I dashed into the shaded forest as David was brought into the camp. I did not look back to see if anyone was following, I just ran. I followed Balto's scent to the river. I found him and just ran to him, ignoring all the prey that I scared off.

"Kafé. I'll take Balto now." I declared, "You should get back to camp."

Kafé looked me over and said, "Are you alright? You look like you just ran a marathon!"

"Yah! I'm fine. I just needed the excursive." I answered, panting hard.

"Exercise." Kafé muttered. He looked at me. "You're sure you're o.k.?"

"Yes! I'm fine." I moaned, "I won't be fine if you don't get back to camp though."

"Did something happen?!" He eagerly asked, "Is everyone alright?"

"Why don't you go find out for yourself?" I answered slyly.

He nodded, and asked, "What are you going to do?"

I looked at Balto, patted him on the head affectionately and replied, "Teach him how to swim, of course!" Balto started to wag his tail eagerly in response.

Kafé nodded, turned and sprinted back to camp. I waited until he was out of ear-shot and whispered urgently, "Balto, David is prisoner in our campsite."

Balto looked at me worried, scared and confused, but I went on, "You are not to say anything that you know about him."

"But why?" Balto asked innocently and scared, "And why is he prisoner?"

"David is not a Shaded Forest wolf; he is a Shadow Peak wolf, a rival pack that Huron and Dani hate. If they knew that I knew David they would banish me for sure!" I answered sharply. "You are not to speak a word about him." I looked at him again, "Am I clear?"

"Yes, big sister." Balto answered me solemnly but continued, "But, why would Huron banish you? You're one of the most important wolves in the pack!"

I smiled at his admiration for me and answered, "Huron hates Shadow Peak wolves because they are considered evil, and deadly. Huron would never want any of his wolves to be friends, let alone mates with these 'evil' wolves." I sighed, "Shadow Peak wolves are dark and dangerous, and they will stop at nothing to gain power over our pack and the Cliffside pack."

Balto argued, "But David's not evil!"

"You and I know that but, no one else knows that in our pack." I sighed with worry and fear for David, "I would not be surprised if David was killed without a fair trial."

"Why can't Huron be nice to David?"

"Because Huron is judgemental." Fear glazed my eyes as they began to water, "Huron is never fair to anyone. The only thing that's right to him is what he decides."

Balto looked at me, as I held back tears at the thought of David being killed because of me. He said, "Why can't we go back and save him?"

"I would banished and I do not have pack scent so no pack would think I am a worthy member." I tried increadbly hard to keep a straight face and not cry. "His fate lies with Huron, and maybe even Aniu." One tear slipped out and fell onto a green leaf.

He stared at the leaf and then moved his gaze to my eyes, "What's your favorite thing to do?"

"Swim." My voice cracked.

"Oh. I wish I could swim." Balto muttered.

I saw the doubt on his face and reminded, "I can teach you."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." I directed, "In the shallow part downstream, where there's a stone in the middle."

"Yahoo!!" Balto screamed as we walked down a path leading to the river.

As we walked under the tall shaded trees of the forest, I explained to Balto how to swim.

Don't worry you'll get it pretty easily." I assured. "After all you are related to me."

He smiled at me admirengly. "I can't wait!"

When we got to the stream I walked up to the water and put one paw in. It wasn't that cold. I thought, but, Balto's not going to like it.

Balto and I walked on the sandy beach along the creek for a few minutes, when we came across the only bend in the river.

"There it is." I nodded to Balto as he looked at the twist of the river and a large stone poked out of the black and blue water.

The currents slowed and the rock was a perfect resting stone for beginning pups that got very tired very quickly.

This place brought back a lot of memories. "This is where I learned to swim." I revealed to Balto. "I had to teach myself."

"Really?" Balto uttered in awe, standing on the shore egar to learn. "Why did you have to teach yourself?"

"Solen dosen't like water and nither does Tierran or Aaron." I explained, "And no one wanted to teach me how." I sighed, "It was hard as first but, I eventually learned to like it."

"Wow." Balto muttered in awe.

I walked into the black river and stopped next to the rock in the center. "Try and swim to me." I challenged. "You can do it. I told you how to paddle. It'll be easy!"

Balto looked at me and then the dark water with unsureness in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

I giggled happily at Balto's doubt, "Yes it's completely fine."

"O.K. But if I drown-" Balto threatened.

"You won't" I shouted reassuringly.

Balto put one paw in first then quickly took it out. "It's freezing!" He complained.

"Nonsence!" I retorted, "It's not frozen is it?"

He looked at me, his eyes beaming. "O.K. You're right." He admitted.

Balto put his paw back in the water again, he flinched again but put the rest of his paws in. He started walking on the underwater stones towords me. He was halfway when he stopped right before the deep part and wined. "Do I have to?"

"You have to learn sometime."

He nodded and jumped into the water where he couldn't touch. He paddled as hard as he could to me. When he got to me he stood on a stone next to me that stuck out of the stream. He was shivering but said, "Did I do it?"

I smiled proudly and praised, "Good job. You did very well."

"Re-really?" Balto chattered.

"Yes." I beamed, "I'll carry you back to camp."

He sighed, relaved that he could go home.

I picked Balto up and carried him across the river and set him down in the bushes. "Wait here." I whispered, "And be quiet."

He nodded obiently and shivered while I scented the ground for prey.

I followed the scent of rabbit through the forest. It walked on a forest trail that I knew too well. I caught up to the rabbit really quickly and soon enough I was hiding in the bushes with the rabbit right in front of me, unaware it would never see another day.

The brown male rabbit looked young, about a year old. He looked like he wasn't that fast and he smelled like he was weak. Easy prey. I thought, no need fo Aaron here.

I crouched low to the ground so no birds would see my white fur, and fly off warning the rabbit. The rabbit was looking the other way. This is my chance! I thought. I went for it.

I leapt out of the bushes gracefully and crashed right onto the rabbit. It leapt out from under me as I was getting out of my trance. I shook my head and leapt after it. The chase was on!

The hare dashed towords Cliffside pack territory but, I kept up my speed, after it. This is mine! I thought. No boundry is going to change that! I sped up, my breaths coming harder and harder every sprint. I chased the hare through the woods and clearings as it twisted and turned, trying to shake me.

We finally reached the boundry line between my pack and the Cliffside pack. I scented the marker. Stale. So I continued my chase. The hare was leading me up a rocky trail with sharp stones and rocks. How did these wolves live on these sharp rocks?! I thought as blood started to bleed through my soft pads.

I saw a huge boulder up ahead. This has to end now! I thought. I veered off the chase of the rabbit and went around to the boulder. When I got up to it, it was larger than I thought. I climbed on top of it and waited for the hare to come along.

It wasn't long until I saw the brown hare to come. It slowed down and stopped, thinking I gave up the chase. It looked back for a few seconds. I leapt on right then and there. In one swift bite in the neck, the rabbit's life ended.

My paw was still bleeding now and I was deep in the Cliffside territory. Worse part about my paw was that it would slow me down. I grabbed my meal and retraced my steps back home.

I walked down the rocky slope with my pads about to fall off. My left front paw was limping by the time I got to a patch of grass at the bottom. How do these wolves do it? Honestly, they have to have pads of stone to walk up and down that slope! I thought.

I was now cursing like a sailor as I lied down to rest for a moment.  I set my catch down momentairly, as I started to lick my ingured paw. I started to pick small peples out as I heard a male voice.

"How dare those Shaded Forest wolves tresspass!" A male voice shouted.

"Let's check it out!" Another male wolf sugested.

"Now wait just a second, Pablo and Karl!" A female ordered and continued, "Remember we're supposed to tell the alphas first! We just can't go running off after some wolf just for tresspassing!"

I'm with her! I thought. I'm in

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