yelp, letting me go right past. We crossed into our territory and I slowed down immediately. Enemies usually didn’t follow where the other pack could outnumber them. That wasn’t the case with these three.

Kaya turned around just in time to see me get tackled by all three.

“Go hide!” I demanded.                       

 Kaya didn’t like to leave me behind or be ordered, but she got the message. She darted off into the woods and hid.

“This is my territory!” I declared. “Just in case you didn’t notice”

            “You’re worth the risk” the old wolf said coolly. “Go get the girl” he said, turning to the older of the other two.

 “Where’s your cute friend?” said the wolf tauntingly.

I growled, a little of my old self showing through, but it didn’t last long. Kaya’s long howl pierced the air and the scout set off in her direction. Panic squeezed me and I struggled away from the old wolf, taking of in the direction Kaya was.

I darted from trail to trail, following the scent trail until I found the Kaya and her attacker fighting. She looked like she was winning, so I decided to just sit and watch. She paused for a second, realizing I was there, and got tackled. I was sure she could get out of it though. But I knew she wouldn’t have a chance when the other two thundered toward her. She was badly outnumbered now. My head told my feet to move without me thinking, and I hurled myself at the younger wolf first.

He yelped, but I was in a frenzy now. I grabbed onto the back off his neck and shook until he was unconscious. The second younger wolf let go of Kaya and charged at me. I bared my teeth and waited for him to reach me. He jumped in the air dramatically, showing off for Kaya, but I knew better to do something like that. It left his stomach way to exposed… but that just made it easier for me. I dived under him and attacked his stomach. He yelped, flipping over and struggling on his back. He wasn’t going to get away from me that easily! I let him get up, knocked him down again, let him get up, knocked him down a second time, and then chased him away. Two down, one more to go.

The oldest wolf circled me, sniggering. I watched him, head low and gaze unwavering. Circling was a waste of energy, and it was predictable he’d jump at me from behind. He walked behind me, and as I had thought, he jumped, making it too easy for me to just side step away. He hit the ground and bounded right back into my face. I jumped back and swatted him across the face. He glared at me, shocked but I couldn’t help myself and smirked. He was really angry now. He dived for me, mouth agape, but looked unbalanced. I reared up on my back legs and sprang at him, landing on his head and pushing it down into the dirt. I bounded off and landed a few feet away; he snarled and shook off. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. He charged again, angrier then before, but even more unorganized. It was time to end this. I charged too and pretended like I was going to jump again. He responded and slowed down to catch me, but instead, I bowled into his legs and he fell on his side, knocking the wind right out of him.

He puffed for a few seconds, but his eyes still burned with anger.

“This is my territory” I repeated for him. “Get out now!”

I stepped off and let him scamper to his two scouts who were shivering on their side of the border. I snorted with satisfaction and turned to see the whole pack watching me.

 “How long have you been there?!” I blurted, shocked.

            “Almost since the beginning” Ataneq answered, clearly amused.

“And you couldn’t have helped me?!”

Kaya shoved her way through and made her way over to me.

“No need to thank me” I started. But when she got close, Kaya head butted me. Hard.

“What was that for?!” I shrieked.

                        “For being stupid”

“I won! And you wanted me to fight!”

                        “To fight, not make the old one so angry that he wanted to kill you”

With that, Kaya stormed off. I watched her go, mouth open with insult and shock. Ataneq watched her go and smiled sympathetically.

            “Well… I’m getting way too old for this. Buck, you’re the alpha now”

“I guess you are kind of- WHAT?!”

Ataneq had dropped things on me before, but this was a bit bigger. The rest of the pack was as stupefied as I was. Ataneq turned and sat down next to another pack member. I stared at Ataneq like the rest of the pack. He stared back at me.

            “What do we do now leader?” he asked innocently.

I closed my mouth and forced my brain to work again.

“I can’t! I’m way too young! Don’t you think that this is a bit soon?!” I stammered.

Ataneq’s eyes twinkled mysteriously.

            “Something tells me that you can handle this just fine”

I raised an eyebrow, but considered it. He was usually right about most things. I just hoped this was one of them. I waited for everyone to get up, and then remembered I was leader now. I looked around awkwardly and headed where Kaya had left. The pack followed me. I stopped and the pack stopped. I sighed awkwardly and addressed the pack.

“You know, you don’t have to follow me”

            “Actually, we do” Ataneq said matter a factly. “That’s your job as a leader”

I sighed and shifted my eyes from the pack to the trail and started off, uncomfortable again.

Kaya glared at me as soon as we reached our sleeping spot. The pack sat down around me and started to curl up for a morning nap. Kaya studied the pack and raised an eyebrow.

            “What’s going on?”

“I think I’m the alpha now”

            “Wow. Ataneq really thought this one through huh?” she said, expression not changing.

I lay down next to Kaya but she scooted away.

            “Alpha or not, I’m not ready to forgive you yet!”

Females, I grumbled in my head. At least it wasn’t going to be a cold night for me. I worried about Kaya but forced myself to stop. She’s the one that got me into this leader mess in the first place! Leading was going to be very interesting, I was sure…

Buck, Kaya, Ataneq, Kanut, Cikuq and Talon (c) me

Boss (c) Tadie

Balto and Steele (dog Buck sees in town) (c) Universal