were gone.

“Riley, where are the kids?” Chinook looked down at me. What was I going to tell him? Then a horrible lie came into my mind that was the most horrible thing anyone could ever lie about.

“They-were” I sniffed, “hunter-deathtwig.” My vision left and I said the last word before I fainted, “gone.”

***

                 My life was about over. I had lost my kids and my mind. They were the best things that had ever happened to me and now they were gone. Chinook took it hard and stayed isolated in our den for about a month. Niche was devastated as Chinook and I were. He had lost three sisters in one day but he continued his life as now an apprentice but was scarred for life.

               Chinook stopped sleeping with me at nights and slept in a corner. How could I have lied to him, but if I told him the truth, he would have tried to break into Nome by now and take them back. After about a week we started talking to me again and then he left his isolation and returned to hunter duties.

             Hopefully Haelow, Holly, and Miya were all safe. But my heart was torn in two. I lost three kids and Niche doesn’t talk to me anymore. He wasn’t in best moods.

            The following week after, I woke up around sunrise. Chinook was lying next to me snoring. He was always snoring when he was asleep. I gently licked his ear and smiled. From a distant away, I heard the sound of coughing. It sounded very serious, so as beta, I investigated.

         The coughing sounded very serious now and it didn’t sound like it was going to go away. The sound led me to Jack’s den and on the ground; Jack had his hands to his mouth coughing his lungs out. His face was bright red and his hair was sodden with sweat. He didn’t notice me and his eyes were dazed and he looked like he was getting dizzy.  He rolled over and covered his face with hands as he coughed.

          I lied by him and licked his hand. I didn’t know what to do, he was a human. How can I possibly help him stop coughing? Maybe Lira could help him. Jack patted me on the head and continued to cough. I couldn’t look at him anymore and hurried off to the healer’s den.

***

           Lira was asleep on a bed of twigs. There were herbs and berries of all sorts on the ground and it looked as if she had fallen asleep counting them. I tried not to step on them as I poked her. She woke with a startle and looked at me with tired eyes.

“Oh, it’s you, Riley. I’m so sorry about your loss-’’ I interrupted her.

“Never mind that!” I exclaimed, “I need your help with Jack!”

“Your human friend?”

“Yes! Are you going to come or not?”

“Of course, but I don’t know if I can heal humans.” Lira said weary.

“Just try.”

          I led her to Jack’s den, where he was on the ground, coughing his lungs. Lira looked down at him and rested her head on his. She then looked in his mouth while he was coughing and turned toward me.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t treat him for this.” I glared, “he’s a human and I don’t know what herbs would do, I’m not a human healer.”

“There must be something you can do!” I snarled. She looked terrified of me and I calmed down a bit.

“I’m sorry but I don’t know anything to do, Riley.”

          I sighed irritably and replied back, “So we’re just going to let him sit here and cough to death, is that what you’re trying to tell me.”

“Riley, listen-’’

“No you listen!” She stared at me with a surprised look on her face, “You are a healer, and you should be trying to heal people, but now you’re telling me that you can’t do that? Are you a healer or not? Can’t you just give him a herb or something.”

        She looked furious, “Don’t you dare tell me how to do my job, Riley! Do I go around telling you or Junt how to run a pack? NO! Do I go to the gnaw wolves and show them how to gnaw a deer’s femur? NO! When I say there is nothing I can do, that means THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO!”

      I growled at the healer as she stormed away. After she was back in her den, I heard her curse loudly. I turned to Jack who was still coughing. How was I going to get Jack better? If Lira couldn’t do it I couldn’t. There must be another way. If Lira couldn’t then maybe no wolf can. But who? I saw Jack’s face; he was all red and sweaty. He was a human and he couldn’t be treated by wolves, but maybe humans can… No, he couldn’t possibly be able to get back to town on his own and I wasn’t going with him. I am going to stay here with my pack. I saw Jack again who stopped coughing. Maybe it will go away.

***

         It was time for us to leave camp and find another place to live. We had to leave all of our things behind so we can be able to make the journey which also meant no herbs for Lira. Ever since our quarrel, we had not seen eye to eye but I had more friends than I needed besides her.

       Chinook and Niche were both ready to go by the time the journey came, They were both built for this journey and are most likely going to make it. Niche and I started talking again and he had almost forgotten about what happened to his sisters (or what he thinks) I hadn’t told him and I wasn’t planning on telling him. Niche told me that he was going to travel with Emerella’s offspring, Kayak and Apollo. (I had a feeling Niche was just trying to get close to Apollo…) 

       Junt’s grey hair had taken a turn to white as he aged. He was still strong but was most likely not going to make it, but he had all my faith that he would.

     “Is everyone ready to begin this journey?” He asked roughly. His voice was breaking up a bit. He coughed once afterwards and awaited his pack’s answer. Everyone howled-including me-in approval. Niche didn’t howl, though. He was probably reluctant to leave the last place he had seen his sisters. He hung his head low as I felt horrible. I regret lying to him but he wouldn’t understand the risks I had to make for us to survive.

***

        Chinook stood beside me as we started on the journey. His warm fur was brushing mine as we took our steps up and through the mountains. The higher we went, the fewer trees there were and the sun was beating down on our fur and was creating sweat on our backs.

       I looked toward the center of our caravan and saw Lira helping Niche, Apollo, and Kayak keep on. They were so young, but I knew they would make it. Lira gave me a look that said come here and take care of your kid. I glared and I fell back and journeyed with Apollo and Niche as Lira helped Kayak.

      Lira looked as if she were going to break down on the ground and start crying. I couldn’t blame her. We were leaving where we-other than me or Jack- were born, or where Evangeline was buried and Lira wouldn’t too happy about that, and also we don’t even know where we are going.

       Apollo looked at Kayak as if she were uncomfortable with Niche. She hadn’t really known him that long and she was about a month older. Kayak prompted over to where his sister was and she leaned on him. Niche looked at the two and moved away from and ran up to his father, who was only a few paces away.

      A little bit later, Emmerella came bounding up from behind. Her blue fur shining in the light and she looked radiant under it.

“Hey, Ri!” She said friendly licking my ear. I nodded in response and notice how weirdly energetic she was.

“How in the name of spirit-pack, can you possibly be so jumpy while we’re all tired?” I asked suspected.

      She turned toward me smiled, “When I was younger, I had ran away from my pack and traveled about five miles a day. To me, this is just a walk around the corner!” Kolle unexpectedly walked up to us and whispered to me

“Don’t worry. I don’t get it either.” I chuckled to myself. I hadn’t noticed the pups until I heard them laughing. They were chasing each other as we walked on. Niche was looking a-bit awkward as Apollo passed him. I couldn’t help but howl softly with amusement.

       Jack came rushing up suddenly and patted me and Emerella. Emerella had gotten used to being patted or stroked by a human but I couldn’t blame her for having doubts. Not all humans were as nice and caring as Jack was. A chill ran down my spine as a memory of Jack’s father filled my mind. All of the abuse we went through, you could only imagine.  

      Jack’s face was less red as it was before, but it still worried me