Chapter 17

After the incident with Dagger, Akela wouldn't let Winter go out unless one of her brothers was with her. She was sad she couldn't see him again, and was even worse when he admitted his feelings for her. Weeks turned into months, the pups had grown into teenagers, and at that age they were now able to go hunt for themselves.

The south tundra alpha gave them some of his land, since they've been keeping themselves out of trouble with his pack. Winter acted like Dagger was gone, but deep down, in her heart she couldn't place what had happened that day they couldn't see each other no more.

He said he loved her, and she had to admit she loved him too. She didn't know where he would be now, or what he was like. Since they parted ways, perhaps his pack taught him to be like them. She was out hunting for the first time on her own, while her brothers were hunting their own prey as well.

Blue was pregnant again, and with more siblings coming they had to hunt more for they're mother. With the extra help, her pups would be well fed and looked after. She was stalking a mule deer buck, who had separated himself from his herd. The rut made the deer crazy, both male and female.

With them distracted, hunting was a lot easier. A twig snapped under her paw, and the buck looked at her. She leaped after him, the herd running off in different directions. The buck tripped over a fallen log, and she pounced, sinking her teeth into his neck. It kicked and squealed, until it stopped completely and fell heavy with death. She let go, a smile on her face. She hunted well, for her first try. She dug into the carcass, and once she had eaten her fill, she sat down and washed her paws.

A rustling noise behind her got her attention, she turned around, her teeth bared ready to defend her kill. She didn't see anything, but she could smell it. The scent was vaguely familiar, then she knew what it was: a dire wolf was nearby. All dire wolves had the same smell: dark and musky. It burned her nose and she sneezed. She scanned the forest but saw nothing. A dark figure at the corner of her eye got her attention, she looked to see a dire wolf a few feet away. It was huge, twice her size. It had fur darker than the night itself. She growled, ready to protect her kill.

To her surprise, he had his head low, and his tail down, his posture low and nonthreatening. "Relax, I'm not going to hurt you. I was just hoping I could have some." When he got closer, and she saw his eyes, her heart skipped a beat. He had dark blood red eyes, and she only knew one dire wolf with that eye color.

She widened her eyes hopefully. "Dagger?" He stopped, and looked at her suspiciously for a moment. After what seemed like forever, he got closer to her. "Winter? Is it really you?" She bounded up to him and gave him a friendly lick. He smiled and wagged his tail. "It is you! It's been so long! How've you been?" Winter smiled. "I've been better. My mother's pregnant, and my brothers have been helping with bringing her food…"

She paused and locked eyes with him. "Dagger...I have missed you deeply. My father wouldn't let me leave home without one of my siblings. I never stopped thinking about you…" Dagger sighed. "I've missed you too. Every single day I would think of a way to see you, but my pack always kept an eye on me. When I grew I was being taught the ways of being a dire, but I've always wanted to break free from it all. I hate them, and how they've been treating me. It's so unfair."

Winter knew why, and maybe this was the time to tell him how she felt towards him. "Dagger...I understand if that's how you feel. But I do have something to say to you...A long time ago, you said something to me. Something that meant a lot. At the time, I wanted to see you more than anything. I know it's been a long time, and we both changed, but...I love you, Dagger. I always have."

She smiled at him and buried her face into his fur. Dagger nuzzled her neck, and smiled. "I...I have to go. My pack we'll start to worry about me. Winter...I promise I'll figure something out for us to be together. You are my one and only wolf I'll ever love. We'll meet again." Winter sniffed. "Okay...I'll try to do something too. See ya later." They parted ways, and Winter dragged the deer back to her family. When she got there, her brothers were nowhere to be seen.

Akela was sitting in front of the den, Kiba next to him. She dropped the kill. "Daddy? Where are the boys?" Akela looked at her. "They haven't come back from their hunts yet sweetheart. So far you're the only one who brought something." He added a smile, and Winter bounded up to him and licked his muzzle. She greeted Kiba with the same gesture. "Can I check on Mom?" Akela nodded, and she squeezed her way through the den hole.

Blue was resting there, her belly was blown up like a balloon. The pups would be here soon. "Mom?" she whispered. Blue opened her eyes and looked up at her daughter. "Hi honey." She licked her muzzle. "How're the little ones doing?" Blue looked at her stomach. "They've been kicking a lot recently. I'd say a few more days, giver er take." Winter smiled. "It will be nice not to be the only girl in the family." Blue chuckled. "Oh It's not so bad dear. Actually, I hope we have more girls this time. To even things out a bit."

Winter chuckled. Then she looked at her mother. "Mom...can I ask you a question?" Blue looked at her. "Of course sweetheart. Go on." Winter sighed and laid down. "What happens when you love someone who isn't like you? That one individual you want to spend the rest of your life with?" Blue studied her daughters face. "Is this about that dire pup?"

Winter nodded slowly. "Yes…I ran into him while I was hunting for you. He loves me Mom. And...well I love him. But you and Dad won't let me near him. I know he's a dire but he's not like his kind." She paused and looked at her mother. "What about your father? Was he like his kind too?" Blue sighed deeply. "No honey...he wasn't. He was the only dire wolf I've known not to be like his kind."

She looked sad. "If you truly love this wolf, have him come here tomorrow and I'll see if he can stay here. With us...with you." Winter looked at her mother, surprised. "Really? You'd do that? For me?" Blue nodded. "Of course. You're my daughter and I love you very much. I want to see you happy. To be honest, after that day your father told you to leave him behind, I could tell you were hurt. It didn't look right to me."

Winter wagged her tail, and gave her mother's ear an affectionate lick. "Thanks Mom, that means a lot to me." She got up and walked outside, walking up to her father, she said, "Dad...would you mind terribly if I go look for the boys?"

Akela studied her for a moment. "I don't see why not...go on." She smiled and nuzzled him, then ran off to find her brothers. She breathed in and sighed, but something in the air got her attention. She smelled a wolf, not a dire wolf though, this scent was...different.

She growled in her throat, and followed her nose. The scent was stronger now, she looked up. She saw nothing, but whatever kind of wolf gave off this scent, it was very strong and it made her eyes water. She rubbed her eyes with her paw. "Ugh...what kind of wolf gives off this smell?" "That...would be me…" growled a voice behind her. She turned around, only seeing the flash of glowing eyes and teeth. She screams and blacked out.

"Ouch...My head! Hey, wait a minute. Where am I?" Winter finally awoke, her body was sore, wet, and cold after having been laid unconscious on a small stream overnight. She can remember that she had a talk with her mother earlier that day and ran off alone to find her brothers. After walking for a while, she got distracted by a scent and followed it. She went near the edge of her father's territory. That is where she accidentally faced a wolf she had never seen.

Because of her panic, she couldn't focus on her attack or anything and got attacked by the wolf. She tried to run away but it was too fast. In the dark, when the wolf was about to finish her, she screamed and blacked out... That's all she could remember. "That wolf! I better hurry. What if he's still here…"

She tried to stand up, but her body is too weak and shaking with cold. "There are no other wolves here... they'll never dare to step their foot in my territory. And you also should be strict to those rules too, she-wolf." "Who's there!" Winter stood up to make her look stronger and ready to defend herself, but she failed.

She suddenly flopped down on the water again. "Easy girl, I won't kill you here." "You...You called who a girl! You're just a teenager like me!" Winter looked at this haughty looking wolf with white fur. His glowing red eyes are cold and unreadable. Even as a teenager, this guy looked very dangerous… "You shouldn't talk to me like that." The wolf spoke with a cold voice. "And don't you get any closer…"

Winter growled low. "Interesting, what an arrogant she-wolf. Lucky for you that I came alone. At least, you should remember one thing… that you're in my land now, I can call my pack or even kill you whenever I want to. Well..so you are?" Winter is shaking with fear. This is the first time that she has faced this serious deadly situation.

First is the encounter with this wolf before, now this...She had to get out of this place. "I - I am Winter, D-Daughter of Akela and Blue. You don't want any trouble with my father! Oh I mean….let me go.... Please?" "Daughter of Akela? That means…" "Excuse me over there? I can't hear you…" "Oh it's nothing... can you even stand up?" "No." "Great...."

What should I do with her.... Phantom looking toward the cliff. "This is a canal that happens for only a few weeks a year in our territory after the rain falls. This water runs from here to the nearest river. Since the water happens just here only this time a year." *sigh* This is not going to be easy, or should I just let her die here? It's not my business after all. "So.. you can't even stand up, and what will you do? Sitting here and waiting for somebody to find and kill you?"

"Not that easy. And I know I can find the way out, of course."

Winter spoke with a soft voice. This she-wolf is so skittish… "Eh but...with a little bit of your help…" She says softly. Phantom looked at her sternly. "What!? My help? Why should I help you? We're not even supposed to talk to each other...I'm the one who brought you here, and you ask 'me' to help you?!" "Because you don't want me dead do you? You would've killed me or called your pack already if you wanted to, but you didn't. So I know you will help me."

This she-wolf is looking at me with eyes filled with hope. Oh I hate that look so much! Phantom scoffed, but Winter went on: "I understand if you feel uncomfortable to help me, but I don't ask much. Just about the direction. You know best about this place, right? So which is the shortest way to the end of this canal which I can get back to my land?"

Phantom sighed. "From here? To the left side. A half day run, full day walk, and for wounded wolf? A week I say.... But I bet you won't live that long...." Winter growled. "Okay! That's all I want to know, so if you excuse me, I'll go now." This she-wolf is trying to stand up again, she gives a few steps walking like an old wolf and falls down again. "OW! That hurt!" She whined. Such a crying baby... This is the granddaughter of Nightlight? So pathetic...Phantom gave a half laugh. "You sure about this? This is crazy. You'll never survive walking with that leg…"

Winter snarled and flopped back down in the water. "Fine...That's alright. I will stay here, my family will find me in no time--" Phantom growled darkly. "My pack will find you in no time too…" Winter puffed out her chest. "Stop talking with that cold voice! It's creepy! And what should I do then? Fly out of here?!" She knew that she couldn't kill this wolf even if she wanted to. But what else can a wolf do who can't even stand?

Phantom looked at her, dumbstruck. Fly? I think I got an idea.. But why should I? It's not my business.. If she dies, why should I worry? We're not supposed to be friends, we're enemies! Oh my damn mind.... Just leave her here! Run already, Phantom! But... I --I can't do that. Ugh..FINE… Phantom walked down and laid down next to her. "Get on my back…" he said. Winter looked at him, confused. "What?" "I said on my back. Now…" he growled impatiently. Winter peeled back her lips. She didn't trust this wolf. "What are you going to do!?" Phantom looked at her sharply. "Take a shot cut. Now get on my back before I change my mind…"