Chapter 2: A Change of Fate

On my way home, it was darker outside than normal. No darkness compared to the dark of the desert. But luckily, my eyesight had always been good, and seeing at night had never been a problem. Not even the moon was out, but the stars were gorgeous. Then I remembered hearing that there was going to be a Blood Moon this month, when the moon is in a total lunar eclipse. It has no astrological significance, but they're beautiful… and rare. I made a mental note to set up my telescope to get a better look.

Out of curiosity, I looked up at the stars and there was a shooting star. "Oh, my god! That's gorgeous!" Luckily, there was no one else on the road because I couldn't take my eyes off it. I was going to pull over, but I didn't want anyone to hit me in the rear while watching the shooting star, either.

Suddenly, something caught my eye to the side, causing my head to snap up when a gray wolf ran out right in front of my car. I swerved to keep from hitting it, but it was too late. The sound of metal against bone and then the final crunch rang in my ears as I felt the impact, hitting my head on the windshield at the same time. Finally, my car came to an abrupt stop.

A car horn blared in the distance and my headlights were still on, but the engine had died. When I came to my senses, I realized it was my own horn. After hitting it a few times, it finally stopped.

My knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel so hard, willing for this to have just been a bad dream... my worst nightmare.

Shaking violently as tears streamed down my face, I suddenly remembered the gray wolf. "Please, don't be dead. Please, don't be dead," I chanted, grabbing my medical bag. Then I slowly slid out of the car, afraid to look. When I peeked over the hood, the wolf lifted its massive head, surprising me with the intelligence I saw there and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw it was still alive.

"I'm not going to hurt you, boy," I cooed, stepping slowly toward it. "I'm just going to check your injuries." To my surprise, the wolf didn't even growl. Even though it was a wild animal, it seemed tamer than many domestic animals I'd come in contact with.

"It's going to be okay." Going down on one knee, I checked its paw, and it was broken. And from what I could tell without X-rays, its hip was out of alignment, too.

I searched through my medical bag and found a syringe and some prednisone, which was good for inflammation and pain. "Well, boy. Since I don't know your history, I'm going to have to wing it. This is going to pinch a little, but it's a little something for pain."

I didn't know if it was my imagination or not, but I could have sworn that the wolf nodded its head. After waiting for the prednisone to take effect, I did the best I could to align its hips and set the bone in its paw. When I was finished, I looked down at him and smiled.

"Well, boy, I have no idea what I'm going to do with you, so I'm taking you to my house to heal." I looked down at him and sighed. "Now, I'm going to lift you to put you into my car, so don't bite me. Okay?"

That time, I know he nodded.

I reached over to pet the soft fur between its ears. "Wow! You're a smart boy, aren't you?"

To my surprise, the wolf relaxed, leaning against my hand.

"Well, we've got to get you out of the road before someone comes." I carefully scooped him into my arms and carried him to the backseat of my car. He was heavier than he looked. Although it wasn't overly huge, it was bigger than other wolves I'd seen. "I can't believe no one came by while I was treating you, but I didn't want to move you until you were stable." When he was safely inside, I closed the door, gathered my things, and we were on our way within minutes.

"Now...." I knew I was rambling, but I couldn't help it. I always talked to my patients. For some reason, it seemed to relax them. "You're going to stay in my living room tonight, so don't eat me in my sleep. Okay?"

I looked in the rearview mirror and it appeared that the wolf was actually laughing.

"My, my! But you're a happy boy, aren't you?" I fixed my eyes on the road, determined not to hit any more wolves tonight. "I can't believe you're so friendly for a wild animal."

It laid its head on its paws, listening.

"I know you must be in pain, boy, but I promise you'll be fine soon," I added, turning down the road leading to my bungalow. Quite literally, my little piece of heaven in the oasis. "I'll sit up with you for a while, but I want you to get plenty of rest. Okay?"

The wolf lifted its head and nodded.

I blinked three times hard, unable to believe what I was seeing. "Case in point, proving that I get along better with animals than with other humans. Or maybe I just need to work less hours."

A few minutes later, I pulled my car into the long drive leading to my house. It was lit up with the accent lights I had placed strategically around the bungalow, along with the lights I had tied around the trees and cacti.

After pulling the car to a stop in from of my house, I turned off the engine and looked over the seat back to my new furry friend. "Well, this is it! Home sweet home." I sighed, looking at the bungalow and then back at him. "I'm just going to open the door so don't run off. Okay? I have medical supplies in there that will help me treat you."

I jumped out of the car, quickly unlocked the door, flipped on the lights, and then hurried back out to my new friend.

When I opened his door, the medicine had kicked in because he was already starting to get sleepy, lucky for me. The more relaxed the animal was, the better. I just hoped I didn't get bitten in the process.

As carefully as I could, I slid into the floor of the car and looked into his eyes. "Okay, boy. Here goes nothing… and don't bite me."

The wolf smiled, panting.

"OOooo… you're thirsty." I lifted the wolf, straining a bit under its weight. "We'll get you something to drink once I get you inside." Big dogs were often brought into the clinic, but none as big as this fella. "Well, I guess I'm going to have to start lifting weights again." I walked inside and laid him on the futon against the wall and he took up the whole length.

"I'll be right back." I headed off to the hall closet, pulled out a quilt that my stepmother had made for me years ago, and then brought it back to the living room and draped it carefully over the wolf. "Okay, boy. Stay here. I'm going to get you some water and will be right back."

In the kitchen, I filled a bowl with water and looked in the refrigerator for something I could give him to eat, vowing to go shopping for dog food in the morning. But for now, my leftover steak from the night before was going to have to do. Since I hadn't been that hungry, there was a lot left. I was going to eat it tonight, but I thought he needed it more than I do right now.

After heating it up, careful not to let it get too hot, I cut it into small pieces and then took it out to the living room, but the wolf was already asleep. I set the bowls on the floor near the futon, just in case he got hungry, and sighed as I watched him sleep.

Then I cut off the lights and headed back to the kitchen to make a sandwich, grabbed a glass of iced tea, and sat at the small table in the kitchen. After eating, I quickly washed the dishes, and then headed off to my bedroom, leaving the door open… just in case he woke and was looking for me.

Like it or not, I now had a new furry friend. I just hoped he adjusted to the domestic surroundings when he woke. Now, what to name him....

After getting ready for bed, I slipped under the blankets and finally started to relax. I wondered what Macy and Maria would think when they see him. But then again, they were receptive of all animals. Why should a wolf be any different? I chuckled at the thought.

As I turned names over in my mind, it had the same effect as counting sheep. For some time in the process, sleep found me, determined to do right by my new friend, vowing to take care of him, at least until he could rejoin his own kind. No matter how long it took.

After all, it was the least I could do.

***

The alarm clock blared out a continuous order, "Get up! Get up! Get up!" Rhythmic and annoying. I hit it as hard as I could, not caring if it broke, and sat up, knowing it was time to get ready for work. Groaning, I swung my legs off the side of the bed and sat up. I knew better than to lay back down or hit the snooze. I was likely not to wake up.

As I started getting a grip on reality, I realized it was Saturday and I had forgotten to turn off my alarm.

"Ugg!" I fell back onto the bed, pulling a pillow over my face.

I guess you could say I've never been a morning person. But this business of going to work and coming home in the dark was getting old. But usually, once I got up and had my coffee, I was good to go. Wanting to get into the office before the others, I enjoyed a little quiet time with my furry friends before the madness of the day kicked in.

But today wasn't that day.

I turned over, willing myself to go back to sleep... when I heard something in the living room. Then I sat up, suddenly wide awake, remembering the wolf I had left sleeping on my couch.

I quickly slipped into a robe and headed out, vowing to check on him first and then get the coffee started. But when I walked into the living room, the wolf was gone, and a man was lying under the quilt in its place.