Alue woke to a cloudy day. "Its been raining for days" she mumbled to her self. She shook off and started to groom her tan fur. "its a little early to be up, isn't it?" a voice said from behind her. Alue turned her head and saw Buck. Buck was Nava's oldest son. "and why would you care?" she asked. Buck rolled his eyes and walked off toward the lake. Alue followed him for a drink.

Its been a week since Alue became leader of Nava's old pack. The pack were more then glad to have her take over...even if she was part dog. Being leader of a wolf pack was not all it was cracked up to be. It toke alot of hard work and sleeplish nights, but it was all worth it. Alue found the lake to be a very peaceful place. she went there for some alone time when ever things got hard for her.

Later that day Alue lied down for a nap. "sleeping on the job?" Buck asked as he walked up to a tried Alue. "why don't YOU try taking care of a pack of more then thirty wolves!" Alue said with a sleepy sigh. "well, thats why i'm around to help you out" Buck said in a proud voice. "oh yeah! sure! and you know eveything about taking care of a pack!?"   "you wanna bet?"

Alue sighed and walkes away from him. "hey! don't you wanna bet? or are you scared you might lose!" Buck yelled from behind her. Alue just kept walking.  Buck never stop trying to annoy her. One day he even put a handfull of worms on her head when she was sleeping. But she never bothered to care. There was something missing in Alue's life. she didn't know what...she had all she ever wanted. but there was still a space in her heart that needed to be filled. but, like all things, she never bothered to care. 

It was getting colder and Alue needed to take her pack out hunting before a snow storm kicked in. She ran over to the spot were most of the pack was napping. She holwed and singled them to get the others ready for a hunt. after everyone was ready Alue and her pack left the den and woundred toward the meadows. "are you sure any animals will be out? i mean, its kind of cold out" a female wolf asked. "I'm sure there will be some animals out" Alue answered.

The wind kicked in and blew snow in Alues eyes. "I can't see anything!" someone yelled from behind her. "just follow me!" Alue yelled. there was a howl near by. "that doesn't sound like anyone i know" alue mumbled to her self. The holwing got closer. Alue holwed back and waited for a answer. After a while of slince Alue turned around and headed back to the den, her pack close behind. "so you telling me that we have to go hungry over a small snow storm?" Buck asked her when they got back.

"unless you want to get buried alive in snow...yeah" Alue answered in a whisper. Buck rolled his eyes and curled up to sleep. "another day, another hungry pack" Alue said in her head."what are you talking about? things like this happen all the time! its normal!" Aleu's brain neemed to be mad at her for putting her self down. So she just went to sleep.

Morning came and the sun shined in her closed eyes. alue slowy got up and yawned. she looked around for the rest of the pack who had already awaken and left the den. 'what kind of leader sleeps in and lets her pack wounder around without her watching them?!" she asked her self. Just then she felt her belly rumble. "oh yea, i havent eaten in like two days...and nether has the rest of the pack" she mumbled as she rent for a drink of water.

she stopped when she saw something dark moving in the shadows. Alue frooze with fear. "hello...buck is that you?" she asked in a shaky voice. the figure just stood there. "come in the light so i can see who you are" Alue said.  the shadow moved into the light. Alue sighed when she saw it was just a young, skinny male wolf. but, this didnt look like any wolf shes seen in the pack before. He was tall, skinny, and had scruffy black fur that looked like it hasent been groomed in days. He also had blazing yellow eyes and a ear that was shorter then the rest.

"who...who are you" alue asked. she had been told that lone male wolves could mean trouble. "im not looking for trouble, im just looking for a place to stay for a whole untill i can find my pack' the wolf aswered. Alue studyed him for a while. she didnt know rather to let him stay for a while or tell him to go else were. she didnt want to seem rude by chasing him away but...he might be looking for a pack to take over. "just, come with me' alue said.

she turned and started to walk away...the stranger close behind. When she reached the den she stopped. "im not sure what my pack is going to think of a stranger...so just stay in here utill im ready to tell them" she said. 'your leader of the pack? a female? thats weird" the stranger mumbled. "it is NOT weird! i know how to care for this pack!" alue snapped. the stranger sighed. "females...always so snappy" he said. alue huffed. she already didnt like him. "My name is shadow" the stranger said. 'im alue" Alue answered.

Shadow crept into the den. Alue watched him untill he was all the way in. then she turned around to tell the pack about the new comer. she had to spill the beans sometime...

end of part 1