The group ran up the stairs and into the small house. They bolted the door lock, and exchanged looks.
Ethan was sitting on the couch watching the fire, while Lewis sat at a small table in the corner, looking out the window. Ethan turned around to look at them, and his eyes widen at the small bundle Caleb held.
"What is that?" He asked.
"It's a puppy," Caleb said. "His mum attacked us down there, but we didn't realize she was protecting him until too late." He looked sadly down at the small dog.
"So you kept him?" Ethan asked. "A dog we may not be able to take care of?"
"It's better than leaving down there to die!" Caleb repeated his earlier words.
Ethan sighed in defeat and shook his head. "Fine. But he's your responsibility, alright?"
Caleb nodded and smiled. He scratched Woody behind the ears, which the puppy responded with a squeaky growl.
Liam walked behind Caleb and rubbed the kid's head. "He's cute," Liam said. Caleb smiled up at him.
"Okay," Ethan said, standing up. "Only one can sleep on the bed. Another could sleep on the floor of the bedroom. Everyone else will sleep in this room."
"Who should take the bed?" Chris asked.
"I vote the kid," Zoey said. "He's the youngest. He deserves it for living this long." Caleb gave a half smile to her, while his eyes reflected guilt.
"I'll stay with him," Liam said. The others nodded in agreement and the two, three counting Woody, went into the bedroom.
The bed was pushed up against a corner, with a thick blanket over it and a pillow at the top. Looking at it, Caleb realized how tired he was.
Liam layed a blanket over the floor, and since Caleb insisted, he also had a pillow and an extra blanket that was under the thick one.
Caleb snuggled under the covers, Woody pressed up against his chest. The warmth from the puppy's body helped warm the blanket and Caleb, and the fourteen year old was out in a second.
***
Caleb was woken by someone shaking his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Liam standing over him, his good hand on the other's shoulder.
"Wake up, Caleb," Liam said, yawning slightly. "Have some breakfast. We'll be heading out in a bit."
Caleb nodded and rubbed his eyes. He reached around for Woody, and realized that the dog was gone. He sat up in a flash and looked around.
"Woody?" He called.
Liam, who was in the doorway, chuckled. "Woody's out here. Joakim found some dog food in the cupboards in the kitchen. He's feeding him now."
Caleb smiled and got up out of bed. He groggily walked to the main room, where he took in the scene. Ethan, Zoey, Chris, and now Liam sat at the small table. Lewis sat in a chair near the fireplace. Joakim set down a dog food dish in front of a happy-looking Woody. When Joakim looked up, and gave a wave to Caleb.
"Morning, Caleb," Zoey said. She gestured to a chair beside her. "Come join us!"
Caleb walked slowly to the table, still trying to wake up. He sat down next to Zoey, who had put her bright red hair in a pony tail.
"What is this?" Caleb asked, looking at a bowl that been placed in front of him. Inside was a mound of tannish goop.
"It's oatmeal. We found a box of it in one of the cupboards, and tried to make it. It's not that bad once you get past the looks." Zoey answered, taking a spoonful in her mouth.
