Once upon a time....

There was a small wolf who fell out of bed.

Well, to be precise, he didn't fall out of bed. His name was Wolfling, and he grew tired of sleeping nicely next to the little boy who owned him, and that was where the trouble all started.

Rule Number One of the Code of Stuffed Animals stated that, "The first duty of each Stuffed Animal is to make his or her Child happy. Sections A, B, and C detailed how this could be accomplished during Playtime, Sadtime, and Sleeptime, respectively.

While Rule Number One could be hard, especially during long travel days and teary times at home, Rule Number Two was no easier. "Only let Children, not Grownups, know you are alive." Children, now, were different, as everyone knew, but Grownups could be dangerous.

Rule Number Three was the last and best of the rules. "Watch over your Child." Naturally, this was close to the other two rules, because making someone happy is a good way of taking care of them, and being an innocent stuffed animal gave you more time with your Child.

Now, when Wolfling fell off, he felt very sorry to have possibly broken Rule 3, because how can you watch over your Child when under the bed? As Wolfling lay under the bed and felt like a horrible Stuffed Animal, he heard the beginnings of a noise. And this noise went on and on, and eventually his small furry ears recognised it for a storm outside. And before long, he heard another noise, one he recognised. A Child whimpering. And it was his own Child up on the bed, afraid of the storm, and alone. Wolfling felt worse and worse.

But just then, one more noise started. The bed above him was creaking. And in another minute, he was pushed aside as something else crawled underneath the bed slats with him. Something brushed him to the side, then touched him again more carefully. Wolfling smiled, because he recognised that hand.

It only took two seconds for the hand to recognise Wolfling's furry self too, and only one more before he was tucked up *very* tightly next to his child. The storm went on outside, but under the bed was warm and safe. And they both sighed contentedly. And went back to sleep.

The End