smiled. "Here we are!"

Kit drew in her breath sharply at the view. The placement of the trees was just right, so that a gorgeous view of the sky could be seen. She had been into the forest several times, having several family members as wolves. But she had seen nothing like this before. It was a very tranquil place. A perfect sanctuary.

Clover smiled proudly "Me and dad found this place, it has been our secret but we agreed you could keep the secret with us." Jade nodded his head smiling and was happy with Kit's reaction. 

This place had been their favorite spot ever since they had found it and when they had a day off they would spend it here. 

Jade lay down in the sun, allowing it to heat up his fur, while Clover bounced around happily between the trees, trying to get her father to play hide and seek.

Kit felt honored to be shared such a secret, and she most definitely would keep it that way. The place smelled natural and clear, which meant that it was usually unbothered by other types of canine near by.

She decided to play with Clover, who seemed to be at her own game.

"Watcha doin there Clover?" she asked, approaching the small girl

"I want to play hide and seek but dad is lazy!" She said pointing towards her father. "Do you want to play?" Clover asked wagging her tail. 

"Sure, I would love to!" Kit smiled "Go and hide and I'll count to twenty" Kit said and started counting. Clover ran of giggling, not really making which direction she went off to difficult, which made Kit smile. 

"Twenty, here I go!" Kit called and started to lurk around the area. "Where did she go?" Kit asked in a playful voice noticing then that Jade was watching her. Kit blushed but kept on searching. They could both hear Clover giggling behind a tree and after a little while of searching Kit finally went to find her.

"Okay now it's my turn!" Clover said and started counting.

Kit gave a small laugh and scanned the place for a decent kiding spot. One that was concealed enough, but not too difficult for Clover. A small idea came into her mind

"Jade" she whispered, approaching the resting male "You should hide too, I think she'll really like that"

Jade stood up and nodded without making a noise. They both found a hiding place that shouldn't be to difficult for Clover. Clover finished counting and looked around. Suddenly she noticed her dad missing and freaked out.

"DAD!" She started screaming and running around the opening. Jade laughed and came out of his hiding place.

"Clover I was just hidding with Kit." He said and nuzzled Clover who was just getting over her shock. Kit felt a bit bad for what just happened and was about to come out of hidding when Jade told Clover to look for Kit. Clover started to look along with her father and after awhile they found her.

They spent the rest of the afternoon together, playing games and simply enjoying each other's company. Kit couldn't help but feel attached to Clover, the young girl had a very warming personality and a sweet disposition. Jade was most certainly fortunate. 

Eveing had begun to fall, sending the trio back to Nome. Clover seemed tuckered out and Kit felt at ease, the day had been very enjoyable. She soon realized that she found Jade's company worthwhile. They were then encountered by Sadie, Jade's littermate.

"Jade!" she barked happily, as she always did at the sight of her beloved brother. She then caught sight of Kit and a small expression of polite interest spread across her face "Hey, who's this? You didn't tell me you had a girlfriend"

Kit was suprised and felt slightly embarrased. Is that what it looked like?

Jade was taken back "OH no, we're just friends...or" Jade blurred out in hurry looking confused. What was he thinking! His mate hadn't been dead for long and he was with another girl now! 

"Jade?" Sadie looked worried at her brother and noticed that her joke had gotten to him. "I was just kidding."

Clover hadn't spoken a word while this happened. What did Sadie mean by girlfriend? Her mom was Jade's girlfriend and mate. Suddenly she looked between Jade and Kit and noticed it. They didn't just look like friends anymore. 

Tears welled up in Clovers eyes "HOW COULD YOU!" She suddenly screamed at Kit who hadn't said a word. Then she ran off.

Sadie was startled by Clover's sudden outburst, and gave a slight jump. She immediately felt terrible, she never meant to upset anyone, especially clover. The comment was a small tease and an icebreaker, for Jade to introduce Kit to her. But it was misunderstood instead

"I'm so sorry!" she apologized, looking bewildered "I just..."

Kit soon realized what was going on. She knew Sadie could say the wrong things at times, but her remark was friendly, she realized that. But she soon realized that Sadie had a point, were she and Jade just friends? It hit her that she had become fond for Jade, without meaning to. She always admired him, but becoming his mate had always been out of the question. What about now?

"Clover, wait!" but the small girl had already run off. Guilt pricked at Kit and she turned to Jade, looking apologetic. She didn't know what to say.

Jade watched after Clover sprinting off. He was confused but understood suddenly what she meant. "Kit...I'm sorry, I have to go!" Jade said with a sad sigh and took off after his daughter. 

Jade sprinted after his daughter through town but she had his running ability so he was surprised about how hard it was catching up to her. His mind was so confused, what should he do? He knew what Sadie said was true and before in the meadow he had even though about it. Kit and Clover were getting so well together so a small part of him though it was okay. But how could he, his mate had died not so long ago, was he ruining her memory. was he a horrible dog? 

Finally he noticed Clover lying outside their home. Her cheeks were wet with tears. What had he done? 

"Clover, I'm sorry!" Jade said as he abroached his daughter. Clover turned away from him. 

"How could you do this to mom?" she said in between sobs. 

Jade's heart broke. How could he? "Clover, your mom is always with us and she wants us to be happy. I'll forever love her, you know that!"

"Why are you and Kit then acting like she never existed?" Clover turned around and snarled at her father. 

Jade was surprised, he had never seen her so angry before. "We're not acting that way Clover! Kit is just trying to help us, to help you!" 

"She will never replace my mother!" Clover shouted at her father before running away again. Jade didn't follow her, he just sat there thinking about what Clover had said. Was it right?

Kit had long made her way home, where she expected Utah. She dived through her doggy door and found him tackling a big bone

"Hey sis, woa!" he took one look at her emotionally upset face. He knew that she was spending the day with Clover and Jade, and didn't expect her to look soo terrible. "What happened?! What did he do? I swear, I'll-" he growled

"He didn't do anything, it was me. I'm never going to talk to that family ever again"

"I don't understand"

"I keep messing things up for them! First, I caused the death of Aiyanna, and now it looks as if I'm trying to replace her! Clover will never forgive me, and she'll probably hate Jade just as much. Its not fair that I keep making things wrong for Jade and whats left of his family"

"But you're not trying to do any of those things. I already told you to stop blaming yourself for Aiyanna's death. It was not your fault!. And well, I was worried about that last bit"

"What are you talking about" she said, looking at him in horror

"Well, I can kind of tell that you liked Jade. You always looked at him sweetly, even though you didn't mean to. As for Clover, she'll forgive you, hopefully. She's not the kind to carry grudges, but she's not the kind to forget either. I don't things will ever be the same again"

"Well, it will. Because I'll act as if I had never talked to them, or hung out with them, or anything. Clover needs Jade, and Jade needs Clover. Not me"

"Are you sure that Jade doesn't need you?"

"Why would he need me at all? He probably hates me for what I have done"

"How do you know that he isn't blaming himself? After all, he likes you too"

Kit didn't know how to respond, she just shook her head and lay down next to her brother.

"I'll just keep things to myself, thats all there is to it" she said

Jade had made his way to Kit‘s place. Jade had to talk to Kit. He wasn't sure what he was going to say though. Whispering to himself what he could say "Kit, I think we shouldn't see each other anymore." No! He couldn't say that, he shook his head, trying to clear his mind. When he finally arrived at the house he was greeted by Utah. 

"I'm sorry Jade, she doesn't want to see you anymore!" Utah said in a sympathizing voice. Jade's heart broke down. She didn't want to see him? Jade looked