Rudolph the red nosed flyer was walking through town. The famous back was greeted everywhere by the villagers who had once ridiculed him.

But one greeting seemed to be destiny.

Just then, a group of elves came running through with a stretcher.

"Out of the way! She's starving!"

As the elves rushed past him, Rudolph was able to catch a quick but good glimpse at who was lying in the stretcher. There, wrapped tightly in a blanket, was a sea lion pup. Her eyes were half open, half shut. She was so skinny that even the smallest cylindrical object would be bigger than her.

Rudolph couldn't do anything but follow them.

Rudolph ran past everyone so quickly that he couldn't see them. He followed the elves to the hospital as they burst the double doors wide enough for Rudolph himself to enter. He followed them into the room and they placed her in a bed.

Please, God, he thought, just don't let her die.

Rudolph never left the youngster's bed that day. The pup slept peacefully most of the time.

Zoey entered.

"Hi, Rudolph, I- Oh my god." she murmured suddenly. As soon as she saw the little pup in such condition, she leaned her head against his shoulder and sobbed.

"Don't worry, Zoey," Rudolph cooed to his doefriend. "She'll be fine."

As soon as he said this, the little pup opened her eyes.

"Huh?" she squeaked. "Where am I?"

"You're safe now," Rudolph told her.

The pup's eyes grew wide. "You're Rudolph!"

"Yep." Rudolph said with a warm smile. "And you?"

She said, "I'm Sinja, and I'm five."

The elf doctor entered. "Rudolph, Zoey, can I talk to you?"

"We can't find her family. We've also found her to have autism. We're just unable to release her."

Rudolph's heart sank. He felt so guilty.

Then an idea struck him. "I think I found her the perfect family."

"Where are we going?" Sinja asked, walking beside Rudolph.

"You'll see."

They arrived to the large open spot in the ice where Ophira and her family lived.

Ophira swam up to Rudolph, and immediately noticed Sinja. "Oh, hi there." she said. "What's you're name?"

"Sinja." she murmured shyly.

"Well, nice to meet you Sinja. I'm Ophira."

"See," Rudolph said, "she's autistic, and she can't be released, so can you guys accept her as a family member?"

Ophira's family also swam over.

Her mother Caren said, "Why, of course! Come into the water, darling."

Sinja ecstatically jumped into the water. Then she stopped. "You're not going to eat me are you?"

"Oh no! We're Resident orcas, so we only eat fish. Care for salmon?"

"My favorite!"

As Caren swam off to get fish, Sinja swam back to Rudolph.

"Thank you, Rudolph. Thank you."

Then she resumed to play with her new family.

Smiling, Rudolph turned around and walked home.