Chapter 25 A Family of His Own White Fang was never alone.
When he woke up from his operation, Whedon was right there talking to him.
At first he was worried and confused.
The last thing he remembered was the strange man in the hallway.
He tried to get up so he could check that the house was safe.
His legs would not work, though.
He could not walk around.
Stay where you are, his master said.
Everything is fine.
His master's voice was soft and calm.
It was just like the first time he spoke to the wolf in the Northland before he was tamed.
White Thing thought that the danger must be gone, since his master did not sound angry or nervous.
So the wolf went back to sleep.
He could finally get good rest without worry.
Whedon and his family took very good care of White Fang.
Whedon's wife fed him by hand.
The children brought him blankets and slowly stroked his head.
Judge Scott and his wife checked on him every chance they got, and Whedon rarely left his side.
The day finally came when the doctor removed the cast.
Poor White Fang was still very weak, but could at last move around.
First, he could only walk from one room to the other.
He was so tired that he had to lie down again.
Eventually, he could walk farther, even venturing outside.
Today will be a big day for you, Whedon said.
He scratched behind White Fang's ears.
The wolf nuzzled into his arm and softly growled.
We're going out to the barn.
I want you to meet someone.
The whole family was very excited.
They all walked with White Fang across the back lawn.
It took him a long time, but he finally made it.
The collie was lying inside the barn on a straw bed.
Six tiny puppies were beside her.
Two of them were all gray and looked just like their father.
She growled when the family entered the barn, wanting them all not to hurt her babies.
White Fang walked over to his new family.
He lay down in the straw, ignoring Macaulay's growls.
Whedon and his family crouched near the doorway, watching the new puppies and parents.
One of the puppies sprawled in front of White Fang.
He cocked his ears and looked at it.
Then their noses touched.
He felt the warm little tongue of the puppy on his muzzle.
White Fang's tongue went out and he licked the puppy's face.
Hand clapping and happy shouts came from the Scott family.
White Fang was surprised and looked strangely at them.
The other puppies came crawling toward White Fang.
At first, the collie was upset, but she did not stop them.
She knew White Fang would not hurt them.
They started to climb over their father.
At first White Fang felt strange about all the attention and worried that the puppies would hurt his side.
This passed away as the puppy's antics and playing continued.
He lay dozing in the sun with his eyes half shut.
White Fang could not express what he was feeling.
His life before Whedon Scott, a life of beatings, hardships, and fighting, was a distant memory.
The rest of his days were spent with the Scots on their farm.
There were no more disasters and no more big adventures. he was at long last safe and warm.
Even if he did not know the word for it, White Thing felt love.
