I skid into the clearing, my chest heaving from lack of breath. The rest of my hunting group runs in after me, stopping and looking around. Where could Alpha Granite be?
          I don't have to wonder for long, because he strides calmly out of his den moments after. He's not a large wolf, his pelt a common shade of a brown and grey mix. He'd be overlooked if it wasn't for his sharp, orange eyes and strong personality. He's muscular, but his eyes are the true scary thing about him. He could make an enemy stand down just by staring at them.

"Cadmium, did you bring back no food?" He asks disappointedly.

          I stare at him with wide eyes, almost angry that's the first thing that comes to his mind. But I remind myself he has no idea what just happened in the abandoned town.

"The humans have returned! They're in the town! They killed most of the caribou, and I don't know what they're doing!" I spit out suddenly.

     Alpha Granite's pelt sticks up in shock, tail held back stiffly and his ears perked. His orange eyes are wide with surprise.

"Where are they, Cadmium? You must show me. Immediately. " He insists, keeping a scarily calm expression.

"They're in the downtown area! They shot half of the caribou down, and scattered the rest!" I say, panting.

"Show me." The Alpha instructs.

      I'm exhausted from running, but I can't stop now. I obey Alpha Granite, as we all do. I lead him downtown, and to the humans. They're loading the dead caribou into odd, wooden apparatuses. I wonder why they don't just eat them right there. They're very heavy, and it takes many of them to move just one.
          A familiar scent reaches my nose. But it's distorted. It smells like a wolf, but different. Softened. Weakened by humans.

                          Dogs.

       Many generations ago, they were wolves. But humans have bred them to be different. They're standing perfectly still, and are hooked up to the wooden apparatuses with leather straps. I wonder why they don't just bite through them.

"Alpha, we need to help them! We can't just let the humans do that!" I whisper.

         The grey wolf shakes his head.

"We can't let the humans see us." He responds in a soft tone.

"But...-"

"Cadmium, the humans are dangerous. They have their guns. And they don't fight fair. If you turn your back, you'll end up shot. We can't risk them finding out about the Pack. You need to understand that about them, or you'll be dead." Alpha Granite tells me harshly.

      I look at the dogs helplessly. I will obey Alpha at all costs.

"Cadmium, I want you to keep your eye on the humans. I need to send wolves to alert the other Packs." He instructs.

        I nod, and he runs off and back into the forest. I fasten my eyes on the human pack, who are pretty much done loading up the caribou. My stomach growls as I watch the final corpse get lifted onto one of the sleds. I'm starving from running all day.
         The humans mount the sleds, shouting commands at their dogs. Barking and yelping, the wolflike animals take off. They start off slowly, but in minutes they're moving very quick. Snow flies out from under their paws, and their faces strain. The sun is close to disappearing beneath the horizon, so I assume the humans are leading the dogs home. Wherever that may be.
I run after them, following the sleds over the snow covered streets. It's painful to watch the poor animals pull the sled behind them, but I listen to Alpha Granite and stay hidden.
They stop at one of the corners of town, in a field. There are a lot of tents set up, and even more dogs tied to wooden stakes that are stabbed into the frozen ground. Several fires are lit, with humans sitting around them.
          The field is close enough to the forest that I can hide in the trees to watch them. The golden rays of sunset are casting shadows across the ground, and the humans are cooking hunks of meat over burning flames. Oddly, it's not the caribous that they killed. It must be something that they brought with them.
I snarl, pawing at the snow. Those caribou were ours, and they already had their own food to eat.
        The sun sets completely, and the humans head into their tents. The dogs are left outside, and they're all attempting to find sleep in the snow. Why do the humans get dens, while the dogs get nothing but snow? Even strong wolves sleep in dens to keep warm. These creatures confuse me.
       Thoughts are running through my mind. I stare at the dying embers, and make my decision. I'm going to talk to them. To find out what they are here for, and maybe even get on their side. I know that Alpha didn't tell me to do this, but he didn't tell me not to.
    I quietly pad out of the treeline, tail hanging down. I poise my body in a nonthreatening way, as to not scare them. My ears are not back, but they do not stand high. They're relaxed, and I'm sure I look generally welcoming. As long as our social queues are still the same.
        They notice me the second I get into view, their pelts standing on end and their ears perked. They are on edge, but don't snarl. I take this moment to wag my tail in a friendly fashion.
      One of them steps forward, a large, cloud white dog with an extremely thick pelt. A Samoyed.

"Who're you?" He asks, his voice deep.

     The dog's tail is held up, facing backwards stiffly. He isn't threatening me, but attempting to express dominance. I stifle a laugh. He looks like a cuddly lump of fluffy snow. I decide to let him think he's the boss.

"My name is Cadmium. Might I ask why you are in the company of humans?" I ask calmly.

"Does it look like we got a choice?" He responds simply yet harshly.

     I take a mental note that these dogs might be defensive about their situation. Though he is right. He's tied to the stake in the ground, along with the rest of his fellows.

"What kinda dog are you? Never seen nothing that looks like you before." He asks with a tilted head.

      I have to force myself not to laugh again. This guy thinks I'm a dog?

"I'm not a dog. Don't you know what a wolf is?" I answer in disbelief.

"I heard of wolves before. But I never seen one. You're a wolf?"

       The rest of the tied-up dogs are ogling at me, somehow surprised to see a wolf. I can't believe they've never even seen one before.

"Yes. But I have a question- do you, by any chance, know why the humans are here?" I ask, quickly cutting to the point.

"Don't know. Just know that I gotta pull the sled." He shrugs.

        This strikes a chord in me. He works with no motive or reason. Because he has to. I wish that I could free him and his fellows. But alas, I cannot. Even if Alpha Granite would allow it. The leather is covered in bite marks, but none have cut through.
        I hear a shuffling in the nearest tent. Our ears perk, silently anticipating the next sound.

"Wolf, we woke the humans up. You'd best leave. Maybe come back tomorrow if you want to hear more. Maybe try someone else who knows more, eh?" The fluffy white dog speaks quickly, snout pointing towards the forest from whence I came.

     I nod, rushing off back to the trees. I make it just in time, because the human bursts out of the tent seconds after. He shouts confusing meaningless words, kicking one of the dogs in the side before going back into his tent. I wince along with the dog, who whimpers softly.
        I snarl inwardly, but don't alert them of my presence. I should return to the camp, and explain to Alpha Granite about my contact with the dogs. The night is still young, and I have plenty of time to speak to him before getting some sleep.