they?”

            Luca nodded.  “I have known them since I was a small pup.  Shadow was my swing dog in sled racing.”

            The she-wolf tilted her head.  “What?”

            The husky laughed.  “The swing dog.  He ran right behind me.”

            Aniu nodded.  “Alrighty then.”

            Luca laughed again.  “You have no clue what I am talking about, do you?”

            Aniu tried her best to look offended.  “Yes I do!  I know plenty.”  She sat up and tried to look serious, but ended up laughing.

            The two laughed together for a while then continued to look at the sunset.  The snow looked bright pink.  After sitting out for a while, Aniu started to get cold.

            “We should go back into the den,” Luca said when he saw a shiver escape from Aniu.

            She nodded.  “You’re probably right.”

            They got up and walked into the warm dark den.  When they got in the back, Aniu lay down and covered her muzzle with her tail.  She wanted to rest as much as possible so she would be ready for the long nights with the pups.  Soon she was fast asleep with Luca at her side.

Chapter 10

            Aniu woke to the sun shining in her face.  She stretched and let the warmth flow through her.  She loved the feeling of that in the morning.  After a few minutes, she got up and walked out side to find Luca.  The she-wolf found him a few feet from the den entrance.

            “Hey,” she said kindly licking him.  “Thinking again?”

            Luca licked her back.  “Yeah, but about the pups.”

            Aniu smiled.  “The pups are coming in the next few days you know.”

            Luca nodded.  “I know.”

            The she-wolf sensed something was wrong.  “What?”

            The husky shook his head.  “Autumn’s going to be having her pups soon, too.  I kind of want to see how she is.”

            Aniu nodded.  “If you want to go see how she is, then you can.”

            “No, I'm not going to leave again.”

            “But you want to go see her.”

            Luca sighed.  “A week or so after you have the pups I will then.”

            Aniu smiled.  “Good.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

A few days later, Aniu was in labor.  She was lying in the back of the den straining with Luca at her side.

            “Just a few more pushes and one will be out,” he said comfortingly.

            Aniu looked at him and pushed harder.  Soon, a small slimy bundle was lying on the ground.  Acting on instinct, she reached down and chewed the umbilical cord and licked it clean.  Picking it up gently, Aniu set it next to her so it could nurse.

            Luca stepped closer to look at the pup.  It was a small female that was a light brownish color with white paws and belly; under her eyes where also white.  He looked at his mate and licked her.

            “Just keep pushing, honey,” he coached. 

            The she-wolf strained hard for another hour and soon a second pups was born, this one male and a little darker then his sister.  He also had white circles around his eyes.

            Aniu did the same thing with the new male pups as the female and then relaxed.  He was the last one.  She gazed lovingly at the two pups then at Luca. 

            “What should we call the little miracles?” she asked.

            Luca nuzzled the male.  “Balto.”

            Aniu smiled.  “I like that name,” she said.  Then she looked at the small female.  “How about Tara?”

            Luca beamed.  “Tara and Balto.”

Chapter 11

            “Settle down,” Aniu called kindly as Tara blindly attempted to jump on Balto five days later.

            Luca laughed.  “They sure do like to play, huh?”

            The she-wolf nodded, smiling.  “They only sit still when they are nursing or sleeping.  Other than that, they are moving about blindly running into things.”

            Luca grinned and licked the two pups softly on their small muzzles.  Looking at Tara’s face, his grin got even bigger.

            “Look,” he said.

            Aniu gazed into Tara’s face and also smiled.  Tara’s eyes were opening.  The small female looked into Aniu and Luca’s face with wide eyes.  Laughing slightly, Aniu licked her small pup on the nose.

            “Hi baby,” Aniu said with a soft gentleness in her voice.

            Tara smiled and made a happy yipping sound.  Aniu and Luca smiled.  Then they looked at Balto who was sitting at their feet trying to stumble around.  Aniu laughed and lay down so the two pups could nurse.  As quick as he could, Balto was there, starting to nurse.  Tara, however, wanted to see what this new world looked like.

            “Come on Tara,” Aniu called.  “There will be plenty of time to play and explore afterward.”

            Tara rushed to Aniu’s side and begun to nurse happily.  She loved the feeling of warmth she got when she was near to her brother and mom.  It always made her feel safe and loved.

            “They are so beautiful,” Luca said, gazing at them.

            Aniu smiled.  “Yeah, they are.”

            Luca went to lie next to his mate and pups and started licking Aniu.  She laughed and licked him back.  Their bond had grown even stronger through the pups.  Now they had two more things to love besides each other and they liked it.

            Looking at Balto, Luca noticed that one of his eyes was just beginning to open, too.  Licking him, Balto looked up and made a small barking sound.  He wagged his small tail causing his whole body to move.  The small pups smiled at his parents.

            “Well look at you,” Luca said.  “Aren’t you just growing up so fast?”

            Aniu smiled.  “And do you know who else would be growing up fast?”

            Luca looked at her quizzically.

            “Autumn and Shadow’s pups.”

            The husky looked down.  “I can’t leave you just yet, though.  What if Taluas came back out here looking for you and the pups?  If anything happened to you guys, I just couldn’t live with myself.”

            Aniu licked him.  “Nothing is going to happen to us.  You seem to forget that