[A/N: Alright folks, it's the one you've been waiting for... I'm forewarning everyone that adult themes are present at the end of this chapter. Rest assured, I am fairly certain everything is within a T (tasteful) rating. But if this is not something you wish to read, please skip over this chapter.]

Aleu and Niju

Dark Winter in the Mountainside Refuge

The clan hadn't been taking shelter in the mountains very long before Niju noticed something was rather off. It began right after the pack dispersed into their own areas, friends and families formed separate groups. They stayed close, but everyone had their own space in a way. Often they would all join and go on the hunt together but they occasionally went out separately for smaller game. That's where Aleu was this afternoon. While Niju waited for her to return he found himself thinking about what happening, trying to make sense of his place in it all. Though almost imperceptible, Niju noticed it just the same… There was something going on with Aleu.

Niju lifted his heavy head off his paws to peer into the snowy drifts of the mountainside. Through the thick haze of snow flurries he spotted the bloodstained and victorious Aleu trotting back triumphantly with scraps in tow. Niju had already eaten earlier that day, otherwise he would've surely been out there with her. Once Aleu caught sight of him at the mouth of the rocky den they shared, she hardly gave herself time to bury her scraps in the snow before she was on him. It was a sudden attack of licking, whining, tail wagging and other playful notions.

He found himself being pushed onto his side by her hyper tirade.

"Hey you! I'm so happy I'm back, you waited for me huh? Wanna go digging for scraps later? No? How about wrestling?!" She rolled onto her back and stared into his eyes from her position, complete with her tongue hanging out. Yes, something was definitely off these days.

All he needed to do was raise a brow at her and she straightened up immediately. "Uh, ahem," Aleu returned right-side up, smoothed her downy fur and began grooming herself like nothing had just happened. "Sorry, got a little carried away there. Don't know what came over me."

Niju decided it was best to ignore her odd behavior for now, save that conversation for later. "Caught another hare, eh? It might be time for another caribou soon, if you see anyone tomorrow tell them to be on alert for an all-call."

Aleu nodded, but disagreed. "Actually Sura told me that Quisp and Anaru took down a weak cow earlier in the week, I think we can hold off a few more days."

Niju scoffed, and growled in his distaste. "I explicitly told everyone to not hunt caribou without one of us! What to they take me for?! Are my commands completely meaningless?"

"Well if they're able to do it, I see no reason why not. She was quite old, and made easy pickings even for Quisp- who's no spring hare herself. I think Nuk and Yak helped too, maybe even Sumac."

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of!" Niju was decidedly edgy this evening.

"What?" Aleu tilted her head.

"The obvious dangers of Sumac and running caribou. That's not a good combination, and it doesn't take a fox to figure that out."

Aleu relaxed a little, understanding where Niju's anger was directed. She knew he just wanted to protect the clan and its members, even if his methods were a bit bombastic at times.

"Well I learned the hard way. Besides, he's got Nuk and Yak to watch out for him." She resumed grooming.

"Oh yes? Because those two are so much better off." Niju snarked at her optimism for the trio to be anything but… their usual blundering selves.

"Well, they're your friends." She retorted right back.

"So they are." Niju trailed off. He was watching the sun set early now, as it was almost the time for it to hardly rise at all.

It would be these long nights when the bitter cold would really set in. The thin mountain air would soon drop to temperatures that even those from the wolf-clan would feel deep inside their bones.

Aleu and Niju

Approximately a week later

Mountainside Refuge

Aleu found herself jolted awake once again, the images vivid in her mind. She had a rough idea of the differences between Niju and her. Or rather, males in general and her. However, she couldn't make sense of what was happening to her.

She almost felt dirty, but she really saw no reason for feeling that way. The dreams she'd been having were nothing too salacious, just very focused on particular aspects of the wolf that lead the clan with her. She found herself feeling very warm inside and lightly aching for things beyond her reach when she awakened.

She had no idea what was reaching for, but found herself yearning for something just the same. It was frustrating and frightening her a bit. Was there something wrong with her? Could Niju help her?

She found herself wanting to wrestle with him, like she had with her siblings as a puppy. It reminded her of her less harsh "home" and family. She missed them. On an impulse she found herself padding across the stony floor and snuggling into his side. He was pleasantly warm, much to her delight.

Niju sensed the heavy scent of Aleu filling his nostrils and penetrating into his deep dreaming. To his shock and slight horror, he awoke to find it wasn't a dream at all. Aleu had wound her way around his body, in a much too enticing fashion for comfort.

"...Aleu? Aleu, what in Aniu's name are you doing?" He didn't sound pleased.

"Oh? I was cold so I…" She snuggled deeper against his rigid form.

He willed himself to break their physical bond, in favor of somewhere cooler to rest.

"Find your own spot, Mutt." He grumbled into the chilled stone floor where he relocated to. The sun was due to rise for it's daily 3 hours of light soon, providing the clouds would allow it.

Aleu found herself taken aback. He'd never been that way before… He was usually surprisingly tolerant of her, despite his rough exterior. Had she done something wrong?

"Niju I'm confused, what's wrong? Is it something I've done? I-I don't really know what's been going on with me lately. I feel conflicted… It's almost like my body is try to tell me someth-"

"Silence!" He barked so loudly that it echoed through the rocks. He hadn't meant to be so harsh.

"Aleu, I'm…I'm trying to sleep." He tried to apologize with his gentler tone.

This brought everything he was trying to ignore for the past two weeks into the light. It was official, he could no longer deny it. After all, he'd watched her shed the last vestiges of her teenage years with his own eyes. He knew this would have to happen sometime, but he hadn't really expected for her to be here when it did. Aleu was finally coming into her heat.

Their original plan was for her to leave after leadership of the clans was transferred to him. But he knew as well as she did, her presence was needed here. However, he found himself unable to ask if she actually intended to do so. He lived with the burdened belief that her time here could be as fleeting as the winter sun, and he didn't dare interfere with her calling or future destiny. Perhaps he truly was a coward after all; he feared attaching himself to a future he couldn't predict with her.

He feared the changes that her departure would inevitably bring, so he found it necessary to put some distance between himself and her. Niju thought back to his mother, he regretted not putting more distance between himself and her. Perhaps it would have dulled the pain of her inevitable loss when he was young.

He sighed outwardly. Of course he'd never admit to all his inner thoughts, but it did seem to stop her from reading him like a scent trail at times. He was surprised she hadn't said anything yet actually. Maybe he really had been much too abrasive just then, and she was waiting for his apology. He lifted his head from his paws and soon found the reason for her silence. She was totally absent from the shelter. He hadn't meant to completely drive her off… Again. He grumbled at himself but did not rise, he guessed he'd probably hurt Aleu or made her quite upset. With the emotions already happening inside of her, he could only guess how she probably felt at the moment.

He'd be better off not chasing after her like some lovesick fool, he wasn't that naïve. Maybe she'd come to her senses in the cold and decide to continue on like nothing had just transpired, however he found himself rather doubting that. He knew what was to come next.

Aleu on the other hand was feeling thrown into the unknown. She found herself running out of the rocky shelter with tears in her eyes at Niju's harsh words. She hadn't understood the pull she felt to act as she did, but it seemed to be growing stronger with each day. What if he wanted her to leave, as they had originally planned? Was he trying to find the time to tell her that? Was that truly the right thing to do?

If she had contracted some illness that was making her act this way, perhaps it would be better to seclude herself or return to Nome where she could receive proper care and see her mother and papa again. She thought she could trust Niju, she'd thought she knew him. But what if their partnership was really just about his own power, after all?

She found herself seeking out the one wolf she could trust with her heavy question. She knew he would understand why she was at a loss of what to do next. She searched for Artok.

Though he was no mystic, she somehow felt that he might know. He had proved himself very wise.

She found his tracks and followed them into a line of trees. Aleu found Artok's den dug out under a large mass of snowy tree roots- probably abandoned by a fox. He smiled at the sight of her, and gladly made room for her in his meager den. Aleu was glad see Miska and Yuli's tracks nearby, she knew he wasn't alone out here.

"Aleu, please come in! I must apologize for the dirt clods, these digging paws aren't what they used to be." He offered her a warm smile as she cleaned the ice from between her paws.

However, her lack of returned pleasantries made it clear to the elderly male that something was troubling the young leader. "Aleu, you seemed troubled? Are you feeling alright?"

She gushed forth like a geyser. "I don't know… Oh I just don't know, Artok! I keep having visions of Niju, and when I tried to act on them he seemed to get suddenly upset. I've been feeling so out of touch with myself, I don't understand why. What makes me feel this way? Is my body telling me I need to leave? I don't think it is, but with the way Niju has been reacting to it, perhaps it is after all. Maybe he's just after power, and I'm in the way…"

Artok's warm gaze suddenly turned very stern. "And if that were true, would you just leave us to the fate of such a megalomaniac ?"

Aleu felt her face flush. "N-No! Of course I wouldn't… I just meant he may have wanted the title for himself. I think that's why he's been pushing me away lately. Normally it wouldn't bother me so much, that's the real reason I needed your help. Is this an illness? I can't understand why I can't accept this fate, even though we originally agreed on it."

Artok's concerned eyes still hadn't relented. "Agreed on?"

Now she wished she hadn't said anything at all. "Well, yeah. I said I'd help him reclaim his rightful title, seeing as I was unfit to rule at the time. Obviously, I feel a bit more competent in the role now than when I originally agreed to it."

Artok still didn't soften his tone. "You believe that title is rightfully his? I'd say you clearly earned it much more than he has."

Aleu couldn't take much more of this. "No I don't, but he is the one who helped me get this far! Please, I have come to you for help! You've seen much more than I have, do you know what I should do next? Of course I don't want to leave the clan, but I want to leave before I find myself at ends with Niju again. It causes me grief to see him so conflicted,"

She turned her eyes away from the old wolf, and spoke softly. "I almost know what he will ask of me. I want to leave before he brings up our damned agreement! It hurts to see the male I thought was so much deeper than his hunger for power, turned out to be nothing more than just that. I want to be rid of it!"

With that Aleu stood up in defiance at it all. She hadn't come here to be talked to like a pup, she was an adult now. Perhaps no one in the clan would understand after all, but she knew her parents would love to see her again.

The sudden knowing grin and warm laughter he emitted caused her to reseat herself among the dirt and roots. "I must say, I am relieved to hear this. My spirits! Oh to be that tender age again… Aleu, what's causing you to feel this way isn't your body telling you to leave! It's telling you to do quite the opposite."

Aleu looked up with such force that is caused her to mush her ears against the dirt ceiling. "My- What?"

He looked around, almost as if to check if the coast was clear to prying eyes and ears. "I remember the young teenaged wolf that left us all behind to go on a quest to find Nava and return him to us. I am almost overjoyed that you brought back something even better…"

Now Aleu was the cross one. She had no idea what he was on about. "Artok, please. I need answers."

"Oh right, of course! I must admit you did have me worried there for a second, I thought you truly intended to leave us once again. I will start by saying you know you are needed here, and I have watched you grow more and more confident with your leadership skills everyday. You are no longer the half-bred that had leadership thrust upon her on the ice floe. You have turned in a full grown she-wolf who has reclaimed her own rightful title, in my opinion anyways. I always rooted for you. Even when Siluk and Ulva were so skeptical, may they rest easy in the great sleep now…"

Aleu gave him a smile of her own finally and took a moment to interrupt. "I thank you Artok, it's reassuring to know you feel this way about my leadership. However, I should say that my confidence originally came from Niju, as surprising as that may be."

Artok nooded. "Ah, yes- Niju. I'm getting to him. As leaders, you need to balance each other out. I highly doubt the clan would survive for long under Niju's solo rule. He may never admit it, but I can see ways in which he has learned from you, Aleu. You each add something to the other, and it is the combined force of you both that the clan needs. I've seen other clans disperse due to imbalance before, I believe this is a good match."

"You mentioned me bringing something back that's even better than Nava? Were you talking about my increased confidence and skill?" Aleu found herself asking before he was quite finished. Though she was grateful to hear every word he imparted to her.

To this he leaned in close. "Well yes that. But by bringing Niju with you, you both also hold the potential for a future."

"You mean as a clan?"

He lent himself to a moment of hearty laughter. "Well yes of course, but I mean as another generation. Of course, you already know that I'm sure."

Artok found himself in a strange position when Aleu's cheeks flushed brightly. "Well uhm… No. I don't really…"

"Please forgive me, I'm just a silly old male… I was thinking all the turmoil and conflict you both feel now is a sign you're getting ready for the mating season. I believe it's almost that time, if I remember right."

Oh. It hit Aleu like a charging moose. So that's what was happening to her. She felt her face flush again, but she owned it. Her confidence increased tenfold as relief flooded her body. She wasn't sick, her body was just telling her she'd come of age! So this was what it felt like…

"Forgive me for saying it, but I think I know a young male who would make an excellent partner in this case…"

"Thank you Artok, bur I think can handle it from here…" She felt very confident in herself now. She hadn't quite let him digress on that matter, because she already had in her mind what needed to be done next and there was no time to be wasted.

"Indeed! Well, I'm glad I could be of help; and good luck!" His bushy brows lifted as he bid her farewell. Aleu gave him a final smile before she vanished into the thickening snowfall. She knew exactly who she needed to find now.

She was looking for Sura. If what Artok told her was true after all, she needed to speak with someone who had been in her tracks before. Someone who had experienced this all; on a female to female level. Before she proceeded any further, she wanted to know how Niju would respond to her. What would happen next? She trusted Sura might have the answer.

Niju's sudden change in behavior towards her was an unwelcome surprise. Before she delved into uncharted territory, she needed to know what could help her understand where he was coming from. She knew Niju was older than her, but why did he seem as conflicted as she was? Didn't he already know what was going on?

Aleu found Quisp's tracks but she bypassed them in favor of Sura's. She greatly admired them both, but Quisp was so reserved and respectable in nature… Aleu just couldn't bring herself to ask Quisp these kind of questions. Perhaps there would be time to chat with Quisp later, she thought to herself as she came upon Sura and Ikun. She rather wished Ikun was elsewhere, given the nature of things. Luckily they hadn't taken notice of her yet as they chattered away.

Aleu waited for Sura to finish talking with her mate before approaching. She couldn't stop herself from , by some miracle Sura seemed to read Aleu's mind and quickly shooed Ikun away before beckoning Aleu to come forward.

"So it finally happened, eh?" The older she-wolf gave Aleu a nudge.

"What do you mean?" Aleu stood stunned.

"It's alright, I told Ikun to catch me some fish. He'll be a long time coming back once he realizes the pond is frozen over, that great buffoon! So, there's no use being shy about it- I'm talking about your first season!"

Aleu leaned forward with curiosity now. "Erm, season?"

Sura rolled her pale eyes and grinned. "Otherwise known as heat, cycle, mating season, and the like!"

Aleu further reddened at her ignorance and realization- how on earth had Sura known? "Oh! Yes, of course! Please…Please tell me it's not that obvious."

Sura offered her another friendly nudge. "Don't worry dear, I've gone through them too. When ya get to be my age… You can just tell. I knew it was starting to happen to you last time we hunted caribou actually."

"But-but that was 3 weeks ago! How on earth did you know?!" Aleu couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could Sura have possibly foreseen all this?

"Easy," Sura spoke knowingly. "I could tell by the way you watched Niju at the river. You couldn't take your eyes off him. I know when I was your age, I looked at Ikun the same way. He used to drive me wild… Where is he anyways?"

"Uh...The pond?" Aleu tried to smile through Sura's mild case of absentmindedness.

"Oh, yes that's right… Good, so he won't hear what I'm about to tell you." She shifted her eyes before settling them on Aleu again.

"It's been much too long since we've had a litter of pups born to the clan. Have you ever considered settling down? I know you're young yet, but I'd say it's a good year for it. Food is plentiful and once the humans leave we can return to our own expansive territory again. Though, up here ain't bad either." Sura nodded at herself, proud of her little pep-talk.

Aleu lost herself in thought for a moment, puppies? Litter? Her? Right now, the thought had a certain appeal. The idea of Niju as the father sounded most pleasing, but the idea of her as a mother was a little more unsteady. What would her own mother say; had she perhaps gone through something similar?

"I was just talking to Artok, he asked the same thing." She acted like she was telling the older female a confession.

"Ah! Of course he did! Being as old fashioned as he is, I'm really not surprised. He thinks that's his business." Sura rolled her eyes again but excitedly leaned forward just the same. "But tell me, are ya?"

"Well I-"

Sura seemed to realize her hypocrisy. "Not that it's any of my business or anything, but I was just wondering! You've got a pretty decent male to lead with you, strong and pretty broadly built… Of course there's the whole size difference thing, but he's pretty capable- I'm sure he'll figure it out, 'specially for someone as attractive as you. Your personalities don't match, but hey; they're not supposed to! Look at Ikun's and mine. I mean, sometimes I want to bite his head off but he sure does offer me a unique take on life." Sura yammered on.

Sura failed to take notice of Aleu's somewhat dejected look until her tone betrayed it.

"Yes well, I don't know about Niju… He's been acting a little strange lately." She remembered why she'd left the rocky den in the first place, as a perfect example of what she meant.

Sura reassured her. "As I expect he would. I'm sure he probably feels his instincts as much as you do right now, he's got a good heart though. He isn't the type to take advantage of your ignorance on the issue. I really don't understand what goes on in his mind as well as you do I'm sure, but I imagine he finds himself in an awkward situation. I mean, what's a male like Niju to say in this case? I don't see him having a heart to heart about his feelings unless he's forced. Much like my Ikun…"

Aleu's gaze pleaded. "Well what should I do? Do I speak with him about it?"

"Well that's entirely up to you. I know with my first heat I felt very conflicted, much like you are now. If you really want to go through with all of this, just let yourself go." Sura reclined onto her side and bathed her coat in snow.

"What do you mean by that? What do I let go?" Aleu paused as she was getting up.

"Oh you'll know it when you feel it!"

Aleu tried not to think too hard on it, all while she walked back through the deep snow.

The sun had come and gone before she returned to the rocky shelter once more.

Aleu had taken her time coming back, collecting her thoughts and reflecting on the epic journey that seemed never ending for her. She thought about Niju's role in it and how he had changed her while she walked along the icy ridge that lead to the exposed rock on the face of the snow buried mountain. The northern lights had begun to dance in the darkened sky when she finally saw Niju's silhouette in the entrance of the rocky den. The snow had stopped, making for a clear night.

She felt pulled by those familiar unknown forces to run and embrace him once again, but she resisted, lest his apparent rejection wound her again. But if he too felt conflicted, she had to know.

He looked up immediately. "Aleu..."

She wordlessly stopped him from speaking further as she drew in close, meeting him halfway between the mouth of the den and the night shrouded mountainside she stood upon.

"I have to tell you something first,"

She stared into his eyes, by this time the northern lights shone so brightly that they filtered through the gaps in the rocks above them. The azure of her eyes seemed to sparkle and dance with the borealis, he found the vision truly intoxicating.

"Niju, I want to stay. I'm not leaving this clan. I don't know if you would wish it of me, but I simply cannot go. I belong here. I want you to know that."

"I see." He was standing now too. His face was his usual slight frown as he mulled everything over.

"I think I'm supposed to be here with you, in the grand design of it all. I know you've watched me emerge into adulthood, but if you feel the same way I do right now- please tell me." Even now, he could see something was burning just beneath the surface of her baby blues.

"…Yes. Yes I do. I want you here." With those words still on his maw she embraced him. Though she may have missed his relieved smile, she certainly felt the accompanying sigh.

"You know, I knew from that night on the ice floe that there was something about you, mutt." His favorite insult had now lost all its teeth and become a soft endearing thing.

Aleu shot him a wry grin. "You knew I was special, because I was so totally about to kick your ass."

"What're you talking about?" Niju blinked. "No,no- not that night on the ice. I mean, after the storm. When I found you floating in the great water, just by chance. I found you again; I thought you were lost."

"I probably should have been. I still don't know how you managed to find me out there."

He could only look at the great spirits that danced in the winter sky above him as he held them responsible. "I don't know either, it was almost like I was being pulled there. But," He turned his gaze back to her.

"What about that other night? You were certainly not about to best me in that battle!"

Aleu rolled her eyes. Typical Niju. "Hmph, I guess we'll never know!" She decided to use that opportunity to let him have it, jumping on him once again.

He let her, and they played like that for a few seconds. Aleu paused when she suddenly remembered something more serious.

"Niju, I've been thinking, it's that time of year when wolves mate, right? Or at least the alphas do, when conditions are right and they are of age, so I've been told."

"…And just who told you that?" Niju regarded her carefully.

"Does it matter? I'm not a pup anymore."

"Yes, that's true I suppose." Niju nodded and Aleu couldn't tell if he dreaded or accepted what he surely knew was coming next.

"I think it's about time we took the next step as leaders. I can't think of anyone I'd want to have pups with other than you." She tried to make it sound reasonable and practical, her feelings for him aside. She knew he'd prefer hearing it that way, as opposed to whatever else she could've gushed out.

If she didn't know better, she might've thought Niju turned slightly red.

"Aleu, that's exactly what I'm afraid of. I want to be with you, here and now. But we must think of the future. Litters are a huge risk, they are extremely challenging and demanding on a clan. I don't want to put this clan through any more dangers than it has already faced." Niju spoke as if he were reliving something, right then and there.

"I don't understand, what's dangerous? How can the clan survive without a second generation? We can't endure like this forever, you know." She quipped.

"Aleu, I cannot sacrifice our future for the moment. Sure, everything seems fine now, but who can say it will last?" Niju looked downcast at the snow that lay before him in the entrance.

Aleu just shook her head. "All of my instincts are telling me that now is the time. I don't know what this all entails, but I know we will be alright."

"I- I just need to think about it more." He muttered near inaudibly.

"Well, just try not to take all winter." She was frustrated as she lay in the den once more, but she resisted calling him a coward. She didn't ask about why the idea seemed to bring about such fear, because she didn't feel discussing the past would do him any favors now. She'd heard enough about his own upbringing to know that much.

"Rest assured, it's not the coupling I have reservations about, it's what follows. I just don't want to see any more suffering come to this clan." He decided to lay beside her.

"Niju, when will you learn to trust me?" She lightly teased, but underneath it was a very real question.

A question he didn't have the answer for. But he suspected she was right, once again.

Niju was unaware he had drifted off until he awoke to Aleu staring into his eyes again, the aurora above them still burning bright. She was rolled onto her back, licking him awake.

"Ooh Niju, I feel so hot…Something's burning inside of me. I don't understand. It's like, something's wrong." She was at a loss as to what her hormones wanted her to do here. All she knew is she wanted, needed Niju close to her.

He made up his mind then and there. Though he was still cautious, the grand design seemed to have other plans for him tonight.

"Do want me to make it stop?" That was all he could think of to say at the moment.

"Can you fix it? What can you do? Is this part of mating?" She nearly pleaded with him.

"Yes, but it might get a little… Rough."

"Niju, we play rough all the time." Aleu blushed but playfully batted at him.

"Well mating is a…A little different. I don't want you to be unprepared." He drew her in close.

To Aleu's sudden shock and joy Niju started licking her ears. Usually he was never the affectionate sort, but she was glad to see this extremely rare side of him. When she rose up to nuzzle into him, she accidentally bumped noses with him. This was the ultimate display of canine affection.

Aleu didn't know what to do next- but perhaps this was part of Sura's "just let go" advice. Niju worked his way down to her plush tail.

He never told her how attractive he found the slight curl in it to be. She was smaller and different from any she-wolf he'd ever met, but she was perfect.

Aleu blushed in her surprise. My! How thorough Niju was in his grooming…She suddenly felt him shift and felt his weight upon her. Somehow she knew this was the key to fixing the yearning she felt deep inside.

During it all, she found he was right. It was a little rough but nothing terribly unpleasant, and she found herself being soothed by his breathless voice during their tie.

She didn't see the huge fuss about mating, she thought as she cleaned herself afterwards… But she'd definitely be up for doing that again. Yes, she decided, she'd very much like the idea of doing that again. However, due to his efforts he was soon out like the winter sun. 'Just as well', she thought as she returned to his side, she was a little sore at the moment. But, she grinned to herself-there was always plenty of time and seclusion tomorrow…