My Name Is Shade. This is My story of bravery.

     "Careful." I wispered to Jaxs, hiding in the tall grass. A sick elk seemed to slowly seperate itself from the herd. Then the four wolves noticed somthing that a human could compare to gold. It's leg was injured. It's ear's twitched, then it seemed to have seen one of them, but because it's herd had not sensed danger, he ignored it. Suddenly it caught wolf scent, and bolted off.

     The chase was on. Three wolves persued the elk one way, while the herd went another. Zasha started bitting at it's legs, Jaxs, the only dog, bit at it's back, Angel distracted it by bitting at it's neck and chin, then from what seemed to be nowhere, I pounched up and took to it's face. Shade was swung off. They pursued the elk as it tryed to catch up with it's herd. Suddenly, I notcied Zasha, my mate, headed for a river while trapped beside the elk. I tried to warn her, but it seemed I could hear nothing...say nothing..see nothing, but the elk kick her into the rockey waves of death and sorrow. She hit her head, then the rapids kept pushing her (she was uncontious) farther and farther downstream.

     I and my two friends stopped the hunt and chased the fast flowing water farther and farther. I looked up. A waterfall. My heart beat as much as it ever had before. She will die if no one saves her. I managed to just get a grip on her, when she fell. Over the waterfall. Down. Down.Down. The roar of the water was to loud to hear a splash. I looked down. She wasn't there. I called to her, looked down for her. She was nowhere to be found. I started to jump, but Jaxs and Angel bit down on my tail and neck so I wouldn't. "She's Gone Shade"    Again and agian the words pounded in the depths of my mind. Past the memories, past the sights of my mother and father and the black wolf that nearly killed me. Like a roar of a bear, the voise yelled SHE'S GONE GONE GONE and with every word the bear took a bone crushing blow to my head. The words burned.

     I looked back to see Jaxs trying to comfort Angel. Tears ran from the eyes, and burned her too. Burned like a fire. Burned like they burned me. I could have jumped, I would have jumped, but I felt a need to go on. What about the pups? Loosing both parents in one day? They would be devistaded. Then it happened. I blacked out.

     I woke up up near the beach. Had I jumped? Had this be a dream? Then I heard Angel, I walked slowly up to her and Songa. The first thing that popped in my head was Where is Zasha? I hoped Angel would have the answer, but I hid behind Balto's boat and listened.

"And What of the pups?"

"Jaxs and I will watch them until..."

"You don't think he can take care of his own pups?"

"Look, he needs a break, Songa."

     I held in my breath. It wasn't a dream, that was for sure. I didn't know it at the time, but Songa's father, Balto was watching me. He hopped down and wispered somthing into Angel's ear. Angel looked my way, and walked off. "Shade?" Songa quietly said and walked to me. She laid her head under mine and looked up to meet my eyes. "My father said you can stay at his boat while he goes to Ancorage for a few days." Songa assured. "We all loved her, Shade." She said, and left. I said nothing. The stress was to hard for me. I walked up to Balto's boat and found a squirrl. No doubt a gift. I nibbled it alittle and lied down. I watched the sky and town. The sky turned pink, then maroon, then fainally night fell.  I couldn't sleep, so I got up and went into town.

     I was going to go to the boiler room, but Stopped dead in my tracks. Nobody saw me, so I quietly looked inside. "The poor guy." Some dog said. "Aw, come on! He'll get a new girl." One male said. I wanted to rip him to shreds. Zasha wasn't just some girl, Zasha was my life. I listend and listened. Then I fianaly walked into the room. "Shut Up. All of you!" I roared. My Heart burned because of hate and sadness. "ZASHA ISN'T DEAD!" I barked. Angel looked suprised, closed her eyes and shook her head.

     "Shade.." She started but I cut in. "AND I'M GOING TO FIND HER!."  I growled. It seemed that on my last bark, Thunder crashed and lighting struck behind me.. I felt a storm coming, and I felt like I caused it, but I knew what was impossible. I walked off Into the storm, not knowing where I was going.

 I wound up by myself in the storm. I slipped and fell into a puddle. How could I be so stupid. How? Zasha was gone. Gone. She was probably looking down at me know. Thinking of how stupid I was. I would die here. Give up. I turned to my side. I had always thought that the black wolf would be my death, but this was much worse. The rain pounded in my ears, and then I heard a cough. I looked up. Nothing. I stood up, soaked in mud. I hurt all over. I saw a figure moving. This must be death coming to get me.