wolves gasped and whispers began to make their way among the startled pack, but were quickly silenced when Cloud Runner held up her paw. She then nodded to Echo, who stepped slowly forward.

“When I returned from family business, I found Gunther dead at his post outside. Kikki and Milo were killed in their sleep. Rorek was killed even after he surrendered. And Treffen gave his last breath to defend my mate, Vella…” He paused as tears welled up in his eyes. “They wanted to know where our pups were, but she wouldn’t tell them. They tortured her, but she never gave in. She gave her life for our children.” Overcome with sadness, he turned away. As he walked back to his place, there was not a wolf in the crowd whose heart did not go out to the white leader.

Then, Cloud Runner again stood before her pack.

“There were two who may have eluded this massacre. Their names are Nevia and Resco. You are all advised to keep an eye out for them.” She paused again and nodded to herself. “If there are any questions…?”

“Who did this?” someone demanded.

“Yes, who?” another added, “Who could be so heartless?”

“A husky named Steele now leads a very strong pack of wolves which includes some of Vanuk’s captains.” Now, the whispers broke into angry chatter, as Steele was called a coward, a murderer, and much worse.

“Where is he? Where is the coward’s pack?” a lieutenant shouted, “We’ll send him and every one of his low-life followers to meet The Great Aniu. Then they’ll know true punishment!” The crowd roared in approval.

“I understand your concern, but we can’t risk sending you against them until we know just how many wolves we’ll be up against.” The crowd started to protest, but Cloud Runner held up her paw again. “Enough. From now on, we are in a heightened state of readiness. I’m going to split the pack 50-25-25. Fifty percent will be on active guard duty or patrols, twenty-five percent will hunt, and the other twenty-five will either watch the pups or rest. We will rotate through every family evenly, so everyone patrols, everyone hunts, and everyone rests. Are there…any questions?”

The crowd was silent. It was only for that reason that she realized Echo was standing beside her. She looked at him with a mix of pity and questioning. His lips moved, and she inclined her ear toward him. Her eyes widened in surprise and horror at what she heard. She looked back at Balto for confirmation, and his sorrow-filled eyes were more than enough. She turned back to face her pack once more.

“There is more sad news… It seems that two nights past, Jenna, Balto’s mate, was kidnapped by Steele and is now his prisoner…or worse.” Again, whispers rippled through the startled pack members. Many of then still remembered the kind red and cream husky, and were shocked that anyone would take her. “We must do our best to locate his pack with the utmost stealth. If he discovers any attempted rescue, he may kill her.”

Jenna looked up and met the eyes of a familiar silver female. Sadera had come to see her from time to time, but her conversations were usually very demoralizing. This time however, Sadera was too busy trying to hide the tears in her eyes to start a conversation. Jenna lay silent for a while, but soon curiosity over came her.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

“None of your business, naghu!” Startled, Jenna turned and laid her head down. After a moment, though, Sadera spoke again, “I’m sorry, I’m not usually like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“The truth is I don’t like the way he treats us.”

“But didn’t you just get promoted?”

“How did you hear of that?”

“I hear the guards talk sometimes.”

“Well, yes, I was promoted, but that’s not the point. He sends his spies to listen to our conversations, and directs how we live! We can’t even mate without his permission! Since he took over, no one has any freedom anymore.” There was silence for a few moments, and then Jenna spoke up.

“Why were you crying?”

“My sister is dead. Both of my sisters are dead.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“They were murdered, on Steele’s orders. Sena didn’t deserve to die!” she shouted, “And Vella wouldn’t have died if I hadn’t left!” Jenna’s eyes opened wide.

“Wait, Vella…was your sister?” she gasped in astonishment. Sadera nodded.

“We used to be such good friends… We would play together, Sena, Vella and I; we would all go and run around by the river.” Jenna, who had only a day earlier hated this female, now felt a strong pity and compassion for her.

“How did you two become members of different packs?”

“Well, a few years ago, when my sisters and I had barely reached adolescence, a neighboring pack met briefly with us to discuss territory boundaries, and Vella ran into a fine young white male.”

“Echo,” Jenna said. Sadera nodded.

“Soon they started to court each other, and finally decided to become mates. Of course, I was overjoyed and congratulated her. The odd thing was that both leaders agreed, but our father would hear nothing of it.” Her voice took on a tone of sarcasm. “Apparently she was too good for him. So, in the middle of the night, they both slipped away from their respective packs and headed off into the forest together. Needless to say, our father was quite mad when he woke up and heard the news, but he never had time to go find her. That very day, Vanuk took over, and my father was among the first to die; he fell defending our former leader, Toren, and his family.” She sighed and blinked back tears. “After that, it was either join or be killed, so Sena and I had no choice. But just before we pledged ourselves to the new pack, I swore to Sena that I would protect her with all of my power, and until yesterday, I thought I had kept my word.”

Jenna tried to speak, but no words came. This female, who had been demoralizing her all along, had gone through more heartache than most could handle. Sadera continued, not seeing the look of incomprehension on Jenna’s face.

“Our neighboring pack, the one Echo had been part of, abandoned their land and fled to the north-east. And since that day I haven’t see head or tail of any of them.” She sighed and looked over at Jenna, noticing for the first time the appalled expression on her face. “You must understand that this conversation never happened,” she said. Jenna nodded.

“But what about the guards? If I can hear them talking, then can’t they hear us?” Sadera shook her head and seemed to brighten slightly.

“No. I gave them a short break. They should be coming back any minute now.”

“Oh…” Jenna suddenly felt as though she owed something to her ‘captor.’ “If we ever get out of here, I’m sure there’s an opening in Echo’s pack…” Sadera looked away in shame.

“Or what’s left of it,” she replied solemnly, “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll find a place there after what I did.” She turned and padded out, leaving Jenna to think of Balto.

That night, within the territory of Cloud Runner’s White Mountain pack, groups of wolves patrolled the perimeter as many returned to their dens to rest. Among those still awake was Cloud Runner herself.

She padded softly through the snowy grass and looked into another den. A dark brown male came to meet her.

“Good evening, my eva,” he said respectfully, using the traditional title of leader. Cloud Runner smiled and put a paw on his shoulder.

“Please, Kur, call me Cloud,” she said warmly. The male nodded. “How is everyone?”

“They are all sleeping peacefully, Cloud.”

“Do you need any more meat?”

“Thank you, Cloud, but no. We are all quite content.” Kur looked over at his mate and four pups, curled up together in the middle of the small den. Cloud smiled and nodded, turning to leave.

“Alright. May Aniu protect you.”

“And you as well, Cloud.”

Cloud Runner nodded again and left. Throughout the evening, she had gone to every family and every pair of mates to check on them. Very few had needed more food, and not one wolf had voiced any negative feelings. They all seemed content. Cloud smiled to herself and returned to her den, where Echo and the others were resting. Or so she thought, until Kaltag came padding swiftly out to meet her, a look of grim worry on his face.

“Kaltag, what is it?” she asked him.

“It’s Balto. He’s gone.”

Passing the guards with a nod, Steele went inside. Jenna was curled up against the wall, and watched him warily as he lay down in front of her.

“Have you given any thought to my offer, Jenna?” he asked expectantly, but somehow Jenna could tell that he knew what the answer would be.

“No: my answer will always stay the same. I’m not coming with you, Steele.”

“You don’t have a choice in that. But, I will allow you to run with me instead of being my prisoner.”

“I don’t see any difference,” she replied.

“You just don’t know what you’re missing, Jenna.”

“Yes I do: Balto. And nothing you can do will change that.” Steele stood up and walked over to her. Jenna flinched,