Fir where Raccoon told her to meet him. Not far away was Merlin, just in case things got ugly. “Glad to see that you showed up,” said a voice. “Why would I show up? Oh yeah! You have one of my pups!” “Calm down, she’s here. Move pip squeak!” With that Aleu saw that her daughter had been pushed around, had little food, and was lacking sleep. “Shut your muzzle and don’t speak!” “Don’t YOU DARE SPEAK TO HER LIKE THAT!” growled Aleu. “She means nothing to me,” Raccoon said coldly. “My only demands are that you come with me, and your daughter goes free.” “How bout, you give me my daughter, and I’ll get Gemini to release you from you sentence.” “No deal. Say goodbye to your daughter Aleu. My demands are final. If you don’t agree, then you’ll never see her again.” With that, Merlin jumped out of the bushes and was ready to face Raccoon to get their daughter back until another wolf jumped out of the bushes and was ready to face him. Raccoon smirked and left, pushing Crescent along in front of him. Merlin fought bravely, but lost. He gave in knowing that he couldn’t win the fight. The other wolf left without a word. Aleu decided to go and see her mother, for comfort.

That evening, Aleu returned to Nome, and went out to the hilltop with her mother. “You know, your father took me up here for one of our dates. It was when the Northern Lights were out,” said Jenna. Aleu nodded, and then the Northern Lights faded into the night sky. “Oh mother, isn’t it beautiful?” Jenna nodded. “That night was to be remembered always. It was so romantic,” said Jenna. “And I quite agree with you Jenna my dear,” came a voice from behind them. Before they could turn around, they both were hit on the side of the head, and all went black. And that was the last thing Aleu could remember.

Ch: 8

The next morning, Merlin awoke and looked to see that Aleu had not come home with Sunset last night. Thinking that she was still in Nome, he took Jupiter with him and started out for Nome. “Balto! Balto! Oh there you are. Have you seen Aleu?” asked Merlin. “No. I assumed that she was with you,” Balto replied. Now Merlin was getting worried. “Is Sunset with you?” “Sure, Jenna asked me to watch her while she and Aleu went out.” “Out to where?” “The hilltop, it was one of mine and Jenna’s dates, before we had out first litter.” “Which hilltop?” “The northern one. It’s the best one to see the Northern Lights.” And with that, Merlin took off for the hilltop. Aniu, please keep my darling Aleu safe.

He made it to the hilltop and saw what made him almost burst out and howl to the late moon. Dragging trails, paw prints, and a rock with little blood on it. Jupiter finally caught up with him. “Dang Merlin! I never saw you take off that fast! And why did you want to come…” he couldn’t finish his sentence, because the landscape spoke for Merlin, two bodies carried away, with hardly any trace to follow. Merlin stopped crying, he looked at Jupiter with the same fire that Aleu had about her pups being taken away. “That’s it! I’ve had it up to here!” Merlin put one of his claws up to the tip of his ears. “I’m going to find Aleu, Jenna, and my pup’s! This time, they’ve crossed WAY OVER THE LINE!” Merlin wept and fell to the ground. “Jupiter, go and get Balto and Sunset, tell Balto to come here, and you take Sunset back to the pack, you are in charge of her. Is that clear?!” “Yes Merlin.” And with that, Jupiter charged off the hill to fulfill Merlin’s orders.

Balto reached the top of the hill and saw what Jupiter meant by Merlin being in anger and pain. “I know how you feel, I feel it too, and my beautiful Jenna has been taken away from me too!” “You don’t know the half of it Balto,” said Merlin. Balto looked at him with wide eyes and wonder. “Aleu was the first wolf that I actually felt happy with. I had many friends, but none that had shown me love. Aleu was kind, smart, intent, and most of all, the most important thing that made me want her the most, she was loyal. One time, Raccoon tried to take my life if Aleu didn’t run with him. Once she agreed to, she made it look like she was going to kill me, she let me escape. That showed me how much she cared for me. When I went back, the pack had to choose who would go and rescue her. Before they could make a final decision, I ran out to rescue her. She is my mate! I don’t want anything to happen to her.” “She gets that from her mother. When I went to get the medicine, Steele couldn’t take it that Jenna wanted me over him. So he returned early and tried again to get Jenna to side with him, but she stayed loyal and never stopped hoping that I would come home. That hope was what kept me going, and how Jenna and I got together.” “Then you’ll help me rescue her?” “Why would I say no?”

“Then you’ll need a guide who could find out where senoras Aleu and Jenna would be, without you being discovered. Si?” “Who said that!” barked Merlin. “I did senor. I know senora Aleu. We just happen to meet at the tree that she likes to be at.” Merlin and Balto looked up in the bare tree to see a bat hanging there, listening to what they were saying. “And who might you be sir?” “I am Star Dust. Just happen to lose my way around these parts, got separated from my colony, senor.” “Would you help us find our mates?” “Si senor. It would be my honor. Besides, I have a debt to repay to senora Aleu, for she shared her part of the cave with me.” Merlin nodded and Star Dust took flight to find Aleu and Jenna.

Jenna awoke first. Hoping that whatever just happened was just a bad dream. But when she did, she saw that she was in a giant cave. Aleu was still out cold next to her. She groaned and felt a soar spot on the side of her head. She felt it and felt a lump and some blood, not a serious wound though. “Glad to see you have awakened Jenna dear,” said a deep voice. Jenna looked up to see… “Steele! You just don’t quit do you!” she growled. “Your in no condition to fight. But if you insist, go right ahead,” he said. Jenna didn’t move, nor did she strike out with her paw. Aleu, next to her groaned. “Oh man! What hit me!” “A rock dear, sweet Aleu,” said another voice. Jenna glanced over to see, who she assumed was, Raccoon. Raccoon bent down and kissed her. “Will you run with me Aleu?” he asked. Aleu just snorted at him. “Merlin wont ever let you have me!” she growled. “Humph, lets just see how that attitude stands when you have no food or water for as long as you keep saying no,” Steele said. With that, they turned and left.

“Mom. Do you smell anything?” “Not really, nothing but… other dogs?” “Lighting, Crescent! Can you hear me?” called Aleu. “I hear you mom!” called back Lightning, but there was no response from Crescent. “Crescent?” “I can’t wake Crescent up, she’s been out cold for a long time!” Lightning called back. “Can you stand?” “Yes.” “Stand up, and follow my voice, bring Crescent with you!” Aleu heard shuffling and soon enough, Lighting was with her, and she saw little life in his eyes, and Crescent didn’t stir as if she had no life at all. “Crescent?” Crescent didn’t stir. Jenna licked her and still no response. Aleu felt her with her nose and paws to see what condition she was in. What she felt was shocking. “Thin skin, her heartbeat is extremely faint. She is also dehydrated.” Suddenly, Aleu heard a… drip… drip… drip. “WATER!” She cried out. She followed the dripping sound until she felt some on her tail. She gently opened Crescents mouth and let the water drip in. Crescent gave a cough and opened one eye. “Mom? Is this heaven?” “No, I’m just glad your ok. Just rest and let the water come into your mouth.” Crescent nodded, opened her mouth again and let the water gently trickle in. Aleu smiled a satisfied smile.

“Lightning, come here. Let me have a look at you,” she called. “How can you. You can’t see in this cave,” he called back. “There is more than just one way to see. I’ll teach you them later. But please come here.” Aleu heard the same shuffling noises until Lightning bumped into her. “Oops, sorry.” “Its ok, now lets see here. You’re not as thin, open you mouth, ah, you haven’t had much water, well other than those things, and you seem ok.” She felt Lightning nod and shuffle back to Jenna. “Grandma Jenna, who were those dogs?” “One of them was Steele, the other one I assume is Raccoon,” said Jenna. “Yes. That was Raccoon,” replied Aleu with a sigh.

Ch: 9

“Senora Aleu?” “Star Dust?” “Ah good, senor Merlin would be glad to see that you’re ok,” he said. “Star Dust? Who is that Aleu?” asked Jenna. “Mom, this is Star Dust, on the ceiling. Star Dust this is Jenna, my mother.” “Ah good, senor Balto would be pleased to hear that you are ok too.” With that Star Dust spread his wings and took flight to see Balto and Merlin. “Star Dust wait! Tell Merlin to bring food! Crescent is very thin,” called Aleu. Star Dust