Silvertip Mountain My Mind Is My Last Sanctuary

He knew it would shock Chaska, just like it had the others. Steady kept telling himself he had just been doing what must to ensure the survival of the pack. They all seemed to understand, except the pups. The Alpha wondered every moment what had happened to them when they ran off. In the middle of a famine, he did not think there was any hope for their survival. 

Chaska made a rather bad attempt at a joke, which seemed to have some truth to it, in Steady's opinion. Steady gave a half-hearted smile to his friend. It's alright, he said. He understood it wasn't meant to be mean. But, I do hope you realize that we make decisions we feel we have to. The guilt is heavy, but what's done is done. Steady still didn't know the details of what Chaska had been through, but now he felt he didn't need to know. Chaska seemed to be beating himself up about it enough, without anyone else putting more of that on him.