The Wolf / Husky mix walked past the tall buildings. He knew he could be killed here, but he had no feeling of that. He lowered himself and crept quietly behind a building. He raised his head and howled loudly. He knocked down a small trashcan and scavenged for some food. He took big mouthfuls of tasty foods. He chewed and swallowed.

After he was done he walked down the small street in the back. He sat under some old wooden steps and yawned. He lay down under the steps. He was mostly here to see some other strays, if any. But he was actually wild, so it was his first time here.

The ebony-colored hybrid had recently come back from the Woodland Farm. A vivid scar streaked the side of his neck, showing just why he was forced to seek human's help. His pack, the rules of the Alleys, were always fighting and fueding with someone. Ankh was perhaps the most ill-tempered of the bunch. But he was very smart too, and didn't go getting into fights where he knew he'd lose. He was smaller than the average wolf with an unusually large ruff and silky fur. It was his fierce eyes that showed his true nature.

Staying from the Alleys, Ankh found himself wondering the Down Town section where the 'tamer' pets, strays, and humans lived. By chance, Ankh came upon Balto's scent and trailed it out of curiosity. When he found the hybrid under the steps, Ankh gave a low, sharp bark to catch his attention.

Balto was just about to fall asleep when he was startled by a bark. He shook, and then quickly got up. He stretched and walked out from under the steps. He scratched his side and then sat, looking toward where the bark had come from. He let out a loud and long howl. Then he trotted to the other.

Ankh dipped his head slightly in greeting, "You smell of the wild. Am I right?" he questioned lightly, looking Balto over as he approached. He had an offer for him, but first he wanted to know a few things.

Balto looked at the dog. He was pretty surprised to see someone who asked that question to him. "You are correct." he said and then added, "Have you ever attacked a human before?" He wanted to know. He had recently attacked a while ago.

Ankh was startled by the question, but grinned slightly, "No, not yet. Others in my pack have attacked humans before, but not me. I've been too busy fighting other wolves and dogs." Ankh narrowed his eyes in a curious manner, "Why do you ask?"

"Well," he said under a deep sigh. "I wished to never attack, but a group of kids forced it. I retreated soon after I bit one's hand. They were throwing bottles and rocks, and almost gotten slapped hard on the muzzle or head with a plank. It seems you can never find peice." His fur stood up, thinking about the small fight. It soon went back down after he calmed. "I would have killed them probobly. Fortunately for them, they got away." His nose sniffed for an unfamilier scent if there would be any. He would be protective now.

He nodded in understanding of the story, then rumbled in disgust, "My pack is loyal to one human, but I despise them all. Although... it's dangerous for us to attack them. They are very vengeful." Ankh gave a light sigh before perking up again, "There is a place called the Ruins. It's said that no human ever goes there. And.. I would offer you a place in my pack..." he trailed off a bit, studing Balto. Then he went on, "We fight a lot. Well, most of us do."

Balto's ears pricked up. "The Ruins?" he asked. His ears perked back forward. I have been at the Alley just a while ago. I got some food there and then left, because no one ever found me." His heritage popped into his head. Suddenly, a question came out of his mouth. "Are you a hybrid, too?" He hoped the other was not being offended by his question, but he needed to know. Or at least he would like to know. "I am Wolf and Husky mix. I am made up of more Wolf than dog." He had to tell somebody that.

The first remarks got his interest, "The Alleys? That is the territory of my pack; I'm surprised no one found you. But it's quite alright anyway, we let loners travel through so long as they don't threaten us." Ankh listened then to the following words and nodded, "Yes, I'm a hybrid. Like you, I'm more wolf than anything. My mother was mostly wolf with some shepherd in her. My father was also mostly wolf, but with some collie blood as well." The collie strain was what made Ankh smaller than the average wolf, but it also gave him a very thick ruff and smooth fur. Everything else about him, though, was wolf-like.

Balto looked down and then raised his head back up. He sat down and thought. "This world is harder for Wolves than anything else. I think its a shame." He scratched himself and then his mind wondered. "Aren't you a little protective there? I hear humans catch animals wandering around there." he said, then adding, "But I figure you would be safe with a big pack." He thought to himself once again. "Have any humans ever gone there and tried to catch a dog or Wolf?" He waited.

"We are very protective. But... it's hard to explain. There different kinds of humans that live there, in a way." Ankh was speaking of the humans that were more prone to violence and use to seeing such. "Wolves and dogs get caught all the time there, mostly ending up at the Pit. If you get caught in this area, you're more likely to go to the pound." Ankh shook his head gravely, "Neither is a good place. But my pack has lived around humans so long that we more or less know how to be safe around them. My uncle was nearly killed last summer though, and my brother was taken by humans."

Balto's body shook as he closed his eyes, as if a needle was poked into his skin. "I would still be protective. I have never been to the pound or at the pit. I never want to end up at either anyway, but it would be nice to live and be in a pack though." He wagged his tail and stood up. He started getting restless at sitting here. "I am getting restless here." He slowly looked at the sky. "I have never hunted before, so what do you eat there? Or do you venture to other places to get something?" He was overly curious, despite his restless body. He was going to hunt soon someday. Then, he popped another question he had to know. "Did you ever hunt?" He slowly rested his tail on the hard cemented ground.

Ankh nodded again, "A pack offers great protection. It's when were are separated or caught alone that we run into the most trouble. That's what happened to my uncle and brother." The hybrid turned and gave a fuertive glance about, also become restless. He didn't hang around this area so much because he wasn't use to the humans that dwelled here. "Yes, we hunt quite a bit. But when ever we can't hunt, we usually find easy food at the Dump or from trash cans. There is also the Ranch where we hunt chickens, cattle, and sheep. But you've got to be wary of the pets and humans there. Now they are protective!" Again Ankh looked around before speaking to Balto, "If you want, we could both go together on a hunt? It's always easier to have some help." Ankh was anxious to leave this place.

"Ahh, good. Also, have you heard?" He slowly wagged his tail and then finished his words. "Have you heard about the new 'horse'? Now theres one! They are staying in the Tall Grass Prairie. They are like, VERY new! Do you want to go there and visit the stallion?" He hoped the other would say yes.

He cocked his head in a quizzical way, "Horse? I'm not quite sure I've seen one of those before. Oh... yeah, I have! But never in the wild before." His eyes showed his grewing excitement, "I'd like to go see this, uh, stallion!" Ankh replied then eagerly, trying out the word 'stallion' which was new to him.

"I een one at the Ranch before. I practicly found myself in a fight over there once before though, by one of the collies." He hopped into the air and landed with a thud. He opened his mouth to speak, "Do you want to see?" He looked behind him. "The animal dwells in open places, like the Eskers and Tall Grass Prairie. He is currently at the Prairie now. Want to?" He could tell by the excitement in his eyes that he probobly wanted to go. He eagerly awaited.

His eyes widened with sudden shock, although he tried to hide the emotion. His brother Aidan resided at the Ranch, although he was still loyal to his real pack and was just betraying the pets there. Ankh wanted to make sure Balto hadn't fought his brother, but he didn't want to tell him about Aidan yet. Shrugging off the thought, Ankh picked up the excitement again as his tail gave a faint wave, "Sure, I'd like to see this horse." The was a grin on his muzzle.

"Great!" the hybrid said in an overly excited voice. "Lets go off to the Prairie then!" He then added, "Lets go!" He got up and trotted off toward the Prairie.

Again he was wrapped up in interest and followed his new friend quickly, keeping his nose to the wind and his eyes alert. "I can't wait to see this horse!" he barked with enthusiasm.