Chapter 120 Part 120
Asher
Every few seconds, a droplet of blood dripped onto the snow, the red bright against the whiteness of the ground. The wolf was breathing hard, and Asher took a knee in front of him.
“You know I’ll help you,” he said softly. “You have to let me look, otherwise, I won’t know what I’m dealing with.”
The wolf made a soft whining sound, probably from pain, and he lowered his head slightly. Asher nodded his head. “Thank you.”
The wolf lay down on his side, and Asher took his gloves off. His hand went to the wolf’s ribs and his fingers felt the sticky wetness of his blood. He hadn’t seen it from where he’d been, but there were four large gashes that his fur covered.
He glanced over his shoulder at the two boys. “We need to take him with us. The moment we’re in the clear, I’m going to need you to call Doc Phillips. It’s on my phone.”
Joel nodded his head. “What happened to him?”
“A bear most probably. Strange time of the year for it,” Asher said.
“How are you going to get him to follow us?” Oscar asked.
“He’s too weak. I’m going to carry him down.”
The wolf lifted his head a little, and Asher looked into his eyes. He could see the intelligence there, but also the quiet strength of the animal. “Trust me.” Asher shifted, and picked the wolf up in his arms. He was heavy but his uninjured side rested against Asher’s chest, and the wolf leaned his head against Asher’s arm.
It took them much longer to get through the woods, and by that time, Asher was breathing hard. His arms felt numb, but he knew that if he put that wolf down, he was as good as dead.
The open field looked twice as long, and Asher could see his house in the far distance. Joel was talking on his phone, but he barely heard it. He was focused on staying upright. This wolf couldn’t die.
“There’s a key under that chicken,” Asher said, and Oscar quickly unlocked the front door. He moved through the house to the kitchen, and Joel, thinking on his feet, spread the blanket that he had wrapped around himself, over the table.
Asher put the wolf down, and kept his hand on the wolf’s head. The wolf’s eyes were open, and Asher turned his head toward the doorway when they all heard a car’s engine.
“That’d be the vet. Go get him, Oscar.” Asher turned toward Joel. “About a hundred yards past the house is a small barn. In the tack room you’ll find blankets, bring about five or so.”
Martin Phillips appeared in his kitchen and his eyes widened. “What the hell, Asher?”
“He’s hurt, I think a bear might have gotten to him. The gashes look pretty deep. He might need stitches and something for the pain.”
The man shook his head, but he opened his medical bag, and pulled gloves on. The wolf bared his teeth and Asher focused on him. “He’s going to help you. I won’t let you die. Trust me.”
Doc Phillips stood on the wolf’s other side, and he stuck the needle into the wolf’s skin. Asher could see the moment the medication took effect. The wolf’s eyes glazed over a bit and he relaxed on the table.
The doc worked fast, cleaning the wound, and shaving the hair away. Asher counted twelve stitches on each gash, and when he was done, he asked Asher to lift the wolf while he loosely wrapped a bandage around the area.
“That’s so he won’t lick it or try to bite it out,” he said, as he washed his hands at the kitchen sink. “Are you gonna keep that thing here while he heals?”
“He’s a wolf, Martin, not a thing.”
“Uh huh.” He gave Asher a look as he packed up his supplies, and threw the used materials away. “You always had a way with animals. Though, I never thought I’d see the day when you whispered to a wolf.”
“Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it.”
Martin smiled as he looked down at the wolf who was now sleeping. “I’ll add it to your account.”
“My personal one, not the family one,” Asher said, and Martin nodded.
“The stitches will start to dissolve in about two weeks. Keep the wound dry, and call me if there’s any swelling, unnatural redness, or oozing of any kind.”
“I will,” Asher said. Martin picked up his bag, and left them in the kitchen.
“That was really cool,” Joel said. “The way he knew exactly what to do and how to do it.”
“You interested in working with animals?”
“I dunno,” Joel said, and turned away from him. “What do you want me to do with the blankets?”
“Make a bed for the wolf in the living room.” Joel nodded his head, and returned a few minutes later. Asher picked the wolf up again, and carried him to his new bed. Joel had made it in the middle of the living room, on the thick carpet.
“Is this okay?”
“Yeah, it’s perfect,” Asher said, and gently lowered the wolf.
Both boys stood in the doorway, and Asher looked back down at the wolf. He’d be out for a while but he had no idea how aggressive the wolf would be when he woke up.
“Should we cover him with a blanket?” Oscar asked, and Asher smiled.
“No. His fur is thick enough to keep him warm in the snow, he’ll be fine just as he is.”
“That was really epic, Asher,” Oscar commented. “You carried him for miles. You saved this wolf’s life. Why didn’t he bite you? What did Doc mean by you whispering to him?”
“Trust is earned. This is the second time I’ve encountered this same wolf. He offered me trust the first time, and I didn’t break it, that’s why the second time around, it was easier to give. Animals aren’t all that strange. They can sense good and bad in people, much better than we can.”