you. Your daughter Crescent, is but the first to disappear, if you refuse to run with Raccoon, your other loved ones will disappear,” said the wolf. Now Aleu was in a whole new level of worry. First, the rest her pups would go missing, and then who else would go missing? The wolf turned and ran back into the forest, and out of sight.

“Well?” demanded Raccoon to his messenger. “I’ve delivered your message, now what will you give me in return?” Raccoon turned and dragged out, one by one, three fat rabbits, two squirrels, and a fat beaver. “Fair enough,” said the wolf. He took his food and left. “Phase one complete,” said Raccoon to Steele. “Excellent. Now we wait.”

Ch: 5

“PAPA! PAPA! Mom, where’s papa?” “He’s back at his boat, what’s wrong?” “No time to explain individually, get my brothers and sisters, and come to papa’s boat! We have a threat to our family,” said Aleu in a worried tone. A wave of shock washed over Jenna. She nodded and turned and ran out of the boiler room. “Merlin, go and get the pups, this involves them too, please,” said Aleu. Merlin nodded and he too ran out of the boiler room. Aleu went to go to Balto’s boat.

“Papa! PAPA! Wake up!” “Huh? Aleu what is it?” “Its important, we need the family together before I start explaining,” said Aleu. “Ok, I’ll go and get your brothers and sisters, and Jenna,” said Balto. “No need. Were already here,” said Kodi, one of Aleu’s brothers. “I just got in on a mail run, and when mom rushed up to me, I knew something was wrong! And… who are… is this? Are you? Aleu? Is that you?” Kodi had been on a big mail run, and had been gone the three months that Aleu was home. “Yep,” said Aleu. “DANG! You’ve grown. When did you get back?” “Three months ago.”

In another 15 minutes, the entire family was assembled in the boat. “Something very bad is going to happen if we don’t watch out for each other,” said Aleu. “What might that be?” asked Kodi. “A threat. To the entire family. By a wolf that wont take no for an answer. His name is Raccoon. Look, I don’t have time to explain everything, I just got a message, if we aren’t careful, every one of us will disappear, I don’t know what his demands are, I’m going to howl to him, see what he wants.” “But in the mean time, stick together in groups of two. Lightning, Sunset, you stay with your parents, uncle, aunts, your grandmother or me, don’t go out alone! None of you!” said Balto in a commanding tone. “Yes sir!” every one said. “Wait, you said uncles and aunts? Aleu, do you mean to tell me that you have pups?” asked Kodi. Aleu nodded proudly, but had a sad look cross her face. “What is it?” “One of my pups, Crescent, she was pup napped. I am just so worried about her.” Kodi nodded. “May I have some time with your other pups?” “Sure, this is Lightning, and Sunset.” The two pups jumped up and climbed on Kodi, and Kodi just laughed and played with them.

That night, Aleu assembled the pack for an important meeting. She told them about the threat. They were all shocked to hear the news and the whispers that were going around. “This threat can also affect us, as a pack. Everyone is to have a partner until further notice. Thank you for your time.”

After the meeting, Aleu went to the top of a rock and howled to Raccoon, whom she knew was in the forest, to tell her what he wanted. In a few minutes, he howled back. “You.” “Give my daughter back and we’ll come to some sort of agreement.” “No deals. You get your daughter back, only if you run with me.” This made Aleu very angry. “Is my daughter safe!” “Yes.” “Let her go and we’ll come to some sort of agreement.” “I said no deals.” “Make a deal or I won’t run!” “Fine. Meet me at the Great Red Wood tomorrow, when the sun is high in the sky. I’ll bring your daughter with me.” “Fine.”

Aleu turned to go and stopped suddenly to see Merlin sitting behind her. “How long have you been sitting there?” “Long enough to hear that you struck a deal with Raccoon.” Aleu hung her head in sadness. “I am just so scared for her safety.” “I know. I am too. Wait! He said to come and meet him right?” “Yes.” “Well he didn’t say anything about having anyone with you. So I’ll go with you.” “No! I can’t risk you getting hurt. I love you too much,” said Aleu in a final tone. But Merlin put on his puppy pout face. “Now, Merlin! Don’t give me that look… oh! Too late! OK you can come,” said Aleu with a grin on her muzzle anyway. Merlin smiled and kissed her. “I love you too much for you to get hurt,” he said. Aleu was touched and kissed him again.

Aleu awoke to the peaceful chirping of the Red Robin in the tree near the cave. Suddenly Sunset nudged her. “Mom! Mom, please listen! Mom! Lightning was Puppy napped!” Aleu got to her paws. “How? I thought we specifically told everyone in the family to stay with another person! For safety reasons!” “I know mom! Listen! Lightning was with me! We went for an early morning walk. And all of the sudden! There was this blur of fur and suddenly I see Lightning being dragged off by another wolf and malamute!” explained Sunset. “Mom… I’m scared.” “Well, who wouldn’t be? That was a very smart thing you did, telling me right away.” “Merlin! Merlin wake up! Lightning has been Puppy napped!” Merlin gave a groan and opened one eye. “I know, I heard every word. I’m just as worried as you are.” With that, Merlin, Sunset and Aleu sprinted out of the cave and headed for Nome

Ch: 6.

“MOM! MOM! Papa! Where’s mom?” asked Aleu. “She is still asleep. Do you know what time it is?” Balto asked. “I know. Three in the morning, but listen, one of my other pups has been puppy napped!” “UH OH! I’ll go and wake Jenna.” Balto dashed out of the boiler room to look for Jenna.

Balto searched for 20 minutes and finally found Jenna. She was unconscious, and she looked like she had been beaten. “JENNA! WHAT HAPPENED?!” Jenna didn’t respond right away. So B alto took a deep breath, and barked out as loud as he could to see if anyone was around. He heard running paws. Out of the shadows, came… “Kodi! Help me. she’s hurt!” Kodi didn’t need to ask why, he saw how badly wounded she was. He bent down and lifted her onto his back, and with Balto’s help, they were able to carry her to the boiler room.

It was another half an hour before Jenna came to. “Oh Jenna, you had me very scared!” said Balto in a relieved voice. “What… where… who… how did I get here?” asked Jenna. “Kodi and I helped carry you. What happened?” “I don’t know, the last thing I remember is going to see Kodi, then Steele appeared. He told me that if I didn’t run with him, he’d kill you Balto! I cant bare losing you! Then, when I told him no, he had another dog jump me, and beat me. I blacked out, and that’s all I remember,” said Jenna with a sigh. “Mom? Listen, Lightning is missing too. He’s been puppy napped,” said Aleu. Aleu wished she never said anything, because Jenna looked like she was going to pass out again from fright and worry. “That’s it! I’m going to look for my pups! I don’t care what happens to me, as long as they’re safe!” cried Aleu. “Oh no you wont! I’ll see to it that you stay put! I wont have one of my pups go without a trace either!” said Balto in a warning tone. Aleu nodded, knowing she could never win this argument.

Ch: 7

It had been 4 hours since Jenna’s attack. It was cloudy and it looked like some light snow might be coming later that afternoon. Aleu went to a tree, which was her favorite spot to think, not to far from Nome and not far from the pack and her cave. She sighed and began to cry until… “Why do you weep senorita?” came a voice from above her. She looked up and saw that it was a bat. “Oh, 2 of my pups are missing, I have a threat to deal with, and my mother was attacked. Why shouldn’t I be crying?” answered Aleu. “What is your name senorita?” “Aleu.” “I am lost from my colony and we have migrated, but I flew way off coarse, as you could probably see,” replied the bat. “What is your name sir?” “My name, senorita, is Star Dust.” “You should probably find shelter, it’ll snow soon.” “I know, I have a gift for sensing what weather would be. That’s why I am roosting in that cave not far from here.” “Well, what a remarkable coincidence, that cave, happens to be the home of my pack.” “Oh, I beg your pardon senorita, I had no idea that I was trespassing upon your home, and I’ll gladly leave.” And with that, Star Dust spread his wings and got ready to take flight. “Oh no, please stay, my home is your home, until you could find out how off coarse you are. In the mean time, stay as long as you need to.” “Ah, gracias senorita Aleu. That is very generous of you.”

An hour later Aleu went over to the Great Fir where Raccoon