was for all wolves, and the gray female was no exception. Aniu knew what was meant to be and what the future held, and the white wolf was the being that met every lupine that followed her with open paws once they passed away, whether they were very old or even the tragically young. Young Jadze wasn’t afraid of death now that it was a sure thing for her, especially since the bleeding refused to stop and her breathing began to slow. He only wished that he had the power to save his niece – she didn’t have to have her life end this way . . . not as young as she was.

 

“. . . I love these trees . . .” Jadze began to look around at the beauty of nature around her. She chuckled lightly. “ . . . they were such . . . such good hiding places . . . while I trained outside . . . Tiru and I would . . . would always try to . . . scare Raize and the others . . . when we leapt out . . .” The memory of her sisters and brothers made her smile. She let out a soft sneeze as a soft flake of white landed on her nose. “ . . . Ah . . . the snow’s always nice, huh . . . Tiru always was . . . was so hard to find in . . . in the snow . . .” A few more fluttered down, surrounding her gaze and starting to cover her fur instead of melting at the instant touch of her warmth – she was beginning to get cold, almost becoming frozen.

 

Shadow noticed this and immediately took action. “Jadze . . . Jadze?” The snow covered more of her body, refusing to melt. He nudged her with his nose and felt how cold she was. “Hey, don’t you fade out on me, Jadze! Not yet . . . not yet!”

 

She continued to speak, completely ignoring Shadow’s words. “ . . . the sky . . . so dark and . . . and beautiful . . .” Jadze’s voice was quieter now, and she seemed to sound rather delirious. She was fading fast. “. . . the snow . . . and a bright light . . . it’s drawing me . . . closer . . .” Her eyes took a final glimpse of the nature around her and closed slowly. A smile came upon her face at whatever she could see and a sigh escaped her lips. “. . . it’s so . . . warm . . .” Within a matter of seconds, she was cold and still, her form was blanketed with the white snow.

 

“Jadze . . .?” Shadow called her again, shaking her gently. She didn’t respond at all, but that soft smile remained on her face. “Jadze? Jadze!” He continued to shake her; it was a tad more violent this time and tears dripped from his eyes, melting some of the snow on the gray female’s lifeless body. “Jadze, no! NO!”

 

Shadow didn’t notice that behind him a vision of a white wolf and a young gray she-wolf were silently watching him grieve over the body. The larger of the two was the ivory lupine, looking rather motherly and safe; the younger gray was unafraid and nodded to the larger wolf. In a moment, they soon made their way into the woods, disappearing into a blizzard wind of snow.

 

 

 

Of course, Shadow knew there was no way he could ever forget losing his brave niece in front of him. I understand your reasons, Aleu . . . He thought as he looked at his mate and his new and perfect daughter. Little Jadze was sleeping against her mother, with each of her colored eye-patch markings visible to his gaze.

 

The risks are far too great . . . and I just don’t want to lose another Jadze again . . .

 

 

Chapter VII

 

It was daylight before Aleu finally got to rest. She was tired, exhausted from the events of the overnight – her delivery of five stillborn pups, her ‘death’ and revival, and the return of one of the dead pups to her side. Aniu had kept the promise that Aleu’s fallen niece and sister as told her – the last-born daughter was given a second chance to live, and Aleu had felt necessary to name her little miracle ‘Jadze’ out of memory of those that she had met when she had last been in the cave.

 

Of course, most of her family instantly thought that naming a pup that would curse the newborn’s future, as well as bringing back tragic memories of the two children that were lost far too young. However, Aleu was still as stubborn as ever – she had a hunch that Aniu meant for her newest daughter to return to life, but for what, not even she knew.

 

Shadow stood guard at the inside opening while his mate and daughter slept. Timbre had been thoughtful enough to give him the day off to stay by Aleu’s side instead of serving on the day sentry job; of course, he offered to lead the night security team, only because it was in his blood to maintain his role as the leader of his ever-changing team of gallant wolves that defend the Clan.

 

He felt quite blessed to have been given such a darling little pup, but a part of him still wanted to tell his mate how he felt about naming their daughter in Jadze’s memory. He was a bit fearful for Little Jadze, and of course, that fear was natural for any father.

 

I want her to live, Aniu . . . Shadow prayed in his mind to the lupine goddess. I watched Melody’s daughter suffer and join you too early, . . . Balto had lost a daughter tragically as well, . . . and I don’t want my daughter to follow her namesakes at such a young age, that’s all . . .

 

She’s just so precious to me right now . . .

 

He remembered the conversation that he and Nava had once that horrific memory of Melody’s daughter left him fearful . . .

 

 

 

The tan elder wolf approached the red male, easily sensing trouble about his thoughts. Even after all these years, Nava still had that way about him – he always seemed to know when someone needed advice or guidance. “Shadow, may I have a word with you?”

 

“Oh, of course,” Shadow followed him outside of Aleu’s quarters. “What is it?”

 

Nava cleared his throat before speaking. He was old after all, and his voice was a little low and hoarse. “Being worried all the time will only make life harder; what’s causing you to seem so troubled, Shadow? I’ve never seen you like this before.”

 

Shadow sighed, drooping his head. “I . . . I had a memory of when Melody’s daughter . . . when Jadze was killed . . . it haunted me, terrified me . . .”

 

“Ah, so that is what’s bothering you,” Nava understood. “It must have been hard to see your niece fall so suddenly like that, but these things, although tragic as they are – always happen for a reason. I know it may be hard to understand as a father, but the future is unknown to us – everyone has their own destiny to uphold, even though some may not know exactly what they are meant to do until the time arrives. Aniu is quite a mysterious deity, you know.”

 

“I know, but . . . I’m just . . . I just don’t want . . .” Shadow stumbled on his words, unable to figure out how to begin exactly what he wanted to say.

 

“If the name ‘Jadze’ is bothering you, you should tell Aleu your feelings, Shadow,” Nava concluded from his observations. “It’ll only continue to worry you as long as you keep it inside.”

 

“That’s the problem,” Shadow sighed. “I don’t know how to break it to her that I don’t approve of naming our daughter after her.” His head drooped. “I . . . I don’t want her to think that I’m against her too . . .”

 

“If she really loves you, then I’m sure she’ll understand the way you feel,” the elder wolf shaman replied as he began to walk away.

 

“But when? When can I tell her?” Shadow asked, his expression easily showed how frantic he was. “How will I know when the right time is?”

 

“Ah, the right time will come,” Nava left his parting words to the new father as he hobbled back down to his shelf den below where they stood. “You’ll know when the right time is, Shadow. You’ll just know.”

 

 

 

The right time . . . Shadow let out a deeper sigh, shutting his eyes a bit. When is the right time?

 

When is it, Aniu . . .?

 

“Shadow?”

 

The gruff voice of Balto made the red wolf gasp suddenly. “Oh, it’s just you, Balto.” Shadow sighed, relieved by his father-in-law’s presence. “You should be resting after such a long night.”

 

“I’d say the same thing to you, Shadow; your eyes are already drooping from a lack of sleep,” The hybrid chuckled lightly, but his expression turned to one of worry. “So, how is she? Are they both all right?”

 

“Aleu’s sleeping right now – she’s been asleep since daybreak,” the proud father told him. She deserves the rest after what she’s been through.”

 

“What about Little Jadze?” Balto seemed to murmur the name as he said it. The family had agreed to call her ‘Little Jadze’ for now, so that in future conversations they wouldn’t confuse Aleu’s new daughter to the other two they had lost. Of course, the problem of what to call her once she grew up would be something for them to think about later – the thought of ‘Jadze III’ was common, but out of the question.

 

“Well, from what I’ve seen, she’s doing just fine,” Shadow looked back to where Aleu slept. The tiny beige pup was hidden carefully under her mother’s tail, sleeping serenely. Her eye-patch markings of red and gray-brown were as clear and distinct as day. “It really is a miracle that she was brought back to life.”

 

“I wouldn’t have believed it unless I had seen it,” Balto managed to smile at that thought. “That goes for both Little Jadze and Aleu.” His smile began to turn straight. “What about you? How are you holding up, Shadow?”

 

Shadow sighed loudly. “I’m not sure about all of this. I mean, I’m glad to have a new child and all, but . . . but I’m just worried about Aleu. I was so afraid that I had lost her this time . . . and I blame myself . . .”

 

“But you don’t seem to show it,” Balto commented, much to Shadow’s own surprise. “You’re too proud to show some of your

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