son?

Freedom felt so good. Raider bounded through the snowdrifts, kicking up powder and barking wildly; for there was no one out there to tell him to be quiet. A scent filled his nostrils. It wasn’t a dog. He anxiously followed the scent up a small hill. He peered down and saw the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. A white she-wolf was hunting mice in a field below the hill Raider stood upon. She listened carefully, her eyes glued to the ground. She heard a scurry. She positioned herself and pounced, her front paws digging into the cold snow. She brought her head down, then pulled it back up. The rear end of a squirming mouse was all that was visable. She looked up and caught sight of the dog on the ridge. She smiled, keeping a good grip on her catch, and wagged her tail. Raider retaliated with a smirk and wag of his own. The white wolf winked and bit down on her prey. There was a noticeable crunch, the mouse twitched, and the wolf swallowed him whole.

"MURU! NO!!" A tiny, insignificant voice called from beneath the snow.

But, the tiny calls went unnoticed. The two canines locked eyes, unable to look away from each other. Raider leaned in to get a better view. The snow suddenly gave out and Raider went tumbling forward. He slid down the hill and right into the white wolf’s nose. Raider stared her dead in the eye. Her eyes were golden and they twinkled brightly like new fallen snow. The white wolf spoke first.

"Hello." She said in a melodic voice. "My name is Aniu."

Raider couldn’t speak. Her beauty and the sound of her voice dazzled him. She giggled and broke contact with his nose. He shook his head, as if awaking from a spell.

"Hi." He finally coughed out. "I’m…I’m…well, I know I have a name…"

Aniu giggled again. She, too was dazzled be this charmingly befuddled dog.

"Raider!" He finally shouted. "My name is Raider."

"Well, Raider. It’s a pleasure making your acquaintance."

"Oh, no, miss. The pleasure is all mine."

"My, you’re quite the gentlemen. Surprising for a dog."

"Ooh, ‘dog’ is such a strong word. I prefer to call myself a wolf who befriended humans."

Aniu laughed again.

"Pardon me. I’ll remember that."

A howl broke their conversation. Aniu turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" Raider asked, not wanting to end his precious time with his new friend.

"I gotta get back to my pack. The first snow of winter is coming early. If I don’t leave now, I won’t be able to make it through to them until spring."

"I hate having to watch you go." Raider whined. "I’ve never met a wolf before. You…you fascinate me."

Aniu couldn’t help but fall for the charm this dog had. She looked towards the pass that would be blocked for the winter. She looked back at Raider. Then she looked at the ground.

"I don’t want to take you from your family." Raider said. "Maybe I could join your pack?"

Aniu chuckled and shook her head.

"I don’t think that would be a wise decision."

A blast of cold wind blew from the direction Aniu’s pack waited. Then a snow flurry fell to the ground. More followed instantly. Aniu looked up at the sky. The first snow had already arrived. She closed her golden eyes and howled. She looked back at Raider.

"The spirits are telling me to stay here." She finished with a soft smile.

"Teach me." Raider pleaded. "Teach me to talk to the spirits, like you do."

Aniu nodded. "I will teach you everything I know."

The two’s bond was mended by the Spirits themselves; and the dog and the wolf would forever be mates.

Raider and Aniu searched through the snow to find a perfect den. Aniu was heavy with puppy and she needed to find a den as soon as possible.

"I’m going to search this way." Raider said, pointing down a path with his nose.

"Alright." Aniu agreed. "I’ll keep looking here."

Raider trotted down the trail, surveying the landscape. He picked up his ears when he heard a distinctive cry for help. He followed the calls, which got louder.

"Help me! Someone! Please!"

Raider followed the voice to a small pond. There, feet frozen, was a large white goose.

"Hold on! I’m coming!" Raider called, sliding down to the pond.

The goose looked up at the massive dog running towards him and screamed.

"NO, VAIT! Nevermind! I can do it myself!" It flailed.

"Nonsense." Raider laughed. "I’ll help you."

"You…you von’t eat me?" The goose asked nervously.

"As much as my mate would like me to, no." Raider laughed.

The goose laughed too, but very uneasily.

Raider looked at the goose’s feet. They were frozen under solid ice. Raider tried the conventional way of freeing the bird. He grabbed its head in his mouth and yanked. The bird screamed and flapped wildly.

"OWWWWWW!!!! LET GO! LET GO!"

Raider released the frantic goose and sat down, pondering. He got up again, and sat on the goose. He vigorously tried digging into the ice, but alas, it was too thick. He got up and backed away.

"I’m not heavy enough to break it. But I know who is."

Raider threw back his head and howled. The goose looked around curiously.

"Vhat’s vith the howling?"

A long howl answered Raider’s call. The goose shuddered. In a moment, a huge white wolf leapt over the frosty hill and landed neatly on the ice, cracking it. The goose’s jaw dropped to the ground. The wolf smirked and walked over to him.

"Raider, darling. You found me some dinner!"

The goose screamed and pulled Raider’s tail in front of his face, hiding. Raider simply laughed.

"No, sweetheart. This little guy is stuck. Wanna lend a paw?"

"How about two?" Aniu said, rearing up and pounding the ice with her front paws.

Her weight went right through the already weakened ice, freeing the goose. Aniu turned to her mate.

"Now