took notice of a cute little rabbit hopping down our path.  I slowly snuck behind the bunny to see if I could get a better look.
   
I was about to touch the rabbit when I heard a high squeal coming out of a nearby bush.  Completely curious I approached the bush.  As soon as I did, a large wild creature tackled me down.  Stunned and ordazed I lied there as the animal tried to bite me.  Luckily to the rescue the wolf lunged at the creature.  He stood over me baring his fangs at the beast.  The hideous monster snorted and charged at my protector. 

I thought quickly and pushed the wolf with my front paws.  I landed on his soft fur as the animal nearly missed us both.  My body was aching from being hit earlier but I managed to stand up.  Not satisfied the beast charged at me again.  This time the wolf actually saved me.  He tackled me to the side and I fell down on the cold icy snow. 

My head was now throbbing, what was this a game of rugby football?  I was being tossed and thrown all around.  Then, everything began to quiet down.  I looked up at the wolf towering over me.  He licked my nose and willingly helped me up, “Not bad house dog, nor bad at all.”




Chapter 4:  New Friendship  




    “ Are you hurt, are any of your bones fractured?” He caringly asked.  I nodded my head and blushingly smiled.  I fell into his soft fur.  He dropped his guard and didn’t move away.  What was I doing, was I falling for this wolf?  I came back to my senses and held back from the wolf. 

    The wolf awkwardly coughed and pranced to his befallen enemy.  “ Well I don’t know about you but I’m hungry all of a sudden.” As he said this he sunk his fangs into creature’s stomach.  I approached my carnivorous friend.  “What is this thing,” I pushed the dead carcass with my paw, “ It has weird horns in its snout.”

    The wolf withdrew from his meal, “They’re called tusks, and this is a wild boar we’re eating.”  I tilted my head, “ a bore…what’s that?”  The wolf arrogantly talked with his mouth full, “ A boar is a pig.”  I sarcastically grinned as I stared at the deceased animal.  I leaned in closer and opened my jaw.  I took a bite out of its belly and chewed. 

    The wolf looked up at me and laughed, “ A tree’s over there…” He probably noticed I was turning a sickly green color.  I rushed behind the tree and hurled.  That pig tasted bad, it was like eating rocks with dirt and a side of grass.  I swayed from side to side as I emerged from the tree.  I decided not to eat that morning; I didn’t think it was even possible in the condition I was in.

    After breakfast the wolf and I decided to stay under a shady tree to escape the rays of the blissful sun.  He rolled on his side and rested himself.  I sat nearby him and kept watch to see if their was anyone around.  The wolf impatiently watched me as I scanned the horizon.  He scoffed, “ Hey I got an idea let’s play a little game?”  The wolf stood up and set next to me.  He then rested his head on my shoulder.   I gulped, “…a game?” What was on his mind?

    “Yeah,” he laughed, “ well typically its not a game, more of a trivia if you might say.  Let me start.  What is your name, house dog?”  I gave him a stern glance.  “My name is Marisa.  Not Marie, not Maris, just Marisa…”
To tell you the truth I didn’t actually like my name, it was given to me by my parents when I was born.  To this very day I still can’t even stand having my name shortened.

    “ Strange name for a house dog?”  I grew temperamental with this wolf’s remark. “Oh yeah, what your name then?”  “My name is Zachary,” the wolf loftily waved his paws through the air. “ But most wolves call me Zac.”  I looked away from him for a moment.  Zachary, I always did like that name.  “ Anyway, here’s my question.  How in the world did I end up with you this morning, I mean seriously a wolf?”

    Zac paused and took a deep breath.  “ Listen it wasn’t my intention in finding you honey.  I was out searching for food when I came across you.  You were totally unconscious when I met you.  All in all you should be thanking me for saving you!” 

    There was a strange silence as he said this.  I gulped; I didn’t want him to get mad…I just wanted to know a little more.  As I tried to apologize to the wolf about what I had said I heard a long and echoing howl form the top of a hill.  Suddenly the wolf grabbed onto my paw and hurled me behind a tree.  I was in shock; I thought we were friends already.  I was about to unleash my anger at him when I noticed a bunch of wolves came marching down the hill.   At first I saw this majestic brown wolf come prancing to him.

    I watched as two little wolf pups followed her.  They were pretty cute; I’d say they looked like Zac a little bit.  The wolfress nuzzled Zac and Zac nuzzled her back.   I leaned back against the tree, was this female his mate?  My heart sunk a little bit, the thought of Zac actually having a mate devastated me.

    I made up my mind to run away.  If they were mates, I wouldn’t want to interfere with their relationship.  I let out a silent sniffle and slowly crept away.  Low and behold, guess whom I bumped into.   It was another wolf; I gazed at the large black wolf snaring at me.  He took his jaw and picked me up like a pup.  He dropped me in front of Zac and the wolfress. 

    They stared at me with confusion and dismay.  The black wolf snarled at me as I stood up.  It was about to lunge at me anytime now.  Zac stood beside me and growled as well.  Strangely he wasn’t growling at me he was growling at the wolf.  He huffed and said, “ Don’t hurt her.”

The wolf snapped, “ and why not little Zachary?”  He gave me a threatening look as if I were an enemy or something.  “Because,” Zac looked at me, “ because she’s my mate!”
My eyes widened and so did everyone else’s.       
 

      

Chapter 5: Say That Again?




    I froze as he said that.  The black wolf gave him a blank and utterly surprised stare.  “Wait, say that again?” the wolfress said in dismay.  Zac sat down, “You heard me…. she’s my mate.”  The black wolf backed away.  “We’ll resume this later young man, first we go home.”

    The black wolf turned his back at me and howled at the pups to follow after him.  The brown wolf gave me a reassuring smile as she followed the large male.  Zac gave out a chuckle as he gently nudged me. 

    “ What were you thinking making me pose as your mate, I mean we just met this morning!”  I angrily whispered in his ear.  Zachary yawned.  He simply passed over me and walked beside the black wolf.  I would have to say for a wolf he wasn’t actually that wise to be toying with a female’s mind.  Hopefully he’ll learn more as time went on.

    Morning turned into afternoon, and afternoon had turned into night.  We had been walking for many hours now and my paws were killing me.   I gave out a quick sigh and tried to look ahead.  In the distance I saw a very large mountain.  Maybe that was where we were going.  I pranced up to Zac.  I noticed that one of the pups was on his back, while the other pup was walking next to the black wolf. 

    The brown wolfress nudged me.  She whispered in my ear, “ Don’t be afraid of my mate Karu, he can be kind of a mean wolf sometimes.”  I nodded my head and smiled. So the black wolf’s name was Karu, and that must’ve meant the brown wolfress was his mate. 
 
    In total I had recalled we had passed a forest, a town, and a frozen lake just to get where we were supposed to go.  When we got to the mountain I swear I had seen about two dozen wolves staring me down.  The black wolf had run ahead and disappeared into a small cave within the mountain. 
   
    Everyone greeted Zachary as he walked in.  It was a like a hero’s return, except it was hard to believe that Zachary could actually be a hero.  I stayed behind as the wolves greeted one another.  It was strange even though they all looked different they formed one pack, one family.

    At the exact moment my mind began racing.  Had I forgotten something important?  My heart leaped, I had forgotten my master!




Chapter 6: A Time to Forgive





    “No, how could I forget!  How could I forget him?”  I screamed.  The wolves’ eyes focused on myself.  Zac rushed towards an unstable me.  “What