Balto remand asleep for the longest time, he was dreaming again and seemed to be running very fast. " Dad?...dad?.. wake up " Kodi said shacking his dad softly. "What what?!" balto said jerking him self awake. " Oh, Kodi.. he kiddo " balto yawned and smiled " whats for breakfast?"

Gemini stood up and stretched."there's deer from last night.best get to it before it starts to go bad." She said."I'll hunt for more later."

"I heard some duck and other water foul landing in the lake. Maybe they'll be an easy hunt for you." Diva suggested knowing full well that Gemini wasn't about to let her hunt in her injured condition.

"Why dont you let me and Kodi hunt this one Gemini, we are part wolf after all" balto said with a small smile. Kodi's eyes gleamed. " thats a great idea dad!"

Gemini sighed."I hate doing nothing.I have always provided for my pup.but if you want to go, then I can't stop you." She said good-naturedly.

Diva took note of the tame manner Gemini had aquried in the company of her pup. It was indearing to know that the hardness she'd portrayed before was simple only because she was scared, hurt and lonely.

"Bears, why don't you got get some fresh water." Diva suggested to which the bears agreed and set out to fulfill their mission.

Balto stood and headed out with kodi in search for food for there little pack. (( will post more on the hunt))

Gemini stood and went outside for some fresh air.Todd scampered out behind her."hey momma, can I go hunting when I'm better? I'm big enough!" He asked spiritedly.Gemini chuckled."you know the ceremony doesn't take place until your twelfth moon.your first birthday." She replied."but I'm almost a year old.I'll be old enough in just three more moons!" Todd tried, knowing the answer."it will take about that long for you to fully recover, my pup.you still have plenty of growing to do first."

Balto and Kodi made there way away from the den and onto a deer path that went in between a small pond and the woods. Following that trail they came upon some old deer beds and new they where on the right trail. " Dad, you know this is my first time hunting right?" kodi asked his father

"I know Kodi but it is about time you had, i've done this before we will be fine. As long as we work together and do this right we should be fine." balto said with some renascence to his son

Listening to the young pup talking to his mother, Diva smiled warmly as she watched them interact. She wondered how it felt to be a mother, or to have a mother for that fact.

"There is no need to hurry anything little one." Diva finally said as she went from sitting to laying. She took care to move slowly and gingerly as to to agitate the pain that was nesting in her cracked ribs.

Todd looked from his mother to Diva and back again."aw, man, I've been outnumbered! Fine I'll wait..." he said, sitting down in a patch of weak sunlight.Gemini watched with fondness in her eyes."someday, my son, you will be grown, and you will no longer need me.until then, enjoy being a pup and let me enjoy taking care of you."

Balto and kodi came back with a deer in hand. they seemed proud and happy

Todd was upon them almost instantly with questions about how hard it was to catch, how much it weighed, could they teach him some techniques..."Todd, Todd, calm down and let them in.you can ask one question at a time after they get settled." Gemini said.reluctantly, Todd backed off a little.

Balto and kodi walked intot he den and put the deer down. Both with the happiest looks on there face. Both took a drink of the water the bear brought back. " i havent dont that in year!" balto said as he toke in some air. Kodi couldnt stop laughing, he was so happy

"Good job brother, and you nephew. Well done. This is a large meal, it should feed our small pack until we're all strong enough for the journey home." Diva said looking the deer over and licking some of the blood up.

Gemini let Todd take his portion first."don't eat too fast, you'll get a stomachache." She said.Todd made a small sound to let her know he heard, and took a bit from the shoulder."thank you two.this is a catch worthy of a true pack member." Gemini said, addressing Balto and Kodi.

both boys nodded as they beat in

Diva laid and watched the hungry youngster eat. Her stomach rumbled lowly but she stood and sat outside the cave instead of eating. She sat and looked over the snow covered forest and though about the past couple of months and how her life had changed since the hunters invaded her den.

"Aunt Diva?" Kodi said bringing her a piece of meat. "this is for you, is everything okay?"

"huh?" Diva jumped a bit as Kodi caught her attention. "Oh nephew, it's you. Yes, I'm fine. I was just meditating over the land." She told him giving him a sincear smile. She was happy to know that dispite his wolf blood the human accepted him as one of their own house dogs. He'd never have to fear being hunted or betrayed by a human. He was truely blessed.

Gemini waited for her pup to finish before she took anything for herself.

Muc and Luc, who'd been down at the lake, suddenly returned with an empty bucket of water. The polar bears where exaused and very noticalby shaken. Diva, startled, jumped up sending a pin of pain threw hurt her side but didn't let the others know.

"What's wrong bears? What happened?" She asked sniffing their white fur.

"It was an ambush..." Muc panted. There was no sign that they'd been attacked but Diva waited to hear the rest before she asked anything. "Wolveriens... they said that... this is their territory and the time.... time of the wolves here is over.... they want us out of here..."

"just what we need more trouble. " balto said as he swallowed some meat. "dad" kodi replied. Balto stood and ran out of the cave screaming he'll be back. five min later he returned with a small thing of wood and a rope tied to him like a harness . " Diva i want you to ride on this for now. your too weak and i want to get out of here with out to much trouble. Todd should ride to" Balto said with a straight face

Diva nodded, she wasn't in the mood to fight with her brother about how much strength she had. Truth was, if it was any other circumstance, she'd force herself to deal with the pain. However being part of a pack, she finally felt like she didn't have to be so tough.

Gemini growled."I hate to leave my territory...but it is time to move on." She said with a sigh."Todd, ride with Diva for a while." Todd huffed."I can walk...but that does look fun.are you sure it's ok? Balto, can you really handle both of us?" He asked, interested.