Somewhere out in the vast wilderness of Alaska, where there were little humans, the animals ran wild. In fact, they had to in order to survive. There were the predators and there was the prey. All the animals lived by the laws of nature. No animal would help another. Unless, of course, they were in a pack. So the outcasts had to learn to live on their own. But one day an outcast from a wolf pack broke these laws and convinced others to as well. You see, one day a wolf was out casted from his pack. He wandered for a while and after a bit he knew that he should get some food soon. So he turned toward the river. He neared it but he knew that he had not the slightest clue as to how to fish. So he just trotted along the riverbank until he came upon Polarbear. "Polarbear, Oh Kind One, I have noticed that you have more than enough fish, and well, I was wondering if-" "No!! I will not share and of my hard caught food with you. Get out of here you little thief!" snapped Polarbear. Then Polarbear chased Wolf away.

Now Wolf went into the town thinking that there must be plenty of nice people willing to share plenty of food. After all, they just had chickens to eat. So he went into the hen-house feeling welcome. But as soon as he entered Hen squawked. That caused the rest of the chickens to squawk, and THAT brought Man out with his shotgun. When Wolf saw it, he tried to run for the door. As he was leaving the hen-house, he heard an extremely loud BANG!!!! He ran as fast as he could. He ran and he ran. He ran until he came upon a field. There he lay down and fell asleep.

A while later, Wolf was woken up by a slight nudging. He looked down and saw a tiny field mouse. Field Mouse, in a small voice said, "Wolf, do not eat me - please! I have noticed the hungry look in your big, gleaming eye. I have some food of my own that I would be more than happy to share if only you would spare my life. Stay right there and I will go get it. It isn't much, but hopefully it'll be enough to last your journey." Then Wolf watched Field Mouse scurry away.

A few minutes later, Field Mouse came back with his arms full. He dumped the small ration of food down at Wolf's feet. Then he watched quietly as Wolf scarfed down the food. When he was done Wolf said, "Thank you for such ravishing food. In fact I'm not sure I can thank you enough. But now I must find a safe, warm place to sleep tonight." Field Mouse replied, "Thank you for such praise that I do not deserve. I just gave you a little something to eat. But I'm afraid I cannot help you much with sheltering. You would never fit down my small den. So alas! I cannot help you anymore." Wolf thanked him again and started to trot off. Field Mouse yelled after him, "Good luck to you in your journey!"

Wolf decided to head back toward the river hoping for the good luck he had in his search for food to come in his quest for shelter. But he could not concentrate on just that. His mind kept wandering. Soon he was not paying any attention to where he was going. After he had been walking along the Tanana River for over a half hour, Wolf's thoughts were shattered by a piercing yelp. Wolf looked up and saw Polarbear near a Seal. Then Polarbear said in a sugary, sweet voice, "Aww! Poor Seal. No need to be alarmed! I won't hurt you. For I am not like other bears." "You liar!" barked Wolf. "Shut up before I eat you too, "snapped Polarbear in an unsugary voice. At those word s, Seal yelped even louder than the first time. That's when Polarbear pounced, the exact time that Wolf pounced at Polarbear. Fortunately, Wolf was faster. He jumped up and bit Polarbear in the neck. It wasn't hard enough to actually hurt Polarbear, but it was hard enough to scare him. Polarbear shook Wolf off then took off. Seal accompanied Wolf in watching Polarbear run until he was out of sight on the flat, frozen tundra of Alaska. Then he turned toward Wolf and said, "I...I...I...I...I don't know what...what to say. I...I mean that you saved my life. I am forever in debt to you. But there is no time for chitchat. I have noticed that you are not with your pack." "Yes," replied Wolf, "I have been out casted for a crime that I did not commit." "Yes. Yes. So you must be hungry and need a place to stay for the night. Correct?" "Correct," confirmed Wolf. "Well then I now shall repay you. Hop on my back and I shall swim you across the river to a safe, warm cave." Wolf did so and when he was back on dry, but frozen, land he said, "Thank you for such hospitality." "It was nothing. After all, you did save my life. And now I shall warn you that even though the cave is warm, it is not warm enough to survive the night. So either you will die of cold or die of hun ger. So I want you to do this: Kill me and use my skins to cover yourself at night. Then you shall eat the meat off my bones to survive. Don't object. I owe you my life. Do it now so you will be prepared when night falls. And remember, I give you my life in friendship.

That night, Wolf huddled under his new blanket, with a full stomach, thinking of the events that had occurred that day. And he realized that even though he had lost his family that day, he had gained something greater. Something was learned that day. That day, Wolf, the outcast, learned that if you lose something you love, that just makes you stronger to find something to fill in the lost happiness.

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