The dog team plowed toward their cold destination without rest for two months, finally stopping one mile southeast of Triangle Lake on January 13. It was almost noon, and the weary wolves were famished. Martolli set up his spacious yellow tent, got to work gathering sticks and twigs, and quickly built a fire. He produced a meal of sizzling red bacon before the dogs’ eyes. Their carnivorous canine instincts grasped hold of them, and they lunged for the measly item. But their brutal master cut them short in their tracks. Kicks and punches were blown at the confused wolves, as they scramble around, searching for a sanctuary to shelter them. Martolli straightened up, one hand holding the plate and the other clutching the knotted whip.

     “Hungry, eh,” he snarled. “Sorry, boys, zis vun is vur me. I am verry dizzapointed in yoo. Zee ride better not be jerky tomorrow, or I’ll make sure yool become jerky for me to eat! Vee hav a lot mur to go. Vee must go northeast for 4 miles near Jasper Lake, zen two miles east of Ojibway Lake, and finally throo Madden Lake and Greenstone Lake back to Ojibway Lake.”

     And with that, he bid the dogs good-night, but not before kicking them each. They made certain he was inside the tent, and began licking their wounds from the whip. Soon they, too, huddled together for warmth. Hyineth was the first one who spoke, her blue-gray fur matted with blood.

     “I cannot stand this anymore. We must escape Martolli’s leadership and become free once again, as we were before. Do you remember how wonderful it was being a pack? Do you remember how cruelly he captured us?”

     Salamikra lifted his tired head. “I agree. We must run away.”

     “No.” Another male, Kooniwae, shook his muzzle. “We have tried that before. He caught us by those scent-tracking beasts, remember? We received the worst beating for disobeying him."

     “But this time, it will be different,” Hyineth argued. “We will be more cautious, more cunning. We cannot be tracked down if we are hidden. The strong winter wind will disguise our scent. We tried to escape in the summer, when there was hardly a breeze. It will work.”

     Hyineth looked around anxiously, waiting for the approval of the others. Salamikra got up on his fours and went by her side. So did Marcomi, Syinut, Jookala, Garkuin, Nambe, and Roskone. Kooniwae was the only dog left. He hesitated for a minute, then walked up to the Alpha. Hyineth smiled with pride, as they glanced fearfully over their shoulder while running into the forest. She stopped abruptly and turned around. She was the last one standing on the bank, looking at the lit tent so far away.

     Five years later, Hyineth mated Salamikra, who became the male Alpha. Her plan of escaping had been very successful. Just as she had predicted, her pack was not caught on account of the strong winter wind. People living in Alaska have reported seeing many blue-gray wolves running through the woods.