tail drop and laid my ears back. Someone was breathing behind me.

“He’s right behind me, isn’t he” I gulped.

A low growl behind me answered my question. I whirled around and sank my teeth into what ever I could reach for. It seemed like it had to effect at all! The wolf grabbed me by the back of my neck and simply threw me. My feet didn’t stand a chance on the snow and I slid across the snowy ground, yelping in shock. I heard a snarl and turned just in time to see the wolf grab Yukon’s front paw and send him sliding right into me. Atka jumped out as well and snagged the wolf’s tail. The wolf muffled a yelp and grabbed Atka’s tail. She yelped and dropped the wolf’s tail. He dropped her tail but smacked into her. Her light body was no match for his muscled one. Just as Yukonand I were apart, Atka ploughed into Yukonwho flattened me once again. As we untangled ourselves, the wolf came closer.

“Haven’t you done enough damage!?” he growled.

We had no idea what he was talking about. But still, the wolf’s eyes blazed as he closed the gap between us.

“I know who sent you” he spat.

            “You know Ba-.” Yukondidn’t get to finish before the wolf grabbed his foot and dragged him away.

I jumped at the wolf and knocked him down. But he just stepped right over me as I slid away on the patch of ice. That was stupid… I should have seen that…

“You guys picked the wrong day to mess with me!” said the wolf, mouth twisting into a cruel smile.

Atka snarled and jumped, but the wolf was expecting it. He tried to get out of the way but their shoulders clipped. Atka’s front paws hit the ground, slipped and her chin slammed into the patch of ice. The wolf pushed her onto her back and put all of his weight on his paw at her chest. Defeated, she froze, pinned against the ice- covered snow.

“If you want her to live, don’t move” the wolf said quietly.

What did he want from us?! Yukon and I froze where we were. We didn’t say a word. The wolf shrugged and went for her throat. My blood ran cold and at the same time, Yukonand I scrambled to our feet but it was impossible to get any footing on the ice. Suddenly, the wolf let go. Yukonand I stopped moving again. The wolf closed his mouth and sniffed Atka.

“Atka?”

He jumped off of Atka, who was astounded and shocked.

“Yukon? Nero?” the wolf said, looking between me and my brother.

I cocked my head and tried to understand. So much had happened in two seconds.

                        “Are you Buck?” Atka inquired.

The wolf nodded, expression blank.

“Sorry” Buck said plainly. “You guys just caught me at a really bad time”

He turned around and started walking away. When he noticed we weren’t following him, he looked over his shoulder.

“Are you coming with me or not? If you guys stay on your own, you’ll be goners”

 We all hurried after him, trying to find powdery snow instead of the slick ice-snow. Atka and Yukon led, I followed. Something was missing though… my collar! Panicked, I looked down at my chest for the familiar slivery glimmer. It was gone. I really was in the wild now…

Buck, Nero, Atka and Yukon (c) me

Balto and Aleu (c) Universal