pieces of ice.

Alai was nowhere to be found.

Aleu took a deep breath and swam down into the water, all the way to the bottom, there she searched for Alai, but she could not find him.

Finally, her lungs nearly bursting, she broke the surface of the water again, and looked around frantically.

Then she took another deep gulp of air, and went down again.

Still no Alai.

The fourth time she came up, she knew she wasn’t going to find him.

Tears streamed down her face as she turned and swam for the ice flow that the pack was on.

One of the wolves helped her up onto it, and she stood on the edge, hoping to see him on the shore.

She did not.

She sighed, and turned.

“Follow me,” she said.

She started to walk away, then turned, hoping… but no, he wasn’t there.

Aleu walked to the front of the clan and began to lead them across the ice flows.

Alai stood on the shore, and watched Aleu vanish over the horizon.

“I’m sorry,” Alai said, “I… I couldn’t allow it, I just couldn’t watch, knowing what was going to happen to her.”

He sighed.

“You shouldn’t have told me.”

Aniu smiled.

“You did just what you were supposed to.”

Alai jerked his head up.

“What?” he asked.

Aniu smiled again.

“I knew you’d do what you did, that’s why I told you what I did.”

“So… she was supposed to…”

Aniu nodded.

“And you are supposed to be here.”

Alai sat on the ground rather hard.

He remained silent for a moment.

Then he looked back up at the white wolf in front of him.

“Wasn’t that taking an awful chance, that I wouldn’t do what I did, and she would’ve…”

He couldn’t even say it.

Aniu smiled.

“No, I knew what you would do.”

Alai looked confused.

“Then why…”

Aniu cut him off.

“All of your questions, will be answered my child, just come with me.”

A bright light appeared beside Aniu, and the two stepped into it…. then they were gone.

Chapter 10

“So Alai…” Balto asked.

Aleu nodded.

“I never saw him again.”

“Oh honey,” Jenna said, “I’m sorry.”

Aleu sighed.

“It’s alright mom, it’s alright because of what happened next. Muru was right, everything happens for a reason….”

Aleu and the clan had been in Alaska for about six months now, and though she still missed Alai greatly, she had come to terms with what had happened.

She now led the Talbourne clan, and it had grown.

Their number was approaching three hundred now, and Aleu had to move them to a different, bigger home.

They were on their way there now.

Aleu had found the cave not to long after they had come back, and the good news was, it was close to home, Nome.

Aleu hadn’t gotten over the fear of returning home yet, and she didn’t know if she ever would.

She was a wolf now, she didn’t belong in their world, and they didn’t belong in hers.

Aleu had also run into Nava when they got back.

He had given up searching for Niju, and was living life as a loner, until he found some other loners, and began to form a new pack.

Aleu begged him to join their clan, and after some powerful persuasion, she convinced him to.

He would be waiting for her when they got back.

She had told the old wolf all that had happened to her, and he had told her that when the time was right, she would see Alai again.

That kept her going, that, that promise made every day worth living to her.

She looked back over her shoulder at the fifteen wolves following her.

This is my clan now, mine,” she thought.

“Hey Aleu,” one of the wolves said.

They all stopped.

“I think I smell a…”

A wolf suddenly slammed into her side, knocking her to the ground, just as a thunderous crash filled her ears.

“Gun!” She thought.

At first, fear filled her heart, and she started to run away, then she remembered those fifteen wolves that were depending on her and she stopped.

“All right,” she yelled, as another crash sounded, “get out of here, but stay together!” Let’s go!”

The wolves turned and began to run away.

Aleu turned to the wolf that had knocked her to the ground.

Blood ran on the ground, and there was a hole in his shoulder.

“Thank you, whoever you were,” she thought.

One of the other wolves, named Tiem, ran up to her.

“Aleu, let’s go!”

Aleu turned to walk away, but she heard a cough and stopped.

Another crack sounded.

“Aleu!” Tiem yelled.

Aleu turned and saw the wolf that had saved her move a little.

“He’s still alive.” Aleu said, as another crack sounded, and another wolf fell.

“I’m staying with him.” Aleu said.

Tiem started o protest, but saw the look in her eyes, and turned back to the others.

Aleu laid down beside the injured wolf.

Nava led a charge of wolves out of the cave and ran off the hunter that was standing just outside the cave.

Everyone left for the cave at a run.

Nava ran over to her side.

He looked at the wolf.

“It looks like the bullet didn't pierce through his shoulder. He'll have a bit of a limp but I think if we get him in safely he'll be fine. Why don't you stay with him while I go get a team to get him back inside?”

“Okay,” Aleu said.

Nava went back inside the cave.

“Are you okay Aleu?” She heard a raspy voice say.

She turned around and stood up. It was the wolf.

“Yes,” she said. “That was quite brave of you,”

“It was nothing,” he said, “just my duty to the pack.”

“You're one of the more quiet ones aren't you?” she said.

“Yes, I guess I am. I don't say much. Aleu….” he asked, “could you tell me something”

“What is it?” Aleu said.

“Could you tell me how bad it is?”

“What is?” Aleu said.

“Me,” he responded, “I'm kind of afraid to look.”

“Nava said that it didn't look really bad. He said you might have a limp but as far as death is concerned. He doesn't think you have anything to worry about,” said Aleu.

“Oh, I've never been too much afraid of death myself,” he said. “I don't really have anyone to grieve me or anything. My mother and father were both killed by hunters when it was winter. One of them I think it was my dad was part husky like you. I'm not…”

Here he stopped and winced in pain. “

I'm not sure about him but I remember my mother. She was snow white, and had this warm reassuring voice that let me know I was safe. I had two other siblings, I think. I don't know what happened to them, but I was separated from them shortly before they were killed. Nava found me about a year ago. I was almost frozen solid. He took me in and has been a kind of father to me.”

Here he paused.

“I…. .I have something to tell you. I was just scared of death for the first time in my life. I've helped lead patrols and been attacked before but I never feared death.”

“That's okay,” Aleu said. “Lot's of people are scared of death when it seems about to hit them.”

“No, you got my meaning wrong there,” he said. “I wasn't afraid of my death. I was afraid of yours. I'm not suicidal or anything. I just don't fear my death. I wouldn't have done that had it not been you that he was taking aim at.”

“I owe you my life,” Aleu said.

Nava came back with several other wolves.

Aleu stood up.

“Be careful with him,” she said, “he’s injured.”

The other wolves nodded and began to drag their injured brother back to the cave.

Aleu suddenly thought of something.

“What’s your name?” she yelled.

The wolf gritted his teeth at the pain that his friends “help” was causing, and responded.

“Shadow.”

“Shadow,” Aleu thought. “You remind me of someone….”

She thought about it for a moment, and then it hit her, and tears came to her eyes.

“You remind me of Alai.”

“Are you alright Aleu?” Nava asked, walking over to her.

He saw her crying.

“I’ll be fine,” she said.

She sighed.

“Just an old memory, of an old friend.”

She looked down, and saw that Shadow’s blood had soaked into her shoulder, where she’d lain on the ground.

She started to lick it off.

“Come on Aleu,” Nava said, “let’s go back inside.”

Chapter 11

Aleu was walking through the woods around Nome.

She’d gone out hunting, and somehow she’d wound up dangerously close to Nome.

She didn’t recall actually intending to head toward the small town, it just sorta…. happened.

She was getting ready to leave, when she heard a sharp crack.

Aleu dove to the ground, just knowing that a hunter had a bead on her.

Humans and Wolves did not mix well.

But no shot sounded, and Aleu stood up.

“Maybe it was a deer,” she thought.

As she was out here to hunt anyway, she walked through the tress and bushes, toward the sound.

Tears came to her eyes when she saw what had made the sound.

“Dad!” Aleu thought.

She ran out at him.

Balto turned, and was startled to see a gray wolf bearing down on