Part 1
As the first snowflake settled, it whispered secrets of a winter tale waiting to unfold… Along down a narrow woodland path, there was a cozy little log cabin with a brick chimney. At this cabin, a small family was temporarily staying there. The mom, dad, and their daughter were very excited because their pet dog (a husky) had just had pups. Nobody in the household expected what was about to happen, but watching the first snow of the winter begin to fall sparked their imaginations.
“Mom, dad, can I go out and play?” the daughter asked.
“Xevva, it’s snowing. Don’t you think it would be best to just stay inside?” the mother asked.
“Your mother’s right. Snow can be rather unpredictable, and we wouldn’t want you to get trapped out there,” the father said.
“I’ll be back. I just want to hang out on the porch,” Xevva said, pouting.
“Fine, but don’t you leave that porch, or else we might have a heart-attack,” the mother said with a sigh.
“Thanks! Bye!” Xevva exclaimed, dashing out the door.
From the comforts of the inside of the cabin, the parents watched their daughter for a few minutes. She ran around on the porch, trying to catch snowflakes. However, the very moment the parents stopped looking, Xevva ran away! Laughing gleefully, the girl caught a few snowflakes which promptly melt from her body heat.
As the snow began to fall harder, however, the woods around Xevva began to lose their familiarity. The girl glanced around, trembling in the cold. She needed to go home; she was not dressed warmly enough for an extended stay outside. Carefully, she attempted to retrace her steps, but she found herself wandering further and further away from home.
“I don’t remember seeing this frozen river,” Xevva remarked.
Confused, Xevva turned around and headed back the other way. Eventually, she happened upon a small white creature blending in with the snow. The poor thing looked just as cold as she was! Feeling sympathy for the small creature, Xevva approached and sat in the snow beside the poor thing.
“Little one, are you lost as well?” Xevva wonders.
The creature barked, moving away nervously. Xevva extended her hands to the creature again, but it refused to stay near her. Xevva sneezed, shivering bitterly. It was even colder sitting in the snow than wandering around.
As Xevva felt her energy leaving, a warmth came to her. Was she imagining it? No… The white fluffy creature returned to her after all. He was now curled up close to her, sharing what warmth he had.
“Pup…” Xevva whispered.
“Human,” the pup said.
Xevva had thought she imagined this and laughed. The cold was too much to bear, but now she had a fluffy companion. The two remained together for awhile before being found. Xevva’s mother, dressed in warm clothes, had discovered them.
“Xevva! Come on, we need to get home!” the mother said.
“Mom, I found a puppy!” Xevva said.
“Where’s its parents?” the mother asked, looking around. “Look, it’s dangerous to just hold random baby animals you find lying around-”
“Mom, we can’t leave him here! He’ll die!” Xevva whined.
“He’s a wild animal, Xevva. Wild animals are born to survive nature…and if not…well…nature has no place for weaklings,” the mother said. “As for you! You need to be home, tucked safe and warm into bed!”
“No! I’m not leaving without the puppy!” Xevva demanded.
The mother argued with her daughter. The pup was frightened and leaped away, trembling. He was scared and cold. Finally, despite better judgement, Xevva was allowed to take the puppy home.
“Xevva!” the father exclaimed upon seeing his daughter returned.
“I found a puppy!” Xevva exclaimed, holding up the bundle of white fur.
“Uhhh, is- is that a wolf pup?” the father asked, startled.
“I don’t know, but he was cold and needed me as much as I needed him,” Xevva said. “I’m NOT putting him back outside!”
‘Xevva, my human, what is this you have brought?’ the mother husky wondered, though she cannot speak a human language.
“Look! Mommy Doggo can have it!” Xevva said, lowering the struggling pup down to the floor.
‘Thanks!’ the husky said with a grin.
The white pup glanced nervously at Xevva. He was a bit bigger than the husky puppies, but he WAS starving… Mommy Doggo gently licked him, settling him in. The other pups even moved over so he could drink beside them.
‘My dear, I know not where you came from, but I will take care of you…’ Mommy Doggo said.
‘You would never believe me even if I told you, ma’am,’ the wolf pup replied in her language. ‘I thank you. I felt weak with hunger, and you welcomed me.’
“See? She has already accepted it as her own!” Xevva pointed out.
“Okay, okay, he can stay for now…but we CAN’T keep him,” the mother said.
“I fear his family will reject him now that he smells like human,” the father commented, rubbing his tired head.
‘I don’t want to be a bother… I didn’t choose to be in this situation…’ the wolf pup whispered to the mother dog.
‘You aren’t a bother. Stay as long as you need, child,’ Mommy Doggo said, licking his head again. ‘The world is a scary place to be, especially when you’re all alone…’
“Why CAN’T we keep him? He was obviously abandoned!” Xevva argued.
“Because, honey, it’s illegal to keep wild animals without permits,” the mother said.
“Then get a permit!” Xevva whined.
“It’s not THAT simple, honey. Imagine if he gets older, escapes, and kills several peoples’ animals. We would be in so much trouble…” the mother said.
“There’s got to be a way, it’s not fair! I want him to be safe with us!” Xevva yelled, clearly on the verge of a tantrum.
“Keep that up and I’ll personally chuck him back outside,” the father grumbled. “I don’t want to have to do that, so don’t make me.”
“Then DON’T! How hard is it to NOT abuse an innocent life?!” Xevva yelled.
“It’s not abuse-
“YES IT IS!”
“Fine, whatever. But first chance we get, he goes,” the father grumbled, going to fetch another cup of coffee.
