In the winter, with the snow falling and creating thicker layers, it seemed like it was a typical quiet day in the Alaskan wildlands. Save for the sounds of the river flowing not far and some birds chirping or cawing, it seemed like nothing could break the monotony of a fairly quiet day. Or at least it seemed so.

The forest was awakened by a loud stumbling and a stampede of the elk herd. For these elks, it would be a fairly normal day to search for some grass sticking out of snow, but with Maska's clan hunting them down, it was them running for their dear lives with the wolves being after them.

Those elks that were stronger were obviously on the front and running away from the wolves. Those weaker ones… they were at the back of their herd and they were a greater prey for the clan of hungry wolves, that were catching up with them.

The biggest surprise came when Saku, despite having risen for a few ranks in the last few months he'd been in this pack, was still one of lower ranks. Without thinking ahead, Saku jumped on the weakest elk that was on the rear and he found himself on the back of his prey.

The elk, despite trying its best to shake off its predator from his back, was unsuccessful as Saku had buried his claws into elk's shoulders and then he sank his fangs deep into elk's neck. The elk let out a loud yell and dropped down. Saku got off just in time and watched as elk's eyes turned motionless. A successful hunt indeed!

"Saku, congratulations! You've done it! We're certainly impressed!" Atka, who had a higher rank in the clan, was amazed by how a lowly-ranked wolf in the clan managed to catch his prey all by himself! Saku thanked him: "Atka, I'm flattered by your words. It's a miracle I've done it myself!"

Atka laughed cheerfully, obviously showing that he'd warmed up to Saku, despite them having a bad start. Atka proudly let him know: "This is going to be a sensation in our clan for days! We haven't had an low-ranked wolf in our clan having a successful solo hunt in a few years! Last one who actually did that was my uncle Maska when he was young!"

"No kidding?!" Saku exclaimed in surprise, which led to Atka and the wolf next to him nod in an approval, assuring the brown wolf. Then Atka let him know: "I'll continue hunting with the rest. Take two wolves with you and may they help you carry this elk to Maska's den."

"Got it, thank you, Atka!" Saku appreciated Atka's offer as the most of the wolves followed Atka to carry on with the hunt. As for Saku, he and two of his packmates helped him up carry the heavy prey to Maska's den. It took them a while to carry the dead elk thanks to deep snow, occasional ice and frost and boulders sticking out, but nonetheless, they made it.

By the evening, Atka and his companions had returned with two more dead elks, thus providing the wolf clan with some food for some time. Speaking of Saku's accomplishment, he decided not to tell anyone until Atka would return because he didn't want to turn into a bragging wolf, but would rather leave Atka tell them so the accomplishment would look like something amazing.

"Young Saku, it appears to be that there's nothing to regret that you're in our clan! I congratulate you for your successful hunt!" Maska congratulated to Saku, to whom he could have seen a potential. Then Maska turned to his nephew and let him know: "Atka, I congratulate to you too for encouraging Saku in this hunt and boosting his morale."

"Nothing to that, uncle Maska. Saku is a valuable and worthy packmate of ours who had been given chance anew! He deserved it!" Atka spoke to them all and now that the clan knew about Saku's accomplishment, the word could be now spread among them. While being congratulated by his packmates, Saku wondered: "I really hope I won't be the star constantly. I don't think I can handle that much attention for myself!"

The next morning…

While it was dawning at the east, Maska's clan was pretty much asleep by now, save for Atka and his scouts who were guarding the territory in case of strangers or even humans. As for the majority of the clan, they were sleeping. Saku was among them, but the growling in his stomach ended his sleep.

"Uhhhhh… my stomach is unresting. Oh, and the sun didn't even rise yet!" Saku complained as he placed his right paw on his stomach while lazily looking up in the sky, which was turning from purple to blue, indicating the sunrise. The growling in his stomach intensified, as if it were saying: "Come on, Saku! It's time for breakfast!"

"Fine, fine, I'll go eat, but don't wake me up this early again!" Saku thought to himself as he commanded his stomach not to do this again. Saku walked silently towards the small cave near Maska and Anya, where those elks were placed as a meal. Realizing that if no one was going to notice him, he could have one bit for himself.

"This outta do." Saku whispered to himself as he grabbed some flesh from the dead elk and carried it for himself. So far so good, no one noticed him and just as it seemed like he was going to have a breakfast alone, he heard the familiar sweet voice: "Saku, you're up this early?"

That did kind of startle Saku at first, but when he saw it was none other else than Tala, he felt relieved for a bit, but still… he had no idea what was she going to say on him taking a piece of flesh. He muttered: "Well, I didn't mean to be up this early, but I was hungry and I couldn't sleep any longer."

Tala's reply struck him as quite surprised: "Believe it or not… my stomach woke me up earlier than usual so I headed to get something to eat fast!" He honestly had no clue what to tell her, but now that he had a piece of flesh in his jaws, he thought for a little bit before saying it: "How would you like if I give a part of flesh to you?"

Tala remained speechless at first, but seeing that Saku could grab some without being noticed, she smiled warmly and said: "That'd be considerate of you, Saku. Thanks!" Saku smiled to her, wondering if this could be a head start of what he dreamed for? He parted the flesh into two, giving her a slightly bigger one while saying: "Help yourself, Tala."

Accepting his offer, Tala happily took the part of elk's flesh and while the two ate, Tala noticed how the sky was getting brighter on the east, she remembered something: "Say, Saku. The sun is going to rise soon and I was wondering if you'd follow me to one spot in the territory. You're going to love the sight of the sunrise!"

Saku was taken off the guard by the offer, but seeing that she was willingly doing this, Saku's head was filled with the voice: "Why are you silent, Saku? Just say YES!" Saku, as usual, stuttered at first: "Y-yes, I'd like to!" Tala smiled happily that he'd accepted the offer and as they were almost done with the meal, Tala beckoned him: "Just follow me!"

Indeed, after finishing the last pieces, Saku and Tala hid the rest in the bushes and Tala led the way, which was slightly higher than the den was. It didn't take them too much to get up there, but as soon as they were up, Saku gazed at the environment - the taiga forest and river stretching beyond to the east, with the mountains seen in horizon.

The skies were the brightest behind the mountains in the distance and indeed, Saku was amazed by this spot. Tala amusingly asked him: "Well, now that you've been in this pack for months, I was wondering if you'd love to see something new!" She made no mistake, as with the sun slowly creeping behind the distant mountains, Saku was amazed.

But not as amazed as Tala was a bit in front of him and her standing in front of the horizon made her prettier as the sun was seen halfway above. While gazing her in an amazement, Tala looked at him with her gorgeous emerald green eyes and spoke: "Also, I've heard of your successful solo hunt, Saku! You were pretty amazing! Last one who could hunt down an elk with the rank like yours was…"

"...Maska. Yes, Atka told me that yesterday." Saku spoke with the chuckle and Tala giggled, seeing that things were going pretty good with Saku. He let her know: "Tala, thank you for the compliment. Without your support I don't think I'd make it this far." Tala seemingly blushed at that statement, saying: "Saku, you didn't have to!"

Saku grinned joyfully, just wanting to let her know how he felt like. The sun in the east had finally fully risen from behind the distant mountains. At the same time, as Saku and Tala were gazing at each other, her with emerald green eyes and him with golden amber eyes, they were unaware how they were coming closer to each other with their noses…

SNAP!

"Huh?" Tala spoke, hearing the twig in the bush nearby snapping and even Saku heard that, noticing the bushes stirring. Saku asked, looking at that same bush: "Hello? Who goes there?" Saying no more, their answer came with the familiar black wolf emerging from the bush and it was none other else than Nilak.

"Saku! Tala! What a surprise! I had no idea you were here!" Nilak spoke with his cheerful tone when he came out of the bush, walking up to them. He stopped by to nuzzle Tala and Saku briefly noticed that even if Nilak were her friend, she didn't seem like she enjoyed being nuzzled by him like that, especially in this bad timing. "Having a lovely view?"

"Oh, yes, Nilak! I had no idea the sunrise was this pretty from here!" Saku spoke, trying to remain jolly while at the same time quietly groaning that he'd missed his chance to touch his muzzle with Tala's. Then, Nilak remembered: "Hey, Saku, I forgot to tell you, but congratulations on your solo hunt yesterday! You have amazed us all with that hunt!"

Saku nodded to the compliment, while at the same time he was wishing that Nilak was not present here. Still, he was glad enough to let him know: "Thanks, Nilak. I'd never make it this far without your and Tala's support." Tala and Nilak looked at each other and smiled while looking at Saku, with Tala speaking: "You've learned from the best, Saku. Know that well!"

By the noon of this same day, Maska's clan had been awaken and some wolves used it to feast on their yesterday's hunt whereas some others were planning to hunt some more that afternoon. Speaking of the ones who feasted, Atka was among them, having a big meal after having a successful hunt yesterday.

While eating elk's flesh, Atka was approached by the group of scout wolves he usually led. Judging by the look of one of the scout wolves, Atka noticed that something was abroad and before he had a chance to ask, that scout wolf spoke: "Atka, we have a situation! It appears to be that from the distance an unknown wolf is coming near Maska's territory!"

Atka was ready for whoever would come close to his uncle's territory so he stopped eating and got on all of his fours, saying: "What are we waiting for?! We better be ready when he comes closer and we better make sure…" He was unable to finish his talk as his aunt Anya asked him: "Atka, my nephew, are you thinking of attacking another stranger wolf like Saku?"

Atka lowered his ears when he realized that he might have been a bit too harsh in here so he apologetically looked at his aunt and let her know: "No, I didn't mean to… I, uh, am sorry for acting like this, aunt Anya. It's just that protecting this clan is my duty!" Anya looked at him with the warm and firm looking, speaking: "And I'm glad you respect that duty."

He smiled to his aunt and then turned around to let his scouts know: "Let's get going at once!" Leaving the large clearing surrounded by the forest and rocks, Atka and his scouts passed through the two old spruce trees marking the entrance of their territory and merged into the forest, standing in the bushes by the path.

As for the stranger wolf, who was the black male wolf with the gray underbelly, he had green eyes. Those green eyes were the same ones Tala had - the exact same shade of emerald green eyes! It was none other else than Hunter. Unlike Saku, who had been forlorn when he marched this way, Hunter was more confident and ready for whatever was coming to him.

While nearing Maska's territory, he had noticed the bushes stirring, but dismissed it as the breeze stirring those bushes. However, the bushes' movement intensified and so Hunter had taken a defensive position and looked at them sternly, speaking: "Who goes there?! Whoever is there, I'm ready to fight back!"

His choice of words were enough for the half dozen of wolves to leap out of the bushes, led by Atka. Even if Hunter was all by himself and realized he stood no chance, he didn't back down immediately. Atka asked him: "And what brings a stranger like you in the borders of our territory? Speak away or leave now and never come back!"

While it seemed quite dense in here, there was a chance for a diplomatic talk in here, but with the threatening presence of one wolf scouts that was a bit too close to Hunter almost escalated into a fight as Hunter growled at the unknown wolf. Still, Atka came closer than that wolf and asked him: "Well, what do you have to say?"

Realizing that the only way to end this problem was indeed a diplomacy. Thus Hunter looked at the leader of wolf scouts and let him know: "I bring no harm to you. I come in peace! I have been living in a wolf pack for a few months, but our pack had dissolved due to a poor leadership and treachery. I had come down this path because my sister had taken this path months ago."

"A sister?" Another of the wolves asked, but Atka glanced at him as if he were saying: "Keep your mouth shut!" and then he looked at him, asking: "You're looking for your sister? What is her name? How does she look like? If your manage to describe her well, I might be of a help."

Hunter looked at this strange wolf, but if it were true that this was a wolf territory and if his sister had passed here, then there was hope and luck. Thus Hunter started describing: "Her fur is as white as snow and soft as feathers. The wind stirring her fur and sun beaming across it makes her a standout for a female! She has the same eyes as I have and her name…" But before he could reveal her name…

"What's happening in here?" A female voice, belonging to Tala, asked when she had seen Atka and his scouts cornering another wolf. One of the scout wolves looked at her and let her know: "Tala, we've found a stranger nearing our territory and then…" But before he could finish, Hunter was heard: "T… Tala?! Could it be? Is that really you!?"

Atka and his scouts were surprised when they heard Hunter calling for her. Tala, who had a better look at the wolf who was cornered on the path, recognized him by his looks and then she joyfully howled, speaking away: "Hunter, my little brother! I cannot believe it's you!" Others were surprised and amazed by this revelation.

"Let her go." Atka commanded to the scout wolf who blocked her path so she could rush to her little brother and so did he to her. The two rushed to nuzzle each other and laugh joyfully, with Hunter saying: "Tala, I did not expect that I'd see you this soon!" Tala, while breathing in the scent of his, let a tear of joy as she whispered to him: "Neither did I, but we're together again!"

After a few months of living on their town, it was meant for them to be together again. Their mother was right all along when it came to goodbyes. Atka broke the silence: "So, Tala, you say that this Hunter is your brother?" Tala glanced at him and nodded in an approval. Then Atka looked at Hunter and spoke: "Allow me to introduce myself, Hunter. I am Atka, the lead scout of Maska's clan."

"My pleasure, Atka." Hunter replied to him politely, knowing that he was on someone's territory right now. Tala looked at Atka again and asked him: "Atka, is there any chance you'd do me a favor? Could it be that Hunter joins Maska's clan?" If anything, this could be for the best, but it was not Atka's decision.

Still, Atka was not ruthless despite the loss of his previous clan. He spoke: "Alright, but Maska will decide this fate. Hunter, Tala, follow us!" Hunter and Tala smiled to each other as they were heading to Maska's territory, crossing in between old spruce trees that marked the borders of this territory. Before Hunter could have a better look on the environment…

"So you are the new stranger strolling near our territory and also are Tala's sister?" The voice spoke directly to Hunter as he saw Maska and Anya approaching him. Hunter looked up to alphas and spoke confidently: "Yes, that is true. My name is Hunter, I am Tala's younger brother. You must be an alpha male and alpha female?"

"We are. I am Anya, the alpha female." Anya introduced herself and then let her mate speak: "And I am Maska, the alpha male of this clan. Tell me, young Hunter, where have you been all this time to be away from your sister?" Knowing that whatever he said, it couldn't bring him anything bad.

Hunter looked at Maska and revealed: "Tala and I parted ways months ago to start the lives on our own, but when I came to the new pack, the bad leadership and treachery brought the end of the pack and me leaving it. It didn't involve humans thankfully." When he mentioned humans, Hunter didn't notice Atka's eye twitching, but he managed to control himself.

"Alpha Maska, maybe it was meant for Hunter to be with me again. Is it possible somehow for him to be in this clan?" Tala asked, knowing that she could not question the authority of her superiors, but at least she hoped that Hunter would be allowed to stay. Maska observed the new wolf and answered: "I see no evil in young Hunter. I can say freely that you may join my clan."

"R-really?" Hunter was surprised by this revelation, not expecting that he'd be accepted now! Tala was amazed by that so she leaned on his neck to assure him everything was well. Maska warmly answered: "Yes. You can start your life here anew and may Tala help you, along with any other wolf in this clan!"

Hunter let the words sink in his mind so he firmly spoke: "Alpha Maska, I am honored for your offer. Thank you for letting me join your clan!" Maska and Anya appreciated how polite he was and so he spoke: "You are welcome, young Hunter. May the others be of help in exploring your new home." For that, Tala was going to be in charge!

However, while Maska's clan was accepting the brand new member, who'd begin from the bottom as omega, where was Saku all along?

In the meantime, Saku was done with his meal he had started in the dawn, already making sure that no one would come to interrupt and accuse him. With the indigestible pieces of food being buried under snow and wet ground, he had noticed other wolf members heading towards the entrance of the territory.

"What? What's going on? Am I missing some important clan meeting?" Saku asked himself as he decided to see for himself what was going on. When he made it to the larger clearing, there he spotted Tala in the distance, in company of a new wolf. However, Saku's reaction upon that sight in the distance was: "Wait, who is that male with Tala?"

Standing underneath the birch, he was wondering what they were doing. He noticed Tala was smiling to the new wolf… but her smile was exactly the same one she gave to him when he had come to this pack months ago. Saku's eyes widened in shock and awe as he muttered: "Tala… w...what are you doing?! Who is THAT?!"

And at last, it was Tala joyfully and deeply nuzzling Hunter when his jaw dropped down. Saku had felt something, as if the blade was stabbed deeply into his back all the way to his heart. All while he was in denial: "No, no… no, no, NO! This is not real, this is not happening! Has she already fallen for a male who had just joined this pack?!"

Watching from the distance how Tala and that wolf were exchanging some sweet talk between each other, Saku looked down on the ground and closed his eyes in anger, sorrow and grief, whispering to himself: "I hesitated for too long! I have done the same mistake with Sami! I should NOT HAVE hesitated! I should have used my chance when I had it!

Thinking of all this time he could have used to get closer while he had a chance, Saku thought deeply: "I may have known her for a while, but I should have made my move before! I know that we aren't in a relationship yet and that she and I haven't had a night out… But if it weren't for Nilak before coming onto us, I could have had my chance!"

Feeling like the tears were coming to his eyes, Saku thought once more: "I never wanted to get Tala by leaving a bad impression on me for her… I just don't do that… but this feels like… like I've lost a close friend…" Knowing that he was going to suffer an emotional breakdown soon, Saku decided to find a private place for himself in the rocks to unleash his anger, sorrow and grief without anyone noticing.

"Saku! Hey, Saku! Wait up!" Before Saku could leave, Tala had called for him, with the excitement present in her voice. Saku did stop, but against his own will. He felt the presence of Tala to be closer than before and so he greeted her with a low voice: "Hello, Tala."

"Saku, I want you to meet someone close to me!" Tala spoke excitedly as Hunter came from behind. The way she said "close" was just one of a few peebles that were going to cause the avalanche of emotions to Saku. Saku muttered under his voice: "Ohhhh, great. I cannot wait to meet him."

Tala, however, noticed that something was not right. As she was standing on the side, she was unable to see the anger and pain in Saku's eyes when he asked him: "Saku, are you alright? Is something wrong?" He answered to her sarcastically and with the voice unimaginable to her: "No, no, everything is okay. I'm fine. In fact, I'm fiiiiiiiiiiiine."

Just then, Hunter catched up with Tala and while she was worried for Saku and his behavior right now, Hunter excitedly spoke to him: "Hey there, you must be Saku? My name is Hunter!" Saku now did look at them, but something was just not right with the way he looked at them, but he did say: "Hello, Hunter. I hope Tala had given you a proper welcome back there."

Hunter smiled and happily replied: "Oh yeah, it was a proper one indeed. You have no idea!" However, little did he knew that what he had just said was another pebble that was going to cause the avalanche soon. While not knowing what else to say, Tala hopped in: "Saku, I wanted you to introduce you to Hunter. He is my… Saku, where are you going?"

As soon as she started speaking, Saku haved moved away from them, towards the forest, but Tala and Hunter, who also had noticed something strange with the male he met, caught up with him. Tala asked him: "Saku, tell me, is everything alright?" He stopped once again and how his voice was higher, not his natural voice: "Tala, I am fiiiiiiiiine, alright?!"

This last one made Tala suspicious about his behavior and she answered to him: "You don't sound like you're fine to me." Trying to remain himself at least, Saku glanced at both Hunter and Tala and told her: "No, I am fine! Just as you are and with your lover over here!"

Tala and Hunter gasped in shock upon what he had just said… no, that could not be right at all! Tala stuttered: "L-lover?" With that being said, the avalanche of emotions was released:" "I saw what you two were doing at the territory entrance! If you two are for each other, why just don't you two find a place for yourself only and cuddle like an ideal wolf couple, uh?!"

Now Hunter, who had been shocked to hear Saku calling him and Tala lovers, asked him: "Saku, I don't understand what you're…" But Saku rudely interrupted him: "Shut it, you! I clearly have seen you there and at least you could have told me about your boyfriend from your past! Is there anything else I don't know about you?!"

Now Tala tried to compensate the situation after hearing what he had just said: "Saku, please! What you have seen is absolutely nothing what you have just said, trust me!" Sadly, despite her best efforts, Saku could not be easily convinced as he spoke: "And now he returns to you and we're happily ever after, aren't we? Aren't we!?"

He had felt the tears coming to his eyes and with more tension this time. In fact, the sunshine reflected from the tear in his eye as he couldn't take it anymore. The last thing that could have changed his mind, but hadn't was even when Hunter told him: "Saku, that's enough! You have no…"

"Oh, haven't I told you before? You're new to this pack, and I totally wish you the best of welcomes! You and Tala may now have a time on your own to relieve what you didn't have! Just do me a favor and LEAVE ME ALONE! BOTH OF YOU!" Saku growled at them both and feeling how it was coming to him, he turned around bolted straight ahead into the forest, thus getting away from their sight.

"Saku! SAKU! Wait up! Please!" Tala called for him desperately as she saw her friend blending in the forest and disappearing behind the trees. She gazed there for a minute, hoping that Saku would return, but he did not. Hunter was speechless on this, clearly not expecting this kind of welcome from someone.

"Hunter… was Saku… was he jealous at me?!" Tala asked, quite upset as the tears were coming to her eyes right now. Hunter, who couldn't say anything, being shocked by this, finally muttered: "I cannot believe it that… he had mistaken us as a boyfriend and girlfriend! This was a huge misunderstanding!"

The tears that had formed in Tala's eyes had started streaming down Tala's cheeks and she muttered heavily: "Saku… he is nothing like this… I have known him for months and he'd never behave like this to anyone…!" More she spoke, her words were being less legible and seeing that the other wolves were gathering around, Tala made a run to the nearest cave.

"Tala! Tala, wait up!" Hunter noticed where Tala was running and he followed her in a cave, where she started openly crying, with the tears falling down on the ground. Hunter slowly walked behind her as he had heard her voice echoing: "Saku… why are you like this…?! What has come to you?!"

Hunter looked at his sister and he asked her: "Tala… Tala, look at me, please." Even if she didn't want to at first, she did listen to her brother. The best thing he could do now was him licking the tears off Tala's wet cheeks, even if they kept coming. Hunter let her know: "Look… I know how upset you are, but we should give him and us some time now…"

Even with the grief present in her voice, she asked him: "And… if we do… will we go look for him…?" It might seemed like to him as an impossible mission, he allowed Tala to lean her head on his chest to seek comfort from him. He whispered gently in her ear: "We will, Tala, we will, as long as it takes." Feeling her head rubbing against his chest, he could have taken her answer as "yes". As for now, the two siblings remained in a cave, trying to stress out this misfortunate accident...