Ella & Vlad at the end

# 8 - one thing after another

Ella's light whining calms Adan enough to contemplate Ida's idea. "Aren't wolves sneaky? How do we know it won't attack us or you?" Considering climbing up the cage imagines his leg getting bit.

"You're sneaky," Ida jests with him, "always sneaking up on me." Urges within her want to reach out and touch the wolf for proof, "we don't know. It's not like she can promise us or anything."

Nodding slightly Ella slowly sits up getting close to the cage gate. Oh I promise you both. After all I need your help. Shake on it? Ella extends a forepaw out the bars for a shake of goodwill.

As the wolf sits up Adan gets fearful, "look out! Get back Ida!" About to pull her back he places a hand on her shoulder hesitating the idea, "is it wanting us to shake a paw? Or is it hurt?"

"Oh," Ida understands and reaches out a hand to shakes the paw, "no she's not hurt. She's making a handshake agreement with us." The contrasting feel of rough pads and soft fur is delightful to her, even the canine nails.

With a distinct nod Ella reciprocates watching the boy. Come on Adan. I promise not to bite you. Being so close she gets a troubling sniff off Ida, a hint of Parkinson's disease.

Letting go of the paw Ida looks back, "go on Adan, she's okay. So she knows you're okay too." Cupping the small of his back she attempts to ease him forward.

Sheepishly Adan inches forward attempting to make eye contact with the wolf, "I don't know Ida." Wavering he extends a shaky arm and hand. When he sees the wolf's eyes they reflect sadness towards Ida.

Taking a second sniff of the girl Ella verifies Parkinson's. The disease no threat for her intent she feels woeful for Ida's future. Why is it the good ones end up to be plagued by something?

"It's okay Adan," Ida continues to guide him towards the wolf, "Look how sad she is. She just wants out. May even befriend us."

"Yeah sure." Mere inches away from touching paw Adan winces, "It's probably waiting to bite me. How do you know it's a girl anyway?" Gently he cups the bottom of her paw and lightly shakes it.

Gaining his trust relieves Ella. See we can be friends. Inhaling his scent she doesn't smell anything alarming. Now if you two can help me out of here that would be great.

"That wasn't so hard. Was it?" Ida pats his back as they stand up. "You can tell she's a she because she's got no ding-a-ling down there." She points up. "Just climb on top and slide that lever up there."

Hearing ding-a-ling Ella mentally smiles, Adan noticeably smiles, "oh," inspecting the wolf first. Then he studies a way up, "not sure how easy this will be." He then studies a way to get up.

Thank you kids. Ella backs up trying not to cause the boy excess concern. Ida I don't know if you can actually hear me or not but I've something to say.

Not hearing any of it Ida's working off youthful thoughts of her own, "I'll help you up to that bar. When ready I'll push you to the top." She directs him to the brick wall of the house, "the bricks should help."

Beside the wall Adan grabs a bar over a central one hopping up, similar to trained dancers Ida's able to lift him for a higher hold. Getting a foot on a horizontal bar Adan secures the position.

Sliding his hands up the vertical bars Adan grasps the cage's top. Ida takes a firm hold of his ankles lifting him up as far as she can.

Managing to get forearms over the top Adan puts feet to the bricks getting the rest of the way up.

"That's it Adan." Unable to be any more help Ida encourages him, "I knew you could do it. The latch will be easy. I got the hard part." Feeling the bars of the gate hopes she has the strength to lift it.