somehow.  Driven by an utterly overpowering curiosity, I broke off from the group and followed my nose.

I have often thought about that decision, and there have been times I’ve wished that I had just stayed with the group.  But most of the time, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Part Two: Kodan 

It was cold.  I don’t know how cold, but it was too cold.  The sled was almost buried in the driving snow, the musher was frozen solid, and my fellow dogs lay dead or dying around me.  My friend Blizzard lay on top of me, frozen like the rest.  He had died keeping me warm.  And now, as I lay there freezing to death, it seemed his sacrifice would be in vain.  ‘Thanks anyway for trying, buddy,’ I thought as I lay there shivering.  I’m not sure why I directed it to him.  He couldn’t read my mind even if he was alive, and I was sure I’d be telling it to him in person pretty soon.  But it felt good somehow to think any thought, and it was some comfort to think it at him as if he could hear it.  I closed my eyes for what I thought would be the last time.

I don’t know how much later it was when I sensed a presence and opened my eyes.  All I could see was white.  Then two yellow eyes and a black dot materialized, coming toward me.  I tried to keep my eyes open, but the cold air forced them shut again.  I heard voices, but snow had filled my ears and I couldn’t make out what they were saying.  I felt myself being lifted, but the loss of Blizzard’s remaining heat made me black out altogether.  Just before I slipped into oblivion, I managed to plead, “Do something for Blizzarrrrrd.”  Then I was dead to the world.

When I awoke, two hours later as I would eventually learn, I was in a warm place and I felt someone next to me.  Opening my eyes, I dimly saw a snowy-white shape that slowly focused itself into a vaguely canine form.  ‘Where am I?’ I wondered.  ‘Am I dead?  Is that an angel?’  I tried to ask, “Who are you?” but the white dog shushed me.

“Peace,” it said.  “Don’t move.  It’s alright.  Save your strength.”

Too tired to do anything but obey, I closed my eyes.  I felt the angel or whatever it was lie down next to me, and the last thought in my mind was, ‘At least it’s warm here.’

The next morning I awoke to see the white stranger sitting by my side.  My head was clearer now, even if my eyes were taking their time, and I smelled that the stranger was a female.  Noticing the lack of wings, I mentally scratched the angel theory.

“You are awake,” she said softly.

I wanted to stand up, but I was too stiff.  “Yeah.  Where am I?”

“You are in the cave of the Bear Rock pack,” she replied.

“Pack…” I said, trying to take it in with my brain still foggy.  “As in wolf pack?”

She nodded.  “Yes.”

“Does that mean you’re a wolf?” I asked.  I could see better now, enough to know the answer before she said it.

“Yes,” she repeated with a nod.  “I am Aniu, daughter of Sequoia and Nina.”  She gave me a look that reminded me of my musher- firm and appraising.  “And you are?”

“Oh, uh, Kodan,” I replied.  I have to admit I was a little scared.  I'd heard a lot of bad things about wolves, and here I was alone in a cave with one of them.  But then she couldn't be all bad, I reasoned, since I was still alive.

She stood.  “You look like you could use a little fresh air.  Want to come outside?”

Hesitantly I rose to my feet.  “Yeah, sure.”  I followed her to the mouth of the cave and looked out at the snow.  That was when something clicked in my mind.  “What happened to the others?” I asked.

She looked at the ground, and I could tell even before she spoke that it was bad news.  “Dead,” she answered sadly.  “All of them.  My brother Khoros and I brought you here.”  She turned to look me in the eye.  “You spoke of Blizzard as we were bringing you here.  Was Blizzard your friend?”

I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat.  “Yeah.  He was lying on top of me to keep me warm.”

“I’m sorry,” said Aniu.  “Blizzard was dead when we got there.”

“He died saving me,” I murmured slowly.  I looked at Aniu.  “Has anything been done for him?”

She shook her head.  “No.  You were so heavy it was all Khoros and I could do to bring you here.”

Now I felt worse than ever.  It wasn’t bad enough that Blizzard had died to save my life, but thanks to me, he had been left out there alone.  “How can you be sure?” I asked, not wanting to believe my friend was really gone.  “He was still giving off heat.  He might have been alive!”

Aniu looked me in the eye.  “I know death when I see it.  Your friend was dead, believe me.”

I can’t describe what it was like, but when she said it I knew with utter certainty that she knew what she was talking about.  “Can I go see him?” I asked.

She seemed confused for a moment, then nodded slowly.  “Yes, we can go now if you want,” she replied.  “I’ll show you the way.  But first, let’s introduce you to my Papa.”

Aniu’s father was gray, but anyone could see it wasn’t from age.  He was lean, muscular, and at least a head taller than me.  “Good morning,” he said in greeting.

I nodded.  “Good morning, sir.  Um, thank you for letting me spend the night.”  I dipped my head to Aniu as well.  “And thank you again for bringing me here.”

“You’re welcome.”  Aniu’s father looked me up and down.  “What is your name?”

“Kodan.”

“I am Sequoia, son of Aram and Serai, alpha of the Bear Rock pack.”

 ‘Oh boy,’ I thought.  I didn’t know much about wolves, but I did know what Alpha meant.  For my purposes, it meant that one wrong word could be my last.  I bowed my head.  “It’s an honor to meet you, Sequoia.”  After a moment I remembered the reason I had come to talk with him.  “Your daughter, Aniu, has kindly offered to take me to where my companions are if you will grant permission.”

He tilted his head.  “Your companions?”

“The other sled dogs,” I explained.  “One of them died saving my life and I… well, I never got to say goodbye.”

He bowed his head, which struck me as an odd gesture from a superior.  “I am sorry for your loss, and I honor your friend’s sacrifice.  You may go at once.  Aniu, show him the way.”

“Yes, Papa.”

As Aniu led me out of the cave, I was dazzled by the bright sunlight and almost walked straight into a large, black wolf.  “Sorry,” I hastily blurted.

The black wolf fixed me with an expression that suggested he had never seen a dog before, and wasn’t at all happy to see one now.  “What are you doing here?” he growled.

I searched my brain, which still behaved like it was half frozen, for an answer.  Fortunately Aniu stepped in on my account.  “This is Kodan,” she explained.  “He’s a guest here, and he has full approval to remain as long as he needs to.”

The black wolf looked from Aniu to me and back again, then walked away growling.

“Now there’s a friendly guy,” I remarked sarcastically.

“His name is Kava,” explained Aniu.

“Your boyfriend?” I inquired.

She made a face that would have curdled milk.  “Thank Heaven, no he is not.”

I nodded.  “I think I’ve seen him somewhere before.  Under a rock.  Maybe a worm or a leech, or a salamander.”

To my surprise, Aniu smiled.  There was a twinkle in her eye as she replied, “It must have been a worm or a leech.  Salamanders are too cute.”

In spite of the thoughts of Blizzard, I felt a slight tug at the corner of my mouth.  ‘At least she has a sense of humor,’ I thought.

Aniu guided me to several piles of snow.  I had to dig at a few of them to find Blizzard, and each dog I uncovered brought a painful wave of memories.  We had been comrades.  Teammates.  Friends.  But none closer than me and Blizzard.  He’d been my buddy since the day I joined the sled team.  Finally I found him, lying on his side where Aniu and her brother had pushed him off of me.  It felt wrong to see a dog who had always been so energetic and full of life now so still.  I didn’t care that I was being watched.  I wept anyway.  “Goodbye, Blizzard,” I said.  “You were a good friend.  I’m sure gonna miss you.”  I placed a paw on his shoulder as if he were asleep and might at any moment wake up and be his old self again.  “You were like a brother to me.  All the toughest parts of my life, you were there through thick and thin.  You always had a joke or a wisecrack.  Bet you’d get a real kick out of a blizzard doing you in, huh?  You always did love the snow.”  I removed my paw and stared down at him.  “They say all dogs go to Heaven.  I don’t know if that’s true, but if there are any up there, I’ll bet that’s where you are right now.”  I choked.  “Are you up there now?  Are you watching me?  Because if you are, I just want you to know that I love you, buddy.  I love you like a brother.”  I brushed snow over his already snow-white body.  That would have to do for a burial until the ground was warm enough to dig him a grave.  “Goodbye, pal.”

I felt a paw on my shoulder and turned to see Aniu standing beside me.  Her eyes were shining just a little.  “I’m sure he misses you too,” she said softly.  “And I know he would be glad you made it.”

I wiped a paw across my eyes.  “Thanks,” I said.  “I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”  I went and brushed the snow over my other teammates.  “I don’t know what I’ll do without them,” I said.

“Well, you have our pack until you are ready to make