The air was crisp and still. There was the faint hint of a rain scent in the air, the remnants from the previous night's light drizzle. Some nighttime songbirds chirped cheerily, and squirrels and chipmonks skittered across the ground, collecting nuts for the winter. Nearby, a rabbit dozed in the half-alert way that rabbits do. A slight breeze carried the scent of an approaching wolf, and the creatures all scurried into the colorful early autumn night.
Chicago strolled into the clearing, humming a little to herself. The pups were sound asleep in her den, and all was well. She had finished her patrol early, so she had some time to enjoy herself. The full october moon burned silver in the sky, and the scents and smells of night calmed one's nerves.
Feeling exihlirated by the night's stillness, Chicago Howled loudly, listening to it echo off the mountains in the next territory over. Some lone wolf, a mother, possibly, howled back. Chicago tilted her head and howled again. "I'm here."
When the return call came, Chicago didn't howl back. She silently slipped back to her den, where she lay under the stars just out of the entrance to the cave, and fell asleep.

Clara howled back to the she-wolf with a smile on her face.  She was in a cheerful mood.  The day had been perfect perfect.  The pups were asleep, it was warm, and the leaves cracked under her paws.  She watched a rabbit nibble on some grass, and smiled.  The wolf didn't call back.  She smiled again, and padded through the birch trees.  There was the faint pop, a childlike giggle, and a rustle in the bushes, and a dark mass popped out of the bushes, missing Clara by mere inches. The attacking wolf landed on his feet and kept moving forward, curling up to roll like a ball.
Aleu finally stopped rolling and lay there, laughing joyfully at his sport. He kept laughing for only seconds though, before he snapped to his feet and faced Clara. "Hello. I didn't see you there!" His eye twitched.
Clara screamed high-pitched for about ten seconds.  "Don't you DARE do that again!"
They laughed together in the moonlight.

Aleu sniffed the air, then looked at Clara. "Who were you howling to? She sounded nice." He wagged his tail expectantly.

Clara smiled.  "Chicago.  I howl to her everyday."

"Oh, yeah. I forgot." He smiled shepishly and swatted at her with his paw. "Are you ever going to introduce us?"

Clara closed her eyes.  "I never actually met her..."

Aleu sat down. "Then how you know your name? Huh? How? Howhowhowhowhowhow..."

Clara pricked her ears.  "You're wanting to know her.... That way."Aleu's head tilted to one side. "What way?" He looked so childish.

Clara chuckled.  She padded through the birch trees toward camp.Aleu stay where he was for a second, thinking hard. "Wait! Clara! What did you mean by that way?" He ran to catch up to his best friend.

Clara sighed and chuckled.  "Get your butt into camp."

Aleu walked ahead, then paused and turned around to face Clara. "Aren't you going to answer me?"

"You want a girl..." Clara chuckled.

Aleu screwed his face up. "No I don't! I..." His voice trailed off. He had his "thinking" expression on. "Wait... what's that supposed to mean?"

"You're such a child," Clara chuckled.

"No I'm not! That's just mean!" Aleu padded toward the camp, sulking.Clara pawed at him playfully.  "A blind child.  It's not like you have a poker face.  When all of the females go by, or I'm with Blizzard, you're upset..."

"Leamme alone," Aleu grumbled. "You hurt my feelings." He refused to meet her eyes.

Clara nuzzled her best friend and her eyes teared up.  "I'm sorry..."

Aleu looked down and nuzzled her back. "I guess... I forgive you. Please, though, don't call me a child anymore."

"Anything for a friend." Clara whispered.  She all of the sudden went into a play crouch.  "Come on!  I bet Moon is awake!"
Since Aleu had joined the Gaurdian Wolves, Clara and Blizzard had a new litter.

Aleu smiled. "Let's go see!" He darted into the camp.

Moon was being chased by her brother, Tsarr.  Tsarr's big body slammed into her, and she was giggling and giggling non stop.  Her brother laughed and pawed at her.
"STOP!" Moon guffawed.  "I'm going to wet myself!"
She snapped her eyes up to Aleu.  "Uncle Aleu!"

Aleu smiled. "I love pups!" He ran forward and tickled moon with his tail. "How ya doing, Moon?"

Moon giggled and bounced around him in circles.  Tsarr jumped on his back.

Aleu laughed and jumped with just his back legs, bouncing Tsarr high in the air.

Tsarr landed with a thud, and he wheezed...

Aleu, who had been looking up in the air for Tsarr, heard the thud, then the wheeze. his head snapped around. "Oh, no. I broke him!"

Tsarr gasped for air.  "Mummy!"

Aleu ran over to Tsarr on big, stumbling paws. "Tsarr! Are you hurt?"
Tsarr coughed, and winced.  "Yes," He croaked.

Aleu winced. "I'm sorry I missed. I didn't mean to." Glancing up at Clara, he whispered ,"I guess I've been a little preoccupied."
Moon snickered behind them.
    Aleu spun around. "What's so funny?"
    "Gr-arrr!" Tsarr launched himself onto Aleu's back.
    Aleu cried out in surprise and ran in circles.
    "Ha!  I tricked you!" Tsarr boasted.
    Aleu slid to a stop, panting hard. "That wasn't funny, Tsarr! You scared me! Twice!"
    Tsarr jumped off of Aleu and nuzzled him.  "I'm sorry, Uncle." He whispered.
    Aleu nuzzled back. "I forgive you." he looked at Moon. "Were you in on this?"
    "No," Moon giggled.  "But, Tsarr always does that."
    Aleu sniffed the air. Suddenly, he was serious. "Um, I have to go, okay? I'll be back...later..." he ran toward the bushes.
    Clara ran after her best frined.  "What is it?"
    He stopped and turned around to face her. "It's nothing. I've just gotta...er... do something." he ran again.
    "Aleu!" Clara jumped in front of him.  "What are you really doing?"
    "Nothing," He insisted. "What, you think I'd keep secrets from you?" he paused. "On second thought, don't answer that." He tried and failed to push past Clara.
    "Aleu!" Clara screeched and pinned him to the ground.  "What is it?!"
    Aleu grunted, pushing against his best freind's hold. "I promised her I wouldn't tell! Lemme go!"
    Clara glared down at him.  "It's Chicago... Isn't it?"
    Aleu paused, then resumed squirming. "I can't tell you that! Lemme go!"
    "Fine." Clara roughly pushed Aleu off.  "Betray us."
    Aleu grunted as he was shoved. "Maybe she'll let me tell them," he muttered to himself as he ran into the shrubs.
    Clara snarled.  It was that kind of snarl.  A threatening snarl.
    Shivering, Aleu stumbled into a cave, where there was the smell of rage, fear, and blood. "Oh, no." He ran to a limp form on the floor, then let out a sigh of relief. "She's alive."
    Clara peared through the leaves, her eyes blazing on Aleu.  She was furious.
    Aleu gingerly lifted the limp wolf to her feet, where she balanced shakily. "He found you, didn't he?"
    The wolf nodded. "You said you could help. He's out of his mind! If mother ever finds out about father-" She burst into tears.
    Clara's eyes blazed and her nostrils flared in fury.  Her best friend was betraying them!  She padded through the trees, not trying to be quiet.
    The female screamed. "He's coming back! he said he would, and I can hear him!"
Aleu glanced around, then tried to calm down the screaming stranger. "Sh, sh.... It's not him. And if it is, I'll protect you!"
    Clara appeared through the trees, a tear slowly falling down her cheek.
    The female screamed when Clara came into the clearing, then ran forward, sobbing into Clara's fur. "Leader! Your friend- my father- he was..." She broke down crying, unable to finish.
    Clara licked Holly on the head, then glared at Aleu.  "You could've just told me..."
    "I couldn't! She asked me not to!" he hung his head. "I only agreed to help her because she's going through the same thing I went through, only worse."
    "Holly?" Clara lowered her gaze to her Clanmate.
    Holly hung her head, revealing deep scratches on her back.
    "Her father... beat her, and...