head.

‘I’m fine, just disappointed I didn’t catch that fish and I'm cold from the water!’

‘Don’t worry there’s more fish down here come on you'll warm up soon!' Balto said as he watched Lucan run forward towards the fish, but Balto couldn’t help but know something was wrong…Lucan didn’t seem like himself but Balto just shrugged it off as they went to play.

Later that night in the den when Aniu and Balto were asleep Lucan was wide awake and was constantly watching the den entrance because he was scared that the husky was going to come down and hurt his family. Hearing his mother yawn Lucan looked over to her and for the first time noticed how large and sharp her teeth were. Shuddering to himself Lucan shifted a little way from Aniu before putting his head on his paws and falling asleep.

In his sleep Balto had felt movement and slowly opened his eyes and noticed that Lucan had moved away from them, looking a little confused balto put his head back down on his paws thinking that perhaps he had just rolled over in his sleep and that was all nothing to worry about.

Lucan was running as fast as he could away from a horrible monster but he was to small to escape in time and the creature leapt in front of him with their mouth opened wide showing huge teeth, ‘No…no…’ Lucan wept as from out of the shadows Aniu, Balto and the other wolves appeared all with teeth barred bearing down on him.

‘No!’ Lucan yelled in his sleep waking both balto and Aniu up.

‘Lucan whats wrong?’ Aniu said moving over to Lucan who looked up at her.

‘I just had a bad dream…’ He said looking away as Aniu laid back down beside him.

‘Don’t worry you’re safe now.’ She whispered gently as Balto sleepily walked up beside Lucan and yawned.

‘Yes your big brother will protect you from those evil dreams.’ Balto said before lying back down on the ground and instantly falling asleep. Lucan looked at his brother before slowly resting back down but for the rest of the night he couldn’t sleep and any sound made him jump…During the night he couldn't help but think what was he thinking? This was his family now they would never hurt him…Aniu loved him like her own son…Balto was his brother, they would never hurt him, but why was he starting to have these doubts about them?

‘Can you believe we will be going hunting with the pack tomorrow!” Balto said jumping on top of Lucan who had been snoozing in the sun.

‘I know, it will be very exciting…’ Lucan smiled thinking of himself as the best warrior in the pack and able to fight against anything and win. Looking up into the sky Lucan knew that the Husky would be wanting to met him soon and he wasn’t sure whether or not to see him or not, this was noticed by Balto who took a step back from his brother with a worried expression.

‘Lucan you haven’t been yourself since that strange creature tried to catch us.’ Balto said looking at Lucan who laughed.

‘I’m just tired I couldn’t sleep last night after my bad dream.’ Lucan lied looking at Balto who just walked up to his brother and smiled in a comforting way.

‘Don’t worry Lucan rememeber you are part of this pack and we will make sure nothing bad happens to you…’ The two brother shared a smile when Lucan slowly stood up.

‘I just need a drink I’m really thirsty.’ Lucan said looking towards the shallow river as Balto laid down on the ground.

‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Balto said stretching out in the sun and smirking as Lucan shook his head.

‘No brave Alpha Balto I think I can handle anything!’

‘Yes sir Alpha Lucan.’ Balto laughed as he watched his brother run off towards the river as fast as he could.

Lucan laughed as he ran because that morning the brothers had decided that when they were old enough they would both run the pack together and be great leaders like their mother Aniu, but as Lucan walked around the small bend in the river he looked up at the Husky looking down at him and almost instantly more doubt entered his mind about what he was even doing here…he could just call out and his pack would come running...but this dog knew something and he was going to find out what it was and then he would call Aniu and tell them.

‘Good afternoon.’ The Husky said looking down at the pup who frowned up at him.

‘I’m not here to play games…tell me how you know my name or I will call my mother.’ Lucan said looking at the Husky who sighed.

‘That wolf isn’t your real mother…’

‘She is! And tell me how you know who I am!’ Lucan said loudly holding back the tears from his eyes not wanting to believe the truth.

‘I knew your parents well…they were killed…’ Lucan felt himself tense and his eyes turning into a frown but he kept listening, ‘…they were killed by wolves and some how you escape and I must bring you home…’ It was at that moment Lucan’s whole world stopped, every thing went silent, his heart stopped beating and when ever he tried to speak nothing came out.

‘You’re lying!’ He said closing his eyes. ‘My mother would never kill dogs…Aniu and my pack would never do that…’ Lucan said shaking his head as tears began to flow down his face.

‘Come with me…I will save you and we can destroy these wolves together…get revenge for the death of your parents.’ The Husky said wide eyed looking down at Lucan who frowned and shook his head.

‘No you’ll never hurt my family.’ Lucan spun around and began to run away but the Husky quickly caught up to him and stopped him.

‘You’re living with killers you should either get away now or you’ll be next! Tomorrow more men and I will return to destroy these wolves now you can either come with us to your real life or stay here with these…killers…and share their fate’ The Husky said as Lucan pushed past him and ran back into the shallow river away from him, The Huksy remained where he was a smirked after him.

Once Lucan was far enough away he collapsed beside the river and began to cry as he looked at his reflection in the water, he looked so different from the other wolves, but he was so similiar to that husky, but his family weren’t killers, Aniu and Balto were his real family, he couldn’t let anyone hurt them but did they really kill his real parents like the Husky said? because if they did the Husky was right...but they wouldn't...so it must be a lie...it had to be. 

Balto who was nearby was beginning to worry about his brother who had been gone for so long so he quickly walked down the edge of the river where he saw Lucan looking down at his reflection. ‘You were gone awhile I was worried.’ Balto said sitting down beside Lucan who looked up at him.

‘Balto…you’re not a killer are you? Neither is mum or out pack?’ Lucan said turning to Balto who looked a little shocked.

‘Of course not Lucan…now come on I think mother has returned with something to eat!' Balto said jumping up and running over towards the pup sitter who was calling out for them.

As Lucan stood up he took a deep breath and turned away from his reflection in the water and as he walked back to the den to Aniu he looked up at her and felt a warmth as she smiled down at him and Balto, she was his mother and there was no doubt about that but why weren’t the words of warning passing his lips…why he couldn’t tell her and the others of what the husky told him. As he looked around at all the wolves he was starting to see them not as a loving family but as how the Husky told him…and the husky knew best right because they were the same but these wolves were different then him...

‘Hurry up Lucan or I’ll eat everything!’ Balto yelled as Lucan snapped out of his daze and turned to his brother he was motioning him over to get something to eat.

Aniu watched her two pups and had also noticed that for the past few days Lucan had seemed more distant from the pack and even herself and the only wolf he was really talking to was Balto. She watched her sons calmly as the Beta male walked up to her, ‘We will be ready to leave in 2 days Aniu and we will go far from this place.’

‘Thank you Beta, the further away we are the best it is for the pack and my sons.’ Aniu said looking back at them.

The next day whilst Balto was playing outside the den with a strange feather he had found Lucan was pacing from side to side in front of the den, jumping at any sound or movement. Aniu was nearby was snoozing happily in the sunshine whilst the other pack members were either asleep or in conversation with someone else about the move that would be happening the next day.

‘Lucan come over here and look at this!’ Balto said pulling at the feather with his sharp little teeth as Lucan ran over to him.

‘Balto…I…I need to tell everyone something.’ Lucan said sounding scared and panicked as Balto looked at his brother.

‘Don’t worry there is a meeting tonight maybe mother will let us stay up and listen and then you can speak then?’ Balto said continuing to play with his feather.

‘No please come with me to speak to mum.’ Lucan pleaded looking at Balto who dropped the feather and nodded as the two walked over to Aniu who slowly opened her eyes and looked down at the pups.

‘Yes?’ She asked gently as Balto turned to Lucan who took a deep breath and started shakily.

‘Mother…I…’ but Lucan didn’t get to finish as a sharp thunderous crack echoed throughout the area causing all the wolves to immediately jump up in fright.

‘Beta quick get everyone out of here…run as far as possible and don’t stop!’ Aniu said leaping up and turning