strike. They circled each other, waiting for a chance to strike. Hiro leaped at Kulaj, sending him down to the ground. Hiro had Kulaj pinned. But Kulaj got a hold of Hiro's shoulder and rolled, reversing the pin. Hiro and Kulaj tumbled and wrestled for what seems to have been hours. Kulaj taught Hiro technics on how to pin and how to grab. Hiro practiced on with his brother all day.

The hunters, finally returned with meat in their bellies. All of the hunters had taken their share of the meat, they took it to their dens where their family awaits patiently for the meal. Kaso went to the den, he caughed up the meat and began to eat his share. As soon as everyone entered the den, Kaso was finished eating and was lying down in his usual corner. Hiro and the rest of his brothers took a piece from the pile of meat. They feasted on the sweet, tender, raw meat. When they finished their meal, they went outside to play in the snow once again.

Kaso showed and expression of worry, Star took notice. She padded over to him gently, "Kaso, something is bothering you. What is it?" she asked softly. Kaso looked up and back down again. "There is another pack that encountered this morning while examining the hunting area. They want a fight, they said that in two moons, we will fight for the territory," he explained. Star gasped in horror, she was terrified. "C-Can we handle them?" she asked. Kaso nodded in dissapointment and softly said, "No, they are savages. They could beat us even with our strongest hunters. We might lose what has been ours for centuries. My ancestors claimed this land to be our territory. But now, I don't know if we have the strength to protect it,". Kaso looked into Star's frightened eyes. "I've been watching Hiro for some time now. He has much potential," he said. Star looked at Kaso questioningly, "You, you want to train Hiro, don't you?" She asked. Kaso nodded, "Yes, he has the potential, all I need to do is shape it until he becomes the most feared and yet honored wolf ever," he said. Star did not like the idea of Hiro being trained non-stop by Kaso. She remembered the same thing happened to Kaso when he was young, but he was older stronger and wiser when he was trained. She gave a look of worry, "Kaso, I won't stop you, but please don't go too hard on him," she pleaded. Kaso nodded. With that being said, Star left the den. Kaso grinned ,Don't worry, I'll just train him hard enough until his body has to push it's limits to continue training,only then will I stop. He thought deviously to himself. Star watched as the pups rolled in the white, feathery snow, keeping an eye especially on Hiro. She became overcome with worry for her son. Can he endure such training? She asked her self. Kaso almost died when his father was training him, and he was two years old. Hiro isn't even a yeariling yet. She thought. Slowly the sun began to cradle among the moutains. Hiro watched the beautiful, breathtaking sight. Minutes past and the sun was completely gone from the pale sky. Hiro walked back into the den, he lay down in his favorite spot near the wall of the den. slowly his eyes drooped, he was soon fast asleep.

Kaso awakened early the next morning, he padded over to Hiro who was sleeping soundfully. Kaso put his paw on Hiro and shook him to wake him up, "Son, come on wake up," he whispered into Hiro's ear. Hiro opened his eyes only half way and yawned. "Dad, whats going on? It's not even dawn yet," he said sleepily. Kaso looked at him seriously, "Come on, you got to get used to getting up this early from now on,"he said. Hiro got to his feet, Kaso began to walk out of the den, Hiro followed. Hiro continued to follow Kaso until they came up to another clearing next to a frozen river. Kaso stopped in front of Hiro, "Hiro, I'm going to teach you all I know about fighting," Kaso said seriously. Hiro became exited, he had always wanted to learn how to fight properly. "Cool, but why me?" he asked. Kaso froze for a second before saying, "Because, you have the potential that your brothers don't,". Hiro smiled but Kaso stayed serious. "Ok so first, I want you to show me what you know, attack me!" Kaso demanded. Hiro nodded and tackled his father, the impact barely pushing him to the side. Hiro attempted to pin Kaso, but Kaso smacked Hiro on his muzzle with his paw sending him to the ground. "Son, thats pathetic," Kaso said with a hint of dissapointment. Hiro felt dissapointed in himself as he rose from the ground. "Attack that tree, we have to build up your strength before we do anything else!" Kaso demanded and pointed to a large Pine tree nearby. Hiro nodded and began to claw away at the tree, each time leaving four shallow marks. Kaso watched as Hiro clawed away, buliding strength little by little.

Day after day, Kaso trained Hiro nonstop, weather it was hunting skills or it was fighting skills, he was forced to train. At times he would not be allowed to eat if his training that day had failed. Star watched Hiro, she tried to feed him, but he would refuse and make an excuse for not eating. Star became overcome with worry and concern for Hiro, Kaso only pushed him harder. The days passed and Hiro slowly developed his character and strength. After three full months of non-stop training, Kaso was ready to put Hiro's skills to the test. Hiro had not eaten for days, he was overcome with fatigue. He was finally a yearling, but his skills were beyond what a yearling should have. Hiro took a stroll through the forest as he did every day, it was something to get his mind off the greusome training. He came up near a clearing and heard voices, immediatly recognizing them, It was Kaso And Kulaj. "Dad, why is Hiro acting so weird. He hasn't eaten anything for days," Kulaj said. Hiro his behind a bush and listened in on the conversation. "Hiro hasn't completely gotten all of his training sessions done. He is not allowed a single meal until he finishes with the next test," Kaso explained. Hiro saw a confused look on Kulaj, he seemed to ponder Kaso's explination. "Wait, does this training have anything to do with the battle with the other clan?" Kulaj asked. Kaso sighed and nodded. Kulaj became furious at Kaso. "So Hiro is just a tool, thats all he is to you now!?" He asked demandingly. "Calm yourself Kulaj! Hiro is not a tool, he is a warrior that will save our pack, I've taught him everything there is to know about fighting," Kaso said calmly. It seemed as though Kaso did not care about Hiro's well being. Kulaj glared at Kaso, "I don't believe you! I've seen you fight with other wolves, you kill the mercelessly. You've turned my little brother into a murderer!" Kulaj snarled. Kaso grinned evily, "Well Kulaj, it seems as though you have figured it out quite quckily, You'll probably run back into the territory and tell everybody what I've been doing to Hiro," he said lowly. "Maybe I will," Kaso replied, he bagan to walk off toward the territory, Kaso leaped in front of Kulaj, blocking him off. "You're not going to tell anyone. I'll make sure of that!" Kaso said. Kulaj backed away from Kaso, they both began to circle each other. Hiro ran out into the middle of the fight. "Stop!" he yelled. Kaso and Kulaj were suprised and looked at Hiro. "Son, how long have you been standing there?" Kaso asked seriously. Hiro crouched, ready to attack. "Enough to hear what you have been doing to me," he said lowly. Kaso grinned widely, "Good, because tomorrow the battle will begin and you will be there, now stand down and let me handle your brother, he must not know about all this, and there is only one way to make sure that he does not tell," Kaso said walking past Hiro. Hiro leaped and grabbed onto his fathers neck, pulling him down to the ground. "What are you doing!?!?" Kaso yelled at Hiro. Hiro remained silent but he was ready for another attack. "I, hate you. You've been telling me all this time that I was learning how to protect myself, but those were lies!" Hiro said, he swatted Kaso's muzzle, leaving four shap marks. Kaso got to his feet and tackled Hiro to the ground. Hiro recovered quickly from the impact. He scurried to his feet, "Kulaj, we have to run!" Hiro said backing up beside his brother. Kulaj nodded and they both sprinted off through the forest. Kaso chased them until they got to a large frozen lake. Kulaj and Hiro both stepped on the ice hastily. They could hear small cracks in the thin ice forming under their weight. They finally made it across the ice. Kaso stood on the other side, he did not attempt to cross the ice. Kulaj and Hiro continued to run, even though they had left Kaso behind, they ran. "I'll get the both of you one day, I'll make sure you both die at my fangs!!!!" Kaso shouted. That was the last thing that they heard, all was deathly silent as they ran. They were no longer a part of their pack, they were outsiders now, doomed to forever live alone in the wilderness.

End of Part 1