told them, caribou were very large, and often took a good few wolves to take down a full grown one. Some of the wolves had suggested he go after a young caribou, but how was he suppose to prove himself if he took down something he knew he could kill. No, Achak was going to help his father bring down a buck today. So they waited.

After a while, Cheveyo glanced around. What was taking Kanook and his group so long? They should have gotten into position by now. A light rustle from behind revealed a few of their group. They looked anxious and a bit worried.

“Leader, where is Kanook’s signal?” Had something happened? Achak glanced around at the other wolves, now wondering that as well. Cheveyo frowned, his golden eyes scanning.

“Maybe we just can’t hear them?” another wolf offered. But there didn’t seem to be anything wrong…so where was Kanook’s signal?

That’s when they heard it. It made every wolf there’s fur stand on end. A sound that sent chills down Achak’s spine all the way to the tip of his tail. It was a gunshot. All the wolves were tense, ears and tails erect, facing towards the direction the noise had come from. The wild fear in every eye only increased the young wolf’s nervousness, and now worry. Worried for his uncle, fellow pack, and his own group. If there were humans were here, and they had guns, that only meant danger. Another shot rang out , and a few wolves jumped or winced, lowering themselves down to the ground. But Cheveyo’s fur just rose on his neck. Even more shots, and some birds flew out from the trees. Some of the caribou bellowed and quickened their pace through the river. No. Things were not alright! Those shots were coming from the other side of the river! Achak looked over in surprise as his father stood up. The other wolves noticed too.

“Leader? What are you doing?” With his black coat, the alpha would be seen relatively easy by the humans.

“Those shots are coming from the direction Kanook went off to…” A few collective gasps answered, even from Achak. The young wolf looked off to the other side of the river. Before he could think any more, his father growled. “You all stay here…” Achak’s bright eyes widened. Cheveyo was going?!

“Leader! They’ll see you!”

“It’s too dangerous!” The warnings seemed to fall on deaf ears, as the dark alpha stepped out of the bushes. Jumping up, Achak finally found his voice.

“Father, I’ll go too!” Golden eyes snapped to his form.

“No. You’ll stay here with everyone else.” Rebellious blue eyes stared back at him. Achak had never gone against his father’s orders, but this was serious.

“Kanook and the others! They-”

I’ll go and bring them back. I will not allow you to put yourself in danger. You will stay here and wait. Do you understand?” For a moment it seemed the silver streaked wolf would refuse. But then the wolf sat down back down, ears relaxing and tail lowering.

Yes, sir…” He remained where he was, lowering his gaze to the ground, feeling defeated. Cheveyo turned back around, slipping out of the bush and out towards the river. Achak and their small group took to surveillance, watching and listening for anymore shots or disturbances. But it was quiet now, save for the caribou. Then all of a sudden, a few minutes later, a barrage of gunfire rang out, surprising everyone. Achak jumped up, eyes wide in horror as he and the others could hear yipping and howling along with the shots. He couldn’t just sit here and wait anymore! Not while his father, Kanook, and the rest of his pack were in danger. With a determined growl, the black and silver male shot out from the cover of the bushes, ignoring the shouts to come back, to stop. Achak wasn’t slowing down now. Darting towards the river, he didn’t even flinch as the caribou panicked at the sight of a wolf coming at them. Once across the river, fur soaked, but not about to stop, the wolf continued on towards the woods.

Slowing, only to catch a scent, Achak’s nose wrinkled at the other smell; human. Humans, like his father said, had a distinct, bad smell. Once he finally caught up with his father’s scent, he followed it to a small cliff, and looked down. To his horror, he saw his father and Kanook, cornered up against a rock wall, by two humans. Only one had a gun, the other that stood behind held a big stick. Cheveyo’s dark fur stood up threateningly on his back and neck, golden eyes wild with fury. He stood in front of his best friend protectively. The chocolate colored wolf was crouched down, his fur darkened at his shoulder. Kanook had been shot?! But despite that fact, his lips were drawn back across his fangs, snarling along with the black alpha. It was a side of his uncle Achak had never seen. Kanook, with his usual friendly, laid back, yet mischievous personality made it seem the wolf didn’t have a mean bone in his body . But then again, Achak had never really given it much thought; Kanook was second in command for a reason. But, snapping out of his thoughts by the cocking of the gun, the young wolf thought desperately. If he didn’t do something fast, that man would kill his two family members! As the gun came up to aim, something in the black and silver wolf came to life. With an angry snarl, Achak launched from the cliff with a great leap. The human below didn’t even have the change to figure out what was happening before the weight hit him, and knocked him to the ground. The second human gasped, dropping his big stick. Maybe it was the site of a n over-average sized young wolf with his white fangs dug into his partner’s neck, bright blue eyes blazing. Blood dripped from the man’s neck, as he hung limp in Achak’s jaws. Dead. The angered wolf didn’t care, dropping the body with a thump to the cold ground. Glancing over to his father and uncle, who both seemed to be in shock with surprised looks on their faces, his own softened. It was then that Cheveyo spoke up.

“I told you to-”

“Cheveyo, he saved our lives just now…don’t discipline him for it.” The black alpha looked ready to say something else, but stopped, then suddenly charged for his son.

“Get down!” Achak did so, ducking down to the ground as his father shot over him with a snarl. Turning, he saw that it turned out that his father had pounced on the other human, who had been about to bask him with that big club-like stick.. Kanook limped over.

“Leave him…we should leave.” Cheveyo snarled a bit more at the human he now had pinned under him, earning him a frightened yelp. But then getting off and joining his friend and son, looking to Kanook.

“Can you walk?” Kanook tilted his head, [putting on one of his typical lazy grins. “Tis but a flesh wound. Still got three legs to get me back. I’m fine.” Achak didn’t quite know what to think about the conversation, but agreed that they needed to leave. All of them taking off back towards the river, they didn’t give the cliffs a second glance.

Halfway to the river, Kanook stopped. “I told my group to run and meet up at the old caves. I shouldn’t keep them any longer.” Cheveyo nodded.

“Alright, we’ll all meet across the river then. Be careful.”

“Ah, you and Achak as well…” With that they each went off in their separate directions again. As Achak and his father reached the river, it had started to snow again, spotting their fur with white. Pausing to get a drink at the river, the sound of a howl coming from the woods made them look over. That’s right…their group was still waiting. Cheveyo turned to his son a moment.

“I’m going to go talk to them for a bit, you stay here and wait for Kanook and his group.” The blue-eyed wolf nodded obediently, watching as his father went off towards the woods. Taking a seat for the moment, the young wolf then looked back to the water, reflecting on the day’s events. He had been so excited to find out his father was taking him out to join in the pack’s hunt, only to later have it spoiled by the humans. Kanook had also gotten hurt at the cliffs. He himself had finally made his own kill, although it wasn’t the way, or the creature that he wanted.

As the black and silver wolf sat near the bank of the river waiting for his father to return, he started getting a growing uneasiness…like he wasn’t alone. When a gust of wind blew by…Achak froze in his spot. The smell carried in the wind...it was-A shot suddenly hit the water next to him. Too close for comfort, and causing him to jump up and whirl around. Standing there was the human he, his father, and uncle had let live. The man was also carrying the gun, and looked mad. There was no shelter out here in the open! Maybe he’d be able to get to the woods if he ran…Backing up through the chilly waters, the hunter advanced.

“I’ll get you, you dirty little beast…You killed Jake!” The gun was raised, and Achak took that as a signal to turn and haul his furry tail to the woods. As soon as he started running though, shots rang out, hitting the ground next to him. Starting to zig-zag, he hoped the pattern would help him evade the shots. But just as the wolf thought it was over, another shot rang out, and a hot pain shot through his back leg. Stumbling at the pain, shocked, he fell, rolling a bit in the thin layer of snow. Shaking it off and getting back to his feet, he panted heavily from the run. The human shad stopped his chase, now standing a few yards away, gun aimed right at him. The silver streaked wolf wondered