There was so much Aleu wanted to do that she thought she’d never be able to do it all, no matter how long she stayed. She had agreed to go on a hunt, had helped take care of Erana’s puppies, and had gone with a scout on a new trail through the hills. That afternoon, she was with Nava, listening to a story about a battle between two wolf packs, when a cry rang out. “Shamydu, Nava! Shamydu!” The wolf pack erupted into a state of general fear, running to either side of the elder rock. Nava’s face was like ice. “What is it, Nava?” Aleu asked, becoming afraid herself. Nava glared. “Niju.”

Over the snowbanks several yards in front of the elder rock, a wolf appeared. He was large and strong looking, with black and pale white fur. His face had the appearance of one who is so used to being wicked that it becomes their entire life. That face wasn’t wearing a hostile look, but the evil in his heart showed very clearly through it. He walked slowly and purposefully towards the rock, and behind him, several more wolves appeared. They were also strong looking; Aleu guessed them to be the pack’s warriors. Then, behind them, came the rest of the pack, and Aleu’s fear was transformed to horror at the grisly sight. Almost the entire pack looked partly starved, weak, and very frightened. There were families with puppies that limped along, pain in their eyes. Some members had unusual mutilations, like a mangled ear on one wolf. They were dirty and dishelved, looking like they were tired and in want of food. Throughout them were scattered more warriors to keep order. Niju himself walked a few more paces and stopped in front of the rock. “Hello, Nava,” he said. Nava growled. “Get out of here, Niju. You are not welcome.” Niju laughed. “You amuse me, Nava.” “I am serious. Leave and stop harassing us.” Niju shook his head. “Come now, I have only the usual demands: food for my pack, and that we be allowed to stay for the night.” “No! You always take far more food than you need, and the caribou are becoming scarcer. You know that! It happens every year. We cannot spare food, and I will not tolerate your presence here.” Niju narrowed his eyes at Nava. “I am not leaving without something,” he threatened. He turned around, hearing a noise. Aleu had walked up to a mother wolf in Niju’s pack that had two puppies standing at her feet. They were quivering with fear. “I won’t hurt you,” Aleu said quietly as she reached out a paw and took one of the puppies’ front paw, looking at it. It had looked strange, and now Aleu saw why. Two of the toes had been ripped off. The wounds looked like they were not completely healed yet. The puppy whimpered, and its mother choked out a single sob. Aleu looked up to see a tear running down her cheek. “What could have done that?” Aleu thought, aghast. It was now that she noticed Niju was staring at her…and not in a pleasant way. “I could just take her with me,” he said musingly. “I forbid it!” Nava shouted. “Leave here, Niju! Take your evil some other place! Go, now!” Niju walked up to the rock, staring into Nava’s eyes. The elder held his ground. “I said go,” Nava growled slowly. Niju stared at him a little longer, and then turned away. “Very well. I will go…for now. But I will be back. Come,” he called to his pack. They turned and followed him away over the snowdrifts, and Nava closed his eyes, taking deep breaths to calm down.

The pack began thanking him for driving Niju off, but Aleu could see that he had barely kept the other wolf at bay. “Who was that, Nava?” she asked. “Niju is a monster,” Nava said. “He goes about robbing other packs. He is a bully, but he is also not a coward. He treats death and pain very lightly, and he has a taste for blood.” “How often does he come?” “Only once in a while, but when he does come, he takes a tremendous amount of food, and his warriors practically terrorize our pack.” “Does anyone stand up to him besides you?” “It is difficult to stand up to Niju. He is in his prime, is strong, and knows combat well. I am one of the few elders for whom he shows some respect.” “Why?” “Because he wants this pack. He is hungry for power, and he wants to take all of us away with him. He has informed me of this, and offered to become the pack elder several times, but I have refused. In the meantime, do not be troubled by him. I do not think he will really be back until a while from now.” Nava sighed, lying down on the rock to rest. Aleu went off and talked to Erana, returning around fifteen minutes later. She was about to speak to Nava, but another call came. “Gaantro! Gaantro!” “What does that mean?” Aleu asked. “Gaantro means ‘stranger’,” said Nava, sitting up. “A stranger has approached the pack and been captured. They will bring him or her to me.” Two hulking wolves were escorting the stranger toward the rock, and said stranger was speaking to them calmly, but urgently. “Nycas! Nycas! Ruo luken vir nycas!” “He is saying, ‘Peace! Peace! I come with peace!’” Aleu didn’t really hear Nava say that, because she had recognized the voice. “Dad?!?” she shouted, running forward. “Let him go,” Nava called. The wolves backed off, leaving Balto and Aleu facing each other. “Hi,” she said quietly. “Hi,” he replied, with a similar tone. “Um…” she said, “Nava, this is my father, Balto. Dad, this is Nava, the pack’s elder.” Balto bowed to Nava. “Cuurom-euo.” The elder nodded in return. “I know Aleu is part wolf. Did she inherit that from you?” “Yes. I’m half dog, half wolf.” “I see. About our language, how do you know it?” “My wolf blood came from my mother. I lived with her, and I learned a lot of the language.” “Well, I have already extended the invitation to stay to your daughter. I would like to offer it to you as well.” “Thank you,” Balto said. The pack went about their business, and father and daughter were left together.

“Aleu,” Balto said, “can I talk to you alone?” “Sure, I guess.” They walked off, away from any others. “So, um…” Aleu said, “what are you thinking right now?” Balto shook his head. “I don’t really know what to think, Aleu. I know that my daughter, whom I’ve given my life to, and loved more than anything in the world, ran away from home and left a note that basically said she did it because she didn’t like me as a dad.” “Oh, Dad, I didn’t mean it like that.” Balto’s lip quivered, and he didn’t answer. She could tell he was angry and horribly hurt, but trying not to show it. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know how else to say what was in my head.” “Well, how come you didn’t talk to me about it instead of running away and leaving a note you didn’t mean?” “It was…I couldn’t talk to you.” “Why not?!? I’m your dad, for Pete’s sake.” “You didn’t understand me.” “What does that mean?” “You didn’t get what I was going through. You never did. I know, you tried to be all ‘I know exactly how you feel’ and all that, but it wasn’t true.” “Aleu, I’ve been through everything you have when I was a kid. How can you say I don’t understand?” “You just…you don’t, okay?” “If you won’t let me, then how can I?” “It’s…I can’t explain it.” “If you can’t even explain it, how on earth can you use it as an excuse to run away from home? You darn well broke my heart, Aleu, and your mom’s.” Tears ran down Balto’s cheeks. “Do you care about that?” he asked. “Well, do you? You’ve made me walk miles and miles from Nome and the rest of your family; please answer me.” Aleu began sobbing quietly, and Balto walked over to her slowly and gave her a hug. “Hey, Aleu…I’m sorry, honey. I’m sorry I got angry. It’s just, I was worried sick about you, and I’ve been hurting a lot. Forgive me, darling?” She nodded tearfully. “I forgive you, Dad. Truth is, I feel downright rotten, too. I mean, that note…it really must have hurt, but please believe me, I didn’t know how else to speak my mind. Um…I don’t know if this will make a difference, but I’ve missed you and Mom and my brothers and sister a lot.” “It does make a difference. I’m glad you didn’t just decide to forget about us.” They held each other. “I’m sorry, Dad,” Aleu said. “Do you want to talk about what I wrote? It might make things better.” “No…not now, honey.” “Um…okay.” “I love you, Aleu.” “I love you too, Dad.” Balto kissed her cheek. “I’m glad I found you. I was really worried.” “I know you love me, but all the same, how come you worry about me so much?” “Because the world isn’t kind to those who are different; I know that for certain. And I just…don’t want you hurt. I’m trying to protect you. That’s what I was always doing. You’re out in the world now, and I’m not sure if you’re ready for it.” “But if I’m kept from the world my whole life, how will I ever be ready for it?” Balto was silenced by this, and try as he might to come up with a response, he couldn’t. Nava walked up to them. “What is the matter? A parted father and daughter are not happy to see each other? Why?” Aleu now explained to Nava in greater detail why she had run away. The elder listened quietly, speaking when Aleu was finished. “I feel sorry for both of you. Have you discussed this before?” “No, not until a minute ago.” “Well…I do not know how much help I can offer. Perhaps this is not the best time. Balto, I am sure you are hungry?” “Yes, Elder.” “Please, call me Nava. Would you like to join us for dinner?” “Oh, yes, thank you. I’ve been away from wolves for so long…it’ll be interesting to experience that life again.” “I imagine. Come, brother. You were last with wolves as a puppy? It has been far too long for you.”

The wolves’ dinner was completely informal, almost like a casual party. Balto and Aleu felt totally comfortable, speaking easily with members of the pack. The caribou meat was fresh and very tasty, and there was plenty to go around. Aleu introduced Balto to Camyar, and Balto was grateful to the wolf for helping his daughter. After the meal, the pack sang an exiting song, with Nava leading. Balto and Aleu chose not to have it translated; they thought it sounded better as it was. They did ask Nava what the song was about after it was done, and he told them it was a tribute to a heroic warrior from a bygone era. Aleu was made incredibly happy by it all; she had wanted all her life to find out what it was like to live as a wolf, and suddenly, the dream was real. It was fabulous to finally feel like she belonged somewhere. Balto wasn’t awed like Aleu, but he had a wonderful time connecting to his wolf side again. When it was over, Nava inquired as to Balto’s childhood with the wolves. “You say your mother was the wolf, Balto?” “Yes. She had to sneak away from the pack to see my dad.” “What was her name?” “Aniu.” Nava perked up. “Did you say ‘Aniu’?” “Yeah…why?” “I…I remember someone with that name. I was quite young at the time…she was a white wolf?” “Yes! Did you know her?” “I did, personally. I remember seeing you and your siblings when you were a day old.” Nava sighed. “One day…the pack was walking through a blizzard, and when we came through…she was gone, and so were you. We all assumed you were dead. Your father…came out to the pack a few weeks later, wondering where your mother was. We told him what had happened, and he went away after grieving for days. We did not know what came of him until a short time after he left, when we found him dead somewhere near the resting place of our pack.” “Can you describe the place?” “It was a pool of water with bushes and trees around it.” “That was where Aniu took us when we went to see him. I guess he died of a broken heart.” Balto sighed, shaking his head. “I wish he’d known I was alive. A goose named Boris found me in the storm and saved me, and took me in, raising me like I was his own. Did any of my brothers and sisters make it?” “I doubt it. We looked for them, but we didn’t find them. A scout found Aniu’s body mostly buried in the snow.” “Well…” Balto said, “earlier today…I saw her.” “Saw her? You mean…” “She came to help me, as an angel.” Nava smiled. “I have heard such stories before. All the years since she died she must have been watching over you.” Balto nodded, his eyes moist. “I thought so too, after I saw her.” He sighed again. “Anyway, would you mind telling me some things about the pack, and your lives? I feel like I need to be close to my wolf side.” “I do not blame you. Come, and I will reveal our world.”

After nightfall, when Balto and Nava were still talking, Aleu sat on a tall snowbank, looking up at the crystal-clear night sky. Spotting her there, Camyar went up the bank, sitting down next to her. “Hello,” he said. “Hi,” she replied. “How are you?” “I am well. It is a beautiful night, yes?” “Oh, yeah. It is always this nice?” “No, not always.” He cautiously extended a paw, drawing it over her shoulder. “There is not always one so beautiful here to make it truly complete.” Aleu looked at him, feeling her breath shaking, and she turned toward him. He ran his paws over her, feeling the shape of her shoulders and neck. “Exquisite…” he said softly. Aleu was breathing hard, and closed her eyes at the fabulous passion pouring through her heart, making her insides feel as if they were leaping.

Balto was walking and speaking with Nava when he saw Aleu and Camyar on the snowbank. He stopped and looked at them. Not one to overreact or act in haste, he decided to ask Nava what was happening. “What is Camyar doing with Aleu?” he asked. Nava looked up at the two. “Ah! Do not worry, Balto. You see, Camyar seems to have feelings for Aleu and wants to see if she shares them. Right now, he is showing her how he feels.” “So this is just…courtship, basically?” “Correct. Let us watch.”

Aleu took a trembling breath as Camyar gently caressed her. “I truly do love your eyes,” he whispered. She opened them, letting him stare into them, and he leaned in slowly. “If I may,” he whispered, touching his lips to hers. He waited a few moments to see how she would respond. For a few seconds, she had her eyes half closed, panting heavily. She opened them all the way and smiled, sighing. Camyar smiled as well, and kissed her again. He continued to do so, kissing her neck, face, and chest, every kiss a gentle, soft press of his lips on her body. After a few moments of this, Aleu leaned forward and kissed him back.

“Oh,” Nava said. “The female does not usually kiss back in these engagements. Aleu does not know that, of course. Let us see what Camyar does.”

Camyar was very pleased, a little startled, but not overmuch. He sat for a few seconds, looking at Aleu, and they began caressing each other and kissing over and over. As Balto watched, a smile came over his face, to Nava’s surprise. “Most fathers do not like this,” he said. “You are taking it rather well.” “Well, thing is,” Balto said, “I probably wouldn’t like this too much, but…that’s exactly like how her mother and I kissed on one of our dates. I remember how wonderful it felt. I’m happy for Aleu.” He kept watching them. “So what happens now?” he asked. “When they finish this,” Nava said, “Camyar will give her one last kiss, a very serious one. If she returns it with the same fire, that will tell him she feels something for him as well, and they will spend the night together. Mind you, nothing will happen that will go any further than what you have already seen; it is merely the male’s way of thanking the female.” Balto nodded and turned back to look at them.

Camyar and Aleu moved apart, both gasping for breath. “Camyar…this is amazing…” Aleu whispered. “Yes, it is…” he replied. He held her to him, his nose an inch from hers, then moved forward that inch, slowly, giving Aleu a deep and passionate kiss. She put her paws around him and pressed back, putting all of her feelings into it. She wanted to show him, and he accepted it. After several seconds, they moved apart, smiling. “Thank you, Aleu,” Camyar said. “Thank you, Camyar,” Aleu said.

“So she does favor him,” said Nava. “He is lucky; you have a beautiful and pleasant girl.” Balto smiled, watching Camyar speak softly to Aleu.

“Come,” said Camyar. “It is my pleasure to share my nest with you tonight.” Aleu was startled. “Um…you don’t want to, ah…” “Not to mate. I am merely sharing my nest with you. It is out of gratitude, you see. You have offered me a glimpse into how your heart sees mine, and I must repay that. Now that we have shown each other our feelings, we must allow them to grow. Spending this time with each other will forge a connection between our hearts. It is a wonderful thing.” Aleu smiled. “In that case, I’d love to. Thank you.” “As I said, it is my pleasure.” They went off to Camyar’s nest, which sat on the side of one of the many rocky hills around. The nests around it were all empty. “Where is everyone?” Aleu asked. “They are guarding the meat,” Camyar replied. He smiled at Aleu. “We are fortunate. It is not often that a couple like us can be so alone during the nest sharing.” She giggled, and they lay down in the nest, cuddling up to each other. For several minutes, they held and kissed each other, then talked until they fell asleep.

Balto was somewhat nervous about the nest sharing, and Nava reassured him. “I can understand that this worries you,” said the elder. “They shall not mate. Camyar will respect your daughter.” “Good. I know I can trust Aleu as far as this goes; she’s been asked before and said no.” “A good girl. The nest sharing is a happy thing. You were right in being happy for Aleu, instead of suspicious. For all you have claimed you have done wrong with her, you actually sound like quite a good father.” “Well, whenever I try to think that, I always get hit with the thought that I made her run away, so I must be lousy.” “I think it is different than that, Balto. You must speak to Aleu about what was in the note she left you. I know it is painful, but it is the only solution.” Balto sighed. “You’re probably right. I’ll wait till tomorrow. She has better things to think about tonight. Do you think she’s really falling in love with him?” “I do not doubt it.” “Wow…I’ve thought about this ever since she was born. What kind of guy she would meet and all that…now it’s happening. It feels like it was just yesterday that I named her. Wow. Is Camyar a good wolf, Nava? Is Aleu making a smart decision?” Nava smiled. “Camyar is one of the most good-hearted wolves in this pack, and he is intelligent and strong. Aleu is well in her choice.” Balto nodded. “I always hoped she would choose a decent man. I’m going to sleep, okay?” “Certainly. Goodnight, brother.” Balto went to the nest he had been given and lay down, his mind full of thought. He couldn’t believe it. Aleu had been out in the world for only a few days, and already she was seriously falling in love. Talk about a big step. He smiled, truly feeling happy for her, and shut his eyes.

The next day, late in the afternoon, Aleu went off exploring. The land was simply beautiful around where the pack was staying. There were mountains visible all around, covered with snow, like the icy landscape below them. Trees dotted the lower parts of the mountains, reaching up towards the rocky slopes below the snow line. Aleu eventually made her way to one of these slopes, actually a steep hill of bedrock. On the side of it, she saw a small cave, and entered. It was rather dark; even the light from the entrance didn’t fill it because of a small turn after the opening. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she saw that the cave was unoccupied. She had at first thought that a dark lump in the center of the cave was someone, but when her eyes adjusted, she saw that it was merely a rock with a curious shape on the top. She walked further in, most of the way to the back wall.

Light flooded the cave, and Aleu gasped with surprise and whirled around. The light was coming from a formation of ice crystals on top of the rock, which had lit up from the inside, casting beams of light all around. She smelled something, like…burning wood. She slowly approached the crystals, wondering what was happening. A shadow moved…inside the crystals. Aleu was confused until she saw that there was actually an opening, a small one, in the side of the formation. As she watched, a little head poked out, followed by a body. “Kamiisei,” it said. It was a male mouse, soft brown, with dark, glossy eyes that had both wisdom and energy. He smiled at her, and she spoke. “Can you speak this language?” “I can,” he replied. “Um…who are you?” Aleu asked. “I am Muru,” he said. His voice was light and vibrant. “May I ask who you are?” “My name is Aleu. I was just looking around. I’m staying with Nava’s pack.” “Ah, Nava. A kind wolf, indeed. He is very wise, but he still comes to me sometimes to learn something now and then. Do you know that ‘Nava’ means ‘gentle’ in Itera Ada? The name fits him very, very well. It was changed to ‘Navaim’, a noun that means ‘peace’, for Itera Rada, but Nava as a name lives on. Most names are Itera Ada words.” Aleu nodded and looked at the crystals. “How did you make those light up?” she asked. “Ah,” Muru said, seeming pleased with himself. “Look inside.” Aleu approached, and Muru went inside the crystals, speaking as Aleu approached. “I have discovered the secret of making a human craft.” Aleu looked in, and she saw Muru sitting there, next to… “Fire,” she said, astonished. “You can make fire?” “Yes. I learned. I watched humans doing it, and I memorized what they did.” He put small twigs on the fire rapidly; because the size of the fuel was small, the fire burned it up quickly. “My home is inside the rock,” he said. Aleu saw a small hole in the top of the rock, under the crystals, and she assumed it was partly hollow. Muru continued. “It is perfectly disguised. It is useful for me to be able to simply disappear into a place where no one will possibly know where I am. When someone comes to the cave that I can tell has ill intentions, I merely slip silently into the rock, and they cannot find me. They may enter the cave, oh yes, but they do not know where I have gone.” “Why would someone come for you?” “I am known for knowledge and wisdom, and many come to learn from me…but not all of them want what I know for what is good. Hence, I only tell the secret of my home to those I trust. You shall keep that secret, I hope?” “Definitely.” Muru walked back out onto the stone.

“So, you are staying with Nava’s pack? Where do you live?” “In Nome. It’s a town a long way from here.” “I see. And you have run away from home because of your father, and he has come after you, trying to bring you home.” Aleu was shocked. “How…how do you know that?” “Your father was in this cave when he came looking for you.” “He was? When?” “The day before he arrived at Nava’s pack.” “Wait…how could you have known he was my father?” “His and your emotions. I could feel a terrible pain in his soul, and I asked him why it was there. He was not aware of my presence, for it was dark, and he was half asleep, so he probably did not think anything of my voice. He said that he had made his daughter run away from home, and that he was grieving because of it. The pain you feel for doing that and his pain have a connection that I can sense; the nuances of them fit together like puzzle pieces.” “You sense emotions?” “I have learned the emotional empathy skills of the wolf elders, an ability which allows me to do just that. I am sure you already know that they use poetry and song to influence the emotions of others, even to an extent that physical effects occur?” “Yes. Nava made me fall asleep by saying one sentence when we first met.” “The elders have learned how to change the currents of emotion with speech and behavior. They can heal sadness, ease anger, evoke passion, and other such things. They pass a small amount of the ability on to their packs, allowing them to do these things with poems and songs, but with much smaller effect. It is a complicated skill, but the empathy is far easier than the influence.” “Well, it isn’t tough for me to know that he hurts. I can tell in his eyes and voice.” “Do you blame your father for the fact that you ran away?” “I blame him for doing the things he did that ended up making me. There was probably some other way out, but…I had spent too long living like that. I had to do something that was fast, and running away was the best option in those terms.” “Living like what? What did your father do that made you leave?” “It was just…he treated me like a little kid! He wouldn’t let me go out to places I wanted, he wouldn’t let me be friends with dogs I wanted, he wouldn’t let me do things I wanted…it drove me crazy! I was so sick of being fondled and stuff, while my brothers and sister could do so much that they wanted. I almost hated it! And I almost…almost hated him, too.” Muru shook his head. “Hating a father is an ill thing for a daughter to do, especially when you have one as loving as Balto. In case you wonder how I know your fathers’ name, Nava came to see me yesterday. Anyway, your father cares a great deal for you. But you know, he can see your ill thoughts about him in your eyes. I know because even I can see them, and I was able to tell how much he connects with you in his heart. I assure you now that every time he sees that, it breaks his heart again.” Aleu felt very guilty, and looked down. Muru spoke again. “Do you know what your father wants to see in your eyes? He wants to see how much you love him. And I can tell you do, just standing here.” Aleu nodded slowly. “I…I wish I hadn’t hurt him so much, Muru.” “I do not think you really meant it. Now then, he is somewhat hesitant to speak with you about what has gone on between you two. Be patient with him. He has a heavier burden than you can imagine. Good day, Aleu.” He extinguished the fire and went inside the rock. Aleu left the cave, hoping that somehow the things Muru had said would help her make up with Balto.

As the wolves were gathering for dinner, Aleu called Balto aside. “I’m going to need to talk with you after dinner, Dad.” Balto nodded. “Fine, honey, but what do you want to talk about?” “It’s…about why I ran away from home.” Balto became reluctant immediately, shying away from the very idea. “I, um…Aleu…” “Dad, it’s really important that we talk about it. We need to understand each other, and that won’t happen if we keep avoiding the subject.” She told him about Muru, and about how the mouse knew about their troubles without even talking about it with them. Balto was silent. Aleu pressed him again. “Isn’t that what you want? I want to understand you.” “I want the same, Aleu, but…I don’t know, it’s…” He sighed. “Okay, we’ll talk about it after dinner.” Aleu smiled. “I know it’s for the best, Dad.” She ran off to find Camyar, and Balto headed for the area where the wolves were congregating for dinner.

As Aleu searched for Camyar, she became aware of a loud, frantic call. It seemed to be coming from one of the sentries… Aleu sprinted toward the sound, wondering if she could possibly do something to help if there was a problem. Suddenly, she heard a rumbling sound, like several sets of running feet, but she barely had time to react; the unconscious body of the sentry that had been calling fell across a snowdrift, and behind him came well over a dozen Shamydu warriors, with Niju in the lead. Aleu turned to run immediately, having seen Niju stare directly at her as he came into sight. She heard him shout a command to his warriors, and they broke away from his lead, heading for the Shavenya pack. Aleu heard footsteps behind her, coming closer and closer, and she turned around to see Niju’s wicked face just behind. She turned to face forward again, screaming for help, but it was no use. Niju lunged and tackled her, and she went down with a yelp, tumbling through the snow.

“You are coming with me, young one.”

When the Shamydu warriors arrived at the pack, they didn’t start attacking anyone, but merely distracted the Shavenya warriors, holding them at bay. Balto was glad to see that there wasn’t a mass murder going on, but he wanted to find Aleu and make sure he could protect her. Her cry for help struck him violently, even over all the noise, and he looked around, trying to see where exactly she was. It was to no avail; there were far too many wolves running and fighting for him to determine who was who. The Shamydu warriors began to move away in unison, thwarting any attempts of the Shavenya to reach Aleu, and finally broke and ran when Niju had a little distance, leaving the Shavenya warriors disrupted and bewildered at the onslaught that had left as quickly as it came.

The Shamydu warriors moved quickly through the hills of snow, Niju leading them and forcing Aleu along, threatening her with his teeth. He didn’t want to lose his new prize; that was the reason for their speed. He looked over his shoulder, hearing calls and shouts, and laughed as Aleu looked back as well. “Do not hope, little girl,” he said. “They will not pursue us because they know they cannot outfight the amount of warriors I brought. You are mine!” They kept running, and fear and despair filled Aleu’s heart.

The entire pack had seen the raid, and everyone was running around in a near panic, trying to find loved ones and make sure they were safe. Nava went calmly but quickly through the crowd, looking to see who had found every member of their family. Soon, he came to Balto, who was breathing hard and moving about like he was going to begin walking in every direction at once, fear and anger making it hard for him to think. “Balto!” Nava called, coming to him. “They took her!” Balto said desperately. “They kidnapped Aleu!” “Balto, calm down. I know you love Aleu and fear for her, but for her sake, calm down. Your mind must be clear.” Balto nodded and took a deep breath. “Nava…what are we going to do?” “I must make certain that no one else is gone. In the meantime, try to think of some ideas. Whatever we do, it must be done quickly.” Only a few minutes passed before everyone except Aleu was accounted for. Nava gathered Balto and several warriors, hoping to make some sort of plan.

It took about an hour of the same pace for the group to reach Niju’s pack. Aleu realized that Niju was smart; keeping the rest of the pack a far distance away would make them far harder to find. When they finally did reach it, Aleu looked around, mortified again by the condition of the ordinary wolves in the pack. Niju offered Aleu a place to lie down on the edge of a circle of dirt-covered ground, and she accepted it. “It shall only be a short time,” Niju said, “until the evening meal. I would recommend that you stay here until then. I would also advise you to cooperate with me. Since there is no hope of your rescue, I have no worries about harming you in some way, so do make the mistake of thinking you are so valuable as to be out of danger of pain.” He walked off and spoke with a few of his warriors, and Aleu stayed there as Niju had suggested. A few wolves from the pack spoke to her, albeit tentatively. It was a small glimmer of happiness for Aleu to be able to talk with someone in relative comfort. She didn’t inquire as to how any of their lives were, assuming that Niju would become angry with them if they complained. Before long, wolves began congregating there and lying down, waiting for the hunters to bring around the meat. Aleu expected that the ordinary members of the pack would eat separately, but she was wrong; the whole pack gathered in the same place. Niju and the warriors were served first, followed by the rest, although he ordered them to serve Aleu along with him. She was being forced to lie at his side. He hadn’t made any advances on her or even given a look to suggest it, something that surprised her greatly, considering the look he had given her when he first saw her. He did, however, vehemently reprimand anyone else that tried to do so. “Maybe he just kidnapped me for pride,” she thought. As she ate, she tried not to listen to the conversation Niju was having with some of the warriors, something about an idea of butchering a small pack. A commotion started at the other end of the circle the wolves were gathered in, and Aleu looked to see what was happening. A puppy had been making a great deal of noise, speaking loudly and bouncing around, and his mother was desperately trying to make him stop, terrible fear in her face. “What’s wrong with her?” Aleu thought. Niju looked away from his conversation and his meal, giving the puppy an annoyed look. “I like to eat without that sort of noise,” he said slowly. “Be quiet.” Aleu was unnerved by his voice, but it was nothing in comparison to the puppy’s mother. She seemed to nearly be panicking, and she begged the puppy to be quiet as Niju went back to speaking. After a few moments, the defiant child shouted again. Niju stopped talking and turned his head slowly toward the puppy, spitting the meat out of his mouth. Chills ran down Aleu’s spine at seeing the look on his face, a frightening amalgam of anger and cold. He stood up, and the rest of the pack silenced, causing the puppy to look at him. Crossing the circle with purposeful, patient steps, he stood in front of the child, a slight smile on his face. “Well, little boy, you seem to have some sort of problem. There is something you need to…understand.” He spoke in a slightly hushed voice, deliberately condescending, but with a horrid, icy undertone. The mother held the puppy. “Oh, please,” she whispered. “Niju, I beg you, please, no…” “Not one more word out of your mouth,” he growled, and she quieted, tears running down her cheeks as she stifled sobs. He continued speaking calmly to the puppy. “When I eat, I like there to be no noise aside from the conversation. You were making noise, and I told you not to, but you continued. That annoys me.” He leaned down toward the puppy. “And what you must understand is that in a wolf pack, it is not always such a terrible thing to annoy the elder…” His voice built to a furious growl. “But it is when it is I!”

He lunged forward and clamped the puppy’s paw in his mouth, and the boy yelled as Niju’s teeth pierced him. Niju growled, twisting his head slightly, and the puppy screamed. Aleu watched in horror as Niju ripped one of the child’s toes off. He dragged the puppy across the ground with one paw, stopping right in front of his face. “NOW BE QUIET!” he roared. The puppy was crying and nearly screaming, but he was able to reduce his noises to agonized whimpers and nodded. Niju smiled after a few seconds. “Alright. Back to the meal, everyone.” He returned to his place and lay down as Aleu stared at the puppy. “Mama!” he cried softly. “Mama!” Blood was all over him, and now all over his mother, who was holding him and licking his paw, crying hard. He was sobbing with pain, but Niju acted as if nothing at all was wrong. Aleu was trying not to vomit. She now knew where the strange mutilations had come from. “Why…why did you do that?” she whispered. Niju looked at her, totally placid. “I handle the discipline sometimes.” “You tore…his toe off.” Niju shrugged, speaking matter-of-factly. “He annoyed me.” “But…did you need to be so harsh?” “Yes. I just taught that puppy a valuable lesson in obedience. The consequence he suffered is permanent; he shall remember it forever. Come now, do not be so mortified. Enjoy the meat; it is good.” Aleu was able to eat something when she didn’t look at the puppy, who finally stopped bleeding. His mother took him away from the circle, for which Aleu was grateful. After dinner was over, Aleu wandered about the pack, making a point of avoiding Niju’s warriors. Too disturbed by the condition of most of the pack to speak to them, she quickly became bored. Not knowing what else to do, she decided to find Niju, who had disappeared after the dinner. She wandered around the edges of the pack’s resting area until she heard noises coming from a large depression in the ground. She went to it and looked in. Niju was standing inside, seeming to be battling invisible foes all around him. He spoke in wolf language as he moved about. “Camyar skytola…” Niju whirled and bit at the air, turning to his right after he finished. Aleu watched him, curious. “Azelaa miinsha tronhe…” He spun around, bit the air, then spun back and bit again. He stopped when he saw Aleu. “Mido-gor freyam os preiska.” “What are you doing?” Aleu asked. “I am practicing the combat arts of the ancient Shirae wolf pack. They were not evil, but they were universally feared for their fighting skills. Their arts teach you to train your mind and body for battle. The words are for the mind. They emotionally influence you as you fight, like the way elders can influence the emotions of others.” He sat down, resting.

“Have you ever heard of a wolf named Shadow?” Niju asked. Aleu shook her head. Niju nodded, continuing. “That is not surprising, if you are not a wolf. Shadow was a wolf who lived a very long time ago. Some say he was the most evil wolf in history. He learned the Shirae combat arts well. Very well. Eventually, he was all but invincible in battle, and he amassed a pack of his own, prowling the tundra and seeking out other packs. It always proceeded the same way. He would come and steal food, allowing his pack to rest, killing if he had to, but before they left…he would go through the pack alone.” “Why?” “Shadow had one thing in the entire world he sought besides power. I do not think I need to tell you what.” Aleu shivered, and Niju continued. “Always, one unlucky girl would be selected by him. He would find the one he fancied most. It did not matter who she was, whether or not she had a mate or a mate-to-be, or anything. He would simply take her away, the night would pass, and he would come back…alone.” Aleu was trembling slightly, and tried to keep it from being seen. Niju went on. “He always dispatched them. Always. He would do as he liked, then kill them without a thought. Many husbands and families wept because of him. They would hold their poor wife, or daughter, or sister, or mother, and weep as they said they loved her…because they knew she would not return.” “Why…why did he kill them?” “He had no use for them, and he enjoyed inflicting pain. Besides, he would have considered it an insult to have them share that with anyone else after he did.” “Did something…happen to him?” Niju smiled. “Shadow made merely a single mistake. It was his first…and last.” “What was it?” “There was a girl, from some ordinary pack. Her brother was killed by Shadow himself. She was very young and beautiful…Shadow liked that the best, when they were very young. He said that when they were very young, they…felt fresher.” Niju chuckled, and Aleu’s face contorted with revulsion. “That’s horrible!” she choked. Niju smiled. “He was a horrible wolf. Anyway, she made her presence known to him, hiding its deliberate nature, and pretended to be afraid, but curious as to how it would be. Shadow also liked it when they were more afraid. She fed his ego, telling him that it was almost an honor to be added to his list of passion conquests. He was seduced very quickly, and took her the first night, as usual. He had a marvelous time, they say. It was so good that, for the first time, he did not kill the one he had taken. He let the girl live, and lulled her to sleep with song. He went to sleep himself…and that was his mistake. The girl was not really asleep. When he drifted off, she got up silently…and clamped her teeth onto his throat. He was dead before he could even awake, and the next morning, she threw herself off a cliff. Before she died, she told her best friend, the wolf she trusted more than any other, that she had ended Shadow’s life, but had been forced to let herself be defiled, and that she wanted to be with her brother, whom she had avenged. If you think about it, Shadow practically committed suicide. He made an exception, knowing the danger, and it killed him instantly.” Aleu sat there, trying to fight down her nausea and fear. “Is that not a nice, happy little tale?” Niju said, leering. “Ah, well. Thankfully, I do not share Shadow’s weakness. I doubt I shall ever be as powerful as he, but I am learning.” He closed his eyes, sighing. “Yes, I do not share Shadow’s weakness, but…” He opened his eyes. “That does not mean I do not have desire of my own.” He smiled wickedly, and Aleu’s blood ran cold. “You are a very beautiful girl, Aleu.” “Please, no…” she said, standing and backing up a step. Niju took one step forward. She took another step back, terrible fear rising inside her. Niju took another step forward. “Oh, please, Niju, no!” Aleu cried. She took another step back.

Niju took two steps forward.

“No! NOOO!” Aleu screamed, stumbling backwards and falling in the snow. She saw the look in his eyes. It pierced into her heart, filling her with terror, and she couldn’t look away. There was no escape. She was at his mercy. And she knew what he was going to do to her. He jumped on her and went to lick her neck, and gasping with fear, she closed her eyes tightly…

“CAY YAS! CAY YAS!”

Aleu tried to remember whom the voice belonged to that had just uttered the Itera Ada battle cry. Niju looked up, growling, then looked back down at Aleu again. “You wait…” he began, but then, a snowdrift burst, and Nava flew through the air, smashing Niju to the ground. “Lay there, scum,” he growled. “Aleu, come. Your father and I will get you out of here.” Niju began to stand, but by the time he succeeded, the other two had faded into Nava’s pack, which was retreating, their surprise attack having worked; they had rescued Aleu.

An hour and a half later, Aleu rested under the spreading branches of a pine tree, shaken up and disturbed by what she had seen and heard…and what had almost happened to her. She heard someone approach, and turned her head. It was her father, with a look of compassion on his face. “Hey, sky eyes,” he said softly. Hearing her pet name soothed her like always, but not much this time. Tears threatened to spill, and she tried to keep herself together. “Dad…um…” He walked over and lay down, hugging her comfortingly. “Oh, Dad…” she moaned, “he told me this…and he…he tried to…he was going to…” She burst into heavy sobs, and Balto rocked her back and forth, humming a gentle song and licking her head and face. Aleu’s tears eventually stopped, and she went to sleep. Balto got up and left quietly, not wanting to wake her. He found Nava sitting on a hill. “I am happy that your daughter is alright,” said the elder. “There is no telling what Niju would have done. He is simply cruel; he deliberately told Aleu that story before he tried to mate.” Balto shook his head. “I have a score to settle with him now. No one does that sort of thing to my wife or daughters and walks away without scars.” “Balto, my friend, do not entertain such thoughts. Going after Niju would be suicide, to put it as bluntly as possible. He will suffer retribution in time, whether at your teeth or not.” Balto nodded, sighing. “I know how it makes you feel,” said Nava. “I have not been in your exact position, but I have seen it happen to enough wolves to understand. Go and sleep now, brother. Worry not about Aleu. I shall sing the song of Meiydres over her, and she will be protected in her dreams, finding safety and comfort there.” Balto smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Nava.” “It is nothing. Sleep now. Nycas luken-eous xasama.” Balto nodded and lay down over on the snow with the rest of the pack. He heard the song coming from where Aleu was sleeping. As a child, he had heard the story of Meiydres. She was an elder, one who had possessed an uncanny ability to heal the hearts and souls of others. The song she composed was used widely as a lullaby and a song of comfort, and was said to drive away dark feelings and fear. Aniu had sung it to him when he was a puppy, and hearing it now brought back wonderful memories of his mother.

“Daama shikeiy saba-euo…malva tucrez yatma puo…
Morshra ec nar preisam teiy…nava fiir nohsam os ceiy…
Aam-ti-rii euo rya…gamranosha ec vy xa…
Feigr munam iisocii…nercru evneraz mha yii…

Nycas luken-eous xasama.”

The last line meant “peace come to your heart” in Itera, and had become a common phrase in that speech. Balto smiled, certain that Aleu would be safe in her sleep, but as the night progressed, he couldn’t wander into dreams of his own. He was kept awake by his mind, which bombarded him with thoughts of all that Aleu had been through since she ran away from home. He was worried sick by it all, everything that was happening to his daughter. She shouldn’t be here; she should be at home, in safety. All of this was dangerous, and Aleu wasn’t ready to handle… His mind slowly switched tracks at this point. The realization hit him that Aleu had already been handling it all, and quite well at that. As he realized this, he also thought that maybe he had been wrong to put himself between her and the world so much for so long. In any case, she was doing quite nicely so far, especially considering that the wolf world was ten times as harsh as Nome. He smiled and stood up, walking to the tree beneath which Aleu had fallen asleep. He sat down there, watching her for the longest time. “I’m really proud of you, Aleu,” he whispered. “Your dad loves you.” He kissed her on the cheek, tousling the fur on her head gently, and went back to bed.

Nava stared out over the water, troubled deeply. The blue expanse waited to be crossed. The ice was there, as always. But although it appeared the same, it was different. He was different. He had crossed the water with the pack many times, but that had been before, when he was young and strong. They looked to him still for strength, not knowing how little of it he had left. “Can I do it?” he wondered. “Can I lead them across again? I am old and tired. But I cannot let them down…oh, what am I going to do?” He began speaking a verse of elder poetry in an attempt to calm himself, but his strong voice turned to a broken, cracking moan rapidly. He lay down, tears leaking from his eyes, although his mouth didn’t utter a sound. Part of being an elder was being alone. No one could help you with problems; you had to find solutions on your own. Normally, no matter how hard it was, this did not affect Nava, but now… He loved the pack, and he loved being like a shepherd to them, but he was an old shepherd, and if he couldn’t take care of them anymore…then he couldn’t be their elder anymore. A sob escaped his throat, followed by more. As he plunged into despair, he felt a soft touch on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Aleu. “What’s wrong, Nava?” she asked. He regained his composure, heartened by seeing a friendly face. “It is a problem that I am trapped in.” Aleu lay down next to Nava. “What is it?” she asked, and he replied.

“You recall that I told Niju the caribou are becoming scarcer?” “Yes.” “Every year, when it becomes colder in the winter, the caribou travel by the land to the other side of this stretch of ocean, where there is more grass to eat. So us wolves will not starve, we must follow them, but if we go by land, we will not get as much food as they do, and many will become weak and either not be able to keep up with the pack or die of hunger. Hence, we must cross the water here, going over the ice, so we can arrive there just before the large herds. My trouble is that crossing on the ice is very difficult because it is new ice, broken up, and not thick and strong yet. The elder must lead the pack over, making sure they are on safe routes and avoiding dangerous ones, keeping the pack together and unafraid, assuring that no one is left behind or drowns, and many other such things. I have done it before, for many years, but now that I am old, I fear I no longer possess the strength that is required. It takes a great deal of physical exertion, you see. I have courage enough, of that I am certain…but I have great doubts about my strength. That is what is the matter. I love this pack, Aleu. I do not think you know how much I love them. I only wish to do for them what an elder is expected to do. I do not want to fail them, but since I am the elder, it is a problem only I can deal with, and I feel alone, with no one to help me…” He sighed shakily, his emotions again manifesting themselves on the outside. Aleu nuzzled him comfortingly. “From what I’ve seen, I think you’re a really great elder.” Nava smiled a little. “I am glad you think that way, but you have not lived the life of a wolf. It is harsh, and the elder must be able to do what is necessary for the pack, because the pack needs a leader who can take proper care of them. I believe this pack at least sees me as a friend, and an acceptable guide, and that is what I am so afraid of not living up to. But as I said, I am glad you feel I am a good elder.” He nuzzled her back, and she smiled. “Perhaps you should go to sleep, sister,” he said. “Only if I know you’ll be alright,” Aleu replied. Nava smiled. “I will now; I feel better. I shall bed down for the night as well.” They both returned to their nests, but Aleu stayed awake, thinking about what Nava had told her. He was in such a terrible position…he was kind as could be, and truly knew how to lead a pack with fairness and honor, but it was a cold natural truth that eventually, age would finally come between him and his duties. Aleu couldn’t imagine the pack merely discarding Nava like an old shoe when that day came, but she knew that regardless of what happened, he would probably be the one who suffered most. “I hope that day is long in coming,” she thought, before drifting off.

The translation of the song of Meiydres:

Ever I wish to adore you...by night watch the stars with me...
Heartfelt is this song you hear...gently soothing pains and tears...
All at once you feel...a dream is given life...
Sleep silent long...awaken happy at dawn...

Peace come to your heart.

Other translations:

Shamydu: Wolf Pack of the Clouds

Shirae: Wolf Pack of the Moon

Kamiisei: Greetings

Note: I have no knowledge of linguistics whatsoever, in case the translations seem strange!