her.

“Wh—Who are you?” she asked, bewildered. “I—I mean, what happened?”

“I’m Sango,” the husky replied cautiously. “And I don’t know what happened. I just saw you and wanted to keep you alive.”

“Thank you,” she said. Sango could not help but notice the warmth in her voice.

“You—you saved my life,” the wolf said, and Sango immediately knew that something would soon happen, though he could not predict whether it would be pleasant to him or not.

VI

The wolf slowly staggered to her feet, groaning as the bolts of pain from all over her body reminded her of her many wounds.

“Are you okay?” Sango asked. He then walked close enough for the wolf to lean on him. He felt a portion of her weight on his shoulder and was satisfied. Seconds later, the wolf, realizing she could support her own weight, got off Sango’s shoulder.

“Thanks,” she said. “What’s your name again?”

“Sango,” the husky replied, blushing slightly. “Are you okay?” He calmly approached her and began to gently lick the wounds on her face.

“Aniu,” the wolf said. “And thank you. You really just saved my life.”

“No problem,” Sango said. “I just had to make sure what’s-his-name over there”—he motioned toward the hunter’s bloody body—“didn’t kill you.”

Aniu did nothing for several seconds. Then something seemed to dawn on her. “Why did you save me?” she asked. “Who am I that you would risk your life for mine? Sango?”

Sango sighed. “I have to tell you, Aniu,” he said, “that you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. The moment I saw you, I knew I couldn’t let you die.”

Aniu’s eyes widened. “Wait,” she said. Then she chuckled. “Sango, you know what? For whatever reason, I feel the same for you.” She leaned forward and they rubbed muzzles for several seconds. “I love you, Sango,” she said after a pause, “and not just because of what you did for me.”

“I love you, too, Aniu,” Sango replied.

After a pause, Sango asked, “Where do you live, Aniu?”

Aniu placed a paw to her bloody forehead and grimaced briefly; it was as if she was trying to remember. Then she looked to the top of the cliff that loomed above them. I used to live up there…when—when I was younger. But now I don’t know how I can get back up.”

“You said ‘when you were younger’?” Sango asked.

Aniu looked at him inquisitively. “Yes, I did. Why?”

Sango smiled at her. “I can only imagine how beautiful you were then.” He leaned forward and touched his cheek to hers once more.

“So, where do you live, Sango?” Aniu asked. “Could we go there?”

Sango sighed. “I live—lived—with humans, and I’m not sure they would take to having a wolf in their house. Though maybe”—he grinned and winked at her—“they might make an exception for you.”

Aniu chuckled. “Sango….”

“C’mon,” Sango said after a moment, and he began to walk off, sniffing the air every few seconds. “I’m sure I can find us a place to sleep.” He had just noticed that the sun sat low in the sky, which meant there was only an hour or so of daylight left. “You can walk, right?” he called back to Aniu.

“My entire body hurts like you couldn’t imagine,” Aniu said, “but yeah.” She quickened her pace, and soon she and Sango were beside each other, inches apart.

“So, “Sango began, slightly nervous, “what happened to you back there, anyway? Was someone jealous of you?”

Aniu looked at him for a moment, and then placed a paw to her forehead.

“Sorry,” Sango apologized quickly.

“No problem,” Aniu said, chuckling slightly. “But really, that was bad.”

VII

“I would kill whoever did that to you,” Sango said after a minute. “You don’t deserve it.”

Aniu chuckled. “No, I really don’t think I did deserve that. But honestly, I’m not sure I want to tell you about my past. It—it was….” Her voice broke off, and tears began to fill her eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Sango said. He approached her and allowed her to rest her head against his chest. If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you. I promise, Aniu.”

Aniu sniffed. “Thanks—thank you, Sango. You—you know—I thought I killed my brother and sister, and mom, just by being born, and I ran away. My dad ran after me, but it—he fell…and it—it killed him….”

“I’m so sorry,” Sango repeated. He paused for a moment. “Actually, I never really knew my parents. From the day I was born, I was a hunting dog. That’s all I’ve known my entire life.” He licked Aniu’s cheek, and the pair continued walking, searching for a cave.

After several minutes of uneventful walking, Sango spied a cave in a nearby hillside. Aniu needed to squint to see it—the cave appeared as little more that a few rocks gently peeking out from under a mound of snow. The gap between the rocks was nearly invisible, but as the pair neared it, they both saw the inky black hole in the hillside.

“Thing is,” Aniu said, “how do we know this is safe?”

“I was a hunting dog before I met you,” Sango answered, “remember? These snow drifts look pretty fresh, so chances are nothing’s been through here for a while—except us, of course.”

Aniu glanced over her shoulder and saw that Sango was right—their own paw prints were the only disturbances in the white powder that even now was beginning to deepen.

Though she trusted Sango, Aniu was slightly apprehensive as she followed him into the cave. She knew he spoke the truth, but still she could not be sure that there was nothing living in the cave. What if a bear is hibernating in there? she thought, worried. But she reprimanded herself a second later. Don’t jump to conclusions!

Seconds later, they both lay inside the cave, and Sango again licked Aniu’s cheek.

Aniu noticed that there seemed to be a significant increase in temperature. Or is it because Sango’s here with me? she allowed herself to think, half-sarcastic. But she could not deny the fact that there was a hint of truth to the idea that had just crossed her mind….

She was pulled out of her thoughts as Sango said, “So this is it, Aniu. Not much, but it’ll have to do, huh?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess,” Aniu responded, still thinking of how it might be to go there one of these days, to experience that elation, to start her own family with the husky that now stood beside her.

“Something on your mind?” Sango asked innocently. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” Aniu said. “Nothing’s wrong, I just….” Her voice broke off as she had realized something. “I feel like…like…”—she paused, trying to find the right words—“like it’s my—my destiny to…to…to start a family. I feel like, for whatever reason, I need to have pups.”

Sango looked shocked. “Uh…what?” he answered after a second.

Aniu lowered her head. “I’m sorry, Sango. If you don’t want to, that’s okay. I just—I feel like I need to do it. I feel like my life won’t be complete if I don’t. It’s—it’s hard to explain.”

“No, Aniu,” Sango said, “I understand. I just…don’t know if I’m ready for that. We’re so young…what if something goes wrong? I don’t want to be responsible if our pups—or you—die. There’s just too much of a risk. Maybe in a few months, but not yet. Okay?”

“Alright, Sango,” Aniu said, gently running her nose along his muzzle. “In a few months.” “Thanks for saving me,” the Aniu added after a few minutes of silence, but Sango only touched his nose to her muzzle. “No problem,” Sango replied. “Anything for you. Night.”

“Goodnight,” Aniu yawned. She gently lay her head down on the cold stone floor and was asleep in an instant.

Several months had passed since Sango had found the cave, and now he and Aniu felt that they were ready to do what they had been thinking of for all that time.

Aniu lay on her belly on the floor of the cave, her eyes locked on Sango. Soon the husky walked over and lay right beside her, nearly on top of her.

“Time to fulfill your destiny,” Sango said softly. He gazed into her eyes in the dim light of the cave, and could not help but notice that she looked more beautiful than ever that night. He ran a gentle paw over her forehead and calmly licked the side of her muzzle in a loving gesture. “Ready?” he asked playfully.

“Always,” Aniu answered. And it began.

VIII

It had now been five weeks since he and Aniu had taken their relationship to that new level, and now Sango lay awake in the middle of the night, beginning to have second thoughts. The unrelenting questions cascaded through his mind: What was I thinking? I don’t know anything about raising a family, and here I am trying to start one with a wolf I’ve