aleu gently picked up a piece of the meat. He held it in his mouth and looked at Clara, waiting for her to look away so he could spit it out.
    Clara's earth-colored eyes burned into Aleu's pelt.  She didn't look away.
    "Do you want to die?" She growled.  "And ruin our lives, since you, our best friend, aren't here anymore?"
    Aleu spit it out anyway. "I can't eat this, Clara! Do you know how long it's been since I've eaten meat? I was six months old, Clara! I couldn't force myself then, and I won't now!" Kicking the meat onto the floor, Aleu turned his back on Clara.
    "I just can't! She doesn't understand," he thought. "None of them do."
    Clara's eyes teared up and tears fell down her cheeks.  "Suit yourself," She sniffed.
    Tears welled up in Aleu's eyes. "If only the humans could understand. I could tell them- no. I'll just have to hope they get a clue. That's all I can hope." Aleu retreated inside himself, a survival tactic he had picked up during his childhood. He could only just feel his stomach, asking for solid food. He ignored it.
    Clara padded over to Quintin.  "How was your meal, love?" She asked.
    Quintin squeaked.  "It was yummy!  I feel so much better!"
    Clara nuzzled her son.  He nuzzled back warmly...
    Aleu saw Clara nuzzling Quintin. He looked away, and more tears flowed. The sight brought back memories, memories of his mother, memories he wanted buried deep.
    Max looked up onto Aleu's table. It was empty.
    "Will Aleu be okay, Mommy?" Quintin whined quietly.
    Max sniffed the table. "He... was here, wasn't he?"
    Clara didn't pay attention.
    "I hope so, little one."
    Max looked for anything else that was missing. "Ma'am, either we have some big rats, or he took the meat. It's all gone, every piece!"
    Clara ran away from Quintin.  She trembled.
    "Aleu, have you eaten this meat?!"
    There was no answer. Max put one ear to the floor, then reported,"I can hear him! He's walking. This way!" Max ran through the open door and turned left.
    Clara looked as if she would explode.
    "ALEU, WHAT IS IT?"

    Aleu heard running footsteps. He started to run, as well. He carried the meat in his mouth. He had already choked down one piece, and stopped himself from trying to spit it back up. He couldn't deal with being watched eat, and trying to eat another creature at the same time.
    Clara howled.
    "ALEU?!?!"
    Max stopped and sniffed the ground. "He stopped here, and there's traces of fresh meat juice here. I think he just wants to eat alone." Then, Max continued running. "But I'm supposed to make sure he doesn't leave the building."
    "Who are you talking about, Max?!"
    Max stopped. "I'm in charge of all the wolves we take in, until it's safe to release them back out. Most of the others have already been released, but there's the four of you and one other who are here still, for medical attention." He looked at Clara. "I think Aleu knows him. He was right behind you last night, while my humans were trying to save Aleu."
    "Who.is.him?"  Clara growled.
    Max was afraid. Clara was threatening him, and he didn't have his tranquilizer collar. "I- I don't know his name!" Max stammered. "All I know, he's bigger than Aleu, has black fur, and needs a major attitude adjustment!"
    Clara gasped.
    "Father!  Aleu's father!"
    Max backed away from Clara. "That's his father? There's almost no resemblance!"
    "Because he's evil!" Clara howled.
    "Then it's a good thing he's not allowed to wander free. He's kept locked in a cage, or else he might hurt someone." Max's ears shot up. "Did you hear that?" There was the faint sound of someone half-choking. "I bet that's Aleu!"
    Clara told Max,"Stay here, and guard Quintin.  I'll go help!" She dashed off.
    Max nodded, and watched Clara go.
    Aleu choked on his piece of meat. He had, in his haste to get the eating over with, forgotten to chew.
    "Aleu!" Clara screeched.  "What's wrong?"
    Aleu flinched and looked up at Clara. He had been so busy trying to get the meat either back out or farther in, that he hadn't heard her approaching. He tried to tell her that he was choking, but his throat was clogged and he couldn't talk. Little black sparks filled the edge of his vision.
    "Aleu!" Clara screeched.  "Lay on your back!"
    Aleu obeyed. It wasn't exactly like he was in a position to argue. The blackness crept toward the center of his vision, all too quickly.
    "ALEU!" Clara yelled.  "STAY AWAKE!"
    Clara positioned herself, and slammed her shoulder against Aleu's chest.
    The piece of food stuck in Aleu's throat flew out, and Aleu gasped for breath. As soon as he could breathe normally, he scrambled to his feet and made for the nearest exit.
    "Aleu!" Clara jumped in front of him, blocking his run.  "Where do you think you're going?"
    "Dang it," thought Aleu,"I forgot she's faster than me!"
    Aleu hung his head. "I was... leaving?"
    "Why?" Clara growled.
    Aleu shied away from Clara. She was using the same tone his mother had used when he was in trouble. To this day, that tone sent shivers up and down his spine.
    "Because...um..."
    Clara sighed and closed her eyes.
    She used her old tone.
    "Because why?" She asked lightly.
    "Because... I was going back to the room?" Aleu's eye twitched like he always did when he lied, but he tried to hide it.
    "Aleu..." Clara sighed, sadly.  "Why were you running away from me?"  She choked on the last words.
    Aleu sighed. "I don't know. I'm just- so confused. I was walking to meet you, and then next thing I remember, I'm in a human's building, with some pups that I somehow know the names of, hooked up to humans's machines, and having dreams about another pup..."
    "What was the dream about?" Clara asked.  "And who was it?"
    Aleu tried to remember. "I don't remember the pup's name. But I remember that she was talking to me. She wanted me to do something... can't quite remember..."
    Clara bit her lip.
    "The pups are safe," She breathed.  "Tess, Quintin, Lilly, and Sapph are here.  They're with Max."
    Aleu shook his head. "Tess. That was her name. She wanted to know if I wanted a mouse to eat... I told her I wasn't hungry..."
    Aleu pushed past Clara and rushed back the way he had come.
    "And?" Clara pressed.  He wasn't making sense!
    Aleu started to sway. His energy was still low, he hadn't had a chance to digest the meat he had eaten.
    "I-I don't know... It's so fuzzy..."
    "Aleu, look at what you've done to yourself!" Clara howled in agony.  She saw the faint shine in his eyes ebb away, and his feet looked like the would give 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