Rating: PG for possible violence and other wolf stuff. It's not too bad in this part though, but it might further in!

Disclaimer: Characters and events from Balto and Balto: Wolf Quest are the property of Universal Studios, Inc., while most of the other events, places, and characters are the fan property of the author herself, Juuchan17. This is a total work of fiction, not based on actual events, but . . . it could happen!

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The chill of the winter air grew cold against the quarter-wolf’s fur as she stood first watch for the night. It was rather early for such a frigid wind, but she didn’t know that – she wasn’t even born in the wild after all, but now she had accepted this world as her own, for she was now the Alpha Female of the Kawa Clan, one of the many wolf packs that roamed freely in Alaska.

She shuttered as her light-brown fur slightly bristled against the chill. A part of her wished that she were back at home . . . sharing a warm blanket with her father beside her on his little old trawler just outside of Nome. Of course, there was no way that she could return there anyway – over a month ago, she chose to join a pack of wolves as their leader by helping them cross the Great Water via a bridge of broken ice. She had no knowledge of how wide the distance was between where she was now and the old territory of the Kawa. The ice bridge that had carried them across was long gone, disappearing as soon as they had stepped onto the new land where the caribou awaited them as if to make them unable to return to their homeland.

She did know one important thing, however: She was sent to help them . . . and it was her destiny to do so.

But why exactly – that part she never really knew. During her first weeks of life, she felt a sudden call of the wild, although she knew nothing of her wolf heritage. Neither of her brothers and sisters understood why their eldest sister was always howling whenever she was excitable, acting like the ringleader of all play activities, and always feeling a very close bond to their father. It wouldn’t be until over a year after the fateful day that her five other siblings were adopted off to new homes when she finally learned about her father’s mixed blood – he was half wolf, half husky – and about that fact that although she shared the same genetics as her siblings, she took the appearance of her father’s lupine ancestors. She found it rather strange that only she sensed that wild instincts of the wolf, since her siblings were just as wild as she, but her mother was a purebred Siberian Husky – a normal breed for a sledding dog – and somehow, the dominance of that tame pedigree influenced them more than the wolf.

Furious, she ran away into the wild, completely unaware of exactly where her paws were taking her, but soon, her father came after her to bring her back home where he thought she belonged. However, a raven that promised to lead him to his daughter led both of them to an ocean-edged canyon where a pack of wolves – the Kawa Clan – and their leader, Nava, were waiting for their arrival. After learning about the Clan’s situation with the coming winter, it was told that one of them – “the one who is wolf and does not know” – would guide them to where the migrating caribou herds had chosen to make their permanent home.

She had had many questions about all of the different things she was learning and the visions that she had briefly seen flashing through her mind, but despite her eagerness and determination to help the wolves, her father was too defensive to have her remain in a situation that they did not belong in. By the morning, his plans were changed as a rebellious group of wolves had their own ideas for the Clan. Soon, the ice bridge appeared, making her father realize that they had to cross the Great Water at that time or else face starvation for the quickly approaching winter. On the way, the Clan was separated from Nava, who could not complete the journey; she chose to defend the elder wolf, and with some help from her father, the point was understood: she, not the father, was destined to lead the Clan to the caribou, completing the exodus across the Great Water.

However, that life-long choice was the easiest part of her destiny.

The Alpha let out a soft sigh as her body slowly slid onto the grass and rocky ground below her large clawed paws. She wanted to sleep . . . but she knew she had to keep watch over her pack until the next guard arrived to take her place. I never realized that guard duty could be so . . . exhausting! She thought as she extended her claws a bit further out from her toes and scratched the ground beneath her.

Actually, everything about living like a wolf was not as easy as it seemed at first. Hunting, marking territory, following rules and guidelines . . . Learning all this information about survival hadn’t been a walk in the park, especially since she was only a quarter-wolf, not a purebred wolf like everyone else. She easily made mistakes, scared prey away during hunts and had some wolves loathe her due to her sudden rise from complete outsider to Alpha Female, but after a while, she learned from her mistakes and began to grow stronger and a little less dog-like.

She had left that world far behind her, entering a brand new world that only continued to amaze her with every changing flicker of nature.

The moon was high above her fallen head as the cries of nocturnal birds – mainly the ravens, eagles and owls – danced in the presence of the twinkling stars and hunted for small prey that scurried around the forest ground. The noise of caws and cries from the avian hunters took a while for her to get used to, but it was rather soothing to her dark sepia ears. Sometimes she would even hear the faint cries of other lupines and dogs from nearby, howling at the lunar winter sphere above.

She sighed once more out of frustration and exhaustion. Where was the next guard? She thought with impatience. He should be here by now. Her head was on top of her marked forelegs as if she were ready to sleep. Her eyelids felt heavy, almost like weights were trying to close them for a good night’s rest . . .

No, no . . . The quarter-wolf shook her head. No, I can’t sleep now. I’ve got a duty to uphold to the Clan, to my wolf family, to myself . . .

But she couldn’t help but to close her eyes . . . some higher force wanted her to sleep.

Sleep . . . sleep . . .

- - - - - - - - - -

“Keliah! Keliah!”

It was a feminine voice she could not recognize, but it was faintly growing louder. She could hear it again – this time she felt herself being shifted against a rough surface by the pressure of small paws against her furred side.

“Keliah, wake up! You’ve been summoned!”

She opened her eyes, but she didn’t see the night sky across the Great Water. It was daytime here, and nothing looked familiar to her eyes at all. The land was a gentle forest by a small mountain range. A wide river slept by the rocky forms, gently babbling against tiny pebbles that lined it.

Oh my! Is this still Alaska? She thought to herself as she tried to absorb the vistas she saw around her. Where am I? Why is it daytime here? Oh no, don’t tell me that I’ve been captured by an enemy pack! She gasped to herself as she noted where she currently was. In this strange place, she was on the flat face of a smooth boulder near the river, lying on her belly beneath the warmth of the sunlight.

The other creature that had called her by this strange name of Keliah was a small, dark-colored quadruped with only a gray-white muzzle – perhaps she was a smoky-gray wolf pup? She was not sure about it at the time, especially since this world and these names were so unfamiliar to her, but that’s what the teeny canine standing below her seemed to be in her eyes.

Actually, she had no idea why she was even responding to this unfamiliar name in the first place . . . It was one she had never heard before, not even in her hometown of Nome. Hey, my name is not Keliah! I am Aleu, the first-born daughter of Balto and Jenna of Nome and the current Alpha of the Kawa Clan! A part of her wanted to scream out to the smaller wolf, but she could not get her jaws to open to speak.

This only bothered her even more, causing her to growl impatiently under her breath.

However, this one – Keliah – spoke in another unfamiliar female voice, but she sounded as though everything around her was normal.

“Yes, Palei. I’m up . . . and I’m coming down,” This ‘Keliah’ spoke from her own mouth against the quarter-wolf’s own will, rising to her feet . . . no, they were paws! Four clawed paws of white! She realized one clear thing – Keliah was a wolf, no doubt about it!

But was she all wolf or only part wolf like herself? She could only hope that this female, whoever she was, could show her what she wanted to know.

Keliah leapt into the water – probably to wash herself after resting . . . and to also take a drink with the cool liquid – and this was exactly the opportunity that the quarter-wolf wanted. Her fur was the shade of natural earth – a soft brown hue. She was marked with white around her thin, almond-shaped eyes of yellow and blue. Down her belly and from her ankles to her large paws were also white as snow’s dust. Physically, the she-wolf was slender, making her seem smaller and weaker than the average lupine, but the quarter-wolf felt a strange energy about her – she was actually quite strong and swift, despite her fragile appearance.

Oh, this Keliah is beautiful – even more beautiful than any wolf I’ve ever seen! The quarter-wolf reflected on what she saw from the she-wolf’s eyes to herself, nearly to the point of blushing. Of course, this discovery caused her to question herself more than ever. Hmm, why I am in her paws anyway . . . or better yet, why am I seeing this? I’m so confused . . .

Since there wasn’t anything she could do, she felt almost like a supreme being – an all-seeing spirit witnessing something she had never seen before. Besides, just seeing this world through the eyes of a beautiful she-wolf made her start to feel comfortable like a pure-blooded lupine, despite the fact of not being able to move when she wanted to.

“Come on, Keliah!” The teeny wolf, Palei, leapt on the ground near the river bank. “I don’t want you to be late to your first summoning!”

Keliah let out a chuckle, one that sounded almost like a gargle – probably due to the water she was splashing beneath her paws. “Oh, Palei. You’re my dearest friend. You always want to do big jobs to help out in the Clan as well as myself . . .” She giggled again. “even if you are the youngest . . . and the smallest of us all.”

“Oh, stop teasing!” Palei growled playfully, joining the brown she-wolf in the water and using her paws to return a nonverbal attack of cool water at Keliah. “Just because I’m your youngest sister . . . AH!” She paused with a slight scream whenever the slender Keliah splashed back at her, interrupting her response. “ . . . who happens to be the runt . . . doesn’t mean I can’t help you and the Clan.”

“Oh, you’re right – I’m sorry,” the she-wolf lowered her head, admitting defeat. “I just don’t want you to get hurt . . . I mean, with the upcoming dangers and changing times, that’s all.”

Hmm, dangers? Changing times? The quarter-wolf thought with a tilted head. I wonder what they’re talking about. This place is so beautiful, lush and relaxing . . . It seems much more comfortable than our land . . . with very little threats. What could possibly be so dangerous here? She looked around once more, becoming more confused by the minute.

“Now, come on,” Palei escaped from the river, returning back to the safety of the grass. She instinctively shook her fur of the excess water, and once she was dry, she happily turned back to Keliah. “I don’t think we should arrive any later. Summonings don’t exactly happen every moon, you know.”

“Yeah, especially nowadays with the war being our main focus,” Keliah replied, following it with a sigh. “So much sorrow we have seen, so many wolves lost as casualties of war . . .” The quarter-wolf could sense a couple of small tears swell up in the she-wolf’s eyes and suddenly drip down wetly on her cheeks as Keliah leapt from the water herself and shake her fur dry. However, the sheer emotion in her eyes didn’t change the seriousness of her tone as the two of them, mainly with Palei close to her side, walked towards a small ridge of small mounts. “We have had to grow up fast and learn to defend our Clan and ourselves . . .”

“Not to mention . . . we’ve lost so many that were close to us . . .” Palei began to tear up as well, but she still maintained a brave expression of hope on her face. “but this has only made us stronger than ever.”

Keliah nodded. “Indeed. You and I are all that’s left of Mother’s broods. We have to live on . . . for the memory of her and the rest of our fallen siblings.”

How horrible, the quarter-wolf thought as the two she-wolves arrived at the foot of a dark mountain cavern. I’ve never experienced losing someone I love from them dying or being killed before, so this is uncharted territory for me. It must be hard for them . . . but I can tell they’ve been able to endure many things. She tried to crack a slight smile, admiring their courage and strength to deal with the tough times of life. I just hope that maybe as a wolf . . . I could be that strong too.

The cavern’s immense presence in front of them caused the two wolves to gulp nervously once they realized where they were. This wasn’t as scary of a place as it seemed, but by the looks of it, it felt forbidden . . . almost like a place where only the bravest dared and the most worthy were chosen to enter.

“Well, this is it. This is where you have to go,” Palei shuttered as she tried to speak in a brave voice.

Keliah looked back at her youngest sister as if to ask “Aren’t you coming too?” through her expressions and facial gestures.

As if able to translate her sister’s face or even able to read her thoughts, the nearly-black wolf replied back. “Only you were summoned, Keliah – not I. You know that.”

Keliah wanted to sigh deeply, but instead, she gathered her courage in the form of a deep inhaled breath – followed by a long, relaxing exhale – and stepped forward towards the entrance.

“Good luck, Keliah,” Palei barked her well wishes to the brown she-wolf as she nervously walked closer and closer to the cave. “I’ll be waiting out here, okay?”

Keliah did not answer, for her attention was to the darkness of the cavern. Her eyes were focused forward, as if she were being drawn into it like a black hole. Every paw-step made the quarter-wolf’s heart pound against her chest, just as it was to Keliah’s as well.

What is happening? She thought as the quarter-wolf also felt that same drawn-in sensation in her eyes. Something just doesn’t feel right about this place . . . oh, this doesn’t feel safe! Why doesn’t she go back?

But Keliah could not go back now – she had a duty to uphold herself, and it felt as if she was meant to enter this cave, whether the quarter-wolf inside her head liked it or not. Of course, the she-wolf didn’t know that the quarter-wolf was even seeing this anyway.

Just when the quarter-wolf felt herself – or in other words, Keliah – almost become engulfed by the darkness of the cave’s entrance, a loud howl blasted through her ears, causing the two wolves to freeze as if they were paralyzed on the spot. Only the quarter-wolf could hear the piercing din; naturally, she tightly shut her eyes and let out a scream of fear, hoping that the noise would soon cease.

Aah! I knew this didn’t feel right! The quarter-wolf cringed in pain. This noise had better stop soon! I don’t think I can take much of this!

And at last, it did. The wolves were gone from her sight in the darkness, as were the strange background that had left her completely spellbound. She could hear nothing else now – the loud cry was gone, hidden in the dark black around her.

- - - - - - - - - -

“Aleu? Aleu?” Another voice . . . this time it was faint and garbled, but she could at least understand that this male voice was saying her own name.

Ohh, . . . She began to groan to herself, thinking that she was still inside the form of the she-wolf. My head . . . I feel so dizzy . . . What a strange dream . . . Her head started to toss against her forelegs as her heartbeat returned to its normal pace . . . Wait – she was lying down again! She slowly lifting her eyelids open and saw familiar sights – the lush grass, the jagged rocks, the Great Water! Someone was calling her name – her actual birth name! She had come back!

“Aleu? Are you all right?”

The calm voice of the reddish-brown and white wolf that was looming over her finally became clear. It was her oldest and dearest friend there – a matured male wolf named Scarlet, who also happened to be one of the last sons of Nava, the previous Alpha Male of the Clan. Ever since she left her half-wolf father behind on the mainland, he was always there to offer his father’s wisdom and knowledge to her in Nava’s absence . . . and sometimes, she felt like Scarlet was meant to be her lifelong mate – her Alpha Male. Of course, she shyly kept this secret to herself, hoping that perhaps one day she would have the courage to tell him face to face.

She gasped at first, realizing Scarlet’s presence, but she soon let out a sigh of relief before responding to his query. “Uh . . .” She began to rise to her paws with a red face, for she was completely embarrassed for having been caught sleeping on the job by her senior. “Oh, Scarlet . . . I . . . I . . .” She stammered, searching for the right words to say, but they just couldn’t be found. Defeated, her dark ears fell to her neck. “I’m sorry . . . I’m sorry . . .” She spoke softly, knowing that this was the best excuse she had.

“Oh, it’s alright, Aleu,” He replied with a smile. Scarlet was always a kind-natured soul, unlike some other males that she had met when she first interacted with the wolves, so she knew that somehow he would say something like that. “It’s not your fault.”

“Yes it is, Scarlet . . . I had a duty to fulfill and I fell asleep,” She began to cry with small tears dripping down her eyes. Actually, she didn’t want to cry; the quarter-wolf knew that she would receive the punishment that was well deserved for what she had done, and as the Alpha, she was not immune to it. “I deserve punishment for my actions and you know it.” She lowered her head in Scarlet’s direction.

“Well, you have only been Alpha for a little less than a couple of months now,” the rusty wolf thought aloud, trying to figure out what his proud and wise patriarch would do in this situation. “and you have been exhausted lately, so I can understand why you suddenly fell asleep.” The Alpha Female looked up at him, surprised to see a soft smile on his face; without thinking, she smiled too, placed her own muzzle close to his for a soft nose-to-nose nuzzle. Scarlet could only chuckle by the quarter-wolf’s sudden gesture of romance. “Huh – so I guess you’ve changed your mind quickly, eh, Aleu?”

The quarter-wolf blushed in complete mortification, but to a point, the wolf was right. “Who, me?” She began to scoff, lying as she lightly and nervously chuckled. “No way! Why . . . why would I want to not be punished? I am a wolf now – I have to follow the ways and lifestyles, and as Alpha, it would not be right for me to get off the hook so easily, even if I am new to this life and only a quarter wolf.” She lifted her head up proudly, understanding that she was now telling the truth. “I have an example to set for the Clan, Scarlet. You know that as well as I.”

Scarlet nodded, letting out an inaudible sigh. “You’re right . . . oh, you’re right. I guess I should give you the first-shift of guard duty tomorrow night . . . as a way to atone for your mistake.”

The quarter-wolf lowered her head in acceptance. “Understood.” It was rather weird to have an Alpha follow the rules of her own subordinate, but this was the only way. First-shift guard duty was one of the hardest tasks for a young wolf, but it was one of the most important for the safety of an entire pack. A guard’s duty was to make sure that no enemies or trespassers were entering their pack’s territory, possibly fend off predators and other nightly visitors that would dare challenge a wolf loyal to one’s community, and do whatever it takes to protect those that could not do the same for themselves. Alpha wolves usually don’t care to serve on guard duty – they leave that to the other wolves, usually the betas or other loyal servants at least – for they were the main ones that the guards protected. Of course, she, being a new figure in this world of rules and danger, felt obligated to risk her own life to prove her undying loyalty to her Clan and the choice she had made. No one was going to argue with her decision there.

“And no naps this time around, okay?” He added almost jokingly.

Again she bobbed her head. “I understand already, Scarlet.” Her first response was almost irritated  as she playfully nudged up against the wolf’s reddish shoulder with her own side, nearly causing him to lose his balance. “Trust me, I’ve learned my lesson. I won’t fail the Kawa this time around.”

After a few minutes of silence beneath the safety of the moonlight and the stars, she sat beside him as he started his watch. She wanted to think about being protected by the handsome young lupine whose warmth she could feel emanating from his body, but the only thoughts that swirled through her mind were of what she had seen when she somehow fell asleep. She had so many unanswered questions about the dream – Who was this wolf, Keliah? Why was she summoned and for what?  

Why am I witnessing these inside this wolf anyway? 

She sighed deeply, lowering her head in frustration . . . and easily getting the notice of the red wolf on guard.

“Aleu?” Scarlet’s ears pricked up, sensing his Alpha’s aggravation through her slight, subtle actions. “Is there something bothering you?”

She let out a slight gasp, despite knowing that this was one of Scarlet’s many talents. He always seemed to know when the quarter-wolf was in a slight sense of distress and wanted to offer some sort of assistance. Her once-stood ears were now to the side, but she felt comforted to tell him the truth. “Scarlet, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, Aleu – shoot.”

“Um, . . . does the name ‘Keliah’ mean anything to you?”

The reddish-brown lupine pondered silently before answering, which made the Alpha nervous – perhaps he was just as confused as she was – but he finally gave her an answer. “No . . . no, I’ve never heard of anyone by that name before.” He shook his head sadly.

“What about Palei? Does it ring a bell?”

Again, Scarlet shook his low head with closed eyes. “Nope, not a thing. Sorry.”

“Oh, it’s all right,” The quarter-wolf responded. Sure she was disappointed by his answer, but it was worth a shot. “I’ve never heard of either of them . . . well, at least not in my short lifetime anyway.”

“So, why did you ask me about them then?” Scarlet queried. “Clearly you knew these names – why else would you want to know more about them?”

Well, his question made sense. “I first heard the name Keliah in my dream when I was sleeping earlier. The one named Palei was calling for someone named Keliah,” she explained to him calmly as she described what she saw. “It was strange . . . I felt like I was seeing an entire new world through someone else’s eyes . . . through Keliah’s eyes . . . and I have no clue why.”

“Hmm, that is strange,” Scarlet answered. “I’ve never heard of anything like that before.”

“I know – I hadn’t either,” she replied. “but everything was so strange and beautiful . . . but I had no way of asking for help. I couldn’t do anything to control myself . . . er, I mean, Keliah . . . She seemed to be a young wolf, but I’d never seen anyone like her before. What could this mean?”

After a second to think, the red wolf offered a possible answer. “You remember how I told you that sometimes the Great Aniu would send wolves dream-visions?” Scarlet reminded her. She nodded agreeably. “Well, maybe there’s a reason why you are seeing things through her eyes . . . My best guess is that Aniu may want you to see something dealing with this Keliah.”

“So, do you think that this could be a message from Aniu . . . to me?” The Alpha asked.

Scarlet could only nod. “Probably. It may be something that she wants you to witness or something that you have to learn about, but it’s hard for me to say exactly since it clearly pertains to you alone,” He softly sighed before continuing. “My father used to tell me that the Great Aniu is as mysterious and inexplicable as Mother Nature herself. As a Great Spirit, Aniu has the power to see one’s past, present and future, but she cannot physically change or alter one’s fate, whether the result is good or bad.”

“Whoa, she’s unable to change someone’s future?” Scarlet nodded, allowing her to respond. “Well, I guess having that ability kinda sucks, huh?” She said with a sense of amazement. The course of nature was something she was still learning and understanding as a member of a wolf pack. Birth and death, injury and health, success and defeat – all were normal in the balance of life in nature, whether in the wild or the tame world. Nava had told her a bit about it when she talked to him about the Clan, but other than that, she didn’t know much about it until later on.

“You could say that, Aleu, but those things are a natural part of life’s cycle – they can’t be changed or else the cycle of another’s life will be altered as well, thus changing the future of all life as we know it,” Scarlet responded.

“Oh . . . I see,” The quarter-wolf reacted. “You mean, like if my father and I had not encountered the Kawa Clan, . . . I would have never . . .” She gasped a bit as Scarlet nodded and replied back.

“That’s right. Although the Great Aniu can’t warn you of death or some other dangers that could change your life, she is able to help guide someone down the right path by using the method of dream-visions.” He continued to explain. “She may not send messages as clearly as you want them to be at first, but over an unknown amount of time, you should be able to understand the basics of whatever she wants you to know.”

The brown-gray female was silent in her thoughts for a moment. Indeed, he was right about the strange ways of the Great Aniu – she had witnessed her powers before. After all, it was the majestic white wolf that had filled her father’s dreams prior to her own birth and months afterward, telling him of caribou, a haunting raven, and ice with a pack of wolves. He didn’t understand exactly what they meant at the time, but that night when Father and Daughter stayed with the Kawa Clan, she saw her father’s dream and somehow, she could interpret it when her father could not. The dreams were telling her father of following caribou across a bridge of ice, but it was she, not him, that was to lead the wolves to them in order to survive.

I wonder what she may be trying to tell me, she thought as she felt her eyes begin to droop, and it was clear that the male wolf had noticed the obvious fatigue on her face.

“Maybe if you get some more sleep, she may send you more visions,” Scarlet told his Alpha. “Actually, you should go to your den now. I can handle guard duty by myself now.” He let out a laugh under his breath. “The young wolf that was supposed to relieve you was still asleep when I woke up, so I don’t mind taking his place. I’m next after him anyway.” He then gazed at the quarter-wolf with concerned brown eyes. “Besides, you need to be well-rested since you have first-shift tomorrow, Aleu. It just wouldn’t be right for you to lead without a good night’s sleep.”

“I have to lead the morning hunt first,” She nodded with a short laugh. “but thanks for listening to me, Scarlet.” She gave him another smile and a nuzzle before turning away for the night. “I knew I could always talk to you about anything mystical.”

“No problem,” He slightly shied back, reacting to the feel of the quarter-wolf’s soft nose against his own while also replying back with a nervous yet grateful tone. “Father taught me everything about the Great Spirits that watch us, so feel free to tell me whatever’s troubling your heart. You know I’m always here for you.” He gave her a charming wink and a sweet smile, and as she turned away, he nudged her on the flank playfully. “See ya in the morning, Tiger.”

Thank goodness she had turned away when she did. Her white-beige cheeks were bright pink as she scampered quickly away to the caves where the rest of her Clan were already asleep. It was rather sweet that he was starting to call her by the same pet name that her father used for her when she was a young pup; actually, when her father called her that, she was embarrassed, but when Scarlet used it on her, she felt like her heart would flutter out of her chest.

She tried not to make a sound as she arrived at her cave at the top of a mountain path. All of the dens were lined near mountain ledges, the result of many hard hours of claw-digging by the members of the Clan, allowing everyone to have an important job to do.

At least the Clan was able to work together, she thought with a smile as the quarter-wolf Alpha began to settle into her den, safely covered in a light beam of silver moonlight. Just the sight and feel of the serene brightness above her made her easily drift back into a necessary rest into the darkness of closed eyes . . .

- - - - - - - - - -

“Ah, Keliah . . . you have arrived at last . . .”

There’s that name again, she thought, quickly realizing where she was. I must be receiving more visions again . . . She let out a disappointed sigh, but there was a slight sense of hope in her return to this strange place. I hope that maybe I can learn why I’m looking through Keliah’s eyes . . . and why I’m seeing these things in the first place.

Just as the last time, she could see the speaker – this time it was an older male wolf with scruffy fur that was once a shiny shade of silver, but was now as faded as speckled mountain granite – and she seemed to be the focus of his attention, despite being shrouded in the deep black shadows of his wide rocky den. His voice was slow, easily showing his age – her best guess was that he was probably as old . . . no, even older than Nava by the way he spoke. However, the young black wolf was nowhere to be seen – Keliah has to see this guy alone, without Palei by her side . . . I remember, the quarter-wolf deduced from her observations, reminding herself of what she had seen in the previous vision. That sounds rather obvious for important business.

She felt Keliah lower herself to a respectable frontward bow. “Yes, Alpha – I have been summoned by you after all.” She lifted her elegant brown head towards him, smiling with a sense of pride. She was no longer afraid, although she had never been inside this cave before. She seemed to have met this wolf before, but never within his living quarters; clearly this was a personal and serious reason for them to meet.

“Come closer, young one . . . Yes, step into the light so I can see how much you’ve grown . . .” He murmured in a wise tone. He was right – there was a soft beam of sunlight in between him and the she-wolf, offered a bit of light into the darkness. Following his orders, Keliah bravely stepped towards the ray of sunshine, allowing her soft-brown coat to shine like fresh soil in the forest.

“Ah,” the older wolf sounded impressed and almost pleased as he spoke. “Ah, my dear . . . you have grown up nicely after these past three years . . .” Now he too began to move closer to the beam of light, revealing his true colors . . . much to the quarter-wolf’s surprise. He looked rather limp on his left hind leg, but that wasn’t the thing about him that  shocked her the most.

He’s the Alpha? But . . . but he’s blind! He can’t see her! The quarter-wolf commented as Keliah stood seriously in front of him, as if to not notice the clouded gray and golden eyes of the gray elder. Wait a second – how can he know that she’s there and ‘see’ her if he can’t really see? How strange this is . . . She wondered as the Alpha began to speak again.

“Your mother would be very proud, my child,” he concluded, leaning his head forward to nuzzle her gently against her nose. “You are indeed the spitting image of her, Keliah.”

“Oh, you are far too kind, my Alpha,” Keliah lowered her head once more. Truly, this young she-wolf was raised with grace and manner . . . almost like a trained husky, not like a normal wild wolf would.

“Now, I have summoned you for an important task – one that will change you forever shall you choose to accept it,” the Alpha said, lifting his head up as if to look at the stalactite-lined ceiling above him with his blind eyes.

“Yes? What is it, Sir?” Keliah curiously asked. From the tone of her voice, she was anxious to hear what he had to request of her. “I’ll do anything to help you.”

“My dear Keliah,” the Alpha spoke rather grimly and slow. “I am old, and my time as Alpha of our Clan will soon come to an end.”

“Oh, Sir . . .” the she-wolf lowered her ears in sadness by the news. “When? When shall this come to pass? We cannot bear to lose you now; there are not enough wolves remaining in our Clan to survive much longer . . . only 15 females and about 3 males, including yourself remain, Sir.” She felt a thin streak of a tear darken her brown cheek, weeping in sorrow. “We could be invaded and lost without your guidance and presence with us!” Her head lowered as the tears continued to fall.

“Ah, you should not cry for me . . . or for our Clan, child,” he reassured her with a soft smile, sensing her forlorn emotions with his unseeing powers. “The Great Aniu shall guide me when the time has come, but she has also said that now is the time for my heir to step up and claim their rightful place.”

Aniu? Grandmother? The quarter-wolf gasped in shock at hearing him speak the white wolf’s name. They believe in her ways too? Gosh, this must still be Alaska then – I have been told that all Clans in Alaska know of Aniu and her guidance.

Of course, this was indeed her grandmother that they were talking about. The Great Aniu was originally, just like in old times and like all Great Spirits, a flesh and blood creature on Earth and could return to the Material World in any form they wished. The last time she returned as a wolf, she soon bore the quarter-wolf’s father in the wild months before being killed in defense of her tame husky mate at the time. Ever since then, she had returned to being a spirit and quietly watching over the son and other children she had left behind on Earth, and soon she would guide her son and granddaughter back into the wild, allowing the quarter-wolf to join the Kawa Clan as their leader.

Naturally, the quarter-wolf still was in disbelief by the fact that she was related to a Great Spirit such as she, and she rarely spoke this news to anyone. She feared that they would call her a liar or someone that would dare make fun of the Spirits that they worshipped.

“Who shall be your heir then, my Alpha?” the brown she-wolf’s query brought the quarter-wolf back to the current scene at hand. “There are no males that are old enough to take your place – the two that are left are still suckling on their mother’s teats!” She let out a soft gasp of slight fear. “Oh, please don’t say that an outsider shall take over the Clan! They may signal destruction to us all!”

“Hush-hush, my child; you worry too much,” the Alpha chuckled lightly, though he maintained a serious attitude about him. “Aniu has not shown me who my heir will be, but my task to you is to find that wolf for me.”

“But how can I find him?” Keliah asked, confused by the Alpha’s words. “I cannot just leave the Clan defenseless during a time in which all are needed in case of battle!”

“Yes, yes – I understand your concern, but I feel that you needn’t search too far,” the Alpha turned to her. “My heir was born in our Clan and remains here to this day. This is what Aniu has stated to me, Keliah; now, you must complete the quest I have given you and find the new Alpha of our Clan.”

Keliah was silent, pondering in her mind about this quest. Somehow, the quarter-wolf could hear the she-wolf’s thoughts as she thought them, giving her some more details of exactly what Keliah was going through.

It’s up to me to find his heir? The brown she-wolf muttered to herself. I have enough to deal with already – caring for Palei, leading the defense team of us younger fighters, and now I have to find the next Alpha of our Clan . . . She let out a sigh, frustrated by this turn of events.

“Ah, Keliah. Do not trouble yourself with aggravation,” the Alpha reassured her in a rather encouraging voice. “The right time will come . . . and you shall realize that my heir is closer than you know.” He lowered his head, beginning to step back into the shadows towards the furthest part of the cave. “You are dismissed, my Daughter. Good luck on your quest, young Keliah.”

With those words, the she-wolf returned the respectable gesture and made her way through the brightness of the entrance . . . and again, the light engulfed her, causing the quarter-wolf to hear the deafening howl in her ears. This part of the vision was over.

= end of PART ONE

TO BE CONTINUED . . . in PART TWO!