The Wild Wolf Pup (4 page)

Chapter Five

Shadow's New Home

Before Zoe could think of an excuse, her mum chuckled.

“Silly me,” she said, shaking her head. “Can you imagine – you and the wolf pup having a conversation!”

As she left again, Zoe let out a sigh of relief.

“That was close!” whispered Meep.

“I know!” admitted Zoe. “I'd better be more careful, Meep.”

Once Lucy had given the pelican a check-up and some more medicine, they were ready to take the pup to the new grey wolf enclosure.

“Can I carry him?” Zoe asked hopefully.

“Of course!” replied Great-Uncle Horace, and helped her pick the little wolf up. Zoe kept one arm securely around his body so that he didn't fall, but made sure he could sit upright and see everything around him. This was going to be Shadow's first view of the zoo, and she knew he would want to get a good look!

As they walked through the zoo, lots of animals peered curiously over the
fences of their own enclosures to have a look at the new arrival, and to call out a friendly greeting. The pup was very excited to see so many new faces, and wriggled eagerly in Zoe's arms, wagging his tail and letting out little barks and louder, longer howls. She had to concentrate to make sure she didn't drop him!

“Oh, I've thought of a name for the wolf pup,” Zoe told her mum and Great-Uncle Horace, smiling at Meep. “Shadow!”

“Excellent!” replied Great-Uncle Horace. “And a rather mysterious, spooky-sounding name too, which I think suits a wolf perfectly. Years ago, people were rather frightened of wolves, you know, Zoe. That's why they were often the wicked character in fairy tales, like
Red Riding Hood.
” He shook his head.

“To look at this adorable little chap, it's hard to believe, isn't it? But sadly, grey wolves were almost hunted to extinction at one point.”

“That's awful!” said Zoe, cuddling Shadow even tighter. How could anyone have been afraid of something as gorgeous as this?

“It's a pity Shadow won't have any other wolves to live with,” said Lucy. “Wolves always form packs, and they're very social creatures. I'm worried that Shadow might find it very lonely here without any companions.”

Great-Uncle Horace nodded. “Yes, I've been thinking the very same thing. Don't worry, my dear – I do have a plan. I can't say any more just yet though…”

Zoe and Lucy glanced at each other.
He was being very mysterious!

They soon arrived at the enclosure. It was designed to look like a beautiful sprawling wood, full of tall trees with reddish-brown cones hanging from their branches. “These are Sitka spruce trees,” Great-Uncle Horace explained. “They're the most important tree found in Alaska, so hopefully they will help Shadow to feel at home.”

Zoe breathed in deeply as they stepped inside. She thought it smelled amazing in the enclosure – fresh and piney, like being inside a real forest! Shadow seemed to like it too. His ears were pricked up and he was sniffing the air eagerly. Zoe placed him gently on the ground and straightaway he started dashing round, exploring.

Just then the wolf keeper, Ethan, arrived.
“Hello, everyone!” he called, waving. “I've been so looking forward to meeting this little fellow. Wow, look how cute he is! Does he have a name yet?”

“He's called Shadow,” Zoe told him.

“Well, I hope Shadow likes his new home,” said Ethan. “I brought him a little welcome present too.” He held up a red bouncy ball, which he rolled gently across the ground towards Shadow. The little pup gave it a curious sniff, patted it with his paws – then he leaped on it excitedly, howling and barking! Meep, who had been sitting on the floor of the enclosure, had to scuttle quickly out of the way. He ran up Zoe's leg and up on to her shoulder as Shadow raced after the ball, leaping into the air and pouncing on it over and over again.

“Don't worry, Meep,” Zoe whispered with a smile. “He's just playing!”

“I think he likes that game!” chuckled Great-Uncle Horace as they all watched Shadow playing boisterously.

In fact, Shadow liked the ball a little bit
too
much! He chased it around the enclosure, butting it with his head and snapping at it playfully with his white teeth, until there was a
pop
. Shadow had burst it! The little pup looked at the crumpled plastic, puzzled, and gave a sad little whine. Zoe quickly ran over to him and whispered, “Don't worry, Shadow – we'll get you another one.”

Just then Lucy called, “Zoe? I think it's time we went home and had tea. Let's leave Shadow to get settled in. He's had a long day.”

“Can't I stay a bit longer, Mum?” asked Zoe hopefully. She wasn't ready to leave Shadow yet, and before she did, she wanted to ask him if he really liked his new enclosure!'

Lucy smiled. “Five more minutes then. You can always come back to visit him after school tomorrow, remember.”

While Lucy and Ethan chatted, Zoe crouched down next to Shadow. “What do you think of your enclosure?” she whispered. “Do you like it?”

Shadow wagged his tail and gave a happy yap. The little pup loved his new home! “We're going to have lots of fun together!” Zoe told him, smiling. “Meep and I will come back to play tomorrow.”

Zoe gave Shadow one last cuddle, said goodbye to Great-Uncle Horace and
Ethan, and then left the enclosure with her mum and Meep. As they walked down the path back to the cottage, they heard a howl coming from behind them.

“That's Shadow! He's howling again!” said Zoe. She listened carefully, trying to work out whether the noise sounded sad or frightened. “Do you think he's OK, Mum?” she asked anxiously.

“I think so, Zoe. He certainly
seemed
happy, didn't he?” said Lucy. “Remember, a wolf doesn't only howl because it's unhappy. Animals make noises for lots of different reasons. They might be trying to communicate with other animals. They might be hungry, or warning off enemies, or just feeling content! Sometimes I wish I could talk to animals, Zoe – it would be amazing to be able to ask them exactly
what they're thinking.”

Zoe and Meep exchanged a glance.
I
can
talk to animals!
thought Zoe.
As soon as I can speak to Shadow with no one else around, I'll ask why he's howling!

Later that night, Zoe and Meep were in her bedroom and Zoe was getting ready for bed. She'd brushed her teeth, put on her giraffe-patterned pyjamas and went to switch off her bedroom light. As she walked past her desk, she glanced at the calendar pinned up on her noticeboard and sighed.

“What's wrong, Zoe?” chattered Meep.

“There are only two days left until the Halloween Spooktacular, Meep,” she said. “And I still don't have a costume idea…” Suddenly Zoe's eyes lit up. “Hang on.

Maybe I do! Meep, I could dress up as a wolf, like Shadow!”

“That's a great idea,” Meep replied. “Then maybe next year you can go as a mouse lemur!”

They both giggled. “Maybe!” said Zoe. “But for now I bet Shadow would love it if I dressed up like him! We can ask him when we go back to play again tomorrow.”

“I'm not sure I want to play with Shadow, Zoe,” admitted Meep. “I like him a lot, but he is a bit wild! He popped his
new ball, and I nearly got squashed when he was chasing me earlier! I think I'm too little for games like that,” he said, his eyes wide.

“Oh, Meep – Shadow's used to playing with the other wolves in his pack,” Zoe reminded her little friend. “He might not know how to play gently. And he was extra excited today! I'm sure he'll settle down soon though.”

“I hope so,” chirped Meep.

Zoe scooped her little friend up for a cuddle. “Don't worry, Meep! We just need to be patient with Shadow,” she told him. “Remember how strange and different things must be for him. He's probably feeling a little bit nervous about moving to a new home. Being nervous can make you act strangely sometimes.”

“What do you mean?” asked Meep, puzzled.

Zoe thought. “Well, a new boy, Dan, started in my class last year. He moved here from a different school and he didn't know anybody, but instead of being friendly, he was really rude to everyone! But once he settled in and got to know everyone, he was really nice. He just acted like that because he was nervous.” As she spoke, Zoe realised something else. “And being nervous about the Halloween concert has been making
me
feel a bit funny too!” she said. “Whenever I think about singing in front of the crowd, my tummy ties up in knots and my knees feel shaky.” She sighed. “I just don't know how I'll be able to do it!”

“I think you'll be really good, Zoe!”
said Meep. “Maybe you just need a bit more practice. Why don't you have a go now? Pretend that I'm the audience!”

Zoe thought that was a good idea. She'd only be singing in front of Meep, after all – her best friend in the whole world! She took a deep breath and tried to sing the first line of the song. “
Spiders and slugs, creeping on the wall
…”