whispered, surprised at seeing the ever-social pup isolated from everyone else.

"She must be upset about Hokee... I think I'll go over there and.."

"W-Why don't you allow me?" Zephyr offered. "When Nayeli is sad it brings down everyone. I don't want you to be sad either." he chuckled.

"You'd do that?" Aya asked. She was surprised. She only saw Zephyr play with Nayeli a couple times when she was younger. Aya assumed he didn't  like kids, but hearing him put forward like that was very comforting.

"It's no problem at all." the older wolf smiled, letting her continue on by herself with assurance.

Much to young Zepher's dismay, the older wolf was advancing towards his own goal. What could he do?

"Little Nayeli?" Zephyr asked gently from behind, not meaning to startle her. The pup looked back at him slowly. She was indeed crying. "Aw...What's wrong?" he frowned.

She sniffled. She didn't expect Zephyr to be the one comforting her, but she didn't mind in the least. It was very nice of him. And he was a very smart wolf, maybe he knew what was wrong with her beloved friend.

"I-Is Hokee gonna die?" tears fell harder at the thought of it, making both male wolves' eyes widen in surprise, but for different reasons. Zephyr couldn't believe she'd ask something as depressing as this.

Zepher had no idea that she was crying over Hokee. Why was she so concerned about him for? He was just a mutt. They were a dime a dozen, weren't they? And Nayeli had her brothers and himself to play with too.

At first the older wolf didn't know what to say and unfortunately for him, the silence made Nayeli want to break it by asking another sad-themed question. "W-What are we gonna do if....if.." More tears fell and her lip quivvered, and Zephyr leaned in close, making sure they kept eye contact.

"There there, now.. Hokee isn't going to die." he told her. "He just has a bad cold, is all." Nayeli sniffled and listened to what he had to say. What made him so sure? "When I was about your age, I got sick too. And I was just like Hokee. I could barely move. But after a few weeks of rest, I was just fine." he sat up straight. "And as you can see, I'm still alright."

Zepher frowned. Not only was Nayeli concerned about another guy, he was also the one not making her feel better. It was someone else. Why did he wait so long? He could've been by her side... And with that, Zepher left to join the rest of the pack, with his head and tail down.

Nayeli hugged Zephyr, her eyes starting to dry off. "Thank you, Zephyr." she said. What he told her lifted her spirits. After so long she wasn't even sure if Hokee was going to survive, but now she was positive he would.


Finally, after three and a half weeks of coughing, weakness and chills, the sickness seemed to be leaving Hokee. Unfortunately however, during this time the blonde pup had lost weight due to being unable to keep much food down. He had only been able to eat a little bites of meat only about twice to three times each day, hardly what the young hybrid usually ate.

And while he hadn't always shown it, Achak had probably one of the most worried in the pack. If Hokee had ended up dying, not only would he have felt guilty, but that he'd failed at leadership, as well as keeping him alive for Kiona's sake, as well as the other pups. It would have been another big blow for the wolf. But thankfully it hadn't happened and the hybrid was getting better. Once he was able to speak in full sentences again, the first thing Hokee had said upon waking was 'I'm hungry'. Much to the pack's relief and joy.

Especially Nayeli, who, since it was found the disease wasn't contagious, had been by her friend's side all day and night, talking to him and keeping him warm. Tonrar and Hinto who's moods had been rather scared the last few weeks, were back to their normal selves by now, but of course still worried, often bringing the brown patched pup their left overs after each meal.

Now that the scare was over, Achak's free time was spent on thoughts he had been thinking about since Kiona's passing, but only briefly. Her family. While the alpha still hated other dogs, and wanted nothing to do with where they, or their savage humans lived, something nagged at him. Kiona had told him she hadn't been close to her parents, but it just seemed like it was the right thing to do to let them know their daughter had died. The silver streaked wolf remembered the hybrid telling him that her father had been part wolf, therefore a hybrid like herself. Her mother was a full bred huskie dog. Neither blood thrilled him. And the fact that they both lived in a town was even more unsettling. How would it work...?

Kiona's father lived in the west and near humans. If he was going to give him the news, the alpha would have to find him without going anywhere near the humans.

Achak planned his approach and what he would do on his way back home. It was best to do this as soon as possible, so he would leave as soon as he let his family know the situation. He returned to the cave and found Kanook. The pack would be rested with the beta in the alpha's absence of course.

"Anything interesting on your route, Achak?" Kanook asked with a smile.

He shook his head no. "Altho I did some thinking this morning--"

"That's surprising, haha." he replied sarcastically.

Achak rolled his eyes. Of course it wasn't surprising, the wolf thought nonstop. "I've decided that I'm going to pay my respects to Kiona's father. I think he deserves to know what happened to his daughter. So I'm leaving you to lead the pack for a few days until I come back."

The beta nodded. There was nothing odd about the alpha setting out for a few days, and there was nothing especially odd about Kanook taking command. "Who are you taking with you? Dartanion?"

"No. I'm just going alone. I'll be quick."

"Will you be safe? What if you encounter humans? Or another pack?"

"I'll manage, Kanook. I'm not going anywhere near the humans." he assured him. "And if I happen upon an occupied territory, I'll backtrack." Achak had done this sort of thing before, venturing out on his own, beyond the territory. He knew the safeties and dangers about it, and Kanook trusted him to also.

The alpha told his mother where he was going and how long he'd be gone. He said goodbye to his pups, not including Hokee because he had gone off to do his business. Once he was finished, he saw Achak heading back out from his scouting, being escorted by Takoda. Hokee coltishly wanted to try spying on them to see if they'd notice him sneaking around behind them.

Up until the edge of the territory, neither male noticed Hokee (or pretended not to notice) being focused on their own conversation, which to the hybrid's dismay was about Achak leaving for a few days. He couldn't leave yet! He just got better! He was ready for more exploring with his new father figure. He didn't want him to go yet, he wanted to be near him.

So once Takoda left, Hokee continued following Achak.

Once beyond the territory, away from Takoda, who had noticed the blonde pup but hadn't said anything, for reasons unknown, Hokee stayed hidden as best he could as he followed the alpha along. Who would have thought all that play fighting and stalking with Tonrar and Hinto was paying off? It was that or Achak was just deep in thought and Hokee's presence was going unknown.

It was true, Achak was thinking about his decision. He was still going through with the plan, but was just thinking out any details that might come in handy. He had to avoid any humans after all. How was he going to find them in the first place? The wolf was snapped out of the thoughts however suddenly as he heard a rather loud snap behind him, in the bushes. Whirling, on instinct, the alpha reacted, the fur on the back of his neck and back rising, a snarl on his muzzle as his sharp blue eyes pinpointed the direction the noise had come from.

"Who's there, come out!"

Hokee winced. Stupid branch. Now he was in for it. Now he had to go out and face the wolf, who probably wasn't going to be very thrilled at seeing him.

The hybrid slowly slunk from his hiding spot with his head, ears and body low to the ground and his tail tucked between his legs. He looked up at the alpha who was both angry and surprised at the pup for being there.

"H-Hello, sir." Hokee stuttered. He was a bit thankful that since he grew a bit, the alpha wasn't as big to him as he used to be. But unfortunately Achak was still huge and intimidating.

"What are you doing here!" Achak growled, making the pup flinch.

"I-I-I-I wanted to know where you were going! I-I didn't think you would go far! I j-just wanted to come along! I'm sorry!"

Achak huffed in anger, then took a deep breath to calm himself down. This wasn't good. Hokee was going to slow him down. Well... then again he did manage to keep up this far. But if it got any colder Hokee could get sick again and may not survive this time without proper shelter. The alpha had no choice but to let him tag along.

"Let's go." he said, turning around and heading back in the correct direction. Hokee quickly followed, very grateful for not being punished. Ecstatic, really; the rest of the day, Hokee was smiling from ear to ear.

It took a only couple days to get anywhere, which was faster, to Achak's surprise. Since Hokee often coaxed him into a playful mood, he thought it would delay them those couple days. Then again, they were mostly running and chasing types of play, and it would make sense that would make them get anywhere fast.

As the two were walking one afternoon, Achak smelled the ground. A bear had been around and it frightened poor Hokee, regaining memories from a while back. The two quickly ran out of the area and Achak found something peculiar. Wolf claw markings on a tree. He didn't smell any other wolves around before, so he sniffed the claw marks in the tree.

"What is it, Achak?" Hokee asked.

"The scent... Its similar to Kiona's. Her father must've made these markings." Achak said. He looked around, knowing they were getting closer. And when they

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