I got the shy wolf, Abeka out for the first time on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. That morning was cold, Drew and I were the first to arrive like usual. Drew went around to the outside of the wolf kennels to the scrap piles of fencing and old cages while I went up to greet the pups.

Liwanu and Abeka's kennel is the closest to the front gate so I could already see Liwanu with his face, fat and fur pressed as close as he could get and surprisingly Abeka with her two front paws on the door. I walked over to them and she sniffed my hand before she retreated back to her hut and Liwanu didn't mind. He wanted all my attention. It was very odd, she had never done that during previous visits. Ever since day one she has always stayed in that hut. Hence her name Abeka meaning "stays in home" in Miwok Native American.

I would spend time with her in the kennel every now and then when I didn't want to go on the long hike and made very slow wavering progress with her. Sometimes she would eat treats out of my hand and other times stay as far from me as she could avoiding any possible contact.

Very rarely after those visits with her, she would walk around her kennel with curiousity of what we were doing but when we notice she hides.

But on wednesday I crawled into her hut and laid next to her till she fell asleep. I was so close I could see the skin growth on the right bottom eyelid that makes her eye water. It probably feels like a finger pressing on her eyeball. I saw her muscles relax and tension leave. I very steadily pet her head and she continued to snuggle next to me. An hour flew by of laying on cold concrete and stroking the length of her body and I decided to take a break, stand and stretch. I left a treat in there for her because she wouldn't take it from me.

When everyone arrived back from the hike I told them and they all congradulated me. Everyone was so excited especially Teo. He was so excited that he was gung ho for me to slip a leash on her and take her out. His words were " I have a good feeling about this. I have faith in you Dani."

I put the chain around her and took Teo's advice to just walk out as if I wasn't walking anything and it felt just like that. I was so shocked, I couldn't look back yet because what if it was just my imagination. Then Teo opened the front gate and said to walk down the hill and back. I couldn't believe it she was with me OUT OF HER HUT! I walked back up and she was already panting. Drew and Teo switched Rocky and Zimba to Liwanu and Abeka's old kennel and vice versa. So Liwanu was three cages down from his normal one. I continued to the back enclosure and lead her up and down the trails the pack had already made. I let her smell whatever she wanted so being a wolf meant stopping every two seconds. Stacey came in with Liwanu next to make Abeka feel more comfortable. She started panting harder so I sat down with her, Liwanu and Stacey and chilled for a bit. Her ears were percked up which I have never seen on her and she looked so happy.

Teo let Tala come in and Tala and Abeka were absolutely fine together. Which isn't surprising. Tala gets along with everyone.

When we were getting ready to put them away Teo tried to approach and Abeka hid behind me and peed.

I lead her to the water in the kennel and let her drink and took the leash off. Liwanu nugged her away from the water, hogging it and she retreated back to the hut.

All in all I have not made a bond with her...yet, like I have with Liwanu and Tigerlily. But she obviously trusts me enough because on the following Saturday, January 16, 2010 I took her on the long hike keeping to the back of the pack with Liwanu.

We are making progress!