better, we are not sharing the hunting grounds today,” Lundy finished.

Frost rose hastily to his feet.

“Then let’s go before that changes,” he called and started moving quickly in an easterly direction.

The family followed suit and began east as well.

As was procedure, the group split up into two teams, one to distract the quarry while the other sneaked in during all of the confusion to deliver the final blow. If all went well, they would have dinner in no time. Owaga, Kamazi, Timber, and Kana were in charge of the distraction today. They split from the rest and headed quickly to the south for a short distance then began east again. Frost, Juneau, Ice Wind, Cail, and Lundy went northwest and would circle around to cut off the herd when they began to flee.

Not too long into their venture, the scent of deer rose into the nostrils of Owaga and her group. The herd had shifted their direction slightly to the north so they corrected and picked up their pace slightly. The scent grew stronger and stronger until they were sure that they were right on top of them. They crested a small hill and gazed down upon the empty land. Where were the…

There was a sharp crack and Kamazi yelped and fell to the ground, bleeding profusely from his shoulder. Barks and yells exploded from the trees not far to their left. Kamazi rose to his feet slowly and gazed around him. Nine dogs exploded from the trees and charged in full speed at the group of wolves with their men steadily behind them. The group of wolves turned to flee with Kamazi dragging only slightly behind the rest. Kana dropped back and threw him up onto her shoulders.

“Are you al…” She dropped and she and Kamazi rolled to a stop. Kamazi rose to his feet and shot his eyes down to his sister. A large hole was punched into the side of her neck with blood flowing freely from it.

Another shot rang and Kamazi heard the bullet whizz just inches above his head. He turned and was almost immediately tackled by a large husky. Kamazi kicked him off and took flight with the husky not far behind. There was a yelp behind him and Kamazi turned to see a large white flash and a dead dog lying in the snow. Three other wolves appeared behind him and quickly caught up to him. Kamazi looked to his left and saw that his brother Ice Wind had been hit on the back leg. He looked to his right and saw that his father and his other brother Cail were unhit. Kamazi and the others came to ten feet behind the rest of the remaining family. They must have been on the other side of this when it happened. There was no way to tell exactly how many humans were in on this massacre.There were two reports and Ice Wind dropped from Kamazi’s side and Lundy fell out in front. Cail felt one of the eight huskies land on his back, but didn’t feel a thing when his neck was snapped. They were being slaughtered. Kamazi and Frost sped along and made it to the rest. Two more reports but none dropped.

Quite suddenly Kamazi felt a bullet tear into his right hind leg. He dropped and prepared for his fate. He saw the paws of a dog and closed his eyes.

“Until the end my son,” came Owaga’s stern voice.

Kamazi opened his eyes and saw his mother standing protectively over him. He came to his feet and prepared to fight to the death alongside his mother. Two huskies moved in and made an attempt at Kamazi’s throat. Kamazi jumped back and winced as pain shot out from his shoulder and leg. The husky was rolled to the ground by Owaga. Owaga felt fangs rip into her side and she spun to parry them. Frost jumped in from out of nowhere and ripped said husky to pieces. The other husky wanted nothing to do with three wolves and turned tail.

The three fled away from the pursuing humans and dogs and Kamazi felt yet a third bullet tear into his flesh and Frost would no longer have his left ear. Kamazi dropped and failed to rise. Owaga and Frost whirled around to help him up.

“Get out of here!” Owaga yelled to Frost.

“I’m not leaving you!”

“I didn’t ask! Go now!”

Frost turned to flee with a heavy heart.

“Can you stand,” Owaga asked Kamazi sternly.

Kamazi just managed to rise to his feet. He faced the onslaught of hunters that closed in at one hundred yards.

“No my son, you must run.”

“What!? No I won’t leave you here to die for me,” His voice was strained and tired.

“I’ll catch up with you and your father later. Now you must go.”

Kamazi bobbed his head and turned to go with tears flowing down his cheeks.

Owaga was overwhelmed. She didn’t stand a chance against the hunters. Snarls and shots rose from behind Kamazi and then all was silent except for his loud sobs.

The den had never felt so empty as Kamazi, Frost, Timber, and Juneau lay in the den as the sole survivors of the slaughter that just occurred. It was all over for Frost, Kamazi, and Timer. Their wounds were only minor and would heal after a few days’ rest, but Juneau was fading fast. She had been mortally shot in the side and the bullet had torn into her liver. There was nothing else they could do for her. She would be dead before dark. Kamazi sat by her side with tears dripping from his muzzle. Juneau weakly lifted her head to Kamazi and her voice escaped her in a soft whisper.

“It is okay, Kamazi,” she began, “Do not cry for me. If I die, then at least it will be at your side.”

Kamazi sniffled. He knew that she would not hold much longer.

“Juneau, will you accept my courtship?”

Juneau sniffled and answered in a teary voice.

“I have waited so long for you to ask,” She began, “I would be honored to be in courtship with you.”

The pair nuzzled each other to seal the bond with sobs escaping both of them. Juneau laid her head back to the ground. Kamazi licked her cheek.

“I love you.”

“I love you t…” Juneau’s final breath escaped her and she lay limp.

Kamazi sat where he was for a few moments and cried uncontrollably over his court’s dead body and for his mother. He cried for the brothers and sisters he lost and the ones he would never know. He wiped his eyes with his paws and threw back his head. His sad song echoed off of the walls of the den in the most heartbroken howl that any had ever heard.

Chapter 2

One month later

Jenna lay peacefully on her stomach in the comfort of the living room lost in a daydream about the return of her beloved mate Balto. She could never have guessed that when they met two years ago that he would be as successful as he was now. The hero of Nome and the leader of one of the best sled teams in the Yukon Territory, how could she have gotten so lucky as to have him in her life? She felt a small kick in her bulging belly and craned her head to her side with a small smile. In a little less than four weeks the good Lord would bless them with a most precious gift, a litter of healthy pups. She and Balto had agreed the day he left that they would decide names when he returned from his supply run to Juneau, hopefully now in less than five days.

Rosy thudded loudly down the stairs and Jenna turned her dream washed face over her shoulder to her beloved master with her soft brown eyes that matched her thick hair, rosy red cheeks, and upturned nose. Jenna shifted her position and rose clumsily to her feet. It was a new experience for her to have at least five other lives inside of her, kicking or squirming about; but what a feeling for her to be able to say she experienced. With the soft clicks of claws on the old wooded floor, Jenna bounded toward the stairs and met Rosy in the middle of her track with a happy sway and swishing of her hair. Rosy giggled and gently scratched the top of Jenna’s head and then the roots of her pointed ears. Rosy then ran her hand down Jenna’s enlarged side and giggled when she felt a small kick strike her palm.

“Can you believe it girl? You’re going to be a mamma!”

Jenna barked happily in response. Rosy motioned toward the kitchen and Jenna began moving for the doorway that led to the small room. Rosy opened the door to the pantry and dipped her hand into a tall brown bag. Jenna pricked her ears to the sound of the crinkling paper and the crunching of the bag’s contents. Rosie’s hand appeared from the bag with a cup overflowing with Jenna’s breakfast. She carried it over to the back door and dumped the contents into a silver bowl that lay about two feet from it. Jenna followed and dipped her head into the bowl and began to politely crunch on the dried kibbles inside. Rosy laughed at Jenna’s feminine behavior then fell silent for a few moments.

“I’m so happy that daddy is coming home today,” Rosy began enthusiastically, “Mommy showed me where he went on a map yesterday. Some group of islands somewhere, Aleutian Islands I think it was.”

Jenna raised her head out of her bowl and thought.

Aleutian… Aleutia… Alue! She would have to remember that. Alue would make a rather nice name for one of their daughters.

There was little spoken now as Jenna neared half of her meal. She decided then that she was full and went to cleaning her muzzle with licks and slow strokes with the side of her paw. Rosy again laughed and secretly wondered how Jenna could possibly live in a place as cold