Chapter 17- A Life Saved

Shadow’s eyes were wet. “We shouldn’t have left him”. Crystal walked beside Shadow and wiped his eyes. “There’s nothing more we could have ever done”. Shadow stared down at the child between Crystals legs. “At least the infant is alright”. Shadow sat, a small snow flurry began drifting above them. The cold flakes dropped down onto Shadow’s nose. The cold was like a sharp sting to his warm body. “We best keep moving Shadow”. Shadow nodded and Crystal gripped the baby in her mouth before walking again. Hours pulled by and Shadow and Crystal climbed up over a rocky mountain before coming to a valley opening in the mountain. Shadow stopped and sat. Snow covered the ground like a cold blanket. Crystal shivered and the baby began to cry loudly. “We can’t keep the child alive in this weather”. Shadow said squinting at Crystal. A thick blizzard blew around them violently and howling winds pierced their ears. As if in answer to Shadow, two figures began walking past them. Two humans; they both shuffled by without noticing either of them. “Come on”. Shadow said and began following them. The two scurried into a thick warm tent and disappeared inside. Shadow howled silently. “Crystal slapped her paw into Shadow’s shoulder. “What the heck are you doing” she blurted in her muffled voice. “This may be the child’s chance to live”. Shadow barked. A human stepped around a small cloth hanging over the front of the tent and stared at Shadow. “Gah! It’s a beast”! It was a female human. She ran back inside and there was shouting erupting out. Another human stepped out this time holding a gun. Shadow jumped back but Crystal stepped forward slowly. “Get back you, I don’t want to shoot”! Crystal held the child out and it reached its arms out to the human. “What’s this? Oh my goodness! Linda! Linda! This wolf has a baby”! Another voice shouted back. “A wolf pup”? The man shook his head. “No it’s a human baby”! Crystal sat down and laid the child at the man’s feet. He looked down and back at the wolf. “You’re not going to hurt me”? The human said confused. Crystal couldn’t really understand the human so she simply just looked at him. The human bent over hesitantly. His eyes snapped back to Crystal and he stood up again. Crystal watched patiently not making any movements. The human bent down again and scooped up the human baby. The man turned and handed the baby into the open arms of the female human from earlier. She cradled the baby in her arms and walked back. “He looks very hungry”. The man spun his head around. “Yes I’m sure, can you hand me some of the steak”? The female human came back out holding a meat covered bone in hand. The man grasped it and turned back to Crystal. He knelt down and held the bone out. “Thank you; I’m not sure what miracle this may be but thank you”. Crystal bit down on the bone and smiled. The human stood up and grunted. He turned and pushed past the cloth and stepped inside.