After a much needed rest, the next morning brought clear skies and a renewed¹ sense that everything was going to be okay. Spot rode on Arlo's back, and Arlo walked confidently, feeling proud that they had made it through the terrible storm.

 

Ow-ooooooooo!

 

They heard a distant howl and turned to see a human man up on a hill. A mother and two children appeared—it was a family. Arlo slowly moved toward² them. The father came forward and Spot hopped³ down, off Arlo's back to investigate.

 

The humans sniffed⁴ each other as Arlo watched. The father tousled Spot's hair and the rest of the family gathered affectionately around Spot.

 

Spot looked at Arlo and ran back toward him. He jumped up on Arlo's back, ready to keep going. But Arlo lowered him down, and gently slid him off. Spot didn't understand. Then Arlo pushed him toward the family.

 

Spot still didn't understand. He ran back to Arlo. But Arlo, again, pushed him back to the family. Then he drew a circle in the ground around all of them, just like he had with the stick figures on the night they howled at the moon. Spot and Arlo locked eyes. Spot understood.

 

The friends had tears in their eyes as they hugged. They both knew this was good-bye.

 

Once they parted, Arlo watched as Spot trotted⁵ toward the family. The father stuck out his hand to Spot, and the boy grabbed⁶ it, walking beside him, as if they had always been together. The family walked off and Spot looked back at Arlo one last time, sending up a howl. Arlo knew things were as they should be, but he felt a tightness in his throat as he howled back. He couldn't help but feel a little sad and he missed Spot already.

 

With a tear running down his cheek, Arlo stood and watched as his friend walked away.

 

充分休息之后的第二天早晨，晴空万里，一派万物复苏的景象。小不点骑在阿乐的背上，阿乐走在路上，自信满满，为从可怕的暴风雨中死里逃生而自豪。

 

哟哟哟！

 

他们听到远处传来一声号叫，转身看到一个人类男人正在山上，还有一位妈妈和两个孩子——这是一家人。阿乐慢慢走向他们。这位爸爸走上前来，小不点从阿乐的背上跳了下来，想一探究竟。

 

阿乐看着这些人互相嗅了嗅。爸爸弄乱了小不点的头发，其他家人则充满爱意地围住了小不点。

 

小不点看了看阿乐，跑回来了他的身边。他跳上了阿乐的背部，准备继续前行。但是，阿乐低下身，轻轻地让小不点从他背上滑下。小不点不明白。接着，阿乐将他推向这家人。

 

小不点还是云里雾里的。他又跑向阿乐，但是阿乐再一次把他推向了这一家子。接着，他在他们周围的地上画了一个圆圈，就像那晚他们对着月亮吼叫，用树枝摆人形时一样。小不点和阿乐对视着，小不点明白了阿乐的用意。

 

这对朋友相拥而泣，他们都明白这是离别的拥抱。

 

他们俩分开后，阿乐望着小不点跑向这一家。那位爸爸向小不点伸出了手，小不点握住他的手，走在他身边，好像未曾离开过一样。这一家人走了，小不点回头看了阿乐最后一眼，发出一声号叫。阿乐知道万事皆有定数，但是当他嚎叫着回应小不点时，他感到喉咙哽咽，不禁有些伤感，他已经开始想念小不点了。

 

阿乐站在那里，目送着朋友离去，泪水从脸颊上滑落。

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