Chapter 15
Free
	The happiness that I felt was beyond no other. Everything was perfect. I could feel the warmth of the chinook. The sky was cloudless and violet-blue. Twilight was coming on fast and the life of the forest seemed to be magnified. Birds chirped, squirls chattered, and somewere off in the distance I sware I heard a joyous fox call. Only one thing weighed me down from flying. How could I really be with Griffen when I was with Todd? There is always a flaw in every plan. But this one was beyond my resolving. If I left Todd for Griffen then I will have left my whole pack. There had to be a way. There just had to be.
	I could here the rejoycing howls of my pack when I walked out onto the stretch between the forest and the pen. We howled back without hesitation. As soon as we got there, everyone flooded me with questions such as, "Where did you go?" and "How did you survive on your own?" I learned that the other wolves had gone back to their old territory, neighboring Griffen's land. I even heard some apologies and decided it was my turn to speak. "I should be the one to apologize. I left in stupidity when my pack needed me, and it won't happen again I asure you." I said, lowering my head in embarressment. "Thats not important though, what is important is that your back and your safe." Griffen announced gleefully. There were yips of agreement that broke off when the back door opened.
	 Todd strolled out to welcome me back with a crushing hug. I licked him the ear until he laughed so hard he broke away. "I missed you Mada." He breathed deeply. "And who might you two be?" he asked, descovering Griffen and Marine. He leened over and petted them coutiously. "It seems you have grown too big for this little pen. I knew this would happen sooner or later." He sighed to himself. Todd marched to the gate and swung it open. "Go. Your free now. A wolf should be out were it belongs, in the wild." I stared up at him, in disbelief. This was the answer to my problem, but I didn't want to leave him. On the other hand, this was a once in a life time oppertunity. I could be with my pack and with Griffen and live in the forest. Eya was the first to go, hesitently. Akila followed with Savoy. Then me and Griffen joined. Soon the whole pack was taking their first steps of real freedom.
	I stopped and looked back into Todd's sad eyes. His beard soaked with tears. And yet, he smiled. I threw my head back and gave him his very own howl containing all the gratitude for him. The whole pack howled in tribute and turned back to the forest. "If you ever need me, I'll always be here." he called back. I glanced one last time before I was really free. I smiled back, took a deep breath, and ran into my new life. I would never forget the old. But now, It was me, Griffen, and my pack.