Lucy returned alone the next day to the rescue, carrying only a small gift bag.
Once again, Michael was in a mood, and she figured she could take her mind off it by working on a little gift.

She knocked on the door and once more Roy opened it. "Hello again, Lucy." he smiled and stood aside letting her pass.
"Hello, Roy." She smiled back.

Lucy saw that her brother was again trying to get the young pup to drink.
For as exhausted as he was, Trooper was managing to fight him back.

Everyone jumped as he let out a sharp yelp, as if in pain, instantly James pulled back the bottle.
Trooper now had the advantage.

"What was that?" Lucy asked moving closer.
"I don't know. All I did was try and get this in his mouth."
Lucy sat beside James and gently stoked the top of Troopers' head. "You ok, baby?"
The pup made a soft churring sound and glanced over to her with semi-closed eyes.
"HI, puppy!" She continued petting him for a while, before picking up the bag. "I made something for you!" Lucy reached in the bag and pulled out a small piece of clothes - it was a puppy onesie; baby blue with multi colored duckies printed on it. James smiled and helped his sister get the warm fleece wrap on his tiny body, using the Velcro to attach it under his belly. Troopers' soft fur frilled out from around the neck of the onesie, framing his face in fluff.

Lucy smiled at how well she made it to fit the tiny being, and pulled out another piece. This she put over his head, and tucked his ears into their own 'sleeves'. Once more she fastened the Velcro under his neck, causing more of his fluff to frame his own face.

It was complete with tiny baby booties to keep his paws warm.
"There we are. He should be warmer now."
Trooper wiggled around, Lucy propping him up on his feet. The baby ducky covered wolf pup raised his head, wobbling. This was a strange sensation to be completely wrapped in a fabric, and still be able to use his legs. He swayed back and forth on his tiny paws.

"I wish we knew what was going on with him." James sighed watching Trooper nurse from the bottle Lucy held.
"Maybe he's lonely. Do you have any other puppies around him?"
"No. I was taking care of him myself for days."

Shortly he fell over again having little strength.
Lucy again picked up the bottle and convinced him to nurse. Somehow it was easier for her to get Trooper to drink than either James or Roy. They figured it was something to do with a 'motherly feel' to her.
"He's such a sweet heart. And it looks like he's a little better than he was yesterday."

"We decided to introduce him to the fox kit - Maddie. I was wondering if you would help us keep an eye on them."
"Absolutely!"

After Trooper finished his milk, James moved the large wooden box with a memory foam dog bed closer between them.
"Alright. I'll go get the fox kit and be right back. You got Trooper?"
"Yep." She held the wolf pup closer to her face and he turned to look at her. "You're a good boy, aren't you?"
He made a soft yip and closed his eyes again.
Footsteps behind her finally pulled her attention away from the sleepy pup in her arms.

Lucy turned to see James carrying a small, wiggling bundle of blanket in his own arms.
He returned to his chair and gently un wrapped the shifting blanket to reveal a small reddish copper face.
"Lucy, meet Maddie."
The tiny fox kit looked around her, Lucy smiling at her.
"HI, Maddie!" She looked at Trooper and gently nudged his face. "Trooper? Ready to meet a new friend?"
He slowly raised his head.

"Let's bring them a little closer." James instructed as he moved Maddie nearer to the mid ground, Lucy bringing Trooper closer.
Maddie the fox kit began making chirping noises at the only slightly larger Trooper.
Hearing the noise, the blue and rainbow duckie covered wolf pup looked at her.

Seeing the new creature in front of him, Trooper began struggling to back up.
"Oh, it's ok, Trooper!" Lucy held him to her. "It's ok."
He tried to bury himself in her arms.
"It's ok."

Interested in the new one, Maddie tried to move closer.
"I think she wants to see him." James struggled to keep the constantly moving baby fox in his own arms.
"She's more outgoing than he is."
Lucy held Trooper out near enough to the eager fox to smell him. Trooper tried to squirm back, but when he discovered she wasn't going to hurt him, he tentatively reached out his neck to smell her.
"There we go." James smiled as Troopers' tiny tail began slowly wagging.
Maddie kept taking nips at Trooper's' ears, but he began mirroring the movement, taking nips back.
Finally comfortable they were alright with each other, Maddie and Trooper were placed inside the box to play.

Once again Trooper was nervous about the new fox, but he moved towards her wobbling as he went.

Both he and Maddie nibbled on each others' ears, and Trooper quickly found out he liked to bite her nose. Soon they were playing together, Trooper wobbling after her as fast as his tiny legs would carry him.

"Look at him!" Lucy smiled. "I wouldn't believe this is the same pup I saw just yesterday!"
"How'd you know he was lonely?" James asked his sister.
"He look depressed. He was alone. There wasn't anything else like him. He was surrounded by a giant."
James smiled as the two canids played as best they could, quickly tiring, and both he and Lucy were surprised to find Trooper curled up first, with Maddie curling up beside him and resting her face on his side.

"Well, I don't think I can separate them now."
"I think it's better for them both."