Buck is never truly alone in the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Buck does not seem to lack for anything. Buck encountered several positive kinds of companionship along his journey. First Francois and Perrault, then the Scotchmen, engaged him in meaningful relationships based on work, along with the rest of the dog team. His relationship to John Thornton was obviously superior to these, and it was at its peak when he was able to work for him, inspired by his love. When Buck meets the lone wolf in the woods and runs with him for a few hours, he finally understands the meaning of the