Prologue

Aleu sighed as she watched her father's already small form disappear over the horizon. She knew she would miss him, but she didn't have time to greive, her pack needed her.

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A few Days Later...

"Aleu!...Aleu? Are you deaf? ALEU!!!!"

"Wha?" Aleu had been interuppted from her train of thoughts. She turned around to see one of her pack members, Ligh. Ligh was the Beta Male in the pack, a huge black wolf, with deep, yellow eyes. He wore one of those sour looks, a kind of look Aleu dispised of.

"Aleu!, Ligh said,"The pack left around an hour ago! We might have left completely if I hadn't thought of you!"

"What?" Aleu was wide awake, now. "B-but they can't do that! I-I'm the pack leader!"

"Well, Ligh grunted, "From the looks of it, they already have."

Aleu sighed as she followed Ligh to the pack. She saw many sour and angry faces pointed her way. She took her place, and tried to ignore the angry voices that were directed at her. This, she thought, Is going to be a long day.
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The following days were no better. Aleu got into all sorts of trouble, much to the dispise of the other members. One evening, when the pack had settled down for the night, an old wolf, named Kaa, approached Aleu, first making himself look submissive, and said, "Aleu, I've heard lots of, well, complaints about your leadership."

"Oh, don't worry, Aleu said sarcastically, " I already know."

Kaa then bent forward, to wisper something into Aleu's ear. Aleu smiled and nodded.
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Kaa's plan had been simple: Aleu would leave, for a short time to return to Nome to learn some responsibility. Then, when she was ready, she would return to take back the pack.

As Aleu described this plan to the others, they smiled, and agreed.
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The Next Morning

Aleu left the next day, on an ice floe. In an hour's time, she had crossed from the water to her familiar home. She remembered how her father and her had come to this very beach, only to end up saying there farewells. She still had a long way to travel, so she set upon the sand, into the wilderness.
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A Day Later

Aleu smiled to herself, as she saw her birthplace: Nome, Alaska. She began running to the familiar shipwreck that was her father's home. Since Balto wasn't there, she headed to her mother's home. She couldn't wait to see Rosie, and, maybe, some new brothers and sisters. It wasn't long until she reached the outskirts of town. Aleu slowed to a walking pace, panting from running so long. She thought she saw a mysterious shadow cross in front of her. She stopped, looked around, and continued walking. The shadow appeared again, this time closer to her.  This time, she was sure of it. There was something following her, and she wasn't going to move until she knew what it was.