The Search For A New Home
 By: balto678 (Donovan Bailey)

CHAPTER ONE

The pitch black night was dead cold and swallowed up the mountains and trees along with everything else in its darkness. The night relentlessly pressed down over the wolves eyes. It was impossible to see anything threw the darkness. The wolf could only tell where it was going by keen senses. This wolf was a pregnant mother. She was searching for shelter to rest in until morning. The wolfs name was Anilda and she had gotten seperated from her pack. She knew there was no hope of finding her pack in the darkness.
Anilda knew her situation could result in death but she had always been told that if she ever got into a bad situation, she should remain calm, otherwise she might find herself in greater danger.
This had been told to her by her father again and again. Her father was now dead though. His name had been Nava. Anilda closed her eyes and sighed. She had no idea where the pack was or even where she was but she did know that they were headed south. Exactly why they were headed south was a mystery to Anilda. Hopefully, knowing the packs direction of travel would be enough.
Soon afterwards she grew too tired to continue her search for shelter so she resorted to digging a hole in the snow large enough for her to curl up in and warm herself up with her own body heat and rest.
As she lay there shivering, trying to find sleep, her mind kept wondering if her mate was looking for her. She was the Beta of the pack and her mate was the guard wolf. He was also one of the ten that had saved the alfa's life when they had been attacked unexpectedly. By ensuring Aleu's safety when she was wounded from a recent lethal fight, he had saved the pack. As a reward for this act of courage Aleu declared Adam and the other nine wolfs that had assisted him in the rescue 'The Ten Shields'
The Ten Shields kept adam busy but he had always spent as much time with her as he was able too. But recently adam had gotten even more busy. The pack had been attacked by the deadliest pack in history. They were called the 'red rock pack'. They had been attacked in the middle of the night while they all had been sleeping. Adam and the ten shields had reacted immediatly. They got aleu to safety and then returned to fight off the wolves. But as fast as they had reacted, they hadn't been fast enough. The red rock pack had defeated them. Now the pack was making their way to find new land to live on. They had been traveling for weeks. Their homeland was located in the White Hills. A peacefull location with plenty of rivers to get water and plenty of forest with more than enough game to satisfy their hunger.. A wolf's Paradise.
As these thoughts ran through Anilda's head she found it impossible to find sleep so she then turned her thoughts over to what she might name her pups wheather they were males or females. These thoughts soothed anilda's mood and soon she found herself dozing off.

When she woke up the next morning it was no longer dark but bright. The coldness still lingered though.Anlida shook the snow off that had landed on her as she slept through the night then sat up. Squinting as she looked around, letting he eyes adjust to the change in light, she saw that in every direction she looked there was just snow, snow, and more snow. There was an occasional tree in the clearing though. Anilda struggled to her feet and then decided to follow her tracks back from the direction she had came. Hoping they would lead her back to the pack's path but when she turned around to start she saw her tracks had been covered up with a fresh layer of snow.
"Oh, no" Anilda said as she realized just how much worse her situation had become.

CHAPTER TWO

At least twenty miles behind Anilda, a large group of wolves lay asleep.
All but one of the wolves was asleep. This pitch black wolf was walking around checking each wolf. This served two purposes. To see if any of the pack was missing and to find out if Anilda, his mate and the beta of the pack, was with the pack. She had gone missing that morning and hadn't showed up yet.
"Shield one"
"Zack ive told you dont call me that unless we're under attack." The wolf said. Ever since he and nine others had saved the pack leader, Aleu, from being killed she had given them a special rank in the pack known as 'The Ten Shields'. They then started calling each other the shield number they had recieved.
"Call me Adam. Anyway have you seen Anilda yet?" he asked glancing at the wolves snoozing on the ground.
"No. Sorry. But don't worry. Im sure she'll turn up" Zack said
"Shield one may i speak with you for a minute?"
"What is it this time Jon?" Adam replied recognizing the voice.
"i need to have a few words with you" Jon replied.
After looking from Zack to the wolves and back to Zack, Zack got the idea and took up the task of counting the wolves and looking for Anilda Adam jogged over to jon.
"Whats happening jon?" Adam asked once he caught up with him.
"I just want to let you know that tomorrow we leave this territory. The Frieden pack have allowed us safe passage threw their territory but we have to be careful when we are in the red land territory. We could be attacked at anytime. After our last attack from this pack i want to let you know more about them. There's a reason it's called red land" Jon explained.
"I already know the reason. There was a war-" Adam started but Jon cut him off.
"Not just A war Adam. THE war. This war is the reason wolves are divided into packs and our lands are divided into territories"
"Jon, you've told me this story a hundred times over. I know it by heart now. I know how the war lasted ten years and the final batle was the bloodiest battle in history. Over a hundred thousand dead wolves and at least sixty thousand injured" Adam went on. He didn't feel like listening to Jon tell the story again. "But my point is what has a battle that happened over a century ago got to deal with us crossing over it?"
"Adam there's alot more to the tale then that. You've got the basic understanding of the battle but it goes deeper. Much deeper. There are more than just wolves in the Red land pack. There's an entirly different race with the pack"
"What's so different about the race?" Adam asked intrigued.
"The race has the power to control things. Posses things. Once they want something done it gets done" Jon explained.
"So your saying this race has the power to control the minds of others?" Adam asked
"as crazy as it sounds, but yes" Jon replied
"I can't believe im listening to this. Jon maybe you didn't notice but Anilda is gone. She's lost. She's pregnant. And She doesent even know where the pack is headed" Adam exclaimed.
"Adam, believe me we've sent a search team to look for her. I can assure you, Anilda will be back with us by tomorrow morning. I thought it'd be best if i told you the risks of crossing into the territory though. I wanted to put you on your guard" Jon said walking infront of Adam.
"Alright, if there is this special race with the red land pack, is their anything we can do to protect ourselves?" Adam asked
"Not much is known about the race since everyone who has met one was killed or drivin insane. But only one thing we're sure of is that they need to make eye-contact in order for them to use their abilities" Jon replied shivering slightly as a sudden blast of cold air blew on them.
"You know this for certain? This isn't just some educated guess is it?" Adam asked
"This is for certain. As long as no eye contact is made with them we're safe from them but the thing is they look exactly like the rest of the pack. So Its impossible to tell which one is a regular wolf and which one has a special power" Jon said suddenly.
"So where did this race come from?" Adam asked
"Im not sure but i know this. The only reason we lost that war is because of this race. They were able to turn our own troops against us and even make them kill themselves" Jon replied

CHAPTER THREE

Panting, Anilda pushed her way through the tangle of plants, thorns, bushes, and tree branches. Shivering the whole way since everything was covered in snow. Every now and then a thorn vain or a tree branch would swing back and slap her in the face. An execptionally painfull slap happened when she pushed several tree branches out of her way with her side and one of the branches had a thorn vein wrapped around it swung back and slapped her in the face. Anilda felt the stinging pain as the thorns sank into her skin and the force of the slap caused her left eye to blur temparerlly.
Finally when she had made it through the tangle she sat down to catch her breath. She had mud splattered all over her side when she slipped on the frozen ground and landed in a mud from the melted snow. She had several scratches and cuts from the thorns. She was extremely thirsty and a trail of blood ran down from her left eye.
But she had been able to satisfy her hunger. The woods was full of game. Anilda hunted every animal she could manage until her hunger was satisfied.
How long have i been gone? Will the pack have sent the search team yet? Anilda wondered
The chilling wind blew on anilda who shivered then stood back up and continued on. Hoping she was headed in the right direction. Relying on her scence of direction and smell.

An hour later anilda caught a scent of a wolf. When anilda put her nose to the ground, she could smell several wolves.
"The pack must have been here!" Anilda exclaimed. Her hopes of finding the pack again soaring back up. Following the scent was all she had to do now.At least that's what she thought.
Just as she started to follow the scent she spotted two wolves. Neither one looked very friendly. Both had a grin on their faces. One wolf was teel and the other had several scars visible through his aqua blue fur.
The two wolves advanced on Anilda grinning.
"Who's first Al?" the aqua blue wolf asked with a snicker
"Be my guest lex. This one's cute. I wanna see her moan first" The teel wolf said continuing to advance on Anilda. Anilda, retreating, felt a sense of dread rush through her body. She'd been afraid of this. Swallowing anilda got ready to run. Planning to turn around and run but this plan was foiled just as she had thought of it. Lex pushed on anilda with enough force to knock her over, then started to get on top of her when he was hit in the side. Hard.
Anilda gasped and saw a black and yellow wolf standing over her. Anilda recognized him as one of the search team wolves from the pack. Relief rushed through anilda's body. This was one of her closest friends from the pack. It was Night.
"Unless you have a death wish i suggest you two get out of here" Night said fiercly
"Its two agains one, you wouldn't stand a chance" Al replied
"You'd be surprised what a trained wolf can do" Night said "now this is your last warning"
"We're not going anywhere" Lex said once he was back on his feet.
"Alright but i warned you" Night said calmly then jumped over Anilda so fast he looked like black and yellow blur for a moment. When he landed he lunged at Lex and sank his razor sharp teeth into his neck. Lex went limp. Al who had been standing right beside lex jumped back then recovered fast and tackled Night. Night rolled backwards and kicked Al with his hind legs. Al flipped off night and landed on his back. Acting fast Night got to his paws and was about to kill Al when he rolled away. Night ended up with a mouthful of snow. Al tried to run. Night ran after him and caught up with him in less than a few seconds then tried to knock Al over but instead got al's leg. Night compromised and twisted his head sideways forcefully and felt the leg snap in his mouth. Night then tasted blood.
When Night leg go of Al's leg he could see he'd snapped the bone clean in half and the bone was sticking out of Al's leg.
Night was sparing Al no pain. He stomped on Al's broken leg. Causing Al to moaned in agony. Night had a grin on his face now. Night then clamped his jaws over al's neck and al became quiet and motionless immediatly.

"Are you alright?" Night asked once he'd run back to anilda, who was still laying in the position the now dead lex had pushed her into.
"I think so. Your timing couldn't have been better night. If you hadn't showed up those creeps would have. . . Well. . . Thanks" Anilda replied standing up.
Night noticed Anilda was struggling so he asked "You wanna get some rest or do you feel up to some more traveling?"
"Rest Please!" Anilda exclaimed gratefully.
"Ok, ill keep watch while you rest" Night replied
"Thanks again Night" Anilda said then curled up on the ground and dozzed off to sleep.

CHAPTER FOUR

After Jon had told adam about the mind-controlling race of wolves adam thought it would be a good idea to gather the other eight members of 'the Ten Shields' and inform them. Once they were all gathered Adam Stood up and explained what he'd been told by jon.
"And this is not a joke? This isn't just some sick idea of a prank to get us all worked up?" Shield nine/ Anisto asked once adam had finished explaining.
"Anisto we're never gunna be 'The Ten Shields' until we all learn to trust each other" Shield four/ Jake said rolling his eyes.
"I just want to be sure this is true" Anisto said raising his voice loud enough to make himself heard over jake.
"Anisto i promise you this is one hundred percent true. A meeting of this importance would never be called as a joke. You know the punishment is banishment from the pack" Adam said reassuringly to anisto
"I don't think our problem is weather these wolves exist. I believe our problem is what are we going to do if we're ambushed by an entire pack of them" Shield two/ Mali stated
"Like i've said, you can't tell the two races apart. They are exactly alike. Their invisible to us" Adam replied
"Actually your wrong about that Adam"
Aleu, the alpha of the pack, had just arrived. At once everyone stood up and bowed as she walked by.
"Ive had expirence with this race of Wolves before. They have several small differences compared to the rest of the pack. But it takes a trained eye to spot them. Like their ears. Instead of the normal shape, their ears are more curved. It's not the usual point at the tip. Then there are their teeth. Their canines are larger. Their claws, they can make them larger and sharper at will. Then the hardest to spot. The padding of their paws. Its not like ours, Instead its more of a square shape in the middle" Aleu announced. As she walked around the group of ten wolves and sat down between Adam and Mali. Once Aleu was seated everyone else sat back down as well.
"Meaning no disrespect Aleu but how do you know this?" Shield three/Jasper asked
"Well like i said, ive had experience with this race before" Aleu replied.
"Well" Shield eight/ Lang spoke up "How did you escape unscathed?"
"I didn't escape unscathed. Exactly the opposite. It's a long story and we don't have enough time for me to tell it. Anyway id show you the scars but er, id rather not show some of them. Suffice to this one" Aleu said then turned so the left side of her body was facing them. On her side was a scar that started somewhere near her ribs and continued over to her thigh, all the way down her hind leg. It was a hidious scar. "Quite Painfull"
It was silent for a few seconds before shield seven/bailey stood "Is it possible that we could go around their territory?"
"Of course we could but the passage that leads to our packs only safe haven is in their territory" Adam replied.
"One way or another we're gunna have to cut threw their territory" Aleu pointed out
"How can we be sure its still there? What if they have discovered it?" Bailey asked
"Its hidden and there's no way they could have discovered it. It's protected by an ancient spell that my grandmother has placed over the entrence. Thats why we call it our 'Safe Haven'" Aleu explained
"So basically what aleu is saying, is that the only ones who can get through the spell is descendents from Aniu" Adam said
"Er, well we still have to figure out what we're gunna do about this wolf race" Jasper said
"What else is there to do? Don't make eye contact and watch out for their claws" Bailey said exasperatedly.
Acctually there is another way" Jon said surpried. As if he had suddenly remembered something. "But we might have to backtrack some"
"What are you talking about?" Anisto asked
"De Long Mountains"

Chapter Five

Anilda finally awoke around ten hours after she had fallen asleep. It was dark. The full moon, luminous in the starry night sky, Shined down on anilda. Sitting up Anilda looked around for night.
"Night?" she asked standing up.
She then heard the sound of whining.
"Night" Anilda repeated. She then waited for an answer. When no answer came she took a few steps and the sound of whining grew louder. Anilda was feeling nervous now. In the pitch blackness the whining was very creepy. Squinting threw the darkness anilda continued in the direction of the whining.
After a minute anilda tripped over something soft and warm and damp. She landed on the ground and rolled over to see what it was she'd tripped over. She gasped when she realized what it was.
Night. He was heavily wounded and bleeding.
"Night! night are you ok? What happened-" Anilda started but night cut her off in a weak voice.
"I said i'd protect you and i did. This time i wasn't good enough. Anilda you have to get out of here before more come.
"Night, your coming with me. Im not leaving until you get up" Anilda said nudging night in the back.
"I can't get up. Im too weak. Just go Anilda. I don't want you ending up like me. just GO" Night said emphasizing the last word.
Anilda didn't move. She just stared down at the bloody body of one of her best friends.
"Night. . " Anilda said
"go south. Head through the redland territory and then follow the Agashashok river. Keep going until it the river turns into ocean. You'll have to go over the mountain on the east side of the river. You can either climb over them or swim around. But once your around them head east. Keep heading eastward and you'll find the pack" Night said
"But that's the route to-" Anilda started to say but night finished the sentence for her.
"The Save Haven"
Anilda kneeled down and licked night on the cheek.
Night smiled at anilda then closed his eyes.
Anilda didn't move. She just stood there next to night. Finally when she heard the sound of a tree branch snap she hurried away tearfully. Sobbing as she went.

Walking along in the moonlight anilda, still depressed about night, continued southward. She knew she couldn't be too far from the pack. Apart from a single bleeding cut beside anilda's left eye, Anilda was completely unharmed.
It creeped her out that as she had slept her best friend had been butchered only a few feet from her. Why hadn't his moans and yells woken me? If I hadn't been asleep, if i had woken up. . . Maybe I could have saved him. Anilda thought as she went.
Again anilda caught the scent of a wolf. Wolves acctually.
Looking back anilda saw the shapes of at least four wolves with glowing red eyes snarling at her. Anilda stared for a split second then ran. Moving as fast as she could. Panting, anilda looked back. The wolves were right on her tail. Snapping at it as they chased her. Anilda looked back ahead of her and saw a large boulder straight ahead. Unable to stop in time, she colided with it. Face first. Anilda fell to the ground unconsious.
The wolves snickered as they dragged her away.

Chapter Six

Adam sat down and held his head low. He could feel sleep coming on. The meeting between Aleu and the ten shields had lasted well into the night.
Tomorrow they would be turning around and heading back. According to Jon De Long Mountains would lead them around the red land territory. What they would do after that was unknown to them. It had been decided in a 9 to 2 (including Aleu) vote. It was either through the mountains or through battle with the race of wolves they called 'nous-controllers'.
Now that he was no longer in the meeting with the most important members of the pack Adam felt his worries and concerns for Anilda come back.
Where is she? Adam thought and before he knew it he was asleep.

Adam felt like he had been asleep no longer than an hour when he was shaken awake by Jasper.
"Come on. We're moving" Jasper said then left. Adam sighed and opened his eyes. Standing up adam followed the rest of the wolves. Falling back on the pack to his postition at the back. Stretching his legs as he walked. Though they were nearing the territory of the most lethal and dangerous packs in history adam felt no immediate danger.
When the pack was moving the ten shields would surround the pack with two at the front and two at the back and two on either side of the pack. This was to help protect the pack from any attacks they might encounter. The pack hadn't yet been attacked since the red rock packs' attack.
As adam followed the pack the sun started to peak over the horizon. It's rays shining threw the morning fog and lighting the sky up.
"Better wake up adam" Zack said kicking snow at adam.
"Watch it!" adam said jumping out of the way of the snow.
Zack laughed
Adam, looking around spotted something that enightened his spirits. It was the Liberator Lake. The pack could get some water there.
nodding his head in the direction adam said "Zack look. the lake"
"Great! im thirsty" Zack replied.

Adam who was extremely thirsty plunged his head into the water. Slurping up great gulps of water. With his face above the water again adam gulped the water so fiercly, he started splashing the two wolves on either side of him. Realizing the way he must look adam stopped and tried to laugh his embarrasment off.
The two wolves looked at him curiously then went back to drinking.
As soon as adam was away from the lake adam shook his fur dry. He'd gotten himself pretty wet while drinking.
"Adam, over here a minute" Aleu's voice said from behind him.
Adam turned and walked over to aleu.
"talk to me"
"i just want to make sure you know what to do in case we do run into the nous-controllers" Aleu said
"don't worry about me. I know what to do" Adam replied rolling his eyes
"tell me then" Aleu said standing straight up as she always did when giving a direct order.
"First off avoid all eye contact and look for their characteristics to figure out if they are a nous-controller or a wolf. Then go for the neck" Adam started
"good, and, an ambush?"
"Well same thing only try to get away first" Adam finished. "so obvious. What else are you gunna do?" adam thought
"great. Im just nervous about getting near this pack again. After my last encounter i had hoped never to see them again" Aleu said looking down at the ground then back up at night.
"Don't worry aleu. You've got me protecting you. I won't let anything happen to you" Adam replied sensing that aleu hadn't really wanted to talk to him just to be sure he know the procedures.
Adam was rewarded with a smile from Aleu. "Thanks adam. I know i can count on you"
Adam copied aleu and stood straight up and smiled
Aleu headed off back towards her position at the front. The pack was moving now.
After getting a quick gulp of water adam ran to catch back up with the pack.

Chapter Seven

Her head was killing her. Anilda's head was pounding painfully once she had awoke.
She had absolutely no idea where she was. The last thing she remembered was trying to stop before she hit the boulder. Next thing she know she was waking up in this dark tunnel.
There was no light at all in the tunnel. Taking a few cautious steps, anilda bumped into the wall.
The wall felt hard. It felt like stone. But the surface wasn't rough. It was smooth. Like some kind of marble.
Squinting anilda contined walking. Occasionally she'd bump into the wall again. Though she noticed that the further she went the warmer it got. Her eyes were used to the darkness now and she could almost see ahead. She could make out the wall but that was all.
A few minutes later and Anilda was practically sweating. "Why is it so hot in here?" Anilda thought "Tunnels are usually cold"
Continuing forward anilda racked her brain for anything thing that might let her know where the heat was coming from. Although she was familiar with most of this part of alaska she knew most of alaska to be cold. She'd never been in this kind of heat.
Sweat dripped from her as she went. Tongue hanging out Anilda became extremely thirsty. Her mouth had become very dry.
Finally her fur was completely soaked with sweat so she shook her fur. She was so thirsty that she licked at the puddle of sweat on the ground that had dripped off her.

"When does this tunnel end?" Anilda asked as she continued. The walls were boiling hot now. The ground was no longer dirt. It was some kind of rock as well. Not as smooth as the walls though.

"Anilda"
Anilda jumped. Looking behind her she could see no one. It was still pitch black. "whos there?"
"behind you"
Anilda turned around and, though she couldn't see him, she sensed a wolf standing just in front of her.
"Who are you?" Anilda asked taking a step back.
"Some know me as Feuer. But you can call me Hitze" As he said this his fur suddenly started to glow. Anilda back away. His fur was moving in the wierdest way even though there was no wind. It was fire!
Anilda gasped. "but. . . But i thought you were just a scary story for pups"
"thats what everyone wants to think. As you can see. . . Im very much real"
Anilda took another step back.
Flames erupted around her. Instintly she cowared back. She felt the intensity of the heat increase drastically. Her vision blurred. She felt like she was about to have a Heat Stroke. As soon as anilda got her vision in focus she saw the fire-wolf walk threw the dancing flames. He looked twice as scary and firece with his teeth bared and his surroundings ablaze.
"What are you doing here?" Hitze growled.
"Im lost, I was attacked and. . ." Anilda started but Hitze then pounced. Expecting to catch fire, anilda screamed and tried to dodge Hitze.
He was too quick for her. He collided with anilda and landed on top of her. Anilda stared up into the orange eyes of Hitze. She wasn't burning alive. Then she noticed Hitze was no longer on fire.
Too scared to move, anilda waited for Hitze to attack. While she waited she wondered "What is he doing? What is he waiting for?"
Finally Hitze's growling ceased. He stepped back and allowed anilda to get to her paws.
"You are not lying"
Anilda remained silent.
"Please accept my apology. I was merely protecting myself. You are trespassing"
Anilda tried to reply but her throat was very dry. Her mouth was completely dry as well.
"Would you like a drink?" Hitze asked recognizing anilda's symptoms of dehydration,
Anilda, still unable to speak, nodded her head instead.
"This way" Hitze said and started towards the flames. As he came into contact with them the flames went out and he became ablaze again. Hitze continued as if nothing had happened.

Fifteen minutes later anilda and Hitze were in front of a pitch black lake. Hitze had led her down a seperate tunnel that curved off from the one anilda had been in. As they went down the tunnel, the temperature dropped back down to a comfortable temperature. At least comfortable for Anilda.
Instently she plunged her head into the water. Taking great gulps of cool water. Suddenly anilda fell completely into the water. It felt like the best feeling in the world. When she poked her head up out of the water she saw hitze, casually licking at the water. His flames were out.
"Thanks" Anilda said, shaking her fur dry, once she was out of the lake.
Hitzed smiled slightly then his fur turned to fire again and he led her towards the exit of the tunnel.
It still scared anilda when Hitze turned to fire.
"so what's your name?" Hitze asked, looking back.
After a minute she spoke up "Anilda"
"You wanna tell me the full story of how you got in the Todesberg?"
"Todesburg?" Anilda asked
"you may know it as Morte Berg"
Anilda gasped. "that's where we are?"
"yea, so you wanna tell me how you got here?"
"Well it's a long story but ill tell you anyway. . ." Anilda said then told Hitze everything that had happened since the attack from the red rock pack.
"Quite alot to have gone through. You choose a bad time to get pregnant" Hitze said when anilda finished.
Anilda wasn't surprised he knew. "I know i must look it by now" She thought to herself.
"It was never planned" she replied uncomfortably.
Hitzed looked back at her again and chuckled
"So tell me about you" Anilda said, trying to change the subject. "any weakness to water?"
"Yea, only natural. That's why i stay here where it's too hot for water to exist. At least everywhere except that lake"
"Oh, clever. So how did you end up like this?" Anilda asked jesturing her head at the flames on Hitze's body.
"I was born this way. But i never knew about it until i was one. The first time i did it i thought i was going to die. It was the most frightening moment of my life. As i grew older, I started catching fire more and more often. I nearly set my best friend, Dami, on fire. When i accidentally started a forest fire i decided I had to learn to control it. So I isolated myself from my friends, and family. By the time i was two i could, not only change to fire by will, but make anything around me catch fire by picturing it in flames in my mind's eye" Hitze replied
Anilda looked at him suddnly "anything?"
"yea, though the larger the object or person, the more energy it takes. It takes alot of energy to set something that isn't flammable on fire as well"
Anilda starred at him. So if you wanted too you could set me of fire right now?"
"yea" Hitze said and grinned at her.

Not too long after this a light could be seen at the far end of the tunnel in front of them.
"Thanks for helping me" Anilda replied.
"Don't worry about it"
"Just one last question"
"Sure, what?"
"what do you do about food? I mean don't you come out to hunt?"
"Yes, but i have to stay unlit. Otherwise id never catch anything" Hitze laughed
"Hitze could you help me find my pack" Anilda asked suddenly
Hitze stopped laughing immediatly.
"Please, It's a long way from here and with the condition im in i can't really protect myself too well. Ive already been attacked twice" Anilda continued, trying to pursuade Hitze.
Hitze was quiet for awhile. Then after a minute's deciding he spoke "alright. Do you have any idea where they would be right now?"
"No, but i know where they are headed too"
"That'll do. Where is it they're going?"
Anilda explianed, where the pack was headed and how to get there.
"But i don't know how to get there from here"
"that's ok, We can figure it out. I know this area pretty good so it shouldn't be too hard to find the way to the Agashashok river" Hitze replied

CHAPTER EIGHT

As the wind picked up Adam, pushing against the fierce wind, slowed down. Squinting against the wind adam could only see snow in front of him.
"Adam, we've got to find cover"
Adam looked back. The entire pack was behind him. Aleu stood by his side. Ice was forming on her nose, paws and tail.
The rest of the pack wasn't looking so good either.
"We're almost there. Just a bit further!" Adam yelled over the wind.
"We'll never make it to Coberta Cave" Anisto shouted from behind Aleu.
"Yes we will! Now COME ON" Adam shouted. Aleu struggled along beside Adam. She seemed to be the only one who had confidence in him.
"Adam. Think. Is there ANY shelter closer to us than coberta cave?" Aleu asked
"Aleu, that is the only place around here that will provide any cover from this wind around here. I know of a few caves that will do ok but their too small for the entire pack.
Aleu looked to the ground. Adam knew what she was thinking. When aleu looked to the ground it always ment she was making a decision.
"We'll split the pack up. How many caves do you know of?"
"at least 5" Adam replied
"5! that's all!"
"Well there are acctually 6. One is way to small to hold very many. Im guessing around 10 wolves would fit"
"Fine. We'll have to split up for awhile. I want you to take us to the largest one right now" Aleu replied
"Its right below us" Adam replied
Aleu looked surprised. Looking in front of her she saw a hill slanting downward.
"Yea, that's the way too it. So what now?" Adam asked.
"We have to get as many wolves in there as we can. Tell me where the other caves are" Aleu said with authority.
After adam told her he said "ill take the pack to them. You stay here" Adam replied. They had reached the cave.
"No, im the leader. Im taking the pack to. . " Aleu started but adam turned around and said at the top of his voice "Listen up! We're going to have to split up until the storm clears! Now, we need to fill this cave up with as many wolves as we can. I'll take the rest of you to shelter" As he announced this he notices several wolves had squeezed themselves together, desperate for wamth.
"Adam!" Aleu shouted angrily at him. "I don't ever want to see you do that again. Don't mistake your leadership of the ten shields for leadership of the pack"
"Understood" Adam replied. The wolves were now fillin in the cave.
"Aleu, you'r gunna stay here at this cave. I'll take care of the rest of the pack" Adam said nudging aleu towards the cave.
Aleu didn't argue. She walked to the mouth of the cave and adam could have sworn he saw a smile on Aleu"s face.

Only minutes after the cave started filling up, a young, jade, pup wondered ove to adam. Ever since adam had rescued him from being kill, weeks ago by the red rock pack, the pup saw him as a hero.
"What are you doing Angle? You need to get in that cave before it fills up" Adam said as the pup stopped at his paws.
Angle shook his head. His slightly oversized ears flapping.
"Im staying with you adam."
Adam chuckled, "It's really cold. Don't you want to warm up?"
"Im trying to not think about the cold" Angle replied.
Adam, smiling, laid down and wrapped his arms around angle.
Adam felt the pup shudder as adam's body warmth started warming him up.

The minutes passed and, steadily, the pack left outside shrank. Once the cave was filled adam stood. Angle shiveed as the cold overtook him. But he sat up acting like the cold was nothing.
"Alright! Is the cave full?" Adam shouted
There were several nodds and "yes"'s from the nine other shields outside.
"Jasper, Mali, Anisto. I need you to stay here. Protect this cave!"
The three wolves seperated from the pack and joined the rest of the wolves inside the cave.
"Alright follow me!" adam shouted heading south. Towards the second cave. Angle following right behind him.

Looking back at the back adam noticed several wolves were nearly completely covered in ice. "Don't worry. the cave is only a little further!" Adam said, trying to give the pack some hope.
Just then adam heard a wolf approaching from behind him. Turning adam saw bailey.
"Adam, we just lost one"
Adam groaned. "who?"
"A pup. I was told his name is Erudin"
Adam sighed then called for Zach. As soon as Zach reach them adam gave him his instructions.
"Zach i need you to lead the pack for awhile. Just head straight. Ill be only a minute. Angle, you stay here"
Adam and Bailey headed off to go look at erudin's body. Not surprisingly, the tan pup was at the very back. Laying motionless and soundlessly in the snow. Adam swallowed then leaned down toward the pup and put his ear to erudin's half-frozen mouth.
There was a breath! Very slow and quiet though. The pup wasant dead. . . Yet. He had just passed out.
Standing up adam asked bailey who had told him the pups name.
"It was her" Bailey said pointing a paw at a older female wolf. She had tan fur just like erudins. Adam ran over to her and asked "you witnessed erudin's incident just now right?"
"yea, Why?"
"Did he have any strange incident's before this?" Adam pressed on
"yea. Some sort of siezure"
"Explain it to me"
"Well, we were just following the pack then erudin started acting wierd. Trying to walk on his hind legs and things like that. Then he said something about. . . "
"Go on" Adam pushed
"He said something about how me and him should mate then when i pushed him to the ground he started shaking violently, he wet himself, then. . . died.
Adam looked back to the pup.
"this is the straight truth?"
"Yes, i swear"
"Your free to go" Adam said and rand back to Erudin.
"Don't worry, he's alive" Adam said to bailey then picked erudin up, set him on his back, told bailey to let him know if anything else happened back there, and ran back to the fron.
Angle gasped when he saw erudin.
"He's alive. But only Just" Adam said instently.
"What happened to him?" Zach asked.
"Not sure exactly but one of his friends told me he was acting wierd then he had some sort of siezure and ended up like this" Adam explained.
"How much further till we reach the cave?" Zach asked.
"Down there" Adam answered, pointing down a steep drop.
"How do we. . ." Zach started but out of nowhere a large crouck sounded. Beating against their eardrms. Adam stopped in mid-step. He stared at the ground. Zach could see a large crack had appeared in front of him.
Then, like a landslide, the snow dropped out from underneath them. Adam, Angle, Zach, and the unconsious Erudin fell. Falling several feet before landing. The impack of their fall, softened by the snow.
Dazed adam sat up. Looking around he saw zach laying on his side, Angle on his back behind zach, And Erudin lay a vew inches from adam.
"Is everyone alright?" Adam asked standing up.
Zach got to his feet and shook his fur. "Yea, nothing broken at least" Zach said picking Angle up.
Adam who was about to set Erudin on his back again when the snow underneath them gave way again and adam suddenly found himself sliding down a giant iceslide. Squinting against the wind, making his eyes wayer, adam tried to get his motion under control. Looking back adam saw Zach and the two pups sliding out of control.
When adam noticed the ice went all the way down to sold ground on a slight curve, he felt less tense. Enjoying the thrill of the ride. Zach who was getting his movement undercontrol noticed something adam apparently hadn't. Dead ahead the ice becamve very rough in front of him. But infront of Adam the ice formed a sort of spike-strip. And adam was sliding closer and closer to it.
"Adam! Look out!"
Adam's eyes snapped open. Alert again adam spotted it. About ten yards infront of him the ice started forming spikes. They looked sharp enough to impale him without even cracking.
Knowing he wouldn't be able to maneauver around them in time he did the only thing he could do, and jumped. Soaring off the ice adam flew inches over the spikes. Landing back on his paws. Unfortunatly there was one last spike that adam hadn't spotted. It was shorter than the others but had to be the sharpest of all.
Adams left hind leg landed on it and was sliced, painfully, open.
Adam howled in pain, ending in a deep growl.
Zach shuddered at the sight of adams leg, bleeding profusley, leaving a trail of blood behind him as he slid.
"You okay adam!" Zach asked.
Adam didn't answer immediatly.
"Yea, just a cut" Adam replied after a moment of silence.

CHAPTER NINE

"Okay, tell me again, why did i come with you?" Hitze shouted to anilda over the feirce wind.
"Im sorry, this storm came out of nowhere" Anilda replied.
Hitze had his flames out. Everytime he turned to flames the fierce wind put them out.
"Hitze you said you know this area pretty well, do you know of anywhere we can get cover?"
"Yea, about 4 miles that way" Hitze said jesturing back the way they came. The Morte Burg was still visible behind them.
Anilda rolled her eyes. "We at least need to get out of the wind. You can keep us warm by keeping your flames lit"
"great plan anilda, but it's got just one tiny flaw. There's no where to get out of the wind! Look around, let me know if you even see cover"
"What's wrong with you Hitze? You seem so agitated" Anilda said looking back at him.
"Nothing really, just all this white stuff falling from the sky"
Anilda looked up at the sky then to Hitze.
"It's Snow! snow is frozen WATER!"
"Thats it!"
Anilda had stopped listening to Hitze and had started racking her brain for anything that could provide shelter. She'd found a conclusion. It was at least half a mile off but it was the closest thing she could think of.
"Hitze ive got it. Mulgrave Hills"
Hitze closed his eyes for a minute then opened them again.
"It's got to be at least half a mile away"
"I know but its the only thing i can think of right now. Besides we're gunna have to pass it on our way. Come on" Anilda explained and continued on.
Hitze followed right beside her. Cursing under his breath as he felt the constant shower of snowflackes land on his fur and melt.

"Hitze i can see them. The hills. Straight ahead!" Anilda yelled back to hitze.
Hitze followed the direction anilda was pointing with her paw and saw them. The massave lumps in the earth reaising into the sky.
"Come on, its not doing us any good just standing out here"
The two hurried for the hills. Fortunatly for them the wind was blowing from behind them now. Pushing them towards their destination rather than away from their destination.

CHAPTER TEN

Zach, Adam, Angle, and erudin, now at the bottom of the slide, looked up.
"Im open to ides to get back up there" Zach said.
"Im working on it Zach" Adam said. His left hind leg he kept in the air. It was too painfull to put any weight on it. The deep cut, still oozed blood. Adam tried to ignore the searing pains now stabbing at his leg.
"Adam why don't you try numbing your leg. Just stick it inthe snow for a few minutes" Zach suggested.
Adam took the advise gratefully and, painfull at first, adam's leg slowly began to numb.
Angle suddenly pulled on adam's fur. Looking down to the pup adam saw the pup was pointing at a cave.
"Zach, i think we just took a major shortcut" Adam said recognizing the cave "Look!"
Zack looked in the direction adam was looking and saw it too.
"Okay. Great. Now, how do we tell the rest of the pack?" zach asked
Adam pondered this in his mind. The shortcut had saved them at least 10 minutes. One any other situation like this adam would have simply gone the long way around, informed the rest of the pack of the shortcut, and took the shortcut again but with the state of his leg. . .
There was only one thing to do.
"Zach you stay here with erudin and Angle. Im going back up" Adam instructed and stood back up. Swaying slightly before regaining his balance.
"Adam, no. You stay ill go" Zach said running in front of him and stopping him.
"Zach are you refusing to obey a direct orger?" Adam asked raising an eyebrow.
Zach stopped in mid-sentence. Then grumply returned to the two pups.
Zach watched as adam headed off at a brisk pace. His left leg still held in the air.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Finally reaching the Mulgrave Hills anilda and Hitze took shelter behind one of the massive hills. Scattered boulders lay around them and jenna found herself wondering how they got there.
Suddenly the boulder closest to them burst into flames. The work of Hitze.
"You know it pays to have someone like you around" Anilda laughed
"There there are the downsides" Hitzed said and his body erupted in flames again. Anilda backed away from Hitze.
"alright don't over do it" Anilda replied and laid down to rest. Sho only then realized how hungry she was.
With nothing to take her mind of the panges of hunger in her stomach, anilda decided to try to get some rest.
When she awoke the sun was still up. She was relieved. She didn't want to have to make another trip in the dark. Hitze was snoozing ontop of one of the boulders. Flames engulfed the rock and his body. As Anilda watched this she noticed how much this looked like a cremation. It creeped her out a bit.
Laying back down anilda took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
SNAP
Anilda's eyes shot open. "What was that?" anilda wondered as she stood up.
Looking around she saw only the boulders and hills of her surroundings. There was a crunching noise of rock scraping against rock. Then screams of agony right behind her. She felt an intense heat almost singing her fur. Turning around she saw the burning body of a wolf. It's entire body engulffed in flames.
Anilda swallowed. Looking up she saw hitze raise up from the boulder and jumped down. Extinguishing his flames as he did.
"Are you alright?" Hitze asked as he approached her.
"yea. You got him before he even touched me" Anilda said nodding her head.
"Come on lets get out of here" Hitzed said and they hurried away from the flaming body.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Adam could feel the blood in his leg start flowing again. The agony resumed within his leg. Worse than before.
Panting, adam pushed on. Up the slick hill. He wondered how the pack was reacting to losing their guidance. Fearing the worst adam pushed harder. Hurriying as fast as he could go with only three legs.
Feeling his paws slide out from underneath him adam fell onto his chest. Coughing adam got back to his feet and dug into the ground with his claws. Giving himself more traction.

The pack was frantic. More than half were huddled together the keep warm they lost all hope of escaping the storm, but a small amount of the pack was panicking. Only ones who had remained calm were the five sheild members.
"What do we do now?"
"What is there to do? We're gonners"
"Hay, don't talk like that. We have to use our heads. The answer isn't going to jump out at ya" Alike said
"Guys! over here i think i found something!" Lang's voice called.
The entire pack including the shield members turned.
"yall stay here, we'll be right back" Bailey explained holding up a paw. Bailey then turned and headed to the group of shields.
His jaw dropped when he saw what Lang had found.
A drop of at least 3 to 5 feet then a giant ice slide that went down the mountain side itself.
Bailey who had always had a fear of heights, backed away from the edge.
"where did this come from?" Jake asked
"No idea. Just then they heard panting. They looked at one another to see if one of them was making the sound then a voice rang out behind them.
"Jump"

The five members of the sheilds turned around.
"Adam! Where did you, what are you. . ." Alike seemed lost for words.
"No time to explain. Just jump. Stay to the right of the ice though" Adam said quicky and nudged them towards the edge.
Adm rushed to the pack and yelled at the top of his lungs "ATTENTION!"
The noise of the pack dropped instently.
"We have to jump. Just behind me is a giant ice slide which goes safely down the side of the mountain. No harm will come to you unless you are on the right side of the ice slide. Straight down from there is the cave. Now come on. Follow me!" Adam explained walking bacwards towards the edge.
"How do you know this?" Jake asked from his left.
"Ive been down it before" Adam replied simply.
This seemed to convince the shield members. "Alright follow us. three of us will go ahead and they yall go. The last three of us will take up the rear" Lang annouced. "Bailey,Jon, Jake, you three go first. Me adam and alike will join you at the rear"
Bailey,Jon, and Jake walked to the edge and jumped. The pack gasped.
"Im not commiting suicide" someone shouted.
"Its either this risk or you die" Adam said.
With that the pack began jumping down and sliding down the mountain side in a single file line. Once one jumped the next wolf would wait a few seconds then jump as well. Finally the last wolf jumped over and adam started towards the edge.
"Adam wait i need to tell you something first. Go ahead Alike." Lang said leading adam away from the edge. Alike watched them curiously the jumped.
Alone now Lang spoke up.
"Its about anilda"
Adam waited. "Go on" He said when lang didn't continue.
"We got word while you were gone that she was killed. Inside the Morte Burge"
Adam's jaw dropped.
"Im sorry, run that by me again. I didn't quite get that"
"Adam Anilda was killed by the flame wolf residing inside the morte burge's murdurous depths" Lang explained.
Adam didn't say anything. He just walked back to the edge and jumped down. Sliding down the ice again.
Unable to comprehend what he'd just been told adam shook his head. "No, She's ok. She's NOT dead" Adam said trying to convince himself it was true.

As Adam slid off the ice and stopped in the snow he looked up at the moon in the sky. "Anilda where are you?"

"Adam, we just figured out where that slide led us too. We're now officially in Red Rock Territoy" Jake said approaching him.
"That must mean we're not too far off" Lang said from behind Adam.
Adam looked back at Land then nodded his head in aggrement.
"We're bound to reach it soon" Adam said, acting excited.
Sighing adam decided he had time to feel depressed later. Right now he had a pack to get to shelter.
"Jake, is the cave full now?"
"Yes, we were just waiting for you to lead the way" Jake replied
"Wait. What about the pup erudin?" Adam asked
"He's safe along with his parents inside" Jake replied.
Adam took a deep breath and walked to the front. "Alright listen up. We've got 3 caves left. Fortunatly they are all close. Follow me" Adam anounced once he reached the front and headed in the opposite direction of the cave. Eastward.
In the next eight minutes, four wolves had collapsed. Their bodies heavily frostbitten. Adam felt an urgancy to get the task done as quickly as possible. Adam found the fourth cave within one minute after the forth wolf collapsed.
"Get the ill in first" Adam instructed the wolves as the headed for the cave.
Adam took the time to numb his leg again. The pain was enough to bring tears to his eyes. The pain dulled as his leg froze. His leg turning numb.

Half an hour later the pack was now safely in the caves spread over the entire 'De Long Mountain'. Adam knew the thoughest part now would be gathering the pack again. While they waited for the storm to subside adam worked on a plan to get the pack back together.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Panting Anilda and Hitze ran. Following the Agashashok River. Once the storm had blown itself out Anilda and hitze had started again. Anilda's only concern now was the village just off the river that made most of its profits from killing and selling Wolf fur. The village of Noatak was a death sentence for wolves.
If a wolf lasted 3 days alive there the wolf was considered immortal.
As anilda and Hitze ran anilda suddenly felt a pain in her stomach, and her water broke. Anilda knew what was about to happen. "Oh, god please not here. Not now" Anilda pleaded as her legs gave out from under her.
Hitze Skidded to a stop and looked back at anilda as she collapsed to the ground. "Anilda! what's wrong?" Hitze asked running back to her.
"Hitze i think it's time" Anilda managed to say.
"time?. . . Oh!" Hitze exclaimed as he realized what was happening. "Here! Now! Why now.Anywhere except here would have been better. WHY HERE!" Hitze thought to himself.
Hitze didn't know what else to do so he grabbed anilda by the scruff of her neck in his jaws and pulled her gently away from the Noatak village. But even as hitze did this arrows rained from the sky.Hitze gasped and stood over anilda. Shielding her from the arrows. Thankfully, none of them found its mark. Hitze grabbed anilda again and pulled her further from the village. There had to be somewhere he could get anilda too where she would be safe.

Thank the gods, he found one. It wasn't much, just a simple den that sank into the ground not too far away from the village they had just been attacked by. It was carefully concealed, which made it the perfect place to shelter Anilda that that moment. Even though he was not her mate, he knew the law. A male wolf was not allowed to witness the female birth the pups. So, trying to ignore he growls and snarls of pain, he paced around the mouth of the den. He was restless so sitting down while she went through this ordeal was out of the question.

By time Anilda was done, Hitze had fallen asleep. He'd tryied to fight off the fatigue he was experianced as he finally grew tired and layed down. However, nothing happened that night. Apparently the humans that had attacked them had given up on finding them. He was awoken by Anilda's soft voice in his ear. He opened one bleary eye and looked at her. Then, a second later, when he realized what he was seeing, he jumped up. "Anilda!"
She immediatly clamped his jaws shut by putting a paw under his muzzle and ontop of it as well. "Hush Hitze. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. The pup. . . was born fine. It's a fae. Now, get some sleep. You look dead on your paws." She said this all very switfly as if she wanted to get it all out before he made another attempt to speak. But, she fired so much information at him that he couldn't decided on anything to ask her and, as a result, he did as she had told him to do and laid back down. Even as weak as she had to be after that ordeal, Anilda still radiated strength.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The next morning when Adam awoke he shook his head.
Preparing himself for what he was going to do he stretched his legs out and was relieved when the pain his his leg had shrank to a small sting on every step.
Walking outside the cave adam shivered in the cold atmosphere.
"Ok, here we go" Adam said to himself and, putting his two paws on the first stone ledge, he pulled himself up the side of the mountain. The pack was clear, The only problem was keeping his balance, and with his leg being the way it was, that wasn't going to be an easy task.

Alike awoke just intime to see adam walk outside the cave. Curious Alike followed Adam. When he got out there he didn't see adam anywhere. Until he heard grunting and pebbles fell on top of his head. Looking straight up Alike gasped.
"Adam! what are you doing?"
"DAMN IT!" Adam shouted.
"Adam what are you trying to do?"
"Shut up and go back to sleep alike" Adam replied and continued pulling himself up.
Now Adam faced a problem. The next ledge was too far over for him to reach. (He'd have to jump.
But what if he missed? "look out below!")
Adam took a deep breath and jumped. It was a good thing he had long claws. If he hadn't had those claws adam knew he would have fallen just then. Pulling himself up adam panting looked down.
If he fell the results would not be very pretty. Looking back up adam just then realized how far he had come. The Ledge was just a few more and he was there. Looking around Adam spotted the next one and reached for it. His claws just parely scratched it.
He'd have to jump again.
Adam didn't know if he'd be able to make this one. Taking deep breaths he reopened his eyes and took the chance. Jumping, his claws once again saved his live. Pulling with all the strength left in his body adam managed to get his upper body over the edge.
Using his legs adam got his entire body onto the ledge.
Panting adam looked ahead.Straight ahead was the path he had run just last night to inform the pack of the newly discovered and deadly shortcut.
Following the path from which hed taken yesturday he arrived at the first and largest cave.
Anisto, Mali, and Jasper stood in front of the cave. Spotting him they ran over to him shocked.
"Where's the rest of the pack?" Mali asked
"We have to get them on our way. I stationed at leat 2 shield members at each cave so the pack is save" Adam nodded.
Jasper then noticed adam's leg.
"Adam what on earth happened to your foot?"
"Accident. Don't worry about it. It's ok now. Now we need to get the pack up and moving as early as possible" Adam went on dismissing the topic of his injured foot.
"ok, ill start getting them up" Mali and Anisto said in unison.
Adam joined in and within 10 minutes they were headed for the second part of the pack.

Within the hour adam and the entire pack were gathered at the base of 'De Long Mountains'
Aleu beamed at him everytime she saw him. He was begining to suspect aleu was hiding something from him but he knew better than to question the alpha of the pack.
Aleu instructed the ten shields with each of them a certain task to do. Then once each of the shields understood their assignment she turned to the pack and informed them of the plan. If everything went to plan that day, they would be in their safe haven by nightfall.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Awakening Hitze got to his paws and took a peak inside the den. After a second, he spotted Anilda laying asleep in an open arc. The single gray pup nestled at her belly.
The sight was a peaceful one.
Thinking back Hitze found it hard to believe that just two days ago they had met, and already he had saved her life two or three times and even flet obligated to watch over the den where she was giving birth to her pup.
Hitze sat back down and watched the two sleep soundlessly.
It was only when Hitze heard the cock of a gun that Hitze realized his defensive fire wall had gone out.Adam looked behind him and saw no one then it hit him.
Sniper!
Hitze looked up at the hill overlooking them. It was the perfect advantage point. Sure enough there the sniper was, aiming his weapon at the sleeping anilda. Hitze, enraged, concentrated and suddenly the gun caught fire. This proved to be a mistake however. The gun was fully loaded and the flames caused the gun to go off repeatedly. Hitze Threw himself over Anilda and the pup. When the gun went quiet Hitze backed away from them and said, pointing a paw up at the hill, "Sniper, he was aiming at you."
Anilda took a deep breath and stuggled to her paws.
"What are you doing? you need to rest. you just gave birth hours ago" Hitze said gently pushing anilda back down.
"there'll be plenty of time to rest when we get to the safe haven" Anilda said stubbournly
Hitze didn't argue. Instead he picked up the pups and set them on her mother's back where she curled up and slept on.
Anilda glanced back and smiled at the site of her daughter oh her back.
Hitze walked on her side as the headed past the Noatak village while the villagers were asleep.
Anilda sped up to a slow run, eager to get as far away from the village as possible. Though with every step anilda felt like her legs were about to give out.
"Come on, we're almost there" Anilda said to herself, willing herself on.
Hitze had to admit it, Anilda was alot stronger than he had thought.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

In the pitch black night, not even the moon was out tonight, all adam could make out was a pair of gleaming red eyes.
One pair of eyes turned to two. Then four. Eight, Sixteen, Thirty-two,Sixty-four.
They countinued to multiply until there were over two hundred pairs of eyes. Adam felt his heart start to pound.
He shut his eyes, tight.
The red rock pack had discovered the pack.
Snarling a wolf darted at him. Landing on him. Sending its claws deep into his chest. Deeper, deeper.
Adam could feel the claws continue to sink deeper into his skin. Far deeper than any wolf's claws could possibly go. Adam then knew this was a nous-controller.

Adam awoke whining. Breathless and sweaty, adam looked around. The sun was starting its descent.
Adam shook his head. Several wolves were watching him curiously. He paid no attention to it.
"What was that?" Adam wondered. "It was so real"
Struggleing to his feet adam stretched his limbs out and felt a jolt of pain rush threw his leg.
Biting back the pain adam set his leg down, cautiously.
On contact with the ground his leg didn't sting as it usually did. But when he put more weight on it he collapsed. Suddenly feeling like his leg wasn't even there.
Sitting up he shook the snow from his face and tried to forget about his leg.
Not an easy task when it was continually throbbing painfully.
"You ok adam?"
Adam looked around and spotted Mali behind him.
"Yea, im ok. It's nothing"
"Adam, have you even looked at your leg?" Mali asked. Her voice full of concern.
Adam glanced down at his leg and instently whished he hadn't.
Easily seen threw the thin layer of fur on adams leg, green skin could be made out. The dry blood from the cut made the sight even worse. His cut still hadn't healed and remained open. The pale skin no longer bleeding.
Gulping adam opened his mouth and said "don't worry about it"
Mali shook her head, "Something has to be done about your leg adam. Fine" she added suddenly when adam looked away from her "if you don't want to tell me about that then would you mind telling me about the dream you just had"
Adam grunted "just a nightmare"
"what exactly happened in he nightmare?"
Adam sighed. "the red rock pack had discovered us and i was attacked by a nous-controller"
Mali gasped "adam you not going to believe this but i had the same dream. Was the nous-controller sinking its claws into your chest?"
"yea" adam replied, his mouth hanging open.
"you don't think. . ." Adam started
"A premonition?" Mali asked
Watching each other they both knew that the dream that they had just had was no dream.
"ALEU!" They both called out at the same time, running.

"Aleu, we've got to tell you something" Mali exclaimed as soon as they came to a stop infront of her. Both panting.
"What is it?" Aleu asked curiously. Adam saw a look of shock when she saw adams leg.
"Me and mali just had a premonition" Adam explained
"of what, and how can you know its a premonition?" Aleu asked, apparently forgetting about the task she had previously been doing.
"The red rock pack finds us. and we have no proof but you've gotta trust me" Adam breathed
Aleu watched them for a minuted then looked to the ground.
A smile crossed adams face. He let his cheeks fall back down when aleu looked back up.
"Alright. You've proven youself reliable adam. I believe you. Now what do you suppose we do?" Aleu spoke. Reaching her decision
"We have to get the pack moving right now! We have to move as fast as possible. Run if we have to. We're too close now to get caught"
Without even thinking twice about it aleu stood up tall and, with her chest out, she opened her mouth and howled. Getting the packs attention she spoke up. "I've just been informed that the red rock pack may be aware of our presence here. We have to move as quickly as possible so i want everyone of you running. Now lets move it!" as Aleu spoke these last words she turned around and started running. Adam and Mali right behind her.
The pack followed suit.

The sun, now setting was just over halfway below the horizon behind the pack. . .

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Anilda's legs felt like anchors. Every step look more and more of her energy to lift her legs. Breathless she refused to give up.
"I can make it" Anilda told herself firmly
Hitze walked behind her as they went. Incase she fell he could dart to either side of her and help stand her back up.
As the sun was now just barely over the horizon, Hitze wished she would agree to getting some rest. He wasn't sure if this was entirly healthy for anilda.
"Anilda" Hitze said suddenly
"What?" she replied panting
"maybe it'd be a good idea to rest a little. I mean look at you. You can barely even lift your legs"
Anilda was unmoved. She was determined to keep going.
"Tell you what, if you get some rest ill fetch us some food" Hitze tried
Anilda's stomach growled suddenly. She sighed and laid down. "alright" she said setting her pup down infront of her. "you win"
Adam smiled. Alright ill be only a few minutes" Hitze said.
"Hitze" Anilda said suddenly
"yea"
"try not to set it on fire before you catch it. I can't eat things like that"
Hitze chuckled. "I'll try"
Hitze left in the direction of the trees in the distance. As she watched him she felt thankful to have such a good friend. She'd only met him three days ago and she'd already been threw more with him than she had with any of her other friends.

When hitze finally returned with the meat he'd managed to get. It had been more difficult to catch the food this time. Unable to use his power he had to sneak up on them. Not wanting to burn it, as anilda had requested, he hadn't used his power at all.
He felt slightly dissapointed in himself as he returned with the meager amount of food.

"Bonne apatite" Hitze said setting the food down infront of anilda. The pup was feeding from anilda's stomach.
Anilda smiled as she saw the food. Not even a scorch mark on them.
"Did you even use you power?" Anilda asked
"No. Just as you asked" Hitze replied smiling. He pushed the meat toward anilda.
"Hitze arn't you hungry?" Anilda asked seeing him give her all the meat.
Hitze shook his head. "I get the feeling your going to need the food alot more than me"
"That's nonsense hitze. Im gunna feel like a fatty if I eat all this on my own" Anilda chuckled.
Hitze laughed. Your thin. What reason do you have to feel fat?"
Aniilda glanced down at her stomach. "I guess your right. I just don't want to seem greedy" Anilda said
"You go ahead and eat anilda. You don't have to eat all of it, but eat as much as you need" Hitze replied
Anilda nodded then took a bite. Chewing the juicy meat then swallowing.

Full, Anilda lay on the ground. The panges of hunger anilda had gotten used to, were no longer there. Glancing down at her body she realized how much weight she must have lost since being seperated from the pack.
Her rib cage stood out more than usual and her thighs, now lean and more toned, were a more pleasing sight to anilda. Her thighs had always been a constant annoyance to anilda. Trying to burn the excess fat off, but she was progressing so slowly she wondered if it was even working.
"Full?"
Anilda looked back up. "yea, thanks Hitze. Your a lifesaver"
Hitze smiled slightly
"Hay hitze" Anilda started "do i look different since we first met?"
The question startled hitze. Glancing over anilda's body he nodded, "yea, why?"
"better or worse?" Anilda questioned
"i guess you could say better" Hitze replied
Anilda smiled. "Thanks. I just wanted to know"
Hitze smiled. Glancing at her body again.
Feeling a cold draft he lit a small fire and laid down in front of it, ready to get some rest.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Running, panting, sweating, slipping, and stumbling.
The whole pack ran. The leaders including Aleu, Adam, and Mali pushed on to remain ahead of the pack. The wolves bringing up the rear struggled to keep up. Tired as everyone was, no one wanted to stop. If the Red Rock pack was on to them was a constant motivation to keep moving.
"Adam, how much further you reckon we've got?" Aleu asked
Knowing aleu knew, adam answered "probably only a few miles. There's the montain the gate is located in" Adam said gesturing ahead, which was useless because it was getting too dark to see very far.
Aleu nodded. "im sorry about your leg" aleu added
Adam shook his head "Im ok. Its just swollen. Give it time and it'll be just like it used to be"
Aleu shook her head. "not unless something is done about it. Its not just swollen adam, it's infected"
"Great!" Adam said aloud. "I cut my leg open, nearly freeze to death, almost fall off a mountain, find out my mate is dead, and my leg is going to have to be cut off" adam continued angrily. "Lovely day" He added
Aleu could feel adam's pain. Yet he still put on a brave face. She could understand his anger. After all, one can only take so much.
Stil the next thing she saw adam do she didn't expect.
A tear fell down his cheek.
Aleu didn't even know adam could cry.
Adam seemed surprised by the tear too. He shook his head and looked away from aleu.
"Adam" aleu started
As she watched she saw adam's back jolt upward and down several times.

Tears flowed down adam's cheeks, mingleing with the sweat. Adam had finally given in to the depression weighing down on him.
Adam then had a flashback to a time only months ago, but felt like years, where he'd been with anilda.

* * * *
"Adam, hurry up. It's not very often we get to do this" Anilda laughed.
Adam tried to keep up with anilda but he just didn't have leg power like she did. Her legs pushed her up the hill with ease, while adam could barely lift his legs anymore.
"Anilda slow down" He begged
Anilda laughed.
"Come on, kick those legs! Im not seeing any kicking"
Panting adam tried. He slipped and slid back down a lil on the slippery ice.
Laughing anilda sat down and waited for adam. Only minutes later adam appeared beside her.
"bout time slow-poke" Anilda laughed and stood back up and walked over to the hot Spring.
Adam shook the sweat from his eyebrows and watched anilda slip into the water.
"Well, you coming in?" She asked as he watched her. Secretly she was enjoying the way adam was looking at her.
"Sure" Adam breathed then walked over to her. Anilda waded backwards and waited for adam to join her.
Adam stepped into the shallow water and waded over to her, in the deeper part of the spring. He shuddered as the warmth of the water warmed him.
"Im sorry i havn't been able to-" Adam started but anilda stopped him in mid sentence.
"Don't worry about it. Your the leader of the ten shields, thats more than enough of an explination for me.
Adam smiled. He planned on making everything up to her tonight. After all those night where he'd come home so late that she sun was rising, all the time he had neglected her, and she still trusted him.
Leaning towards her adam pressed his lips agains hers.
Minutest later, the small kiss had turned into an open jawed french kiss. Neither wanted to break away.
It was Anilda who broke away first. Breathing the much needed oxygen anilda grinned at Adam.
He lifted a wet paw and pulled her closer to him.
Anilda's grin turned to a loving lick on the cheek. . .
* * * *

Adam sighed and shook the tears from his eyes. Only a week after that adam and anilda found out she was pregnant.
He could still remember the look on her face when she'd been informed. Shock then a smile spread across her face. One of the happiest moments in adam's life. He took pride in knowing he'd be a father soon.
It was one of the things that made several people look up to him.
Now. . . They were gone.
Feeling more tears weld up in his eyes he blinked several times.

Aleu ran on beside adam as he wept for anilda. Wishing there was something she could do for adam, aleu remained silent.

"Aleu!"
Aleu jumped. Skipping a step she nearly tripped.
Adam looked behind him and saw several wolves seperated from the pack, trying to catch up with them.
"I'll go" Adam started
"Adam no. I'll go, they called for me"
Adam didn't argue. Aleu ran past him and turned around.
Once aleu was no longer between adam and mali, she ran closer to him. noticing his wet eyes she opened her mouth to say something but then there was a yell.
Adam reacted immediatly. Turning around he darted at the wolves who now had aleu pinned down to the ground. Pushing her into the snow, The wolf had a paw to her throat.
Adam lunged at him as soon as he got close enough and sank his claws into his side.
Next thing adam felt was considerable pain in his shoulder. The wolf had sank his claws into him and adam could still feel the agony of the claws sinking deeper into him.
Then the wolf grinned, showing his teeth. The canines were larger than any other teeth in his mouth. Next adam saw that the wolves ear was round at the tip. NO POINT!
Adam then realized the stupidy of what he'd just done. This was a nous controller!
Growling adam pushed away from the wolf and he felt the claws rip threw his flesh. Creating four very deep gashes in his sholder.
Adam howled in agony. Blood rushed out of the wounds and down his leg.
Catching his breath adam took a step back as the wolf approached him. Holding up the bloody claws. They had to be at least 2 inches long!

Aleu coughed as she gasped for breath. The wolf had snuck up on her. Her guard had been dropped in sympathy for adam, then suddenly the wolf had tackled her. Trapping her down with a paw on her throat, keeping all air from entering her windpipe. Unable to breath aleu struggled desperatly to free herslef. But the wolf had incredible strengh and he barely even moved as he thrashed underneath him.
Then adam tackled the wolf off her. Saving her life the 2nd time in one month. Thankful for adam yet again she tried to warn him that it was a nous controller but she then saw that adam had already figured it out. She winced as she saw the claws cut threw his skin. Blood rushed down his leg. Aleu could almost feel the agony adam was in. Desperate to help him she pounced on the wolf from behind. Sinking her claws into the wolf's neck.
Growling the wolf slung her off with incredible power and stomped on her stomach with a leg. Aleu vomited then passed out.

"Aleu!" adam yelled as he watched her pounce on the wolf. He knew the results before they had even occured.
Now the wolf was raising his leg to kick the unconsious aleu again. Adam dove, pushing her out of the way. Instead the leg landed right in adams gut.
Adam felt the incredible pressure on his stomach and fought to remain consious. Unable to keep the contents of his stomach down he vomited. Tasting bile he stood back up. Dodging another kick he got a glimps of the pack off in the distance ahead. They continued to run for the safe haven.
Knowing he wasn't going to be able to defeat the nous controller on his own he got a good distance away from wolf and raising his head to the sky he gave the call for help.
Praying that the nine other shields had heard him he readied himself for another attack.
The wolf lunged with its jaws open. Adam could see the lethal teeth. Attempting to dodge the attack he dove to the right.
He wasn't fast enough. He felt he teeth sink into his infected and swollen leg. Blood gushed out. It was like adam's leg had suddenly popped. The infectious bacteria flew out, blood flowed into the nous-controllers mouth, entirely soaking his muzzel with blood. The pain it would have caused him, had it been his left leg, was seemed like nothing compared to the pain that seared threw his body now.
Tears formed in adam's eyes. The pain was overwhelming. Adam clawed at the wolf's head, Desperate to get his leg out. Adam only felt the teeth close tighter. Howling in agony adam raised a paw and slammed it down on the wolf's head. Adam could see a steady flow of blood rush out of the skin and trail down between the wolves eyes. The wolf's bite grew tighter.
Adam heard his leg bone crack. Suddenly adam's vision blurred. He knew that if he didn't get his leg out soon, surely the wolf would bite it off completely.
In Desperation adam brought his other leg up and it connected with the wolf's neck. Right in the jugular.
It worked.
Releasing adams leg he coughed. Gasping for breath. Threw his blurred vision adam could make out nine wolves running to his aid. In the dim light that remained from the moon that gleamed behind a cloud in the sky, he couldmake out the wolves faces.
Help had arrived.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Anilda, Hitze, and the pup had arrived at the ocean just off the coast. The Agashashok River emptied out into the ocean. Anilda looked across the river at the opposite bank. The mountain slopped downward and extended into the ocean. Swallowing, anilda stepped into the river.
Luckily the current wasn't too strong. It wouldn't be too difficult to wade across. She just had to keep her balance on the slimy, slippery ground.
Hitze stared at anilda as she waded across the river towards the opposite bank. Sighing Hitze cursed the water as he stepped in. Following her.
As he went his legs got colder and colder until he could barely feel them. Looking at his paws as he went he could see the white fur was now electric blue.
Never a good sign. Looking back up he sighed in relief. The bank wasn't much further.
Anilda walked onto the bank, having finished wading across. Looking back she gasped when she saw hitze wading across. His legs that were usually white furred when he wasn't flamed and glowing yellow when he was, were now a stunning electric blue.
"Hitze! your legs" Anilda exclaimed her jaw dropping.
Heaving his legs Hitze pulled himself out of the water and onto he bank. His legs had never felt so heavy before. Like they were blocks of ice. He could barly move them.
Anilda looked down at his legs.
"Hitze, what happened?" Anilda asked shocked
"it happens whenever i get wet" Hitze explained. "as long as im not wet for too long, this will clear itself up in a minute"
Anilda, unsure wheather he was ok or not sat next to him. Setting a paw on on of his legs, she shuddered.
It was as cold as the dead.
"Hitze are you going to be ok?" Anilda asked worried
"yea, ill be ok. I just need to dry my legs off.
Anilda nodded then, using her fur as a towel, helped dry his fur. Shuddering as she did.
Slowly anilda felt Hitze's legs warm up.
"thanks anilda" Hitze said once she felt the wamth in his legs again. The blueness of his legs had subsided.
Hitze suddenly turned to fire and sighed as he did. "that's better"
Anilda backed away. Still uncomfortable around fire. She also didn't want the pup to become frightened.
Hitze extinguished his flames after a few seconds. His legs had returned to normal.
"well at least now i know what happens to you when you get wet" Anilda sighed
Turning towards the mountain behind them she took a deep breath. "Ok now we have to get over these" Anilda said with a small chuckle
Hitze looked up at the mountain she was pointing at. Taking a deep breath. "Well, lets get started"

Gasping for breath Anilda waited for Hitze to pull himself up. They were over halfway up the mountain. Once hitze had pulled himself completely up his chest heaving. looking up, he saw the top of the mountain was only feet about them.
"Were almost there Anilda" He said attempting to encourage her.
"well go then" Anilda breathed and picked the pup back up in her jaws. Once Hitze had found the leverage he needed to pull himself up he lifted his body up, struggled a minute, then rose up even further.
Apart from her entire chest and arms, her jaws were soar as well. Holding her daughter, as light as she was, was exhausting her jaws.
She decided that once they were at the top, they would stop to rest.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Struggling to his paws, Adam back away. His leg,still throbbing painfully, dripped plood onto the snow.
The nous-controller looked towards adam, once he'd seen the nine wolves coming to his aid, and raised his eyebrows. Adam made sure he didn't make eye contact. The nous-controller then ran.Adam watched him go then, realizing what direction he was running, saw the nine wolfs dead ahead of the wolf.
"Look out!" Adam called.
Suddenly the wolf vanished. The nine shield members continued as if nothing had appeared or run by.
"Adam! what is it?" Anisto asked. Then spotting adams leg and shoulder he passed out.
"Oh My God! Adam what happened?" Mali gasped, seeing adams wounds as well.
Adam was still at a loss for words
"But. . . Didn't you just see. . . He ran right at you"
"Adam what are you talking about?" Jon asked
"The Nous-Controller"
Tension set in around the group.
"Is that what happened to you?" Jasper asked
Adam nodded
Blood still freshly flowed from adams blood-soaked sholder and down his leg. The black fur turning scarlet red on his leg. As for his leg, he could no longer feel it, which he was thankfull for. His leg had been causing him considerable agony.
"We've got to do something about those" Jon said obviously speaking about adam's injuries.
"I'll be ok. Look you need to go look for the Nous-Controller before he gets away" Adam said getting to his feet. Standing proved impossible for adam. Falling sidways as both his left arm and hind leg gave out.
"He'd be long gone by now adam" Mali's sympathetic voice sounded.
"Adam, we need you to explain what just happened" Jake spoke.
Adam sighed and began explaining.
Once he'd finished jon spoke up. "We should've gotten here quicker!"
Mali walked over to adam and sat down beside him.
"Well at least, im sure, your leg is going to be ok now"
"That's Mali for you" adam thought, a smile crossing his face.
"What" Zach's voice sounded. "Where's Aleu?"
An uneasy silence settled over them. Adam's ears fell.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The small pup, Angle, walked cautiously with Erudin. The two having becom friends, Angle told erudin about what had happened after erudin passed out.
". . and then i saved you from falling by catching you"
"Wow! thanks for that one pal" Erudin replied, staring at angle in awe.
"That's nothing compared to what i did next" Angle gloated.
"When i caught you, you pulled me over the edge and i saved you from falling by grabbing a tree root with my legs."
"No Way!"
"Way. I swung with my legs, still holding onto the tree root and you, and once i was swinging enough i threw you up and you landed back on the edge. Once i had climbed back up i pulled you away from the edge"
"How did you get back up?" Erudin asked, amazed.

"I don't even know how i managed too" Angle grinned.
"That's amazing!" Erudin exclaimed. "What happened next?"
"Oh, nothing much, except, save adam's life" Angle replied as if it were nothing. He was loving every second of this.
Angle was about to saw how, when a wolfcame rushing by. Knocking them both down as he passed.
Getting up angle looked at Erudin.
"You okay?" Angle asked, helping him to his paws.
"yea, you?"
"Im alright"
"Who was that?" Erudin asked
"Im not sure but he seemed to be in a bit of a rush" Angle replied.
Squinting in the direction of wolf had gone, angle could dimly make out the shape of a wolf. Suddenly, glowing red eyes appeared.
Angle stared. Then his mind went blank and he could think of only one thing.
Finish off Adam.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Anilda awoke startled.
Looking around she wondered what had awoken her.
At first she thought it might have been her daughter moving in her sleep, but something didn't feel quite right.
Then she heard it. A blood chilling scream of agony. THe fur on her back stood up.
Glancing over at Hitze, who slept curled around a small fire, she stood up. Not wanting to disturb her daughter she left her there. Walking over to the edge of the mountain she squinted down. In the darkness she thought she could see a group of wolves, crowded around two.
"What's going on?" Anilda wondered.
Her thoughts were interrupted, however by the crying of her daughter.
"I still need to give her a name!" Anilda realized.
She turned around to head back and comfort the pup. What she saw when she turned around made her heart stop.
A large wolf, with white fur like hers, stood with the pup in its jaws.
As she watched, the wolf took off running.
Anilda instinctivly took off after the wolf.
Heart pounding, anilda struggled to keep up with the wolf. He had incredible speed. Anilda only hoped he didn't have as much stamina.
Driven purely by the cries of her pup, anilda pushed herself on.
The wolf looked back at her and then sped up. Anilda was surprised he could even go faster. He was already running faster than any other wolf she'd seen.
"God help me" Anilda prayed as she pushed on. Tears forming in her eyes.
Suddenly something grabbed her leg. Anilda tripped and fell. Rolling over several times before coming to a stop on her chest.
Tears ran down her cheeks as she saw the wolf vanish before her eyes.

Desperate to retrieve her daughter anilda got to her feet and ran. Coming to a stop as the mountain ended. Sloping down into the ocean.
Sobbing anilda howled in depression.
"why does everytime something good happens in my life, misfortune lies just around the corner?" Anilda pleaded

Hitze Jolted awake. Looking around he noticed something was missing. Thinking for a minute he jumped up. Realizing what it was.
"Anilda!" Hiitze called.
He could hear a pup crying off into the distance.
Without wasting another second Hitze darted off full speed.

Arriving at a crying anilda hitze leaned down over her.
"Anilda, what happened? What's wrong?" He asked
"Her. They took her" Anilda managed to say before dissolving back into tears.
Hitze gasped.
"what direction did he go?" Hitze asked
"I don't know! I chased him this far then something tripped me. He just vanished" Anilda said. Hiccuping every few words.
Hitze glanced over the edge of the mountain. Thinking there might be more to it Hitze started down the slope. I must be mad
About halfway down hitze stopped. Looking around he saw nothing. Sighing he started back up.
As he started up his paws slid out from under him. His chest slammed agains the rock.
The sound that vibrated in Hitze's eardrums was not the usual sound of something hitting stone. It sounded hollow.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"What! She was right there" Adam exclaimed.
"Well she's gone now" Alike responded
Adam groaned. His stomach was beginning to pain him. The stomp he'd gotten had made him feel like he'd been squashed flat.
"Where would they have taken her?" Mali asked
"I don't know but we've got to find her"
"Alright, ive got a plan" Adam spoke up.
"we'll move the pack into the safe haven then, once their safe, i'll find aleu. I think i might have an idea where they've taken her"
"Where?" Several asked.
"Don't worry about it. I'll go. You will stay with the pack" Adam replied.
"Adam No. I'll go. Tell me where she is and ill go"
It was Zach.
"Zach, this is the 2nd time-" Adam started but zach shook his head.
"For the good of your heath, let me go" Zach replied firmly.
Adam watched him for a minute. Trying to stand again, and falling again, adam nodded his head. "Fine"
Uttering the words of aleu's location into Zach's ear he stood back up and looking adam straight in the eye he said "I won't let you down" Then left.
Turning back to the Shield members adam cleared his throat.
"Come on adam, lets get you out of here" Mali said grabing hold of adam's neck in her jaws she dragged adam some distance.
Without adam laying there anymore the eight shields remaining stared at the spot adam had layed.
The entire area was scarlet red.
As they looked from the blood red snow to adam they realized adam had lost consiousness.
"God, we've got to stop the bleeding!" Jon exlcaimed.
"How!?" Mali asked shocked at the amount of blood.
They racked their brains for information that would help adam. They came up blank. They had never had a situation like this. Adam's cuts were obviously very deep.
Mali looked around at her surrounding. "There's got to be something! there's always something"
All that surrounded them was snow and ice. She didn't think either of the two were going to help.
"Mali?" Jon asked. He was the closest to her. He could tell something was going on in that brain of hers.
"shush" She said suddenly.
"The only thing that can stop bloodflow was either wraping something tightly around the wound. Cutting off the circlation, or to freeze it.
Wait, freeze it. That's it!"
"I got it!" she exclaimed.
"what? what do we do?" Jon asked surprised.
"Help me get him over here to this ice" Mali said grabbing hold of adam again. The others joined in and, lifting his body, they carried him over the the mountainside which had a thick layer of ice over it.
"Set his should agains the ice" Mali said. The words muffled threw adam's fur.
Mali let go of adam and repeated her last words.

Lost, Jake, Jon, Alike, Anisto, Bailey, Lang, and Jasper followed mali's instructions. Praying that she was right.
"god help us" Mali prayed as the layed adam agains the ice.
"what now?" Jon asked
"We wait. . . And pray" Mali replied
Jon sat down, His ears falling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

"What the-" Hitze said getting back to his paws. Knocking his paws against the rock he heard the noise again.
"It's Hollow alright" Hitze confirmed.
Peering over the end of the mountain hitze could see no entrence. Trying the other side he still saw no entrence.
"There's only onle place left it could be" Hitze breathed.

Anilda was no longer crying. Instead she lay there motionless in a kind of stupor. She knew there was a high chance she'd never see her pup again.
"I never even got to name her" Anilda thought. Emotions welling up inside her again. Her eyes watered and she felt a single tear fall down her cheek.
Hitze came back over the edge of the slope. He seemed anxious.
"Anilda, i think i know where she is"
Anilda looked up at hitze. "Hitze. . ." was all she could say.
"Come on, im not leaving you here. I need you to come with me" Hitze said pulling anilda to her paws.
As soon as hitze let go of her she fell back to the ground.
"Hitze as much as i want to believe you, i cant. . .She's gone" Anilda whimpered from the ground.
"Anilda, what kind of talk is that. Im telling you im almost certain of where she is. Please, i need you to come with me. I don't want to risk letting you get taken too" Hitze said picking her back up.
Anilda stood this time when he'd let her go.
"Alright, now come on" Hitze said and turned to go back the way they'd come.
"Hitze, you want to tell me this theory of yours?" Anilda asked, moving only fast enough to keep up with Hitze.
Hitze told her about what had happened on the slope. After he explained the hollow she seemed more motivated.
Anilda opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind and sped up.
"I hope your right Hitze" Anilda said quietly.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

"Angle are you feeling okay?" Erudin asked.
Angle had started acting really strange.
He was completely ignoring erudin and had started running away from the pack.
"Angle, we need to get back to the pack" Erudin said running along with him.
Just then Angle stopped. Turning towards erudin he growled and said "you head back. I grow weary of you presance. Get!" and jumped at erudin.
Erudin scampered away. Running from the person he'd thought to be his friend.
Angle turned back and ran towards the mountain side where the battle between adam and the nous-controller had taken place.
Glancing down at his claws, angle frowned. The sharp but short claws would barely do more than cause a few scratches.
Feeling his canines with his tongue he felt impressed.
Few pups had teeth like these. These would do fine. All it would take is to play innocent and then clamp his jaws on adams neck, cutting off his air, and within a few minutes the task would be done.
What happened to this host afterwords, he didn't care. As long as he got the job done.
Angle crept quickly closer to the gap in the mountains where he knew them to be located.
Once he'd rounded the mountain and stood at the entrence. In the distance he could see a scarlet red spot on the snow and a crowd of 9 wolves stood at the far end. One onconsious.
Adam's life would soon be over.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Aleu gasped.
Jumping to her paws she looked around her. She was in some sort of cave. Unable to make much more she squinted in the darkness. she could make out marking on the walls. Unable to make them out very clearly she tried to find a way out of her prison. She knew there was no hope before she'd even started.
The Red Rock pack had just captured the alpha of their rival pack. She doubted they would seal her in a prison with ways to get out from withing the walls.
Sitting down she wondered if the pack was ok. Remembering the wound that had been inflicted to adam before her eyes, she shuddered. She hoped adam was ok.

Twenty minutes later however, she was no longer in the cave. Curled up into a ball on the stone cold ground. She was now Laying in the snow, her arms pinned down and her legs pulled open. A lethal wolf approached her. A evil grin over his face.
Aleu knew he was hoping she would begin begging. She refused to give him that satisfaction. Aleu growled up at the wolf and he held up a paw. Four extremely long claws streatched out from the paw.
"Recognize these?" The wolf chuckled.
She closed her eyes. She didn't want to see those claws. She felt a tickle on her chest, she opened her eyes and saw the 'Nous-Controller' was running the claw down her body. Trying to frighten her. She growled at the N-C as he traced the claw down her body. Aleu struggled to pull her paws free of the jaws of the four other wolves. But to no avail.
He seemed to be enjoying this. The more he angered this wolf, the more he enjoyed this.
But enough games. He was ready to cause her some real pain. He was going to punish her to daring to take a step into their territory, And to lead an entire pack . .
Circuling around aleu he stood where he got a perfect look at Aleu completely.

Aleu closed her eyes, She knew what was about to come. And there was no one around to help her. No adam to save her again. She felt the wolves paws grab onto her legs. . .

The wolves carried the unconsious aleu back up the mountain towards the opening for the cave they kept her in. The Cave had been created specifically for these reasons. Throwing her body inside they sealed off the exit and descended down the mountain.
A trail of blood ran down aleus head from behind her ear.
Blood stains located on her legs, and sides just above her waist.

When aleu awoke again she felt a major headach coming on. Aleu put her paws to her head as she felt her brain throbbing. Just then she suddenly became aware of crying. It sounded like a pup. Turning towards the sound she looked around. She saw the pup laying on its stomach crying out.
Aleu was shocked to see it was a newborn. She knew because the pup's eyes had yet to open.
Gasping she hurried over to the pup and attempted to comfort the pup. Aleu discoved the pup was a female.
She pulled the pup closer to her and comforted her.
"How did you get here?" Aleu asked.
The pups whines dissolved to nothing as aleu curled up with her.

Aleu opened her eyes as a sudden beam of light shined down on her. She'd fallen asleep without even realizing it. Shutting her eyes again then re-opening them. Her eyes adjusting to the change in light.
Squinting aleu saw the last thing she wanted to see at that moment.
The Nous-Controller had just walked in.
"Not again" Aleu said to herself
Aleu struggled to get away this time. The pup resumed its crying as aleu was overwhelmed by the N-C, and dragged away. The pups cry's were no longer audible.
Aleu struggled to break free from the N-C. She had almost squirmed out of his arms when he slammed his paw down on her back. The claws piercing her skin. She whimpered.
Throwing her down on the ground.
"Ive got a bargain for you" the N-C said circiling Aleu.
"Oh yea?" Aleu growled.
"Yea, Tell you what, If you can even make me bleed, ill let you run"
Aleu shuddered. She flashbacked to the site of adam's wound on his shoulder.
"Fine" Aleu said standing up "ill take you up on that one"
A grin stretched across the N-C's cheeks. "excellent"

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

"Look, it's adams friend" Zach spoke aloud.
They all looked at the pup. He approached shyfully.
"Hide adam!" Mali whispered urgently, just loud enough for them to hear her, buy quiet enough so it didn't echo to angle's ears.
"What?"
"Look at adam. This is just a pup. We can't let him see adam like this"
Mali had a point so they surrounded adam.
Looking back to the pup once they were in position, they saw that he was starring, not at them, but at the giant scarlet blood stain in the snow.
The pup looked from the blood to them, hudled around adam.
Zach cleared his throat. "Angle, over here"
The pup, Angle, walked over. When he reached them, they could see tears in his eyes.
"Is. . . Is adam going to be okay?" Andle asked, his voice shaky.
Zach who was the only one there, apart from adam, that was familiar with angle, spoke up. His voice, not his usual deep and raspy, but a comforting, bortherly voice. "We're doing all we can for him angle"
Angle slipped underneath them. Manuvering between their legs as they tried to stop him.
Angle managed to see adam however.
At first his reaction seemed to be crying. But he then raised his head. They could see a malicious grin on his face.
"Time to finish the job" Angle laughed. Then, fangs bared, he dove for adam. Landing, he opened his jaws.
"Angle No!"
Mali threw her paw into the path of his jaws. Angle closed his jaws on her paw. Blood rushed into angle's mouth.
Mali growled.
Jon grabbed hold of angle by the scruff of the neck and pulled him off mali.
"What's gotten into you?!" Jasper snarled.
"Finishing what has been started" Angle replied, A faint red glow in his eyes. Angle then did something that far surpassed the abilities of a young pup.
He Swung his body upwards then with incredible strength caused Jon to swing up in the air and collide with the ground.
Jon blacked out instently. Angle grinned and ran for Adam again.
Anisto Dove and landed ontop of the pup. Holding him down. He felt the pups sharp claws and teeth cutting his chest and arms but he held on.
"I could use some help here!" Anisto exclaimed
Suddenly Anisto's entire lower body flew into the air. Anisto flipped over and landed on his back.
Angle put a paw on Anisto's neck and grinned.
"You'll never be able to stop me. Your only prolonging the fate that awaits adam"
"Angle, what's wrong with you?" Zach asked. Standing his ground.
Angle grinned at Zach. His eyes flashed red and then returned to normal.
"His mind is being controlled by a N-C" Zach said.
Mali looked to him.
"How do we get him back to normal?" She asked.
"Ive no idea. Jon and Aleu were the only ones who knew much about these guys" Zach replied.
Angle stepped onto Anisto's body and walked over him.
Darting towards adam again, he ran straight underneath Alike. Alike let his body collapse ontop of the pup and, acting fast he grabbed the pup and held the pup's arms down.
Angle laughed.
With ease he pushed Alike off him. Zach helped alike by adding his body weight.
Mali Joined in. The three were enough.
Anisto, Mali, and Zach, held Angle down.
He growled and stuggled.
"Jon!"
Jon appeared over the three holding down angle.
He put two paws on either side of angles head then uttered something, barely audible over Angle's growling "Diablo de Licenca. Deixe esta alma pura em paz. FORA!"
Angle screamed then after his eyes grew red and flashed brightly. Making them all shut their eyes. The light filled the entire sky before it subsided to white. He began shaking.
"Angle?"
He looked frightened. "wha. . what just. . . what just happened?" He asked in a scared voice.
They let him go.
"Angle, you just had your mind posessed by something we call a Nous-Controller" Zach explained.
"H-how?" Angle asked still shaking.
"How much of the past twenty minutes can you remember?"
"I don't know. I remember me and Eruding were talking then a wolf knocked us down. After that all i can remember is a pair of red eyes" Angle said thinking back. Between the point when he saw the red eyes to the second he'd awoke with the three wolves holding him down and a forth standing over him.
"That must have been the N-C that attacked adam" Lang busted out without thinking. Immediatly recognizing his mistake.
"What!" Angle gasped
Jasper, Mali, and jake growled angrilly at lang, showing their teeth.
Lang frowned. In everyone's face he could read a simple message: Way to go Lang
His ears fell.
Looking around angle spotted adam. Blood-soaked, pale and motionless. His leg stuck out behind him. Bloody and swollen. Two holes, bleeding slightly, stuck out clearly. Adam's stomach was turning purple as a giant bruise swoll up.
Angle shuddered. Tears welling up in his eyes, he looked away. Unfortunatly his head turned toward the spot adam had originally lay.
His eyes starred at the pool of blood. Adams' Blood!
He felt queezy just then.
"Angle don't worry. Adam is strong. He'll pull threw" Mali said trying to cheer angle up, once he had dissolved into tears.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Panting, anilda ran to keep up with hitze. He seemed to know where he was going. Jumping across gaps in the rocks anilda only just made it over. Even though the mountain they were on was considered 'The Baird Mountains' It was acctually seperate from them. All that connected the two was a thin slab of earth.
Hitze and Andilda hadn't been able to cut threw the gap because the mountain's was joined together by the thin layer of rock on the east side. The side they had climbed up. From the west side a wolf could walk between the two mountains.
If Hitze was right, there would be an entrance of some sort. Hopefully anilda's daughter would be there.
"Stop!" Anilda exclaimed stopping suddenly. Did she just hear. .?
"what is it?" Hitze asked skidding to a stop.
"Shh" Anilda said, putting a paw to her lips. She knealed down, putting her hear to the ground.
"Anilda, what-"Hitze managed to say while walking back to her before she put a paw on his chin and muzzle, forcing his jaws shut.
Her face only inches from hitze's.
In her eyes he read tow simple words. Shut Up
Letting go of hitze anilda returned to the ground. With her ear to the ground she heard, distantly and muffled, the cries of a pup. From the sound of it, it sounded like a female.
"It's her! It's her! Hitze It's Her!" Anilda exclaimed jumping up.
"What?" Hitze asked curiously.
Anilda, again siezed hitze and pulled him to the ground. Pressing his ear to the ground.
"Anilda-" Hitze started but anilda clamped his jaws shut again.
Being held down like this, Hitze had no choice but to listen.
He heard it.
The sad cries of a female pup. Hitze would have gasped had anilda not been holding his mouth shout.
"You hear her?" Anilda asked
Hitze couldn't answer her verbally so he nodded his head.
Anilda let go of hitze, allowing him back up. But knocked him back down as soon as he'd gotten up.
Hugging him anilda exclaimed "Hitze you're a Saint!"
Hitze blushed slightly "Im glad I could help"
Anilda suddenly started crying.
"Anilda. . ." Hitze said, unsure of how to react.
"Hitze if we hadn't met. . . you've helped me threw so much. . . there's no way i could possibly repay you for all you've done. . . I just can't help. . . you're the best friend i've ever had" Anilda sobbed into Hitze's shoulder.
Hitze smiled. "Don't worry about repaying me. I just want you to be happy"
Anilda licked Hitze's cheek. Tears still running down hers.
"Come on, Anilda, let's go get your daughter"
Anilda got to her paws and smiled at hitze as he got up.
Anilda gave him a final friendly nuzzle.
The two then ran the rest of the 3 mile length of the mountain till they reached the edge.
Anilda and Hitze glanced over the edge, unsure of what they would see.
Nothing could have prepared them for what they saw.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"Get up! This is your only chance to get away remember!" The N-C shouted. Circeling Aleu as she lay in agony.
Coughing up blood, she struggled to her paws.
A Nightmare that had haunted Aleu for years had come true.
Aleu could barely hold back the tears.
Pain seared threw her body. A long cut bled on her side.
She had been kicked in the hind leg by the N-C and four large gashes had becun to bleed. It had been a long time since aleu had felt such pain.
"Come on aleu, you just have to get one good cut" Aleu thought, willing herself to stay on her paws.
As soon as she had gotten up, she was knocked back down. The N-C raised his caws high into the air and brought them down on Aleu's side. Sinking deeper than ever.
Blood gushed out over the N-C's paws even before he'd removed his claws.
Aleu screamed in agony. Nothing could compare to this much pain.
But only one good thing came from this. A dribble of blood ran down the N-C's leg. A small, but deep cut stood out.
Aleu then passed out.

Awakening again aleu realized she was still laying on the ground. She wasn't in the cave. Surprised that he N-C and the Red Rock pack had kept their word, aleu lay there motionless. Her side pained her beyond anything she'd experienced.
To stop the blood flow from her side that had turned her gray fur to scarlet, she found the strength to roll onto her other side. The snow becan freezing her side, numbing the overwhelming pain riping threw her.
Slowly the pain subsided. Sighing aleu tried moving. She was too weak. Wanting to get as far away as possible she kept trying, knowing there was no use. Her body felt ready to give out on her.
Aleu then heard rocks fall.
Her heart began to beat faster.
Someone was coming. . .

"Anilda what are you doing?!" Hitze whispered urgently to anilda, watching her climb down the mountainside.
"I know her, that's Aleu!" Aniled replied, not stoping.
"Who?" Hitze asked, following her.
"The alpha of my pack" Anilda replied. "Now shush. She may be guarded"
Hitze took her word for it and didn't say another word. They continued down the mountain as quietly as they could.

Getting down the mountain turned out to be easier than going up it. Even if they did remain low silent. What took them hours to climb up, only took 30 mins to get down.
Once they had descended the mountain and she could feel the familiar snow under her paws, Anilda darted for Aleu.
Her jaw dropped when she saw aleu's beaten body.
"Aleu!"

Aleu lay on the ground, searching for any energy left in her. She felt weary, she might have rested there had she not heard the noises behind her, filling her with fear. She was completely defensless.
For 30 long minutes that dragged on forever, she heard the noise grow louder. Closer. Then finally the noise ended. Hearing someone running at her she closed her eyes, If she couldn't escape, at least she didn't have to see it.
Then. . .
"Aleu!"
It wasn't a growl or an angry voice. Instead it was a shocked, familiar voice. It sounded like. . .
Aleu's eyes snapped open. She felt relief rush threw her.
"Anilda!"
"Aleu, oh, what happaned to you?" Anilda moaned.
Aleu noticed something different about anilda when she turned and called for some named hitze. The old tale about a vicious fire-wolf name Hitze who killed pups who misbehaved registered in aleu's mind briefly but she dismissed it. She had to have heard wrong.
"Anilda, you pup. . ."
"I gave birth but she's been taken from me. I know where she is but i don't know how to get to her" Anilda explained. "Besides ill tell you it later, Hitze will get you to safety"
A flashback of the crying female pup in the cave flickered into aleu's mind. "Anilda, your daughter's in there"
Aleu could only gesture her paw at the mountain.
"I know, have you seen her?" Anilda asked
"Yes, she's gray" Aleu explained as proof she had.
"yes, how can i get to her?" Anilda asked quickly.
"The entrences is right there. about halfway up" gesturing to the mountain again.
Anilda looked but didn't see. Not at first. Starring up at it she spotted it. The mouth was sealed with a large boulder.
Without saying another word she ran in its direction.
Hitze watched anilda. He didn't know if he should follow her or not, but he decided to help the wolf that wen't by Aleu.
"Come on, lets get you out of here" Hitze said and lifting her gently. Then, sliding under her and stood up. Aleu now lay on his back. Hitze went as fast as he could, doing his best to make the ride as smooth as possible for aleu. It wasn't easy with shoulders like his.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Zach glanced down the mountain he stood on.
Adam had told him specifically where to look but apparently he wasn't the only one looking for Aleu. He could see below him a white furred, fierce looking wolf, walking with the motionless figure of aleu on his back.
Finding his way down in just under 20 minutes, Zach looked back to the area he'd seen the two. They were still going in the same direction though they were some distance apart.

Zach ran after them. Stretching his legs to their fullest extent while he ran. Gaining on the slow-walking wolf.

Anilda had nearly reached it. So close to the boulder that sealed in her daughter. She luckily did'n't have to climb up. Their was a path that swerved up the mountain but it let to the stone platform she was headed for.
Five minutes later she was standing before the boulder. Looking around she was surprised it wasn't guarded. She sighed. One less thing to do. Looking around the boulder she looked for the best direction to push it. Since the platform she stood on was perfectly flat she supposed it really didn't matter.
Putting her shoulder up against the giant rock she pushed. The rock didn't budge. Trying again the boulder refused to move. Throwing her shoulder into the boulder she managed to slid the boulder slightly. Just a few milimeters.
Taking a deep breath she continued thrwing her shoulder into the boulder until unexpectidly the boulder rolled. She fell to the ground as the boulder rolled away from her. Panting she ran into the cave. She could hear the pup whining.
Following the sound she found her.
Tears filled her eyes and she licked the pup. The pup whimpered.
"Mommy has you" Anilda said picking her up and setting her on her back.
Heading for the entrence of the cave again she saw a pair of gleaming red eyes glare at her from the entrence. His body cast into shadow. Anilda gasped and looked for another way out.
None.
She was completely trapped. . .
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

While Bailey was busy taking the sobbing angle back to the pack and Zach was gone looking for aleu, Lang kept wondering about what Jon had done that brought angle back to his senses.
Curiosity got the better of him. wondering over of Jon who lay near Adam with mali, praying for him lang cleared his throat.
"Jon, could i talk to you a minute?"
Jon stood up. "yea, what is it?"
"Its about earlier, with angle..." Lang started
"Go on" Jon said watching Lang
"Well i was wondering, How did you do it?" Lang finished
Jon sighed. "it's kinda hard to explain but its similar to an exorcism, I simiply cast out the soul that, currupted angle's heart"
"But. ." Lang started but mari suddenly called for them.
"Guys! Adam, he's waking up!"
They all ran frantically over to adam.

Adam opened one bleary eye. His vision was blurred to bad to make out anything. Lifting his head up some his other eye opened. His vision came into clearer focus, though it was still hard to make out much.
Adam could see several figures crowd around him. Confused he opened his mouth to speak but nothing would come out.

Jon,Jake,Alike,Anisto,Bailey,Lang,Mari, and Jasper gathered around their leader.
They noticed he seemed to be having trouble getting things into focus. His mouth opened as if to say something but was unable to.
"Adam? Are you alright?" Mari asked curiously
Adam tried again. A grunt came out. Trying again he got his voice threw. Raspy, not at all like his own, but they could understand him. "What happened?"
Anisto looked at mari then spoke up. "You nearly died from blood loss"
Adam looked down at himself. Things started coming back to him.
The N-C, Aleu missing, Zach running off to find her, then blackness.
"Has there been any news on Aleu yet?" Adam asked swallowing.
"None. We've been waiting for you to come around. The pack is probably in the Safe Haven now though" Mari replied.
Adam sighed. He realized he couldn't feel the entire side of his body that lay on the ice. Numb. Pulling his shoulder off the ice he saw the blood soaked fur had been frozen, closing the gash in his side. The blood no longer flowing. His leg was just the same.
Adam felt a wamth toward his fellow shield members. He'd be forever grateful for this.
"Adam, we should get you too the safe haven. We did the best we could do for you but maybe you can get more help once were in there" Jake suggested.
Adam nodded. "I still can't walk"
"We'll carry you"

20 minutes later, adam was being carried over the backs of Jon and Anisto. They were telling him about how Angle had been possesed and driven to try and finish him off. Adam was still unbelieving the part about angle throwing a full grown wolf off him and slamming him to the ground with enough force to knock him out.
"Jon saved our tails. He told me its some sort of exorcism" Lang explained once they had finished the event.
"Does this have a name?" Mali asked.
"Ausschuss von Damonen" Jon answered.
Adam grinned. He was familar with the term.
Once again, it had saved his life. Up ahead, They could see the gateway to the one place they had been traveling towards for weeks on end.
The Safe Haven.
The only despair he felt, was that anilda, and his pup, were gone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Hitze had found, a safe spot for them to rest. Right at the base of de long mountains, a large ditch fell. Hitze climbed down into it and let aleu slid gently off his back. Looking around he decided he'd rest and wait for anilda.
He was worried for anilda so he decided that if she hadn't returned in an hour, he'd run back and see if she needed any help.
He breathed and set several rocks into a pile infront of him and set it aflame with his mind. Letting the wamth rush over his body.
Looking over to aleu he wondered just what had happened to her. Her body was beaten, brused, and bloody. Hitze looked over the wolf's body and wondered. Walking over to her he looked into her eyes. He stomach rose and fell as she snoozed. Replenishing her strenght.
Just then he heard the sound of someone approaching then he heard growling and "Get the hell away from her!"
Hitze raised his head and looked towards the newcomer

Zack came to a stop. The wolf and aleu had suddenly dissapeared. Like they had fallen into the ground.
Curious, zach sped back up. Running as fast as he could. He could only imagine what he must be doing to aleu.
At the speed zack was going, he saw how the wolf had dissapeared. It wasn't a trick. He'd simply gone into a ditch. A rather deep one. Zack reached the ditch in under 3 minutes. Taking a deep breath he looked over the edge.
Zack saw the white wolf standing over aleu. Aleu lay motionless on the ground. Her stomach rose and fell which showed she was alive.
Zack growled and yelled down to the wolf "Get the hell away from her!"

The wolf looked up at him

Zack jumped down and landed at the bottom of the ditch. Running towards the wolf, he saw the wolf do something that made his jaws drop and his legs numb. His heart beat faster. Fear overtaking him.
The wolf got a devilish look on his face then burst into fire. He growled approaching the zack. A wall of fire rose around zack.
He cowered back and felt the heat behind him as well. Fire everywhere.
Zack didn't know what to do. Then the wolf walked threw the flames. He stood with his legs out, ready to pounce.
"Who are you?" the fire wolf asked
"z-Zack" Zack stammered in his fear.
"What do you want with aleu?"
"She's my pack leader. Im here to rescue her" zach replied
The heat vanished.
Zack looked around again. The fire was completely gone. The scorch marks on the ground were visible which told zack he wasn't going insane.
Looking back to the wolf he saw he was white-furred again. He looked deeply sorry.
"Forgive me. Im not your enemy here. Ive been helping Anilda from your pack. I know where she is"
Zack starred at him. "How did you. . . Anilda is dead"
"Ive been able to do it all my life. Im Hitze and no. She isn't"
Zack stared. "But-"
"It's just a story. Why they made that up about me. . ive tried to put it behind me for years, I figured her pack might think her dead now. Look, if your part of Aleu's pack then who is anilda's Mate and what is he part of?"
Zack blinked. "Im sorry, what?"
"I need proof that your part of aleu's pack" Hitze explained
"Adam. He's the leader of 'The Ten Shields'" Zack answered.
Hitze, seeming convineced, nodded at Zack then looked behind him. "Ok, look, you take aleu back to your pack. That's what your goal was right. Take her, im going to go see what's taking anilda so long"
Zack listened to him the said "Er, you DO know she's pregnant right?"
"Not anymore. She gave birth yeserday. I told her to rest but she's determined to get to the safe haven. Im just helping her" Hitze explained.
Zack gasped. "and the pup?"
"She's ok. Anilda had to get her back from the kidnappers. She told me to take aleu and wait for her" Hitze said.
Zack stared confused. Anilda Alive! Adam will be glad to hear that. Aleu, dear god what happened to her
"How did aleu get this way?" Zack asked pointing his paw at aleu.
"She apparently was beaten, forced to fight something i believe you call a Nous-Controller, and raped" Hitze explained. "That's all i could tell. She may have been threw more but. . ."
Zack looked from hitze to the body of aleu. "How can you tell all that?"
Hitze pointed a paw at her lower stomach.
"The bruis says it all about her being raped. Wow those N-C's are lethal. Also look at the blood from her sides. He must have sank his claws into her sides and used it as leverage to. . . a. . well also i noticed this when i was carriying her. Look" Hitze explained then turned aleu over onto her other side.
Zack winced. He side was completely bruised and eight obviously VERY deep punctures. Though they didn't seem to be very large.
"Okay. Ill take her back to the pack, You get anilda and her pup back there as well. Anilda told you where we're going right?" Zack replied
Hitze nodded. "Go"
While Zack slid aleu onto his back, with the help of hitze, and started off towards the safe haven, Hitze started in the opposite direction.
Deviation peak stood tall in the distance.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Anilda hit the cave wall. Falling back down to the ground she cried out in pain. Panting she looked up from the ground at the cruel figure above her. No sorrow or remorse. Only gleaming, cruel red eyes stared down at her. No emotion behind theme. As she watched, horrified, the wolf raised a claw again.
Anilda wrapped her arms around her crying daughter and took the full force of the hit in her side.
Gasping for breath, anilda stood and shoved her shoulder into the wolve's chest. He took a step back.
A look of slight confusion. Then he grabbed anilda's tail and all but ripped it clean off.
She felt her legs fly out from under her. He tail, clamped tightly in the jaws of the wolf, held her back. Anilda clawed at the wolf's face but he didn't react. He simply dragged her back into the cave and resumed his beating.
Anilda tried kicking him but he didn't react to those either.
He seemed immune to pain. Trying again and again, she looked for a weak spot. He didn't even react to a kick between the legs. All he did was grin. His lips spreading apart. Anilda could see the sharp razors that were his teeth.
Then she heard a second wolf growling. "Let her go" the voice said
Anilda was in shock. Would Hitze ever not be there for her? He seemed to always be there just when she needed help. "Hitze!" she cried out in relief.

The wolf ignored him and put a paw to anilda's chest. Raising the other into the air. Before he could strike anilda however he howled out in pain. Hitze hung from his arm. His jaws sunk deep into the muscular flesh. He lifted his paw from anilda's chest, letting her free, and with his claws out, threw his paw into hitze's chest. Hitze fell to the ground and gasped for breath. Caughing.
"you're going to regret doing that" the wolf said with no emotion. He sounded and acted as if he had no soul. No emotions. Nothing, just an empty shell, bent on killing anything that it could.
"try me" Hitze said getting back up. The two circled for a minute. "Anilda get out of here" Hitze told her quickly.
She didn't argue. The battle between the two wolves was no doubtly going to be vicious and bloody. Picking her daughter back up she ran. "promise me we'll meet back up" she said urgently from the cave mouth.
"Ill see you soon anilda" Hitze replied grinning.
The wolf came at him just as anilda dissapeared. Hitze leaped into the air to jump over this wolf. The wolf seemed to know what he was going to do though. He raised his claw into the air and sank them into hitze's stomach. He stopped in mid air as the sharp claws forced him to a halt. He fell to the ground. The wolf stood over him fangs bared.
Hitze didn't hesitate. "you're better than i would have though" He said calmly. The wolf, being nothing but an empty shell, didn't reply. He tried to sink his teeth into hitze's throat but hitze put a paw to his muzzle just before his teeth closed around his neck.
The wolf would have simply tried again had the paw not suddenly catch fire. Burning his nose. The wolf howled. Stepping back and shaking his head threw the air. Hitze got to his paws again. When the wolf looked back to the, once white wolf, he saw he was no longer white. He was in flames. At first he thought the wolf would burn to death and he would be saved some trouble, allowing him to go after the young blood of the one called 'anilda'. But the wolf was not even reacting the the flames licking his body. He simply stood there. Flames dancing on his body, a ficious look in his eye.
No fear came to the wolf. Only confusion. Flames were supposed to kill. This went against everything he knew about heat. The problem he faced now was even touching the wolf without burning himself.
"i bet this complicates the hell out of things for you" Hitze laughed. He sat down and watched the wolf calmly. "try your best to hit me"
The wolf ran at hitze at full speed. Planning to sink his teeth into the first part of the wolf's body he came into contact with. But then flames erupted around the wolf. Confused the wolf tried to stop. How does a stone catch fire? he thought confused. This however was his final question and thought. He tried to stop but wasn't able to stop quick enough. He fell into the flames and burned alive. Hitze never enjoyed the howls of agony that followed such a death, but it was only necessary that this be done. It was self-defense. He only put the flames out when the howls ceased. He turned his eyes away from the grotesque body of the wolf. Had he not had a strong stomach, he would have thrown up right there.
Walking from the cave he looked for anilda. He spotted her quickly. She was running. He then called out to her, howling.

Anilda stopped quickly at the sound of a howl. She could see Hitze's body standing at the up the mountain. She grinned. She felt ashamed at herself for even begining to think hitze wouldn't make it threw. He could set wolves on fire for cryin out loud!.
"Hitze" She smiled.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

The sad pup, angle, sat in the snow. His rear was getting cold but there was nowhere to sit that wasn't covered in snow. Literally, he felt like he was freezing his butt off.
Someone approached him. He opened his eyes and looked up. It was another pup. A tan pup. Erudin.
"Angle?" the small pup asked
"Erudin, im-im sorry about earlier" Angle whimpered. His new friend looked like he'd been crying for sometime.
"What was wrong?" Erudin asked sitting down opposite angle. His eyebrow raised.
"well they told me i was possesed my something called a 'Nous-Controller'" Angle started
Erudin watched his new friend. "That wolf that ran over us. . he was a nose-controlher?" he asked having trouble getting his tounge around the new word.
Angle laughed at the way erudin said this. "yea he was a nose control her"
Erudin laughed along with angle. Angle stopped after a moment then repeated his apology. "Im sorry about earlier erudin"
Erudin nodded " Its ok. You weren't yourself. Im glad we're still friends"
"Same here" Angle grinned.

Zack, with Aleu on his back, ran on. On as his legs pushed the two wolves closer and closer to safety. Squinting his eyes against the wind, keeping them open. Searching for any sign of an ambush. Afterall, he had Aleu, the Red Rock packs top priority to kill, on his back. In her most vulnerable state.
Slowing to a stop, Zack caught his breath and looked back. All there was behind him was snow. Falling from the sky, resting on the ground, or in the trees. Squinting he could make out the dark shape of two wolves. Looking closer her recognized one wolf. It was Hitze.
Putting this together, Zack figured out who the other wolf must be. That must be Anilda. Hitze said he was going to go see if she was okay.
Glancing to each side of him, he checked for ambushes. He didn't see anyone. Apart from the two figures approaching him.
His ear flicked up. He heard a sound behind him. Looking back he saw aleu's eyes open. She made a strang high pitched whimper. "Z-zack?" She studdered
"Aleu, you're awake. You okay?" He asked. She had a large bruise that stood out on her shoulder.
"where. . are we?" She asked confused. Her vision blurry. Everything was a white, gray and black haze.
"Safe. For right now. We're on our way to the safe haven"
Aleu blinked and her vision came back into focus. Putting a paw on her head, memories of the last few days came back to her. "What about the rest of the pack?"
"Safe. This is basically a rescue mission right now"
She then became aware that they weren't moving at all. "What are you waiting for?"
"I can see Anilda and a friend of her's Hitze back there. Im waiting for them to catch up" he explained.
Aleu was still a little confused. "Hitze?" Memories of the scary tale told to pups to make them behave. "Hitze? Isn't he that wolf in the story. He eats pups who misbehave?"
"Apparently that's just a tale. But yea, Hes the one"
Aleu rested her head against the arch of Zack's neck and back. Her head pounding painfully.
Looking ahead, Zack saw that the two wolves running toward them wasn't at all who he had thought them to be. He could see more wolves behind these two. He then knew instently what was happening.
He'd fallen into an ambush. "Here we go Aleu" Zack warned. Pushing off Zack ran from the oncoming wolves.
As fast as Zack normally was, the weight of Aleu on his back and with how tired his legs were, he was slower than usual. While his pursuers closed in on him, two white wolves stood overhead on the side of a mountain.
A gray pup on the back of one. The two wolves looked at each other then one ran down the mountain toward Zack. As he reached the bottom of the mountain he turned to flames.

"Hitze!" Zack gasped, the sudden eruption of flames to his right got his attention immediatly.
"Zack keep running, ill stop these wolves!" Hitze shouted. Changing directions, he ran toward the wolves chasing Zack.
Skidding to a sudden stop, Zack looked back at Hitze. Then he saw another wolf running at him. Instinct told him to attack.
Tackling the wolf to the ground a putting a paw to its throat. Then he realized who the wolf was. "Anilda! Sorry, i thought you were someone else" He applogized, letting her back up.
Anilda caughed some then shook her head. "don't worry about it, just run!" She said heading off in Zacks original direction of travel.
He didn't have time to think or argue, so he followed after Anilda.

Hitze extinguished his flames. He always enjoyed the look of surprise and terror on his foe's face when they saw the flaming power he held. Stopping abruptly he watched the wolves close in on him. He grinned. Even better.
Just as they were about to overtake him, he willed a wall of fire to erupt between him and the large group ahead of him. As a result for the wolves on the opposite side of the wall, those at the front which included some of the most powerful members of the Red Rock pack, were unable to stop in time. Though they tried, it was useless. The wolves flew threw the flames and caught fire. This was the worst part of it for Hitze. The screams of agony as they burned alive. Wincing he put his paws over his ears.
When the bodies stopped moving, which didn't take long, Hitze removed his paws from his ears and stepped toward the flames.
His favirote part had come. Stepping threw the flames he set his body aflame. The look of terror on the faces of the wolves was priceless to Hitze.
"you're down by 13 now" He smirked.
"Who are you?" A bold, wolf in front of Hitze asked.
"You need not know. Seeing as how you won't live long enough to need it" Hitze said. Lifting up a paw he concentrated the flames to the one specific area.
All the flames on his body moved to his paw. Gathering to make an enormous inferno. The Red Rock pack wolves backed away slightly.
"I don't care if you have that ability freak. We'll still kill you if you don't move out of our way" The same wolf growled. He was obviously trying to put on a brave face. But was failing miserabally.
"Im just one wolf. You're what? 10? Surely even with this power you could take me down easily. Why do you hesitate to simply kill me and continue on you're chase for my friends" Hitze asked. He was loving this.
The wolves seemed annoyed by this. Enraged one wolf ran at hitze. Fangs bared.
Hitze simply held out his paw which held the inferno. the wolf flew threw it. The heat of the flames was too hot to be felt immediatly. The wolf only experienced cold. But he didn't live long enough to feel any thing else. Collapsing to the ground, he died.
"Let me even up the odds here. Lets see you're 9 now. So i need 8 more" Hitze chuckled.
"What are you talking about?"
The inferno split into 8 shapes. Flying out of Hitze paws they formed the shape of wolves. Exact replicas of Hitze.
Hitze not being flamed he laughed. Then completing his trick, set himself aflame as well.
"Find me if you can" Hitze said. The jaws of all 9 Hitze's said this.
The nine Red Rock pack wolves stood frozen to the spot. "You can't fool us with these lame tricks" one started but Hitze killed him before he could say anything else. "Lets keep this fair shall we" He said and one of his replica's faded away.
One wolf apparently couldn't take it anymore and tried to run. He met the same ending as the last wolf. Another replica of Hitze fadded.
"How are we supposed to defeat you? Any contact with you will kill us" A terrified wolf cowered.
"True, though what does that tell you?" Hitze asked. The true Hitze approached the wolf. Leaning his head closer to the wolf's. He began shuddering and stepped back from hitze. Hitze controlled on of the replicas to stand behind the cowered.
Unknowingly the wolf backed away from Hitze. Then he felt a searing heat behind him. Looking behind him he saw Hitze behind him. Looking back ahead toward the real Hitze.
Hitze Lifted a paw and moved it closer to the wolf. The wolf cowered back. His fate already known to him. Hitze finally felt like the wolf had been frightened enough and decided to make it quick. Instead of burning him, he closed his jaws around the wolf's neck. Killing him instently. The Hitze behind the wolf vanished.
"6 left. Come on, you can figure it out" Hitze barked. The six remaining wolves had grouped together. Obviously they were trying to form a plan to escape.
Hitze laughed and formed a circle around them. The six Hitse's surrounded them. Preventing any way of escape.
The Hitze's closed in on the remaining red rock pack wolves. Though the wolves seemed to have reached a conclusion. All six of them looked up at the sky and howled. Hitze took advantage of their exposed necks and bit down on them. All six Hitze's killed one each.
The howls stopped abruptly and the five extra flaming Hitze's vanished. The real Hitze remained. He sat and waited for the back-up they had called for. Their howls had been a call for help. One he'd heard too often. . . .Too often from those he had cared for.
Everytime, it was an accident. Everytime.
But the final time had been too much. His ability with the flames hadn't always been so controlled. Early in his pup years he had burst to flames unexpectadly. Set things on fire by accident while he paniced, afraid. A nightmare that had haunted him his whole life had been when he had been the curse this power brought. His dad, had been the first.

He had been picked on by the fellow wolf pups in their pack for his oddity. He had been the quiet type and usually didn't talk. They had finally started kicking snow at him. Crying he had ran. Just as he reached his dad, who began comforting him once he saw the tears in Hitze's eyes, Hitze burst into flames again. Being in his dad's arms, his dad had been burned alive.
Just like that. He had no dad. More tears falling from his cheeks to the ground hitze backed away from the body.
"Mom!" Hitze cried.
His mom, Prita, seemed frozen with shock. Her eyes fixed on the dead body.
"Mom i didn't mean too. . ." He continued. His flames went out then.

He had done this so many times that finally he decided to go into hiding. Hitze had accidentally set his mother aflame too. The same way. She had been comforting him because of the wolves constantly throwing stones at him. By then everyone avoided him. They knew what Hitze was capable of if he got close to anyone. His mother was the only person who trusted him. Then, without warning, his fur lit up and his mother screamed in agony as her skin blistered, and only did she stop when she was dead.
With absolutely no one left who cared for him, Hitze ran away until he had come apon the Todesberg. He ran in and stayed there. For weeks he didn't eat. He barely slept at all. He spent most of his time either crying or trying to control his flaming abilities. The volcanic habitat suited him perfectly. No one would dare enter a volcano to throw stones at him.
But there came a point where Hitze needed food. There was no way around it. He'd have to leave the volcano.

A tear fell to the ground.
Hitze felt his cheek which was damp. He'd unknowingly been crying for the past few mins. He wiped his cheeks dry. Though he had pratically mastered his powers, he still lived in constant fear he'd accidentally kill Anilda. Ever since he had agreed to help her find her way back.
He'd been practicing for years to find a way to set himself on fire, and not burn the person he was in contact was. Maybe his power didn't extend that far.
Another tear. . .

"Hitze, don't cry"
He bowed his head. Unable to control himself. "I miss him. I try not to cry but i miss him mom"
"Honey" his mother said and put her arms around the crying pup. "I miss him too"
"i'm sorry for what I did"
"It was an accident Hitze. You can't keep beating yourself up. You know we never liked seeing you cry. That hasen't changed"
The white pup buried his face in his mothers arms. Trying to stop his tears. He ended up crying himself to sleep however.

He was brought back to reality abruptly by the sound of. . Rain? Looking around he had to find cover. It was unnecessary though. The sound was infact the back up the wolves had called for. The mountains surround Hitze seemed to be streaming. It looked like, multi-colored water was flowing down the mountains. Hitze gulped. He hadn't expected more than maybe 15-20 wolves to comes. There had to be over a thousand wolves running at him.
Spinning on his paw he ran after Anilda, Zack, and Aleu.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Hitze had caught up with them. He now ran behind them. The Red rock pack on their tails.
He could easily catch up or even run ahead of them them but if the red rocks were going to get one of them, he was making sure it was him. It'd give them some more time to reach the Safe Haven which was less then 10 feet away now.
His affection toward anilda had grown so strong so fast, he was already willing to die to save her.
He no longer cared that nothing could ever happen between them. All he cared about now was getting her to safety.
The gate was only feet away now. Though it felt like miles.
They reached it.
With the RR pack behind them, Zack, Anilda and her pup went threw but Hitze collided with the invisible wall.
Stumbling back, hitze felt a sting in his nose. HE COULDN'T GET THREW THE GATES!
Anilda looked back. Hitze had vanished suddenly. She saw him looking at them threw the invisible wall.
Putting two and two together, she realized what was happening. Hitze wasn't a descendent of Aniu!
"NO!" Anilda cried, seeing the RR pack approach behind him.
Anilda ran back towards the gate but zack and another wolf held her back. She strruggled desperatly to get past them. Tears ran down her cheeks.
As anilda watched in horror the pack reached hitze, a N-C sank his teeth into his side, and ripped the flesh away.
Pain filled hitze's eyes. His ribs were exposed.
Anilda struggled harder to get free of the wolves holding her back.
"I can save him! Please! Let me go!" Anilda pleaded.
Just before the RR pack overwhelmed hitze he said a final ferewell to anilda.
Raising his paws and putting them agains the invisible wall he opened his mouth and said "I love you, anilda" then a tear, glistening in the sunlight, fell down his cheek.
A sickening riping and crunching came after Hitze had been over taken by the N-Controllers.
"NO! HITZE!" Anilda screamed
Anilda's vision blurred and she blacked out.

Adam had now gained the strength to walk. With assistance of course, but he felt glad that, despite the pain it had caused him, his leg would heal properly. His shoulder still pained him but it was kept numb.
He had been resting when a familiar voice echoed in the sky.
His ears perked up and he lifted his head up.
"Anilda?" Adam asked, breathless.
Several others were looking as well.
Adam stood up and swayed. Almost falling but he paid no attention. Mari caught him and balanced him back on his paws.
Adam walked as fast as he possibly could. If that was. . .
"Adam, where are you going?"
"Anilda" was all adam bothered to say.
"The yell came again. Tearfull and heart broken.
Speeding up, adam was convinced it was anilda.
Mali heard it too this time. The voice was familiar. But she was dead! It couldn't be Anilda.

"Move it!" Adam commanded as they reached a huddle of wolves surrounding something. Having near-alpha power over the pack, they obeyed him without out arguement.
The jaws of both Mali and Adam dropped. Anilda lay on the ground. She looked so different from the last time they had seen her. Her once bulging belly from her pregnancy now lay flat. "The pup. . ' Adam studered.
Then he heard a whimper. A high pitched whimper. Looking around he spotted it. The gray pup lay on the ground whimpering. She had obviously rolled from her mother when anilda had fallen.
"Adam, I think that's your. . daughter" Mali said breathless.
They went over to the pup. Adam licked the pup, who continued her whimpering. Picking the pup up gently he carried her back to anilda and set the pup in anilda's arms.
Looking to Mali he swallowed then studdered "im. . im a daddy"

Anilda opened her eyes. She could feel a wolf curled up with her. His head rested on her shoulder. Confused at first, she remembered where she was. Her daughter lay asleep in her arms. Knowing who lay with her she grew happy. Excited.
"Anilda?"
"Adam?"
"yes. Its me"
"Am i awake or is this a dream?"
"If this is a dream, i never want to wake up"
Moving carefully so as not to wake the pup, Anilda rolled over and pressed her nose to Adams.
"You're never going to believe what ive been threw these past few days" Anilda grinned.
"You're never going to believe what ive been threw these past few days" Adam chuckled.
"You two finally up?" A female voice spoke.
"Aleu? You're awake too?" Adam asked starring up at her.
"You know you have been asleep for 3 days?" Aleu asked sitting down.
"3 days!" Anilda exclaimed. "What happened about out daughter?"
"She stayed with you. We were beginning to think you'd still be asleep when she opens her eyes"
"Did we?" Adam asked hopefully.
"No. She should though anyday now"
"Say, anilda, whats her name?" Adam asked just then.
"I haven't named her yet. Though ive been thinking about one name"
"oh? and what name would that be?" Adam asked watching her.
"Paix"
"I thought so" Adam chuckled.

Though sad about the loss of her new friend, Hitze, Anilda knew he was probably happy now. He'd achieved his goal of getting her to safety.
Shaking slightly as she fought back the tears she knew this moment would not have been possible had it not been for Hitze. "Thank you Hitze" She whispered to herself.
A single tear fell from her cheek. Taking a shaky deep breath, she turned around.
But just then a blindingly bright light shown from the ground. Squinting her eyes she tried to see what was going on. After a moment she could make out the dark figure of a wolf.
Her breathing quickened as she recognized that form.
Once the light finally dimmed and she saw who she was looking at, anilda gasped. This couldn't be possible.
"Anilda" the wolf said, a smile on his face.
"H-Hitze. . .how?" Anilda stammered.
He didn't reply. He simply stepped toward her and nuzzled her. "ive returned"
The next 10 minutes were filled with tears from anilda. Hitze didn't shed a single tear. Once the tears stopped flowing down anilda's cheeks Hitze licked the tears from her cheeks.
Anilda gazed at the wolf before her. "Hitze, im lucky to have a friend like you"
The look Hitze had after this confused Anilda. It was one of happiness, but also sorrow. "Anilda, i must leave you now"
"What? Why? You don't have to go" Anilda gasped.
"I know that, But i have only one true home. I have to return"
"Will i ever see you again?"
Hitze frowned at her. "Not directly"
Anilda bowed her head.
"But promise me this one thing, Anilda. Everynight, look at the moon. Look at the moon and know, you're looking at the same moon i am" Hitze said, putting his paw to her shoulder.
Anilda nodded and wrapped her arms around Hitze's neck.
"No more tears Anilda" Hitze said licking her cheek, then he vanished out of Anilda's arms. She looked around for him.
She felt ready to cry again but she had heard Hitze's last message and fought back the tears.
Venturing out of the cave, Anilda looked up at the moon. Glowing down apon her.
To her surprise, as she watched the moon, she saw something appear. Something, obviously the work of Hitze.
There on the moon, words erupted large enough to be read.
She read it over twice then smiled.
"Goodbye, Hitze"

I will always love you Anilda

END