sounds of a howling wolf clan filled the air and Aniu sighed,"Wish I could go back to them," she said softly, "Go back to who Aniu?"Max asked.Aniu looked up at the few stars which had started to twinkle in the sky,"My old clan," "Why aren't you still with them?" "Humans chased some and killed others, they accused us of killing many anilmals in town because we were often the closet to the town but the truth is, another clan caused the killings of many of the attacks," "Why not fallow thoses of your clan who were left?" "I did not wish to leave for we had done nothing wrong so I didn't feel it was right we should leave. Besides I was thinking of leaving,after the death of my father and mother by the humans it didn't seem right that I leave the land which they called home.They started a clan on this land, them and the few lone wolves they'd already taken in and called their family," "I'm so sorry Aniu I wish the past could have been prevented," "It could have if people were more informed of wolves and were kinder to the animals of the forest, but, I do not regret it for everything happens for a reason. Perhaps if my clan were still here you'd be killed insted of living here or you'd never know what it's like to be truly free," "True and Iam glade we met and greatful you did not kill me nor did I kill you,"Max said looking into Aniu's eyes which began to shine under the coming night.They sat on a mountain near their den and for a long time just watched the stars play in the night sky and told each other of their lives,without really knowing it,they became closer then they ever had that night.

Max and Aniu fell asleep under the stars that night.The next morring Max was awoken by the sound of barking. Stretching and yawning, Max got up and looked over the mountain to see his old team running thru the forest with Raz at the lead and his girl Rose taking his old spot.Seeing this Max thought that while Aniu was asleep he could sneak down and try to head them to the spot were they stopped for a break was. Max raced off the moutain and ran till he found the lake where his old team was sure to stop as they always did, he hid in a near by bush and waited patcianly and quietly till he saw them stop. Max's old musher unhooked the team and laid down sleepily Max figured they must have raced all night and needed a break.He waited till the musher was asleep till he slinked from the bushes and off twards Raz,"Buddy..hey Raz," he whispeared, Raz turned around and looked at his old friend, "Max oh my god we all thought you were dead by now what's happened?"Raz asked, "Raz I'm fine, Aniu has tought me all she knows, says I'm the best and fastest learner as well, how's the team?" "Ever since you left it's been hard filling your shoes I mean I'm not exactly one of Nome's fastest, Their thinking about makin' King's team the new fastest dog we're in a race right now tryin ta see if our....er my team can accutlly beat him, King and Beauti are expecting a litter so she's out of races for a while untill the pups are out and wheened," "That's to bad, Beauti was a strong runner she could have really help you guys out," "You could really help us out Max, we need you back on the team, come on Maxie you could be lead again if you want you know your better at it then Iam just come back home please," "Razzy I can't go back Aniu needs me," "We need you more, Aniu is a lone wolf she probly always has been it's not like she'll mind, I mean your a dog you belong with humans she doesn't come back home please," "I can't go back I belong here now I'm wild," "Max your tame you don't even like hunting, come back home," Raz growl, "Look Raz you don't know Aniu she'll kill me if I go back, besides that I love it out here I'm finnaly free I can do whatever the hell I want and no one is there to bark orders at me," Max growled back "Fine Max if you really wanna give up your life and whined up dead on because you call yourself fighting some stupid wolf then do it!" "First off Raz wolves aren't stupid infact you could learn a few things from them, and secound, you know what Raz I've had it with your aittude!" Max growled and Raz growled back at him. Raz barked and Max lunged at him, bitting him deep in his paw causing him to bleed.Raz screamed in pain but he was not yet ready to give up the fight as he jumped for Max's neck.Max however was to fast and Raz missed and insted got Max's back right leg in his mouth and tried to pull Max off his back.Max bit Raz's tail hard and let go of it causing anouther part of Raz's body bleed,Max landed hard on the ground and was let go from Raz's grip.Max got up slowly and pepared to go after Raz again but stopped when he heard the sound of a gun, the two turned around to see the musher with a gun in his hand aimed twards the air,Max growled remembering his old owner and the his teachings from the wild mixed with the smell of fear and blood filled the air. Max's old musher looked closly at the wild dog in front of him, "Ahh Max so we meet again I was afraid you'd be food for that wolf by now but it looks like she desided to keep you huh?"Said the musher. Max growled louder and beared his teeth, "Look old boy now I don't know what you and Raz would have to fight about but whatever it is I'm sure he doesn't deserve to be killed over it, personily I'd like to let you go I mean your kinda still my dog but you know how the people of Nome are," The musher said reloading his gun. Max leaped and tackled the man fighting to get the gun out of his hands, but the musher was quiet strong and knocked Max to the ground. Max got up, shook off,lifed his head and howled loud and long, it was a howl for help which he knew Aniu would answer as well as come to his aid. As Max's old musher loaded the gun and prepared to shoot Aniu howled and leaped, taking the gun form his hand and knocking him down. Aniu tossed the gun in the lake and looked stright at Max who took off into the forest limping with Aniu not far ahead of him.

When they made it back to the den saftly latter that day, Max laid down and stretched his hinde leg out and started licking his wound. Aniu said nothing nor did she look at him that day, "Aniu....I'm sorry I just had to see my old team again I didn't mean to cause trouble," Aniu said nothing only laid down by the entrence in the den,Max let out a low wine and continued licking his sore to him i'd be just anouther war wound and anouther story to tell his pups if he had any someday.Aniu sighed and put her head in her paws Max watched her and started thinking about the events of the day, "I know I scared you today I know I could have been hurt or killed but this was something I had todo I mean I missed them I've lived with them my whole life their the only family I've ever known,"Max said,Aniu staied silent much like when they first met.The only difference was that this time there were know stars and she wasn't lonly or bleeding, Aniu was upset at Max and treated him the way she would treat anyone who was not in rank with her, to show him that he was not allowed to act this way that he was not allowed to do this.As much as she wanted to, she couldn't talk to him and she wasn't going to.

That entier day was spent in silence.They didn't talk till much later that night,when Max's paw stopped thrubbing,"Max what did you think you were doing when you whent to go see your old team?" "Aniu I'm sorry," "You could have been killed, what if I didn't get to you in time?" "Then I'd be dead and you'd be alone again," "Look how many times must I tell you that you can no longer have contact with your team because they stay around humans," "I know Aniu it was foolish of me alright I understand that!" "Yes but apparently you also do not understand how dangerous man is! They see you and me and all they see is wild things that can no longer be tame! They only see us as a threat to their lives and know that we must be destroied!" Aniu said with such seriousness that Max's ears laid down and his head dropped to the floor. He looked at into her eyes brifly and saw that she looked as though she were about to cry, he knew then that the pain of the death of most of her old clan. Max let out a sigh of respect,"Aniu next time my team and I cross paths I promise to either stay away from them or try my best to attck them if cornered,"Max said and locked eyes with Aniu, "I understand why you wish to go back with them they are your family....if you would like to truly, you may go I will not stop you," "Aniu you are my family now I do not wish to leave your side I mean....we're a clan and that means more then a sled dog team, besides with you I get to run as fast and hard as I can and go anywhere I want,"Max said and Aniu walked over and licked his sore paw,letting him know she forgave him. Max nuzzled Aniu and she blushed and backed off, she knew a leader shouldn't act like this to someone of lesser rankings but part of her couldn't help herself, she was begining to have feelings for Max which was why she screamed at him. Max looked at her, "Your right Aniu I'm sorry I'll stop," Max said, sitting up slowly, "lay back down we should get some rest," Aniu said, laying about a foot from Max who did as he was told and whent to sleep.

Max woke up the next morring just as the sun was begining to. Licking his now numb paw, he yawned and limped out of the den and into the near by lake for a drink and for a bath. Max was enjoying the feel of the water when Aniu showed up looking drowzy, she yawned and slowly stepped into the water,"How's your paw,"She asked with a yawn, "It'll heal like all the others and become another tale to tell like all the others," Max answered with a smile. Aniu looked at the sun which was still tucked behind a cloud, there was an akward silence between the two of them which was strange since, Max thought that he was only being friendly, inspite of the fact that he was beiging to have feelings for Aniu. "I think I'm good to run on it after a good swim so