The rain poured down, as I saw through the opening of our cave. My mate Aerik and I have lived here since we first became mates, over a year ago. Life was wonderful, but it wasn’t easy getting it that way. I’ve faced many hardships, same for Aerik. But we found each other and that was the greatest blessing I could have asked for. At the moment though Aerik is out on a hunting trip to bring back food for the long winter ahead. I curled up and face my head towards the mouth of the cave and waited patiently for his safe return. I soon become restless though, as I have a tendency to not be able to sit still for more than two seconds. I start pacing and then trot out into the rain. I let the water fall off my nose and watch as it forms a puddle at my paws. I look up into the sky, only to see the full moon crowded by rain clouds. I let out a howl, hoping to liven up the gloominess night with the songs of the wolves. I have always had such a passion for song so I am often howling or humming quietly to myself. My ears perk up and I stop howling, in the distance I hear Aerik howling back to me, telling me he has been successful in the hunt and will return home soon. I smile, and prance back in the den, waiting for my mate to return.

                He walks into the den, dragging a large bull elk behind him. Aerik plops it down in the food cavern of our home and joins me in our bed we made out of pine needles, grass, and leaves. Aerik nuzzles up against me and then whispers into my ear, “Did you miss me?”

                I respond, “Always do.” and smile as he puts his head on my neck.

                “I love you.” Aerik states as he looks at the rain.

                “I love you too Aerik.” I lick his check then get ready for sleep to come.

                I don’t know where I am but all I know is that I am running. Away from something, or towards something is still unsure in my head. But I am running, the trees are just a blur to me as I zoom past them. I skid to a stop when I notice Aerik standing in my path. I go to greet him when I see a strange figure blocking the way. I slowly walk towards it, the figure get clearer and clearer in till I realize that it is a puppy. I tilt my head in confusion and bend my head down to sniff its fur when it bites my nose. I growl and fling my head up and the pup goes in the air only to land with a thud. I trot over to it to see if it is alright when it suddenly grows fifty times its size. This animal would make an adult male grizzle wet himself. I backed away and went to run to Aerik, but the animal jumped over me and bolted to Aerik. He attacked my mate, then when the savage wolf-like animal finished with Aerik and he was just a lifeless carcass he turned to me and darted. Throughout this whole time I was screaming, terrified and feeling horrible pains inside me that twisted me and seemed to grab my stomach and stomp on it and squeeze my throat so hard I couldn’t breathe, and I also had this feeling that I was being shaken back and forth and someone screaming in my ears. The wolf got ready to pounce on me and no doubt kill me, when everything shattered. Just as if it were glass it fell and there was nothing left but black nothingness, loss, and death, and I was sent falling, screaming to no one………

                “Wake up! Get up!” A voice yelled

                My eyes burst open just to realize it was Aerik. I was sweating, out of breathe, and burning up. I was now calm for Aerik was safe and so was I, and we were together, that’s all that mattered. I yawned, and as I stretched and stood up and asked, “Whats wrong hon?”

                “I was just about to ask you the same question. Are you okay?”

                I fumbled with my words as anyone could probably tell as I was a horrible lyer, “Y-y-y-y-yea, why would a-a-a-a-anything be wrong?” I struggle to get the words out, then try to sell my act by tilting my head to try and make him thing I’m confused.

                Aerik smirked and sighed, “I can tell you’re lying.”

                “How do you figure that?”  

                “Because every time you lye you start to get a stammer, and face it, you’re a horrible lyer.” Aerik smiled at me then walked closer and sat down next to me.

                “Yeah, you caught me.” I say as I laugh.

                “So whats been bugging you?”

                “I’ve just been having very strange dreams.”

                “About what?”

                “Um I don’t really wanna talk about it.” I lower my head and turn away.

                He sighs then responds after a long pause, “Alright then.”

                Aerik stood up and walked halfway across the den floor and was about to leave the den and go hunting on his three day trip as he always does every Wednesday, when I called, “It’s because I’m scared to lose you.”

                He turned and faced me, confused, “But why would you be scared, I’m never leaving, I’ll always be here for you because I love you, don’t ever forget that.”

                Aerik walked over to me and we both rolled over onto our backs as I told him everything, I told him of my puppyhood. How my mother died, and sister. And my father left to find his place in the world, that the pack I thought I’d be in forever exiled me because I spoke out of turn in the packs meeting, which I found extremely cruel for just speaking my mind. About how I had my first hunt before I was even in my teens as I was taught by the great Aniu. How my old alpha threw my mother’s dead body over a cliff instead of giving her the proper send off she deserved, and how he almost did the same with my sister when she was a sick pup. I was all alone and faced death and laughed at it, because I had nothing more it could take for me, I had nothing to lose, for I had nothing. Then I told Aerik, “Since I had become mates with you, I’ve always worried death would come back and destroy me. Because if it takes you, I will be nothing. I will have nothing to live for; I wouldn’t have the will to do anything anymore, not leave the den, eat, or even breathe. I would be lost without you Aerik.” I fell to my side and nuzzled him and buried my head in his fur.

                “I will never leave you, I swear, you are my life and…….and……..I will always be here for you no matter what, because I love you more than life itself, you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I would be a fool to throw that away.” he smiled and licked me, “Now how about we go visit our good friend Balto, we could use someone to brighten our mood, no?”

                “Good idea.” I responded as I laughed, Aerik wiped the tears out of my eyes and kissed my forehead. Then we trotted outside and off to Nome.

                We didn’t always use to know Balto, but we were best friends with Alue, Balto’s daughter. So Alue introduced us to Balto, Jenna, Boris, and Kodi, and all her other friends that lived in Nome.

                The sun was setting when we finally reached the small town of Nome. We strolled through the streets, walking extremely closer to one another for the cars zoomed past and people always shouted at us, or threw snow at us. We bolted to Balto’s boat house, only to see Muk and Luk playing at the shore, Boris moping the deck and Balto talking with Jenna. Aerik and I sat in front of the boat and let out a mighty howl, as wolves it was customary to ask before you came into someone’s territory, that’s how the alpha would know if you were a visitor or an intruder. After we