DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT MY OC'S.
It was the middle of the day, just after the mail had arrived in Nome, Alaska. The weather was cold, but not super chilly, considering that spring was here. Suddenly, a gasp of shock and horror came from the edge of town, followed by several exclamations and other like sounds. People quickly backed away as the more experienced men ran into their homes to grab thier shotguns. A lone, pure white wolf made it's way through the center of town. Blood formed pools around it's feet wherever it stepped, seeping from deep, deep wounds.
"Poor wolf," came a twelve-year-old voice as the town's favorite, Rosie, quickly moved towards the wolf, catching it as it slumped to the ground. A low whine of unspoken pain was all it could muster as it looked up at her with one eye. "Easy, easy... We'll take care of you..."
The wolf seemed to understand, gave another whine, then it's head slumped, it's eyes closing as it faded into darkness.
"Rosie, get away from that thing!" cried her father. She looked at him.
"Dad, it's hurt," she said. "This wolf means no harm. It wouldn't have come so far into civillization if it meant any harm. It took a huge risk coming here, but it still came."
She paused and looked straight at the vet, who held his rifle steady against his chest, pointed at the wolf in her arms.
"It came for help," she said, her eyes boring into his. After a few moments, he sighed and put the gun down. He handed it to his assistant, then walked catiously over and kneeled in the snow, next to Rosie. As carefully as possible, he observed the wolf, taking in all of its injuries.
"Can you heal it?" Rosie asked. The vet gave a heavy sigh.
"Not if it's free to run," he answered. "Rosie, are you certain you want to help this wolf? This isn't Balto. This isn't a tame wolf."
"If you don't help me, I'll take care of it myself, with or without anyone else's help," she said stubbornly. The vet sighed again, then slowly, carefully, picked the wolf up in his arms.
"Then come with me to the clinic," he said. "I'll see what I can do for it."
Rosie immediately nodded and got up, following him swiftly.
LATER
After three hours of painstaking surgery and wrappings, the white wolf lay on the un-occupied side of Rosie's bed. Jenna and Balto were cuddling nearby, watching the wolf carefully. It still hadn't woken from its faint.
"Rosie?" came her mother's voice, as she walked into the room. Rosie smiled at her mom. "How's it doing?"
"She," Rosie corrected. Her mom stopped short, looking at her daughter.
"What?" she asked.
"The wolf's female," Rosie answered. "The doctor said she'd be okay, but she had to take it really, really easy as to not antagonize the wounds and reopen them."
"Have you thought of a name for her?" her mom asked, sitting down near the wolf, reaching over and lightly feeling the wolf's temperature and fur.
"Serena," Rosie answered. "Her name is Serena."
Her mom gave a soft smile.
"Let me know when she wakes?" she asked. Rosie nodded and laid down. Her mom gave her a soft kiss and tucked her in. "Sleep well, Rosie."
"You too, Mom," Rosie answered, then rolled onto her side and closed her eyes.
THE NEXT DAY
"Dr. Antos?" Rosie said over the phone. The vet on the other end gave in to his surprise.
"What can I do for you, Rosie?" he asked.
"It's Serena, the wolf," she answered. "She's awake, but she won't eat the dog food we give her, wet nor dry."
With a soft sigh, the vet gave a smile.
"Rosie, Serena isn't tame," he reminded her. "She won't be used to such food and will more than likely refuse to eat it. She'll only eat game meat, people food. She's a hunter, first and foremost, and fresh meat is their best choice, but I'm certain she'll at least try cooked food. Try hamburger or steak. Even bird or fish meat may interest your new pet. Try a variety of things until you find something she'll eat."
"Ok," Rosie said. "Thank you."
"Keep me posted on her progress," he said, then hung up. Rosie put the phone down, then went to the kitchen where her mother was making lunch. It was breaded fish filets. Serena had followed her. The wolf had been by her side all morning, watching... and learning. Balto and Jenna had also refused to leave the house, watching Serena carefully, almost untrustingly.
Serena smelled the fish and walked over, sitting down next to the mom's feet. With a low whine, Serena got the mom's attention. With a small smile, the woman offered Serena some of the raw meat. Serena immediately turned her muzzle away, then pointed her nose up at the cooked meat. With another smile, the mother put the raw meat back on the counter, then grabbed one of the cooked pieces and placed it on a plate. She set it down in front of Serena. This, Serena gladly ate. She didn't devour it, but ate with almost human manners.
"Guess we now know what she eats," Rosie's Dad commented dryly.
"This suggests that she was once someone else's pet," her mom agreed. "Especially since she didn't want the raw food."
Rosie's face lit up like christmas came early.
"Then I can keep her?" she asked excitedly. Both parents exchanged looks, then smiled warmly and nodded. With a whoop and hugging them both, Rosie cheered. "Thank you!"
