thing was my family. Were they okay? What had Boss done to them? What would they think when I came back? Were they even still alive? What about the rest of my pack?

            “We’re here” Yukonsaid quietly, interrupting my thoughts.

I came to my senses and familiar scents raced back to me. Years ago, I’d stood right here with my father, mother and Balto after we had gone back to my father’s first home. In truth, nothing looked that different. When rain started to fall, I closed my eyes and sighed. Rain would wipe out our scents… if there was ever a time to attack, now would be it.

“Let’s go” I whispered softly.

I led the way down the slippery hill and into my old territory. Even though we were cautious, I would have thought that at least one scout would have found us. But the place was deserted.

“Was everyone okay when you left?” I asked quizzically.

            “Positive”

We continued on and took the familiar trail up to the top of the twin mountains, where the den was. Even that area, which was usually very crowded, looked empty. I peaked in the den. Empty. The last time I found the den empty, I had almost gotten killed. The old feeling crept up again.

“This isn’t right”

            “It’s not like last time” Yukonsaid sharply, reading my mind. “Don’t let it get to your head”

I nodded and continued down the trail leading toward the Northern Territory. As soon as we turned the corner, the sounds of fighting reached our ears.

“Take the trail down and come from behind” I ordered sharply. “I’ll meet you down there”

Yukon nodded and took off. I took a deep breath and jogged over to the edge. Two or three packs were in a vicious fight. I scanned for my family and saw Bristoland Bear fighting side by side, Nuka unconscious, and Kaya, making my heart skip a beat. Where were the pups? Anyu wasn’t hard to pick out, being one of the only white wolves. My heart skipped a beat again, but for a different reason. She was crumpled in a heap, under a tree. What about Sitka?! I searched frantically for her and finally spotted her in the same state as her sister. My temper began to rise. My breathing began to speed up. My heart raced. Suddenly, the fighting stopped. What was going on? I looked where everyone else was looking. Hate burned inside me, stronger then ever before. Boss had Dakota, my son, pinned to the ground and was whispering something in his ear. Then he opened his mouth and tried to finish off Dakota…

“Don’t you dare touch that pup!” I thundered, not able to take it any longer.

            Dozens of pairs of eyes turned to me at once. But there was only one stare that I returned. Boss’s face was a mixture of stupidity, shock and disbelief. I was too angry to enjoy it.

“Your fight’s with me. You touch one hair on that pup, and I’ll make your life more miserable then you could ever imagine…”

I started to stalk down and with each step I took, his expression grew darker. By the time I had reached the bottom, he was snarling. It all seemed so slow as if it was a dream. I’d planned it all out in my head and now it was going to happen.

 I kept my eyes glued on Boss the whole time, mostly because I was afraid of any looks my pack would give me. They could deal with me if I was still alive later. Boss seemed uncertain, but we started to circle anyway. Dakota pulled himself up and backed up into the rest of the pack. Then it was just me and Boss. Circling each other. No one else made a sound. No one else moved. In a flash, we both dived. Around us, our packs started to fight again. As focused as I’d ever been, each move I made was precise but so was Boss’s. Each move I made he was able to equal and any bite or scratch I gave him seemed to backfire right at me again. But when we stopped for a few seconds to catch our breath, he seemed just as tired as I was. Then, he crouched low again, ready to fight. I stopped panting and concentrated again but just as I thought he was going to charge, he spun and ran away, up toward the den. My head spun with confusion, but I followed him anyway. What was going on? We ran up the trail and around the twin peaks, but he didn’t stop when we whipped past the den. I paused for a second, but as soon as I did, Boss’s tail slipped out of view. I clenched my jaw and sped after him. Then I turned the corner and something hit me hard, causing me to roll. Blinking and shaking my head, I pulled myself tiredly to my feet.

“Real clever” I moaned. “Unusual for you”

Boss chuckled to himself.

            “Unusual that you’re still alive” he taunted. “Do you know where we are?”

I glanced around. We were overlooking the fight at the northern territory. The same one I’d fallen over before. Chills ran down my spine. The river I had almost drowned in was right in between the sharp rocks I had missed last time.

            “It’s a long fall” Boss growled.

Boss lunged again. This time, I was almost too tired to fight back. I dodged and Boss missed by only a few inches. We paused and panted again. Then I realized how quiet it had gotten… the fighting had stopped. I peered over the ledge to see that my pack was running up the trail to help. Boss’s pack was gone; some dead, but most retreating with tucked tails. Boss had lost. Barks started to echo toward me.

“You lost” I almost laughed. “You’re pack ran away and you can’t win against a whole pack”

Boss’s curious look turned dark and furious. Without warning, he lunged again, this time knocking me down and pinning me. I wriggled and tried to slip away, but it was no use. I was too tired to fight back or try to get away.

                        “Buck!”

            “If I lose, I’m bringing you down with me!”

Using any strength I had left, I rolled over backwards like I had done with Agro. But there was nothing there for Boss to hit. In a split second, he went over the side of the cliff, but with his teeth clamped on one of my paws. I jerked toward the cliff, clawing desperately at the dirt and rock. Kaya and Yukon rushed forward and caught me, dragging me forward, or at least trying to. Boss’s teeth were slipping though. I shook my foot desperately, and suddenly, the weight was gone. Kaya and Yukon dragged me up until I was safely away, panting on my side. No splash had followed after I was dragged up, so I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about Boss ever again. Besides the sound of panting, everything was quiet.

            “Buck”

Talus’s voice was as bad as Boss’s. I rolled to my feet, each move more tiring then the next. But in an instant, my whole pack was in front of me, willing to fight again to protect me. Maybe they didn’t hate me…

 “It’s okay” I said warily.

My pack gave me confused looks, but let me walk through. I walked out of earshot from them and stopped, eyes on the great grey wolf.

“Look, I really don’t have anything left in me so whatever you came to do, just get it over with” I breathed.

Talus’s stern look softened.

            “I might’ve been wrong about you. Just maybe…”

Talus glanced past me at my pack.

            “You’ve got a pretty loyal family there”

I grinned.

“Yeah”

            “I should punish you and your mother for this whole mess…” Talus replied gruffly. “So I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll leave you alone if you protect this pack for the rest of your life”

My smile broadened.

“I think I could manage that”

Talus’s smile returned to his usual strict glare and with a brief nod, he almost seemed to fad away into the rock. Astounded, I stared at the rock. But there were more important things… I shook my head and turned around. Kaya walked up, weak smile on her face.

            “So… do I really want to know what happened?”

“Naw. Nothin’ really happened… just a few dogs and stuff” I grinned.

Kaya was safe… but what about my pups?

“Are Sitka and Anyu okay? I saw them laying down…”

Kaya’s smile faded. Since we barely had any energy left, we jogged down the trail where Anyu was standing dizzily and Sitka was moving a little. Anyu’s eyes widened as soon as she saw me.

            “Dad?!”

It had been such a long time since I’d heard that word…

“Hey” I said gently, nuzzling her. “Are you alright?”

Anyu grinned.

            “Just a bump on the head”

Another wolf, a grayish brown and cream wolf watched