Now that Saku could sneak back to the main clearing, without raising any suspicions that he was eavesdropping on Tala and Nilak, he had in mind to wait for an hour or two and let Tala clear her mind from her heated argument with Nilak. He knew where she had run towards and her scent remained fresh, as if she had been few minutes ago.

Wondering what to tell her once he headed to the small ponds to the southeast, Saku had to make sure he chose his words wisely otherwise he would end up making his friend more upset than she was. While thinking carefully, he sensed the presence of the friendly wolf and sure enough, he had to ask: "Hunter?"

Tala's younger brother approached him, smiling cheerfully. He had anticipated by now that he and Tala would have fixed a night out for themselves so he asked her: "Well, how did it go? What did she say, Saku?" However, within seconds, Hunter's cheerful face was replaced with the puzzled one and then he asked him at last: "Oh… don't tell me that she…"

"No, it's not what you think. In fact, I didn't have a chance to talk to Tala yet." Saku explained it, starting with the simple overture to the events he'd just witnessed. Hunter was relieved that it wasn't the worst scenario possible that had come to his head. Saku was allowed to continue: "In fact, as I was heading to talk to her, she was with Nilak, again."

There he could notice how Hunter's face switched from puzzled to unamused, but soon enough to surprised when Saku continued: "But she and Nilak had an argument. Well, it was mostly Tala venting her problems how Nilak is always in the right place in the right time to the point it pushed her over the edge!" Hunter honestly never imagined Tala to vent openly, but this was inevitable after all.

"I overheard them what they were talking about and she stormed off to the small ponds. She gave Nilak a chance to give her his word. Obviously, he said nothing and that was just it." He ended what he'd witnessed and it was a relief that Tala had finally told Nilak to back off already. The question remained, how'd this affect her relationship with Nilak?

"I was thinking, Hunter… I shall go talk to her, but first I'll give her some time to calm down. Besides, maybe it's not the right time for me to ask her out. She's been through a lot today." Saku explained his intentions and Hunter, knowing how his sister was feeling like, to be finally free of the chains of this erratic behavior, let him know: "That's fine. I'm sure you'll do good by comforting her!"

Saku smiled weakly, being glad to know that there was someone who started to understand his feelings for Tala. Moreover, he glanced towards the narrow path that led to where she was. First across the snow covered rocks, then over the fallen spruce and at last, to the small ponds. But first, before trotting across these obstacles, Saku was going to wait for it and then find her.

Once the time was right, Saku headed to the southeast to seek for Tala. Moving across the rocks, fallen spruce and other trees, he silently moved to the bushes behind her and once he noticed her by the crystal clear bright blue pond, reflecting the early spring's sunshine, this was a good sign for him to move.

Thus he soundlessly headed to her, with her having hung her head to face it downwards while trying to calm down. Just then, in less than five meters behind her, Saku whispered: "Tala?" Then her reaction had surprised him. Upon hearing she was not alone, Tala turned by one hundred eighty degrees around and her upset face turned into angry as her fur on the back raised and she had her teeth barred.

Then, instead of the black furred wolf with ocean blue eyes and white underbelly she had an argument with few hours ago, she saw Saku and quite unexpectedly, she had her nose touching his, which made Saku blush completely and Tala also blushed, partly because how amusing this was to her and how she ended up growling at Saku unintentionally.

"Saku… I, uh, I am sorry for growling at you,.. I thought that you were Nilak for a second..." Tala swallowed when she realized her mistake, clearly meaning no harm to her friend. Saku smiled weakly to her, still trying to come to himself after this as he spoke: "No, it's quite alright, Tala. I'm not mad at you. I… I have heard your argument with Nilak, by the way."

He had to bite that bullet and told her why he was here and now he was wondering what was going to be her reaction. Surprised? Mad? Upset? None. Tala, while still calming down, said this in a calmer voice: "Oh, I suppose you've heard what was happening between us, haven't you?"

"I've heard it, more than I needed." Saku answered to her in an understanding voice, knowing how Nilak's behaviour was like pouring the gasoline on fire. Tala, thinking that Saku was actually by the genuine coincidence nearby, let him know: "It's that Nilak's behavior, every time I'm with someone else, has finally made me feel like I had it enough!"

Saku decided that he was not going to interrupt her because she had gone through a lot today and so he listened: "It is just that every time I am with you, with Hunter, with Atka or with any other packmate, him showing up every single time made me lose it. I couldn't let him hoover around me whenever I talked to someone."

While she was taking a pause in here, Saku could relate to this when he added his comment: "Tala, that was the issue I had when you mentioned us being together and even Hunter has complained about it. But none of us wanted to bring it on the surface otherwise it'd look like we'd cause the avalanche with that talk."

She could understand him well what he was saying and it was for the best that they weren't mentioning it until this accident. Tala looked at her reflection in the crystal clear water and gazing with her own emerald eyes, carried on: "I mean, Nilak was one of my first friends in the pack. He is my good friend and I'm glad he cares for my safety, but pointing his muzzle at every moment every time was something I couldn't take it anymore."

As she went silent, Saku didn't say anything either. Both were gazing at their reflections in the pond and seeing that Tala still had some frustration in her, he looked at her and spoke: "Tala… look, if you need to calm down some more, I'll let you be then." Just as he was going to turn around and head to the main clearing…

"Saku. Would you please stay with me?" Tala's voice called for him and being surprised by what she was saying, he looked at her again and asked: "Come again?" Tala once again repeated her words: "Would you please stay with me? I know that you want me to calm down by myself, but at the same time, I'd like you to keep me a company at least."

Being surprised by what she was saying, Saku's face didn't show any smile, frown or whatnot as he stuttered: "Y-yes, sure…!" He returned to her and as he sat next to his arctic wolf friend, she leaned her snow white head against his white underbelly chest and sighed. Feeling like it'd be for the best, Saku gently placed his head on top of hers. She didn't mind.

In fact, he had that warm feeling streaming throughout his body while nuzzling Tala, who needed some comfort. Even Tala felt like she didn't want to part from her friend. It felt like she could feeling the warmth radiating from Saku's body as if his warmth was the only one she ever needed in her own life.

Then she revealed to him something that made him scream in joy inside his head: "Saku, there's something I should admit to you. Aside from Hunter, who is my brother, out of all the packmates in this clan, you're one of the wolves I feel comfortable the most. You're just sweet, loving, caring and compassionate, just like how you're here for me."

She was not lying and even Saku knew that himself. If anything, these sweet words that Tala was telling him were meaning a lot to him. As much as his desire to ask her out was coming back, he decided to keep it back for himself for a little bit longer. He answered her back warmly: "I'm doing this for you because I know how much you've gone through today, Tala."

The way they looked at each other with their eyes made them smile brighter and she kept nuzzling by his chest under his throat. All while she thought in her head: "Saku… you're so different, but in a good way. You have a lot of heart and care a lot for your friends and others around you. Maybe in the end, Hunter and I have left a good influence on you!"

While they were nuzzling under the sunny sky with the crystal clear pond underneath their paws, it was clear that their friendship was advancing at this point. They were still friends though, but the way they were behaving towards each other right now was paving their path for something that was more than a friendship.

All while they were nuzzling each other, a pair of friendly emerald green eyes watched from the distance behind the pine and seeing what they were doing and talking, the smile on Hunter's face widened from ear to ear and then he whispered joyfully: "This is amazing! Maybe you two will be a couple one day!" He was looking at them from the distance, making sure he'd not interrupt their moment, all while thinking where this was going to lead.

With the March passing, it was replaced by the April, whose spring feeling was stronger in the air and at this rate, the snow covered forests and grasslands started to change. The snow was melting faster, which was usual for April and the trees blossomed with flowers and fruits. Grass emerged from the layers of snow after months of cold winter and the flowers were seen in various colors. Not only that, but the animals were awakened after hibernation.

This meant more prey for Maska's clan. On the sunny and warm morning in the middle of April, when the snow was mostly replaced by the spring flora and fauna, but lingered some more, Saku was walking in the den and he was talking to the alpha female of the clan, Anya. She was telling him wisely: "Young Saku, your new friend Hunter doesn't cease to amaze us."

"Alpha Anya, he lives with the spirit of the real hunter! I have encouraged him to stand up for himself after the first few weeks of his coming to the pack and now he lives up to his name." Saku confidently mentioned that, knowing what he had taught his friend really paid off. Anya smiled to the young wolf and commented: "And when you're old enough, you'll live up to being a loyal and trustworthy friend."

He was probably living up to it right now, who knew. Even if he was, Saku knew that he had to master that first before completely living up to it as Anya was saying. Moreover, Saku added a topic related to Hunter: "And I'm sure that Hunter was excited when Atka offered him the place in his scouts' group. Can I mention something about your nephew?"

"You sure can." Anya smiled to him like an aunt who was glad to see her beloved nephew coming to a visit. There Saku chose his words carefully and spoke them: "I know that Atka and I, along with Hunter, weren't in best terms when we came because of his past, but every time something nice happens around him, he's more joyful, kind and fun to be with."

Every individual had its' ups and downs and Atka's ups made him more likable to be around. Anya agreed with that one and then she heard someone coming in the distance. There she saw her young nephew Atka returning with the scouts, Hunter being one of them. They were carrying a dead reindeer with themselves, obviously too heavy for one wolf to carry.

"Atka and Hunter have returned from their hunt! I suggest we have a talk to them, young Saku." Anya beckoned to a young brown wolf to follow him and Saku obeyed, knowing that he shouldn't question alpha's authority. He followed the elderly female to her nephew and to Saku's best friend. This looked like a grandiose hunt this morning.

"Aunt Anya! We've had a great hunt today! It'd not be any great if it weren't for Hunter though!" Atka greeted his aunt when he saw her and Saku coming and he proudly looked at his new scout, who lowered his ear as the amount of praise coming to him was overwhelming, even when Saku commented: "Nice job, Hunter!"

Hunter chuckled because of all the praise he was getting as he let his friend and alpha female know: "Oh, please, you didn't have to! We were dedicated to hunt down this reindeer together!" Judging by the multiple bite marks on its' neck, more than one wolf had to take this one down.

"Saku, Hunter, would you two help me carry this reindeer to the food cave?" Atka asked them, but under his tone he sounded like he had to say something else. These two agreed and with Atka carrying by the neck and Saku and Hunter taking limbs, they brought the prey to the cave where the clan was leaving their hunt.

But as soon as they dropped the dead reindeer on the cold floor of the cave, Atka looked at them both before these two could leave and right away he had to ask: "Guys, there is something I have noticed. It has been few weeks to be precise ever since. Have you noticed that Nilak doesn't show up by so called coincidence around Tala anymore I talk to her?"

This was no surprise to them both as Saku was the witness of their heated argument and of course, Saku shared this information: "Yes, we're aware of it, Atka. Thing is, ever since she and Nilak had that argument about him hoovering around her, he started to hang around us less and less as the weeks go. He does show up when invited just because he's our friend."

It was enough for Atka to understand that information and a relieving one when he commented: "About time he stopped doing that! It was getting annoying and awkward, as if I weren't allowed to talk to Tala. I mean, she's just my friend, nothing more than that!" It was understandable and this further proved that Atka had no interest in Tala actually.

"Well, I will go see if Tala has awaken now. Are you coming with me, Saku?" Hunter asked as he found one of the dead groundhogs in the cave from yesterday. Saku nodded as if he were saying: "I'm coming.", thus bidding goodbye to Atka as they were heading to Tala. Speaking of her, there she was, emerging from the cave she was sleeping.

Just then, the sun rays shone across her white furred body and with her smoothly moving her head as if she were enjoying the light breeze all while her emerald green eyes were hiding under her eyelids, the wind stirred her gorgeous fur and she smiled to that. All while Saku gazed at her from the distance in an utter amazement.

Remembering that ever since Nilak stopped being so nosy around Tala, Saku and Tala grew closer to each other and their friendship advanced astonishingly. Then he muttered his words: "Hunter… now I see why you and Tala are close to each other. She's so beautiful when the sun shines across her fur and wind stirs it!"

Hunter listened to the sweet words he was going to tell Tala soon and he grinned delightfully at him, speaking: "Now you see how much she means to you… and how much you mean to her. Saku, do you realize what this means? It means that it's about time you asked her out!" He was right, even if Saku gave him that surprised look.

"It is? Are you sure?" Saku asked him, even if he wanted to ask her out for weeks. Hunter looked at him closely and without any doubts, answered: "If you listen to your heart, then you know my answer. What does your heart say?" Saku went silent as he wanted to know the real answer and after thinking for like ten seconds, the cheerful smile stretched on his face.

"I have been daydreaming about that day when I was going to give her those flowers when you figured about me having a crush on your sister. And guess what? You're right. My heart tells me that I have to ask her out!" Saku gained his full confidence when he had finally realized that Tala was… more than a friend to her!

"You said it, my friend! Now go there and ask her out! If she accepts, then you find these flowers and give it to her when you go out together!" Hunter cheerfully welcomed Saku's decision as Saku looked at him one more time, warmly nodding to him before he started quickening his pace towards Tala, all while Hunter watched at the inevitable proudly.

Heading towards Tala, with his feelings being well concealed behind the dam that was about to burst due to its' amount of water, Saku hoped that no one and nothing was going to stand on his way as he was coming towards her. Just few meters left and once he made sure no one came across him, he happily greeted his friend: "Tala, hey!"

As for Tala, who'd bonded closer to Saku over the last few weeks, seemed to be thrilled to see him coming as she joyfully greeted him: "Hey there, Saku! What brings you here?" Now that Saku stopped less than one meter away from her, he remained there to gaze at her beauty. He answered her smoothly: "Tala, do you have a few minutes to spare?"

She looked around and she only noticed few of her packmates she'd sometimes talk to so she replied: "I don't see why not? What is it?" She smiled at him with the smile that was a honey to his eyes, seeing how sweet and warm it was. Knowing that there was no backing down now, he spoke: "I need to tell you something… or better to say, ask you something."

The question seemed more interesting to Tala than just saying something, which she responded with: "Uh-huh?" Now Saku had to muster all the courage and do it at once. For weeks he'd been preparing to ask her out and this time around, nothing was standing on his way!

"Tala, I will be honest with you. Up until I have met you months ago, I have never asked any female I met this question. I know that this is the right time and right question to ask because how our friendship progressed. So… would you like to go for an evening walk with me?" He almost slowed down upon asking this, fearing he'd start stuttering again.

When Tala was asked that question, she took a few seconds to soak this question in her head and at last, she asked: "Evening walk? You mean… like a date?" She read his mind and Saku slowly and delightfully nodded. As he did, Tala placed his head by his neck and nuzzled him deeply, being quite touched by the question.

"Is that 'yes?'" Saku asked as he was hoping for the verbal answer and no doubt, he received one: "Of course it is! Oh, Saku, I'd love to go on a date with you! I have never thought that someone would ever ask me out… but you were the bravest of all males to do so! I feel so honored to go with you." Then she raised her head to lick his cheek cheerfully.

Looking at the female at whom he had a crush on for months, being few centimeters shorter than him, at whom the sunshine was reflecting, Saku knew that her beautiful white fur and her emerald green eyes were here to make the most beautiful female he ever laid eyes on. He whispered to her sweetly in the ear: "Tala, thank you!"

She looked at him in the eyes and she did it again, but touching her nose with his. Nothing really mattered to them and neither of them cared if someone was looking at them in the clearing. Saku moved a bit back and asked her: "So, where would you like to go? Do you have any suggestions and when?"

Tala looked around themselves and noticing one path which wasn't being hugged by the rocks on both sides, she suggested him: "We can go to the rocks that have a beautiful sight on the great lake to the east! The moon is going to be full tonight so we can go after the sunset, what do you think?" View on a great lake, full moon, after sunset, the receipt of the great date!

"I think that is a wonderful idea!" Saku joyfully exclaimed when he heard Tala's plan. This was the start of something special for them and they couldn't deny it! While smiling at each other, they were slowly being approached by Hunter, who was carrying two dead groundhogs in his jaws. Then Tala looked at her brother with the smug look.

"Oh, let me guess, Hunter was the one who set you up with me, am I right?" She spoke the last three words louder and more obvious to her brother with the mischievous smile stretching from cheek to cheek. Hunter couldn't avoid that look Tala was giving to him and as he opened his jaw to drop the groundhogs, he snickered at that and looking at his sister and his best friend, commented: "Well, it's true what they say, old habits die hard!"

While Saku was a bit puzzled about this, Tala leaned to him and revealed: "Hunter was always a little bit sneaky and surprising when we lived with our parents. I figured his involvement myself, so you're fine, Saku." He looked at Hunter, giving that "innocent" smile to his sister as if he were saying: "I hope I didn't hurt your feelings, Tala."

Then Tala bursted into laughter and deeply nuzzled her younger brother, followed with Saku's laughter, knowing that he could not hurt her feelings, especially when she told him: "Don't be silly, brother! I know that you'd never do such thing to me nor would I to you!"

"Want to know why? Because I am with the two males who mean a lot to me in my whole life and with whom I love being with!" She said that to both her brother and her close friend and hearing her say "love", Saku's body temperature grew as this warm and fuzzy feeling was spreading across his body. One day he and she would say these three magical words to each other if their relationship would go well!

Hunter answered to her: "You said it! After all, there are two things that I'd never regret in my life, Tala, Saku… One is that it's good to be back with you, Tala and other one is to be best friends with you, Saku." Not only that he had Saku as his best friend, but now he was a partner to his beloved sister. It was like as if his dreams were coming true at once.

Then Saku revealed to him: "Just to let you know, Tala and I will be going on a date tonight to the viewpoint of the great lake!" Now that he knew that information, it was a matter of time before the word would spread around the clan and Hunter welcomed these words by saying: "That's amazing! If anything, this is going to be your first and hopefully, memorable date!"

All the excitement rose around them as it seemed like it was unquestionable - Saku and Tala were at this point, boyfriend and girlfriend, a couple! To celebrate this glorious moment, Hunter gave them each a dead groundhog as a meal while he was going to leave them be as he was going to feast on the dead reindeer he, Atka and scouts hunted down.

The whole day for two friends was going pretty smooth and neither Saku nor Tala could wait until sunset when their date was going to begin and this was moving their relationship forwards. The word of them was spread along and pretty much, it had received positive responses from the others, mostly.

Even Hunter had some business to work on this. Indeed, he didn't want to leave things unpolished. He wanted to be even better friend to Saku and even better brother to Tala by offering them some tips and advice. It was no doubt that by the noon, he was already talking to Saku what to do. They were by the river where stream violets were blossoming.

"First, what you should really do is make sure to offer Tala these violets! Females love flowers and this is the first step ahead you should do!" Hunter pointed at the small yellow flowers that were no longer under snow layers and Saku listened to him, grabbing some of the flowers with his jaws and he had at least half a dozen of them.

"Great! She's going to be thrilled with these!" Hunter commented when he pictured in his head how Tala was wearing some of the flowers around her ears, as if she were wearing a flower crown on her head. Saku had to see it himself, possibly helping Tala to make that flower crown real!

Moving on to the afternoon, Saku decided to talk to his sister in case she needed some kind of dating advice. While she was getting ready, with the sunset coming closer, even if the days had prolonged thanks to spring, she had to listen to him. He told her: "In case you two end up being playful, maybe you could splash him with some lakewater, if you know what I say?"

"Oh, don't be silly, Hunter! It does sound fun, but I think that our first date should be rather special!" Tala giggled while hearing that advice from her brother, being amused by what if she was going to do it. It would have been fun for them both, but at the same time, she did not want to leave a bad impression on her boyfriend. Hunter rolled with his eyes, remaining with Tala for the rest of the afternoon.

Sunset was coming and with the sky turning orange on the west, the sunshine reflecting on the clouds above, leaving a prettier ambient today. Saku was ready, trotting around the path leading towards the lakeview and carrying the stream violets in his jaws. He was nervously anticipating for Tala, almost mistaking few wolves for her, showing how eager he was.

"Ahem." The clearing of the throat was heard from behind and Saku turned his look at the source of that sound. There she was, with the snow white groomed fur that was even prettier than ever and as if she sunset was reflecting off from her. She was at her prettiest and Saku couldn't deny it, with her voice being sweeter: "Hello, Saku!"

"T-Tala!" Saku spoke that, being stunned by her beauty and she marched towards him and buried her head in his chest fur as she graciously nuzzled him. She caught the scent of the flowers with her muzzle and upon noticing the stream violets in Saku's jaws, she looked at them in awe and muttered: "Saku… are those… for…?"

"...you? Yes, they are." Saku sweetly finished her sentence and she was joyful to receive these as a gift for their date. Licking him in the cheek to show how much that gift meant to her, she heard the sweet words coming from Saku: "Tala, you look… gorgeous! I have no clue how, but you are just gorgeous!"

She blushed when she heard that coming from him, knowing that he meant it a lot. As they were to head towards the lakeview on the east, they were no longer alone as the familiar and friendly figure, Hunter, approached them both. He was proud at them both for being together at last and he shortly told them: "I wish you two all the best on your first date!"

"Thank you, Hunter." Saku answered to his friend when he noticed how much this all meant to him. He looked at his sister and knowing that she was looking exactly how Saku dreamed of, let her know: "Tala, I have just come to wish you good luck on your date." She knew that they couldn't leave without him saying something like that. Then, something crossed her mind.

"Hunter… there's something in my head I have to share. I was thinking, would you come with us?" This was indeed a surprising question coming from Tala and Saku's face was showing that surprise. Hunter looked at his friend and then at his sister, asking her: "Are you sure, Tala? I mean, this is your and Saku's first date, this is your moment."

As much as it was kind of her to ask something like that, Saku didn't want to be the odd one out in here so his answer was: "Well, as much as I'd like to be with you two, I think this is something you two should share together. I wouldn't want to be a sore thumb in there. But if anything, I'll walk you halfway to your dating place. Would that be alright?"

Saku and Tala looked at each other. While it was a very nice offer, what Hunter was saying was reasonable so Tala smiled and answered to her brother: "Alright, walk us out halfway at least!" That was something Hunter could not deny and he walked towards the wide path on the east, speaking: "Let's get going then!"

So there it was, two siblings and their best friend, heading on their date all while Hunter was just going to lead them halfway there. With the laughs and joy being shared among them, they knew that this was going to be a pretty night. After reaching the great bush by the snow covered rock, this was their halfway.

"Well, this is where I'm turning back. Besides, even if I wanted to stay with you two, Atka will probably want me to be ready in the morning for scouting." Hunter explained to them as if he didn't want to leave a bad impression on them both. The sun was already below horizon and the orange sky was shifting to dark violet. Tala and Saku smiled to him.

"Hunter, it is alright. You don't need to apologize. We understand you." Saku told him that, knowing that there was no hard feelings among them. Just as Hunter was going to return to the main clearing, he let them know: "When you two return, I want to hear everything from detail to detail about your date! Alright, I'm just kidding, it doesn't have to be in details!"

This was one last laugh they shared tonight and before Hunter was finally going to leave, he looked at each of them in the eyes and confidently spoke: "I wish you two good luck. Saku, I know that Tala will be safe with you and Tala, I know that Saku is the best male you could have right now." He meant it from word to word.

"Awwwww, Hunter." Tala blushed, knowing that was all true. Saku smiled to his friend, knowing how much he trusted him even if their first meeting was not good. With the last glances exchanged, Tala and Saku looked at each other and he asked her: "Shall we go, my lady?" Her answer was when she raised her right front paw and replied: "I'm all yours."

This was it, they were heading on their date. Gazing at them as they were heading behind the horizon and towards the lakeview, Hunter sighed gladly as the perfect match was between them. He waited for one more minute before they were out of hearing so he could turn around and head back to the main clearing.

"These two are just meant for each other, I'm not going to lie. They have feelings for one another and… huh?" As Hunter was thinking all this, something snapped behind the great bush and that caught his attention. He looked towards the dark green bush and asked: "Hello? Is someone there? Anyone?" It was probably a mischievous squirrel.

Probably no one right now, that thought crossed Hunter's mind as he decided to leave but another snapping was heard and this one was louder. This time he wasn't shrugging it off and so he asked, louder: "Hello?! Who goes there?!" The curiosity got the best of him as he walked towards the great bush and behind.

No one was there, not even a squirrel as Hunter suspected. But Hunter's muzzle twitched as the scent was left behind. He carefully sniffed at the snapped twig underneath the bush and the scent was familiar to him. He was trying to recall it in details: "This scent… whose scent is it? I must have sniffed it somewhere before…"

Then his mind opened widely and he was finally able to recognize the scent and when he did, his eyes widened in shock and awe, realizing to whom it belonged: "No, no, no! This is not happening! I must alert Saku and Tala immediately!" He wasted no time as he followed the scent that was also leading to the lakeview.