turned back to Dash, “now, come here sweetie,” she said. “Mom,” Dash said, “don’t call me that.” “Why not,” Jenna said. “’Cause I don’t want everybody to think I’m a baby.” “Dash,” Jenna said, “you are six months old, you are a baby.” Jenna walked over to him. She bent down and looked at the large splinter. Then quickly she pulled it out with her teeth. “I am not, I’m growing up,” Dash retorted. “Oh, you’re such a big boy,” she said, smiling, “but you know what?” “What mom,” Dash said. “Know matter how old you get as long as you live you’ll always be my baby. I don’t care if you’re fifteen. I’ll always be there for you, I’ll always take care of you.” “Is this going to hurt?” Dash asked. “I pulled it out already,” Jenna said. “Really, I didn’t feel it,” Dash asked, “are you sure?” Jenna bent down and picked up the piece of wood. And placed it in front of him. He smiled. “Melody, let’s go again,” he said. He pounced on his sister and the two of them rolled off of the pile of logs. Jenna smiled and walked back across the street. She laid back down on the porch and resumed watching the kids. As she did she couldn’t help but smile; she had the perfect family…

CHAPTER VI

I had the perfect family,” she said aloud, “but now something’s missing… someone.” “Are you alright,” Shadow said from behind her. She turned around, a single tear rolled down her cheek. She took a deep breath. “I guess,” she said. “Jenna…” Shadow started, “… I don’t,” he stopped. “It’s my fault that your son… Dash was lost. “What?” Jenna asked, “how could it be your fault.” “When the battle began, Dash and I fought back to back. He took the ones that were behind me and I took the ones that were behind him. We were doing fine, then I turned around. I heard something…Aleu. I didn’t think and in that split second…Dash’s back was open. A wolf sprung at him, we were fighting near a rock ledge. The wolf knocked him down and he fell over the edge. It was a good twenty-foot drop. The wolf that attacked him took off and I ran to the edge. Dash was down there, he wasn’t moving, but he seemed to be all right. Then a new wave attacked and I had to help out. When the battle was over I went back to find him… he wasn’t there. I thought maybe he just got up and came back. So I looked for him among the survivors… he there either. I went back to where he’d fallen and in the mud were drag marks. I don’t know what happened. The marks ended at the cave entrance. I went a little farther into the woods… and I…” he stopped and looked at the ground. “What?” Jenna asked. “I found a trail of blood… quite a bit. I’m sorry,” he said, “I thought you deserved to know the truth.” Jenna just stared at him. “Anyway,” he said, “I’ll understand if you never speak to me again.” “Don’t be silly,” Jenna said. “It… It wasn’t your fault anymore than it was Shasta’s.” She sniffed. “Dash knew that this life was dangerous.” “He believed in the pack.” Jenna didn’t know what else to say. “I’m going to go to bed,” she said, quietly. Shadow nodded, turned and walked away. Jenna did the same.

The next day Melody and Timbre were playing in the forest. It had stopped snowing hard last night. Now the snow just drifted through the air. Melody was breathing hard, her breath a cloud in front of her. She was crouched down behind a snowdrift. She was hiding. She stuck the top of her head over the drift. She could see Timbre about thirty five yards away. She couldn’t make up her mind about Timbre. She was beginning to like him, a lot, but she didn’t know how a relationship between them would work. She sensed that he might feel the same way about her. She’d have to think about it. He turned and saw her. Then he took off running at her. She laughed and took off running. Timbre caught up to her quickly; he was a good runner. He jumped and hit her in the side with is head. The two of them hit the ground and rolled over and over. When they stopped, they were covered in snow. Melody smiled. “You’re it,” he said. She laid down and covered her head with her paws, while shadow went to hide.

Shadow ran to one side of a little clearing about a hundred yards from Melody. He was having fun. It’d been a while since he played with anyone; he’d forgotten how he enjoyed it. He was starting to get attached to Melody; he didn’t know where this would lead him. He wondered if she could be persuaded to betray… no she seemed loyal. It was too bad she was really nice, but the mission came first. He just hoped that she didn’t get in the way. He saw her coming. She saw him right away. He hadn’t hid on purpose. It was more fun to let her chase him. She started to run. Suddenly a loud boom reverberated through the woods. Melody collapsed in mid run. Timbre dove to the ground. A flood of emotions ran through him. He waited for a little while, she didn’t move. Timbre hung his head. “Why,” he said, aloud.” He found himself having to fight back tears. He’d really cared for her, and not until now had he realized it. He turned to walk away. He’d have to tell her parents. They’d already lost their son, what would this do to them. They seemed like nice people. He was almost sorry for the part he played in their loss. “Is it clear,” He heard Melody’s voice and turned around to see her stand up, and crouch down. He took off running and collided with her. The two of them rolled over an over. When they came to a sop he got up and walked over to her. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck. She just smiled. “Are you alright?” Timbre asked. Melody nodded, “Sorry if I scared you. Dash…she stopped, he taught me that. The humans don’t want to shoot wolves for food or even hide anymore. They just kill and leave. It’s a good tactic, so long as you don’t give me a heart attack. “Melody,” he said, “I realized something wen I thought that you were dead.” “What?” Melody said. “Let me see,” he said, “how can I say this.” “You don’t have to,” she said. She smiled again. Wow, he thought, she is beautiful.

They were walking back into the cave, when Timbre saw Aleu, standing at the entrance. He also saw a wolf from the pack sneaking up on her. He had an idea. He ran forward and leapt in the air. He hit the wolf in mid leap. The wolf bounced off of the rocky floor, jumped up and ran off. “Thank-you, Timbre,” Aleu said. Melody just smiled at him again. Aleu walked back in the cave. Shadow stayed outside. “Timbre,” he said. “That was great,” “thank you.” “Just trying to do my part,” he said. I’ve got several spots open on our squad, you want one?” “Yeah,” Timbre said, that’d be great.” “Alright, come to the meeting tonight and I’ll see that it gets done. Then Shadow left as well. Timbre turned to Melody. “I need to stay out here for a minute, alone, “ Timbre said. “Why?” Melody asked, “I was going to introduce you to my parents.” “Alright,” he said, “just give me a few minutes, okay?” “Alright,” Melody said, “but hurry.” “I will babe,” he said. She just smiled at him again and walked back into the cave. Timbre watched her go, and then he walked out into the woods a little ways. “What were you doing?” Iimos said. “We were trying to take out Aleu and you jumped right in the middle of it. I think you are getting too attached to this pack.” “Guess what I just got for “jumping in the middle of it?” “What,” Iimos said.

Melody walked out of the cave. She needed to find Timbre, to talk to him about this security detail thing. She didn’t like it much. There was a reason Shadow had so many spots open on it. She didn’t want to lose him. She hoped she could convince him to turn it down. She walked out of the cave a little ways and picked up his scent. She followed it to a small clearing in the forest. Timbre was talking to another wolf. She almost yelled out his name, but she stopped. Something didn’t feel right. They were whispering and Timbre was looking around an awful lot. She decided to do a little spying. She crawled through the snow-covered underbrush, using it as cover. She got close enough to hear their whispers. “Guess what I just got for “Jumping in the middle of it,” Timbre said. Melody was confused; he sounded almost… mean. She’d never heard that tone in his voice before. She didn’t like it at all. “What?” The other wolf said. “I’m on their security force, I’m going to get to protect Aleu.” “That’s perfect,” the other wolf said. “I know,” Timbre said, “we won’t even have to attack again, just let me take out the leader.” “Melody felt as if