It was late afternoon and the mail team stood waiting at the post office. Scout was in the lead with his best friend Danger behind. Danger's 'friend' Snowbelle was standing talking to him. Scout grinned. He knew that Danger and Snowbelle liked each other but he also knew that they weren't expecting puppies and probably wouldn't for a while. The musher came out with a sack and dropped it on the sled and went back to collect more.

'This'll be fun!' said Scout, 'I hope we meet some wolves!'

The other dogs laughed.

'You would!' replied a muscular black and white malamute at the back, who's name was Maxie, 'That's all you ever talk about!'

They all laughed again and Scout and Snowbelle joined in. Scout had a habit of suddenly going off into his own little world and start talking about wolves. Everyone knew about this.

'I'm sure it would be fun!' said Snowbelle, kindly. She was mostly red but had a white muzzle, white front paws, white back legs, a white chest and tummy and sky-blue eyes.

'Aww, come one, Snowie!' teased Danger, 'Don't tell me you'd prefer a wolf to me!'

He put  on a cheeky face. He was like a normal husky in that he had a white face, tummy, chest and front and back legs. He also had that little slit in the middle of his forehead. But he had light brown fur, auburn eyes and a very cheeky smile.

'Yeah, right!' giggled Snowbelle, 'No one could be better than you!'

She nuzzled him and the other dogs laughed.

'Aww!' chuckled Maxie. Then a little black and white malamute pup ran up to him.

'Good luck, Papa!' he cried, jumping up at Maxie and licking his nose when he bent down.

'Don't worry, Steele, my boy!' said Maxie, 'It'll be great!'

Steele nuzzled Maxie.

'Hey, where's mum and your sisters?' asked Maxie, his dark brown eyes staring kindly at his son.

'On their way. Celia wated to walk slowly like a lady! And Shadow and Blue were playing chase so mum had to stop them!'

He sighed a little puppy sigh and looked up at his dad.

'I hate being the only boy!' he said, sadly.

'Ahh, don't worry about!' replied Maxie, 'Aunt Josie was the only girl in my mum's litter!'

Steele smiled up and turned round when he heard his sisters.

'Non, no, no!' cried Celia, 'You have to walk slowly and properly, otherwise you won't be a very good lady!'

She was getting worked up and Shadow and Blie pulled faces at her.

'I don't wanna be a lady!' huffed Shadow, 'I'd rather go play in the mud or play chase!'

'Yeah!' replied Blue, 'Being a lady stinks!'

'Not when you're older and you wanna but don't know how!' shouted Celia, here eyes watering.

'What?' asked Shadow and Blue together, surprised that their sister was crying over that.

'Girls, girls!' said a voice desperately, 'Calm down! Celia leave them be. If they don't want to be ladies when they're older then so be it. But you can and I'm sure you'll be lovely. And Shadow, Blue don't say things like that. You will be ladies when you're older, tomboys or not!'

A pretty white malamute with icy blue eyes and a thick black stripe from her nose to her tail came out behind her daughters.

'There you are, Marie!' called Maxie, 'I was getting worried!'

'You have every right to be!' sighed Marie, 'These guys are driving me nuts!'

'Sorry, mama!' chorused the three puppis. Steele laughed at his sisters and they all jumped on him.

'Hey!' called Scout, suddenly, 'Shouldn't we be going?'

He watched as the musher put the last sack onto the sled and call back a see you later to the guy in the office.

'Right!' replied Danger and Maxie.

'I'll see you later, kids!' said Maxie, licking his four pups. He looked up at Marie, 'I'll see ya later!' he said, nuzzling her. His family moved and Scout smiled at them.

'Mush!' shouted the musher and the team were off. They ran across the snow, sending it flying all over the place. The soon made it to the forest and ran in and out of trees for a while before they started panting.

'Stop!' cried the musher, as Bingo, a young brown and white female husky, lost her footing and fell. The team stopped and watched as the musher checked Bingo.

'Hey!' said Ranger, a young brown and grey husky, 'Are you ok?'

'Yeah!' she said, through gritted teeth. The musher moved all of her legs to see if they were broken and she howled when he moved her back right one.

'You won't be able to run!' he said to her, 'We'd better put you on the sled!'

He carried Bingo over to the sled and carefully placed her on it.

'Mush!' he said again.

Scout sprinted off, hoping they could get there without hurting Bingo further. Looking back for a moment, he could tell Ranger was worried. He sighed and turned back round, narrowly missing a tree.

'Watch where your going!' shouted Maxie over the noise.

'Sorry!' Scout shouted back.

They managed to get to White Mountain just as the sun was setting. The musher patted them on the heads and took them to a boiler room on the outskirts of town. He took Bingo to the nearest hospital after he locked the rest of his team up in the boiler room. They all lounged around getting ready to sleep.

'That wasn't a good run today, was it?' said Maxie, 'That little one got herself hurt and then,' he yawned before adding, 'Scout almost gets us rammed into a tree!'

The others laugh.

'Hey!' Scout protests, 'It's not my fault! I was making sure Ranger was ok. He's likes Bingo after all!'

He couldn't help it and immediately shut his mouth after what he said. All the other dogs whistled and laughed and Ranger shot and embarrassed and upset look at Scout. He ran up the barrels and boxes and jumped out of the open window nat the top.

'Ranger!' Scout shouted running up the barrels and boxes. He looked out the window and saw the young dog trying to pick himself up. He whimpered when he put his front paw down.

Scout ran back down and charged full speed at the boiler room door.

'What are you doing?' gasped Danger as the door flew open.

'Ranger's hurt himself!' Scout called as he ran out and around the back off the boiler room. Ranger was lying on his side, a little bit of blood under him. Scout ran up to him and started to heave him up. There was broken glass where Ranger fell and the young dog had gashed his side.

'Come on!' Scout said, croushing down, 'Get on and I'll carry you in!'

Ranger wobbled on three paws trying to endure the pain in his side. But he slowly got on to Scout's back and let the older dog carry him round the boiler room. The musher came back without Bingo and saw them.

'What's going on?' he asked Himself as Scout approached him with Ranger.

The musher picked up Ranger and walked back down the street muttering to himself.

'Hey!' said Daisy, a grey husky, 'What just happened?'

'Ranger jumped put of the window, cut his side on some glass, hurt his paw and I had to carry him to the musher.' yawned Scout, who was secretly worried about Ranger.

'Let's just get some sleep!' said Maxie, putting his head on his paws, 'The sooner we sleep, the sooner we can wake up and get home to see my family!'

Scout and Danger laughed and agreed.

'And I can see my Snowbelle!' grinned Danger.

'Right!' agreed Scout, 'And I can see my...'

He thought for a moment as the other dogs watched him.

'And I can see my slipper!' Scout finished making everyone laugh again.

'Don't tell me!' said Maxie, 'It look like a wolf!'

'You could say that!' replied Scout with a smile.

Soon, the team was asleep. Apart from Scout who was still worried about Ranger and Bingo. He got up and slowly walked out of the boiler room. He looked up at the forest and saw a white shape getting closer. It was very pretty in the light of the moon. After having a longer look he realised it was a wolf. He didn't want to wake the others up because it would probably leave. Instead, he walked closer to the forest. It wasn't that close so he had to keep walking. Soon, he made it right up to the forest. The white wolf was still there, a little bit of fear in her eyes at what Scout might do.

'Hi!' whispered Scout, sitting down.

'Hi!' the wolf replied, calming down and smiling.

'I'm Scout!' said Scout, 'I've never met a wolf before. You're my first!'

He grinned his cheeky grin, 'What's your name?'

'I'm Aniu, daughter of Saber and Catori.' she replied, 'I don't really look much like my parents. My father is dark grey and black and my mother is white and grey. I have three brothers and one sister. My brothers are Nava, Achak and Sparrowhawk and my sister is Nitti. There all grey except Achak. He's black with a white star on his forehead and white ears.'

She wasn't sure why she was telling Scout all of this but somethign about him made her. Scout just smiled.

'My mother is called Sugar and my father is called Ty. They're both brown and white like me. I also have a sister, called Cookie. She's exactly like me too.' said Scout.

The two sat in silence for a while.

'Heh, strange that we just told each other about out families.' chuckled Scout, 'Mine seems pretty boring compared to yours though!'

'Nah!' chuckled Aniu, 'Mine are boring!'

The two heard voices from the boiler room. Scout quickly jumped up.

'I'd better go or else they'll wonder where I am!' he said. He looked at Aniu's sad eyes. 'I promise I'll be back tomorrow, ok?'

'Ok!' replied Aniu, walking off into the forest.

Scout ran back to the boiler room.

'Hey, where were you?' asked Daisy.

'I met a wolf!' Scout said dreamily, 'She was white and so beautiful! She was kind too!'

The others stared at him.

'Are you alright pal?' asked Danger.

'I'm fine!' Scout insisted, 'It was just so amazing.

'Whatever!' sighed Maxie, 'Let's just go to sleep!'

They all fell back to sleep and Scout's dreams were full of Aniu.

They all woke early in the morning and Scout snuck away and ran into the forest.

'Aniu!' he whispered, 'where are you?'

After a couple of minutes, Aniu walked out the trees, smiling.

'Morning, Aniu!' grinned Scout.

'Morning!' Aniu replied.

Scout sat down.

'I won't be coming back until tonight.' he said.

'That's ok!' sighed Aniu, 'I'll just have to put up with my brothers and sisters a little longer.'

The two of them smiled at each other and Scout left. Aniu watched him run down the hill. She walked back into the forest and soon came nose to nose with a dark grey wolf. It was Nanu.

'What do you want?' asked Aniu.

'Nothing much!' replied Nanu, a sly grin on his face.

'Then go away!' snarled Aniu jumping out of his way.

Nanu walked oof and Aniu walked towards her pack, muttering to herself. She finally got to her pack and saw Nitti with the hunting group. Aniu quickly ducked behind a tree. Nitti wasn't often kind to Aniu. She told the hunting group about all her embarrassing moments and Aniu felt like squeezing her older sister's head until it popped sometimes. But now the hunting group teased her as well. The only other person to know about it apart from her and them was her brother Achak. He was an outcast to the other wolves in the pack. He was said to be the black wolf who would bring destruction to the pack and Aniu was said to be the one who would show them the way. She didn't believe it and was teased for haging around with the 'black wolf'. She quickly ran off to where she knew he'd be. She could trust him with her life.

'Heya, Aniu!' Achak said, 'What's wrong?'

'Hunting group!' sighed Aniu, luing down, 'And Nitti's with them!'

'Again!' replied Achak.

'Hmm.' was Aniu's reply, she had her head resting on her paws and her eyes closed.

Scout's team was all together and ready to leave. They had two replacements in Bingo and Ranger's places and the other two dogs were staying in the hospital in White Mountain.

'Mush!' yelled the musher.

Scout took off and Danger, Daisy and Maxie ran after them. The two replacements weren't used to Scout's speed and had trouble keeping up.

'Come on, you couch potatoes!' shouted Maxie, 'Getcha butt in gear!'

The other two dogs glared at him but Maxie took no notice.

After a couple of hours, the team arrived back in Nome. They were unhooked and given something to eat.

'We had to leave two dogs there.' Scout heard the musher say, 'We've got replacements for now.'

He quickly ate his food and walked off through the town. His dark red collar was a little loose and kept flopping around. But Scout didn't care. He carried on walking until he smelled some fresh meat. He sniffed arounf and narrows his eyes at the butsher's shop, a sly grin on his face. He crept round the back and unhooked the doorhinges, letting the door swing open. He crept inside and pulle the sausages off their hook and ran out. He ran down the street and into an alley with alot of piled up boxes and sat down to eat the sausages. He was halfway through eating when he heard Maxie's worried voice calling out.

'What's wrong, Maxie?' asked Scout, coming out from behind the boxes.

'It's Steele!' Maxie panted, 'We can't find him!'

Scout ran out of the alley, his sausages dangling around his neck and found Marie. bShe was sitting on the porch with her other three puppies crying.

'Oh, Scout!' she sobbed, 'Please help us find him!'

Scout nodded and ran back to Maxie. Danger and Daisy were there as well now and they'd made a plan to search a different part of town. Scout ran off to the edge of town and sniffed around. Nothing. He walked out a bit more and found the reckage of an old ship. Then he caught a scent. It was Steele's. He sniffed around until he found it and followed it to the forest. Then there was another smell. The smell of something wild and large. It was the smell of the wolf. Scout quickly ran along the trail until he came to a clearing. He heard voices.

'Aniu!' shouted a voice, 'How dare you run off like that! You know humans will kill us on sight. And what's worse, you're looking after a pup!'

'I am not!' shouted Aniu's kind voice, 'I was...looking for someone! And besides he seemed scared enough with you and the others growling at him!'

Aniu was sitting with Steele between her paws. He seemed terrified of Aniu and the others but also glad that someone was protecting him. An older wolf was standing glaring at Aniu with a whole pack surrounding them. Scout spotted a black wolf amongst the rest and thought that it must be Achak. Scout jumped in growling.

'Leave the pup alone!' he snarled, staring the older wolf in the eye.

'Yours is he?' asked the wolf, an angry expression on his face.

'No but I know his parents and they're worried sick!' replied Scout, 'Now give him to me!'

'You want to fight about it?' growled the wolf, in an attacking position.

'Of course not!' replied Scout, 'Just give me the pup!'

The other wolf nudged his head slightly and some of the wolves pounced on Scout. They were ripping and tearing at him. Aniu gasped.

'Uncle Scout!' squeaked Steele.

'Come on!' Aniu urged, 'I'm sure he can look after himself for a moment. But you've gotta get home!'

She pushed him and motioned to Achak to help Scout. Achak did as his sister had asked and Aniu ran off with Steele. She took him down to the old reckage.

'Can you get home from here?' she asked. Steele nodded but didn't move.

Aniu ran back up the hill and shot through the forest to find the battle had stopped. A very worn out Scout and Achak were lying in the middle of a group of wolves.

'Go home, dog!' growled the older wolf. Scout pulled himself up and looked for Steele.

'He's gone home!' came Aniu's voice.

'Aniu1' yelled the older wolf.

'What were you planning on doing to him, father?' asked Aniu, 'You would've killed him wouldn't you?'

Her father didn't answer. Aniu ran to Scout and helped him up.

'Run!' she whispered and Scout ran.

'Get back here!' roared the older wolf. Schak got up and blocked the wolves path but they knocked him aside. They ran after Scout. But Scout had run back to town after Aniu had said he was home. Maxie, Danger and Daisy were together.

'Scout!' gasped Daisy, 'What happened?'

'Wolves!' cried Scout, 'Where's Steele? Is he here?'

'No.' replied Maxie.

'But Aniu said!' cried Scout. He ran back away from town followed by his friends. They ran to the old boat and saw the wolves climbing on.

'Steele!' gasped Maxie, 'I'm coming Steele!'

They ran after the wolves and Maxie jumped in just before they could reach his son. He grabbed Steele by the scruff of his neck and threw him over the edge of the boat out of the wolves way. There was some barking and then the sound of a gunshot. The wolves ran and Daisy appeared with her master.

'Pretty good, huh?' she said, grinning. The four dogs all went round the back of the boat while Daisy's master followed the wolves.

'Steele!' whispered Maxie, 'It's ok now. Don't worry!'

Steele ran to his dad and wouldn't leave him.

'Let's go!' said Daisy as the dogs walked back to town.

The next day, the dogs were ready to go on their mail trip to White Mountain again.

'Daddy!' whimpered Steele, 'Please don't go!'

'Don't worry, son!' replied Maxie, 'Just stay with mum and you'll be fine!'

He licked Steele and his daughters and got ready to leave.

'Mush!' cried the musher and the dogs left.

They ran across the snow, and woods until they reached White Mountain. Maxie seemed worried as they were put in the boiler room again.

'Don't worry, Maxie!' said Danger, 'I'm sure he'll stay with Snowbelle and his owners for now!'

Maxie sniffed and sighed.

'But he'll be getting his own home in three weeks! I don't want him to be scared of the outside!'

Scout sighed as he listened to Maxie.

'He'll be fine!' he said and went off to sleep. The two replacements dogs stayed away from the others. They were still wary of Scout's speed.

Scout got up in the night again to see Aniu. He wanted to know why her pack were down by Nome and also why they were after Steele. He waited for her on the hill and fater a while she appeared.

'What happened yesterday?' he asked, not even giving Aniu a chance to say hello or sorry. Aniu looked hurt which immediately made Scout feel sorry.

'I was, well... you left your tag up here!' she said, 'So I followed your scent to that little town and my pack must have followed me We're not allowed to go off by ourselves really, in case of hunters.'

She took a breather and looked at the ground.

'Oh.' was all Scout could say.

They sat there in silence for a while before Scout spoke again.

'What tag?' he asked. Aniu got up and rummaged in the nushes before pulling out a little gold tag.

'This one!' she said, 'It fell off when you ran down the hill so I thought I might as well returnit to you!'

'Thanks.' replied Scout, smiling at Aniu.

Every night since then, Scout would visit Aniu when they went to White Mountain. One day, Maxie broke his paw while running and the team had to stop in the forest. The dogs were all unhooked so they could get some exercise while they were there. Scout slunk off into the forest. He ran back to White Mountain and up onto the hill.

'Aniu!' he called. Aniu bounded out and pounced on him.

'Gotcha!' she giggled. Scout pushed her off and grinned his cheeky grin.

'Yeah, yeah!' he laughed. Aniu wasn't laughing anymore though. She nuzzled him and Scout's eyes widened when she did.

'Well!' he said, 'That was unexpected, I must say!'

'Sorry.' Aniu sighed, 'I...' She didn't know how to finish her sentence so just shut up.

'I know!' replied Scout, softly, licking her forehead. They sat nuzzling for a moment before Aniu pushed Scout over. She ran a few steps away from him, giggled and ran off into the forest. Scout smiled and chased after her.

Scout woke next morning but he wasn't with his team. He was lying in the forest. Aniu was next to him, her body pressed against his for warmth. Scout smiled and licked his face. She opened her eyes and smiled at Scout, nuzzling him.

'Morning.' Scout whispered with a yawn.

'Morning.' Aniu replied. She looked around and sat up. Her smile turned to a frown.

'What's wrong?' asked Scout.

'My father!' she hissed, 'I didn't return home last night. He'll be looking for me!'

She stood up and Scout could tell she was worried.

'Don't worry!' Scout pleaded, knowing that she had every right to worry.

'This is terrible!' she said, 'If he finds me I'll be in trouble!'

What could be worse than this?' asked Scout.

But before Aniu could answer him, a group of wolves surrounded them, nearly all of them growling. They only shut up when the large dark grey wolf walked through. His black ears were pressed back against his head and his black tail was swishing back and forth behind him. There was an abgry expression on his face.

'Nilak!' cried a female voice. It came from a grey and white olf.

Her mother! thought Scout.

'Hush!' Nilak, the grey and black wolf, growled. He turned to Scout and Aniu.

'What were you thinking?!' he roared.

Neither of them replied as he stared at them but somehow Nilak knew what the two had done the previous night.

'Father, please!' Aniu pleaded.

'What?' snapped Nilak.

'It was an accident! We didn't mean it!'

'Didn't mean it!' snarled Nilak, 'How coudl you not mean it?'

Aniu fell silent and her father continued.

'Do you have any idea what this could do to the pack? To you? Do you?'

Aniu didn't reply, seeming more interested at looking at the snow beneath her.

'You could have runied you life!'

Scout listened to everything Nilak was saying to his daughter. He could see a black wolf and a light grey wolf sitting next to Aniu's mother looking sorry for her, there was two more grey wolves as well. One looking startled and the other looking pleased in a way.

Her siblings! Scout thought. He sat and thought about what Aniu would soon be going through. She would be pregnant with hybrid puppies and they would surely not be able to survive with all the others knowing. How could he be so stupid as to let himself do it? He stood up and faced Nilak.

'I promise to protect her under all costs!' he said, 'She will be safe always. And I I'm sure you had her siblings lined up to be the next alphas anyway!'

Nilak growled, 'That may be true, but what she has done could change the pack! And when me and her mother are gone and she is with puppy, who will look after her? I'm sure the rest of the pack will be unsure of these puppies she is to have and what it could do!'

'I also promise that I shall never leave her. Aniu and her puppies are mine to look after and that I shall do!' replied Scout.

Nilak looked at the young dog. He had courage and a brave heart. Nilak was sure that he would be good to his daughter but he wasn't sure about it, nonetheless.

'Ok.' he finally said, 'You may stay! But you must help with our daily activities to keep you and Aniu strong!'

He walked off into the foret, followed by the pack.

'I need to see my friends.' Scout hissed.

'I'll come with you.' replied Aniu. The two wandered through the forest forest and found that Scout's team were still there. They'd stayed in the forest ivernight.

'Scout!' cried Daisy, running up to him and nuzzling him, 'Where were you all night?'

'I was... out!' Scout said.

'Why didn't you come back?' asked Maxie.

'I don't know!' said Scout, knowing he couldn't tell his friends of Aniu and their soon to be puppies.

'There you are!' said the musher, grabbing Scout by his collar. Scout struggled, turned and bit the musher's hand. The musher roared and kicked Scout.

'Scout!' cried Aniu, jumping in front of her mate.

The mail team gasped. Aniu took no notice and nuzzled Scout, helping him up. The musher ran over and pulled Scout's collar off of him. He kicked him in the ribs.

'Get out of here!' he yelled. Scout got up and, letting Aniu go first, ran off into the forest. He collapsed in the snow after a few minutes.

'Her!' said Aniu, bending down, 'Get on!'

'You saw me do that, huh?' chuckled Scout, weakly.

'Yeah!' Aniu smiled. Scout got onto her back and Aniu carried him off. It was a bit of a struggle for her as Scout was a bit bigger than her and heavier but she managed.

Once Scout felt well enough he told Aniu to stop and he got off of her. The two walked through the forest, following the pack's scent. They stayed side by side the whole time until they reached the pack.

'Now where did you go?' asked Nitti.

'To say goodbye to Scout's friends!' said Aniu, sniffily.

'You think you're so great because you're expecting but if I'd mated with a dog I'd be ashamed of myself!' hissed Nitti.

'You're just jealous because no one loves you the way Scout loves me!' Aniu snapped, brushing her head against Scout's. Nitti growled and walked off.

'You can stay with me!' said Aniu, turning to Scout.

'But of course!' Scout chuckled.

Scout spent the day learning about the rules of the pack and, because he was such a fast learner, picked up on them quickly. As night came all the wolves walked into a medium sized cave.

'Father doesn't like having a big cave because he likes us to stay togther to keep warm.' said Aniu, 'Bit strange if you ask me!'

Her and Scout walked in and walked right to the back of the cave. Scout lied by the wall so Aniu didn't have any stones digging into her. Aniu lay next to him and pressed her head against his furry chest. Scout put his paw over Aniu and fell asleep.

For the next two months, Scout had been put into the hunting group because he was very quiet but fast and very strong. He had helped the pack alot, though they didn't liek to say it. He often went hunting on his own to find extra food for Aniu, just like he'd promised. Aniu was now heavy with pup and didn't often move from the cave. She'd take a walk near the cave everyday and also to get water but that was mostly it.
Nilak walked in when Scout was giving Aniu some extra rabbit meat. 

'Father!' cried Aniu.

'Nilak!' said Scout, nodding his head. Nilak smiled. Scout had proven to be strong and smart and clever. He was very loving towards Aniu and Nilak knew he'd make a great dad to Aniu's pups.

'I have come to tell you that it is time you moved to the whelping den. You will be expecting your pups any day soon and I think it's be safer if we took you to the den early just in case!' said Nilak, looking at his daughter.

'Right!' smiled Aniu. She slowly and carefully got up. She leant against Scout to keep her balance and he helped her walk out of the cave. Nilak led the way to the whelping den which wasn't too far from the cave. It was hidden in a huge thicket of trees and bushes. Aniu need some help to squeeze through and get into the other side. Once they'd squeezed through, Nilak led the two of them to a little cave. It was nice and cozy inside. A little bit damp with roots growinf in the ceiling and moss growing on the dampest rocks.

'Nice place!' breathed Scout, not ever thinking that he'd find such a wild place to be so beautiful. He let Aniu lie down and she curled up. She looked up and Scout and the two of them nuzzled each other. Scout licked Aniu's face.

'Stay safe!' he whispered to her.

'I always will be with you here!' she whispered back. Nilak led Scout out.

'You'll be a great father one day!' Nilak said, a little shyly at having praised Scout, 'You'll have no trouble with looking after your pups!'

'My pups?' joked Scout, 'I always thought you'd hated me!'

'Well,' Nilak said slowly, stopping at the river, 'I did until i saw how brave and strong you were. And how you kept your promises that you made! You've helped this pack alot!'

'Thank you, Nilak!' said Scout. The two had a drink from the river.

'Well then!' said Nilak, 'You'd better get to the hunting party! They'll be starting any time sson!'

'Right!' agreed Scout, running off.

Scout got to the hunting party just as they were about to leave.

'We thought you were gonna be late!' said one of them.

'Me? Late?' joked Scout. The party ran off and were soon able to pull down a large caribou.

'We'll come out once more when we've taken this back. We'll need more food to feed everyone and keep them strong!' said one of the lead wolves.

They carried the caribou back to the pack and left it in th cave. Scout yawned and looked around. He heard some muffled noises and quietly went to where he heard them.

'Go away!' someone shouted. Svout looked through the bushes and saw Achak with a group of adolescent wolves like himself.

'You're the reason we've got a mangy dog in our pack!' one sneered.

'Yeah!' replied another.

'I am not!' growled Achak. He'd gotten alot more confident, or angry as Scout had noticed, over the past two months, and now Scout realised why.

'I'm sure Aniu would've never had met that dog if you had kept an eye on her like Nilak told you!' another snarled.

'Just go away!' Achak snarled.

'You're the reason the pack's gonna die out!' said the biggest one, 'You're the black wolf who'll bring destruction!'

Achak really lost it then.

'I am NOT!!' he yelled, biting the largest wolves leg hard before running off. The largest yowled in pain but didn't go after Achak.

'Let him go!' he growled to the others. 'Once everyone starts to die then we'll take over!'

The otehrs agreed. Scout's eyes widened when he realised what was happening. They were trying to make him angrier so that one day he could just lose it and they could take over. Scout ran back to tell Nilak but Nilak was busy and the hunting party was about to go out again. Scout followed the party, planning on telling Nilak later.

'May I stay with Aniu for the next few nights?' Scout asked Nilak, He'd forgotten about Achak after a tiring day hunting and was more interested in keeping Aniu safe.

'Of course!' smiled Nilak, 'We need someone to look after her and warn us if anything happens. And who better than the father of the pups!'

'Thank you!' replied Scout, running off towards the thicket. He crawled under and into the little den.

'Scout!' cried Aniu, happy to see her mate.

'Hey, Aniu!' replied Scout. He walked up to her and nuzzled his mate. She licked his face and neck. Scout lied down next to Aniu, snuggling up to keep her and their soon-to-be puppies warm. Aniu snuggled into his soft fur and Scout smiled. They fell asleep together like they had for the past two months.

For the next two days, Aniu was fine. She rarely left the den and Scout brought her extra food to keep both her and the babies well fed.

'I've got to go hunt now!' Scout said, nuzzling Aniu, 'Keep safe!'

'Of course!' replied Aniu, smiling.

Scout left and followed the hunting party. They crept to a clearing where a whole herd of caribou were grazing. They all crept low to the ground and silently moved out, surrounding half of the herd. Some of the caribou heard then as one of the younger wolves snapped a twig. They alerted the rest so that the whole herd ran. But the hunting party surrounded the herd and eventually cornered one. It was quite big and would take time to bring down. The leader of the hunt (a wolf named Konell) signalled the others and they got closer to the terrified caribou. Konell signalled again and the twin wolves Kanti and Kaila jumped at the caribou. They both bit down hard on it's neck and Konell told Scout and Sparrowhawk to get it's back legs. Konell and the youngest wolf, Lia, went in after. The caribou was soon pulled down and the party congratualted Kanti and Kaila.

Just then, another wolf ran up to them. He was quite big and strong and had dark grey fur.

'Scout!' he called.

The hutning party turned to face the large wolf and Scout took a few steps forward.

'Yes?' he asked.

'It's Aniu!' the wolf panted, 'She's having the pups!'

Scout's eyes widened and he nearly jumped for joy. The other wolves seemed to share his excitement. The large wolf and Scout ran back to the rest of the pack while the hunting party had to bring back the carinou. Scout ran ahead of the larger wolf, running faster than he'd ever done before. He saw Nilak and Kiowa running towards the whelping den.

They must have been told too! Scout thought.

He got ahead of the alphas and scrambled under the brambles into the den. Aniu was lying at the end. Her faced was scrunched up a little and Scout ran up to her. He licked her face so that she new he was there and Nilak and Kiowa came in.

'Aniu!' Kiowa said, softly, 'Keep going!'

'We'd better wait outside.' Nilak whispered to Scout. They left and sat down outside the den. Nilak looked at Scout and smiled.

'You ok?' he asked.

'Yeah, I guess!' replied Scout, shaking himself, 'I'm just a bit scared!'

Nilak laughed and patted Scout with one of his paws.

'Don't worry!' he said, 'I felt the same way when my pups were born. But then again, I feel scared down because it's one of my pups having her own!'

Scout smiled and Kiowa's head stuck out of the whole.

'Come in!' she whispered, excitedly.

'After you!' chuckled Nilak. Scout nodded, his eyes wide, and crawled in. He slowly walked up to Aniu. She was curled up, her tail swishing gently, her back facing them.

'Aniu!' Scout whispered. Aniu looked up and smiled at him.

'Look!' she whispered, sleepily. Scout looked over and saw five adorable little pups. One was a light brownish-grey colour, another was dark grey and light grey, there was two white pups and the last was brown and white.

'Three girls and two boys!' said Aniu, licking her puppies heads.

Nilak and Kiowa slunk away, knowing that Aniu and Scout needed some time alone and that they could see that grandpuppies later.

'Thank you, Scout!' said Aniu, 'Thank you for such a beautiful litter!'

'I love you, Aniu!' said Scout, nuzzling his mate. This was the first time that he'd really said 'I love you' properly.

'And you!' replied Aniu, 'What will we call our children?'

'The brown and white one can be called... Isha!' said Scout, 'And this little white one can be Nayeli!' He pointed to the smallest white puppy.

'This little dark grey one will be called Lakota and this brownish grey one can be Conan!' said Aniu, licking the boy pups, then she looked at the last and largest pup who was white, 'And this one can be Cheyenne!'

'Perfect!' whispered Scout, licking Aniu's face again.

Over the next two months, the pups grew. Aniu wasn't happy at having her pups so close to a town but they couldn't move very far because the pups couldn't travel long distances yet. Her and Scout were very happy with their family and Scout played with his pups everyday. He taught them the rules about being a wolf and taught them how to hunt. His favourite was his youngest pup, Conan. Conan wasn't as strong as his brothers or sisters but he was a fast learner and runner.

Scout had watched his family learn and grow but he'd also noticed how Achak had become alot stronger and angrier. He'd snarl and growl at the smallest of things and had even turned on his own nephew, Conan. He'd said he was sorry straight after though.

'Daddy!' said Conan one day, 'Why do me, Lakota and Isha look so different to the other wolves?'

'Well...' started Scout but was interupted.

'Scout! It's time to start the hunt!' called Kaila.

'Ok!' replied Scout then turned to his son, 'I'll have to tell you later! Be good!'

Conan sighed as he watched his dad leave. He never had time for him.

'Maybe mum will tell me!' Conan said aloud. He ran off to find Aniu. She was moving the food from the hunting party's previous hunt to the back of the cave.

'Mum!' said Conan, walking into the cave.

'Yes, Conan?' replied Aniu, smiling at her son.

'How come me, Lakota and Isha don't look like wolves as much as everyone else?'

Aniu looked startled, 'This is something that we need to talk about as a family!' she said, 'Me and your father will tell all of you tonight, ok?'

Conan had to agree because he knew his mum would make him wait anyway. He left the cave and ran off to find his siblings. As soon as he found them he told them what he'd asked their parents.

'They have to tell us!' said Isha, who looked almost like an everyday husky, 'I don't look like a wolf!'

'Then we're lucky that we do!' said Cheyenne, looking at Nayeli.

That night, Aniu and Scout took their pups to the whelping den so that they could talk in private.

'You wanted to know why you look different.' Aniu said slowly, 'Scout has something to tell you.'

Well,' Scout started, 'Your mother is a full wolf like everyone else. But I'm not a wolf. I'm a dog, an alskan husky if you really want to know. And I met your mother and we had you. We only realised afterwards what it'd be like for you. Now, Cheyenne and Nayeli, you look just like your mther, a white wolf, but Conan, Lakota and Isha, you look different. Isha I'm sorry to say you are the most dog-like of the five of you, you look just like a dog. Conan and Lakota look like hybrids which you are!'

Isna, Conan and Lakota blinked a few times before Isha ran out trying to hide her watery eyes.

'Isha!' called Scout, 'Isha! Come back!'

Scout sighed, 'I'm so stupid!'

'Of course you're not!' cried Aniu, then she was softer, 'You did the right thing!'

Conan and Lakota ran off to find their sister.

'It's ok, sis!' said Conan, 'You're special!'

'Yeah!' Lakota agreed, 'No one else is like you!'

'I guess.' Isha said slowly. She swallowed and smiled a bit.

'Let's go play!' said Conan.

Over the next few days, it started to rain and wouldn't stop. The river overflowed and the ground started to become slushy like a swamp. Not only that but the presence of human was inthe air and the pack had nearly lost one member already.

'We have to move!' said Nilak, 'It's getting too dangerous here!'

'See!' called a voice, who Scout recognised as the one who had been teasing Achak, 'It's all Achak's fault! He's the black wolf wo will bring destruction!'

He sniggered and so did his friends. Nilak looked a little hurt but angry. But Achak just went wild. It was like he didn't know what was happening. He leapt at the wolf and bit down hard on his neck. Blood oozed out and made a puddle on the floor. After a couple of seconds the wolf was dead. But Achak wasn't finished. He grabbed the nearest wolf and tore at it's skin and bit down on it's neck the same way he had done to the other wolf. Soon, all the wolves who had teased Achak were dead and blood oozed out around them making a puddle on the floor. But something in Achak told him he couldn't stop. His eyes didn't actually look at the wolves around him, it was like they looked through them. His eyes were like hot needles or bullets, boring into the wolves skins. Achak took a step towards them and bared his teeth. Aniu and Scout grabbed there children and ran. The pack scattered and Achak chased after them, killing the ones he caught. Nilak, Kiowa, Nava, Sparrowhawk and Nitti followed Aniu and her family. They ran to the whelping den and hid. They could hear their fellow pack memebers being slaughtered. Over a few minutes, seven more pack members had the same idea and rushed into the den.

'This is the last of our pack!' Nilak said at last, but for once he didn't sound proud and like the leader he was. He sounded small and weak. 'We must stick together from now on!'

'Father!' said Aniu, 'My pups won't be safe if we are all together. We must seperate them, and fast! If we can take them away from here they won't have to go through what we do!'

They fell silent when they heard more of their pack members being slaughtered by Achak outside.

'Right!' said Nilak, agreeing with his daughter, 'Aniu and Scout, you must leave here and take one of your children each. If you take more it will only slow you down adn that...' he couldn't bring himself to say monster or Achak's name, 'Just be safe!'

'I'll take Lakota.' said Scout, 'He's quite a runner and I'm sure someone would take him!'

'We'll take Cheyenne and Nayeli. They must stay as the wolves they are!' said Nitti, who actually showed how much she cared about her sister's family for once.

Isha and Conan looked up.

'What about us?' they asked.

'Conan, you'll come with me!' said Aniu.

'I'll take Isha with me!' said Scout, 'She deserves a good home. And I don't think she'd survive as a wolf the way she looks!'

'Then it's settled. We must leave here!' said Nilak, his voice nearly back to the way it was. He poked his head out of the den and gave the all clear. Aniu and Scout nuzzled their children and each other. Tears fell from Aniu's eyes.

'I'm sorry it had to end this way!' she whispered into Scout's ear, 'I'm sorry!'

'It's not your fault. It's those wolves who... your brother destroyed. I watched them once. They were teasing him. That's why he's the way he is!' said Scout, licking her face.

'If you don't leave now then you won't be able to leave at all!' hissed Nilak.

'Right!' Aniu and Scout both said. Scout picked up Isha is his mouth and Lakota climbed up onto his back.

'Goodbye, my love!' he said to Aniu, 'I hope I will be able to see you again one day!'

And then he left.

'You'd better go as well!' said Nilak. Aniu nodded and kissed all of her family and told her daughters to stay safe. Then she picked up Conan and rushed out.

Scout ran in and out of the trees, hoping to get to the closest town soon. He ran and ran and for a little while was scared that Achak was following them. Soon, Scout and his children had got to the edge of White Mountain. He knew that even though Achak had lost it, he still wouldn't be dumb enough to come all the way into town. So Scout ran into the town and bumped into the mail team. They growled at him when they saw him.

'Get out of here, wolf!' growled Daisy.

'Daisy!' Scout gasped, putting Lakota and Isha down.

'Who are you?' asked Daisy.

'Scout!' replied Scout, 'It's me! Remember?'

Daisy, Danger and Maxie all looked at Scout before seeing through his new self and into the real Scout.

'Oh, Scout!' cried Daisy, nuzzling him, 'Where'd you go? After our musher made you leave we tried to run after you but he held us back!'

'I was staying with a wolf pack.' replied Scout.

'But, how?' asked Danger.

'I'll tell you everythign that's happened!' said Scout sitting down and nuzzling his two pups, 'After the musher got rid of me, me and the white wolf, Aniu ran back to the wolf pack. I came down to say goodbye because I had promised Aniu's father I'd never leave her. You see, the reason I didn't come home was because... me and Aniu mated the night before. i knew she'd have a tough time raising hybrid pups by herself and I loved her. i had done for a long time. That's why I disappeared at night. So we stayed in her pack and they taught me what the life of a wolf was all about. I was put into the hunting party and just iver two months later, Aniu had our puppies. We've been looking after them as wolves and teaching them what i was taught. Aniu's brother is a black wolf and as you know there is supposed to be a black wolf who will bring chaos and destruction. Some other wolves wanted to make sure of that and teased him whenever he was alone. Today, he just lost it and killed most of the pack. Me and Aniu had tosplit up and take our pups elsewhere. Two of them are staying in the remaining pack and Aniu took my other son away.' he stopped and tears rolled down his face, 'I do hope Aniu is ok!'

Daisy, Maxie and Danger stared at him before rushing over and telling him they were sorry.

'So are these your pups?' asked Danger, bending down to Isha and Lakota. Scout nodded.

'This one's Lakota!' he said, nudging the dark grey male, 'And this one's Isha!' He nudged his husky-looking daughter.

'Hello!' said Daisy, softly, 'I'm Daisy.'

'I'm Maxie!' said Maxie.

'And I'm Danger!' said Danger.

'Daddy, what will happen to us?' asked Isha.

'Well,' said Scout, 'Humans will find us and then you will be adopted. That means you get a new home!'

Isha and Lakota looked fearful.

'Oh.' they said.

Scout stayed in the boiler room with his old team and pups until morning when the musher came in, After taking a good look, the musher knew who it was.

'Is that you Scout?' he asked, just to be sure. Scout barked and ran up to the msuher, licking his hand.

'I'm sorry, pal!' said the musher, stroking Scout, 'Wanna be on the team again?'

Scout barked again and led the musher over to his pups.

'Oh!' said the musher, 'I see you have kids now, huh? We'd better find homes for them!'

He opened the door to the boiler room and let the dogs out. He scooped up the puppies and him and Scout went to get them checked out at the vets.

Aniu ran as fast as her legs would carry her. She weaved in and out of the trees. Turning back she saw Achak. He spotted her and ran after her.

'No!' cried Aniu. Aniu was running out of breath and she was tired. Achak got closer and he punced on her, pinning her to the ground.

'Please, Achak!' pleaded Aniu, looking up at her brother. Conan was terrified.

Schak looked at Aniu and Conan, then looked at them again. He got off of her and stepped backwards. He shook himself.

'I'm sorry.' he whispered, 'I've done a terrible thing. I don't deserve to live!'

It was as if he wasn't talking to Aniu but trying to tell someone else. Trying to tell everyone he'd killed to forgive him.

'Achak!' said Aniu stepping towards her brother.

'Don't come near me!' Achak yelled, 'I'm too dangerous! Take Conan and run!'

'Aniu knew that she couldn't just say know. She picked up her cub and ran. She'd gotten about halfway to Nome when a new threat came up. The hunters. Aniu could hear them. There feet pounding across the floor and their guns shooting at animals. Aniu ran faster than she had ever done before. She ran so fast it was like she wasn't touching the ground beneath. There was a gunshot and she barely missed it. Then she saw lights. Looking up she saw saw Nome. She ran as fast as she could. Hunters wouldn't shoot in a town. She knew that she couldn't go in herself but remembere dthe reckage from months ago. She ran up to it and collapsed when she'd got into the captain's room.

'Mama!' squeaked Conan.

'Don't worry about me!' said Aniu, 'Listen to me Conan. You have to stay here. I will come back for you soon but from now on you must stay here on your own. You know how to hunt so you should be able to feed yourself.'

'Are you going away, mama?' asked Conan.

'Yes!' replied Aniu, 'But I will be back. I promise!'

She nuzzled her son and left. Conan whimpered but stayed put just as his mother had told him.

A few days had passed and the musher had got Isha and Lakota checked out. A lady came to collect Isha.

'Come now, Poppet!' she said, picking Isha up and calling her by her new name, 'Don't worry, you can see your daddy whenever you want!'

'Bye, Lakota!' Isha called, waving at her brother, 'I'll miss you!'

'Bye, Isha!' called Lakota, 'I'll miss you too!'

Isha was carried out of the room.

'Don't worry, son!' said Scout, 'I'm sure you'll see her again soon!'

Then the musher answered the door and a man walked out. He walked in.

'Yes, sir! He's very healthy. We think he's about two months old!' the musher was saying, 'Here we are!'

The other man bent down and let Lakota sniff his hand.

'There, now!' he said as Lakota licked him, 'What shall we call you? I know, I'll call you Togo!'

He patted the pup on the head and picked him up.

'Here's you rmoney then!' he said with a smile, handing over the money for the pup.

'Goodbye, Lakota!' said Scout, 'I hope you have a good home with your new human!'

Lakota nodded as his human left with him. He was taken to Nome. Scout sighed as he watched his son being carried away and put onto the back of a sled. He hoped the other dogs wouldn't give him a hard time. He walked back into the house.

Now I've lost all of them. he thought.

Conan spent the next few days, trying with all his might to get food to eat and to try not to think of his mother and father. He wandered off onto the beach one day to play. There was no one to play with though and Conan felt very lonely. Soon he tsrated to run, just like Scout had taught him to and ran up and down the beach. That is until he crashed. He looked up and saw a feathery lump.

'Hey!' Conan cried, 'Are you ok?'

He helped the feathery creature up and noticed that it was a bird.

'What are you?' he asked.

'Who, me?' said the bird, standing up, 'I'm a goose!'

'Oh!' said Conan, 'What's your name?'

'I'm Boris!' replied the goose, trying to smooth out his feathers. He looked up and saw the other geese laughing and flying away.

'Huh? No! Wait, come back!' he cried, running along the beach.

Conan laughed and ran after the goose.

'Since we're both alone now, wanna stay with me?' he asked.

'Hmm? You're alone?' replied Boris, feeling some sympathy for the pup, 'Oh, alright!'

'Yay!' cried Conan, jumping about. He led Boris to his boat.

'Hey, kid!' said Boris, 'Ever been into town?'

Conan shook his head.

'Well, come!' said Boris walking off the boat, 'Let me show you!'

Conan followed and was soon in the little town of Nome. Some of the other dogs looked at him with disgust. Partky because he looked wolfish and partly because he had a goose tour guide. Conan saw a black and white malamute pup, quite a bit older than himself, but decided to go play with him. He was with an older female dog.

'Hiya!' said Conan.

'Hey.' said the other pup, sounding sad.

'What's your name?'

'Steele, and you?'

'My name's Co-' He was stopped when a man ran up to him and grabbed him.

'A wolf cub, in the town?' he said. Conan wriggled in his grasp and jumped out. He ran down the street and round a corner. The over-powering smell of meat was in the air and Conan followed it to a door. But he couldn't get in. Then he saw the latches and he unconsciously hooked his tiny nail under the latch and pushed it up. He jumped onto the boxes and did the same to the top latch. The door swung open, slightly on it's side and Conan ran in. There was meat everywhere. The closest thing to him was a string of sausages. Conan pulled and the sausages fell down onto him.

'Hey, pup!' said Boris, 'What are you doing?'

'I haven't eaten since yesterday!' replied Conan, pulling the sauasages along the ground, 'Can you carry these for me?'

He was about to give Boris the sausages to hold when the man came back and picked Conan up. But a little girl saw them and ran over.

'Please don't hurt him!' she begged, 'I know that pup!'

She grabbed Conan from the man and hugged him.

'Oh, really?' said the man, 'And what's his name?'

'Uh, he's called... Bal... Balto!' replied the girl.

'Are you sure, Rosie?' the man asked, suspiciously.

'Yeah!' Rosie replied. The man seemed to buy it and left them, seeming to forget the sausages.

'There you go, Balto!' said Rosie, putting the pup down.

Conan, or Balto and he was now called, looked up at Rosie before running through a gap under the fence. Boris jumped up and over, with the sausages. He ran back to the boat and into the captain's room. He sniffed the floor. The scent of his mum was still there. It comforted Balto as he lied down.

The next day there was a blizzard. Balto stepped out into the cold to find food but was thrown back in. It died down a little after that so Balto tried again. He stepped out then ran along as fast as he could to go forward. He was doing pretty good as well, until a huge gust of winf sent him flying off his feet. He slammed into the side of the ship and fell unconscious.

'Pup!' Boris cried, hoping to be able to get him. But the wind was too strong so he had to wait.

Balto woke soon after, when the winds were still strong. But he couldn't remember much. All that was left in his memory was Scout the husky, Boris the snow goose, the little girl and a beautiful white wolf.

He noticed the pipe that led to the boat and clambered in. He climbed up it, slipping every so often until he reached the top. He ran back to the captain's room where an old blanket he'd recently found was on the floor. He wrapped it around himself and let the warm tears pour out of his eyes.

Im alone! he thought to himself. That night he cried himself to sleep, and his dreams were full of a snow white wolf.