Two hours later just as the sun is rising, Archer follows the beam quietly through the woods to a house. Weak with pain, he stumbles towards the light. The boy who helped him! Maybe he will help him again? The windows are glowing and he hears people talking.
“Too many humans,” he thinks. A sudden howl fills the valley, his pack is hunting. That should slow that hunter down. Another wave of pain hits Archer and this time he knows he is in trouble.
Chapter
8
Caleb and Makenna sneak outside that evening, letting the adults visit after dinner. “So Cuz, what’s the big secret?” Caleb asks her. After three years apart Caleb is happy to be back with her, she is like a little sister to him.
Makenna’s eyes fill with tears. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, Caleb.” she says softly looking into the woods with worry.
“You can tell me anything, Makenna. Is it a boy? I know we haven’t been together in a while…” the call of a wolf howling interrupts him. Quickly they turn towards the sound, when an answering howl echoes back. “Wow they are busy today.”
Makenna turns and runs down the steps of the deck into the backyard. She is headed towards the woods. “Hey, where are you going?” Caleb calls out following her.
They skid to a stop at the first unnatural scream. Caleb grabs her arm and steps in front of her. “What was that?”
“Frisbee?” she whispers. With that she runs around Caleb towards woods. Caleb has no choice but to follow. She runs toward the sound and skids to a stop waiting for him. “Frisbee!” she yells calling to her friend.
Archer smells her on the air, she is coming for him. He whines and begins panting just trying to breathe through the pain. Makenna hears him, turning she sees a stream of white moon light pointing at him. Archer is under a bush, whining and panting in pain.
When she runs towards him Caleb stops her. “No way, Nugget!” Makenna is only up to Caleb’s shoulders and he outweighs her easily.
“Don’t call me that, Bubby.” She teases him reminding him of his nickname. “He is my friend! Let me go!”
Archer senses her distress and tries to struggle to his feet but another wave of pain strikes and his howl causes what’s left of the birds in the woods to take flight.
“Listen, I was out here last night and that wolf bit me! It’s not safe.” He tells her.
“No, he wouldn’t bite me. His name is Frisbee and something is wrong! I have to help him, trust me.” She pleads looking up into his light blue eyes.
The same sense of urgency that struck him the day before causes Caleb to listen.
“Okay, but we go together.”
She would have agreed to anything to get to Frisbee, the moment he releases her she runs to him. He whines and licks her face.
“Makenna!” Caleb says frustrated with her. She is running her hands over the wolf’s body, but does not find any wounds.
“I don’t see anything, what could be wrong with him?” she asks. Caleb gets close and Archer’s lip curls back and he shows his teeth growling softly.
Caleb jumps back and Makenna giggles. “I don’t think he likes you.”
“Ya’ think? I am not too fond of him either.” Archer’s legs twitch and his spine arches. His head goes back and he howls in pain again.
“We can’t leave him like this, help me Caleb! I can’t tell my dad yet!” She knows as a scientist discovering a new species he will have to follow the rules. He will be angry with her for not telling him about Archer. Then he will be forced to report him and she will not have him end up in a cage.
“Alright. You go tell your dad that we are going back to your house to watch movies. I will go to the shed to get the sled, Hurry!” Caleb orders hers.
“Okay, good plan.” Leaping up from the ground she turns to run and stops, “I am glad you’re here, Caleb.”
After she runs, Caleb looks at the wolf whose eyes are shut tight in pain and he sighs, “That makes one of us.”
Chapter
9
Makenna hurries back to the woods and finds Archer growling at Caleb. “Crazy mutt won’t let me near him, Makenna.”
“Frisbee is special, Caleb. He is smarter than any dog or wolf. Tell him what you want and he will do it.” Caleb is squatting near the panting wolf and trying to reason with him. She struggles not to laugh at the picture they make.
“Look you need my help and I really don’t want to get bitten again so why don’t you crawl, leap, or walk straight into the sled?” Archer whines and then begins to crawl on all fours towards it.
Caleb watches in amazement and backs away, giving him plenty of space. Archer struggles to his feet, aided by Makenna. He winces and her heart feels his pain, and he turns and licks her face as though reading her mind. Finally, the wolf falls onto the sled and closes his eyes against the pain in his head. He covers his eyes with his paws and Makenna whispers, “I’m sorry this might be a bumpy ride.”
With two hands on the wooden sled they hurry along the edge of the woods towards Makenna’s house. It is a long walk, through thick snow and two times they are forced to stop and rest. Archer drinks from her hands lapping the water up gratefully.
