her blood.  Her white fur was almost matching the snow being just a few shades brighter.  She glanced to where Christa had landed, anger once again flaming in her eyes.

            Christa glared at the she-wolf, knowing that she was going to die at the paws of a wild animal.  She painfully got to her paws and faced the wolf, growling.  If she was going to die, she wouldn't go without a fight.

            The two females studied eachother for a few brief moments because Aniu lundged at Christa.  She hit the husky hard, sending them both rolling through the snow.

            Aniu jumped to her paws, ready to end the husky's life when Christa leapt at her.  In supprise, the she-wolf grabbed her by the back of the neck and threw her into the nearest tree.  The she-wolf gasped as the husky hit a broken off branch, hanging there.

            Christa looked from Aniu to the branch in horror.  She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.  In a mater of seconds, the husky went limp, her head rolling to the right.

            The she-wolf started at her body.  She started to turn but didn't get more than three steps before she collapsed.  Aniu knew she wouldn't make it- that she was going to die.  With determination, she dragged herself back in the direction of the den.  She could feel her strength- her very life- ebbing away with each passing second until she could go no further.

            She glanced towards the sky, praying that Balto and Tara had made it somewhere safe.  She hoped they could survive without her and Luca to protect them. 

            The she-wolf laid her head on her paws, her breathing labored.  She gazed up in the sky, knowing that Luca was waiting for her.  That soon her pain and suffering would be over forever.  She knew that Balto and Tara would be all right.

            And they aren't alone, she told herself.  They have eachother and I'll always be watching over them.  The thought put her mind to ease.

            She closed her eyes and soon her chest ceased to move.

            Aniu was dead.

To Be Continued...