to find a tiny cave. He looked back at Vella in surprise. She smiled and whispered, “Ever since Vanuk tried to get to them, I was scared for their safety. So I cleared out that fissure a few days ago.”

Echo turned his eyes back to the small crevace and stuck his muzzle inside. Though it was nearly pitch dark inside, his nose detected three small beings huddled against the far wall. One of them began to whimper.

“Laila?” Echo whispered. A shadow moved within.

“Papa?” a small voice replied.

“It’s alright, children, I’m here.”

“Papa!” His three pups bounded out and nuzzled him.

“Papa, what happened?” His white coated daughter Laila looked up at him and started to avert her eyes, but Echo quickly covered them.

“Don’t look, Laila.” He turned to his two sons. “Kantu, Kemen, you too.” Both pups obediently closed there eyes. “Now follow my voice. That’s right, keep walking.” He led them down the stone walkway to the clearing by the river just as Balto, Kaltag, Jenna, and Krystal came running up.

“Echo, what’s going on?” Krystal asked between breaths.

“Stay here with Krystal, alright?” Echo said to his pups.

“Yes, papa,” they replied obediently, lying down and huddling close together.

“Echo, what is it?” Balto said. Echo looked back at him, and without a sound turned and sprinted back up to the den. Balto and Kaltag followed. When they reached the den entrance, their breath caught in their lungs.

“Oh my god!” Kaltag exclaimed. He leaned to the side and threw up. “I have to tell Krystal.” With that, he turned and padded quickly down the stone pathway to where she and Jenna sat watching the pups. Balto, on the other paw, looked inside...and nearly fainted. Never had he seen so much death in his life. His eyes finally rested on Echo, who lay beside Vella. Remarkably, he saw that she was still alive, but he could tell by her voice that she didn’t have much time left. Slowly, hesitantly, Balto padded closer as Echo nuzzled Vella. Tears streaming down his face, he was saying,

“I’ll find him, Vella, I promise you!”

“No, Echo. You must…get…out of here,” she whispered, “They’re sure to… return.”

“I won’t let you die, Vella!”

“I’m dead already, Echo.” She suddenly gasped as her heart began to give out. “Echo, I love…ah…I…love you.” Just then, her last breath left her and her head fell to the floor.

“Echo?” Balto said quietly. Echo replied without taking his eyes off of the body of his mate and friend.

“She’s…dead.” He nestled his muzzle into Vella’s neck and began to cry.

“Papa?” came a small voice from the den entrance. Echo turned to see Laila staring innocently at him and Vella. Before he could say or do anything she spoke again. “Won’t Momma get up? Is she sleeping?” Echo looked from his lifeless mate and back to his snow white daughter. Standing up and holding Laila close, he whispered,

“Yes…Momma’s sleeping.”

Chapter Three

“None were left alive,” Sadera replied as she concluded her report.

“Well done, Sadera,” Steele continued, “You and your unit will be commended tonight.” Sadera felt a something tug hard at her heart at this statement. It wasn’t quite guilt, and yet… Commended? She thought, You, Steele, must have the most twisted, sick mind Aniu could put in an animal!

“Thank you…Steele,” she said forcedly, although Steele could tell no difference. She saluted him and walked away. Rather than return to where her unite lay resting, she found a private grove of trees, lay down, and sobbed, thinking that if she had only stayed rather than leave Captain Nemec in command, her sister might still be alive. “Nemec,” she growled, “someday, you’ll pay for this.”

What remained of Echo’s pack, Krystal, Kaltag, Echo himself, and his three pups, along with Balto and Jenna, gathered by the river as Echo stepped up onto a high rock.

“We are here,” he began, “to bid farewell to many friends…and family members…” Echo blinked back tears and swallowed again before continuing shakily. “…whom Aniu saw fit to call home. Would you please bow your heads as we pay our last respects?” Jenna, Krystal, Laila, Kantu, and Kemen cast their eyes to the ground as Balto and Kaltag approached the line of bodies along the riverbank.

“Gunther and Milo were two of the best wolves I could have asked for. Always ready and willing, always cheerful. They will not be forgotten.” He nodded solemnly, and Balto and Kaltag lifted each of the brothers onto their backs and waded out into the water. As soon as they could go no further, they dipped their heads and let the bodies float away before turning back toward the shore. Echo sighed half-heartedly and continued.

“Rorek was a fine son, and an excellent hunter. A leader could ask for no more. I only wish he could still be with us.” Rorek was set adrift in the same way that Gunther and Milo were.

“Kikki and Treffen were a wonderful couple, kind wolves, and dear friends of mine.” Echo shed a few tears at this. “I miss them already…but I suppose it is best that they died together. And so shall they remain for all eternity.” Krystal began to cry as the bodies of her father and mother were swept slowly out of sight on the watery wings of the river. She lay down in the snow and put her paws over her head; Kaltag lay down beside her and held her close. Her sobs only made Echo feel worse, if a worse emotion could be imagined.

“And last…Vella. You were my mate and friend for many happy years. Together we started a family….and I pray that Aniu will grant me strength to continue alone on what we started together.” Balto and Kaltag stepped forward to lift Vella together, but Echo stopped them. “Don’t. I’ll do it.” Echo padded slowly up to Vella’s body and lifted it up onto his back. Once he was out in the river, he felt tears stream down his face as he whispered. “I’ll miss you” and let her body drift away.

On the shore, Kaltag held Krystal close as she sobbed into his shoulder.

“I can’t believe it. The last time I ever saw him alive I yelled at him. I screamed in his face.” Her sobs grew louder as new tears found their way down her cheeks. “I hope he’ll forgive me.”

“It’s alright, Krystal. Fathers never stop loving their children, no matter what. He and Kikki are with Aniu right now, I’m sure of it.”

“Thanks Kaltag,” she replied, wiping her tears away, “but I don’t know if I believe in Aniu anymore. If she’s really all-knowing, understanding, and kind, why did she let this happen?”

“I don’t know, Krystal. Sometimes she works in mysterious ways, but she exists, believe me.” Krystal sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

“There’s no way we’re going to be able to withstand another attack, Echo,” Balto said grimly, “What are we going to do?”

“I’ll stay here,” he replied, “If they come for me, I’ll fight to the death. If not, I’ll sit here until they do.”

“Echo, that’s suicide,” Balto said.

“So?” Echo replied. Balto looked back at him in shock. He had never heard this usually wise leader speak so irrationally. Echo caught the look in his eyes and lowered his head. “Forgive me, my friend, but after today I barely have a reason to live anymore.”

“Don’t say that,” Balto scolded, putting a paw on his friend’s shoulder, “Look at me, Echo.” The white wolf raised his eyes to meet Balto’s. “Think of your children.” With a pang of guilt at his own self-centeredness, Echo looked over at his three pups. “Take a good long look,” Balto continued, “They are your reason to live; don’t ever forget that.” Overcome with sorrow, Echo sank to the ground.

“How am I going to raise them alone?”

“We’ll help,” Jenna put in, “They need food and so do the rest of us.”

“Then we should find some,” Kaltag added.

“Kaltag and I will watch them,” Krystal offered.

“And we’ll find the meat,” Balto continued.

“Well,” Echo said, “I can’t very well sit here and do nothing, can I?” All of those present smiled. “C’mon, we’ve got a meal to find.” As Balto and Jenna started toward the tree line, Echo looked one last time at the river and his voice dropped to a whisper. “My entire pack, six fine wolves.” He closed his eyes as he felt tears coming again, but suddenly opened them again. “Six…” He looked back at the river and ran the names through his mind. “Rorek, Treffen, Kikki, Gunther, Milo, Vella… By Aniu…” His voice rose suddenly to a shout. “They’re still alive!” All eyes turned on him in surprise. Balto was the first to speak.

“What are you talking about, Echo?”

“Nevia, and Resco, they’re still alive!”

“Echo?”

“Don’t you see? We never found