CHAPTER TWELVE: ALLIANCE

Naomi glanced around until she saw something move beyond the trees. She let out a howl and heard a familar howl back. The small wolf raced out into an opening in the trees where Kaito and the others stood.

"Naomi!" Tizzy greeted her.
"You're ok!" He cheered.
"Where's Sasumi?" Avin quickly asked.
"He's not with you?" Naomi was shocked.

"No. He never came back." Isshin replied looking around.
"No." Avin started to say.
"He's not. He can't be." Taya went on feeling a small tear drop fall from her turquoise eyes. Naomi felt her heart pumping loudly. She raced past everyone and howled as loud as the little wolf could.

"Sasumi!"

Sasumi's ears twiched. He quickly turned around to a bush and listened closly.

"Who's there? Show yourself." He demanded standing tall. A bushy orange and black tail was noticable from behind the bush. A small, red fox emerged with a large smile across his black face.

"No need to shout young wolf. I'm not going to hurt you." The fox smiled again.
"Who are you?" Sasumi wondered as the fox circled him.

"Well I'm Maxium, but you can call me Maxi." The fox licked his lips with his long tounge.

"And you?"

"Sasumi." The wolf still wasn't sure if he should trust the creature.

"What are you doing out in these parts? This is man country. Man lurk the woods here." The fox went on.

"If you keep sulking in the open, you'll surly be made into a coat or rug."

"I'm not crying!" Sasumi snapped as the fox sat next to him. Sasumi sat down too.
"I'm just lost." He admitted then pause.

"And what about turning me into a rug or a coat?" Sasumi tilted his head.

"What humans do Kid. Skin yeah and wear yeah."

"Don't call me Kid. It's Sasumi." The grey wolf growled.
"What ever Sonya." The fox teased. Sasumi rolled his eyes and went to walk away.

"I don't have time for this." He mumbled.
"Where do you think you're going?" The fox asked him.
"Somewhere away from you." Sasumi admitted.

"Do what you want, but you'll never make it on your own." Sasumi stopped without turning around.
"What are you saying?" The fox looked up at the sky.

"It's already snowed a bit. That's just the start. Winter's afoot, but it's not any ordinary winter my friend." Maxium told the wolf. Sasumi faced him.

"How do you know this?"

Naomi sat on the ground not even moving a little. The wolves tried to think of something. Naomi wasn't willing to leave a friend behind and deffently not Sasumi.

"Naomi." The little wolf looked up to find Kaito at her side.

"We should get going. It's getting cold. We'll freeze to death if we don't." Kaito explained.

"We can't leave him to die." Naomi told her friend. Kaito sat next to her.
"Everything dies. No animal wants to, but it's the way of life. I bet Sasumi's still out there. He's a very smart wolf and has a big heart. He won't give up so easily, but will you give up?" Kaito asked as Naomi shook her head.
"The Lights aren't too far from here. I'd say about a week and we should be there." Kaito nugded the wolf.
"Don't worry Naomi. No one's going to hurt you, I'll make sure of that." Kaito smiled as Naomi did too.

"Let's move." She replied before walking on. Kaito waited until everyone had walked past him. He turned around and thought for a second. He closed his dark eyes as the wind blew fiercly around him. He soon took off after the others.

Maxium looked up at the air. He sniffed it then smiled.
"Seems we're not alone." Sasumi sniffed the air.
"Shit." He replied looking around.
"Don't worry, I know where we can hide." Maxium smirked.

"Trust you? I'd rather be shot to death than trust a fox."

"Dying doesn't hurt, but knowing you died not trying does." Sasumi looked at the fox. A gun shot was heard from the distance.
"Hurry." Maxium took off as Sasumi sighed.
"I'm gonna regret this." The grey wolf dashed off after the fox. Maxium raced across the field. He quickly turned into a dark tunnel underground. Sasumi squeezed his way through. He followed the fox to a larger part of the den.
"They shouldn't catch us down here. Once they're gone, we'll leave." The fox replied as Sasumi listened to the outside world.
"Dogs?" He wondered hearing a dog's bark.
"That's why I don't run. I hide for I know the dogs will surly catch me."

"So they're after you?" Sasumi asked.
"I'm afraid so. They don't hunt wolves because none live around here. You're the first one i've seen in a long time." Maxium told him.

The two animals waited until Sasumi was sure it was safe. He made his way out of the den and carefully creeped around. Maxium leaped out of his hiding spot. He sat down on a rock and scratched his head with his foot.
"Looks like we make a good team." He replied.

"We don't make anything." Sasumi started to walk away but Maxium followed.

"Hold on Kid. You need to know how to survive out here alone right? And I need some food." Sasumi stopped to listen to the creature.
"What are you saying?" He asked.

"I'll teach you how to live in the north and you catch food for me. What do you say kid? Maybe, I can help you find the Northern Lights along with your pack?" Sasumi glanced at the fox.
"How'd you know where I was going?"

heyy! don't worry, everything in the next couple chapters happen for a reason hope u like it so far!