*                                  *                                  *

“Come pups,” Aniu called Balto and Tara an hour after they had left the sight of the battle. 

            Balto bounded up to the she-wolf.  “Why was dad and that other dog fighting mom?”

            “They…” Aniu paused not knowing how to tell her pups.  “They don’t like each other.  That’s all.”

            Balto nodded and ran ahead with Tara.  It didn’t take them long to get close to the den.  As they were about to enter the area closest, Aniu stopped them.

            “Let me go first, okay,” she told them, taking cautious steps forward.

            Neither of the pups argued.  They silently watched their mother sniffed around.  Finally, she called them forward.  They ran up to her with eager expressions.

            “Where’s dad at?” Tara asked.

            Aniu sighed, tears beginning to form in her eyes.  “You’re dad isn’t coming back,” she said sadly.

            The pups looked up at her in confusion.  Letting their heads drop, they ran to the den, tears stinging their eyes.  Aniu watched them as she too went into the den.

            “Just get some sleep,” she told them.  “I'm going to go out for a while.  I'll be back when you wake up.”

            Balto nodded as Tara pushed her head under his paw, her small body shaking with sobs.  He laid his head protectively over her as they fell to sleep almost instantly.  Aniu licked each of them as she turned to leave the den.

            As she walked out, she put her nose to the ground.  She knew Luca was dead.  If he wasn’t he would have been in the den waiting for them to get back.  As she looked around, she saw splatters of blood.  Closer investigation revealed to her that most of it belonged to Talus, though.

            Her heart speeding up, she raced in the direction his scent was.  But as she got closer, she started to slow again.  I can’t get my hopes up, she told herself.  I have to be ready for the worst.  Whatever I find, I must be strong.

            She slowed her pace even more and continued onward.  Soon, she was at the river.  Glancing into the water, she saw it was tainted red with blood flowing from upstream.  Running as fast as her paws would carry her, she followed the river, only slowing when she saw a tan and white body.

            The closer she got, the more reality hit her.  Luca’s eyes were sill open in fear and desperation, staring up at her.  She walked into the river and pulled her mate’s sodden body out of the water and laid it in the slightly wet grass.  Blood still seeped out of his wound on his neck.  She licked them and soon they stopped bleeding.  Lowering herself, she laid her head on his and shut her eyes, trying to block out the reality of what had happened.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Aniu opened her eyes and looked around.  It was fully dark out now.  She glanced at Luca’s body and started to cry silently.  Just as she was about to go back to the den, she heard barking.  Lifting her head and perking up her ears, she could tell that it was less than a mile away.  Growling, she took off in the direction of the sound.

            In a matter of moments, the dogs’ scent was strong in her nose.  She peered through the bush she was hiding in downwind from the dogs.  There were five men with them, all holding guns.  The she-wolf growled low, spotting Christa.  Not thinking straight, Aniu darted out of the bushes right at the dogs.

            She smiled as she saw the terror in their eyes.  Even the humans didn’t know what to do at first.  They fumbled with their guns for a second and took aim.  Aniu looked up at them and darted the other way.  It was none too soon. 

            The she-wolf heard a loud bang behind her and a swift movement rush past, barley missing her.  A growl made Aniu glace behind.  The dogs had given chase.  She ran as fast as she could, using the great knowledge of the forest to her advantage.  The white she-wolf ran faster and faster, only one thing on her mind:  surviving for Balto and Tara.

            Soon, she began to tire, though.  She had been running hard with the dogs behind her for almost thirty minutes.  Her muscles started to cramp and her gait slowed.  Thinking quickly, she turned to face her pursuers.

            “What are you doing wolf?” a large male husky asked.

            Aniu growled savagely.  “What do you think?”

            The dogs glanced nervously around as the angry she-wolf walked toward them.  The closer she got to them, the more nervous they became.  Backing up, they saw the determined look in her eyes.

            “You wouldn’t really hurt us, would you?” Christa chuckled.  “I mean… we’re related now by mating!”

            Aniu rolled her eyes.  “Would you just stop your blubbering?!  I'm not going to kill  you!  You see, I- unlike your mate- don’t just kill because I want to.  I show compassion.  But I’m warning you, if you come near my den, I won’t hesitate to tear you apart.”

            Christa looked at her with a hint of mockery in her eyes.  “Whatever you say.”

            The dogs looked from Christa and Aniu, shocked.  As Christa turned to go back to the humans, the rest of the huskies also turned. 

            “Remember what I said,” Aniu barked.  “If you come near my pups, I'll kill you.”

            The dogs all walked away and Aniu let out a sign of relief.  She and her pups were safe.  For now.

Chapter 14

            It had been one week since Talus took Luca’s life and the pups would still go out and look for him.  When Aniu had come home that day one week ago after the dogs had chased her, Balto and Tara both started to play less often.  When they weren’t looking for Luca, they would just lay in the den. 

            “Hey guys,” Aniu said softly, coming into the den.  “What are you two doing?”

            Tara looked up at her.  “We’re wallowing in self pity.”

            Aniu frowned.  “You’ve got to look to the future my pups.”  She paused.  “It’s what your father would have wanted.”

            Balto stood up.  “He should be telling us that himself!” he growled.

            Tara nodded.  “He should.  How are we going to get on without him?”

            I don’t know, Aniu thought.  “We are going to take it day by day, that’s all.”

            Balto and Tara looked at each other and rolled their eyes.  Lying back down, Balto sighed and put his paws over his muzzle.  Tara looked out of the den and shut her eyes, thinking.

            “Mother,” she started.  “You want us to pretty much start over,