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"It's possible that a were-pack has established itself here since the last time I came through," she thought out loud. "And females are always coveted by loners because we embody power within pack dynamics and, of course, sex. Either way, well have to be extra careful tonight. The moon brings out the crazy in our kind."

She finished with the ointment. Then she took his face between her hands and looked deep into his eyes.

"I am proud of you for fighting him off," she told Ray. "You defended your territory and your Alpha like a true and loyal pack-mate. Thank you."

Katriel smiled. She wanted to hug him, but was afraid of hurting his arm, so instead she gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

"I'm not going anywhere," she reassured him. "Now, does your arm need to be set? Because I do know a vet in the park with x-ray equipment. We go back a few years, and has learned not to ask questions."

Katriel looked closely at the arm while not touching it.

"It's swelling quite a bit. Better safe than sorry," she said. "Infections and embolisms are just the start of the problems with an unset break."

She reached into one of the smaller drawers and pulled out an old pillowcase. She tore it easily and tied the strips into a sling, which she helped Ray slide over his head and arm, so he could rest the injured limb with as little pain as possible.

"We'll walk to his office--it's only about a mile from here," she said. "You think you can make it?"

They left the camper and walked to the vet's office in silence. Katriel's attention was divided between keeping Ray as comfortable as possible, remembering where the vet's office was, and keeping her eyes and nose alert to possible werewolf threats. They reached the office in 20 minutes. It was actually more of an old lincoln-log lodge, with "Wildlife Rehab" painted on a sign outside.

Katriel just barged in. "Leon, I'm baaa-aack!" she called.

A blond-haired man in a lab coat and thick glasses popped out of one of the doorways.

"Kat!" he cried in surprise and delight. "So good to see you again!" He ran over to her and hugged her. She hugged him back, until his hands started sliding down her back and she pushed him away.

"Hey, rule one!" she admonished.

"Don't get fresh, I know, I know," he replied, hands held up in apology. "I just haven't seen you in almost a year. So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Come back for some of my famous five-alarm buffalo chili?"

"No, my traveling partner had a run in with a hard object, and his arm might be broken," she replied. "I just want you to x-ray it so we can see if it needs to be set."

"Picked up a stray, I see," Leon said, looking Ray up and down. "Well, I'm only a vet for wild animals, but I can get you an x-ray. Follow me to the bunker."

Leon was used to being growled at by all his patients, so Ray's behavior didn't bother him as it would have a human doctor.

"Alright, just have your friend put his arm on the table there," Leon instructed as he maneuvered a large camera-like object suspended from the wall with heavy-duty steel bars and hinges to point at the table.

Katriel gently helped Ray out of the sling so he could gingerly set his arm on the table.

"And when you're ready, come behind the wall here an I'll snap the picture," Leon called from behind a cinder-block partisan.

"Just don't move, and it'll be over soon," she promised him. She gave him a kiss on the forehead to reassure him and then joined the doctor behind the wall. There was a click.

"Done!" Leon declared and came out from behind the wall. "And it should show up on the computer in the treatment room in just a moment. We do it all digitally now to save on space and cut down on polluting. Besides, it's cheaper in the long run, which my bosses really like."

Katriel helped Ray back into the sling and they followed him into the treatment room. Leon pulled up the image of x-ray and took a moment to look at it.

"It's an oblique fracture to the radius," he declared. "The bone hasn't pulled apart or fragmented, so you don't have to worry about setting it. I'm glad for that, because it means I don't have to preform unethical surgery to bolt them back together. Just keep it immobile until it heals. Do you need some ace bandages or would you like me to put a full cast on him?"

"Ace bandages are fine," she assured the vet. Leon left the room to get the supplies. She was relieved that she wouldn't have to put Ray through any more pain, espeically after he'd been so brave in defending her home. She turned to Ray, "So, it looks like our run tonight is off. Anything else you want to do? We could always get a board game or go shopping at some of the gift shops."

"We're going to be getting to know each other the more time we spend together, and I'm not leaving you again because every time I do something bad happens," she teased gently. "If you want to get to know Dr. Leon a little more, he did mention his buffalo chili--which is really good, by the way. He refuses to give me his recipe because he says it's the only way he can entice me to come back to the park. He's a good sort, you know. Horny, like all men, but respectful where it counts. He'd make a good wolf."

Katriel laughed. Ray was as honest as he was cautious. But she had to wonder when their traveling arrangement had turned into an actual pack. She didn't correct him since there was nothing to correct; they felt like a pack to her to.

Then Leon reentered the room with some red elastic bandages and a splint. He smiled at Katriel and passed her the supplies.

"You had better take care of him since he would be likely to bite me if I touched him,"he suggested.

"Good idea," Katriel replied. "By the way, have any interesting residents moved in since I was last here?"

"Not that I know of. At least I haven't treated any," Leon replied. "Have you meet someone I should know about?"

"Call it instinct," Katriel replied vaguely. "Just be careful. You know there are parts of this park where no one can hear you scream."

She turned to Ray and quickly bound the splints to his arm, the ease of her movements belying years of practice. Then she helped him back into the makeshift sling.

"It's there anything else I can do for you, Kat?" Leon asked. "Dinner? A movie? Luxury lodge accommodations?"

"You can stop calling me 'Kat' all the time," she teased. "We're going back to our camper now. We know where to find you if we need you."

"Don't be a stranger," Leon replied add he followed them to the door. "And don't wait so long until tour next visit."

"Will do, Doc," Katriel called add they left the clinic. She waved at Leon and then she and Ray turned to focus on the walk back to the camper. "So how are you feeling now?"