simple…”

            “Sure it is. I have a mate, and Steele was going to mess it up for me” he said, slipping back into memories.

“What’s your family like?” I asked curiously. "You have two pups, right?"

    "Nope, six!"

I spent most of the night talking to Balto. He told me about how he had saved the town, about his journey, his mate, Jenna and his six pups, Aleu, Kodi, Denali, Yukon,Saba and Dingo. I told him about Ataneq, how I was leader and Boss. Then the sun started to lighten the sky. Like the sky, my mood had changed from dark to sunny.

“I should probably head back. I want to talk to Kaya” I said cheerfully.

            “See you later Buck” Balto smiled warmly.

I smiled back and leapt off the boat. I ran all the way back across the frosty ground and when I got back Bristol got up and stretched, a little apprehensive.

            “Was wondering where you where” he said quietly.

“Do you know where Kaya is?” I chirped.

Bristol cocked his head at my suddenly cheerful mood but seemed confused about something else too.

            “I thought she was with you… She went out looking for you last night”

I started to panic, but tried to keep my cool. It hadn’t been that long since she left anyway. I just had to track her down…

“We have to find her… which way did she go?” I said, darting around at the start of the trail.

Bristol pointed a paw, and I bounded down the trail full speed until the trail split. By then, I could smell her scent trail, but it would be easier to look if the pack helped. I threw back my head and howled, calling the pack together. It didn’t take that long since they weren’t very far away, and then we set off as a group.

            “What’s so important?” Bristol panted, trying to keep up.

I ignored Bristol and kept tracking the scent I had just found. But a new smell caught my attention. My heart almost stopped beating and I froze. Bear, who had been walking directly behind me, crashed right into me and bounced off. The pack swarmed around the terrifyingly familiar scent that mixed with Kaya’s sweet smell. Where the two smells mixed, pink stained the light snow. It didn’t look like it came from a serious injury, but still…

            “Buck?” came Bristol’s quiet voice behind me.

I ignored Bristol and a growl was starting to work its way into my throat. My fury was building…

            “Leader?” said Bear, voice small.

I had never felt as angry as I did right now, not even Boss had made me this mad, but then again, he was the one that had caused the humans to come after me in the first place. I picked up the pace, following the human’s scent.

            “Buck! You can’t just go after humans… they’ll kill you…” Bristol argued.

I whipped around and glared at my doubtful pack. They shrank away and Bristol lowered himself, tail tucked between his legs.

“Watch me!” I snarled, whirling back to the trail.

If anything had happened to her, someone was going to pay dearly…

Buck, Kaya, Xenia, Nuka, Boulder and Bear (c) me

Bristol (c) Anileu

Boss (c) Tadie