there his eyes wide with fear and worry "Can you help us" he whimpered crawling closer toward them. "With..." Bracken said. "My mate.. she's hurt and having pups" he stated shacking in fear "Hurt?!" "Pups!?" Copper and Bracken barked in union. The wolf nodded "She got caught in a bear trap..and now she's having our pups but something is wrong" he worried. The dogs glanced at each other "Wait here" Bracken said turning and running toward the sleeping team. "Callee" Bracken whispered. Callee lifted her head "What do you want bee brain it's not even dawn" she muttered tiredly. "Uh...we...um...need help" he stammered. She sat up and Bracken pulled off her collar. "Follow me" he whispered as they returned to Copper and the wolf who was crouching in the bushes. "Ok lead the way" Copper said quietly as the wolf turned. "Uh...Bracken" Callee began stareing at him. "Trust me" he anwered following behind them. He looked at her his sympathetic eyes meeting her worried gaze "Long story" he assured.

They arrived at a shadey grove. The moon swept over the valley makeing the snow glisten. They stopped seeing a few wolves huddled together. A large white male rose to his feet snarleing. "Calm down Tobon...they can help us" The brown male seized. Tobon quickly seated himslef again. "She's over there" Tobon pointed with his snout were a beautiful white wolf lay. She groaned in pain her stomach throbed and on he back foot was a bear trap covered in blood. Callee followed the wolf closer as the others gathered around makeing it impossible for Bracken and Copper to see what was happening. There was a sharp yelp thet made the duo flinch. "What's happening!" The male's voice filled the air. "I'm not sure!" Callee called as noise filled the clearing around them. After a last yelp all went silent. Callee stummbled out of the group tears streaming down her face. She burried her face in Bracken's fur. "I couldn't save her" she sobbed. Tobon came out and faced them his eyes cold and sad he dipped his head as if to say thanks. Bracken did the same and the three headed back to camp.   

Chapter: VI Too late to apologize

Bracken woke the next morning. Callee pressed against his side fast asleep. He yawned laying his head on her's wanting to back to sleep himself. But Bracken noticed Kasey and Spencer loading the sled. Kasey whistled as all the dogs came to Callee even groaned before sitting up. Bracken hauled himself to his paws. Last night had made him truely exhausted and from the looks of it Copper too. Copper staggered about as if he could fall at any moment. After a quick breakfast the dogs were on the road again. The raced along the snow felt good under Bracken's paws as it crunched. He inhaled letting the cold air chill him. "Whoa" Kasey called. Bracken stopped slightly suprised. There infront of them was a frozen lake.

"We'll go across one at a time" Kasey said.Kasey,Spencer and Copper went first, then Bracken, then Shadow, Splint, Marco, Polo, Sam...Callee was half way there when "SNAP!" the ice broke out from under her. She plunged into the Icey water. "Callee!" Bracken barked raceing out onto the Ice.  "Bracken no!" Copper called. Bracken ignored and slid to a stop seeing Callee pawing at the water hopelessly. He streatched out his neck and grabbed her by the collar. Pulling he closer to him she grabbed the edge of the Ice bank. "I told you you can trust me" he said smileing. She smiled back. Bracken's face turned to horror as he saw a huge Ice chunk hurtling toward them. "C'mon!" he barked pulling on her collar as she pushed in an attempt to get her footing. Just as three of her paws were on the ice about to get all four...her collar broke and she sank back into the water. Right as the Ice chunk slamed into her body. There was a snap as she was crushed. She stared at Bracken before sinking into the water as the block closed again. "Callee!" Bracken howled rearing up and slaming his front paws on the ice. Red splattered the ice around him as his paws got stabbed by splinters of ice.  Tears streamed down his face 'She's gone' he thought collapsing to the ground his paws bleeding heavliy.

Chapter: VII Second Chance

Bracken lay out in the yard. His paws wrapped in bandages. Infront of him lay Callee's broken collar. He closed his eyes..he had been like that for two days since they returned home. Copper padded out and stood next to him. "Hey" he said almost to himself not expecting an answer. Bracken twitched his ear toward him but said nothing. "Bracken..it wasn't your fault. You tried to save her. Fate takes people we care about away from us....and theres nothing anyone can do!" Copper stated. Bracken opened his eyes a new determind spark shone in them. He stood up grabbing Callee's collar. And trotted off toward the river. Copper watched him smileing.

 Bracken stood at the bank as the water rolled softly by. 'This was her favorite place' he thought. He scopped one pawful of dirt out and gently lay the collar in the hole. He smiled covering it up just as gently. He sighed getting up and padding back to the house. On his way he stopped and looked over his shoulder his eyes widened. There stood Callee smileing like always. He blinked in disbeleif makeing her laugh. There at her paws lay her collar. She bent over putting it on then stareing at it proudly. "Thank you for bringing back my collar Bracken...you always were a good friend" she smiled. A huge white wolf prowled out from behind her. He looked at it then nodded padding toward Bracken. He drew back a bit seeing a strange mist lingering around her. "I'll miss you" she said quietly nudgeing his shoulder. The wolf howled and she looked at it. "Goodbye Bracken" Callee said licking his cheek. With that the wind picked up and both Callee and the Wolf were gone. He looked at his paws then smiled looking up at the sky "Goodbye Callee" he said to himself continueing home.