A/N: So, this chapter is long. I struggled with this for a little while. I'd like some honest feedback, please!! RR!!


"Aw, man! Why me!?" Eli asked himself as he was running through a snow covered forest. He was being chased by a brown bear. "I'm really sorry! I didn't know I was walking in your territory!" But, no matter how he pleaded, the bear kept coming after him with intent to kill.

The bear roared in anger. He had made it perfectly clear where his territory was. Those that entered would never come out in one piece.

"What to do!? What to do!?" Eli asked, panicking. It was bad enough that he was being chased by a bear, but on top of an empty stomach made things much worse. It had been about two days since he left home in search of his uncle, Balto.

There was nowhere to hide or lose the bear's trail. "Someone, help would be nice right about now!" Eli yelled, to no avail. "Aw, great! I'm gonna be mauled by a bear! What a way to go!"

Suddenly, a white fog appeared. As Eli continued to run, time seemed to stand still. Eli felt like he was in slow motion as he ran past a white wolf that was just sitting and watching him. But, as soon as the wolf was there, it was gone. Eli looked forward again, only to notice a ledge that was coming up.

"Oh, yeah, that's much better!" he said, sarcastically. Then he noticed something. Up ahead on the left was a clearing that was just big enough for him to get through and hopefully lose the bear. What was weirder was the fact that the fog seemed to originate from the clearing.

Deciding it would be better than being chased by a bear; Eli took a sharp left and headed towards the clearing. The bear was right on his heels and as soon as Eli made the clearing, the bear leaped forward in a last minute attempt to strike down Eli.

As he made the clearing, Eli continued to run. "Well, I may be taken away from the river but it sure beats being chased by a bear," Eli sighed.

He ran for a good ten minutes. He, then, turned his head around to see if anything was behind him. A feeling of relief covered his body when he saw nothing.

Turning his attention around, Eli saw something rush out of the bushes close to him. He jumped, rolled a little down a small hill, and landed on his side.

When he opened his eyes, a grey and white wolf was standing in front of him.

"Are you okay?" the wolf asked, in a grandfather-like voice. Eli stood up and, slowly, backed up. "There is nothing to be afraid of, my child."

My child? Eli thought. He continued to back up until he bumped into something.

"You not going to answer gramps?" asked a darkish brown and greyish wolf. Eli didn't respond. His ears went down; he wasn't sure what to say.

"Do not intimidate him, Niju," commanded the grey and white wolf.

Niju just scoffed. "Do as you please Nava," Niju said as he walked into the forest.

"I apologize for his actions," Nava said.

"It's okay," Eli said, looking in the direction Niju went. He kind of reminds me of my dad. Eli looked back Nava. And he reminds me of my grandpa.

"My name is Nava," the old wolf said. "And the wolf you just saw was Niju. We are the remaining wolves of our pack."

"I'm Elias, but you can call me Eli," said the tired wolf. Then, out of nowhere, Eli's stomach began to rumble.

"Ah, you are hungry," Nava said, kindly. "Follow me. There is some left over rabbit that I believe you would enjoy."

Following Nava, Eli ended up at a strange rock formation. Two rocks were angled so they formed a triangle and made a small shelter. However, instead of having a pointed top, it was flat. About twenty feet from the rock formation was a river that looked different than the one he had been following.

Inside the rock formation, there was a dead rabbit. It looked like no one had touched it after it was killed. Nava motioned Eli to go eat it.

"What about you?" Eli asked.

"I have already eaten," Nava said.

"Thank you," Eli said. He started to eat. Food had never tasted so good. It felt like it was forever since he had eaten.

"I foresaw your arrival," Nava said. "So I made sure to have extra food."

Eli swallowed and looked up. "You foresaw my arrival?"

Nava nodded. "Yes, you see, I am one with nature. Being one with nature, I am able to sense the vibrations within the earth. The wind also speaks to me. With this, I can sense my surroundings and the presence of others, to an extent."

Eli looked down at the ground, still confused.

"Do not worry, Eli," Nava said. "One day, you will understand. You have wolf blood in you, do you not?"

Eli nodded. "Yeah, but I'm only a fourth wolf."

Nava shook his head. "That does not matter," he said. "Now, finish eating. There is something I'd like to discuss with you once you are done."

Eli nodded and continued to eat. Once done, he and Nava walked to the water. They both stood on a slab that was in the water. At the edge, Nava turned to look at Eli.

"Look into the water and tell me what you see," Nava commanded. He backed away to let Eli stand on the edge

Eli did as told. "I see myself," he said. Nava directed him to look closer. As Eli did, he noticed that the reflection was not of himself, but of another wolf that looked very similar to him. He also began to notice the fog that was surrounding him and Nava. "Who is this?"

But there was no response. Eli looked up to see himself surrounded in fog. Slowly he began to feel himself move. Somewhere from the distance he could hear Nava. "The river will take you to your destination," Nava said. He was getting fainter. "Good luck. And give my best regards to Bal-"

But his voice faded and Eli couldn't hear him anymore.

Nava walked back to the rock formation. He sighed. "I have directed him in the path he must follow," he said, "just as you instructed, Aniu."