*previously-- in Part Two......... Kianu and Shaukwo discover, within a fern patch, lays Kianu's kid sister, Kona.  -!!!!!!- How? and Why? these are the questions you might be asking, and Kianu and her lover have yet to discover........*

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The two canines backed away, astounded.

"How-- how did you het here?!" Kianu exclaimed.

"Easy! I just followed your scent!" Kona's yap was proud. Kianu know that her younger sister had stamina, but had never thought that the pup had enough to trekk this far.

"Kona! I don't know how you got here or why, but I can make a geuss on how Mom's feeling-- WORRIED OUT OF HER MIND!" Kianu sternly told the young dog.

"But- but-", Kona stammered, not meeting her sister's eyes, "All I wanted was to be like you!"

"Brave.....huh?Is that it? Well, you got yourself in big trouble-- and big danger! Do you know what kind of danger you were in, following me? Savage wolves could have torn you apart!!!!"  Kianu said , and then immediatley remembered...... then she was embarassed .

" But you did!You did, Kianu! You faced all the dangers just to help us back at home! How come I can't do the same!? I... I guess you don't think I'm good enough...." Kona whimpered.

"Oh, Kona, I do! I do! I do think you're brave enough-- and heck, look at you! You did it! You're here now!" Kianu suddenly felt wonderosly proud for her sibling.

She noticed that Shaukwo had begun to eye her more adoringly. Well, she had tired to save her whole town and faced danger... that would give Shaukwo yet another reason to like her. Their gazes met for a second time, and this time Kianu held the moment.

" He- loo! I'm still here!!!" Kianu's sister piped up.

Ugh...pups!,Kianu thought, looking apologetically at Shaukwo. She quickly got angry again at the pup and stared at Kona. How would she get her home?

---

Later that night, an idea hit her-- One of the wolves could escort her!

She ran to Shaukwo's den and barked shrilly.

He quickly appeared at the mouth of the cave. "What is it? Danger?"

Kianu almost laughed. Danger? Ha!

" No! Not danger, it's just... I think I have a plan to get Kona home safley.... Shaukwo, do you think that, um, maybe Nomo could escort Kona home? My sister can't stay out here, in this cold. She's too young!"

The leader fixed his golden gaze on Kianu. For the first time, Kianu thought she saw more than the kindness he protrayed--- something darker....a black flame flickering, full of hate, that was Shaukwo's pupil.

After a long wait, the answer came-- but slowly. " I will make sure of it", the wolf said, not hesitating,a nd treating Kianu more like a pack member and not the target of his love.

Kianu was tempted to push her muzzle into his fur, thank him for the favor he was doing for her and her sister, but she held back. The way he was acting.... the way his eyes seemed to gleam with dark thoughts..... she didn't want to risk anything..... However much she dreampt to like him now would only be just that-- a dream, and nothing more. It seemed uncannily dangerous, like the shadow itself.

The husky silently padded off to her bush, her mind whirling like the lightning bugs around her.

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The next morining, Shaukwo awoke her. " Let's get to the clearing, Kianu. I need to talk with you."

A jolt of panic shot through Kianu.She'd never told him her name!

" How do you know my name?" she cried, suprised of herself for confronting the wolf like that.

"Oh, don't be rediculous! Your 'cute little sister who's helpless and unsafe with us savage wolves' blabbed it out with the rest of her sappy talk! "he boomed, growling.

" Oh, so that's what you think of Kona? Well, why can't you just use one of your crazy spells and zap her home , and just get rid of her?Because you have no heart!  Because you're just a fake, a liar! I don't care for you! All you want is a mate! Take any of the others! NOT ME! Just LEAVE ME ALONE, you dirty...... WOLF!" she screamed, and almost regretted it. Shaukwo had been nice, he had agreed to give Kona an escort, and he was pretty nice, for a fake.

After staring him down for sevral moments, Kianu's emotions got the better of her." Shaukwo! I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said those things!" she cried.

Shaukwo turned his fierce snarl into a small grin. " It's alright... as long as you stay.... and don't worry about the temper surges... " he said, and Kianu just barley made out his mumble of "I get them often... heh."

                                    x x x

"Nomo, I must speak to you", Shaukwo demanded. He was back to his usual, alpah-evil sefl, at least around the pack.

"Yes. Yes, Shaukwo" , the brown female said.

"Follow me" Shaukwo responded.

"Yes!"

"Good..."

Thier exchange was brief, but tension cracked like lightning. Nomo's tail was tightly pressed between her legs in a subordinate manner. As she crouched in front of him, Shaukwo sat down.

"Nomo, you have no reason to cower. Please, show confidence... and I'll....give you more food..." he said, thinking , How easily can they be bribed? when Nomo immediatley straightend up.

"What task to you need me for?" the brown wolf asked.

"You must escort a pup home."

"A pup? Who's pup is this, my lord?! Certainly not yours, is it, if I may ask?" she exclaimed.

" Oh, no, not mine, you silly fleabag. It's Kianu's small sister, Kona, for Aniu's sake!" Shaukwo informed the wolf, and told her how the pup had come to the forest. The small female pack member then quietly bowed a head that was scarred by fights over food. Shaukwo scarcley fed his pack well. Hungry for power, he ate first, then leaving only scraps and bones for the rest to fight over.

Even Najii had gotten thinner because of it. Only Shaukwo was even fit enough to travel far, let alone hunt. 

Shaukwo thought about eating last with the next kill he made, but pushed it away. Why? It was a simple question that had a simple anser. Why share food whtn you didn't have to?

The black wolf smiled at this thought, and dismissed Nomo.

                                   x x x

"Now, Kona, I expect you to be curteous to Nomo. Maybe", she lowered her voice," you can show her you hunting skills!" Kianu told Kona, sneaking a wink towards Nomo. The wolf narrowed her eyes, as to acknowledge the husky's words.

"I'd be happy to!" Kona replied, catching on to her sister's hint. Then, giving Kianu a last lick goodbye, bounded off into the snowy forest. Nomo shot a grateful glance over her shoulder before trotting after the pup.

                               x x x

"So... Shaukwo. Why'd you want me?" Kianu asked, while padding into the leader's den.

"Because... I need to tell you something. Rather, ask you something. And if I've guessed correctly, teach you something...important." he said.

Kianu was instantly curious. " Well, you've got my attention." she snapped hastily. Without a flinch, the black wolf revealed his question.

"You know,Kianu, when I showed you the bark panel spellbook? And you got scared about", he pulled out the panel Kianu had stared out," this one? Well, I'd like to know why you were so suprised." he asked.

Kianu hesitated a moment before answering, " Because my grandmother was a white wolf... a domesticated one, at that...."

Shaukwo looked shocked. "So I DID guess right! Aniu was your grandmother? Then... Kamots is your grandfather and... Balto is your uncle! Nevu is your father.. and... by the name of Aniu, Linny's your aunt! How peculiar, should I fall in love with you!" he laughed gruffly, turning away at his last statement.

Kianu only stared in shock. How could Shaukwo know all this? Had he known Aniu? Then she remembered the conversation they had in the cave-- a white wolf had been alpha before Shaukwo.

Shaukwo sighed upon seeing her reaction, and explained.  Hmm.. better tell her now.. pity her father never told her... oh well. Good story this'll be to tell, seeing what her reactions are like... the wolf thought. He took a deep breath and spoke.

"Aniu was our alpha... and then she was ..shot. But, the man who shot her didn't mean to, and carried her back to his home. No one ever saw her again, but Linny is her daughter. We learned that Aniu had been cared more and adopted by the man after the shooting. She'd met a husky named Kamots and fell in love. Linny, Balto,and Nevu are her pups. Linny told of how her mother used to sing the Wolf Song.. out pack's special howl. Only members of our pack know it. Linny felt a deep connection to the song, and, as her brother Balto was, was always teased about being half-wolf. So, her mother told how to find her pack. By then, the pack was scared and confused without a leader and had split. I was young and reckless back then, and I took control of the group I ended up in. We were all young, but Nomo, Cabad, Aski, and I pulled through. We were all shocked when Linny arrived, a tiny half-breed. It was funny; we betted our next meal that she'd be gone the next day. Everyone lost thier bets, thought.  As you can see, she survived and has been doing good. She's adapted well to the forest. And, she was alpha until.. I had the dream. The dream of Aniu and the spellbook. I dreampt of a white wolf spirit coming to me, giving me the spellbook. She told how to use it, which spells were