game of tag.

    Smiling Aniou set off after them, and on instinct Fell ran after her, all four chasing each other over the ice. Sakari darted this way and that, sending the wolves onto the snow. The wolves and fox laughed with delight as they ran, their adult lives forgotten, happy to simply play. Sakari led them far out onto the ice, not once did Fell notice, too caught up in his attempts to catch his sly friend, utterly unaware he had fallen for one of her tricks. That fact was something that was not lost on Kar or Aniou, as Kar had realised the plan the moment the fox had raced onto the ice. Above them Taika watched the game with a smile, riding on the arctic air. Suddenly the snow that Kar and Aniou were on gave way, both tumbling down into an ice cave.

“LARKA KAR!!!” Fell cried running over to the hole with Sakari and looking down.  

   Down in the hole Aniou and Kar were a little dazed but still in one piece, with Aniou having landed on top of Kar. For a moment both looked at each other in surprise before an embarrassed Aniou climbed off Kar. Exchanging a glace the pair smiled shyly at each other, neither able to speak.

 “Are you both alright?” called Fell

“Fine Fell, it was just our dignity that was hurt” Kar replied. “It might take us a bit of time to get out of here.”

“You need to head north I know these caves there should be a main entrance a couple of miles away” Sakari called. “I did not realise we had come this far so soon, I would have warned you had I known. Be careful though, Ice Bears often make these caves their home.”

 “We will be” Aniou replied as the two groups set off.

    Walking together through the cave Kar and Aniou marvelled at the sight as they had never seen anything so beautiful. For the ice was blue creating magical feeling in the cave, almost as if they were underwater. Ice crystals shimmered above them as they were illuminated by the faint hint of sunlight. Then the wolves walked to a sheet of see through ice which split the path in two for a few meter before it became one again. Looking at each other Kar an Aniou smiled, with Aniou took the right path and Kar the left. Through the ice the pair smiled shyly, both seeing the other in a different light.    

   “She gives me shakes and shivers
I can't ignore
And I see that there's more now
Than just running free” Kar said as he and Aniou ran a little way

“I never felt my heart beat so fast
I'm thinking of him first and of myself last
And how happy I want him to be” sang Aniou looking at Kar

Kar “It's amazing someone in my life
Just might be loving me
I didn't know that I could feel this way”

Aniou “It's so crazy
Something in my life
Is better than a dream
I didn't know that I could feel this way”

Kar “She make me warm and happy inside”

Aniou “He smiled and I get dizzy and starry eyed”

Aniou and Kar “All these feelings I have
Have me asking”

“Can this be love?”Aniou and Kar sang together as they faced one another through the ice, both putting one paw onto the ice, their paws fitting together perfectly.    

“I never dreamed that I could feel” both sang as they ran to the end of the ice wall.

  “I didn't know that I could feel this way” Aniou and Kar sang, staring into each other’s eyes before kissing each other.

      At last Aniou and Kar had realised their true feelings for one another, a true love that defies all. No longer two confused adolescences but grown adults with a bright future in front of them. Together they bounded through the ice cave, howling out their joy at being together. Looking at Kar Aniou called on her power, directing it a section of the ice. The ice broke away, hardening and spitting into two ice blue crystals, which hung from a blue cord. The necklaces then slipped themselves over Aniou and Kar’s necks, standing out against their fur. Gazing at his Kar smiled widely before kissing Aniou.

 “Now the world will know we belong to each other” Aniou whispered.

“A sign of our love, a love that nothing can break, everlasting love” Kar replied.

       Together they walked through the caves, leaving the caves a mile later, both blinded at first by the sunlight.

“About time” said Sakari as she and Fell walked up to them both.

“We were worried Sakari said you should have been….” Fell replied, his voice trailing off as he saw the necklaces and the looks on the pair’s faces. “No no, tell me those looks don’t mean….”

 “They do Fell” Kar replied.

“You cannot she’s your sister…”

“By adoption only Fell….why else do you think I was hit so hard? This began a long time ago.”

“You cannot change it Fell…we will not deny our hearts any longer, we love each other” said Aniou nuzzling Kar.

 “True love never dies, I love Aniou more than anyone else, you have to accept this.”

“She’s my sister you are my brother in all but blood…..” Fell stammered looking at them.

“Feelings change Fell, they love each other, a love that is everlasting, you cannot change that” said Sakari.

“No I suppose I cannot” Fell replied shaking his head.

     Slowly the weeks passed as the group journeyed across the ice, hunting and feeding when they could. The revelation of Aniou and Kar’s love for one another had changed the group’s dynamics. For the first couple of weeks Fell had struggled to accept their love, but over time he had changed, seeing how happy the pair were together. Winter was tough and the ice was dangerous despite its thickness, as hunger and other animals were constant threats as was the near constant darkness. One day the group were sitting near a kill they had made on an island, when out of the snow appeared six muzzles followed by two magnificent arctic wolves.

  “Who are you, why do you hunt on our land?” asked the leader.

“You speak to Aniou, spirit of the wolves” at this all the wolves stepped back, well aware of the spirit world.

“Our apologies, we were not aware” the leader replied.

“That is understandable as we are on your land. The two wolves with me are my charges I am helping them both to the land.”

“You seek that place?” another wolf asked. “It is far from here, it would be better for you to stay here.”

“Yes we give you welcome to our home” said the leader.

“I am Fell.”

“Kar, the fox is our friend Sakari.”

“Greeting’s I am Snow, this is my mate Ice.”

 “Please come with us to our home, we live in a wide cave network, a blizzard will hit soon, we need shelter” Ice said smiling at the group.

 “We gladly accept that offer” Aniou replied.

      Snow and Ice soon led the group were to the caves where they were introduced to the rest of the pack. Snow and Ice led a pack of eight other wolves, including three cubs, all of who were happy to meet new faces. Settling down into the cave the wolves talked as the blizzard raged outside. Fell, Kar, Aniou and Sakari told their new friends of their adventure, but leaving out the events surrounding the Sight. Their new friends were amazed at their journey. In return the pack told the group of life in the arctic, with Fell and Kar amazed at their descriptions of narwhals, unicorns, mermaids and belugas. It did not take the pups long to lose their shyness around the guests with a couple of males sitting next to Fell and Kar, and a female snuggling up next to Aniou. Looking at the cub Aniou exchanged a tender look with Kar, a spark of hope in her eyes. Looking at the male cub sat next to him Kar smiled back, both thinking exactly the same thing, something which was not lost on Sakari. The blizzard raged for the next week. This time came as a blessing for Fell and Kar, for the first time in three years they were part of family, a pack. Talking to the adults helped to heal Fell, allowing him to be a normal wolf, and how the Sight within a packs everyday life.

     After a week in the cave the blizzard finally ended the wolves stepped out onto a snow covered land, the pups racing out to play.

 “Thank you for allowing us to spend the week with you” Fell said as the group walked together.

  “You could join us” Snow replied watching the pups play.

“Thank you but no, we must go on, this place is not the home we seek.”

“Fell is right, we cannot stay here” said Kar.

“I am sorry to hear that, but in that case good luck, you will always be welcome here” said Ice.

 “Thank you and goodbye” Fell replied letting out a howl as the group left the island.

    A Fallen Star       

    It had been two months since the group had left the island of the arctic wolves and it was now early January. Since leaving the island they had travelled far, meeting four polar bears, a herd of walrus and arctic hare on the way. Now the group were only four miles from the Alaskan coast. Night had come and the group were laying in a snow cave the stars and the full moon shining