like they were guarding it. The pup placed a hand on them. his hair stood on end, realizing how cold it was and quickly pulled away. Akino smiled, ”Curious little guy, aren’t you?” His ears started twitching, picking up movement outside from the Nome's general direction. "Hunters, already?" He didn't have much time until they got here, he looked at his pup one last time, before rushing out to look for them, and hopefully be able to lead them away, "but how, and where would I lead them?"

He had an idea, his gut turned over at the thought, but it was the only one he had.She looked around the cave, something was missing, “Akino?” Her ears picked up movement outside. “Oh no” She said in a choked gasp. Aniu grabbed her pup and moved swiftly to a dark corner of the cave. She couldn’t see outside from there but she picked up the faint glow of a torch, and heard a dog barking. “Could that be Akino?” She did not move a muscle until she knew it was safe to go out. From here. Aniu had not much farther to go, just about a half a mile. There was probably about an hour left until daylight again, there was no real day time during winter in Alaska. Aniu was hesitant, if she left, well… what of Akino? Where’d he go? She considered all the possibilities, then walked toward town. “Time to move again.”

   There was a funny feeling in Aniu’s stomach, and it wasn’t because of hunters. Maybe it was the fact that Akino is missing, or maybe because she was hungry, which most likely meant the pup was hungry too. “Alright, one last stop before town.” They came to a break in the woods; Aniu sat the pup down and took time evaluating the area. They came to a small open valley; snow was thick upon tree branches that glowed in the light, long rows of shrubs stood firm in the wake of a small breeze. In the center of the valley floor laid a three pronged, shallow river. Fish seemed to jump for joy that there was a break in the infinitely lasting ice. Aniu took a deep breath, she turned toward a tree and marked it with her claws, the pup gave her a puzzled look, she chuckled, “I’m marking a trail, you’ll understand someday. We’ll rest here awhile.” The pup continued on watching. “Come On, let’s go get some food.” Aniu walked briskly to the edge of the river, eager to finally get some food for the pup, and herself. “Let’s fish, then move on.” she said playfully to the pup, which was struggling to keep up, but was fast for someone so little. “Be careful near the edge of the river.” As if on cue, the pup tripped and almost fell into the water, but Aniu lunged and caught him by the back of the neck, the pup howled out in fright. “What did I tell you? Now keep it down before someone finds us- ” Aniu’s words drifted when she heard shuffling through the bushes behind them. “C’mon, let’s get moving.” Aniu didn’t want the risk of fighting hunters yet, or worse, a bear.     

   Eventually they settled again in a more suitable area, it was more of tundra, less hiding places for them to get snuck up on. They settled by a shallow end of the river to give the pup some time to stretch and eat before they moved again, Though it preferred to run around and play in the snow, it mostly tried running. Inevitably, it brought a smile to Aniu. She sat up and walked over to the pup “We got to go if we’re going to make it before daylight.” She picked up the pup yet again.

Upon ascending over the pinnacle of a tall hill, a decent sized town came into sights. the air was enveloped with the smell of smoke, dogs, people and a variety of other things, lights shone from every building. Aniu stood there awhile looking back and forth. Eventually, an old broken down ship came into her sights, she sped over to it, trying not to draw attention. The boat was out far enough, no one in town could pick her out from the snow, perfect to seek shelter in. She checked everything out, it didn’t smell of animals or people, so it was a safe spot for the moment. The boat was brown, and decently sized. It provided as a good bulwark against the wind, even though there’s a chunk missing out of the front side of the hull. the windows were all busted out, and smell of rotting wood was everywhere, at the back end of the boat was a broken lip with a plank stretching out, acting as a ramp.  she stopped at the lip of the boat overlooking the town. She put the pup down beside her, and gave a relaxed sigh. “Well, here’s your new home” The pup’s gaze rolled over the town in awe. Aniu lowered her gaze to the pup, “Glad to see you like it.” Her eyes picked off movement toward the right edge of town, to the woods, her face expressionless, she knew who they were looking for. She sprang up took the pup to what looks like the most sheltered area. Aniu layed down beside the pup “Don’t worry, we’ll be safe here... Atka.”

Chapter 2

    It has been many weeks since Aniu settled in on the boat with Atka. The hunters have come back, but there has been no sight of Akino. Aniu was awoken from a deep sleep by a constant pounding on her side.

“Mom, get up, I’m hungry.”

Aniu got up and stretched out, “Ok Atka, I’ll go find something to eat.”

“Mom, can I go to, Please?”

“No, Atka it’s too dangerous for you to come with me, I will be back really soon if I go now.” Atka let out a vexatious sigh, “when will I be able to go to town too?”

Aniu laughed and trotted down the ramp, “as soon as I believe you’re ready.”

Atka laid down on his blanket, and sighed heavily. Aniu felt that it was going to be a long day.

    “Why wouldn’t mom let me go in town anyways?” Atka was restless, a few hours have passed since his mom left the boat. he tried howling, as his mom did for his dad, she said “it’s to help him find his way home.”, well maybe she was lost now? No she’s fine. he found himself pacing back and forth before long. “We had food not too long ago.” Atka stopped for a moment, he watched the sun rise over the shoreline and geese fly overhead, he loved it all, but it wasn’t food, Gurrg. He felt his stomach, he couldn’t take it anymore, he hated being stuck up there with nothing to do, he wanted to explore everything, he wanted to talk to the humans, and see others his kind, and most of all, he wanted to find food. Atka leaped up onto the lip, barely, then down the ramp to town.

    Aniu found the town to have a much different atmosphere in daylight, Aniu was used to night, when no one walked the streets. The place was alive with activity, people walking from place to place, some with their own dogs, all unique to themselves with only a few lone dogs, who wouldn't dare confront a wolf. The dark made it easier for her to find food for her and Atka. In daytime, Aniu had to stick to the alleys. The snow there was fresh, she knew that not much things took the alleys. No matter how hard Aniu tried, she couldn’t quit worrying about Akino, why was it taking him so long to return, a Bear attack? Even so, she was sure he was the dog leading the humans, so even if he were to get into trouble, he had help. Her main priority right now though was to get her and Atka food.

     she continued through the town on her way to one of the town’s meat lockers, where she normally goes for scraps, only the door to the locker was open this time. she crept to the side of the door and peered inside, not a single sound came from within it. Aniu decided if no-one is in there, she could swiftly get in, grab something then leave, still she was cautious when entering. The room was clear, she went to the closest hanging piece of meat and started to pull it off. “Hey what are you doing in here!? get out!” A large man with a red stained, white apron appeared at the door, the butcher. Aniu frightened, ran and juked passed the man as he tried kicking her. “THIEF!” The man shouted, waving his arm violently.

    Hours after Aniu, Atka entered Nome between an alley of two similar buildings, he was astonished to see how much bigger everything was compared to him. Balto really enjoyed running through town, no one there to hold him back. In Atka’s journey through Nome he noticed various things, odd things to him. Humans, who are what mom detested, walk past him without a care, dogs were everywhere, and although not all were free, they didn’t seem to mind, being leashed to humans.

    It turned night in Nome, revealing endless star formations. Atka found himself looking across the sky, crickets filled the air with their serene chirping. He didn’t stay there long though, he decided he should go back to the boat now.  With more room to run, more time to think and more time to relax. it was exhausting even watching so many people with so little room walk around carelessly during day. Though he didn’t find any food...

    Atka’s thoughts were interrupted by some howling in the distance, about two houses off to his right. Atka broke off his original course, “Mom? No... it can’t be, the howling was too high pitched, and broke every once in awhile.” It didn’t matter to Atka, he had to check anyways, what if it was another wolf?. Atka ran until he tracked down the source coming from