Characters

Sashia – Burmese mountain dog x wolf

Finlay – Pure husky (black and white)

Demon - Pure husky (basic colours)

Shanook – Pure husky -White with black splotches on paws and back

Shrewtail – Tawny coloured Eskimo dog

Saffron – Thick haired red setter

Sage - White Estrella mountain dog with green eyes

Sharnii – Pure rottwieler with yellow eyes

Wolf pack

Alpha pair

Shep – Classical grey with black paws

Torren – White with yellow eyes

Other pack members

Sorrel – Black,grey and brown speckled

Jay – Black with yellow eyes

Eagle - Dirty brown

Fawn -

Rowan -

Falcon -

Raven – Black with brown paws

Crow – Black with brown chest

Prologue

Sashia stumbled as Sharnii's deputy pushed her into the camp violently “now we shall see how brave you really are” he sneered “Sharnii will rip you to pieces” despite her hatred of Sharnii a shiver of fear passed through Sashia , she knew how powerful and viscous her former pack-mate had become. Sashia had watched helplessly as Sharnii had slaughtered almost her entire pack until only she and Shanook remained.

As Sharnii approached the leaders boulder she saw Sharnii standing on top of it, her long thin tail waving slowly back and forth as she glared at the prisoners “So Sashia” she snarled “we meet again at last, it's been to long my friend, has it not”

“It hasn't been long enough” snarled Sashia “murderer, you'll pay for what you've done. MONSTER”

Sharnii drew her lips back in a snarl “and who's going to stop me” she sneered “you and your little wolf pack” she swished her tail contemptuously “I can take them out in a matter of minutes.” “As for your little prophecy” she continued “It's nothing but a lie, a weakling like you could never defeat me”

Sashia shook with anger, spittle dripping from her mouth in her rage “I am not weak” she shouted furiously, she stepped forward until she was in front of the boulder “and I will stop you and your bloodthirsty traitorous pack. My mother was a wolf and my farther was a noble fighter, together they make one powerful descendant” she snarled “single pawed I shall rip out your throat while my pack wipes out yours”

With a blood curdling yowl Sharnii leapt from the rock and onto Sashia flattening her to the ground and pinning her there “traitor” Sharnii shouted viciously. She lunged forward and sunk her teeth into Sashia's throat Caught completely by surprise Sashia let out a yowl of fear and struggled to free herself. But Sharnii hang on. Desperate for air Sashia looked wildly for a place to attack, she found that Sharnii's ears were close enough to get her claws in, ripping her paws free of Sharnii, Sashia raked her long sharp claws down Sharnii's ears sending blood flying into the air. Sharnii let out an agonised wail and let go of Sashia, but not enough for Sashia to scramble to her paws. Sharnii recovered quickly and lunged forward again. This time Sashia lashed out at Sharnii's eyes racking her claws across them. Sharnii reared back stumbling off Sashia with a howl of pain. Sashia scrambled to her paws and saw Sharnii crouched with her eyes closed, blood trickling from them, ceasing her chance Sashia leapt up and raced out of the camp, dogging Sharnii's warriors as she went. She stopped outside the camp looking back, waiting for Shanook to follow her, but no dog came out “Shanook” Sashia cried desperately “Shanook come on we have to.....” suddenly something hit Sashia on the head from behind knocking her out.

Chapter 1 – The introduction

Paws raced through the snow kicking up tiny puffs, a tiny chest heaved and a tongue hung raggedly out the side. Sashia raced along at the head of the sled team, her head and tail held high. She had been the leader of the sled team for many months now ever since the old leader had died.

“How much longer do we have to go tonight” a voice beside Sashia complained “we've already gone so far and my paws are aching”

“ I'm sure it's not any further Shanook” growled Sashia without turning her head it's getting dark and the checkpoint is up ahead”

Almost as soon as she finished saying it Sashia heard the musher call 'HALT” from the front of the sled. Sashia slowed and eventually came to a stop, shaking the snow off her fur. Beside her Shanook fell to the ground and lay against the cold snow. Sashia rolled her eyes and waited until the musher came up and took off her harness. Sashia walked over to a nice spot under a tree and dug a deep hole before lying down in it, curling up her body, her tail over her nose. Shanook and the others made their nests close to her settling down for the night.

Later the musher came and gave them each their own potions of fish before settling down for the night as well “sleep well maties” he said “tomorrow I have a surprise for you, one that you will appreciate I think” he had said before he had gone of to his tent .

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Sashia woke with a start as she heard the musher fumbling about, getting ready to leave. She glanced up and the sky and groaned inwardly when she saw that it was still dark. Reluctantly she got up from her sleeping place and shook the snow from her fur. She made her way over to the others and woke up each one with a nudge of her nose “get up” she hissed when they raised their heads “it's time to go”. They all groaned as they got up muttering about the cold and early hour. Sashia and her pack-mates were quickly harnessed and they set out, the sky still dark.

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Sashia and her pack-mates pulled into Nome. They had made it to the town a little after sunhigh. The musher had pushed them twice as hard to make it to the town and now Sashia would be happy to collapse on the ground and sleep the rest of the day away. They pulled to a stop at the town supermarket and Sashia waited as the musher delivered their load of supplies to the store clerks. Finally Sashia and her pack mates pulled away again and raced the small distance to the musher's house where Sashia and her pack-mates were taken off their harnesses and put in the large yard to rest and eat. The musher put the sled away and left once more heading for the clumped buildings of down town Nome “get ready maties” he said as he walked away “when I come back you will have one extra dog to look after. Sashia turned her head as the musher walked down the hill 'oh great' she thought 'another dog to look after and keep in order' wasn't there enough dogs in the pack already without adding another burden to Sashia's authority. As her pack-mates settled down around her Sashia trotted over to the gate and sat down, waiting for the musher to come back with this 'new dog'.

A short while later the musher came up with a new dog at his side. Sasha looked the dog up and down and snorted in disgust, the dog was brown and black and had short fur “ she doesn't look as if she'd last a day In the cold without falling over with exhaustion” she sneered as the rest of her pack-mates came up beside her. The musher came up to the fence and let the new dog in “this is Sharnii maties” he introduced “she will be joining us on our travels from now on”.

Sharnii raised her tail in greeting “Hi” she greeted Sashia “you must be Sashia the leader of this pack”.

Sashia nodded and nuzzled Sharnii “that I am” she growled.

The musher walked out the gate, shutting it behind him and walking to his house “I knew you'd like her” he called over his shoulder.

As soon as the musher was in the house Sashia turned on Sharnii “you won't last a week in this cold” she snarled “you'd probably die of cold, or exhaustion, your to weak to pull a sled”.

Sharnii cowered in surprise “I thought you liked me” she stammered

“No” snarled Sashia your just a threat to my leadership and another mouth to feed, witch means less food for us” Sashia loomed over Sharnii as she leant over her “why don't you go back to you your mother and curl up there coward” Sashia hissed. Beside her Finlay nodded in agreement .

Sharnii blinked up at them fearfully then stood up shaking out her ruffled fur “maybe I will If that's how you see me” she growled with a hind of anger in her voice “you haven't even gotten to know me yet”

Sasha snorted and turned away from Sharnii, swishing her tail in Sharnii's face. She walked away from the crowd of her pack-mates and lay down in the snow. She looked at her pack-mates crowding around Sharnii, an evil smiled flickered across her face “we'll see how long you last weakling' she sneered under her breath “we'll see”.

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Sashia yawned and got to her paws, she felt much better after her long sleep although her paws still ached. Trotting over to the water trough the musher put out for her and her pack-mates Sashia lapped up a few mouthfuls before padding over to the fence to peer at the musher's house. There was no movement from inside even though the sun was well into the early morning sky. “I feel so invigorated” a voice spoke