(Next week)

Athena was walking alongside her mother, snow was covering the ground now. 

Athena jumped into her mother's paw prints that were left behind in the snow. Markaira was a little ways ahead but Athena was still small, making it difficult to travel. 

Athena heard the squeak again and turned around to see the mouse, it had grown a little bigger but she knew it was the same exact one. The mouse was called Buddy. He always seemed to follow Athena wherever she'd go as an advisor. 

Athena barked happily at it and the mouse soon came close to her. Buddy leaped at her paw, he landed on it and stared up at her. 

She figured it wanted to get on but when she set her head down, the mouse bolted backwards. Athena tilted her head in confusion at Buddy. 

Athena left her head in that position and Buddy soon returned, he came close. Next thing Athena knew was Buddy hopping onto her snout then going onto her head between her ears.

She yelped slightly as she felt Buddy nuzzled into her fur. Athena looked back at her mother to see her far ahead now so she ran to catch up and Buddy stayed on her head.

Athena soon had caught up with Markaira but the grown wolf had stopped walking. She was staring at something so Athena poked her head out from behind her mother's massive paw.

Athena quickly became confused at the sight. It was a human with turquoise fur. It laid there sprawled out as if it had just lost a massive battle. 

Markaira growled as her big tail flicked at Athena's nose, a common gesture Athena had come to learn that meant stay here. Markaira walked forward and sniffed at it. 

Markaira sniffed and then nudged the human's head gently. Athena heard Buddy squeak so she straightened her ears as if she was listening to him speak. 

Athena quickly folded her ears against her head and walked forward to her mother, who wasn't paying attention.

The pup walked up to the human's side and placed her front paws on it. She soon boosted herself up and began to walk on the human, sniffing at it and occasionally giving it a lip. The fur didn't feel furry instead it felt hard and cold. 

Athena wrinkled her nose up in disgust at the taste. She heard her mother give a warning growl but the pup ignorantly ignored it.

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard and Markaira let out a loud howl. "Go on! Get!" Something yelled furiously as Markaira barked.

Athena turned around, her pelt puffed out in fear. There was another human in grey and maroon armor, Buddy squeaked out of terror and nuzzled as close Athena's head as he could get. Markaira growled and barked angrily.

"Go on! Before I shoot you!" The human yelled as he aimed a metal stick at Athena, who had her tail in between her legs. 

Markaira barked furiously and growled before leaping in front of Athena, who was still on the other human. Her mother kept barking and eventually the angry human shot into the air once more. 

This must've set Markaira off because she instantly ran at the man. She bit his arm fiercely and growled. She knocked the man off his feet and he dropped the metal stick. 

Markaira kept on biting his arm until the human landed a solid punch at her face causing her to recoil and Yelp.

The man reached for his gun but paused as a much louder sound was heard in the distance. Athena turned around and saw a metal bird landing. 

The man grabbed his gun but began to run away. Markaira snarled in fury and pain as she raced in front of Athena as the metal bird landed. 

Soon two new humans got out of the bird's belly which made Athena's head spin with questions.  The young pup barked in defense as her mother snarled in fury.

"Uh..... Wash, they don't seem willing to move..." A maroon man said to his companion, who appeared to be Wash. "No, but thank god they didn't or else Sharkface would've killed Carolina." Wash remarked as they approached. 

"Simmons, go get something edible." Wash commanded and his companion ran off, Wash soon got on his knee. He was a good distance away but Markaira was still tense. 

              "Now... Why don't I grab my friend in exchange for some food? Eh?"