find that she had done little, aside from complaining. “Do not worry,” said Muru. “The answer for how to heal the bond between your hearts is already inside yours. You will realize it soon enough, I have no doubt.”

Aleu and Muru spent the rest of the day together, speaking about their lives, ironing out some mistakes in Aleu’s combat technique, and discussing legends of the wolves. Muru recalled several stories known among mice, sharing them with Aleu, who listened eagerly. However, they were cut short when Balto suddenly arrived. “Aleu!” he called, walking quickly into the cave. “Aleu! There’s trouble!” Muru trembled slightly. “I can feel something terrible happening with the pack,” he said. “No kidding,” Balto replied. “Niju’s shown up. I don’t know what exactly he wants, but he’s not being friendly about it. If you ask me, I think there’s going to be a fight.”

“Nava, I will offer one last time.”

Niju had appeared suddenly, without his pack, bringing an ultimatum. The choice was either allow him to take over leadership of the Shavenya, or suffer battle and likely death with it. Right now, he was speaking to Nava, who was standing his ground bravely, the pack surrounding them in a large circle, refusing over and over to step down from his position and allow Niju to become the elder. “And once again,” he said, “I refuse! You cannot convince me to give up, you black-hearted worm!” Niju narrowed his eyes, just slightly, in a threatening expression. “Do you truly want it that way?” he asked. Nava spat at him. “I tell you now; I will defend this pack until the end!” Niju sighed. “Pity…stupid old one…” He leapt at Nava with a growl, tackling him and rolling several times. Nava ended up on top and struck Niju’s face, knocking his head against the ground. Niju kicked Nava in the stomach, knocking him off to the side, allowing himself to get up. Nava bit onto his back and tossed him, sending him sprawling, and dove at him, trying to inflict some bite wounds. Niju hopped to his feet and twisted his body, letting Nava hit the ground, and then rushed forward. Nava fended him off with his paws, keeping Niju’s teeth well away from his face. He tried to get up, but Niju turned around and kicked him in the ribs with his hind legs, knocking him down again. Nava tripped Niju and got to his feet, and they charged each other, trading a rapid string of bites as they shoved against each other, struggling to push the other over. Nava finally won, knocking Niju down. He stood up and bit the elder’s shoulder, shoving at him and unbalancing him. Nava hit the ground hard, his breath escaping his lungs quickly in a strangled gasp, and he stood up, charging right at Niju. He ducked low and bit Niju’s leg, but he retaliated, striking Nava in the head. The elder moved back, and they began trading blows and bites. Soon, however, it became apparent that Nava was tiring. The elder went for Niju’s ears, but he ducked and swung a paw up, cracking him hard in the jaw. Nava recovered after a second or two and rushed Niju like a bull, plowing into him and knocking him over. Niju bit onto Nava’s left front leg and yanked, twisting it and taking him off his feet. Nava cried out, his leg nearly sprained, but still he got up. It was no use; Niju swung his paws hard, battering his opponent down.

Nava breathed hard from pain and exhaustion, lying on the ground at Niju’s feet. Niju was panting a little, but for the most part, it was as if he’d hardly fought. “At long last, I have beaten you, Nava. How does it feel to know that all of your struggles have been for naught?” Nava looked up, his face contorted with pain. “I am not finished, Niju.” The evil wolf laughed, shaking his head. “What are you fighting for? Look around you! This pack does not trust you anymore. See for yourself!” Nava began looking slowly around at the members of the pack, sure he would find some loyalty. However, it couldn’t have been anything farther from. All he saw were faces that had lost any care for him, that care having been replaced with distrust and rejection. “My loyalty is with you,” a voice said. Nava saw Camyar walk out of the group. “Ours as well,” said Orkaan and Erana, as they followed him. “I am honored to serve you, Nava,” said Xaikel, stepping forward. One other member of the pack, a young female hunter, came forward as well, but that was all: just five out of dozens. Nava, now in tears, gestured with his paw for them to stand back in the group. “I am overwhelmingly grateful to you few, my devoted friends, but you have lives left to live, and families. Please do not pit yourselves against Niju for my sake.” He looked down, tears dripping from his eyes, and Niju stared at him, shaking his head. “Lay there, you wretched old wolf. You should have given up a long time ago; it seems the pack does not care enough about you to be worth your time.” He turned and began walking off slowly, smiling, but suddenly heard a noise behind him, and turning around, he saw Nava standing. “I am an elder, Niju,” said the poor old wolf. “And although I have nothing left, even though this pack, who I have loved…” His voice broke, and he had to struggle to continue speaking, “…betrays me…” He stood tall, courage and dignity in his face. “I will stand.” Niju began walking slowly toward him. “You fool,” he said. “Shall I destroy you, then? You are alone, Nava.”

“I will stand beside him!”

Nava turned his head, uttering a phrase of hope. Niju turned as well. Aleu was walking toward them, with Balto behind her. He stopped and stood with the rest of the wolves, and Aleu stared into Niju’s eyes. “Nava won’t meet his end today if I can help it.” “Well, hello, little girl. I would advise you and your father to stay out of this; interference is stupidity.” “I’m not just going to stand by and let you enslave this pack! I challenge your claim on them!” Niju’s face turned furious. “So be it,” he growled slowly. “Reap the whirlwind.” He and Aleu began circling, and Balto helped Nava limp out of the way. “How can Aleu fight him?” Nava said quietly. “He has learned the Shirae arts, both combat and emotional influence.” “Who is to say she does not know them?” Nava turned and looked at a rock next to him where the new, small voice had come from. “Muru!” exclaimed the elder. “You taught her?” “Yes. I am worried; Niju has great power by now…but there is hope.”

Aleu and Niju kept eye contact as they slowly circled before the elder rock, maintaining a few yards distance between each other as the pack watched. Niju surprised Aleu by smiling. “It is difficult to believe this. You are nothing but a weak little girl. Where do you get the notion that you can match me in combat? Do you honestly think that just because that mouse taught you the ways of the Shirae you can defeat me?” Aleu wondered how on earth Niju knew that Muru had trained her, but she guessed he was probing her emotions and feeling her skills. She felt for it, his presence in her mind…yes, there it was. She shoved back at him, and he withdrew, almost flinching. He shook his head. “I will tell you only once again, Aleu. This is idiocy. My business with this pack is not something you should stick your nose into. Do you understand what I am saying to you? You are a weakling! You are completely unfit to challenge me, and besides, what good will it do this pack? They need someone strong to lead them. That is why he cannot…” Niju stared at Nava, “…and you cannot. This pack is mine. You cannot possibly guide them over the ice; if you tried, you would merely be the first of many to die. ” Aleu felt doubt moving in her heart, speaking to her head. “He’s right. I can’t even deal with my problems with Dad. If I try to lead this pack…it’ll be no good. It’ll never work out. I can’t do this. I just can’t…” Aleu lowered her head, and Niju smiled, feeling his victory approaching. Then, Muru’s words rang like thunderclaps in Aleu’s mind: “You shall find all the strength you need, if only you trust in your heart.” Aleu narrowed her eyes at Niju. “And what if you take them?” Niju straightened a little, surprised by the question. “What do you mean?” “What do you think will happen if you take them? You seem to forget, Niju, you kidnapped me and took me to your pack. I saw the way you make them live! If you take them, they’ll all die horrible deaths under your paw of pain and blood! I can rescue them from you! I know I can! They need me, and I can do it! I’ve been weak before, but I’m putting that behind me!” Balto stared at Aleu, a proud smile making its way onto his face. Aleu continued, her voice a strong and determined shout. “I will not let you take them, Niju!” She stabbed into Niju’s heart with her Shirae skills, making him feel the fear he had been trying to force upon her. Then, he leapt at her with a mighty roar. Aleu leapt as well, and they bit each other in midair, coming down on their feet.

Niju charged Aleu, his body low to the ground, and Aleu stepped to her left and bit onto his scruff, twisting and throwing him off his feet. Niju jumped up and kicked Aleu hard in the jaw with his hind legs, and he whirled around and bit her right front leg as she regained her balance. She struck him in the face with her other paw, her claws leaving ugly cuts on his cheek. He tackled her, and they rolled around on the rocky soil, biting and scratching viciously. Niju used his body weight to throw Aleu off of him, and she landed on a rock, letting out a cry of pain. She struggled to her feet as Niju approached her, and then flung herself back to the ground, barely avoiding his teeth as he jumped at her. She got up, and Niju turned around. They moved back and forth, tensed, ready to spring, their eyes locked together. “You have no idea of what you have done,” Niju said, his voice low. “Getting yourself into this?” He shoved into Aleu’s heart so strongly she couldn’t resist, and he poured in fear. In Aleu’s eyes, Niju became a hellish beast with fire licking all over his fur and