steps quiet as the scent grew stronger.

“I smell it too, Nariah,” Hanoki replied in a murmur. “It’s just like you said . . . How odd.” 

“Yeah, it’s quite – wait!” The she-wolf stopped suddenly, quickly shushing the male with her paw. Gazing through the thin blades, her dark eyes thinned at the sight of a grizzly-coated canine of an almost faded brownish-gray lapping up a bit of the fresh lake water with its tongue. Its tan-beige markings were distinct yet indeed lupine in placement and roughness, but its scent and actions were considered awkward to the she-wolf.

“Huh . . . how strange . . .” Nariah tilted her head to the side as the intruder lifted its head up and sniffed the air. “I don’t think it notices us, Hanoki.” 

“Good,” the male had a smirk on his tan and brown splotched face. “”Shall we take it as our prisoner then?” He began to lower himself to the ground, preparing to leap out for the attack.

“Hmm,” the she-wolf glanced back at the trespasser as it walked slowly towards the waterfall, away from where the guards unknowingly lay in wait. “But what if this one’s just a decoy?” 

Hanoki shrugged. “Who cares about that? If we get ambushed, Geona’ll hear our cry. She’s only on the other side of the waterfall. She’ll summon others to help us fight!”

“Hmm. For a young cadet like you, you’ve caught on pretty quickly,” She let out a very low growl, also grinning evilly. “Let’s get ‘em . . .” The gray also lowered her slender body until her head nearly touched her front legs. “. . . NOW!” Nariah leapt far and high from the grass with Hanoki following close behind, letting out a barking charge as they quickly landed into the water with a loud splash . . . and one of them landed on top of the intruding canine. 

“GRRRRAAAAAA!”

The light gray-brown female pounced out from the shadows of the trees, landing on her brown and light-tan tutor. As instructed by White Feather, the wolf, named Everett, was sent to teach Aleu the basics of hunting – mainly the crouching, pouncing, and subtle movements necessary to become a beginner huntress. He was somewhat older than she was, and it clearly showed through his teachings; his style was fluid and elegant, almost as if a single wolf could turn the vicious activity of hunting for food into a beautiful ballet between wolf and prey.  

“Oof!” Everett groaned at the force of feeling the quarter-wolf’s weight on his own. “Wow . . . great pounce, Aleu!”

The quarter-wolf chuckled happily as she allowed her senior to stand up onto his feet. “Thanks. I never knew I had it in me to do that!” 

“Well, you do have wolf in you, but perhaps it’s just starting to stir deep down in your heart,” the male explained, almost exactly to how Geona told her only some time ago. “It’s natural, Aleu, and you’re showing it very well; you know, every wolf is born with this uncanny instinct, and apparently, so are part-wolves.”

Realizing that he was speaking about White Feather, she nodded. “I guess you’re right. It’s strange how someone like me could actually be a part of such an intelligent race like the wolf. It’s amazing . . .”  

“Yeah,” Everett looked back at her, their eyes meeting like destined lovers separated by the hands of fate. “Totally amazing . . .” Clearly, the wolf was murmuring about Aleu’s sapphire and gold eyes, but the quarter-wolf had no clue.

Aleu let out a relieving breath and smiled. “Do you think I’m ready to join the others now, Everett? Could I really be a part of the hunt?” 

“Mm-hmm,” the wolf gave her a single nod. Happy by the news, Aleu nuzzled against him, near to the point of kissing his cheek with her tongue. He flinched back at the strange touch from the young female, but after a few seconds, his body began to relax as he indulged the feel of the quarter-wolf’s fur next to his own. He kind of liked the presence of her by his side, but Everett wasn’t sure this was the appropriate time to admit that, especially since he knew White Feather was surely waiting for their return. “I’m sure you’re more than ready. Are you ready to head back to the Alpha and her team?”

Thump-thump . . . thump-thump . . . 

Aleu’s eyes were closed as she sighed almost dreamily. She had ever felt this way before about anyone or actually had such a feeling like this, . . . but oh, what a strange, wonderful feeling! She could hear the fluttering of her own steady heartbeat against her chest as it pressed against his and joined Everett’s in a pitter-pattering symphony of young love.

Thump-thump . . . thump-thump . . . 

“I want to, I really want to join the hunt, Everett; I really, really do, but . . .” She sighed again, this time in a deeper, more relaxing way than the last time. Aleu was rubbing her nose into his fur, smothering herself in his sweet scent as she finished her thought. “but . . . there’s a part of me . . . that doesn’t want to leave.” Her face had a smile that proved that the words she just spoke were unnecessary in expressing her feelings.

Thump-thump . . . thump-thump . . . 

Everett could also feel the quickening pulse of the quarter-wolf alongside his body, realizing that just as he was beginning to have feelings for the spunky, energetic Aleu, she had instantly gone smitten over the purebred wolf. He returned the smile and lifted her head from his neck until they looked at each other eye-to-eye.

“Aleu,” the words were slowly coming to him, but they were difficult for him to admit. He was falling in love with her too, but her age and spirit were beginning to make him think otherwise. “Aleu . . . Oh, I don’t want to leave you either – I mean, leave here, uh . . .” Quickly catching his words, Everett paused, hoping that Aleu didn’t catch that. 

Thump-thump . . . thump-thump . . .

Unfortunately, Aleu’s cheeks were no longer light beige, but a shade of blush. “And neither do I, Everett . . .” She spoke softly into the space between the two of them. “I know I’ve just gotten to know you, . . . and I’ve only been here for a short time, . . . but . . .” That space was gradually becoming smaller and smaller as their noses began to touch. “I . . . I don’t want to leave you either.” She felt the wetness of their muzzles meeting . . . and began to enjoy it. “Oh, Everett . . . I . . . I . . .” 

“Shh . . .” Everett hushed her with his voice. “Don’t say anything, Aleu; I already know.” He felt the same way, tilting his head to the side a little bit and leaning in to touch the quarter-wolf’s lips.

Thump-thump . . . thump-thump . . . 

Their hearts suddenly became one once more as they began to taste the other within their mouths, embracing one another by the lips without any notice of what the future held for them. This was their first real meeting alone, but they had only taken quick glimpses of each other since last night’s feast – how was it possible for two completely different creatures to instantly fall in love like this?

Was this the fate she was meant to find in the Runaway Clan? Was this what was destined to be in the vision the Great Aniu gave White Feather? 

Aleu didn’t seem to care about that anymore – the anger she had for her father had long ago ceased, cast away by this newfound love she had for Everett, even though it was a strangely unique sensation for them both; but somehow, they wished that this one crucial moment together would last for all time . . .

She didn’t even notice the cool mist that had begun to surround their feet, nearly covering the forest floor. It acted more like a nearly translucent bed of clouds as the male nudged the female onto the ground in a playful manner and continued to caress her as she did the same to him. 

May this never end . . . please, don’t let this feeling go away . . .

An hour had passed before Everett and Aleu returned back through the waterfall and into the cavern. They were flushed in the face and completely filled with laughter – a typical trait for one new to the natural desires of the lively love ritual. It was nearly the end of spring after all, so the natural instincts were still in full force, even for a quarter-wolf like Aleu. They stopped before reaching the entrance of the main chamber, staring each other down with their slightly giddy expressions. 

“You know, I never realized that love could be so beautiful,” Everett panted with a laugh. He was still a bit exhausted from the travels back home, but one may think something else may have caused his fatigue. “You really are amazing, Aleu.”

Aleu gave him a coy look, moving her head to the side in embarrassment. “Oh, stop, Everett; you’re making me blush!” She let out a shy set of giggles before playfully giving him a holding peck on the tip of his nose. “I just hope White Feather isn’t too upset with us not returning to the hunting party. I could clearly smell them coming in here just recently.” She spoke, remembering her training with the brown and tan wolf on recognizing the scents of others and multiple scents in one area. 

“I think she may have other problems to worry about,” the handsome wolf reassured her, nudging the quarter-wolf tenderly in the flank with his nose. “We shouldn’t worry about the Alpha.”

“Well, there you are, Aleu,” 

The sparkling voice of White Feather suddenly caused the new lovers to gasp in shock. Their embarrassed expressions as they lowered their heads in shame and let the sides of their long muzzles touch ever so slightly were not able to assist the Alpha to find any words to pity their actions.

“I had hoped that you would show some promise in becoming a worthy part of this Clan, Aleu; why else would I feel such a strong connection with you?” White Feather’s harsh words seemed to cut like a sharpened blade, wounding the near-yearling into a state of humiliation. “I thought having someone like Everett would