All characters copyrighted ot the writer
Do not use them without my prior permission

 On a cold night in November, a young red fox stood in the waiting room in the hospital, waiting anxiously for the moment to be over.  His normally lustrous orange fur lost its tinge, and his dark eyes were filled with worry.  It was only an hour when his wife went into labor, and rushed into the ER.  He never expected the time to come so soon.  It seemed moments ago that they discovered they would have a child to care for.  He continuous paced back and forth, thinking only of what was to come, even scared if something went wrong.
After what seemed like years, a raccoon nurse left the ER and informed the new father that everything was well.  He rushed into the room, and saw his lovely wife, another red fox, with a small smile on her face, and a gleam in her green eyes.
 "We did it..." she whispered as she softly kissed her husband.
 "Yeah."  He could only say that, he was too shocked to say anything.
 "Congratulations."  The raccoon nurse softly said as she went to the couple.  "You have a healthy boy."
 "A boy..." the father said.  He always wanted  a son to care for, and now he had the chance.
 "It seems strange, though..."
 "What does?  Is something wrong?"  The father face turned to worry and his normally deep voice became high-pitched.
 The raccoon nurse shook her head.  "Oh, no.  Everything is fine.  I was just talking to myself."
 "About what, though?"
 "Well, it's his eyes.  They're...blue.  I find it strange for  a boy to have blue eyes, especially a fox.  It's the tinge of them, too.  Oh, don't worry, it's nothing serious.  It might even go away after a while."
 "That's good...but I don't think I have a blue-eyed member in my family," the father whispered.
 "Neither do I.  It's not important, though." the mother said wearily.  "We should be worrying about a name, though."
 "Not now.  You rest first."

 The next day, still in the hospital, the parents argued over the proper name for their son, wrapped in a blue cloth in the mother's arms.
 "How about Jake?  That's a good name," the father mentioned to her.
 The baby whined harshly.
 "I don't think he likes that," the mother giggled.  "I was thinking Maurice."
 "Are you kidding?  That's a stupid name for a boy!  Makes him look like a nerd!"
 "Oh, stop that!  That's not nice."
 "Well, we gotta think of something.  We can't just call him some name, like... I don't know, Rudolph or something..."
 However, the baby cooed softly, and even giggled a little.
 "Huh?" the mother's curiosity arose.  "I think he likes it."
 "What?  Maurice?" the father joked.
 "No, Rudolph.  You like that, don't ya?"
 The little pup showed his approval with a large grin.
 "Well, if he wants that, it's his," the father sighed, although he didn't like the idea of his son having the name of some reindeer from Santa's sleigh.
 On that day, little Rudolph Bradford was known to the world.

 Time passed, and Rudolph grew steadily.  He always showed the sign of happiness, and it was rare that he ever cried, unless he was hungry.  He also showed a sense of curiosity, and seemed to get into a lot of trouble with his parents.  He seemed to show the knack of a fast learner- he could already walk within 1 year of his birth.  The couple loved him dearly, and although they didn't have much to offer but their love, Rudolph didn't seem to mind, as long as he was happy.  His fur had grown a lustrous deep red,.his paws and the tip of his tail black as the night.
 It was soon after his 3rd birthday that his parents made plans to send him to a nearby preschool.  Rudolph was already 2' 4", and could even speak some words.  He had a large imagination, and using the few words he knew, pretended to be on a great adventure.  His parents always laughed when they saw his cute face looking towards an invisible dragon, and using a plastic straw as a sword to fight it off.
 At first, it seemed little Rudolph would be everything the couple wanted, a smart scholar with a brilliant future.  But on a cold December night, everything would change for the red fox forever.

 "My, that was a fun party, wasn't it, honey?" the father said as he turned the sharp corner on the mountain roads.
 "Yes, it certainly was.  I think Rudolph had fun, too...a little too much fun, I might add."
 Poor Rudolph was asleep in the back seat, snoring softly, still wearing the little paper party hat on his head through his long red-brown hair.
 "Aw, he's all tuckered out.  The poor guy," the father said as he looked at his sleeping son.
 "Pay attention to the road, dear."
 "Oh. Sorry."
 Suddenly, a black car twists in the opposite direction of the Bradford's car only a mile away.
 "Hmm...what's that guy doing?" the father looked ahead with curiosity.
 "I dunno.  He's on the wrong side of the road, though," the mother said with concern.
 The car stood on the same lane as the Bradford's.
 "Oh, hell no.  He's crazy!", the father said sharply, waking little Rudolph in the back.
 He yawned heavily and gazed sleepily at his parents.  His father looked angry, and his mother scared.  He couldn't tell from what though, as he could only see bright lights ahead.
 "Turn, please!" the mother yelled.
 "I can't!  What if there's another car in that lane?"
 "Just DO IT!"
 The father reluctantly did as he was told, but turned too sharply, and spun out of control, and the right side of the car was reamed by the other driver.  The velocity of the hit sent them over the road's edge, and the car slid down the muddy hillside, crushed on the
side that Rudolph's mother was on.  The father's car door was open, his body unseen after the crash.  Rudolph blacked out instantly, as the car continued to roll down the hill...
 
 Rudolph slowly awakened inside a large white room, with a TV and a few teddy bears on the table beside him.  He tried to stand, but his body filled with pain, and he quickly laid down again.  He raised a paw to his head, and pulled away sharply when he rubbed the inside of his left ear.  He tried hard not to cry, and swallowed the pain.  Rudolph slowly sat up, and looked around.  He couldn't find his parents, and could only see other animals wearing white clothes rushing around outside the room.
 "Mommy?  Daddy?  Where are you?" he said in a small, raspy voice.
 Two animals wearing white clothes, a wolf and a squirrel, walked into the room
 "Oh, you're awake." the wolf said in a kind, soft voice.  She seemed to be nice, and sat right next to Rudolph's bed.  The squirrel did the same.
 "You were asleep for 4 weeks.  We didn't know if you would make it."
 Rudolph showed  a puzzled look.  He wasn't sure why he was here, or why his body hurt so much.
 "You're in the hospital.  Someone brought you in, and you were badly hurt."
 "Huh?  Where's Mommy and Daddy?" Rudolph asked with a whine in his voice, holding the tears back from the pain in his body.
 "Well, that's why we're here...(I don't know if I can tell him.)" the wolf said to Rudolph, then whispered to the other nurse.
 "(You have to.  It won't be any easier of you don't.  Besides, he's going to wonder why we'll be taking him there.)"  The squirrel whispered back  to the wolf in a reassuring voice.
 "(*Sigh*  Alright...)  Take my paw, Rudolph."
 "Mommy told me ne-never to take to a stwanger," Rudolph said silently as he pulled his paw away.
 "We're not strangers, Rudolph, this is important, and you need to know."
 Rudolph slowly reached his small paw and placed it in the large paws of the wolf.
 "You see, Rudolph," the wolf started, "this is a concept that you really are too young to know about, but in this case, it's the only way.  Rudolph... your parents are sleeping, too."
 "Will they wake up soon?" Rudolph asked slowly, with a sign of relief that his parents were also in the strange white hospital.
 "Well, no."
 "Why not?  Everyone wakes up when they aren't sweepy."
 "You see, that's the thing.  Sometimes, people and animals go to sleep, and never wake up.  That's what happened to your parents.  We're not sure where your dad is, but your mom went to sleep right after the incident."
 "I don't get it."
 The squirrel stepped in, using the best voice she could muster.
 "Rudolph, that's called death."
 Rudolph felt a sharp pain in his stomach by the words.
 "We don't want to say this, but we must.  Your parents are dead.  They won't be coming back, and we'll be sending you to an orphanage soon, as you can't live without a family.  We're sorry."
 Rudolph answered in silence.  He couldn't believed he parents were gone forever.  All the fun and happiness left his eyes, replaced by the fear of being alone without a family.  He was alone.  He couldn't stop the tears from his eyes from flowing, and he started to cry, fueled by the pain in his body and in his heart.
 "I'm so sorry," the wolf said as she puts her arms around the crushed fox.  The squirrel turned away to avoid crying herself and quickly left the room.  Nothing could calm the cries of the fox as he emptied his emotion with the nurse, embracing his wounded form.  He cried for hours, the wolf cradling him in her arms through the cold winter night, until he fell into a fitful sleep.  She stood by his side until the night was finally over.
 "I know how it feels, Rudolph...be strong."
 She left the white room as the sun rose, leaving Rudolph to deal with the pain in his dreams, alone.

 Rudolph Bradford soon fell into a strong depression.  He was checked into a small orphanage after his health recovered in the hospital.  But all he resembled was emptiness.  The mischievous gleam in his deep, blue eyes vanished, only showing the cold feeling in his heart.  He soon forgot the image of his parents, and struggled to bring the image back, only to find himself sprawled on the floor, tears straining from his eyes.  No one played with him in the orphanage, and he refused to eat.  All he did was stare out the window, wishing he could be back with his parents, playing pirate with his dad, helping his mom around the house, gazing at the stars in the night sky, and feeling that he had no one left into the world.  The orphanage tried everything to get Rudolph to even smile, but only got silence in return.
 A few years into life in the orphanage, a young hedgefox tried to talk to Rudolph, a girl heavily ridden with asthma, and thick glasses, hired by the orphanage to cheer the fox up, only 6 at the time.
 "Hi there." the hedgefox said to Rudolph, wheezing from a new asthma attack.
 "...." Rudolph said nothing, and continued to stare out the window.
 "I'm Margaret.  Everyone calls me* wheeze* Margie.  What's your name?"
 "...."
 "Well? * cough, cough * Don't you have a name?"
 "...."
 "Do you want me to go away?  I will, if you want me to."
 "...No.  Don't go,"  Rudolph said in a dark voice.
 "See?  You can talk!  Teehee...* cough *"
 "What's wrong with you?"
 "I have asthma.  It's a condition that makes it harder for me to breathe."
 "Oh.  I'm Rudolph."
 "Pleased to meet you, Rudolph."  Margie reached out to shake Rudolph's paw, but he merely blew it off.  She soon backed off.
 "You know, it's impolite to ignore someone," Margie said in a stern, but caring voice, struggling to keep from coughing again.
 "So?  I have no one.  Like I really care," Rudolph muttered.
 "You, too?"
 Rudolph looked up at the face of the hedgefox.  He noticed the large quills on her back, running down to her tail, and the thick glasses covering her brown eyes.
 "What do you mean?"
 "Well, let me tell you then.  Excuse me..."  Margie soon went into a coughing fit.  Rudolph merely stared waiting for her to recover.  When she stopped, she wiped the tears from her reddened eyes, and took a seat near him.
 "Everyone at my school calls me a geek, just because of the way I act.  Also, because of the way I look.  Don't you agree?"
 Rudolph kept silent.
 "Of course you do.  You just don't want to be rude.  My parents treat me like a freak.  My dad was a fox, just like you.  My mom was a hedgehog, and they expected me to be one or the other, not both.  So, I spend most of my time helping others, to avoid what others say about me.  As long as I can make others happy, that's all that matters.  And I want to make you happy."
 "Really?  Can you bring my parents back?" Rudolph asked.
 "Well, I can't do that."
 "Then I don't care."  He turned back to the window.
 "...Well, if you want to be alone, that's fine by me.  But I'll keep trying until I make you smile.  OK?"
 "...."
 Margie noticed a large scar on the inside of Rudolph's left ear as she stood up, and was curious enough to run her finger across it, but knew how Rudolph would feel if she did.
 "How did you get that scar?"
 "What?"
 "The scar on your ear. * wheeze * Excuse me.  How did you get it?"
 Rudolph tried hard to keep the pain from returning to him, and mustered the best answer he could.
 "I'd rather not say."
 "You talk like an adult.  You know that?"  Margie sounded impressed with his actions on his answers.
 "...."
 Realizing he wanted to be left alone now, she left him by the window.
 
 Margie kept trying to drag Rudolph out of his depression, using every tactic she knew, just to receive Rudolph's uncaring stare.  Deep inside of his heart, though, he knew Margie did care for his well-being, and respected her for that.  Over time, he talked about his problems with her, still without a smile, but felt a little better that he could take to someone.  One day, he received  a request for adoption.  Margie tried hard to keep from crying as Rudolph accepted the offer, knowing he didn't have a choice in the matter.  The family was  a pair of mice, both very kind and friendly.  As he left the orphanage for his new home, Margie went over and kissed him on the cheek and wished him good luck.  He was astounded.  For the first time in years, he felt happy that he would have a family to care for him.  He said  a short good-bye to Margie, and left the orphanage.
 "Well, Rudy...you don't mind being called that, do you?  Well, we're going to have a great time, all the food you can eat, and every toy you desire.  Whaddya say about that?"  The mice seemed to both talk at once.  Rudolph, not knowing a word either one said, just said yes.
When he reached the small one story home, with a flower bed, a vegetable garden, and even a land gnome or two, he saw a brief image of his parents.  He only saw it for a minute, and it seemed to vanish from his mind.  He sighed as he entered his new home.  And he received just what they promised.  All the food he could eat, and every toy imaginable.  It was as if the parents knew about Rudolph's case long ago and prepared for this day.  The mice family spoiled him, treating him like an infant whenever he was hurt, even if he wanted nothing but to be by himself.  Rudolph wondered every day about how much his new parents loved him.  He hadn't made any friends, since they were afraid to leave him outside, but he didn't care.
 So why didn't he feel the same way towards them?
 Soon, he fell once again into his depression.  He didn't want anything, and he felt as if his parents just wanted to buy his love.  He never wanted that.  Everything the mice family tried, Rudolph just blew off, and he spent all his time staring out the window of his toy-filled room.  Within a month's time, Rudolph was even worse than ever.  The mice family soon discussed what should be done.
 "What should we do..."
 "I know, we can't...."
 "We could always..."
 "Maybe, but...."
 "Or this..."
 "No, that's not right..."
 "I know!  We could..."
 "What?  That's wrong...."
 "But what's worse...."
 "...You're right."

 The next day, the mice family returned Rudolph to the orphanage, along with a notice of him.  The orphanage owners were shocked by the report.
 "Yeah, that's right, it's all true!"  the mice family said in a rush to leave
 "But, are you certain it was him?  I mean, arson is a big charge."
 "But he did that to everything!  We can't take care of him.  Please understand."
 The owners sighed heavily over the matter, but that had no choice.  Rudolph was heavily disciplined over the charges filed.
 Rudolph, however, felt outraged over the matter.
 "I didn't do it!  I don't even know what arson is!  Please, I didn't do anything!"  Rudolph cried as his sentencer took him to the orphanage counselors.
 The stern old, gray bear taking him to the counselors stated, with a  loud, booming voice, "Look, kid, I don't have time for games.  You can say what you want, but I think you're a fat liar."
 "Please!  I'm innocent!"
 "DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME, BOY!  I THINK YOU'RE A DAMN PUNK, USING THAT PHONY DEAD PARENT DEAL TO PLAY INNOCENT, WELL, IT WONT WORK WITH ME, SO SHUT UP!"  The bear roared as Rudolph struggled to get free from the bear's firm grasp on his paws.  Rudolph fell silent afterwards as he was taken to his punishment.

 Margie stared hopelessly at the fox after his ordeal, hearing his wails of sadness echo throughout the orphanage.  She tried to reach her paw out to his shoulder, but retracted when his wail became louder.
 "I didn't do it...I would never do that..." Rudolph pressed out between his sobs.
 "I know you didn't do that.  You're a good kid, Rudolph," Margie soothingly said to him.  "I think the family said those mean things on purpose."
 "* sniff * But, why?"
 Margie bit her lip when he asked the question.  She knew the answer, but she didn't want to upset him anymore than he already was.  But she also knew that the only way to tell someone anything upsetting was to tell them the truth.  She inhaled the best she could, and said the dreaded answer.
 "I don't think they wanted you there."
 Rudolph's head shot up from between his arms from the words.  It was obvious that he wasn't going to take this well.
 "You mean, they didn't...love me?" he said.
 "No, it wasn't that..."
 But it was too late.  Rudolph already believed what he had said, and put his head on his arms again, his eyes forlorn.
 "They didn't love me...no one does...."
 Margie tried to reassure him, but he merely repeated the phrase when she tried to.  Knowing that it was too late to do anything, she left him alone, but said in a comforting voice,
 "It's going to be better next time, Rudolph.  Trust me."
 Rudolph replied with silence again.  She sighed and left the orphanage for the day.
 "Be strong, Rudolph...someday, you'll find what you're looking for."

 Over the course of time, Rudolph developed a reputation of  a juvenile delinquent.  Any family that would take the forlorn fox would do everything in their power to cheer him up, but they would never get very far.  Whatever attempts made only magnified the pain already existing inside him.  Within weeks, the family couldn't take care of him.  No one wanted a boy who didn't want to do anything.  But if they returned him to the orphanage for that reason, they would be treated as outcasts to society for not caring for those who needed the help.  The only way to turn him in was  a drastic measure, but was taken anyway, to shift the blame off of themselves.  They had made juvenile charges on Rudolph, stating cases of violent behavior, vandalism, even a case of rape at the age of only 10.  But Rudolph knew he could never do those things, and he was taught never to get himself in such acts of delinquency.  However, the orphanage counted it highly against him, as no one would take the word of a pup over adults.
As a result, he fell deeper into sadness, and each time, Margie would console him, telling him that things would get better the next time.

 At 13 years of age, Rudolph was already accused of 12 separate charges, and as he received little education due to his short time in a foster home, and had no actual friends in the world, save for Margie.  The message in his mind was clear.  No one wanted him around.  Rudolph realized that the world treated him as an outcast, and decided if that was the way he was treated, it would be the life he lived out.  One night, as he lied in bed, inside the orphanage with Margie, snoring softly at his bedside, he decided it was time.  Using the paltry equipment he had, he took a few pieces of light clothing, some scraps of food, and the only treasure he had, a small gold earring loop he received as a gift from Margie for his 12th birthday.  As he slowly cropped out to the entrance to the orphanage, he went up to the hedgefox who cared for him, and softly kissed her on the muzzle.
 "Good-bye, Margie.  Thanks for everything.  You won't need me anymore now."
 With that, he sneaked out the orphanage, and never dared to look back.

 When Margie awoke the next day, she looked around in surprise that she dozed off.
 "Hmmm...guess I shouldn't have read that book to ya, huh, Rudolph...Rudolph?"
 Margie removed her glasses, rubbed them clean and replaced them on her muzzle, hoping that what she was seeing was just her imagination.  But Rudolph was not in his bed, and there was no evidence that he left, save a few missing items.
 "Rudolph?  Where are you?  Rudolph?  RUDOLPH!"
 Soon, Margie was on the floor, crying for her lost friend, and the sudden asthma attack.  The surprise awoke the entire orphanage, and they turned to see her crying out the fox's name with gasps of air.
 "What's going on here?"  the old bear said as he rushed over to where Margie was crying.
 "He's gone..."
 "Who is?"
 "Rudolph...he's gone."
 The bear growled at the sound of the name.  He looked at the empty spot on the bed, and knew he was gone in an instant.  He smiled an ugly smile with yellowed teeth.
 "Hmm, I might have known.  I guess the punk couldn't take the life of a orphan.  Good riddance, if you ask me."
 Margie stood up abruptly, and stared coldly at the bear through her glasses.
 "What did you say?  You don't talk about anyone that way!  We should be looking for him, not just standing here!"
 The bear reached his large claw out and slapped Margie in the face, knocking her off her feet.
 "You don't talk to me that way!  I can't believe you stand up for him!"
 Margie slowly sat up, rubbing the spot the bear struck her in.
 "He's my friend."
 "He has no friends.  He doesn't give a damn about anyone else here.  You should let him go.  Besides, the law states that if one of our own wants to leave the orphanage of his own free will, we must let him, and once he leaves, he's no longer a part of this building."
 Margie couldn't believe what she had heard.
 "(Why would he leave?  I thought he like it here...)"
 Slowly getting to her feet, she stumbled to Rudolph's old bed, slumped down, and let the tears flow from her eyes.
 "(He's gone...I couldn't do anything...)"
 The bear growled from the sound of her cries.
 "Fine, be that way.  I sure as hell won't do anything about it."
 With that, he stomped out of the room, grumbling as he went, but flashed an evil grin as he left.
 

 Life on the street wasn't as easy as it seemed to Rudolph.  A mere 13 year old fox in a large city seemed a scary issue to many, but one he accepted as his own.  He learned to fight on his own, using his fists for his weapon, despite his thin build.  He never took up smoking, but did have a tendency to drink alcohol that he found on the street.  Soon, Rudolph was known as a dangerous juvenile.  He stole from any place he could imagine, treated everyone he met with malice, and always went alone.  While on the street, he also learned that he was a very fast runner, and used that to his advantage to escape those who persecuted him.  Every day, Rudolph would wonder if what he had done in his life was the life he wanted, but turned the thought off as he slept in the crude shelters he could find.  On the eve of his 14th birthday, Rudolph was a wreck of a fur.  His normally deep red fur was cluttered with garbage, his red-brown hair matted and untamed, and his eyes blue as ice, and just as cold.  Rudolph was known as the "Blue-eyed Monster" to those who knew him.  He showed no emotions, except hatred.  His clothing was old and dirty, and he was always seen with his head down on the ground.  When his birthday arrived, he planned to steal a bottle of liquor to celebrate, but as he went to find a place to steal some, he ran straight into a large 6'3 rottweiler with dark eyes, dark fur, and an evil smile on his face.
 "Outta my way," Rudolph snarled as he stepped to the side of the large dog, but the dog moved to block his path.
 "I said, outta my way," he snarled again as he stepped to the side again, but was blocked off again.
 "I don't think so, kid," the rottweiler said in a deep voice.
 Rudolph could feel his hackles rising as he clenched his paws into fists.
 "What do you mean by that?  You don't know who you're dealing with," Rudolph growled through gritted teeth.
 "I mean, no.  You just walked into my territory."
 Rudolph looked around at the surroundings.  Just some tall buildings, around 4th and Oak Street.
 "Your territory?  I don't see your name on it," Rudolph grinned as he mentioned the flaw in the announcement.
 "Oh, it's mine, all right.  I decide if I want others in this place.  And I don't want you here."
 Rudolph's hackles rose again, and anger was building inside of him.
 "And what if I don't care what you say?"
 The rott proved his point.  He threw a punch that knocked Rudolph 5 feet across the street.  He groaned as he felt a hot trickle of blood run from his nose.
 "You bastard, you'll pay for that!"  Rudolph quickly got up, and ran at lightning speed to the rott, and retaliated with a punch to his face.  The rott was taken aback, and held his eye, where the punch connected.
 "You're gonna die now, punk!"
 The brawl between the two began.  The rott had exceptional strength, but Rudolph's foot speed was too much for the rott to take.  Rudolph threw straight punches to his body, causing him to stumble around in frustration.
 "Come on, is that all ya got?"  Rudolph laughed as he saw his adversary stunned by the blows.  But that was a mistake, as the rott whirled a punch that connected with Rudolph's body, knocking him back again.  Rudolph was badly winded, and couldn't stand up.  The rott was soon over Rudolph's body, and he took the fox by the neck.  He raised his fists to ready the final blow.
 "Hope you said yer prayers, kid!" the rott readied his punch, when a cry went through the street.
 "Leave him alone, you big freak!"
 A gray wolf rushed in to the scene, a tall 5'11" female, and appeared right next to the rott, still holding Rudolph, who was choking for air.  She was wearing a black leather jacket over a light blue shirt, and large denim jeans, with large leather boots.  She also had an obvious scar over her right eye, apparently from a knife wound long ago.
 "Why dontcha pick on someone your own size, Biff?"
 Biff threw Rudolph hard on the ground, coughing and gasping.  He stood there, staring the wolf hard in her amber eyes.
 "Why don't YOU stay out of my business?" Biff growled in return.
 For a while, all they did was stare at each other coldly.  Then, with a snort, Biff turned away and went down the street.
 "You got lucky, punk.  Don't let me catch you here again," Biff yelled as he retreated the street.
 The gray wolf went to Rudolph, still sputtering for air.
 "You know, you really shouldn't go around fighting someone you don't know."
 Rudolph stood up, and abruptly looked her way.
 "Why did you help me?  I didn't need any."
 The wolf smiled as she saw the red fox cough a bit.
 "Well, you looked like ya needed some.  Biff really isn't the type to take lightly."
 A small grin came to his face.
 "So that's his name.  Perfect for an ugly face like that."
 The wolf laughed heartily at the comment.
 "Yeah, that's him.  He's just really a big bully.  Doesn't like others messing in his places.  I just help others to avoid him.  I'm really just another street punk...and by the looks of it, you seem to be one, too."
 Rudolph smirked at the wolf as she mentioned her status.
 "Yeah, so?"
 The wolf just held out her paw, scarred from numerous knife slashes..
 "Well, we should be friends.  I like meeting others like me.  I'm Karen.  You can call me K.  Everyone who knows me does.
 The fox just stared at the offered paw, and then looked coldly at her.  The wolf seemed hurt by his remark.
 "Oh, come on.  I won't bite.  Heh, I think you're a good kid."
 "You'd be the only one.  Besides, I work alone.  I don't need friends.  I don't need anyone."
 K merely looked at Rudolph with a sad look in her eyes.
 "A loner, huh?  You know, if you picked a fight with Biff, he's got you marked.  He won't rest until he kills ya.  Besides, we all need someone in this world.  Even loners want to have someone to be with.  No one wants to be alone, not even those who are that way.  So, whatdya say?"
 The words did strike Rudolph to some extent.  He knew she was correct, even if he didn't want to believe that.  And he already knew that the thin gray wolf was a challenge, if she could scare off a huge rott like that.  He reluctantly reached out his paw to the wolf's and shook it firmly.
 "I'm Rudolph.  I guess you can call me Rudy if you want to."
 K began a hearty laugh after Rudolph's introduction.
 "What's so funny?"  Rudolph snarled harshly, his hackles rising again.
 "Ha, ha, ha....oh, nothing.  I was just thinking of a good nickname for you.  How about Red?  That's a good name for ya."
 Rudolph looked strangely at K's remark.
 "Red?  I hate nicknames, other than my own," he screamed in reply.
 "Oh, come on, Red, it suits you fine, I mean, you are red."
 Rudolph sighed in exasperation.  He knew it was too late to change the name now.
 "Well, Red, what you wanna do?" K asked to Rudolph.
 "Whoa, hold on," Rudolph raised his paws in question.  "I never said you could come with me, I just thought we were saying hi!"
 "Well," K said with a big, goofy grin, "I figured that now we know each other, we could...travel together?"
 Rudolph couldn't believe what he heard.  A wolf, joining a fox?  It seemed impossible to him.  However, he still knew he couldn't say no.  At least, not yet, anyway.
 "...All right.  You can come, IF you don't get in my way.  The second you do, I'm going solo.  Got it?"
 K just smiled sweetly and agreed with the idea.
 "I gotcha.  One screw-up, and I'm dumped.  Heh."
 So, K followed Rudolph as they walked the street together, each one telling their life story.  Rudolph was a bit reluctant to tell his at the time, but he went ahead anyway.  Apparently, K was just as much of  a bad fur as he was, if not more.

 The two became true friends within days, although Rudolph was slightly reluctant in K's sudden interest in his life.  Both treated each other as rivals, both having the same speed and skill as a fighter.  Each one stuck to the other, whether it was to steal, or to defend against each other.  They never really saw Biff over the course of their travels, both believing their abilities to be too much for the large rott.  It wasn't too long before the two acted as a small family.  K usually acted as the "parent", taunting Rudolph over every concept she could possibly think of, while Rudolph treated K as his sister, being equally cruel to her.  In fact, they argued constantly over whatever they could argue on, whether it was on money, or even as silly as who had the best looks.  However, both knew and respected the other's feelings in their own sense.  One night, they decided to rest in a nearby park on a grassy hill, and discussed secrets that they kept even from each other, a night that would change both forever.

 "Oh, come on, stop doing that while I'm here, geez!"  Rudolph groaned as K slowly puffed on a cigarette.  He showed his disgust with relish.  K gazed coldly at the cocky fox.
 "Why should I?" K growled in return.
 "Because I said so.  You know I hate it when you smoke!  Damn, you know how unhealthy that is?"
 "Oh, and drinking whiskey is perfectly healthy.  Excuse me for questioning your authority.  You know I'm 2 years older than you, and I could whoop your tail easily!"
 Rudolph made a low growl at K's threat.
 "So?  You're only 16!  You're not an adult!"
 K suddenly shoved her muzzle straight to Rudolph's, close to smell her tainted breath.
 "That still makes me your authority!!"
 The two growled fiercely at each other, then slumped back on the grass, obviously in no mood to argue anymore than they had.  K flicked away the last of the cigarette and laid back, staring at the multitude of stars in the sky.  Rudolph decided to do the same.  For a while neither one said a word, just stared at the sky.  Then K blurted out a question that took Rudolph by surprise.
 "Have you ever had a dream, Red?"
 Rudolph shot up and stared straight at K.
 "What do you mean?"
 K shifted herself to face the fox.
 "I mean, a dream.  A goal in life.  Do you have one?"
 He answered in silence, his eyes closing slightly.
 "Well, you do have one, do you?"
 Rudolph closed his eyes and looked away.
 "Yeah...but you'd laugh."
 "No, I wouldn't.  A dream is a serious thing, Red.  Anyone who laughs at you because you have a goal, something better to do than to sit on your ass all day is a fool.  If you don't feel safe telling me, that's fine."
 Silence.  K decided to sweeten the deal.  She really was curious as to why Rudolph was so secretive about his dream.  She felt as if she already knew, but wanted to be sure.
 "Tell ya what," K said with a gleam in her amber eyes.  "I'll tell you my dream, if you tell me yours.  I promise I won't laugh at you."
 Rudolph slowly opened his eyes to face the gray wolf, a sad look on his face.
 "You promise?"
 K nodded her head.
 "I promise."
 Rudolph gave a heavy sigh, looked at her straight in her eyes, and reverted his dream.
 "...I...I always wa-wanted to b-be... a professional skateboarder."
 K's comforting look turn to a puzzled one.
 (What?  That was his dream?  I always thought he wanted someone to...well...)
 "Really, Red?  I never knew that."
 Rudolph looked away again, embarrassed, feeling himself blush under his red fur.
 "Sounds stupid, doesn't it?"
 "No, that's not it," K shook her head in disagreement.  "I'm not laughing, aren't I?"
 "Well, no..."
 "You see?  I kept my deal.  I don't feel that's stupid at all.  I mean, you don't know how to use one, but I don't feel that it's impossible to you.  Hey, you have a goal.  A real purpose.  You might not realize it, but you do.  Skateboarding is an extreme sport, and it takes a  lot of patience to do that.  Hey, it's a start, admitting you have a dream.  At least you have one."
 K turned away and looked down the grass hill.  She pulled out a blade of grass and gently gnawed on it.  Rudolph looked at her with a questioning look that resembled K's.
 "What do you mean by that?"
 Knowing she kept her promise, K began to revert her dream, still staring at the ground.
 "Well, you see, I always wanted to be a ballerina."
 Rudolph started to snicker, then began to laugh softly, than guffawing loudly.  K looked over to Rudolph, and realizing he was actually displaying what K stressed against, stopped laughing.
 "I'm sorry," Rudolph said sadly, looking down the hill as well.  "I didn't mean to laugh at you.  You...didn't laugh at me."
 K smiled softly, and even laughed a little herself.
 "I don't blame ya.  I think it's funny myself.  I mean, 10 years ago, I was a perfect little angel.  Never made my parents upset, always did what I was told.  I used to be a real crybaby."
 K took a small break to light up another cigarette.  Rudolph's face turned to disgust, but he kept silent, more interested in her story over arguing.  After a long puff, K continued, looking up slightly.
 "I mean, anything made my bawl.  A little scratch, a bug, even my own shadow.  But, one day, that all changed.  When I was 9, some people came in to my house.  They were all dressed in black, with dark eyes....those eyes...I'll never forget them."
 "What happened?"
 K took another puff, gathered herself, then screamed out in agony.
 "They KILLED THEM!  They killed my parents, those filthy bastards!  Just went in, didn't say a word, just fired their guns at them!"
 Her eyes filled with rage as she screamed in a berserk fury, foam flecks coming from her mouth.  Rudolph just stared in awe.  He never saw her this angry before.  He was almost afraid to say anything, dare she release her anger on him.  K continued to scream out.
 "They spilled my parents' blood all over me!  That tainted smell of blood, it was so nauseating, I almost hurled.  I wish they killed me that day!  They just left me alone for dead, didn't do anything to me!  Why didn't they kill me?  I wished I were dead!"
 K soon reveled in large breaths for air, her voice returning to normal, her hackles returning to their original position.  Rudolph was almost afraid to say a word, but dared to anyway.
 "S-so, wh-what did you d-do?"
 K stared down the hill again, puffed on her cigarette, and sighed before she continued.
 "After that day, I couldn't cry anymore.  There was nothing to cry over.  My life had no purpose.  So I went off on my own, into the city.  The first year was the hardest for me.  I had no money, had to live off of eating rats.  That dream I had was gone, replaced by revenge.  When I was 12, I found this."
 K reached into the pockets of her jacket and showed Rudolph a small knife, inscribed with the initials, K.D.
 "It wasn't mine, and it wasn't in the best condition, but it had the same initials as my name.  Never told you my last name, huh, Red?  All the time we've known each other, and I've never told ya.  Well, I guess I should.  It's Delakar."
 Rudolph nodded slowly.
 "Nice last name."
 K smiled a little.
 "Thanks.  Well, I decided to sharpen it myself.  Wasn't the smartest thing I've done.  Ended up cutting my paws 17 times trying to sharpen it."
 "That explains the cuts on your paws."
 "Guess so.  Also explains the cut over my eye.  Knife slipped and almost cut it out.  Had to cover it with a piece of old cloth."
 "Ugh."
 "Well, I did it, it was done.  The knife was finished, and I vowed to get my revenge."
 Rudolph looked downward.
 "At least you knew your parents, and could do something about it.  Mine were dead when the crash happened, and I was too young to do anything about it."
 K continued as if she never heard his words.
 "Well, I learned from those I saw that the people who killed my parents were the Blackhawk Gang."
 "Huh?  Who're they?"
 K turned to Rudolph again, with a startling look, then looked back down the hill.
 "You must have been too young to know.  The Blackhawk Gang was  a ruthless group of wolves and jackals who paid a family when they were down on their luck, but when the people couldn't keep their part of the deal, they went over and killed them off.  I guess my parents must have been associated with them.  I also learned that their leader was a fierce rottweiler named Balken."
 K flicked off her cigarette in the same fashion as before then continued on.
 "Well, get this.  You know Biff, right?"
 Rudolph laughed shortly.
 "Yeah. I know him.  How could I forget?"
 "Well, Biff was Balken's son.  Balken must've disowned him.  Well, I vowed to get him back when I heard that the gang was caught by the police, and given the death sentence.  All except Biff.  I felt that if I could get at least him back, then I'd be happy.  I've chased him down since then, and stood up for anyone who want against him."
 K pulled out another blade of grass and gnawed on it.
 "I've said too much, went off of what we were talking about.  I'm sorry."
 Rudolph shook his head in disapproval.
 "No, I felt that was interesting.  I know more about you than I ever did before...and about myself."
 "What about?"
 Rudolph stared at the night sky.
 "That we all have a purpose.  No matter what it is."
 K smiled approvingly.
 "Well, that's nice to know."
 K slowly laid down and comforted herself.
 "It's late.  Let's go to sleep."
 Rudolph slowly laid himself down to sleep.  He felt obliged to be in the presence of someone who had the same life as him.  As he began to doze off, he felt he needed to say something other than goodnight.
 "Karen?"
 K looked at him.  She knew it was serious.  He never called her Karen unless it was important.
 "Yes?"
 "Please, promise you won't leave me."
 K choked at the words.  She was never asked to do such a task.  Rudolph continued his request.
 "I know that you want to kill Biff.  I can't stop ya.  One day, you'll do it, I know you will.  But, I have this feeling that when you two settle your differences, something awful will happen to you, and I'll lose you."
 K merely kept silent.  She couldn't believe that Rudolph cared that much for her, a lowly street punk.
 "To tell you the truth...I'm scared to be alone."
 K giggled a bit at the words.  Rudolph could feel his face turn red again.
 "You're afraid?  I didn't know you were.  I thought you were a tough guy."
 When Rudolph said nothing, K knew she hit a wrong chord.
 "I'm sorry.  I guess, we all have fears, too...go on."
 Rudolph wasn't sure if he could continue, but pressed himself to try.
 "I feel that my life was nothing, until I met you.  I used to have a friend, but we never really talked much, at least not me.  And I just don't want to be cast into that darkness again...so please.  Promise you won't leave me. Ever."
 K shut her eyes.  She knew she couldn't do that, she knew that she could never care for Rudolph forever.  But, at the same time, she felt that if Rudolph cared enough to bring that up, she could at least try to fulfill it.  At least until he was old enough to care for himself without a companion.
 With a smile, K said, "Sure, Red.  I promise.  Now go to sleep."
 K soon fell asleep, and as Rudolph finally went to sleep, he smiled, knowing that a promise from his friend was all he ever wanted.  The promise to be together.  Forever.
 With that, Rudolph dozed off among the stars.

 Over the next few days, both K and Rudolph felt a slight tension in the air, not knowing whether it was a serious issue or not.  Evading the cops was already a big issue, but it seemed as if there was another omen floating over their heads, something that could tear them apart.  They didn't know how right they really were.  Only a week after their night on the hill, K and Rudolph travel through the park after a long rainfall.  The starless night sky was the least of their worries.

 "Tell me why we're going through the park again?"
 Rudolph shivered under his leather jacket as the two moved through the park, large trees on either side of the path.
 "Because, it's faster," K growled through her teeth against the biting wind.  "You wanna get there, don't ya?"
 Rudolph thought for  a second, then replied, "Yeah...but...isn't this close to...well, Biff's territory?"
 "You worried about him, Red?  Scared his ugly mug will give ya nightmares?"
 Rudolph went in to a defensive tone.
 "What?  You're kidding?  I ain't scared of him!  I haven't even seen him!"
 "Well, he only goes in his territory, and it's either we walk through here, or we go all the way a...round..."
 K stopped walking.  Her ears perked up, and she began searching frantically around.  Rudolph, noticing he was ahead of her, turned around to face her.
 "K?  What's wrong?"
 She kept looking around as if he didn't exist.
 "Didn't you hear-" Rudolph started.
 "I heard ya!  There's someone following us.  I know it."  K snarled, still looking for the source of her dilemma.  Rudolph wasn't sure of what was happening.
 "Can't you hear it?"  K whispered.
 "Hear what?  I didn't hear anything."
 "I did.  It sounded like heavy breathing, as if someone were worried.  And I know who it is.  I can smell his stench from here."
 Rudolph raised an eyebrow.
 "All I smell is pine."
 Suddenly, K exploded into a rage, screaming her fury to the sky.
 "BIFF!"  K yelled.  "I KNOW YOU'RE HERE, YOU DAMN SCUMBALL!  DON'T SNEAK AROUND IN THE SHADOWS!  IF YOU WANT ME, I'M RIGHT HERE!  COME ON!  I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!!  COME AND GET ME!!!"
 The challenge echoed around the park.  The following silence was nerve-shaking.  Minutes passed by like hours, as they awaited their adversary to appear.  But the wind was their only reply.  Finally, Rudolph broke the silence.
 "I don't think he's here, K.  Otherwise, he would have gotten us."
 "SHUT UP!!"  K roared at him.  He backed away from her, paws raised in an apologetic tone.
 "Sorry...I just thought..."
 K went over to a nearby tree and rammed her fist into the trunk, the branches shaking from the blow.  She was already breathing heavily, and sweating profusely.
 "I know.  You always think that.  It's just...I can't take this anymore.  I've wanted so long to kill him.  I should have when I first met you and ended this.  Now, we're sitting in the cold wind, waiting for some damn son-of-a-bitch to take us, and all you can say is 'I just thought'.  Well, thinking won't end this!"
 "Well, is that so?  You sure of that?" a mysterious voice echoed through the trees.  K and Rudolph turned to face what they feared to see, and yet what they always wanted to face-Biff was leaning on a tree, staring coldly at the two, an evil smile on his face.
 "You!"  K took a step towards Biff, her growls more imminent as she spoke.  "You dare have the nerve to show yerself here?"
 Biff gave a brittle laugh.
 "You really think so?  I have the nerve to show myself?  Of course I do."
 Biff stopped leaning on the tree and slowly walked towards K, who was almost ready to pounce him and slash out his throat.
 "I've never really been that far from you two.  I've been following you two, listening to your every word, watching every unseen crime you committed.  I never did anything, though.  Just watched, and waited for the right moment."
 "You see, my dear Karen, you are just another speck in this world, a little dot in the web of life.  It can easily be rubbed out.  I don't know why my dad didn't kill you when he had the chance.  Yes, Karen.  I knew your pitiful family was attacked by my father.  He told me everything.  I guess he figured you would die, too.  You were such a weakling then."
 Biff was now face to face with K, the evil grin still applied to his face.
 "I also have wanted you to suffer the same fate.  It was a surprise when I saw you 3 years later, after my father's execution.  I had this urge to do what my father couldn't, or should I say, was too lazy to do.  What I've always dreamed of doing..."
 Biff placed his muzzle directly in front of her's, his grin vanished, replaced by a sneer.
 "To kill you."
 The two began their cold stare again, Rudolph staring at them with concern and eagerness to jump in and end it himself.  Biff then turned straight to Rudolph, the grin on his face returning once again.
 "And you, my dear friend...you had some nerve yourself to invade my territory.  And you made it worse by fighting me, and your really pushed it when you joined sides with this...floormat here."
 Biff pointed his finger straight a K, returning  a cold stare to her before turning away and walking back to the tree.
 "You bastard..." Karen growled out to the snickering rott.  "I've had it with you.  It may have been some time, since we saw each other, but don't think I've forgotten what you've done to me.  You're the reason my life has been the way it was.  Now, it's time to end it.  We settle this.  Now."
 Rudolph suddenly jumped in front of K, shaking his head fiercely.
 "No, wait!  You don't need to do this!  You could get hurt!"
 K shoved him aside harshly.
 "No, please don't try to stop me.  I have to do this.  Besides, it won't be me who gets hurt!"
 Biff turned to them once again, his brittle laugh returning again.
 "He has a right to worry, Karen.  If I were you, I'd run with your tail between your legs and run like the coward you are.  But, if you want to do this, fine."
 He took a fighting position, poised for an attack.
 "Don't worry, kid.  As soon as I'm done with her, you're next."
 K took a low fighting position, her knife in hand.  Biff laughed and kept his stance.
 "Oh, and no weapons.  If you want to kill someone, use your own paws.  It's the best way."
 K smiled and sheathed the knife in her pouch.  She returned to her stance afterwards.
 "Please, Karen, don't!"  Rudolph yelled to her as she was prepared to make her move.  But it was too late.  K made a lunge and kicked Biff straight in the face.  He staggered, and returned the favor with a punch to her face.  The two fighters bled from the nose, but treated it as nothing as they locked paws in a grapple hold.  Both sides found themselves equals and broke off, using claws and teeth on each other instead.  Rudolph could only stand at the sidelines, wincing at the wounds K was taking.  She already had large scratch marks on her arms, her clothing torn, her left shoulder bleeding from a bite, and a claw mark to her right leg.  Biff, however, had already suffered equal scratches.  Soon, Biff tried to claw K's face, when she docked underneath it and pounced him in the stomach.  She soon had his arms pinned to the wet ground.  Rudolph could feel a small pain in his stomach.  He knew it was far from over.
 "Too much for ya, Biff?"  K said between gritted teeth as she fought to keep Biff from reacting.  It was surprising to see K, even with her small build, to be just as strong as him.  But it wasn't enough, as he flung her to the side.  A small flash of metal went and sent K reeling and holding her right arm.  Apparently, Biff had forgotten about his rule about weapons, as he used his own knife to stop her
 "You damn liar...you said no weapons...urgh!" K winced as she clamped her right paw hard to stop the bleeding.
 "Oh, come on, you know I never follow rules!"  Biff said as he prepared for the kill move.  Suddenly, he was knocked back with a punch from K's good arm.  She drew her knife and stood over him, prepared to stab him in the head.  Biff slowly whined as he could feel the knife being wrenched from his paw.  K stood poised to end his life then and there.  Rudolph could feel the tension as he stood there, watching the incident.  By surprise, K brought the knife down.  She was breathing very heavily, struggling to speak to the rott.
 "No...I won't ...I'm not like...you..." K said between breaths.  Tears flowed freely from Biff's eyes, fearing that K would still kill him.
 "You see...you're just a murderous scum...it's not worth it to kill you...not this way..."
 K stood up, bleeding from every part of her body, her face stern.
 "I had my revenge.  I know I can kill you.  But..."
 She looked towards Rudolph, his mouth agape from her wounds.
 "I have someone who looks up to me.  It wouldn't be right to stoop to your level.  He deserves better than me.  The cops will take care of you for me.  As long as you take the fall, that's enough for me."
 K limped over to Rudolph, as he rushed over to her.
 "Karen, are you OK?"
 K managed a weak smile.
 "Yeah...I'm okay.  Come on.  We've gotta get outta here."
 As they began once again to walk down the road thought the park, Biff yelled out with a sense of victory.  "Big mistake, Karen."
 She turned around to see Biff holding a small revolver.  He fired straight at her chest.  K screamed in agony as the bullet sank into her chest and she collapsed on the spot, struggling to breathe.  Rudolph screamed out and kneeled to her side.
 "Karen!  Karen, no!  Please don't die!"
 Biff laughed as he prepared the gun to fire at Rudolph, but decided to just savor the moment of watching him cry over his kill.  K coughed, flecks of blood flying over to Rudolph's jacket.
 "It's..too late...for me...I..should have...killed him...when I had...the..chance... * cough *"
 Rudolph tried hard to keep the tears from flowing from his eyes.
 "You promised you would never leave me...please, don't leave me alone again..."
 K weakly put her paw on his shoulder.
 "Sorry...Red...gotta leave ya...I guess...Biff..won...but...it's not...so bad...I'll get to see...my parents...and apologize...for being the way I was...so...long."
 He couldn't stand to see her in so much pain.  Rudolph could feel the blood from K's wounds on his paws.
 "You've...got...a chance..," K struggled to speak.  "You...have...a goal...never forget...it...and don't...don't cry...I'll se ya...some...time..."
 Rudolph could could only choke out a few words.
 "Karen...I....love you."
 K felt tears coming from her eyes.  She waited for so long for him to say those words.
 "I...love..you, too...Rudolph...be...be strong, Rudolph...I know you are..."
 She groaned, and finally passed away in Rudolph's arms.  He pressed her against him, tears coming from his eyes, his breath short wails.
 "How touching...now, it's your turn."  Biff turned the gun to Rudolph and fired, but only a click came from it.  He tried again, but all he heard was a click.
 "Dammit...why won't it work?"  Biff banged the gun on his paw to no avail.
 "Gun must be busted.  Oh, well."  Biff laughs echoed in Rudolph's head.  Rudolph could only see red, and fire and brimstone and stared straight into Biff's face.  His laughs scarred themselves into his memory, and he saw the knife K used nearby.  He grabbed it and stood up, his anger building with each second.
 "You...killed...my friend...I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!"
 Biff looked in surprise as Rudolph raced over to him, the knife in his paws.
 "You wanna play?  Fine."  Biff prepared to throw a punch fierce enough to crush Rudolph's head, but was stopped as Rudolph pressed the knife into his stomach as deep as it would go.  Rudolph could also feel the blood flowing to his paws as Biff collapsed in a heap.
Biff choked out a few words, the fire in Rudolph's eyes still burning.
 "You...got....me...now...the only...one left is you...you'll take all the blame...murderer...ha...ha...ugh!"
 With that, Biff closed his eyes for the last time.
 Rudolph was breathing heavily, as something snapped inside of him.  Biff was right...he was the only one alive.  Karen and Biff were both dead, and he had the blood on his paws.
 "What have I done?" Rudolph said, his voice wavering as his paws shivered uncontrollably.  "I killed him...I'm a monster...I'm a monster..."
 Rudolph soon felt himself lose control of his legs as he ran through the park and into the streets, away from the horror of that night.  Away from everyone.  Away so he wouldn't take the blame...because he was to blame.
 "I'm a monster..."

 The cops arrived at the scene an hour later.  A skunk officer went over to examine the bodies of Karen Delakar and Biff, son of Balken, the gang leader.
 "They're both dead, all right.  Good think someone reported it."  Another officer, a pine marten, went to examine the situation.
 "Appears they killed each other, doesn't it?" the pine marten said as he removed the knife from Biff's stomach.
 "No, couldn't be..."
 "Why's that?"
 "Look..."
 The officers examined a strand of red-brown hair.
 "Neither suspect had this type of hair...someone else was here."
 Suddenly, a thought popped up in the skunk's head as he saw K's face.
 "Hey, I know this person...name's Karen Delakar.  A real troublemaker.  And this is Biff, I think.  Heard he claimed a street down 4th."
 "So?"
 "So.... I know who usually hung out with Karen.  Some kid named Rudolph...a troublemaker as well.  Got a report as a missing fur a while back."
 "You're saying...he could have done this?"
 "Maybe...if not both, then at least one of them."
 They saw  a set of sneaker prints going down the road, with some spots of blood along the park road.
 "And I think we may have be able to find him."

 Rudolph collapsed in the corner of a dead-end alley, panting for air.  He sat near the wall, brought his legs to his chest, and lets the tears flow.  He felt nauseous from the blood stained on his paws.  His breath returned in short wails, and he muttered, through his teeth.
 "Why did you break my promise, Karen?  You promised me... why...why did you leave me alone again..."
 Rudolph shook his head in sorrow, still muttering to himself.
 "You just had to do it...you had to fight him.  You just had to... now you see why I warned you...it's your fault you're dead!"
 After a few loud sniffs, he continued talking to the shadows.
 "No...it's not your fault...it's mine.  I just stood there and let you die... and I was the one who killed Biff...with these paws..."
 He stared blankly at his paws, small droplets of blood still falling from his fingers and nails.
 "I'm the reason...I'm to blame...I am a monster...a cold monster who doesn't deserve anyone...why was I even born?"
 He continued his blank stare at his blood-stained paws.
 "These paws...I can never get them clean...they'll always carry the stench of death...as long as I exist...I'll just be a monster."
 Rudolph lowered his head in despair.  The tears kept falling from his eyes, and all he could say came in short sobs.  Suddenly, a bright light shone into the alleyway, blinding him.  He hardly reacted to the light as he stared at the two figures approaching him.  After some time, he distinguished them as cops.  A skunk and a pine marten, guns at the ready, staring coldly at him, and yet, they seemed to have a strange understanding.
 "You Rudolph?" the skunk said, approaching Rudolph by the wall.  He cowered in fear.
 "I won't hurt you.  I just want to know something."
 He leaned in front of Rudolph, the gun out at his right paw.  His voice sounded warm, although it was filled with anger.
 "We just had a case of genocide.  There is enough evidence to prove you were the killer.  I'm not pointing fingers yet, but I would like to ask a few questions, so if you would just come with me..."
 He reached out to Rudolph, when the fox noticed the gun in a loose position.  He gave a rough shove to the skunk and took the gun on the ground, and aimed it straight at his head.  The pine marten reacted by aiming his firearm at Rudolph.
 "Go ahead!  Kill me!  I deserve to die!" Rudolph said as he kept his paw steady to the skunk.
 "Don't make me react with force!"  The pine marten cocked the gun, ready to fire.  The skunk told him to back off.
 "But-"
 "No.  That's what he wants...don't do it."
 The pine marten lowered his gun.  Suddenly Rudolph began to mimic the same evil laughter as the deceased  rottweiler.
 "You don't know me?  I'm just a monster...yes, that's it.  I'm just a monster...I could kill you right now, and all I would need to do is pull the trigger..."
 Rudolph kept his aim steady.
 "And I wouldn't care anymore.  Yeah, I did it.  I killed them both.  With my own paws.  My own bloody paws.  And now, there's no reason for me to be here anymore."
 With that, he pulled the gun to his head, ready to fire.
 "I deserve to die!  No one loves me!  No one wants me around!  Everyone will be happier if I'm DEAD!  So stay back!  Make this easier for me!  Please!"
 The skunk gave a reassuring tone, hoping the fox wouldn't do the unthinkable.
 "Now, come on, kid.  It's not worth it.  People do care for you.  You may not think so, but it's true."
 Rudolph gave a brittle laugh, dropping the gun from his head.
 "Yeah, that's a laugh...ha, someone who loves me.  Someone who cares for me, a freak?"
 The skunk took a step towards him, only to have Rudolph press the gun to his head again.
 "I said that I deserve to die!  You'll take me in, and kill me anyway!  So let me do it for you!"
 "No, no...we won't do that.  We'll get you help.  Someone who trusts you.  Please, suicide is not worth this.  Think of what you have to offer others."
 "More pain?  That's all I'm good for..."
 Suddenly, voices came to Rudolph's head.  Familiar voices.  The voices of everyone he knew.  His enemy, Biff...his friend, Karen...even his friend, Margie, who he never paid attention to.  They flooded his voice with words of caring...words of hatred...words of hope... new voices came in...the wolf who loved him the day his parents died... all the families he went to, who tried to help him...they began to overpower his thoughts.  The voices jumbled and gave the message he heard his entire life.
 "Be strong, Rudolph.  Don't let this be the end..."
 Rudolph began to realize the truth.  People did love him.  He just never knew it.  People cared for him.  He wasn't alone.
 He slowly lowered his arm and dropped the gun.  He fell to his knees and cried his tears of agony once again.  Uncontrollable sobs and wails came from the fallen fur.  The skunk went up and embraced him in the same manner as the wolf had long ago.
 "Oh, Rudolph...thank you.  You'll never regret this."
 Rudolph could only answer with sobs.  He was never alone.  He just let himself believe that.  Now, he wasted his life over nothing.  He cried for everything.  For the death of his parents, of Karen, even Biff.  He cried for all the families.  He cried for the nurse wolf.  He cried for himself.  It was over.  His loneliness was finally over.

 After a year of rehabilitation, Rudolph Bradford was sent back to the orphanage, where Margie rushed over and embraced him at the entrance.
 "Oh, Rudolph...It's you...I thought I'd never see you again..." Margie said between her sobs.  The old gray bear grimaced at his sight, but said nothing.  Margie was left in surprise when Rudolph hugged her back.
 "Rudolph...you never did that before..."
 He merely smiled, a large grin on his muzzle.
 "I never knew how to.  Until I realized...I love you."
 Margie gave a cry of surprise, then continued her embrace.
 "Rudolph...I love you too."
 They locked in that embrace for the remainder of the day.
 
 "Tell me...why did you leave?"
 "I'm not sure.  I guess I felt I was just alone."
 "You really felt that way?"
 "Yes.  I thought you were just someone trying to take me away to some place I didn't want to go.  When they put me into rehab, though...well, everyday, I cried.  For you."
 "You did?"
 "Yeah.  I guess I missed your friendly smile."
 "Even though I'm a freak?"
 "You're not a freak.  You're you.  No one can take that away from you.  If they don't like it, then they're the real freaks."
 "I know.  But it still hurts.  Especially coming from my parents.  You don't know how it hurts."
 "I do.  More than you'll ever know.  But it doesn't matter now.  Now that I'm with you."
 "Yeah..."
 "Aren't you going to ask me anything else?"
 "No.  I feel that if I ask, I'll know too much about you.  Things I don't want to know."
 "Okay.  I'd rather not say, either."
 "I'm glad...Rudolph?"
 "Yes?"
 "Do you really love me?"
 "...Yes.  I do."
 "That's all I need to know."

 One year later...

 Rudolph leaned in the corner, looking down at the ground, thinking about life.  He was never sure what he wanted to do outside the orphanage.    He had little education, and was still about a 9th grader, although he couldn't go to school.  He was 16, but he never really thought about what he would do.  Margie had broken up with him a few weeks ago.  She felt as if it just wasn't the right thing between them and kept it as a friendship.  Of course, the kids silently playing around him, thanks to the old bear, didn't catch much interest to him.  He never went to another family after he returned to the orphanage.  Suddenly, a young vixen walked up to him.
 "What's your name?"
 He answered in silence.  He was too busy thinking of other things.
 "Oh, you don't want him..."
 The bear shot up and riled on about something unimportant, and a tall make red fox arguing back at him.  It took some time, but the argument cooled and he approached him.
 "Do you say anything?"
 "Yeah."
 He slowly looked up at them.  Another young couple, staring directly at him with sweet smiles on their faces.  They reminded him of his parents...but it came to pass.
 "I'm Rudolph Bradford."
 He extended his paw to theirs and shook it firmly.
 "A pleasure to meet you.  Won't you sit down?"
 They sat by a wooden table, the chairs a little too small for any of them.
 "Well, why don't you tell us about yourself?  We're just a little, I guess you could say, richer family who would like to adopt someone to care for."
 "Let me guess...slamming each other didn't work for ya?"
 The couple look at each other, knowing the truth.  They stared back at him.
 "Sorry.  Just a little joke.  Well, I guess if you want to know...."
 Rudolph told the couple everything he could remember...the crash, the hospital incident, meeting his friends, his enemies, the murder, and his rehab sessions.  He had to stop at times, the pain too much for him to continue onward, but they pressed him to move onward.  After some time, he finished his story.  The couple nodded with a slow approval.
 "Yes...I see," the male answered.
 "I feel that you will be a challenge, but we can do this.  Would you like to live with us?"
 Rudolph thought for a second.  He was unsure what would happen if history repeated itself, but it was a chance he had to take.  He just needed to find someone.
 "Sure."
 After a teary good-bye from Margie, who gave him a large embrace, he left for his new life with his new family.

 Rudolph looked out the star-filled window.  It was late at night, and he was already accustomed to his new home.  His foster parents were a little secretive, but they seemed very nice.  He already made a new friend, and would be going to school soon.  He laid on the bed, wondering if this would be his calling in life.  A small voice echoed in his mind.
 "You did it, Rudolph.  You kept strong.  I'm proud of you."
 He merely smiled.  He recognized the voice.  It was his mother's voice.  He knew it.  The image appeared of her beauty once more in his mind, but it vanished once more.  He sighed in relief.  The door slowly opened, and the vixen stepped in, a small smile on her muzzle.
 "Time for bed, Rudolph.  Good night."
 He turned towards the vixen at the door, smiled, and wished her good night.  Rudolph stared out the window one more time, and went under the covers, closed his eyes, and dreamed of what tomorrow would bring.

The End

 Editor's Note
 Hey, just thought I'd put this in again.
 For those who haven't read this yet, this is the better edited version of the story.  Don't worry, it's still got every scene in it, I just had to edit it for a magazine submission.

 There was a poem that I included after this part, but I can't seem to find it, so I'll post it seperate later.

 Not much to explain now.  Just wanted to let you know.

 Cya!

 Rudolph "Rudy" Bradford