It wasn’t unusual to see ships coming onto the secluded harbour of the North. Regular drop-offs of foods and goods, yet this day, in particular, was different. This was the day that the horrific sounds of distraught animals broke through the vast Canadian forests. Helpless yipping of dogs, squawking of birds and screaming of apes. All were crammed into tight cages no larger than their trembling, aching bodies. This awful sound echoed for miles around, attracting the attention of many keen ears.

  “Hear that Ash?” Bleiz growled, his ears jerked toward the direction of the sound. The large grey wolf felt all the fur on his hackles prickle painfully with excitement.

  “Hmpf. Settle, Bleiz. Those parts are dangerous. With all those awful two-legged creatures. They kill us for sport you know.”

  Bleiz looked toward Ash, yet his blue eyes avoided his brother's fierce gaze. Ash and Bleiz were almost identical, apart from the prominent earthy brown patterning on Ash’s face that trailed elegantly down his spine.

  “Brother. Those are animals. They sound like they’re hurt.”

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  “But there will be two-legged too, Bleiz.” Ash snarled, pulling back his lips to bare his pink gums and yellowing teeth.

  “As Beta wolf, I say we go explore.”  Bleiz snorted, his bushy tail wagging slowly, yet Ash’s thinner tail sat stiffly.

  “As Alpha I say we stay where we know it’s safe.” Ash’s ears flattened against his head.

  “Then I’ll go. Circle the area and observe the dangers. You never know what’s there if you don’t look, Brother.” Bleiz didn’t wait for an answer before he barreled off into the dense forest, following the distant yelps and barks as guidance. He ran as fast as his muscular body could carry him,  sprinting at an astonishing speed, covering thirty or more miles in no time at all.

  Upon first inspection, he noticed the shine of metal with animals trapped inside their confines. Bleiz’s blue eyes widened as he drew closer, his body low to the ground to keep hidden. The cages were being taken off the ship and onto many trucks and lorries. His hackles prickled again. He felt uneasy about all of this. Why were the two-legged doing this?

  Bleiz’s eyes fell upon a bundle of red inside a cage closest to him. The scent of it was heady and stung his ardent nostrils with a sweet and innocent smell. He drew closer, his ears pining forward and his eyes trying to pick out any distinguishing features. He was unsure if the creature inside was even alive, he saw no movement in its ribcage. He poked his nose through the bars and sniffed. He needed to know what this creature was.