Niju was about to say something, but all of a sudden Aleu mad a sudden gasp. Her head was high up as she stood right up. Her sad feeling in her face and tone was gone.

 

Aleu: Oh, no! The clan!

 

            Niju looked out the cave in the direction Aleu was looking in. The clan was walking in the woods about thirty feet from the cave. They weren’t looking in their direction, but they were in full sight.

 

Aleu: Quick! Hide!

 

            Niju stood up quickly.

 

Niju: Hey, wait a minute.

 

Aleu: Shush! Hide!

 

            Aleu pushed Niju behind the wall of the cave. 

 

Aleu: Wait here. Don’t move.

 

            Aleu walked out in the open towards her clan. Niju poked his head slightly from behind the wall to see what was happening. She had just reached the clan, trotting up to them.

 

Aleu: Hi, everyone. How’s it going? 

 

Sarah: Hey! Where’ve youbeen?

 

Aleu: I was out here.

 

Sarah: Everyone else was at your dad’s. Why were you out here all night?

 

Aleu: I don’t know. Just used to sleeping in the woods I guess.

 

            Balto came up from behind Sarah. 

 

Balto: You shouldn’t leave without your pack, Aleu. It’s irresponsible.

 

Aleu: I know papa. Sorry guys. I just got a little side tract.

 

Sarah: Side tract? By what? 

 

Aleu: I don’t know, just…

 

            Then Farris came out from behind Sarah. He had been trailing behind, hence not seeing Aleu the same time as the others.

 

Farris: Aleu?

 

Aleu: Farris, hey.

 

            Farris walked up to her, not at all happy with her.  

 

Farris: Where were you?! Do you know how worried I was?

 

Aleu: Farris, calm down. I was just sleeping out here for the night.

 

Farris: Why didn’t you tell anybody about it?! We wouldn’t know if something could have happened to you, do you know that?!

 

Aleu:  I can take care of myself, Farris. Yes, I know I didn’t tell anyone about it, and I’m sorry.

 

Farris: Well, just tell someone next time!

 

Aleu: Watch it Farris! Don’t forget who the leader of this pack is. And your tone won’t be tolerated!

 

            Farris was taken back. She had never really commanded him like that. Aleu started to walk away, and the others started to follow.

 

Aleu: You’re not my father, Farris.

 

            Balto looked at Aleu, then at Farris. He was frustrated with what she said, as he watched Aleu walk away. Then, thinking about it for a while, he began to feel bad. Aleu was right. She was the leader and he shouldn’t have talked to her like that. Balto then started to follow Aleu and the others.

            Aleu had never talked to Farris like that. And they had never really raised they’re voices at each other. He knew that he had to stop worrying about Aleu so much, but he was a little hurt from what she had said. After a while he started to follow the others.

 

_

 

            Niju was still hiding in the cave. He didn’t hear anyone speaking anymore, so he thought it would be safe to take a peak.

            The clan started to walk away. He kind of expected that. He knew that they wouldn’t let Aleu go back in the cave without them coming with her. And he knew Aleu wouldn’t do something like that. He looked around for Aleu. She was slowing down as the others head in the other direction. She stopped and looked over at Niju. She looked at him with a sorry expression and mouthed: I’m so sorry.  

            Niju looked at Aleu with a smooth expression, forgiving her, mouthing: It’s ok. I understand.

 

            Balto looked back at Aleu, being the last one to follow the clan.

 

Balto: Aleu. Are you coming?

 

Aleu: (Still looking at the cave) Yeah, papa.

 

            Aleu walked up and stood beside her father.

 

Balto: Is everything alright?

 

Aleu: Yeah. I’m fine.

 

            Aleu gave her father a reassuring smile. Balto smiled along with her and they both walked beside each other deeper into the woods with the clan. 

 

 

Chapter 23

 

            Aleu and her clan had gone deep into the forest to have they’re catch of what was on their menu for the morning, moose. They had spotted a male on his own out in the open. He was munching on grass, as all deer, moose and caribou do.

            Everyone was in their own positions in the several groups of bushes surrounding the moose. Aleu and her father where in the bushes to the near left. Aleu hadn’t hunted with her father in so long, she couldn’t even remember. So hunting with Balto was a privilege for her.

            Aleu and Balto were lying as low as they could while still on their feet, staring at the moose and then at the others, or at least what she could see of them, which meant they were pretty well hidden. She was so proud of them all; it looked like she was doing a pretty good job as alpha-female.

 

Aleu: Hey, papa.

 

            Aleu was doing her best to whisper as quiet as she could.

 

Balto: Yes, Aleu.

 

Aleu: When was the last time we hunted together? It sure has been a long time.

 

Balto: Well, when you were about one and a half years old, I was first teaching you how to hunt. You were having some trouble at first, but you got better real quick.

 

Aleu: Yeah. I remember all those times I practiced on Muk and Luk.

 

Balto: Yeah. How could I forget that?

 

Aleu: Ah, those were the days.

 

            Balto looked over at her grown up daughter. How he could just remember all the things they did together when she was just a pup. He really missed that.

            Aleu looked up at her father with a smile.

 

Aleu: I really missed you, Papa.

 

Balto: So did I, sweet heart.

 

            Balto gave her daughter a little nuzzle, and she nuzzled back.

 

Balto: So did I.

 

            Aleu looked around at the others behind they’re bushes. They were definitely ready to bring this moose down. Nuk looked hungry, as always.

            He looked over to Aleu, hoping for the signal. Aleu nodded her head in approval.

Nuk smiled and gave everyone else the signal. Once Aleu saw everyone was ready, she hit her paw three times on the ground.

            When she hit the ground the final time, she yelled out.

 

Aleu: Now!

 

            The moose look up almost immediately, but by the time his head was up, they were already half way to him. Aleu’s clan was surrounding the moose from all corners, there was no where to run.

            Farris really looked like he wanted to take this moose down, even more than Nuk. He was snarling, he looked so angry, but that’s what every wolf does to frighten they’re prey, but he looked really angry. Besides Aleu, he was the closest one to the moose.

 

Aleu: Alright everyone, let’s go in nice and slow, but at my mark, and at my mark only, attack. 

 

            Farris looked over at Aleu, and then over at the moose. He was still a little worked up about the little argument they had that morning. He felt like he had to let out his anger.

 

            Farris was in pouncing position, he was ready to attack. Aleu noticed this.

 

Aleu: Farris, not yet; at my mark.

 

            Farris ignored her and started to run towards the moose.

 

Aleu: Farris! What are you doing!?

 

            Once Farris was about five feet from the moose, he made the jump.

 

Aleu: Farris! No!

 

            The moose had turned his head fast and hit Farris hard on the side with his antlers.

Farris made a loud and high pitched

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