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.

Good job Adan. Ella keeps an eye on him rolling onto the top. One simple catch to go. Touching the bottom of the gate with a paw she starts to wonder the same as Ida.

Doing a few squats to limber up Ida nods, "yup, and lift with the legs. You ready?" Mentally she prays the wolf doesn't actually attack.

"Hold on," Adan gets situated as best as possible on the bars. "Are you sure?" Feeling safer he studies the latch with concerns for her, "we could come back later with more help or something."

"Nope." It's now or never in Ida's mind, "we don't need any help. I promise Adan we'll both be okay. Okay? So don't worry."

"Alright," sighing he leans forward, "you're the one in danger. I won't be much help." He places a hand on the cage's catch.

Wiggling the catch he's able to slide it aside, freeing the gate, "there you go."

"Thank you Adan." Ida winks at him, "I'm sure I'll be okay.

Bending down she grasps the gate bottom, "If not, run for help."

"Here we go," Ida inhales deeply putting all her strength into lifting the gate.

Shakily Ida manages to get the gate as high as her legs will allow. Able to hold it she hasn't the power to get it higher. Diving low Ella attempts to crawl under the opening created but her shoulders are too big.

When Ida grunts trying to move it higher Adan hops up to help out.

Struggling to maintain position Ida grins seeing they're doing it as Ella is just hairs from making it through. Forcing muscles to work Adan's face turns red pulling up on the gate.

On the street two men out checking traps see what's going on. Alarmed and concerned they rush over, one yelling, "hey! Don't!" Wild, pet or food, they don't want to see the kids get hurt.

Able to see the wolf is near free the other man draws a handgun, "don't do it!"

They reach the backside of the cage as Ella squeezes out the front gate. Trying to keep Ida safe the man fires a shot in the air to scare the wolf away: BANG!

HOLY SHIT! The unexpected shot sends Ella scurrying. What the hell! Leaving scratches on the concrete Ella tears off.

Simultaneously the kids let go of the gate allowing it to hit ground.

"Hey!" Startled and annoyed Ida scowls at the men, "don't shoot! Don't kill that wolf! She must've been someone's pet, not dinner."

Thinking the kids did something dangerously foolish the men exchange the thought within their eyes. Wondering if in trouble Adan stands quietly with his head down.

Cutting behind some houses Ella stays off the main streets. Nearby is an empty plaza with multiple exits. Perhaps I'll create some misleading tracks and find somewhere to hide.

After being chastised by the men Ida and Adan are directed home. The shot fired alerted others in the area to make their way over.

The men explain to others what happened. As the wolf has been spotted many times within the city thoughts are similar. All feel the wolf should be hunted down for more than just food.

People split into pairs to search the area. Younger males search yards in sight of older men on the streets.

Once they've been forgotten about Ida and Adan follow the posse.

Moving swiftly Ella leaves many fresh tracks around the plaza.

Outsmarting pursuers she heads a couple blocks deeper into the city.

Locating a suitable open two-story house Ella hides out for a while.

In an upstairs bedroom Ella finds a bed with a view out a window. Conserving energy for her senses gets comfortable on the bed. It's nice the window is broken out. I can hear them at the plaza now.

Only having to listen to the sounds of people on the street Ella's able to recoup energy. As the room darkens she knows the change will be coming soon. With little choices for clothing or covering she spies the window's curtains. Though they are an ugly print, old and sheer she'd rather wrap up in that than traipse around town naked.

As the sun reaches the horizon a pair of men reach the front walk to the house Ella is in. One man stops, spotting a partial, large single, canine paw print. Looking where the print is going he notices the open home.

Hearing the men stop out front Ella's head and ears perk up. Oh no. Not now. Her limbs are already twitching. Please be quick. She considers going out the window when they come in the house.

Outside the men creep forward quietly debating on how to proceed. Sticking together they keep eyes and gun barrels pointed at openings.

Subdued animal groans and moans freeze the men before the steps.

Looking at one another silently urge the other to keep going. Swallowing deep one male, in an old red ball cap, makes the first step up.

As the groans change, the second male looks up to the house and source. Nearing the top step the capped man also looks up to the window too.

Figuring some woman is in dire need the capped man hastens in.

Confused by the sounds the second man follows behind at a slower pace.

The capped man locates the stairs and carefully makes his way up.

Shaking off the transformation Ella hears the man on the stairs. Swiftly reaching up and out she snags the curtain. Out too far she falls from the bed tearing the curtain from its' rod, she crashes to the floor as the rod and rings brake free dropping onto the small of her back.

The commotion made quickens both men up the stairs. Being at the opposite end of the hall from the stair landing saves Ella some seconds.

Reaching the top of the landing all goes quiet on the second floor forcing the capped man to slow up.

Ensuring the first two rooms are clear of danger the capped man proceeds. Backing him up the second man watches from the top of the stair landing.

Hearing some faint panting breaths and material ruffling they localize the sound. As a few metal curtain-rings ping off wooden floorboards  the men aim their rifles at the end room's doorway and advance.