You stand your ground, frozen to the spot.

"Hey! Who's there?" the wolf-like animal barks out in a tough, commanding voice.

Stepping out from behind the tree, you say, "I am Aniu, daughter of Snuukuuk and Inukshuk. I am a wolf of the pack near the river."

"Oh...hello." A look of calm sweeps over his face. "My name is Jack. I'm the son of John and Rose. I'm owned by a human. I sort of live with a pack...if you call a bunch of sled dogs a pack." He laughs, a lovely sound to your ears.

"What is a 'sled dog?'" you ask Jack.

"You don't--? Oh, of course, you wouldn't know. A sled dog is an animal like a wolf that pulls a thing with his or her...pack, and the thing has a human on the back of it. That thing we pull is called a sled, so that's why we're called sled dogs."

"Oh," you bark, coming to an understanding. "I understand now. But why would you ever go near humans unless you're insane?"

Jack laughs again. "They take care of dogs like me. But hey," he says, stretching and wiggling his tail slightly, "I'm pretty tough for a pet. I guess it's 'cause I'm a sled dog."

"You have fine strength, it seems. A fine wolf you'd make."

Jack laughs hard this time, his back arching upward. "Are all wolves so stiff and proper?! Loosen up! C'mon, I'll show you how to have fun."