"I call this meeting of the pack tonight for our young newcomer," Snow Flake called.
Alaska and the other wolves gathered around as a scrawny young wolf joined the two alphas. Either there were lean times for the wolf's old pack or she had been the runt. Barely kept fed for fighting amongst the bigger pups of the pack. Alaska was leaning towards her being the runt.
Snow Flake and Silver Tracks stood in silence which made the wolves squirm with impatience. Alaska knew this ploy of drawing things out thanks to her parents doing the same when she was about to be punished. This long silence would end soon enough.
"I wish to join the pack," Scrawny's voice was tiny and weak sounding as she spoke.
Alaska looked over to her two long friends, Morse and Carris. The two brown wolves were attentive, at least that was how it appeared. She giggled as she watched Carris drift in and out of dozing. But another sight caught her eye. It was Carris' crush, Jackson, and for some reason his attention seemed to be zoned in on Alaska herself.
Jackson had the same deep cream coat of his father, but he had black markings on his face and back. Some of the wolves had spoke rumors of Jackson being part dog. If he was, he took more after the wolves than any dog she had ever seen. But the wolf was a mean creature like his father so she stayed clear of him.
"Are the wolves in agreement with Sharpfang joining us?" Snow Flake called in her silvery voice.
There was a chorus of howls in agreement. Alaska lent her voice to the air even though she wasn't officially apart of the pack. She had been taken in on Snow Flake's behalf and that was all. Only a few wolves had accepted her as part of the pack.
The wolves began to disperse and Alaska went to follow after Carris when a voice called to her. She turned and saw Jackson standing there. She narrowed her eyes and the fur along her back stood, bristling.
"I'm not here to fight," he walked over to her.
Alaska eased her coat but kept her stance just in case, "What do you want then?"
"To talk with you." He made a shrug of his shoulders.
"About?" She was growing uneasy with this.
Jackson looked away and she could've sworn he was burning red under his coat, "I came to apologize."
"Apologize?" She stared at him in confusion.
"Yeah, for being a jerk to you," he looked up at her.
"Did Carris put you up to this?" She knew the wolf was in love with this bone head, but she didn't think Carris would make him apologize to her.
"No, I decided on my own," he looked away then sighed, "I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you Alaska."
This was getting spooky. Did something happen when Scrawny appeared? Alaska was growing nervous by the moment.
"Thank you for the apology, but now I must be going," she turned and ran off.
Jackson watched in confusion as she fled. He had noticed a growing apprehension in her eyes. Was it because he came to apologize?
AS
Icy Frost was glad that it was spring. Even though there was a slight nip to the air still, it was better than moving out in the dead of winter. The wind she was following had died off and she was relying on her sense of smell to guide her. But all she was picking up was jumbled scents of prey animals. She didn't smell anything beyond the prey and plants. That was strange. Did it mean she wasn't good at tracking or that something odd was going on?
Just then the wind picked up. Was it the same wind that had led her this far? She followed after it just the same. She hoped it was leading her towards her sister. It never crossed her mind that she might have been tricked.
