Book 3
Isle of the Wolves
Chapter 1
The group had been plodding across the ice bridge for nearly an hour, each canine beginning to feel an immense fatigue from running and maneuvering across the ever shifting flows. The sled was a major pain in the ass to try and keep upon the ice, said sled nearly dumping over quite often. the dogs had to unharness and walk on each side of the sled to stabilize it. After all this time they still could not see the island they sought, just an endless stretch of sea and ice that spanned far beyond the range of their range of eye sight. Balto leapt from flow to flow, informing the ones on the sled of any dangers and how to move the sled to the next flow. Balto bounded across a short stretch of water, landing gracefully on the other side. the group followed with the sled in tow making their way across the narrow strip of ice. Kodiak sadly miscalculated the placement of his paws and he stumbled, bumping into Dingo from the side and the former went toppling into the water, yelping before splashdown. Balto stopped and turned around, the others leaping over top of Kodiak's head as he bobbed up and down in the water, the sled following. The sled secured on the other side, Klatto turned to Kodiak, biting his tongue to refrain from laughing at him.
"Dumb ass," Klatto teased, causing Kodiak to grin sheepishly.
Klatto chuckled and dipped his head down over the edge, Kodiak dipping his muzzle down and exposing the back of his neck. Klatto gripped Kodiak by the scruff with his teeth and began to pull him out, Balto appearing at the scene and also seizing a piece of his son. Together they hefted Kodiak from the icy waters, Kodiak clambering up onto the ice. Once there he stood up and shook his copper pelt then sat down in exhaustion, his entire body shaking from the cold.
"You need to be more careful," Balto informed, receiving an embarrassed, "yeah," from his son.
"Alright guys, gather round," Balto called, "Slippy needs to get warm."
Kodiak smiled weakly as the dogs and wolves huddled close around his cold, wet body, glad for the heat that he was shivered a few minutes more, then calmed as his body slowly began to reheat and thirty minutes later it was decided that he was once again fit for travel.
- The island no longer had balance; it was only bands of wolves running a muck in unmarked territories and unclaimed lands because now there was no point in staking such claims. Every living thing was dead besides them, so there wasn't any sense in fighting for empty land. Here though it seemed that the wolves were making a pretty fair existence, probably because, though it was unpleasant, they could tolerate eating slightly rotted meat.
Balto and his group encountered at least four of these packs of rouges, but passed through without any real trouble. Unbeknownst to the others, Aniu had cast a spell upon each of the wolves that they encountered, making the group invisible, both by sight and scent, so that they could pass through unharmed. The wolves would simply pause, their instincts telling them of a presence and stare blankly at where they walked as they paraded passed by, but would brush it off as a senseless paranoia and continue on their way.
After a forty minute walk, and navigating through a rock strewn valley, the group came upon a pack of about a dozen wolves led by a female that Balto knew well. The group of lupine seemed to be enjoying the day, the wolves just lazing about the area, trying to forget about the state of their home for a while. The wind was blowing at Balto's group's backs and carried their scents into the nostrils of the twelve wolves, the female wolf picking up on it first. Balto slid free from his harnesses and took a step toward his daughter.
The female leader turned and bristled at him, baring her teeth and snarling menacingly. Balto froze.
'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.'
The female finished her preliminaries and charged, in jumping up and landing on the surprised Balto's back. Balto's group rose into an uproar, growling and freeing themselves from their restraints. However, the wolves stood at a distance, giving them the 'don't move or we will kill you' look, causing the dogs to settle. Instead they went to encouraging Balto. Balto threw the female off and she landed effortlessly on her feet, turning back to face him as if nothing had happened. He wasted no time and flew in, using his forepaws to roll her. He followed her on her way and stood over top of her when she came to rest, his forelegs spread apart just past each of her shoulders. She had expected this, and in a flash she swept her legs under Balto's and he was taken over and down onto his back. The female pinned him by his shoulders and stood dominantly over him, her nose pressed down nearly touching his. It wasn't so much as weight, but pure strength that this she-wolf possessed, making Balto helplessly pinned no matter how hard he fought. The female wolf growled menacingly, baring her glistening fangs. Balto closed his eyes and then ceased, the hybrid chancing a glance up at his assailant. The she-wolf's face had changed completely, a proud smile now dominating her features. She looked down at her frightened enemy and erupted into laughter.
"You're out of shape, Papa," she said proudly.
Balto smiled and Alue let him up. The two embraced each other and Balto's agitated group settled. Father and daughter separated and Balto looked over his child with a proud smile. She was a lot more mature now, her shoulders broadening and her body being overrun by lean muscle.. Though she was mature in appearance, Balto could see that she was still the same bright eyed pup that he had always known.
Balto turned to his group, Alue doing the same.
"This is Alue, my daughter," he stated to the group.
Kodiak and Dingo padded over to their sister, pausing a short distance away from her and studying her for a moment.
"You look great," Kodiak began finally, "I mean look at you, you're all grown up, and if I might say so, you look beautiful."
Alue blushed under her fur.
"You always worried about not catching up with your older brother, but look," she pointed out, "you're broader than him and you can look him in the face," Alue said to Kodiak.
Dingo looked smugly over at his little brother.
"Yah but I can still put him on his back."
"You can try," Kodiak replied, crouching down in acceptance to Dingo's challenge.
"Okay guys. I'm not gonna have to start breaking up fights again am I?"
The two took their attention away from each other and back at Alue. The three shared in a laugh then the two brothers took turns embracing their sister. They separated when the first dog approached, Alue and her brothers turning their attention to her.
"I'm Ali," said the red female then bowed her head.
"Lartia," came a scratchy voice from the left end of the line of canines behind the one she now knew as Ali.
"Comet," said the black and white malamute next to Lartia.
"Kali," stated a grey female with white socks that stood beside Comet.
"Dusty."
"Kirby."
"Ralph."
"Xodiak."
"Klatto," stated the grey wolf that was next to last on the right end of the line.
"Aniu."
Alue knew the name from her adventure with her father, the knowledge of having the famed white wolf in her presence shocking her. She stared in a star struck awe then embraced her long lost grandmother, the both of them wrapping their head around the other's neck. After a while they separated.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," Alue began with a happy tone and swish of her tail, "as I'm sure you may know, I'm Alue."
There was a nod from the group and she continued.
"This is my mate Makhijani," Alue said referring to the muscular tan wolf that sat at her side.
Makhijani bowed his head.
Three pups sat between the two mates.
"This is Bear, Shep, and completely coincidentally, our only daughter is named Kali as well," Alue said pointing to each with her paw as they were named, laughing at the fact that there would be two Kalis around.
Balto nuzzled his grandchildren and listened as the other seven members of the pack were introduced. Once finished there was a long silence.
"So, you all hungry," Balto asked to the pack and to his team, breaking the awkward silence.
They all nodded 'yes' to him and lined up to receive their meals. The wolves mimicked the dogs' behaviors with confusion; they had never had a line for food before. They were used to simply digging into their meal. Nonetheless the food was passed out evenly amongst the group and they all ate without speaking. After they finished Alue led them a quarter mile to a frozen river that they kept broken up for drinking. The eighteen canines lapped the cold water then settled around Balto and the two alphas. It was decision time.
Alright! I am back in business with this story. I will be going back over what I have already written in an attempt to make it better and change a few things around here and there. I would like to thank those of you who have stuck with me. (All other chapters have been removed for editing and revising.)
