leaping up and turning to the Beta who nodded and quickly ran to warn other pack members who weren’t near the den.

‘Mum I’m scared.’ Balto said shaking slightly as more loud noises went off around them.

‘Don’t worry it will be alright Balto and…Lucan!?’ Aniu said turning around only to notice that Lucan had disappeared from beside her. ‘Lucan!’ She yelled in a panic. ‘Take Balto and run I need to find my son.’ Aniu said turning to a female wolf near her who quickly picked up Balto and began to run away.

‘Mum! Lucan!’ Balto yelled watching as his mother disappeared into the trees in the direction that the horrible sounds were coming from and were Lucan had disapeared to.

Lucan ran as fast as he could, he had to tell the Husky to stop this, they couldn’t hurt his family, he wouldn’t let them and would stop them at all costs. Every time a loud bang went off it frightened him even more but he couldn’t stop he had to do this for his family…his real family because he knew in his heart that they weren’t killers the Husky was lying to him and he had fallen for its lies.

Breaking through some low branches Lucan instantly saw a group of men who instantly looked at him pointing their guns causing him to whimper but stand his ground. The Husky he had been talking to ran forward towards Lucan who looked up at him. ‘Please tell them to stop!’ Lucan pleased, ‘Don’t hurt my family!’ he cried as the Husky shook his head.

‘Don’t worry pup you are safe with us now…we will deal with those wolves…’ The Husky said bitterly as Lucan’s eyes widened in terror.

Meanwhile Balto who was being carried off the female was trying to escape her grasp and because Balto was now bigger it was hard to keep him in her mouth and he kept slipping because he was struggling so much.

As they ran another male wolf caught up to them in a panic. 'Hurry we must run...I saw that husky pup running towards the men I tried to stop him but I paniced because of all the men and I had to run.' The male said shaking his head.

'What's Lucan doing?' Balto said looking at the male who just frowned.

'I bet that dog is a traitor...'

'That dog is my brother and he would never hurt us!' Balto cried out looking athe male who just frowned as another gunshot echoed around them.

'He was never one of us!' The male said as he suddenly ran away in fright from the more shots that were going off around him.

'He's my brother...' Balto said frowning and feeling sick inside as he struggled more and more against the females grasp.

Finally after struggling against her for so long the female dropped Balto on the ground and as soon as his paws hit the snowy ground he spun around and began to run back the way he came.

‘Balto!' The female cried out as she stood there trying to see where he had gone but Balto wasn't going to stop he had to save his brother...

Aniu who had been running through the forest instantly saw Locan and the Husky with the men behind him and she thought that he was being attacked. Growling and as like any protective mother she leapt forward in front of her son between Lucan and the husky. She snarled at him and the men as Locan hid behind her legs whimpering and shaking but he knew that now his mother was here everything would be alright and that they would be safe now.

‘You killer get away from that poor defenseless pup!” The Husky growled at Aniu who just snarled at him.

‘That pup is my son!’ Aniu growled in such a low tone that even the Husky took a step back and began to look worried.

'Mother I wanted to make them to stop...to save you...' Lucan said in an almost whisper he wasn't even sure Aniu could hear him as Aniu snarled madly at the men and dogs as she protected her son.

Balto felt his heart beat hard against his chest as ran and for some strange reason everything seemed to be too quiet and it was then that Balto thought that everything must be alright because if those horrible sounds had gone it meant the danger had gone as well, and Lucan and his mother was safe, right?

As he ran all of a sudden came a loud ear piercing sound which made Balto stop and freeze because the sound was so close it rang in his ears. Shaking himself out of it Balto continued to run knowing he had to find his mother and brother he had to make sure that they were safe and were alright and protect them if he had to.

Slowing down to a walk Balto slowly walked under some branches and when he reappeared on the other side of the large tree he saw a lot of men and dogs all walking away from something further into the forest. Quickly lowering to the ground Balto tried to hide until something caught his eye…it was Aniu on the ground but she wasn’t moving.

‘Mum!’ Balto screamed as he ran forward ignoring the men and dogs who completely ignored him as he ran up to Aniu who was lying on the ground with her eyes closed and her beautiful white fur covered in crimson blood. Balto was to devastated for words as he fell down beside Aniu and began to cry not even noticing Lucan who walked up to him looking just as devastated with tears in his eyes.

‘Balto…I…’ Lucan said as Balto turned to him.

‘Lucan we’re leaving come on!’ The Husky cried out to Lucan who hung his head at the disgusted and shocked look on his Balto's face

‘You…’ Balto yelled ‘You killed her! Your killed my mother!’ Balto screamed turning to Lucan who shook his head.

‘I tried to tell her and you...but I was so scared and confused, I didn’t know what to do Balto, oh please forgive me I have been so stupid….’ Lucan said taking a step forward towards Balto and Aniu.

‘Get away from me…’ Balto said in a low voice looking at Lucan who hung his head low.

‘Balto please I didn’t know this would happen…I didn’t want this to happen I was trying to protect you and mother…you're my real family and I realise that now, the husky lied to me...please forgive me...’ Lucan said as tears swelled in his eyes.

‘She was not your mother and neither am I your brother!’ Balto said looking up at Lucan and barring his teeth as warm tears streamed down his face.

‘You’ll always be my brother.’ Lucan said in a whisper out as tears streamed down his face, ‘Balto please forgive me I never wanted to hurt you…I just wanted to have a family and belong…it was an accident she was trying to protect me...please Balto.’

‘Get away…’ Balto said turning back to Aniu as Lucan took a step forward towards them, ‘GET AWAY FROM US!’ Balto screamed as Lucan turned around and began to run away  tears streaming down his face and once Balto knew Lucan was gone he collasped down beside his mother and wept.

Lucan ran as fast as he could until he reached the men and the Husky who turned to him, ‘Come with us Lucan…you’re home now.’ The Husky smiled looking at Lucan who looked up at them with a look of sheer disgust, but he had no where else to go…he had lost his family, his mother, his pack, his brother and he had no where to turn and so he followed these creatures knowing that the wolves could now never accept him. Tears streamed done his face, and he felt a pain inside that you could only have when you've lost someone...he had truely lost his real family and it was his fault...

Later that night whilst Balto cried beside his mother he couldn’t help but think how stupid he was to ever think that Lucan could ever have been his brother...look what he had done…but....why did he feel guilty about sending Lucan away? Balto knew he would only ever have one brother and no matter what he had done they were still family, turning around Balto looked into the forest and cried out, 'Lucan!' When he didn't hear a reply the young pup for the first time howled a tune that was the first and last howl he would make for many many years.

Whilst Lucan walked away with the huskies he heard a distant howl and for a moment stopped and turned around looking into the distance, but he simply sighed and shook his head and continued to walk.

As Balto crawled back over and laid beside Aniu he felt more tears flowing down his face as he wondered where Lucan was and he felt a guilt for sending him away when this was a time they should have been together to comfort each other but Balto knew in his heart he could never forgive Lucan but they were still family wern't they? Hearing a strange voice suddenly made him look up, ‘Hello…’ came a voice as Balto turned around and looked up at a strange white bird looking down at him.

That night whilst Balto laid beside this strange bird he felt a strange warmth and when he looked up towards the moon he knew inside that Aniu was there looking down at him, and that he would always be safe...in a mans hut many miles away Lucan laid down on the floor watching the moon and he too felt the warmth of his mother and he knew that she was out there and would always look after him, because she was his mother...and Balto his brother...

'My sons...live long happy lives and remember the bond between family...brothers is ever lasting and although you will live your own lives remember that you will always have a brother and a mother who loves you...be safe my sons...' Aniu's voice whispered in the wind as the two brothers looked up at the moon.

The End