Midnight. Four shadows running really fast. At first you can only see contours but after some time you start to recognize dog figures. They started to get clear. Now you can clearly see that first to lead is dark red wolf hybrid with pale underfur. "I think they went this way, guys! Come on! We'll lose them." said lead dog. "Hope your 'wolf me' part won't fool us again Kodi! Last time your dad saved us from blizzard." said gray female husky next in line. Chubby brown male behind her whispered in bit offended tone "Don't be so skeptic, Dusty. I believe that Kodi knows where he's going." Dusty replied annoyed by dog's tone "You always defend rookies, Kirby! Why did we go after them anyway?" "Because Kodi's our friend and friends help each other Dusty!" said Kirby and suddenly dog behind them whispered "Kirby's right cupcake...Kodi is..." Female smirked and said "Don't call me cupcake Ralph! You make me feel like I need protection. I can take care of myself". She said that and run in front of Kodi while saying "It's my time to lead!" Kodi yelled "Dusty don't be foolish! It's dangerous down here!" Female didn't listen to Kodi anymore and she started to run fast. Dogs started to follow her while warning her to watch out. Dusty started to yell "Kodi, don't be such a sour loser!" Suddenly she heard noise behind her. It was early winter avalanche. Kodi, Kirby and Ralph were on the safe place yelling to Dusty "Run Dusty! Run!" Last thing Dusty saw was shadow jumping over her and then she fainted. Next thing she remembers is waking up on strange looking cave surrounded by her friends. She gasped and asked in panic "Kodi! Kirby! Ralph! Thank God you're all okay! What happened?" "There was avalanche and we all thought that we lost you... You're okay thanks to..." said Kodi but Dusty suddenly stopped him "Who?! Balto?" Kodi smiled nervously and continued "Well no... Actually it was..." Suddenly big black wolf entered cave covered with morning frosting said "So princess is awake? Finally! I thought that you'll sleep for a year." and then he smirked bringing her bone next to her paws. Female grown "I'm not a princess I'm sled dog who can take care of herself!" "Yep I saw that yesterday! Good way to take care of yourself pet!" Female husky growl at wolf ready to jump him but gray figure in the enter of the cave yelled "Stop you too! Niju calm yourself! They are our quests!" Wolf said "I'm sorry for Niju's behavior. My name is Nava and you're welcome at our humble home. Niju apologize to lady" Niju grown and said "I'm sorry..." and then turned around and silently whispered "Pets...." Dusty heard him but pretended that she didn't. While Kirby, Dusty and Ralph were eating prey Niju brought to them Kodi broke silence and asked Nava "Have you seen brown male wolfdog and female wolfdog similar to him?" " I did! Indeed! You must be talking about Balto and new alpha wolf Alue" elder replied. "Yes! When? And what does that thing alpha wolf mean?" asked Kodi with obvious curiosity in his voice. "We saw them two days ago. Balto went back to Nome and she ran away with pack to land over big water" Niju interrupt them. "She left? I didn't even get to say goodbye to her! And we missed dad. That's just great!" said Kodi disappointed. "I think we should be going now, Kodi. It's late and we need to return to Nome as soon as possible" said Dusty with some strange sadness in her voice and it was obvious that she felt sorry for Kodi. "You're right Dusty. We do need to go. Thank you for helping us mister! Thank you so much!"  said wolf hybrid. "You're welcome young one. Niju help them find their way back. " replied Nava looking at Niju. "... Okay... Okay. Let's go pets!" Group said their goodbyes and nice words and left lead by black wolf. After long whole night walk they finally arrived to Nome at dawn. Ralph, Kirby and Kodi thanked Niju while Dusty looked at ground with blank expression. Niju glance at her with sad look on his face and he ran off. Boys started to walk back home but Dusty just stood there for a while looking at forest like she's expecting something and then she left. "Watch yourself. Hope to see you soon, princess" was only thing that echoes the forest now...

Dusty felt really down so she just went home, laid on the front porch and started to feel some suppression in her chest. She thought only about forest and deeply wished just to return there not because of forest itself but because of what's in it. But fact that Mother Forest is not pleasant to intruders crashed female's hopes down. First time in his life Niju grieved for town, snow streets and sounds of people laughing. But he didn't know what's bringing him there. He went to waterfalls, took a cold shower and tried to focus on his new goal - creating a brand new pack "Raven Wing". He knew that he have good territory and if he gets lucky "Bear Claw Pack" who's in lack of water will come looking for alpha of his territory and they'll find him. And as soon as pack grows territory will grow all the way to sled tracks...