𝓐𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓮

Avalanche has been out in the forest since she was a pup. Her mother was a bright red husky, and her father was a huge, gray wolf.

Avalanche's mother, Ember, gave birth to them under her master's supervision. She gave birth to Parsley, Sandy, Elk, Juniper, Wildfire, Beaver, and Avalanche in the spring, in her backyard.

Avalanche rarely saw her father - She'd only ever spend time with him when Ember's master wasn't around, which wasn't often. When he did get through, he'd squeeze through a small gap in Ember's fence that he continuously patched up with dirt so the pups wouldn't wander out and get eaten alive by the wilderness. Klondike would bring things he could easily carry back from the forest - rabbits, squirrels, mice, various birds, and many other things for the pups to try.

Avalanche was always happy and peaceful in her safe backyard, but when she was one year old, things changed. Entirely.

It all started simple: Klondike was on his way home, and Ember was watching over her pups wrestle and play in the lush, soft grass. Avalanche was the only wolf-dog, and the eldest and largest. So when she play-fought with her littermates, it was . . . accidentally quite aggressive. And since the others were huskies and less strong and powerful, they stood no chance against her. Avalanche tried her hardest to be gentle with them, but sometimes she just got too much into the play session that she forgot. Her littermates wore different coat patterns and such, so when a wolf or dog would look at her, they'd think she was a wolf and they'd be instantly terrified.

She was grappling with Parsley that very morning and she had been a little too rough, so Ember rebuked her harshly, which was understandable. She bowed her head submissively and shot Parsley an apologetic look. He gave her a short nod of understanding.

By then, Klondike was close to home. His head shot through the gap in the wooden fence, his snout bursting the guarding dirt pile. He squeezed through, looking frightened. "Ember!" His bark was harsh and what Avalanche thought was scary. But what was happening right now was nothing compared to what she would experience next. Ember hurried to her mate, her tail wagging in greeting, but Avalanche could tell her mother was worried by her dim expression and her face that was lined with worry. The huge grey wolf growled. "They've found out! Thunder knows!" He murmured this in a sharp undertone, his glinting green eyes flickering to his daughter who watched with confusion and curiosity.

Avalanche had padded forward but later was frustrated as her mother bowled her over to see Klondike. She understood why, of course; wasn't it urgent to see her father? Especially since things seemed . . . wrong? Shaking the thought away, the little grey-white pup strode to the burning red husky's side, looking at Klondike affectionately. "Father-"

"What do you mean? Surely they won't come this close to a master's dwelling!"

"Certainly not! But they're aware I only come here when your master's not here - they've known for a while now. Thunder's just decided to confront me today, because, like I said, he studied this."

Ember looked bewildered and seethed with fury. "And so 'Thunder' doesn't approve?"

"It's not my choice! It's not like I can persuade that stubborn mule!" Klondike spat, fur bristling. Avalanche's mother snapped. "I sure think you didn't even try!" Feeling overwhelmed, Avalanche took a pace back. What was happening? "D'you seriously think that?" Klondike seemed to swell to twice his giant size. He looked like a monster. She shrunk at her mother's side, and secretly admired her fo her courage as she snarled, "Of course not! I'm just worried for my pups' safety! Where is Thunder, now?"