instantly.” Aleu sat there, trying to fight down her nausea and fear. “Is that not a nice, happy little tale?” Niju said, leering. “Ah, well. Thankfully, I do not share Shadow’s weakness. I doubt I shall ever be as powerful as he, but I am learning.” He closed his eyes, sighing. “Yes, I do not share Shadow’s weakness, but…” He opened his eyes. “That does not mean I do not have desire of my own.” He smiled wickedly, and Aleu’s blood ran cold. “You are a very beautiful girl, Aleu.” “Please, no…” she said, standing and backing up a step. Niju took one step forward. She took another step back, terrible fear rising inside her. Niju took another step forward. “Oh, please, Niju, no!” Aleu cried. She took another step back.

Niju took two steps forward.

“No! NOOO!” Aleu screamed, stumbling backwards and falling in the snow. She saw the look in his eyes. It pierced into her heart, filling her with terror, and she couldn’t look away. There was no escape. She was at his mercy. And she knew what he was going to do to her. He jumped on her and went to lick her neck, and gasping with fear, she closed her eyes tightly…

“CAY YAS! CAY YAS!”

Aleu tried to remember whom the voice belonged to that had just uttered the Itera Ada battle cry. Niju looked up, growling, then looked back down at Aleu again. “You wait…” he began, but then, a snowdrift burst, and Nava flew through the air, smashing Niju to the ground. “Lay there, scum,” he growled. “Aleu, come. Your father and I will get you out of here.” Niju began to stand, but by the time he succeeded, the other two had faded into Nava’s pack, which was retreating, their surprise attack having worked; they had rescued Aleu.

An hour and a half later, Aleu rested under the spreading branches of a pine tree, shaken up and disturbed by what she had seen and heard…and what had almost happened to her. She heard someone approach, and turned her head. It was her father, with a look of compassion on his face. “Hey, sky eyes,” he said softly. Hearing her pet name soothed her like always, but not much this time. Tears threatened to spill, and she tried to keep herself together. “Dad…um…” He walked over and lay down, hugging her comfortingly. “Oh, Dad…” she moaned, “he told me this…and he…he tried to…he was going to…” She burst into heavy sobs, and Balto rocked her back and forth, humming a gentle song and licking her head and face. Aleu’s tears eventually stopped, and she went to sleep. Balto got up and left quietly, not wanting to wake her. He found Nava sitting on a hill. “I am happy that your daughter is alright,” said the elder. “There is no telling what Niju would have done. He is simply cruel; he deliberately told Aleu that story before he tried to mate.” Balto shook his head. “I have a score to settle with him now. No one does that sort of thing to my wife or daughters and walks away without scars.” “Balto, my friend, do not entertain such thoughts. Going after Niju would be suicide, to put it as bluntly as possible. He will suffer retribution in time, whether at your teeth or not.” Balto nodded, sighing. “I know how it makes you feel,” said Nava. “I have not been in your exact position, but I have seen it happen to enough wolves to understand. Go and sleep now, brother. Worry not about Aleu. I shall sing the song of Meiydres over her, and she will be protected in her dreams, finding safety and comfort there.” Balto smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Nava.” “It is nothing. Sleep now. Nycas luken-eous xasama.” Balto nodded and lay down over on the snow with the rest of the pack. He heard the song coming from where Aleu was sleeping. As a child, he had heard the story of Meiydres. She was an elder, one who had possessed an uncanny ability to heal the hearts and souls of others. The song she composed was used widely as a lullaby and a song of comfort, and was said to drive away dark feelings and fear. Aniu had sung it to him when he was a puppy, and hearing it now brought back wonderful memories of his mother.

“Daama shikeiy saba-euo…malva tucrez yatma puo…
Morshra ec nar preisam teiy…nava fiir nohsam os ceiy…
Aam-ti-rii euo rya…gamranosha ec vy xa…
Feigr munam iisocii…nercru evneraz mha yii…

Nycas luken-eous xasama.”

The last line meant “peace come to your heart” in Itera, and had become a common phrase in that speech. Balto smiled, certain that Aleu would be safe in her sleep, but as the night progressed, he couldn’t wander into dreams of his own. He was kept awake by his mind, which bombarded him with thoughts of all that Aleu had been through since she ran away from home. He was worried sick by it all, everything that was happening to his daughter. She shouldn’t be here; she should be at home, in safety. All of this was dangerous, and Aleu wasn’t ready to handle… His mind slowly switched tracks at this point. The realization hit him that Aleu had already been handling it all, and quite well at that. As he realized this, he also thought that maybe he had been wrong to put himself between her and the world so much for so long. In any case, she was doing quite nicely so far, especially considering that the wolf world was ten times as harsh as Nome. He smiled and stood up, walking to the tree beneath which Aleu had fallen asleep. He sat down there, watching her for the longest time. “I’m really proud of you, Aleu,” he whispered. “Your dad loves you.” He kissed her on the cheek, tousling the fur on her head gently, and went back to bed.

Nava stared out over the water, troubled deeply. The blue expanse waited to be crossed. The ice was there, as always. But although it appeared the same, it was different. He was different. He had crossed the water with the pack many times, but that had been before, when he was young and strong. They looked to him still for strength, not knowing how little of it he had left. “Can I do it?” he wondered. “Can I lead them across again? I am old and tired. But I cannot let them down…oh, what am I going to do?” He began speaking a verse of elder poetry in an attempt to calm himself, but his strong voice turned to a broken, cracking moan rapidly. He lay down, tears leaking from his eyes, although his mouth didn’t utter a sound. Part of being an elder was being alone. No one could help you with problems; you had to find solutions on your own. Normally, no matter how hard it was, this did not affect Nava, but now… He loved the pack, and he loved being like a shepherd to them, but he was an old shepherd, and if he couldn’t take care of them anymore…then he couldn’t be their elder anymore. A sob escaped his throat, followed by more. As he plunged into despair, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Aleu. “What’s wrong, Nava?” she asked. He regained his composure, heartened by seeing a friendly face. “It is a problem that I am trapped in.” Aleu lay down next to Nava. “What is it?” she asked, and he replied.

“You recall that I told Niju the caribou are becoming scarcer?” “Yes.” “Every year, when it becomes colder in the winter, the caribou travel by the land to the other side of this stretch of ocean, where there is more grass to eat. So us wolves will not starve, we must follow them, but if we go by land, we will not get as much food as they do, and many will become weak and either not be able to keep up with the pack or die of hunger. Hence, we must cross the water here, going over the ice, so we can arrive there just before the large herds. My trouble is that crossing on the ice is very difficult because it is new ice, broken up, and not thick and strong yet. The elder must lead the pack over, making sure they are on safe routes and avoiding dangerous ones, keeping the pack together and unafraid, assuring that no one is left behind or drowns, and many other such things. I have done it before, for many years, but now that I am old, I fear I no longer possess the strength that is required. It takes a great deal of physical exertion, you see. I have courage enough, of that I am certain…but I have great doubts about my strength. That is what is the matter. I love this pack, Aleu. I do not think you know how much I love them. I only wish to do for them what an elder is expected to do. I do not want to fail them, but since I am the elder, it is a problem only I can deal with, and I feel alone, with no one to help me…” He sighed shakily, his emotions again manifesting themselves on the outside. Aleu nuzzled him comfortingly. “From what I’ve seen, I think you’re a really great elder.” Nava smiled a little. “I am glad you think that way, but you have not lived the life of a wolf. It is harsh, and the elder must be able to do what is necessary for the pack, because the pack needs a leader who can take proper care of them. I believe this pack at least sees me as a friend, and an acceptable guide, and that is what I am so afraid of not living up to. But as I said, I am glad you feel I am a good elder.” He nuzzled her back, and she smiled. “Perhaps you should go to sleep, sister,” he said. “Only if I know you’ll be alright,” Aleu replied. Nava smiled. “I will now; I feel better. I shall bed down for the night as well.” They both returned to their nests, but Aleu stayed awake, thinking about what Nava had told her. He was in such a terrible position…he was kind as could be, and truly knew how to lead a pack with fairness and honor, but it was a cold natural truth that eventually, age would finally come between him and his duties. Aleu couldn’t imagine the pack merely discarding Nava like an old shoe when that day came, but she knew that regardless of what happened, he would probably be the one who suffered most. “I hope that day is long in coming,” she thought, before drifting off.

The translation of the song of Meiydres:

Ever I wish to adore you...by night watch the stars with me...
Heartfelt is this song you hear...gently soothing pains and tears...
All at once you feel...a dream is given life...
Sleep silent long...awaken happy at