river, “Take the pups and get them away from here! Make for Cloud Runner’s territory, she’s friendly to us. I’ll draw them away!”

            “Ruth, wait, I don’t understand. Draw who away?” Jacob replied, taking Isha by the scruff of the neck.

            “No time! Run!” Ruth cried.

            With that, she sped off in the direction of the howls, hoping to lead their pursuers away.

            Jacob looked to Fen in confusion, but Fen pulled Ana onto his back and picked Ranok up by the scruff of his neck.

            “Ruth’s never been one to joke,” he said, “Whoever’s coming, we have to get away from them!”

            Jacob nodded and the two began to run. As they did, though, a though struck Jacob.

            “But Fen, what of the rest of the hunting party?” he said suddenly, “When we sent them back to rest…!”

            “…We sent them right into a trap,” Fen moaned.

            Balto sighed and looked down at Jenna as he stood over her.

            Jenna smiled up at him and held him close, like a warm blanket she never wanted to relinquish. They kissed gently, and she felt her heart beating faster by the second. She felt him nuzzle her lovingly, and she met his gaze.

            Just then, his eyes began to glow a pure, brilliant yellow. Yet his expression never changed. Before she could say anything, they changed back.

            Oh well, she thought, maybe its nothing.

            “Are you warm enough?” Balto said slowly.

            Jenna nodded and smiled again.

            “One last time,” she whispered.

            Ruth ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear their laughter echoing among the trees as they closed the distance.

            The bridge, she thought, I have to reach the bridge.

            She spotted the river up ahead and swung to the right, following the flowing waters. Strangely, the sounds of her pursuers began to fade, and suddenly all she could hear was her own paws in the snow. Praying that she had finally lost them, she ran faster, and her heart soared when she spotted the bridge. She leapt onto it, and was already halfway across when a wolf jumped out of the bushes on the other side and blocked her way.

She skidded to a stop and staggered back and forth on her precarious crossing. Behind her, she heard the panting breath of two others, and realized that they had been waiting for her. 

            “…so you see, that is my offer, Tes,” finished the shadowy figure, “You command your troops as part of my new order, and reap the benefits. You will be restored to your former positions, and your warriors will be able to protect their own clan again.”

            Tes glared at him. Though he could not see his face, or any part of him for that matter, he knew he was the leader by the authority in his voice and by the guards on either side of him. Tes also knew that he was either a wolf or a human’s dog, but it would be impossible to tell until he could see him properly. The similarities between the two groups were many, especially in the dark.

            “No, you’re lying, Lord Shadow,” said Tes defiantly, “You say you would have me regain my honor, but this would only take it away. To serve an invading pack willingly is unforgivable! I will not accept your offer, and neither will my troops.”

            There was a long pause.

            “Then you may go,” the shadowy leader replied.

            Tes turned and left, flanked by two guards.

            As he watched him leave, the leader snorted in disgust.

            “It seems as though your speech didn’t work, my lord,” commented one of his guards, the scar across his eye twitching as he suppressed a laugh.

            “Then I’ll have to use other methods to convince him,” his lord replied, “Nemec, do you remember those three wolves we captured about an hour ago?”

            “The hunting party? Yes, my lord,” replied Nemec.      

            “Kill them.”

            “Yes, my lord.”

            Nemec started to leave, but stopped when his lord called.

            “Nemec.”

            “Yes, my lord?”

            “That name the prisoner called me, Lord Shadow, I like it. I think I shall keep it.”

Chapter Three

            Cloud Runner rose early, and left her den quietly so as not to wake Desai. She scented the air and sighed happily. The snow was receding, the last bits of ice in the river had melted, and the trees and flowers had begun to bloom. Summer had returned to Alaska. As she looked out through the trees onto the grassy plain beyond, she took in the peaceful quiet all around her. She lay down in a patch of snow and let her mind travel back in time.

            Echo and his children had arrived at her clan seeking refuge after the murder of his mate and clan. She had gladly opened her territory to them and, one summer after his arrival, inducted Echo and his three pups into her clan. That had been almost three summers ago.

            Since then, little brown Kantu, his grey brother Kemen, and their white sister Laila had all grown into fine young adults, and were all excellent hunters. In addition, Kantu and Kemen were training to join Desai’s warrior unit. Echo, proud and happy for his children, had continued to age in peace, though he sometimes wept at the bitter memory of Vella, his loyal mate, being taken from him so violently.

            Just then, the wind carried new scents to her nose, and she turned in surprise. Across the grassy plain, she spotted two males running toward her. Normally, she would have seen this as a diplomatic errand from one of the neighboring clans, but she suddenly realized that they were carrying pups with them.

            Fen’s legs pounded the softened earth, his heart thumping wildly as his lungs burned from the length of their flight from danger. Glancing to the side, he saw that Jacob was still keeping up with him, though his breaths were rapid and labored. Then again, he was carrying Isha and Ana. Just then, a voice from up ahead brought him back to reality.

            “You there, are you alright?”

            At the edge of the forest in front of them was a small band of wolves headed by a stunning white female. She stepped toward them as they slowed to a trot and then stopped. Fen indicated to Jacob and they both bowed their heads in respect. Though Fen had never seen this female before, her caring but firm tone identified her as the leader of a clan; he suddenly realized that he had likely wandered into their territory without their consent.

            “Forgive us, kind eva, if we are encroaching on your territory,” he said while respectfully bowing his head again, “but we are in dire need of help.”

            “Your intrusion is obviously not intended, so you need not worry about that,” she replied, “But please tell me what has forced you to run for so long. You look as though you are about to collapse. And whose pups are these, since you two are quite clearly not the parents.”

            “They are our leader’s children, kind eva,” Fen replied