The lupine ran out as fast as he could.  He was running from no one to nowhere.  Yet, he was running from something.  He kept running until he was panting, out of breath.  Then he looked back at where he ran from, a broken home that was claiming his sanity.

	“I can’t go back now, not now, not ever.”  He said to himself.  “I’m never going back, never.”

	The lupine walked down the street to a payphone.  He put in some change and called a friend.  He waited three rings before the other end picked up.

	“Hello?”  The voice on the other end of the line said.  It was a soft, feminine voice.
	“Hey, it’s Shaul.”  The lupine said.
	“Shaul, what are you doing?  It’s pretty late out.”  The voice said.
	“Yeah, I know.  Mind if I crash at your place, Shieta?”
	“Yeah, hold on.  Something happen?”
	“I had a fight with my dad.”
	“Again?  Yeah, you can stay over tonight.  You better make sure you have some clothes for tomorrow, you still have to go to highschool.”
	“Yeah, I got some before I ran out on them.”	
	“Ok, see you when you get here.”
	“Thanks, I owe you.”

	He hung up, gently.  To Shieta, this was no surprise.  Shaul always had problems with his dad.  He wanted Shaul to become a fighter, a warrior.  Shaul never really wanted any of it, he was more of the pacifist.  He was also an outcast to most of the school.  His only real friend was Shieta; whether it was pity or not, they were best friends.  She never minded if he sat next to her in lunch; as a matter of fact, she often went to him.  They were both lupine, so they were pack animals by nature.  Shaul was always trying to find some acceptance, and Shieta gave it to him.  In return, he offered his friendship, trust, and care.  They had a mutual relationship, although Shieta would be teased and taunted sometimes.  Shaul would always help her out when a situation like that occurred.  He wasn’t nearly as built as some of the people on the sports teams, but he could fight.  He often just stared them down and intimidated them.  He had never struck anyone and never had to, with the exception of sports.
	Shaul ran up Shieta’s lawn and knocked on the door.  Shieta’s dad, Mr. Haskel, opened it and welcomed him in.  He was a nice person, more welcoming and open-minded than most of mainstream society.  He was a Ranger, a group of people who acted as law enforcement, messengers, and holy men/women.  They kept much order with the new laws passed by the United.  Shaul stepped in and put his backpack by the steps.  Mr. Haskel poured him some tea and invited him into the kitchen for a snack.  Shieta joined them as Shaul sat down.  Mr. Haskel looked at his daughter, who was dressed in a pair of short shorts and a tight red T-shirt.  He shook his head with some disapproval.  Shieta gave him a sulking look, sighed, and walked out to the living room.  Shaul just stared at her.
	
	“So tell me, what did you and your dad argue about?”  Shieta asked, as she poured herself some tea.
	“He was pissed off about my grades.”  Shaul said.
	“Is that all?”
	“He was also pissed that I didn’t want to join the lacrosse team this year.”
	Shieta put her cup down and looked at him, shocked.  “You didn’t join?”
	“Nope.”
	“Why?  You’re one of the better defenders.”
	“I hate them, all of them.  They do nothing but make me feel like shit.”
	She put her finger on his mouth.  “I don’t like hearing you swear.”
	He moved her finger.  “Sorry.”
	“That’s Ok.  What do they do, anyway?”
	“You don’t want to know half the stuff.”
	“Then tell me the other half.”
	He gave her a smirk.  “Well, the go through my locker and toss my clothes around so I can’t find them.  They also decided to drag me out through the mud half naked when I just got out of the shower.”
	“So I’ve heard.  Why don’t you fight back?”
	“I’m not going to sink to their level.”
	“Ok then…”

	They finished their tea and he went to the living room where Mr. Haskel had made a bed for Shaul on the couch.  Mr. Haskel motioned to Shaul to sit down.  Shaul went and sat down on one side of the makeshift bed.  Shieta followed and sat in between the two.  Shieta looked at Mr. Haskel and he nodded and left.  Shaul sat there, watching the fire in the fireplace that Mr. Haskel had built.

	“So, what are you doing tomorrow night?”  Shieta asked Shaul.
	“Nothing.”  Shaul replied.
	“Wanna go to a movie?”  Shieta asked, with a wink.
	“Sure.  I’ll take you out for dinner after.”
	“Oh, you’re sweet!”

	They talked in front of the fireplace.  The fire danced on the logs, casting a warm glow out on them.  The shadows leaped and bowed with the fire, making a warm and pleasant setting.  Shieta rested her head on Shaul’s shoulder and fell asleep there.  Shaul let her rest and waited until the fire died down a little before he moved.  He took her into his arms and carried her upstairs, taking careful aims not to wake either her or her parents up.  He then crept back downstairs to his bed and watched the fire turn into ashes before he fell asleep.  The hard and stern look on his face slowly turned into one of happiness and comfort as he slept on into the night, peaceful dreams running through his mind…