After the race both teams took a brake and a few dogs walked around town."It was a good race today you guys did me proud" said Max's musher to his team.Max's musher was slim and had blond hair and green eyes with a soft voice that the whole team loved. At the moment he was rubbing Max's head. "your really impressive all of you but you boy, your a real leader I knew I made the right choice at making you the lead dog.Now go and play and relax but remember to be home a sunsetfor training." The team wagged thier tails in agreement and left the house, off looking for little down time. "Hey Max where you headed off to?" said Raz the reddish alaskan husky that was on his team."Nowhere special just to the old boat down at the end of town to check up on Boris you know how he gets after a week of not seeing any dogs he knows." "heheheh yea I know that goose is crazy, hey want some company?" "Sure the more the marrier."

When they got to the boat the young goose was frantic and running mad "Boris what's wrong?" Asked Max "Nothing is being wrong why you asume something is being wrong why?!" "because your running around like a chicken with his head cut of" Said Raz."Iam not chicken Iam goose and I tell you nothing is wrong" Boris was standing hunched over and eyes searching the room now "If nothing's wrong Boris then why are you shaking?" "because....ok tell you truth I saw a wolf and was lookin for good place to hide up wind of her" "Her? Hold on lil buddy how do you know it's a girl?" asked Max."I don't know I'm guessing why your wanting to be knowing this anyway humm Max?" "Just interested" "This wouldn't have anything to do with your lil' soft spot to wolves would it Max" asked Raz.Max rolled his eyes.while it was true he did admire wolves for their impressive speed and strangth along with other qualites, he never in his life said anything about having a "soft spot" for them.Infact as far as he was concerened wolves were just dogs natrully inhanched distant cosins. "Raz I never said i hadda soft spot for wolves i just said that their impressive.And anyway what do you care about it?" "sorry didn't mean to hit a nerve. anyway we should head back into town shouldn't we? i mean you know the team has away of getting into troble when you and i aren't there." "Yea ok, later Boris, try to stay out of troble while we're not here" said Max as he and Raz started walking out the door "wait what do i do till you return?" "Play with Pie, you know the polar bear and his friend Mye you their always up for playing, don't worry about the wolf Boris she was probly just headed back to her pack." "ok Max Bye" "Later, i'll see you next time, there is no bye not with me."

The two dogs made it just in time to see that King was messing with one of his team mates. it was the malamute,Beauti.King was trying hopelessly to get a date with Beauti and three of King's team mates were watching him from a distance and giggling at his falier.Max and Raz being the strongest members of the team stepped in jumping inbetween beauti and king,"Is there a problem here guys?" Max said with a growl. "Problem? I see no problem here except that your getting in the way of me and this young lady."said King in a half cocky half calm tone,Max looked at Beauti and she put her ears down, "Beauti are you alright or do you need me to take care of him?" Beauti looked at Max and answered,"Nah Maxie you and Raz can go I've got this under control." Max looked at Raz who scratched his shoulder with his hind leg and pointed tward the three dogs watching the scene.Max sat and looked at them for a moment, after a while he said,"I think that it'd be best if we stood by King's crew and made sure that you were safe, after all I want no team mate of mine to be ganged up on,"Beauti looked at where Raz and Max were looking and shook her head, "Long as you let me take care of this sitch myself you two can stay, now, I want you to swear that you won't butt in unless your sure I'm in trouble ok?" "Fine I promise and Raz promises aswell right boy?" "Yea yea ok..." Raz said,looking at a female husky whos mixure of deep red and snow white fur blew softly in the breez.Max started walking and tugged on Raz's collar "Hey, let's go and talk to thoese three I've gotta bad feeling about them"Max said as the two of them started to walk,"Yea whatever you say Maxie, you know I'm always right behind you, whatever you do boss 100% always,behind"Raz said still staring at the female,Max looked over his shoulder and saw King and Beauti talk and joke "Ouch!"Screamed Raz as he tripped over some barrles and landed face first in the snow.Max flinched and grabbed Raz's collar with his teeth,helping his buddy up he laughed alittle and said,"Where are you Raz, I mean what are you looking at?It can't be so important that it made you miss thoese barrels." Raz shook the snow off himself and said,"But....but....she is important."    "And who exactly is she?"    "Only the most beautiful dog in all of Nome,Alaska and best of all her name is Jamie" Max laughed again and looked at where Raz was staring."Ok I admit she is pretty,if you think you stand a chance at geting her then go for it,guess I'll just have to face theses three all alone with no backup."   "Thanks Max your a real friend," Saying this Raz ran off twards the female. "Humf, some friend." Max muttered to himself, "Yea tell me about it," Answered one of the huskies that was watching King and Beauti flirt.Max walked up to them and sat down, "and which one of said that?" Asked Max.The tallest of the three who was a dirty colored blond with sky blue eyes wagged his tail and answered, "That'd be me."  "And your name would be?" Asked Max "It would be Aslan and these are my friends Comrad, the husky and Chow,the chow."  "Very orginal name Chow," Max said and Chow shruged and answered, "The musher wanted a simple name for me I guess," Comrad scratched his ear and said,"You no your friend probly won't have a chance with that girl he's going after."  "Oh and why would you think that?"  "Because," started Aslan, "All of us have tried even King and We've all failed so far."  "Well Aslan,maybe my buddy will have something that you guys don't have that she's looking for."  "To true you guys you know how females can be when it comes to picking mates their picky and we've gotta work hard if we want them to like us." Said Chow.All four of the dogs shook their heads in aggrement and watched Beauti and King. "I wish we could hear what's going on over there," Max said in a half whimper.Suddenly Aslan and Chow looked at Comrad and bit Max's shoulder,"What?" he said half growling, "Comrad can go check it out he's so small no one will notice him right comrad?" Asked Aslan.Comrad's ears fell to the side and he answered,"well yea,"   "Comrad this is an emergency we need to know if we're loosing our buddy to a girl or not." Said Aslan, "Fine, I'll do it." Comrad answered and started walking out of the shadows that hid them and ran at top speed to the ally in which the two dogs were near. "......you know King your nothing like what I thought you'd be," Said Beauti.King licked his lips and looked her in the eyes, "Oh and how did you think I really was?" King asked,"Well honestly I thought you were consided and a jerk only putting yourself before everyone eles and not caring who got in your way so long as you could win a race it didn't matter." Both King and Comrad gasped at this and,realizing his mistake Comrad tried to hide but, Beauti had heard him."Hey Iam not all thoese things you thought ask my team mates and they'll tell you I play nice." King said putting his head,tail and ears down as though he were about to bow down to her.Beauti sat down,put her head down and looked him in the eyes,"Then prove it to me and take me on a date,"  "Seriosly Beauti?Your not just kidding around because I really like you and I'd love to go out with you."   "King,this isn't a joke,I'd love to go out with you just pick the time and the place,"   "Ok Beuti we can meet up here later at sundown and go from there!" King said with his tail wagging frantic andhis ears perked up and happy as the rest of his body."I can't at sundown,I have to train with my team they need me but a little later like when the moon is high in the sky I'll meet you ok?"   "Sure Beauti whatever's better for you I'm just happy you'll go out with me!" King said yapping like a little dog and twirling like a puppy. Beauti laughed and licked his cheek and headed back twards her house,glancing at Max as she did.

After she left Comrad,Aslan,Chow and Max walked up to King to see what happened with he and Beauti. "We're going out tonight 'round the time the moon is high over town," Said King, "So where will you to go boss?" Asked Asaln.King sat down and thought a secound,"I'm not sure As, I mean not many places to take a girl that she'll like."   "King I know Beauti better then you do and I can tell ya she loves walks so take her for a long moonlit walk and have a nice bowl of slop for dinner," Said Max. "Thanks for the idea Maxie didn't think I'd get such a good reaction from you being that when ya first saw me you looked as though you wanted top rip my throat out." "Sorry about that King but you know how overportective Iam when it comes to my team,we're like family,"   "Yea I know Max,I'm the same with mine.I mean our mushers and our team is the only family we've got after all,"   "Yea King your right." Max said and heard Raz calling him from far away, "I'd better go you guys,I'll talk to ya later and good luck tonight King,"   "I won't need luck Max if I stick to your plan that is." King said as Max raced off to see what his friend wanted.

Max ran up to Raz,wagging his tail, Raz panted with exciment to tell his friend what happened."Maxie!I think she likes me Maxie! She...she...she called me cute and said that maybe we could hangout sometime. Gosh Maxie I'm sooo lucky! She's the most wounderful female in Nome!!"Raz said as he pranced and pounced around in the snow.Max put a paw on his friend's shoulder to try and make him calm down, "Raz, your such a puppy when it comes to love did you know that?" Raz scratched his ear and sat down with his tail wagging out of control, "Iam not a puppy Maxie! I just....umm really like this girl ya know.I mean I've had my eyes on her for about a year now and untill this day I've not been able to get a single word in to her because of my shyness."   "This, dear Raz I know and have always known about you and Iam glad that you were finillay able to take a dive and go after something you really wanted but, if you do not settle down and she spots you in this hyperactive state then she may think your to young to hang with her and move on to someone eles leaving you to wallo for who knows how long."   "Thank you Max.You have a point but, considering that your one of the every few dogs around here that is not paired up with anyone yoy have no right handing out advice." Max growled at this insult from his dearest friend he expected this from every other dog then his best friend since before they were sled dogs and even before they were trained as sled dogs.The every thought of it made the hair on his back raise and answer in a harsh tone,"You my friend are tredding on thin ice with thoses words,"   "I'm only telling you the truth Maxie,I mean half the team has mates except for you, what's your problem anyway?I mean you seem like you'd be a good mate to any female so why won't you mate with any of the females around here?" Raz asked in a surprizingly stern tone. Max let off the growling a little and answered in a slightly less hostile tone,"It's no concern of yours what I do with my love life Raz,stay out of it," Raz opened his mouth to speak but just as he did, their musher blew the dog whistle long and low telling them and all the rest of his sled dog team to come home.Being loyle to their musher,Raz and Max put all arguments aside and whent to see what their musher wanted.

When they got home, their musher was hinching up the dogs to the sled and giving them their treats and petting them on their heads. "Max,Raz glade you could join us,come boys so that I can get you on the sled,give you your treats and we can get going,"said their musher as he hooked Raz up to the sled behind Max. Once they were all hooked up to the sled their musher told them he had an important message for them,"Guys this next up coming race is to deside who should capture the wolf that's been seen around here.It's said she's killed a few live stock and you know what that means,she'll be sent to her death once captured.Now if we get a hold of her then we can cage her,hook her to the sled,drag the cage far enough away from the town,set her free, and hope that she won't wounder back here," One of the dogs barked with excitment at this and their musher continued,"Now guys we have to train harder then ever to win this race ok? Someones life is at risk here so mush!!" And with that they were off.

A few weeks past and both King and beauti and Raz and Jane had all gotten even closer to each other.Both males fallowed their females every where they whent whenever they could.Mean while,the team also trained harder then ever and Max felt the team could win this race with ease but, non the less he made sure to foces all his energy on growing stronger.The day before the race however, he was relaxing in the water with Boris by his side. "Boris why haven't you ever gone back to your flock?"Max asked as a wave hit his side.Boris ruffled his feathers and sat down in the water,"Because, Maxie...when I was being younger living in my homeland of Russia I was...how you say...not fitting in there and was getting picked on left and right by others in flock,"   "So you left?"   "Yes Maxie and was to be flying free for long time till Iam to find this boat and call it now my home"   "sounds kinda sad Boris,I'm so sorry for you,"   "heh don't be Max it's ok, Iam...how you say,happy here. I've made peace with self here. Iam belonging here and here only understand?" "yea Boris I do," The two of them laid in the waves and watched the sunset in silence for a long time untill Max's musher called to him."I'm sorry Boris I've gotta go," Max said shaking the water off from his body. As he began to started for home Max felt something rest lightly on his shoulder, he turned and gave Boris a look that asked, "whats wrong?" Boris looked back with light in his eyes and said,  "Good luck in the race tomorrow Maxie,I'll be routing for you,"   "Thanks alot Boris I'll give it my all," Max answered with a wink just before he raced off for home.

The next day at the race,all the dogs were lined up and raved up all confident that their team would be the ones to get to hunt for the wolf. While others talked,Max's team stayed quiet and tryed staying still a waiting for the signal to go.This silence didn't last long when King's team troted up beside them."Perfect day for a race I'd say right Max?"asked King, "Why King your sounding a bit sneaky this morrning,what's gotten into you?"   "Nothing Max,I just wanna win this race and have the pleasure of catching that wolf maybe I'll impress Beauti if I do,"   "Firstly King, the honor of catching that wolf is going to my team and secoundly, you've got Beauti so why  try and impress her even more?"   "Couldn't help impressing her more and anyway its the pride in the matter," Max rolled his eyes at this comment even though he knew King had a point he wouldn't admit this to him."hey King good luck," Max said just as the flare sounded to start the race."You to M-umf!" King had tripped and fallen face first in the snow.Max laughed a this and sped up to catch the other runners.

Half way thru the race,Max's team wasn't quite in the lead yet but they were progressing at a good enouhg pace."Mush guys!Mush! You can do it just a few more miles to the next town!"Ordered their musher.The team pulled the sled so hard that the musher was almost knocked from it.They flew pasted the two teams that led the race.After a while Max spotted Anchorage and leaping,let out a loud and almost wolf-like howl that sent joy to the whole team they sped into town and across the finishline!

When the team made it back to town other dogs came to congradulate Max and the team and while Max appreciated the moment of limelight, truthfully he wanted to get some rest.For he knew that tomorrow his musher would give the order for them to find the wolf."Ladies,gentalment please! I'd love nothing eles to telling you about the race but if I my team and I don't rest, we won't get to tell you about how we found and caught the wolf," said Max to the group of dogs that were asking questions to them."Ahem,don't you mean if we catch the wolf?" whispered Beauti.Max looked at her and answered in the same tone as Beauti,"Don't tell then that,besides we've got Raz, that old boy must have some hound in him cause he can track you even if your 100feet deep in snow,trust me that wolf is ours," Beauti rolled her eyes,ducked her head down low and whent into the crowd,nipping the dogs that wouldn't let her pass.

Later that evening, Max found himself asleep in the boilerroom drooling heavily on an old bone when a gaint saint brenard whos' fur was starting to grey sat down next to him with a bone of his own in his mouth.As the dog started chewing on it,Max was startled awake by the fur on the back of the dog's tail."Oh!Oh Doc it's just you, what are you doing back so early?" The dog turned to Max and answered,"Things have been slow latly at least for me.I fear they'll retire me because this last time I've gotten lost again for the third time." Max yawned and stretched before he answered Doc,"Listen old buddy they wont retire you and even if they do is it really that bad?Imean you've been on the trail all this long old boy,if I were you I'd wanna rest pal,"   "You have a point but I love this job I have Max.Like you and your racing, it's mean against the elements ya know?" "That I do old friend and all to well," Doc sat heavy looking at his bone with Max at his side.The two of them were both thinking hard, Doc about his future and Max about the wolf.He woundered if it was right  to cage it when he knew that it'd return to a forain land after they let it go.He was no longer sure of this plan but he trusted his musher and thought that while the wolf was caged could he talk it into staying in its new land. "Hey Doc I should go the musher will be worried about me see ya later," Said Max as he headed for the door.Doc waved to his friend and laidback down to his bone.

When Max got home his musher had the team hooked up to the sled and a huge cage sat on it.Max walked up to Beauti and Raz and asked,"Whats going on?"   "What's it look like Max?"answered Beauti, "Yea the musher's takin us ta find that wolf right now," said Raz,"Has he lost it?We just came back from a tiring race running our hearts out and he wants us to go back out and find that wolf?!" Raz and Beauti shrugged. What could they do?They were only dogs and Max knew this but he wished he could try something.So, thinking quickly he walked up to the musher,"I was waiting for you boy were have you been?" asked his musher.Max wagged his tail to greet him and the musher started reaching for Max's collar but, Max ran a way from his musher's hand,"Now boy don't worry I'm just takin you to go get that wolf,"The musher said reaching for Max's collar once again.Max only ran farther."Stop playing Max we need to get thi wolf," He wants a wolf I'll give him one Max thought as he threw his head back,put his tail as stright as he could, shaped his mouth into an almost perfect circle, and howled a howl that sounded almost excatly like a wolf's.The sound made the whole team stand at attention and kind of frightened the musher."Max you'll stop that howling and come here now!"said the musher sturnly.Max growled in return,he wanted his team to get the night off and that seemed fair to him why the musher couldn't understand that he didn't know.The musher drew near and out of habbit,Max showed his teeth as a warrning and growled louder but, he'd never attack his musher it was forbiden and to disobay this rule ment exile from the team and his home.His master took a few more steps tward him and Max stepped back."What's the matter boy your a good dog,both of us know that,"said his musher.Max let his gaurd down and allowed his musher to come close to him and pet him on the head,"Good boy, I don't what was wrong with you but, I'm glad your okay now,"The musher said hooking Max to the sled,Max growled at this but prepared to run non-the-less. "I tried bying you guys sometime to rest did it work?"Max ask to his team, "Well I don't know about everyone elese but when you howled I was about ready to leave," Raz said and the whole team laughed."lets get going c'mon mush!"said the musher a with that the team was off.

They'd run untill they reached the woods, there the musher had ordered them to stop.Max, Beauti, and Raz looked up at the huge trees that stood before them covered in lushes green leaves."Well Max old boy think you,Beauti and Raz are ready ta take off?"Said the musher as he unlatched them from the sled.Max wagged his tail but was confused along with Raz and Beauti, "He couldn't mean for us to get that wolf could he?"asked Raz to no one in particular,"I hope he just wants us to track it,"Beauti said.Max just sniffed the air and ground for sighns of the wolf, with his ears alert, he thought that if he needed to track the wolf to redeem himself then thats what he would do.The musher put humain traps around the rest of the team,placeing meat in very trap and tieing the sled to a tree,he whistled to Raz,Beauti,and Max to come and sit next to him for a bit."Now guys if we're goin' ta catch that wolf I'm gonna need your help, your the three strongest dogs and you've got the strongest senses of smell I know so do me a favor and get me that wolf. Now heres a pice of meat from a deer I found I figure someone scared the wolf off while it was eattin lunch,now take deep sniffs and when you've got the sent,go after him,"The musher said putting the meat up to them.The three took long,deep,sniffs at the meat before running off into the forest after the sent.

"Feels like we've been out here for hours," complained Raz, "It's been like one hour Razzy so stop your whinning. Sooner we find this wolf sooner I can get back home to King,"Said Beauti,"Hey both of you shutup will you!Damn guys we're sapposed to be on the trail so that means we've gotta be quiet!!!!"Max snapped at them."Whats eatin you?"Raz asked,Max never answered just growled and sniffed the crisp air once more for signs of the wolf, he found non and it was frusterating him."Max hows it comming find it yet?"asked the musher,but Max didn't answer, he kept his mind on the task at hand.

Max lefted his head and nose to the moon and howled deep and throaty as he could,impersonating another wolf looking for company.When he was done he listened closly for a return howl and, at first there was non,but a few minutes later the four of them heard a loud and clear howl that sounded very close.An instant later he spotted a wolf's shape racing thru the forest.While the musher set up the traps,with Raz and Beauti right behind him,Max ran at top speed howling along with the wolf trying to draw it out,"Guys circule it and try to draw it near the traps,"commanded Max.The others did as he asked while Max did his best to stay a few steps behind it.Their goal was to herd the wolf into the cage that was set up then figure out what to do with it after they had it."Hey!you!wolf!slow down will ya,I mean I'm not as young as I used to be," Said Raz to the wolf as he caught up to one of its sides.On the other side of the wolf,Beauti ran and bit at it's heels trying to get it to turn."Hey Raz lay off it will ya I'm workin here!"She growled to Raz who decreased in speed.Mean while Max ran far from the group and was waiting to pounce on the wolf,catching it off gaurd and trying his best to fight it off and back it into a trap."Ok Maxie you can do this,it's only one 192-200pound Arctic wolf and your about 155....you've got a chance,not a every good chance but....a chance non the less,"Max said to himself as the wolf drew nearer.Max could smell it's sent strong,it was the smell of the wild and it smelled good in his nose.Oddly enough though,this whole experience  had awaken apart of him that had long since left his body,it was....the act of hunting that was brought back out to him as he was sure it did to the others inspite of the fact that they were hunting their own canine kind."Max now!" Beauti yelled.Hearing her, Max raced at the wolf hoping they weren't to far from the cage.Keeping his head down and running at top speed,Max dove for the wolf knocking it to its side,into the cage and just missing Beauti.

The morrning after they'd caught the wolf,word had spred throughout the town amgonst both animals and people.Fortunutly,the three dogs that caught the wolf were all asleep on their musher's three couches.Raz and Max were snoring heavily when King and Jane walked in thru the doggy door and licked their mates on the cheek.Beauti kicked slightly whith her hind and front paw -that hung from the couch- and hit King on the nose while Raz stretched,got up,off the couch, and shook off."Ouch Beauti,damn you hit hard girl,"Said King.Raz laughed and licked Jane on the nose,"Hey baby what's on the agenda for today?" asked Raz after a while,"Well....I was hopin we could go to the beach and you can tell me how the three of you caught that wolf,"She answered in a sweet voice. "That sounds good maybe Beauti and I should join you....if she'd ever get up,"Said King,grabbing onto Beauti's collar and tugging it enough just enough to wake her up,"I'm up baby, I'm,I been up just bein lazy," She said, jumping off the couch,"but we should wake Max so that he'll know where we'll be,"   "What is he our father now?We're old enough to go out by ourselves.Let that sleeping dog lie while the rest of us party,"Said Raz.Beauti took a last glance at Max before leaving with the others and sighed,"This doesn't feel right,"She said to herself and left behind the rest of the group.

It was mid-afternoon when Max heard a lonesome howl that reined thru the house,waking him up.The sound caused Max to wake up and fall onto the floor.When he go up,he headed for the yard, where the now caged wolf was, and laid a few feet from it.There,the two steared at each other in silence for what seemed like hours before talking,"Umm....so what's your name wolf?" But the wolf said nothing, only stood there studdying Max as Max studied it. "I'm called Max,I'm a male alaskan husky.Actully I'm a race dog,"Max said proudly.The wolf did not seem impressed, for it blinked it's small eyes and sat with its head down slightly.Max circled the cage to get a better look at the fullness of the wolf.It was was fully white,it's claws hung out long and hit the ground, and it's size was shown to be twice as big as any dog of nome.There was a red stain of blood on the side where Max had hit it. "Listen my friend Iam sorry for causing injury to you,I guess I got carried away," The wolf turned it's back to Max and at last spoke,"All I want is my freedom dog. Why did you have to capture me?"Asked the wolf."It was my musher's will dear one,"   "And should your "musher" have told you to kill yourself would you have?"   "I dought that I would succed in doing so but I can't say that I might try,"   "Slave!" Growled the wolf as it sat up and looked at Max."Iam no slave,Iam free dear sibbling,"Max growled back "If you were truly free,you'd have not needed to ask my name nor gender,nor would I be in this prison,"   "White wolf I run my own sled team and do as I wish,Iam free,"   "Doing man's work does not make you free dear brother,it makes you a slave to man's will," Max was a bit angry hearing this but even he had to admit there was some truth to what the wolf was saying,"Brother dog,Iam female,my name Aniu but you should know that without my telling you,as all free animals do know,"   "Iam a free animal damn it! I've just not been to the forest without the company of my musher and sled team yet," "Answer me,dog why is this?It certainly isn't fear if you are willing to take on a wolf with only three dogs in your clan," "I....I,do not wish to venture off alone, I....I fear for other animals in the forest that might take my life,"   "That's a lie and you know it brother,there is no fear of the forest in you heart only fear of what will become of you if you ever should turn on your musher.Should you run with me brother,that would not be your worries,no rope or leash will keep you.Only us, free wild forever,"   "Aniu my place is hear with family,besides your locked up how will you run?"   "With your help I will be free brother.I see the urge of the wild in your eyes if you'd just let it come out," Before Max could comment on that, the musher called for him,"I must go sister but do not worry I will be back," Max said running back into the house,Aniu only shook her head and laid back down.

Max barked and wagged his tail when he saw his owner at the front door."Hey Max old boy,I was just going to feed that wolf but I wanted you to go out for like an hour, some people are coming that wanna see the wolf and you but I've gotta clean so, go play outside till your called ok?" Max barked and at once left with the musher calling after him,"Remember don't venture in the woods Max!" Hearing this Max thought of Aniu's words before he left.

"....Boris what if Aniu's right I mean what if Iam just a slave to the musher?"Max said looking back at the town on the edge of the boat."Maxie this wolf she knows only the land which is forest not joy of humans," Boris said as he mopped the boat,"I don't know Boris she sounded like she knew what she was talkin 'bout" Boris smiled at Max,"Listen to me Max the wild isn't all she seems,she is being dangerous foe,"   "Then how come it's all I ever think about?" Max said mainly to himself,stearing tward his backyard.Boris walked up next to Max and looked where his friend focesed, "Maybe wild is not all you are thinking of huh?" Max let his eyes meet Boris's for a moment then set back on his yard,"She's not my type Boris," Max answered after a moment of silence. "Your head is saying no but your everything eles is saying yes," Max rolled his eyes,"Look Boris I needa go,musher will be calling me soon and I should really be there,"   "Fine,go,is not my fult you'd hide your feelings," Max growled when Boris said that right as he was leaving.

Just as he reached the house,the musher stepped out to call Max back home. "Ready boy?The guests should be hear any minute,"Said the musher.Max wagged his tail and sat at his musher's side.Soon the guests where there,it was a chubby lady dressed in violet clothing,a long skinny man dressed in carmel and dark brown colored clothing,and their dogs looked just like them,walked up behind them."Hello Max we look forward in seeing the wolf you've caputered," said the male brown dog,"Yea I heard you fought it off yourself is that true?"Asked the small female viloet dog.Max never said anything just, shook his head as they entered the house and into the backyard."As you can see the wolf is quiet calm or at least it appears to be at the moment." Said the musher, "Does it do anything besides sleep?"Asked the chubby women,"Yes weres that savage behavior?" Asked the skinny man."If thats all your interested in is seeing that half of it then your missing out on the best of the creature. Unfortunutly I can not judge the people who are paying to see this animal.Max go to work buddy,get it up,show em your teeth boy and prepare for the kill," Max looked at his owner who pointed his fingure at Aniu and Max looked her  who looked at him with tired eyes.Max hesatated and so his musher kicked him which he hated and Max growled loud, showing his teeth,"Now,go at her boy now!" his musher ordered,Max moved tward Aniu's cage.Once there he whispered to her,"I'm sorry sister," and attacked her cage wrattling it causing Aniu to defend herself, she growled and snapped and scratched,opening wounds both old and making new ones with her teeth and claws and Max doing the same to her.They each fought their hardest untill the cage flipped over,falling on Max knocking him out.

When he awoke,Max was in his dog house and was in lots of pain.His many atemps to get to his feet failed and he had know knoledge nor memory of how many hours or days had past since the attack.All he knew was that his body required rest for the time being so,he sighed and tryed hard to pay no attention to his pain but sleep and only that.Just as he was about to fall off to sleep,he heard footsteps from outside but, because he was in so much pain,he didn't even try to warn them off as the sound got closer."Maxie," Called a voice which made Max's ears perk up,"Who is that?"He asked in a half brave sounding voice,"It's us Max,Beauti,Raz,Jane,King,Aslan,Comrand, and Chow, we've come to see how your doing,"   "How I'm doing?I got beat up by a caged wolf and then she fell on me how do you think I feel?"   "Sorry damn you dont have to bite my head off," said Beauti."I'm sorry it's just-you guys know wounded animals.Can you tell me something?Hows the wolf doing and how long have I been here,"   "The wolf's fine and you've been in there about a day and a half," Said Raz,"You gave us a scare Maxie, we...we thought you were a goner for sure thoese first few hours.You were panting like crazy and howling and wouldn't keep still!Hell you almost bit the musher twice!" Said Raz.Max couldn't help but laugh at the thought of bitting the one person who'd made him feel at home,the one who'd given him a place to call home."Where's Boris?" Max asked suddenly,"Boris is talking with the wolf to make sure it's alright," Answered King,"Oh she won't like that one bit," Max said laughing,"She?You mean the wolf? how do you know it's a female Max?" Asked Aslan,"I've talked with her not long before the accident actully,she's a very interesting creature,"Answered Max, shyly.The others whispered to themselves for a minute and after a while Comrad said,"Max we should go and let you rest.We'll talk to when your feeling strong enough to walk,"  With that, the group left Max alone with his thoughts.

After a week of resting, Stories and updates from Boris,Max was feeling well enough to walk around.The first place he whent, when he left his small wooden house was to Aniu,for she was his only thought durring that entire week.He desided he'd entered her presentse with respect.By putting his ears down and carring his tail low,keeping his eyes to the ground he spoke low and clear,"Ahem....Aniu,dear sister I wish to appologize to you for my actions earlier in the week but you have to understand that-"   "Silence!" Aniu said,cutting him off,"I do not wish to hear your excuses for attacking your own kind!For I already know the reason and I do not like it!Now brother do you see!You are that human's slave!You do his bidding when he should be doing yours!"   "Aniu this is not true I say we must help each other.Man and canine were ment to live in harmony,"   "If that were true then I would not have been attacked!I saw your eyes,you did not wish to attack me and you did not even go after me untill that human gave the word and kicked you!What harmony do see in that?!"   "Alright I admit that some human's can be overwhelming of the things they ask of us but this is a sacrafice many of us are willing to make in order to make our friends happy,"   "You know nothing of sacerifice brother!Only submition which is no way to lead your life.You are a hunter brother, you are a predtor but you live your life as though you are prey.What canine from the wild do you know of that has a goose for a friend?Geese are prey, they are our food we are not to talk to them nor are we to interact with them unless we are preparing to feed off them," "Aniu,sister you cannot see the same pleasure that I see when interacting with humans,they rub you and give you food and play with you as though they are your own kind,"   "All theses things brother,does your human do them for you?"   "What?" "You hear me,does your human play with you,rub you,feed you?"   "He feeds me and rubs my head when ever I do good,but what does that have to do with anything?"   "I just wanted you to stop and think, doesn't he only feed you so that he may have a strong worker?And rubbing you on the head,doesn't he only do that because he would like you to do what ever you did right again?" Hearing this,made Max sit down and really take a few moments to think.Aniu desided to break the silence,"You see brother? The humans use you to get what they need!These races you spreak of so freely, I've witnessed humans recive money for your hard work and you dogs get nothing in return," Max nodded his head and, with his nose still faced twards the ground he looked Aniu in the eyes "I....I had no idea this happened but,I don't know if I care sister I've been raised with humans my entire life.I mean it's not like you can get rid of three years of that,"   "Brother if you were to run with me,I could teach you how to be free and then you'd care that humans only use our brotheren for slaves and thoses three long years of being with humans will mean nothing after one week with me," Max felt his world tarring slowly since the moment he and Aniu had encountered each other.He lefted his head and looked at the stars which were sparkling brightly in the sky and Max felt they were becoming something different,good,frighting and exciting all at once,even the air felt as though it were changing.He felt a new rush of fear but it was a good kind of fear the kind that made his sprit fly and that brought back a full moon to a cloudless sky.Seeing this,Aniu lefted her head,made her mouth into a perfect circle and howled long and loud.Hearing this, Max felt a sudden strong urge to join in,and so,lefting a paw along with his head,Aniu and Max howled loudly and strong as they could for what seemed like forever. "For someone whos claims to be free,you howl as though you are a caged animal," Aniu said with a smile and a laugh. Max laughed at that remark and said with a smile,"You know Aniu I think that's the first time I've seen you smile or heard you laugh," Aniu was caught off gard by this remark and so she tried to clear her throat to get rid of the smile on her face but Max could see that she was still there,"It's a beautiful night isn't it Aniu?" "Yes I sapposed it is," "To bad your locked up," "Yea I know," Max moved close to the cage and observed the latch cearfully,"Aniu what if I said that I could get you out of that cage?" "I'd be in your dept forever but, how would this benefit you?" "An animal,dear sister,should never be caged," "I would like you to come with me brother," "Aniu I like you but my musher needs me as well as my team," "Your team can join us if you like," "They wouldn't like the wild.Hell they get scared when feild mice run around them in the spring," Max said laughing,Aniu laid down and there was an akward yet calming silence for a long while. "Do you really think dogs are slaves?" Max said breaking the silence,Anui sighed but didn't answer him with words,she just put her head on her paws and looked him deep in the eyes.Max felt a sudden rush, like she was looking thru him and not at him.He tried his best to shake the fact that he to wished to run free with her but he couldn't shake it,for he was did understand that his musher was using him for his slave and that made him want to run free. "Sister....forgive me but,I....I need to take a walk,I'll return I promise before nights end you will see me again," "Max!" Aniu called as Max headed twards the gate. He turned to look to see what she wanted but she never said anything,only looked at him and for the both of them, that was enough.

Max ran to the only animal who he could talk to,Boris who unfortnutly was asleep. "Boris....Boris....wake up buddy can we talk?"Max whispered "Yes we can talk question is,will we talk so late?The answer to that is being no!"Boris said with his eyes still closed and body under a baby blue sheet, "Boris....I....I think I'm gonna run away with Aniu," Hearing this made Boris's eyes pop open and him scramble to sit up,"You what!" He shouted,"I may run off with Anui," "Maxie you've not known this girl that long and you would like to run off with her to wild!" "Geesse Boris scream that louder I don't think Anchorage can hear you!" "Iam sorry but you are crazy if you would like to run off to wild with wolf.What if secound she is out of cage she kills you?" "I'd rather take take that chance then serve with people any more they treat us like we are their slaves and I tired of it Boris," "For whole life you've been excepting this now you are wishing it wasn't being like this?" "Boris the events of tonight have changed me alright I'm not sure how they did they just did,I'm....I gotta do this Boris," "So does this mean we've seen the last the great Max?" "Boris I'll come viset you know that and the whole town knows me so I can sneak around and get food for Aniu and I," Boris sighed,"What will your team do without you?" "They can cope without me I mean they were strong without me and they'll only get stronger," Boris opened his mouth to say something eles but was cut off by the sound of a mounful cry coming tward Max's house,"That's Aniu!She's in trouble! Boris I gotta go I'll talk later ok?" Boris shook his head and Max took off at top speed tward the sound.

When he reached home,Max's musher had cornered Aniu and had a wooden club in his hands prepared to hit her again. Without thinking,Max run up to his musher and bit his musher on the arm,causing him to drop the club. "Max what are you doing? Get at the wolf not me!" Screamed his musher. However, Max jumped infront of Aniu, protecting her as he beared his teeth at his owner. For the first time he had tasted blood and it excited him more then he thought it would. "Settle down boy, that wolf whent after me first I was only openin the cage to feed it and it whent for me,do your job and get at her not me!" The musher half pleaded,but Max didn't listen, he watched the club and his musher,knowing that he might come for it to beat Aniu again. "Aniu!Get up sister I have you safe,he'd dare not touch me!Now rise to your feet!" Max barked between growls.Aniu awoken and got up slow and weakly,she was beaten and bruised badly and Max could feel that as he watched his musher raise the club to strike Max and Aniu again. "Max old boy I'm not sure how,but that wolf's gottin to your head some how and caused you to attack the one person who cares for you the most. Now, I didn't want it to come with me having to deside weather you live or die but, you did that for yourself when you turned on me and bit the hand that feeds ya. Now I'm sorry boy but, your gonna have ta be put down and now!" Said his musher as he approched closer and brought the club down hard twards Max's head. Max was to quick for the club and bit his musher's hand. With a grip so tight around his hand,Max's musher could only scream with pain and once again realse the club,"Un!Ister!Un!" Max cried as he gripped tighter onto his musher's arm. "I musent leave it is not our way," She answered, "Ake the ub and un,I'll find  you atter ow go!!" Max pleaded. With that,Aniu put her ears down and ran away.( run! sister run!) (take the club and run i'll you latter now go!!)

After Aniu had left,Max let go of his musher's hand,grabbed the club and ran off twards Boris's boat. Once there he gave the club to Boris and told him to barry it where no one could find it.Being a loyle friend to Max,he did as he was told with no fuss and let Max set out to find Aniu, "At least let Beauti and Raz go with you," Said Boris before Max left. Max rolled his eyes and let out a sigh,"I've been exiled Iam not allowed to return with my team or to my human. If I do, I will be killed which is why I must do this alone," "On what grounds have you been exiled?" "I have bitten the hand which feeds me to protect my own," hearing this, made Boris's wings drop to the sides with a sigh, Boris said,"Well, then Max I guess this is good bye.Wish I could go with you but, the way that wolf talked to me last time, is lucky I didn't get eatin," Max laughed and then said his good byes to his friend.