"Timmy is not here, ma'am." One of the teachers called out.
"Where is Timmy?" The headmistress asked.
"Timmy is still inside." A little girl , who was no more than five spoke. "He didn't get up."
The headmistress quickly ran back to the burning building but it was no use. She knew she couldn't go inside. She crumpled to the ground with her head in her hands sobbing.
"Timmy!" She screamed once more.
Caleb saw the burning building crumbling before him. It was monstrous. It frightened him. He didn't want to go in the fire. He was terrified.
He couldn't lose his life. He had too much to live for. He had his parents and Sylvie. He heard a howl just then. And then just like that, the wolf came through the door and in his mouth he was holding on to a boy that was four years old by his night-shirt collar. Caleb assumed this was Timmy.
His assumption was correct when he heard the headmistress scream. "Timmy!"
It was the child that she thought she had lost. The wolf walked towards her and laid the unconscious child down on the ground in front of her. The headmistress gently picked him up and cradled him against her chest. She gently rubbed his face and spoke, "Timmy, p-please...Timmy! wake up. Timmy!" She cried.
She couldn't lose another child. This child didn't deserve this. These children didn't either. They were alone in the world. All she wanted to do was make sure they had a good start in life. The war had taken so much from everyone. Some of these children were here because of it. Timmy was the smallest of them all. He was the runt of the litter. He had been placed on the orphanage doorsteps when he was only a few days old. He had thrived under the orphanage's care.
"Timmy....please," The headmistress begged.
A few moments later, Timmy's eyes fluttered open. He coughed hard. His little body shook from it. Tears were streaming down the headmistresses face. She was so happy to see the little boy alive.
She hugged him tight. Caleb was happy to see the boy alive as well. He looked from her then to the wolf. Caleb finished checking on the children. Then they moved everyone a safe distance away from the fire. One full hour passed. A few men who worked for the Island showed up and put out the fire. By the time they got there, as he had suspected, it had all burned down.
There was nothing left except for the four foundation blocks that held it up. He looked around and saw the wolf was no longer there. Had he imagined it? He looked down once more and saw the wolf's paw print. No he hadn't. The wolf had been real...
The smoke had somewhat cleared. The island authority made an appearance. Caleb wasn't shocked considering this was the second fire. Within the last few weeks, Caleb had a nagging feeling that these fires weren't a coincidence. He knew who was doing this. Would anyone stop him ? Was the question.
"Thank you for all of your assistance," said the school headmistress.
He was now handing men buckets of water. She was taken aback by his kindness. Her eyes had bags under them from lack of sleep and crying. Timmy was awake and doing well. Caleb saw the dawn beginning to pierce the veil of night and decided that was his cue to leave.
"Thank you, again, Caleb." The young woman called to him, as he handed off his last bucket and walked through the large crowd of islanders that decided to see firsthand what was going on.
He thought it cruel and ironic none of them had helped him last night. Caleb had planned on taking some supplies to Sylvie in a few days from now, but seeing the wolf last night made him feel a sense of urgency. He needed to see her. 20 minutes later, he was back home. This time he used the front door.
His parents were already awake. His father said nothing when he entered. His mother looked disappointed in him. "Where the hell have you been!" Ground his father a few minutes later.
"I was helping with the fire. The orphanage burned down."
"And how did you know this?" His father asked.
Caleb lied, "I didn't. The smell of the smoke woke me."
"Is everyone okay? Those poor little souls." His mother said.
"Everyone made it out alive." Calen wondered if his father believed him.
"I told you to mind your own business and keep your head down. Did I not?"
"I know father, but-"
"How is saving orphans from a fire keeping your head down? It's not!"
"What would you have me do father? Not help them? Let them all die by a senseless fire?"
"Yes!" His father bellowed. His admission shocked Caleb into silence. He hadn't been expecting that. His father continued. He softened his tone. "Son, please..." He trailed off.
Caleb knew his father was concerned for his safety. "I'm sorry, father." He apologized.
He had acted rash. Now his he knew his actions could be deemed dangerous. He walked out of the family room then back into his own. He grabbed his satchel. He had already packed it with supplies.
He wore it crossed over his body. He headed to the door. Before leaving he turned to his father. "I'll be home later this evening. I must do something of great importance."
His father and mother said nothing. He left.
The walk to Sylvie's was slick and muddy. Caleb had almost fell several times. The closer he got to her secret hideout, the more aware he became of his current disheveled, ash covered state. He used his coat sleeves to wipe his cheeks and forehead. He looked down at the wolf once he was finished.
The wolf stared back. Caleb felt like the wolf was somehow judging him. He walked on. The sun rose higher in the sky.
Sylvie had just awoke. There were no blinds on the windows. The sun pierced through her sleep. She was exhausted and knew today would be tough. It was another day alone in the woods. At least she had her companion for now.
She wasn't so sure she he was healed up completely. She yawned and stretched. Just as she did her front door flew open. It was Caleb along with the wolf. She thought the pair odd.
She had always gotten the impression though the wolf was grateful for Caleb's assistance, he did not care for him. Why were they together? Why was Caleb here so early?She wondered.
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
The wolf lightly jogged over to her and licked her face in greeting. She smiled at him then she and pett him. "Good morning, boy." Caleb closed the door behind them and watched the unnatural bond of Wolf and girl.
It was truly a sight to see and validated Sylvie being special to Caleb. Caleb knelt then sat down beside her.
He spoke after he was comfortable, "Sylvie, there was another fire last night." Caleb spoke, not sure how she would take the bad news.
She looked at him. Her eyes wide. She was trying to contain her panic. He could see it.
"W-Where? W-Who?" She tripped over her own words.
"The orphanage." He informed her.
Sylvie covered her mouth as a shocked gasp escaped
escaped her lips. The orphanage housed unfortunate children on the island. None of them were over the age of 10. She didn't have to imagine their fears last night. She had experienced it, as well.
The smoke. The fear of being burned to an unrecognizable crisp, and worst of all, the fear of feeling the flames burning your flesh off as you watch. For Sylvie, it was the feeling of being disoriented by the smoke. She had felt helpless and lost as the smoke had grown thicker and thicker around her. Yes, she could relate.
"Did everyone make it out safe?" She asked him. Sylvie watched his expression go from dark to an emotion she was yet to be familiar with.
He answered her. "Everyone made it out safe. There was a small child your friend here had to rescue."
Sylvie was surprised by that bit of news. "What?"
"Yes," he continued. " In all honesty, your friend woke me up in the middle of the night and led me to the fire."
"Really?" She was in awe at how clever the Wolf was. "I wonder how he knew about it?" She remarked. She turned and looked at the Wolf, who was asleep now. She whispered to him still, "How did you know?" She stared at the sleeping beast, then looked back at Caleb with a prideful grin. "He always knows." She told him and lightly scratched in-between Wolf's ears.
He did not move. Caleb rolled his eyes at her being enamored by the large sleeping animal. "Sylvie, are you all right?" Caleb asked her.
She smiled at his concern. "Yes. I am fine. I haven't missed a meal." She told him, thinking back to her companion scoring them that tasty rabbit they had devoured together the night before.
"So you are making it out here." He agreed.
He could tell she was doing well out here all alone. At least for now. Her coloring was much better. Her bruises were fading. Caleb found it annoying that Sylvie wouldn't allow him to dote on her and help her.