tricks!''

Again, no response.

But then...

A black-white canine, wearing a golden-brown collar jumped out of nowhere and attacked the wolf.

The white wolf stopped several meters behind. When he saw the canine, he growled furiously.

But neither the wolf nor the canine heard that as they were fighting against each other. The battle was furious. And it was going into canine's favor.

As hard as the wolf tried to gain the upper paw, the canine repelled his attacks and eventually, he threw him on the tree.

The wolf was laying on his back as the canine was gleefully approaching him. He pressed his paw on the wolf's chest while smiling viciously.

As the wolf was starting to think that he was finished off, the canine caught a scent off the wolf.

He sniffed it carefully, and as more intense it was, canine's gleeful expression turned into anger.

''What're you doing?'' the wolf asked canine as he was sniffing him.

''That scent.'' The canine said, with anger. ''It's from that wolf-dog!''

''The wolf-dog?'' the wolf asked. ''A gray wolf-dog? His name is Balto.''

''Yes...'' the canine said. ''How do you know who he is?''

''I met him two years ago.'' The wolf said. ''He stole my pride and leadership and then he gave it to his daughter.''

''Pride? Leadership?'' the canine asked. ''Wait... did you just say that Balto has a daughter?!''

''Yes. Why?'' the wolf asked.

''Who's his mate?'' the canine asked, as he was getting more furious.

''It's a red dog wearing something orange around her neck.'' The wolf said. ''Why?''

The canine growled furiously again. He looked in the distance and closed his eyes. He turned his look to the wolf.

''She chose that wolf-dog.'' The canine said. ''But it's not over yet.''

''Would you mind to let me go?'' the wolf asked. ''You seem to have the same problem as I do!''

''Fine.'' The canine said, releasing the wolf.

''Why're you in the woods?'' The wolf asked.

''The dogs of Nome banished me because I left my team in the wilderness...'' the canine said. ''...and they saw that wolf-dog you've been with before as the new hero. He took away my pride and reputation.''

''Curse that wolf-dog...'' the wolf said. ''Only the best for him and his daughter, nothing else.''

''I see.'' The canine said. ''What's your name? You seem to be a good friend.''

''The name's Niju.'' Wolf said. ''And who're you?''

''I'm Steele.'' Canine said. ''And you're right, we both have our prides taken away by the same wolf-dog.''

''I know that.'' Niju said.

''But if the red dog, Jenna, is his love...'' Steele said. ''Then do they have more pups?''

''Yes.'' Niju said. ''Six of them. Each of them have their loves too.''

''They do?'' Steele asked. Then his surprised expression turned into glee again. ''Niju, do you think  what do I think?''

''What?'' Niju asked. Then he noticed Steele's expression and smiled into glee too. ''I think I do.''

''Good!'' Steele said. ''Come on, I'll tell you what.''

Niju nodded as he followed Steele deeper into the woods. The white wolf-dog, who was perfectly disguised nearby, followed them.

But as he was following them, he spotted an another malamute behind him. As he looked at him, just then...

''Aaahh!'' The white wolf-dog whimpered as he was being pounced by the black wolf.

''Don't move!'' The black wolf whispered. Judging by the voice, it was female. ''What were you doing with these two?''

''Me?'' a white wolf-dog asked. ''I didn't do anything! I don't know who the wolf is, but I do know who the dog is!''

''Then tell me!'' A black wolf demanded. ''What were you doing?!''

''Angel! Enough!'' A white malamute yelled.

''Sorry about that, Forrest.'' Angel said. ''He said that he was following the black dog.''

''It's okay for now.'' Forrest said. ''You okay?''

''I'm fine.'' The white wolf-dog said. ''What are you two doing?''

''We were following that dark wolf called Niju.'' Forrest said. ''He managed to survive the ice cold water somehow. And who're you and what're you doing?''

''My name is Winter.'' The white wolf-dog said. ''I'm following the black dog called Steele. He did this to my right eye.''

Angel and Forrest looked at Winter's scars and winced a bit.

''And he and Niju seem to plot something.'' Winter said.

''Really?'' Forrest asked. ''We should follow them then. Angel, come on. And you, Winter? Are you coming?''

''Yeah.'' Winter said as he, Angel and Forrest followed the two evil canines.

''May I ask you something?'' Angel asked. ''Where did you get these scars?''

''Steele gave them to me.'' Winter said. ''Not long ago, I was hunting the animals in the wild. Then he ambushed me...

...he ambushed me because I'm wolf-dog. My mother was a husky and my father was a wolf, but because of my wolf looks, I left my family. And on the other hand, I strongly believe that I'm wolf...

...but let's get back to the battle. Steele was looking bulky and stronger, but because of my stealth and disguise skills, the battle was going in my favor. But as I was about to win...

...Steele swiped me into face and caused me these scars. I fell in the snow, whimpering in the pain. Steele could have finished me, but he just left me there. That's why I have these scars.''

''But, Forrest.'' Winter asked. ''Why're you after Niju?''

''I abandoned my town because I've done something terrible.'' Forrest narrated. ''I found Niju, but I had no idea who he was. He promised me food and care if I was his lackey...

...instead I was barely getting any food and I received some scratches from him. I could have ran away, but he was poisoning my mind...

...then we kidnapped  a mother, sister and sister-in-law of my former teammate. The sister-in-law was the one I did something terrible before I abandoned my town, but Niju kept poisoning my mind...

...but Dingo, my former teammate, managed to convince me to leave the past behind and live in present and future. We attacked Niju and managed to defeat him. Somehow he's still alive.''

''That's a quite story.'' Winter said. ''And what about you, Angel?''

''I never met these two.'' Angel said. ''But I followed them separately because of their hostile nature. While I followed Niju, I met Forrest and felt sorry for him. That's why I decided to take care of him after Niju was defeated...

...I was once a member of the Outsiders, the leader-less wolf pack who inhabit these woods. I left the pack because they poked at me after I asked to be their leader.''

''The Outsiders.'' Winter said. ''I also asked them to be their leader. They poked at me because I'm wolf-dog. But I strongly believe that I'm wolf!''

Forrest and Angel felt sorry for their new friend. All three of them suffered something bad in their past.

''Wait a second.''Forrest said. ''Where are Steele and Niju? They've must gone ahead!''

''Don't worry, Forrest.'' Angel said. ''The scents are leading to the west.''

''West?!'' Winter said. ''The Outsiders live there?''

''What?'' Angel asked. ''Oh no. I feel something bad might happen.''

''Enough talk!'' Forrest said. ''We must get there! Now!''

Meanwhile...

A wolf pack was resting on the rock clearing of the woods. Near the rock was a small cave where they'd rest.

''The hunt was bad as usual.'' One wolf said.

''Easier said than done!'' the other commented. ''If we had a leader, we'd have better hunting!''

''Then why don't you be?'' the another one asked. ''We banished that black girl because we don't need female leader!''

''And the white hybrid?'' another one asked. ''Get outta here! We need a pure male wolf who's capable leader, not some hybrid or female!''

The wolves laughed upon that rude comment.

''Hey!'' the scout wolf said. ''I see someone coming!''

''Who is it?'' the first wolf asked.

''It's a wolf! And the dog!'' Scout wolf said. ''Both of them are dark! What's dog doing here?!''

Soon enough, Niju and Steele reached the clearing. The whole wolf pack got on their paws and watched at them while laughing silently.

''You must be Outsiders, right?'' Niju asked.

''Yes...'' the