the deer, moose, about the eagles that soared above them and how to find carrion by following ravens. By the time sunset arrived Cathán had learned more about the forest in one day then he had done in his entire life.

 “Today has been amazing, when would you be able to give me another lesson?”

“Meet me at the waterfall in three days time, meet me at dawn and we will go tracking” Aniou replied.

 “Dawn it is, goodbye Aniou.”

“Farewell Cathán” Aniou replied as both headed to their respective homes.

      At dawn three days later Cathán slipped out of his kennel careful to not wake his teammates or his master. Fairbanks was just waking up as he left town, passing a couple of delivery men, the postman and a milkman on the way. Walking into the forest Cathán soon arrived at the waterfall, checking his reflection as he waited. He did not have to wait long as Aniou soon appeared, walking up behind him as silently as a shadow.

  “Aniou you scared the living daylights out of me!”

“Then it is a lesson to you, to truly surviving you will need to be able to surprise deer.”

 “Let the lesson begin.”

   Walking deeper into the forest Aniou taught Cathán how to track animals, how to tell the difference between deer and moose, where bears lived and what their tracks looked like, the best places to hide when hunting and how to hunt. Listening closely to Aniou and by do exactly as she said, Cathán managed to make his first kill by the end of the day, a rabbit only but it was still a start. Looking at his kill Cathán grinned with pride at his success, presenting it to the white wolf.

 “Not bad for a sled dog.”

“Not bad for a first day but not good enough to survive on” Aniou replied flicking her tail. “You will have to do much better than that, and you still have a lot of lesson in front of you” Aniou replied as the lesson continued.

          A month passed and slowly Cathán began to see the forest differently to his friends, noticing the tracks of the animals and picking out places that would conceal himself. He learned how to hide from humans they encountered and how to detect their traps. He found that his senses were heighted, he could detected the movement of rodents under the ground and the slightest sound of deer. His teammates also began to notice the slight changes to his behavior and all wondered where he was spending his time.     

      Two months after his first lesson with Aniou, Cathán walked next to her through the forest, both were silent enjoying the sound of the birds and the rushing of the river.

  “Ever since I was a pup I have enjoyed walking in the forest, yet I was always slightly scared of it before I met you.”

 “And now how do you feel?” Aniou asked.

“No longer scared, it’s as if I belong here and that I can really survive here.”

“You can live here now” Aniou replied running up to the waterfall. “You can hunt as well as some yearling wolves can.”

 “Really?” Cathán asked.

“Really, you are a fine hunter to say you have lived in a town your entire life.”

“That is all well and good in summer but it is now September, soon fall will come with winter on its heels.”

  “Winter is a time you can survive in you are a sled dog after all.”

“That I am, and one of the best, you know I am lead dog on my team” Cathán replied proudly.

 “Leader that is a lot of pressure and responsibility, for a dog I can tell you are right for your position.”

“A compliment at last! I never thought I would hear one from you.”

“I just did not want your ego to get any bigger than it already was, that was big enough already” Aniou smirked jumping up onto some rocks.

 “EGO! Why you…..” Cathán gasped jumping onto the rock and pushing her head first into the cold water.

 “CATHAN!!” Aniou yelled climbing out of the water. “Why did you?”

“For that comment about my ego” Cathá smirked as he looked down at her. “You didn’t really think I would let that pass did you?”

 “Oh males! You are so full of pride” Aniou muttered climbing out of the water.

 “Well that makes two of us.”

“Why you…..” Aniou replied smiling and shaking her head. “I cannot believe I am having this conversation with a dog.”

 “Well I never thought I would have been taking lesson from a wolf for the past two months.”

 “I suppose not.”

“I never gave you that lunch I promised did I?”

“No you did not.”

“Well then it is time I did. In four days time the humans are putting on an end of summer musical at the theatre, all humans and dogs will be going, would you like to come?”

“You want me to come to a show with you?”

“Yes as friends. I could take you for dinner afterwards to that hotel, a chance to see my home.”

 “I am a wolf, people would notice.”

“Not really. The play doesn’t start till late and the people at hotel leave will only see me. Come on Aniou, have a little fun for once.”

 “Well….” Aniou replied looking at Cathá’s hopeful face. “I suppose once could not hurt.”

 “Excellent you will not regret this.”

“I hope certainly not” Aniou replied as the pair looked out across forest.

     Theatre Trip

       Four days later Cathán stood in front of the mirror in Franklin’s bedroom watching as Franklin brushed his fur and placed a handsome black and silver collar around his neck. Checking his appearance Cathán let a woof of pleasure, licking Franklin’s hand before walking out of the room. Walking outside he passed several of his teammates all who were well turned out.

 “About time” said one.

“You took long enough, let’s get going” another said.

“Sorry guys I cannot go with you lot, I’ve got plans with someone else.”

“Amelia, it has to be.”

“Nice going mate, how are things with her?” asked another.

“Come on tell us the details.”

 “No can do guys this is strictly private” Cathán replied as he headed off.

      Reaching the edge of town a short time later Cathán found Aniou waiting for him, her fur shining brightly in the moonlight.

 “Wow Aniou you look amazing.”

“You look rather handsome yourself, that collar is very fancy.”

“Thanks, I won it at the end of last season.”

“It suits you” Aniou replied looking nervously at the town.

“Come with me Aniou and see my home, don’t worry everything will be fine, I promise.”

      Taking a deep breath Aniou stepped into Fairbanks keeping close to Cathán as he led her down the back streets. The pair kept to the shadows, avoiding humans and dogs alike, well aware of the dangers they faced. Walking through the town Aniou gazed around her with amazement, her senses overloaded with the unfamiliar smells. As the pair passed behind a bar they heard yelling and both jumped to one side as two men flew out of a back window, crashing into the metal bins. The pair watched as the landlord walked out of the back door.

 “Right you two are barred for a month!!” the landlord shouted hauling the men to their feet by their shirt collars. “And you’ll be paying for that window!”

       As the men were dragged off, Aniou watched them with curiosity, having never encountered a bar before. Quickly Cathán explained all about drinking and Aniou shock her head at the strange actions of humans. Walking away the pair soon arrived at the theatre and Cathán led her around the back, through the cast entrance into the animal seats located in the gods. Sitting down Aniou gasped at the splendor of it all, the silver painted ceiling, the lights and the plush blue seat covers. All around her Fairbank’s residents in their finest clothing, men in evening suits the ladies in dresses. Bankers and merchants with their wives, the town mayor and his family, shop keepers and their families, young teenagers in couples and several tourists, as well as a hundred or so dogs. Never in her life had Aniou been in the middle of such a place, yet despite her fear she could not help but feel safe. Then the lights went down and the show began. For three hours the audience watched as the story of Sleeping Beauty was told, each song bring more applause from the audience. The interval came and Cathán successfully stole two bags of popcorn, with Aniou slightly bemused at it. When the show ended the audience stood up to applauded calling for an encore. The leading lady and gentlemen were presented with a bouquet of flowers each, with the other cast members receiving a single rose.

   “So what did you think?” Cathán asked as the pair left the theatre.

“It was amazing, I have never seen anything like it before” Aniou