was scared of my dad, knowing that he was part wolf. I loved my family dearly, but I never really spent time with my dad. It didn't take me long to realize that being part wolf was as much a gift as it was a curse to me. Once I grew older I understood how this trait would complete me, and make me different from everyone else. I was proud of my heretage and still am."

"Now, when you say being part wolf is both a gift and a curse, what do you mean?

"I don't really know." she said, cocking her head to the side in thought. "It could be a gift because it makes me stronger. And I guess it could be a curse for the same reason, because I don't really know how to control my anger...Ever since I was little, I never knew how to."

Achak nodded. "I see." It was indeed alot clearer to him now. She was part wolf and part dog. The wild wolf in her would try to escape through her anger and the taste of blood would only compell it, which was understandable for her at the moment, seeing as she probably still hasn't eaten a good meal in a long time. Her hunger was probably driving her insane. Hunger could drive anyone to the brink of insanity, especially if it was along with the lack of sleep and--

"So, tell me about your father," Kiona said, interrupting Achak's thoughts.

"Oh. Um...not too much to tell, really," he said. He explained in a modest fashion how his father was the leader of the same pack Achak was currently leading, how he was a great leader and father to everyone, and how he was respected by all. Kiona tried convincing him that he was being modest about his father, but no matter how comfortable she was to talk to, Achak didn't feel like bragging. Deep down, the cub within him wanted to exclaim about how great his father was, but he didn't because they were practcally within the pack's grounds.

Achak proposed they went to sleep, and they did. Achak took an open spot for himself where the rest of the pack was sleeping. A few wolves were gone for keeping the night watch, but the others were sound asleep. The alpha lay on the ground and curled his long tail over his cold nose. He kept one eye open to keep an eye on Kiona and he watched her lay down to sleep as well. Once she did, he closed his eye and smiled to himself.

Kiona shifted her spot a little closer to Achak and whispered a word of gratitude to him, not really knowing if he got word or not. He didn't stir, but he heard.

---

The next morning, Achak was awakened by his mother. She seemed to be urgent. The sun was rising and Achak had barely any sleep whatsoever. He was exhausted from the previous day's events and he wanted to sleep until his heart desired, but duty called.

"Achak, wake up," Olathe whispered.

"What is it?" he asked, sitting up and trying not to yawn to show his tiredness.

"The scouts smell something peculiar in the air. Do you smell it?"

Achak stood quietly and took a long whiff of the air. He couldn't quite think of what the scent belonged to either, but he knew that they probably didn't want to encounter it. It seemed far enough away to wake everyone to evacuate the area in a calm fashion. He gave the order to Olathe and Kanook to wake the pack and lead them in the direction from whence the sun came while he gave his own orders to the scouts furthest from the vicinity. Kiona witnessed him leaving and desperately wanted to follow, but Takoda advised her not to.

The alpha ran as fast as he could to the young scout known as Faolan so receive any news. Achak approached the younger wolf and looked in the direction he was looking. Camped not too far away was a group of Achak's most hated creature. They looked like they were gathering their belongings and ready to leave the area. There were about three males altogether and one male dog.

"How long have they been here?" Achak asked in the quietest whisper managable.

"Since before last evening." Faolan replied. "I don't know where they're heading, but they keep changing their direction. They're hard to predict. I can't tell if they bring weapons, juding by their supplies."

Achak stared at the men intently, looking hard at what equipment they had with them, trying to pick out anything familiar like a gun or a bow, but everything looked packed away.

"We'll just have to head back and keep moving. If we track a herd of deer, they will probably find us, because there's no way three humans would dare take on anything bigger. We'll continue to follow the carribou close in the woods, then make our move for a kill later, until we're sure where these humans are headed." He padded on the outskirts of the human's camp towards the east where the pack was headed, careful not to let the dog hear them. Faolan followed close behind. "You can follow me back as far as you like, but I want you to gather one other scout and keep an eye on them. Stay close. Stay hidden."

"Yes, sir," the young scout replied. He followed his leader a few more yards, but then headed away to find a partner to keep watch with.

Achak made it to his pack and was welcomed by relieved friends and family. They gathered around and playfully licked and nuzzled him, wagging their tails, lolling their tongues, and smiling. They reminded Kiona of her family back when she was a pup and wanted to join in the affection, but Achak, unfortunately, stopped the play to tell them the news on the strange scent, which belonged to the humans camp. He told them that they were going to follow the carribou until further notice and that excited Kiona just the same. She was just happy to get another chance at a meal.

As the alphsa passed Kiona, she watched him and followed him close behind like a gosling with its mother. The others pursued him as well and didn't think anything of it, but Kiona couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed doing it. She hadn't realized until he left that there was something very homely about him. When he separated from the pack, she wanted to tavel along with him like she was presently, but was forced to stay behind. Takoda and Ayashi assurred her that he would be back, but even that didn't ease her concern. Achak's return made Kiona happy, but for some reason she was sad that she couldn't nuzzle him like everyone else got to. She figured that it was probably because talking to him and just being around him made her feel soothing and she wanted more of that feeling.

The wolves came upon the carribou herd sooner than expected because they were all situated in a fixed spot out in the open, unmoving. They were confused as to why the herd was not traveling as planned and a few wolves began to get skittish and look about, back and fourth from their surroundings to their leader. Achak watched the herd, not really knowing what to do right away. He was trying to think, but all of the constant wimpering over hunger and being caught by the humans were delaying his conclusions as to what needed to be done.

The gluttonous wolf from before was whining in Achak's ear about killing one of the calves nearby and would not stop. Kiona was getting angry that he was not letting him think and Achak was beginning to feel the same way.

"Look, Achak! Over there! The calf is standing right there, unaware of us! We can get it no problem!"

"Shiro," Achak started. "I'm trying to think--"

"Please, Achak! I'm so hungry--"

"Just shut up!" Kiona snarled. Shiro glared at her. "Let him think!"

"You have no right to--"

"Calm yourself, Shiro." Achak growled, trying to silence him.

"Well, she--"

"Just c--"

Achak was trying to quiet Shiro without giving them all away, but just as soon as he was about to silence the glutton with a snarl, Kiona beat him to it. She snarled at him, trying to control herself not to bite him to provoke him to fight, and he only silenced himself when Achak glared at him at the same time. Kiona then turned to Achak with an annoyed look on her face.

"You are way too nice," she snorted.

Achak blinked, a bit surprised at her attitude towards him. "And where did this attitude come from?"

"That argument could've been saved if you would've just punished him in the first place," she said quietly, but angrily.

"There's no need to--"

"No. You need to start putting your paw down quicker."

"You don't--"

Kiona was not going to let him speak anymore. "If you're not going to come to a decision in two seconds, I'm taking matters myself."

Achak sighed. She was right, there was no need for the argument to last as long as it did, but he was not going to let it bother him. This was only one of if not the first time he was overwhelmed by all of the noise of others. His pack was trusting him to come to a decision and he was not going to let them down.

Kiona's hunger made her extremely impatient and while Achak was thinking, it was obviously too long for her to wait for him to speak. The bawl of the calf nearby drew her attention quick and she ran after it, intending to kill it, but others thought she was merely trying to move the herd along. They did not follow, but Achak did until he reached the very ends of the trees where he lost her. He heard Faolan call from the distance, thanking goodness that he was able to find them.

"Kiona! Come back!" It was then when he realized deep down why he couldn't make the decision to press forward. Instinct told him the humans were around and were waiting for them to come out into the open. He knew that when he watched Kiona run out and the shine of a gun in the close distance caught his eye. His eyes widened and he ordered everyone to stay put as he ran into the open after the hybrid. She was still chasing the calf, but when the gun shot her body flew from the force of her sprint and fell to the ground.

"No!" Achak thought as he neared her. Humans could not have taken someone else from him again! Before he reached Kiona's body, movement caught his eye. It was the dog that belonged to the