Two days later, the pack had not found Jacard. Hightower ‘volunteered’ several more members to search.

Elef looked to the sky. It was clear with no signs of falling snow or rain, sunlight reflected everywhere. Snow blindness was the only complaint everyone talked about.

“I don’t get it,” Daniel commented. “We should have found something. A body, him alive, but nothing makes no sense. It’s been two days now. When do we decide enough is enough and call it? If he is still alive, he will make it home, and if he is not, well.” He shrugged his shoulders.

Elef looked down at Daniel and nodded his head no. “Would you want us giving up you after two days?”

Hightower padded up to the two and changed back to human. “Elef, Daniel has a point. We can’t stay out here forever. We will give it to the end of today.”

Elef voiced raised. “That is it? You can do what you want; I am not giving up. I will find an answer, one way or another. It’s time to look at the impossible.”

Several other members of the pact came over to listen.

“What do you suggest we do?” Hightower inquired.

Elef looked around in a circle. “We have swarmed this entire area with no clues or signs. We searched this side of the mountain range. What if he got to the other side? The snow was blinding. He must have wandered the wrong way.”

Daniel snorted, “So he climbed over the mountain range while freezing and blind? Did he also grow wings and fly away?”

Elef’s nostrils flared. “Not over the mountain. How about through it? We need to find a passage or a break in the mountain range.”

Hightower nodded. “That is possible.”

Daniel looked at Hightower. “Okay, so humor him, and then let us go home. I am tired and need a break. I will stay here in case he comes back.” Under his breath, he muttered, “As if,” and chortles.

Hightower led the way straight towards the mountain range. “We will tear this range up, and if such a passage exists, we will find it. But, Elef, if we find nothing, then it’s done.”

Hightower gave orders to spread out. Everyone needed to search for passages or anything similar through the mountain range and leave nothing to chance. Elef accepted his range and searched high and low for any sign. Everyone searched for hours. One by one, they returned to Hightower.

When Elef approached, he saw the look on Hightower’s snout. There had been no news. Hightower sent a mental question to the entire pack. Each reported and confirmed. There was no sign.

Daqul’s was one of the last to report in. “There was no sign of a passage through. However, there was a possible way over. It looked to be a trail of some sort but does not look like anyone has used it in many years. Oh, and there was a ravine. It was too steep and deep to explore.”

Hightower barked, “Where? Show us.”

The pack moved as one.

Hope shined on Elef’s face. Disappointment soon replaced it. The possible passage over went was up until details were no longer seen. The ravine was too steep to even begin to search. It was a straight drop of at least two hundred feet. Elef knew the pack would survive the drop. If they found Jacard in the ravine, getting out would not be so easy.

Elef pack spoke. “Hightower, we need to go down. I can almost sense Jacard went this way.”

“How would we get back up? This discovery gives us hope, but we must be smart, exploring the options. Daqul?” Hightower looks around until he spots the seasoned wolf. “I want you to go back to the reservation and get a lot of rope. Enough to get down the ravine and back, twice.”

Daqul woofed and started running. His paws grazed the ground before they were gone again.

“He has always been one of our fastest. And while we wait for his return, we will explore this upward path. Little Feather, I am giving you point on this one. Take a few others with you. See where it leads. The rest of us will continue to scout around.”

Relief flooded Elef’s face. Finally, he had a lead to follow. Even if it was not the one he wished to pursue. It was something. “Thank you, Hightower” He lowered his snout to the ground, making sure not to break eye contact. He showed acknowledgment of Hightower’s status but not relinquishing his will at all. From this moment on, he refused to follow with blind obedience and wanted him to know it.