A/N: Hello again guys and gals. So to comment on a comment I would just like to say that, HoboJr2000, yes I tried to give Alva that overconfident and arrogant kind of personality that Steele shows. Where he is all about appearance and believes he is better than everyone else. Thanks for the PM too...

Also, to answer another comment, AbrasiveTEHwolf, yes I believe that Aniu is indeed the wolf that helps Balto find his courage and save the medicine. If you watch the second movie, Wolf Quest, it will kind of explain it but don't hope for too much because as it isn't as good as the first...

Well on with the show...err, story... Oh, you know what I mean...

21: Preparations II

Trajan woke up late the following morning. He yawned and tiredly blinked his eyes. 'Why am I still so exhausted?' He thought. He looked beside him and was about to wake Aniu, when he realized why he felt so dreary. Only cold leaves and needles greeted him as he stared blankly at the spot where his best friend once slept.

"Oh, that's why." He miserably told himself, remembering the events of the previous night. "This is going to be harder than I thought. Seeing her everyday but having to act distant."

'Its for the good of the pack. I have to do this no matter how much I don't want to. And I really, really, really don't want to.' He repeated in his head.

He slowly left the cave hanging his head at first but realizing that he probably shouldn't look depressed, he raised it higher, but not by much. He made his way into the forest so he could be left alone to think. 'Well, at least I will be able to watch her while she's with Alva. That dirty piece of filth. Why did he have to go and ruin everything? I suppose I should probably get back to the canyon, I don't want to miss out on their little date.' And with that in mind, Trajan strode back to the canyon to find Aniu and Alva and figure out where they were headed...

Aniu woke on her old bed in the Alpha Den confused. 'Why am I here and not with Trajan?' She thought. Then, all at once a raging storm of all the emotion of last night hit her. It was all she could do to not yelp out loud and burst into tears. 'Its for the good of the pack. I have to do this no matter how much I don't want to. And I really, really, really don't want to.' She told herself.

She took a shaky breath and made her way to the entrance of the cave, noticing that the sun was already nearing its peak. She made her way down to the canyon floor looking around for Trajan. When she didn't see him her heart tightened a little more. She continued to the center of the canyon then further to the edge of the woods. She was about to enter the woods to maybe hunt a rabbit or two for breakfast but was stopped when she heard the familiar purr of a terrible voice right behind her.

"Princess, where are you off to now? You haven't even said good morning to your favorite wolf yet." Crooned Aniu's least favorite wolf. 'It's for the good of the pack. It's for the good of the pack.' She told herself before slowly turning and gracing Alva with a forced smile.

"Good morning, Alva." She said through clenched teeth. Alva was taken aback by her response. He was expecting another rejection or simply for her to ignore him. 'She must finally be coming to her senses.' He thought as he put on his infamous arrogant smile.

"So, how about you and I take a walk up to the top of Bear Mountain? I hear the view is amazing." He asked her, trying to sound persuasive.

Aniu was about to respond when she heard a rustling in the forest behind her she looked over her shoulder and saw Trajan making his way out towards them. 'I can't let Alva see him.' She thought to herself. Quickly coming up with a plan, she strutted towards Alva, making sure he kept all of his attention on her. She had to pull a few poses she wasn't proud of but it seemed to work, as Alva was now panting hard with his eyes the size of boulders. She slowly passed him, making sure to run her tail under his chin and forcing him to turn with her. She noticed that Trajan was now crouching in the woods behind a bush, but it didn't hide him very well. 'He must have seen us,' She thought. 'But there is no way he will be able hear us.'

She had another idea, then loudly said, "GEE ALVA, I THINK A WALK UP BEAR MOUNTAIN SOUNDS GREAT." She looked back to where Trajan was hiding and made eye contact with him. He slowly nodded and she knew he had understood. He ran back into the forest in the direction of the mountain, 'I'm glad he'll be there.' She mentally said to herself before turning her attention back to Alva.

He was a little confused as to why she had announced their plans, but he assumed that she just wanted everyone to know she was going for a hike alone with the fittest wolf in the pack.

Aniu started off towards the mountain in the middle of their pack's territory and namesake. She glanced back at Alva and noticed him still staring at her dreamily. "Well, are you coming or not?" She abruptly asked him.

"Oh.. Oh yeah, let's get going." Alva seemed to regain himself and made to follow Aniu into the dense forest...

A/N: ok so a short little chapter. Just thought I'd right this before the actual date scene in order to 'set the mood' so to speak. I mean you always have to prepare before you go on a date right? That's a serious question, I have never been on a date before so I wouldn't know. I'm still young so it's ok, plenty of people out there still. But hey, we have to consider cooties right? I mean it's not like I have never been asked out but I've never really been interested. you know what I mean. But enough about me. How about Aniu and Alva, we need a couple name for them. How about 'Analva' or 'Aliu'? Your right that's dumb. Oh well, I never was good at anything to do with dating...

Well, this is Wolfbeliever42 of the Intergalactic Duck Agency (IGDA) signing off...