The next week during a break from exercises Wolf went to the stables to check out the new foal, his foal if and when Mary would let him close enough to do his job. Red had told him patience is a virtue when doing anything new with a horse, especially a mother and newborn, and more especially with Mary a first time mother. Red also told him that Mary would let him know when she was ready, and that obviously was not going to happen soon. For the time being Mary and the foal were kept in a separate field from the other horses.

Wolf continued to tend to Mary and the foal. After a few days they soon were playing a game where Mary would keep between Wolf and the foal and the foal would make end runs to get at Wolf and push him in the back. The foal who was bigger than Wolf nudged him fairly hard. Red told him horses had an excellent memory and a game like this could be a problem later when the foal matured. It had been a problem with Mary, but how do you break a bad habit on a thousand kilogram horse?

A week later as Wolf cleaned and rubbed the foal, the idea hit him. He waited until he saw Red and told her, "I'm naming him Nudge."

Red smiled broadly and said, "That's an excellent name. You need to tell the Raven and then get the name registered."

"Why is that?" Wolf queried.

"There are a couple of good reasons. First it's like getting a license for a dog; it's just necessary. Secondly it will increase his value, especially if you breed him; he is a purebred Percheron after all. Now that Mary lets you handle him, it's time to get him used to some basic things. When you are just standing around with him occasionally pick up and hold one of his hooves as if you were cleaning it. Don't do anything else to the hoof; he is too tender at this age. Talk to him. Put a blanket on his back occasionally, just to get him used to it. Brush him, he'll like that. Other than that he stays with mom."

Wolf thought a second then slowly said, "So I really just get him used to me."

"Yeah, but it's a delicate process. Nudge can kick and bite hard without realizing what he's doing. You have to be real careful about how you train him; you don't want him to be afraid of you, or hate you."

"Or Mary could get mad at me," the boy mused.

"Oh yeah, there is that. It's been nice knowing you," the girl quipped.

Wolf turned to Red and saw her silly grin. "If Mary kills me you'll have to deal with Shadow."

"Who?"

"The wolf, that's his name." This time Wolf grinned.

Red stared at the boy a second, trying to figure out if he was serious, "OK I give. You had better tell me more about Shadow."

"I keep playing with him any time I go into the woods."

"Does the Raven know?"

"Yeah, I can't hide anything from him."

"And he approves?"

The boy said lightly, "Not exactly."

Red furrowed her forehead, and then demanded, "What do you mean not exactly?"

"The Raven says he can't come with me at the end of summer and there will be some very tough decisions then."

"You've got that right," emphasized the squire.

"I'll figure something out."

Red exclaimed, "That wolf is wild! It just isn't going to happen."

Wolf snorted, "I was wild just a short while ago. Remember that. Look at me now; just as civilized as I can be, even here in the mountains."

Red faked being serious, "I'm not so sure of that. I'd better check you for rabies." She felt his forehead, "Just as I suspected crazy."

With that comment Wolf took a swipe at Red's shoulder, but she easily dodged the blow. He ended up chasing her across the meadow followed by Nudge and Mary. Wolf, now a good runner, caught up with Red, but he couldn't get his hands on her. She would duck and weave while evading his grasp. Nudge enjoyed the game and galloped between the boy and girl. The foal would knock one down then the other.

Mary seemed to be the only responsible party and chased Nudge away. It was her way of saying 'game over'. Red and Wolf were laughing so hard it took them a minute before they noticed they were being watched.

Besides the handful of pages and squires watching the fun, the wolf sat above them on the hill watching. When they were able to calm down they saw Shadow sitting there with his head cocked to one side. Red, first on her feet, ran and Shadow chased after her, jumping and landing square on her back, knocking her down once more. Before Wolf could reach her, Shadow was licking her face mercilessly.

"Shadow, sit!" Wolf commanded and the animal did. "Shadow lay down," and he did. Red sat up stunned.

"Did you just make him sit?" Red demanded.

"He sits if he feels like it," Wolf answered.

"You win; maybe he can be saved. I'll see what I can do to keep the two of you together. But, we need to do some serious talking before we approach The Raven."

"I know," Wolf replied.

That evening after supper, Red and Wolf took their leave of the Raven and went to see the Wolverine. They explained the situation to her in detail making sure to leave nothing out and answered her questions in full.

Wolf spoke passionately about the animal. He explained how the wolf had tried to become a part of the camp showing no aggression toward any of the students. He argued that because of its injury he did not think the wolf could live on its own anymore.

The Wolverine listened intently and when he finished she spoke. "There are good reasons we do not encourage pets in this school. All the animals we have here have a purpose. The horses work and help us teach, the dogs help with tracking and keeping wild animals out of the camp. The cats even have a purpose. The wolf is truly a wild animal. He is not a dog. A cat can go wild or be domesticated, they are unique in that respect, and that is why the cats we have here are not allowed to breed. A wolf is a wild animal and cannot be domesticated."

Wolf started to protest, but Red lightly grabbed his elbow and he held his tongue.

The lady knight continued, "From what I've heard of this wolf, he isn't the friendly type. He would have to get along with everyone and unfortunately he will never be above some people's suspicion."

Red spoke up, "I think the wolf is a very good judge of people, he stays away from people whom I just wouldn't want to be around. He certainly doesn't threaten anyone."

"How can you be sure of that?" the Wolverine asked.

"Ask him yourself, he's lying down behind you."

The Wolverine spun around and at her feet and there lay the wolf. The Wolverine taken completely by surprise managed to calmly ask, "Did you arrange this?"

"No Ma'am," Red replied.

"Ma'am; I can't explain it, but he seems to know when he is needed," Wolf ventured.

The Wolverine sat down. For the first time in long time that she could remember she had been bested, and by an animal at that. "I will talk to the Lion. I can't promise anything. The Raven is not your obstacle, trust me. I'll do the best I can; they don't call me the Wolverine for nothing."

After much discussion that evening they came up with a plan of attack. Each partner had a job to do. Wolf's was probably the hardest. He would acclimate Shadow to living with people, to camp life, but most of all Shadow would have to get used to a collar and leash and he would have to obey commands.

Red's set about trying to get Mary to accept Shadow. Mary was still very protective of Nudge and in no mood to get acquainted with a wolf. Red didn't think the wolf would survive a violent encounter between the two. The Percheron could probably outrun the wolf and she had a kick that could kill.

The Wolverine's had the job of presenting the case for Shadow, she would also advise Wolf on who to talk to and how he should go about it. She told him to talk to a knight known as The Bear.

The Bear, a big man, maybe two meters tall, easily the biggest man in camp, instructed the older squires on the use of weapons in armed combat. There were rumors that he was the only person who could best the Wolverine, bare handed or with sword.

The page addressed him, "Sir Knight Bear."

"Sleeps with Wolves," he responded smiling.

"How did you know?" asked the boy in surprise.

"I see him in you. You've come to me to ask about him."

"Yes Sir."

"What is it you seek?"

"Sir I am trying to..." Wolf suddenly realized that what he wanted to do was very selfish. He had not considered what was good for the wolf or what the wolf actually needed or wanted, just what he wanted.

"'Sleeps with Wolves' I think you already see the problem. I think it is time we ask the wolf what he wants."

"How will we do that?" Wolf asked. "I mean do I actually talk to him?"

"We'll see. I think you will find he understands more then you expect. How do you find him?"

"He comes to me usually when I'm alone. He tends to stay away when other people are around, but he will play with my tent mates. When I'm alone with him in the woods he runs with me, he expects me to run faster than I can. I mean he will run ahead, but keeps coming back trying to get me to run faster."

"Does he try to do what you want him to do?" the big man asked.

"He will sit and stay for a short while or until I say 'OK'. He sneaks around camp sometimes and surprises me. He is always around when I go into the woods alone and follows wherever I take a journey on horse."

"Sleeps with Wolves; he is already talking to you, but you do not understand his language yet. Maybe I can help you." They talked for a long time, after which they went to the woods where Shadow joined them.

Later that day Wolf crossed paths with Wart. "So Wolf, tell me more about the foal."

"Well Red is giving him to me for free."

Wart narrowed his eyes, "For free! Don't consider it a gift. She just saved herself a lot of money."

Wolf opened his eyes and he raised the pitch of his voice, "What? How's that?"

Wart calmly explained, "She doesn't have to buy a saddle and tack. I think she got you."

Wolf slumped, "No wonder she gave him to me. I can't afford a saddle."

"Well you don't need one now at least, but I warn you, they're expensive. I couldn't afford mine, even with my allowance. My father loaned me the money."

"What's the matter?" came a snide remark from beside them. Wayne and his two buddies, Ralph and Edgar approached. "Can't afford a saddle. I knew you shouldn't be here." Wayne stepped right up to Wolf and his buddies flanked him.

Wolf wasn't going to back down this time. But, he had to look up at the taller page. Wart standing even shorter put a hand on Wolf's shoulder. "You'll have to deal with me too."

Without taking his eyes off of Wolf, Wayne snapped, "Wart this doesn't concern you. Why don't you just walk away?"

"I don't think he needs to," said Harold his tent-mate, stepping in. Harold was big and muscular.

"You mess with Wolf you mess with me," said George, his other tent-mate.

Wayne found himself, and his buddies, surrounded. "I didn't come here to mess with anybody." He gave Wolf a slight shove and turned around and strode away.

Wart looking after the retreating page mused, "You haven't seen the last of him. He will try to find you alone."

"What can I do?" asked Wolf, slumping his shoulders.

Wart smiled, "He's going to fight you, that's for sure. We're going to have to prepare you."

Wolf complained, "But, I'm already taking self defense."

Wart looked at Wolf a second, "Self defense isn't going to discourage him. We have to teach you to fight.

"Right," said Harold. "Tough fighting."

"We have to be secret about it," emphasized George.

"Wolf, are you in?" asked Wart.

Wolf looked at the three tent mates, but he said nothing. He just looked down, frowning.

"We are all in this together or it won't work," hissed Wart.

Wolf's frown suddenly brightened into a smile, "I'm in."

"I'm in," repeated Harold and George.

"Good, spit on it," Wart said. He spit on his palm and held it out as a fist. The other three boys did the same and placed their hands on top of his, Wolf's hand last on top.