slightest sight in trepidation.  Looking at Nava he stared as his eyes fell onto Niju and Nada

  “By Aniou this cannot be,” he said.

“They are Radka’s pups Taqukaq (Inuit for grizzly bear), as you are aware I took her in and I know she returned here.”

“They died,” Taqukaq replied shaking his head. “She told me they were all still born.”

“Two were yet as you can see Niju and Nada here are very much alive.”

“She begged forgiveness for her actions, swearing she sorry, a foolish mistake, she….”

“Abandoned them at four months old, disappearing on night without a word! She had to be told to feed them, when they tried to curl up next to her she would walk away, when they spoke she ignored them,” Nava replied, his voice filled with anger.

“I never imagined………I did not approve her actions and perhaps with hindsight I was too harsh in my judgment,” Taqukaq replied turning to face Niju and Nada. “I apologise for the wrongs I have committed against you, please accepted on old wolf’s apologies. In my defence I acted out of a belief I was doing what was right for my pack.”

      Turning to face each other Niju and Nada exchanged a look, one which said all that need to between them. Steadily they walked over to their grandfather and nuzzled him, their tails wagging.

“I forgive you, others would have done the same in your position, what she did was rebellion,” Nada whispered licking his cheek.

“Thereby breaking pack law of the highest kind, insubordination of that kind cannot be tolerated, especially from the daughter of the pack leader,” Niju replied nodding.

 “Come, Radka must face her responsibilities.”

         Walking through the forest Taqukaq led the trio to a large clearing where the pack was relaxing. Seeing the trio the air tensed briefly before relaxing once they saw the relaxed smile on their leaders face. Some of the older wolves greeted Nava happily having met him on past occasions. Lying surrounded by pups born that year was a female with light blue fur and brown fur. Seeing them her eyes darkened, their gazed locked on Nava.

“You know who they are daughter, I will allow you privacy, come,” Taqukaq whispered.

     Reluctantly Radka followed them out of the clearing, far out of the hearing of the other wolves. As they walked Niju and Nada watched their mother, struggling to place the wolf before them with the one they remembered vaguely. Stopping at last in a dense patch of forest the group turned to face one another.  

     “So you betrayed me Uncle, I thought you were better than that,” Radka spat glaring at Nava.

“I swore to protect and raise your cubs only. They wished to know the truth so I have brought them here,” Nava snapped icily in reply.

“Traitor, you know what I wanted, what I said.”

“What you wanted doesn’t matter.”

“Nava has told me the truth daughter, you deceived me in a way I never thought possible,” Taqukaq snarled.

“I made a mistake that I had to fix.”

“Is that all we are, mistakes?” Nada asked looking at her mother.

“That is all,”

“I cannot believe you are our mother,” Niju gasped. “Did you ever love us at all?”

 “I never wanted you, I forgot about you once my father accepted me back,” Radka replied calmly

       At this the assembled group looked at each other in a mixture of disgust, disbelief and raw anger. Hearing the words pain shot through Nada, tears falling from her eyes as the rejection hit home. Seeing his sisters tears Niju felt an almost blinding rage in his veins, his sister’s tears hurting as much as a knife. The two older wolves just gazed at Radka in utter disbelief. Having seen Radka lavish care and attention on her pups within the pack, Tanqukaq could barely comprehend what he was hearing.

     “You wicked…………Who is our father?” Niju snapped averting his eyes in disgust.

“You do not want to know,” Radka replied, her eyes flashing dangerously.

“Tell them daughter or I will, that is an order from your pack leader,” Tanqukaq snarled slashing his daughter across the shoulder.

“As wish. Your Grandfather had driven a male loner I’d liked away from the pack, saying he wasn’t good enough for me. So I felt angry by the restrictions placed on me, I just wanted to get back at him, show I wasn’t a cub and that I wasn’t scared of him. I rebelled…………I spent more and more time way from the pack, it annoyed my parents but not enough for me.”

“So you mated with a rogue wolf,” Nada chipped in. “Too annoy your father.”

“Oh I did far worse, see a dog sled trail runs through the land and there are a few cabins where the humans sleep.”

“A check point,” Niju inputted.

“Whatever. One day I pass it and I meet this dog team relaxing, a large black and white male sees me, we get into a fight and I win. That impressed him……..” Radka smirked as looks of shock appeared on Nada and Niju’s faces.

“His name was Iron and he is your daddy.”

 “What!” Nada and Niju cried in disbelief.

      “Granddaddy didn’t force me out because I was pregnant he forced me out because I was pregnant by a dog. See I was caught with Iron by an owl friend of the pack who told Mummy and Daddy what a naughty girl I had been,” Radka laughed cruelly.

“I was disgusted at what she had done,” Tanqukaq looking at the pair. “Had your parents loved each emotionally I may have been lenient, despite my own feelings I could have respected an emotional bond. The fact it meant nothing was a step too far. I did what I deemed necessary. I knew that would run to Nava’s pack or would find sanctuary with another pack or join other lone wolves.”

“Do our half brothers and sisters know?” Nada asked through tears.

“Don’t be foolish, of course they don’t and they never will. As far I am concerned you do not exist.”

“You callous cold hearted…. All my life I imagined you had left us for our own good, that there was some reason why you had a leave us,” Nada sobbed in pain. “I could never treat my cubs……even leaving them for such a short period to come here is painful.”

“You cold hearted creature,” Niju snarled his eyes blazing with anger. “From this day is sever all ties with you, you are no longer my mother. Nava’s mate and daughter deserve that title, they raised Nada and I to be true wolves. “

     Turning on their heels Niju and Nada walked away from Radka with Nava and Tanqukaq, the older wolves shooting disappointed and angry glares at her. Stopping next to a pool the older wolves looked at youngster.

   “My sincerest apologies for what…….” Tanqukaq began.

“There is nothing to apologise for, Radka made a choice,” Nada whispered while Niju nodded in agreement.

“You are both fine young wolves I am pleased to have met you. Brother thank you for all you have done for them.”

“I was my pleasure brother,” Nava replied turning to his niece and nephew.

“Grandfather it has been a pleasure, it is time we left.”

“Goodbye and goof luck to you all.”

       In a bound Niju, Nada and Nava set off through the forest into the sunset, running until they had left Radka and her pack’s territory. Skidding to a halt on a hill they looked down across the tundra.

“Now it is time I revealed one final secret,” Nava said panting. “Balto’s father knows your father and you have half sibling on his side, one of whom is Steel.”

“I cannot say I’m surprised, well then back to Nome, Nada are you?”

“Of course I want to see this through to the end.”

                Father’s Transgression

      A month had passed since Nava, Niju and Nada had left Radka’s pack, three days previously they had returned to Nome. Sitting with Balto, Cathan, Boris and Kodi they chatted about what had happened.

  “I knew Iron in his racing days, he saw wolves as dirt but he was hypocritical and egoistic enough to mate with one while away from home. He no doubt though his team would keep silent, however the fact there was another team there explains how the rumours of such an affair surfaced,” Cathan said softly.

“Iron is in town for a major race, dogs who saw you last time have commented on the similarities between you and Steel.”

“I want to meet him, he needs to face the consequences of answer his actions. I need to understand what characteristics I have inherited from him.”

“I know Iron’s temperament. Don’t confront him alone, do it while I am there, it could turn nasty,” Balto replied.

“That goes for me as well,” Cathan snarled. “I still owe him for attacking you son.”

“I do not fear a dog, no dog can match a wolf in a