away!” Steele scolded.

 

“I can’t help it! I’m starving!” Decoy shrieked again. “And what’s the point? The food would just get away.” he added.

 

“We just have to go after food that can’t get away as easily as a rabbit.” said Jenna.

“Any smart dog would know that.” Banshee teased.

 

“Alright Banshee, enough! Stop tormenting Decoy, it’s not gonna make him grow up any faster! He’s still only a pup.” Balto yelled.

 

“Don’t even bother, no one’s gonna listen.” Rylie said to Balto.

 

“Yeah, will you all just lay off?” Decoy yelled.

 

“Shut up man!” Banshee yelled.

 

“Hey! Watch it pal!” Decoy shouted.

 

“Ugh, we never should’ve come out here!” Steele exclaimed.

 

“Well it’s too later, we can’t turn back now, so get over it.” said Scout.

 

“Will you all just STOP FIGHTING?!” Jenna yelled as she stopped and turned towards all the dogs.

 

All the dogs stopped and looked at Jenna.

 

“That’s all you guys have been doing is fighting and complaining about each other! Would you just leave everyone alone and focus on what we came out here to do?!” Jenna scolded.

 

All the dogs were silent.

 

Jenna turned around, then broke into a canter and kept going, all the dogs followed.

 

“Hurry up! We gotta find some food!” Decoy yelled as he ran as fast as he could. He passed up everyone in the entire pack and kept going. He turned his head back and looked at the dogs, who seemed to be stopping.

 

“DECOY LOOK OUT!” Sage yelled.

 

Decoy looked ahead of him, and immediately slammed into a wolf.

 

The wolf was pushed, and Decoy stepped back. They both shook off the dirt that was kicked up from the impact and the pack ran up to Decoy.

 

The wolf was absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful and elegant, and the same size as Balto. She was black as coal, but had a white vertical line of fur that went down her right eye, and a white sock on her right front paw. Her coat was thick and soft, it seemed as if she had just been groomed. Her legs were slender with huge strong paws. Her muzzle was somewhat broad, and stretched across it, were three small white spots in a horizontal row. And her tail was long and bushy. She also wore something around her neck. It was a thick grey string, that had two, three inch long, bouquets of tan blended with white, rabbit fur hanging from it. It was given to her by an elder Native American woman. But we’ll get to that story later.

 

“Watch it!” the wolf said bitterly as she looked at Decoy.

 

“Oh, sorry.” Decoy said as he shook one last time.

 

The wolf stared at him with her beautiful colored eyes, they reminded Balto of his friend, the wolf he had met at the bottom of a cliff during the epidemic, Kemo. With his black and Amber eyes.

 

“Sorry about him, he’s only a pup.” Balto said.

 

“That’s all right.” said the wolf. “You’re all dogs aren’t you?” she asked, a little confused.

 

“Yeah, except me. I’m half wolf.” Balto replied.

 

“Half wolf huh?” The wolf said as she sat down and smiled. “Very Interesting.” she added. “What are you all doing out here anyway?” she asked.

 

“We’re trying to find our way back to Nome. Do you know where that is?” Brendon asked as he stepped up.

 

“No, I’ve never heard of it before. What is it?” The wolf asked.

 

“It’s the town that we live in. It’s at the other end of the mountain range.” Jenna explained.

 

“I’ve never seen any wolves as unique as you back home though.” Balto said.

 

“There are other wolves there?” The wolf asked.

 

“Yeah, a few.” Balto replied.

 

The wolf smiled. “Oh, by the way, I’m Ashlie.” the wolf said.

“I’m Balto, and this is Jenna, Steele, Rylie, Scout, Banshee, Brendon, Sage, and Decoy.” he said.

 

“You guys must be pretty hungry.” Ashlie said.

 

“Aw, you bet!” Decoy barked.

 

“Follow me.” said Ashlie. She stood, turned around, and bolted straight ahead without saying another word. All the dogs looked at each other, then all ran off after her at the same time. The dogs kept running through the woods, Ashlie immediately turned to the right around a huge tree, her back legs slid, kicking up dust behind her. All the other dogs did the same, and continued to follow.

 

Balto tripped over a rock and fell forward and rolled. Steele passed him, and then he got up and kept running.

 

“Ashlie, wait up!” Scout yelled as she jumped a log.

 

Ashlie looked back to see how far behind they were, and slowed down. She kept going until she reached a part where there were no trees, and then up to a river. She slowed to a stop and smiled.

 

Balto stopped next to her and stared. Then Steele came along and sat next to Balto. Rylie banged into Steele, and then Brendon ran into Rylie. Steele went flying into the river. All the dogs laughed as Steele emerged from the running water with a squirming fish in his mouth. He slowly walked onto dry land, head lowered and growling, and soaked to the bone. He shook, purposely getting water on the other dogs. He lied down with his fish and took a bite.

 

The dogs’ laughter faded as Jenna spoke. “Thanks a lot, Ashlie.” Jenna said, still laughing.

 

Ashlie was wading in the water, and then looked back at Jenna. “Aw, no problem.” She replied with a smile. She turned her head back to the river and scanned the water, looking for her prey. She threw her head into the water like a spear, and lifted back out with a huge fish clamped in her jaws.

 

All the rest of the dogs trotted into the water and tried to imitate Ashlie.

 

A few minutes later, Decoy came out of the water and dropped his fish and held it down with his paw. “Hey, I got one!” He said proudly as he panted.

 

Rylie looked up from eating his fish. “Hey man, good job!” Rylie praised Decoy as he licked his lips, and then panted.

 

Decoy smiled, he was glad that he was finally being appreciated by the leader.

 

Just then, Banshee jumped in front of Decoy and growled. Decoy, being smaller and weaker than Banshee, crouched down. Banshee shoved Decoy out of the way with his head. Decoy laid there on his side, and shook the dirt off his head as he watched Banshee grab the fish. Banshee growled as his drool dripped out of his mouth, and walked away and laid down in his spot.

 

Balto growled viciously at Banshee, the hair bristled on his back. Banshee growled back, but kept himself low to the ground, he knew he was in trouble with the leader of the traveling pack.

 

Ashlie walked up to a sneering Decoy and dropped a fresh, bigger fish in front of him.

 

“Hey, thanks Ashlie.” Decoy said as he flipped onto his stomach.

 

Chenelle smiled and said “You’re welcome.”

 

She walked up to Jenna. “What’s up with Banshee?” she asked.

 

“He’s a very vicious dog, no one likes him much. He’s always picking on Decoy.” Jenna explained.

 

“Oh.” said Ashlie. She walked back to her fish and continued eating.

 

It was such a beautiful day to be eating together. Almost all the snow was gone, the air was warm, and the sun was shining as bright as it could. Summer had finally started.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

That night, the dogs and Ashlie were in the forest near the pond, laying down, trying to get to sleep.

 

Decoy whined and lifted his head as he heard something walking through the tall grass.

Rylie lifted his head. “What’s wrong?” He asked and then licked his lips.

 

“Something’s out there.” he answered. He stood up and spoke. “What do I do? What do I do?” he said quickly.

 

Brendon sat up. “Stay right where you are.”

 

Banshee lifted his head. “Decoy, this is our second night out here, and already you’re a nervous wreck.” Banshee rested his head back down. “Just sleep.” he added.

 

“I can’t sleep, I’m too freaked to sleep.” Decoy said. “And this place it spooky I don’t like it here.” he said as he turned his head to the right and looked at a mist near the ground surrounding all the trees. “Gives me the creeps.”

 

“Banshee’s right Decoy, just relax.” said Ashlie.

 

“How can anyone relax out here?” Decoy asked.

 

“Dang Decoy, just calm down and sleep.” Rylie ordered.

 

The beautiful sound of a wolf’s howl echoed through the tall trees.

 

“It’s a wolf!” Ashlie said frantically as she stood up.

 

“Is that bad?” Balto asked as he stood up.

 

The wolf howled again, and his pack howled along with him.

 

“They’re close.” said Ashlie, standing perfectly still.

 

“So what?” Brendon asked as he looked to Ashlie.

 

“Wolves around here can be very territorial, especially if they have pups with them. It’s so hard to find good territory on a mountain that doesn’t get too

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