was. They did ask Nava what the song was about after it was done, and he told them it was a tribute to a heroic warrior from a bygone era. Aleu was made incredibly happy by it all; she had wanted all her life to find out what it was like to live as a wolf, and suddenly, the dream was real. It was fabulous to finally feel like she belonged somewhere. Balto wasn’t awed like Aleu, but he had a wonderful time connecting to his wolf side again. When it was over, Nava inquired as to Balto’s childhood with the wolves. “You say your mother was the wolf, Balto?” “Yes. She had to sneak away from the pack to see my dad.” “What was her name?” “Aniu.” Nava perked up. “Did you say ‘Aniu’?” “Yeah…why?” “I…I remember someone with that name. I was quite young at the time…she was a white wolf?” “Yes! Did you know her?” “I did, personally. I remember seeing you and your siblings when you were a day old.” Nava sighed. “One day…the pack was walking through a blizzard, and when we came through…she was gone, and so were you. We all assumed you were dead. Your father…came out to the pack a few weeks later, wondering where your mother was. We told him what had happened, and he went away after grieving for days. We did not know what came of him until a short time after he left, when we found him dead somewhere near the resting place of our pack.” “Can you describe the place?” “It was a pool of water with bushes and trees around it.” “That was where Aniu took us when we went to see him. I guess he died of a broken heart.” Balto sighed, shaking his head. “I wish he’d known I was alive. A goose named Boris found me in the storm and saved me, and took me in, raising me like I was his own. Did any of my brothers and sisters make it?” “I doubt it. We looked for them, but we didn’t find them. A scout found Aniu’s body mostly buried in the snow.” “Well…” Balto said, “earlier today…I saw her.” “Saw her? You mean…” “She came to help me, as an angel.” Nava smiled. “I have heard such stories before. All the years since she died she must have been watching over you.” Balto nodded, his eyes moist. “I thought so too, after I saw her.” He sighed again. “Anyway, would you mind telling me some things about the pack, and your lives? I feel like I need to be close to my wolf side.” “I do not blame you. Come, and I will reveal our world.”

After nightfall, when Balto and Nava were still talking, Aleu sat on a tall snowbank, looking up at the crystal-clear night sky. Spotting her there, Camyar went up the bank, sitting down next to her. “Hello,” he said. “Hi,” she replied. “How are you?” “I am well. It is a beautiful night, yes?” “Oh, yeah. It is always this nice?” “No, not always.” He cautiously extended a paw, drawing it over her shoulder. “There is not always one so beautiful here to make it truly complete.” Aleu looked at him, feeling her breath shaking, and she turned toward him. He ran his paws over her, feeling the shape of her shoulders and neck. “Exquisite…” he said softly. Aleu was breathing hard, and closed her eyes at the fabulous passion pouring through her heart, making her insides feel as if they were leaping.

Balto was walking and speaking with Nava when he saw Aleu and Camyar on the snowbank. He stopped and looked at them. Not one to overreact or act in haste, he decided to ask Nava what was happening. “What is Camyar doing with Aleu?” he asked. Nava looked up at the two. “Ah! Do not worry, Balto. You see, Camyar seems to have feelings for Aleu and wants to see if she shares them. Right now, he is showing her how he feels.” “So this is just…courtship, basically?” “Correct. Let us watch.”

Aleu took a trembling breath as Camyar gently caressed her. “I truly do love your eyes,” he whispered. She opened them, letting him stare into them, and he leaned in slowly. “If I may,” he whispered, touching his lips to hers. He waited a few moments to see how she would respond. For a few seconds, she had her eyes half closed, panting heavily. She opened them all the way and smiled, sighing. Camyar smiled as well, and kissed her again. He continued to do so, kissing her neck, face, and chest, every kiss a gentle, soft press of his lips on her body. After a few moments of this, Aleu leaned forward and kissed him back.

“Oh,” Nava said. “The female does not usually kiss back in these engagements. Aleu does not know that, of course. Let us see what Camyar does.”

Camyar was very pleased, a little startled, but not overmuch. He sat for a few seconds, looking at Aleu, and they began caressing each other and kissing over and over. As Balto watched, a smile came over his face, to Nava’s surprise. “Most fathers do not like this,” he said. “You are taking it rather well.” “Well, thing is,” Balto said, “I probably wouldn’t like this too much, but…that’s exactly like how her mother and I kissed on one of our dates. I remember how wonderful it felt. I’m happy for Aleu.” He kept watching them. “So what happens now?” he asked. “When they finish this,” Nava said, “Camyar will give her one last kiss, a very serious one. If she returns it with the same fire, that will tell him she feels something for him as well, and they will spend the night together. Mind you, nothing will happen that will go any further than what you have already seen; it is merely the male’s way of thanking the female.” Balto nodded and turned back to look at them.

Camyar and Aleu moved apart, both gasping for breath. “Camyar…this is amazing…” Aleu whispered. “Yes, it is…” he replied. He held her to him, his nose an inch from hers, then moved forward that inch, slowly, giving Aleu a deep and passionate kiss. She put her paws around him and pressed back, putting all of her feelings into it. She wanted to show him, and he accepted it. After several seconds, they moved apart, smiling. “Thank you, Aleu,” Camyar said. “Thank you, Camyar,” Aleu said.

“So she does favor him,” said Nava. “He is lucky; you have a beautiful and pleasant girl.” Balto smiled, watching Camyar speak softly to Aleu.

“Come,” said Camyar. “It is my pleasure to share my nest with you tonight.” Aleu was startled. “Um…you don’t want to, ah…” “Not to mate. I am merely sharing my nest with you. It is out of gratitude, you see. You have offered me a glimpse into how your heart sees mine, and I must repay that. Now that we have shown each other our feelings, we must allow them to grow. Spending this time with each other will forge a connection between our hearts. It is a wonderful thing.” Aleu smiled. “In that case, I’d love to. Thank you.” “As I said, it is my pleasure.” They went off to Camyar’s nest, which sat on the side of one of the many rocky hills around. The nests around it were all empty. “Where is everyone?” Aleu asked. “They are guarding the meat,” Camyar replied. He smiled at Aleu. “We are fortunate. It is not often that a couple like us can be so alone during the nest sharing.” She giggled, and they lay down in the nest, cuddling up to each other. For several minutes, they held and kissed each other, then talked until they fell asleep.

Balto was somewhat nervous about the nest sharing, and Nava reassured him. “I can understand that this worries you,” said the elder. “They shall not mate. Camyar will respect your daughter.” “Good. I know I can trust Aleu as far as this goes; she’s been asked before and said no.” “A good girl. The nest sharing is a happy thing. You were right in being happy for Aleu, instead of suspicious. For all you have claimed you have done wrong with her, you actually sound like quite a good father.” “Well, whenever I try to think that, I always get hit with the thought that I made her run away, so I must be lousy.” “I think it is different than that, Balto. You must speak to Aleu about what was in the note she left you. I know it is painful, but it is the only solution.” Balto sighed. “You’re probably right. I’ll wait till tomorrow. She has better things to think about tonight. Do you think she’s really falling in love with him?” “I do not doubt it.” “Wow…I’ve thought about this ever since she was born. What kind of guy she would meet and all that…now it’s happening. It feels like it was just yesterday that I named her. Wow. Is Camyar a good wolf, Nava? Is Aleu making a smart decision?” Nava smiled. “Camyar is one of the most good-hearted wolves in this pack, and he is intelligent and strong. Aleu is well in her choice.” Balto nodded. “I always hoped she would choose a decent man. I’m going to sleep, okay?” “Certainly. Goodnight, brother.” Balto went to the nest he had been given and lay down, his mind full of thought. He couldn’t believe it. Aleu had been out in the world for only a few days, and already she was seriously falling in love. Talk about a big step. He smiled, truly feeling happy for her, and shut his eyes.

The next day, late in the afternoon, Aleu went off exploring. The land was simply beautiful around where the pack was staying. There were mountains visible all around, covered with snow, like the icy landscape below them. Trees dotted the lower parts of the mountains, reaching up towards the rocky slopes below the snow line. Aleu eventually made her way to one of these slopes, actually a steep hill of bedrock. On the side of it, she saw a small cave, and entered. It was rather dark; even the light from the entrance didn’t fill it because of a small turn after the opening. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she saw that the cave was unoccupied. She had at first thought that a dark lump in the center of the cave was someone, but when her eyes adjusted, she saw that it was merely a rock with a curious shape on the top. She walked further in, most of the way to the back wall.

Light flooded the cave, and Aleu gasped with surprise and whirled around. The light was coming from a formation of ice crystals on top of the rock, which had lit up from the inside, casting beams of light all around. She smelled something, like…burning wood. She slowly approached the crystals, wondering what was happening.