Author's Note: Hah, my first fic has begun! Anyways, this particular story has been bothering me from a young age, and although it has evolved quite a bit, it just wouldn't go away. So, here, the Sabaec Trilogy begins.
Again, this takes place in the Balto universe, but in modern times (Early 2000s to be exact.) So, almost all original characters, but it may reference the original story.
Enjoy!
/
The pulsing of Novac's paws into the snow was what finally did him in.
The wolf was running, his brown fur laid flat against his body from the roaring wind. Low, ragged breaths force their way out in to the open, as Novac's heart continued to pound as he ran. His ears swiveled back and forth, in an effort to give him some kind of warning. He flattened himself against the snow a bit more as he continued to run, while his tan undercoat started to develop a crusting of snow along the edges.
Suddenly, Novac forced himself to a halt, the sudden silence enveloping him as his breath quieted. His ears continued to flick back and forth, and the wolf kneaded his paws a bit into the fresh snow. Hopefully, his frantic run had distracted the wraiths enough to get them away from the town, and therefore away from Aurora.
Of course, Skok, the prodigal son, had to hunt for him. After he had left his pack, Novac had though that his family could care less what he did- he had already taken a dog as a mate, so he had already betrayed his bloodline. Of course, that was before he realized that the Howl had chosen him to be the Bearer.
A twig snap from behind caused the wolf to jump slightly, but the sight of a hare leaping into the brush caused the wolf to force himself to be calm. He twisted his body around slightly, and flattened his ears for a moment.
However, by the time the Howl had made itself known, Novac was within a sprinting distance of Cedarlark, and Aurora herself. The wolf had been terrified, but couldn't stop himself from completing the journey, and consummating his relationship with Aurora, his heart and soul.
Now, he was paying for it.
A low howl echoed in the distance, and Novac tensed. The shadows seemed to lengthen a few heartbeats later, and the wolf tilted his ears forward in fear. The shadows slowing began to gather in a lopsided circle around Novac, and he closed his eyes, knowing what was coming.
A low, mournful howl sounded even louder, this time just on the edge of the shadows. Finally, the shadows solidified, leaving Novac surrounded by what looked like a slew of black wolves, with onyx eyes that stared blankly at the wolf. Slowly, he turned to gaze at his attackers, and he let out a low growl, attempting to summon his powers. However, as he continued to growl, the wraiths showed no sign of leaving, and Novac's hackles rose even more as he continued to stare at the wraiths.
After a few more minutes, Novac heard the sound of heavy paws crunching the snow, as another wolf came up from behind him. Standing still, Novac waited for a waft of scent to reach him. The scent confirmed what the wolf already suspected- Skok.
"Evening, brother."
Novac couldn't help but let out a low snarl at the sound of his brother's voice, at he was sure that Skok saw it as he made his way past Novac, to stand between the wraiths and his brother. Skok's fur laid flat, his haunches and tail proudly straight, with the bearing of an alpha. Staring down at his brother, Skok flicked his ears back a bit, with a low chuff. "Out for an evening run, I would see?"
"You should know." Nova retorted, bringing his own body up higher, in order to gaze his brother directly in the eyes, a challenge among wolves.
Skok's eyes hardened at this, and he lifted his tail a bit in response. "My my, brother, you have been among dogs for too long, you are starting to speak like them."
Novac simply let out another snarl at this, and kept his position. "In your view, yes. But now, I want to know- why are you hunting?"
Skok let out another chuff, and began to lash his tail back and forth as he paced in front of his brother. "For the simplest reasons- You betrayed our father, our bloodline, and yet still received the Howl. Such power, in the hands of a traitor- you- will not be tolerated by the High Pack. A Bearer, taking a dog as a mate? Such things must be extinguished."
Novac hardened his own gaze. "You honestly think you, with your little pack of night-wraiths, can strip me of the Howl? Come now, Skok, you know that won't work."
His bravado was as much of a show as anything, for Novac couldn't properly control the Howl, at least not yet. He hadn't dared to tap into its full power, for fear of losing himself inside the spirit. However, he hoped Skok would fall for his bluff, for both his and his brother's sake.
Skok simple raised his head a bit more. "No- I was simply tasked to retrieve you, to bring you back under our family's blessing. I wish no harm on you, Novac, for you are my litter-mate- but I must complete my duty. Come back, my brother, return to your proper place, as the wild Bearer of the Howl. All will be forgiven"
Novac stared at his brother, his mind racing ahead. All would be...? He would be a noble again, of the Line of Juik? A vision popped into his mind, of himself standing on a jagged rock, overlooking the wilds, that he controlled. His heart hammered, but a tendril of truth slithered into his fantasy, forcing him back to reality. The tendril, the simple knowledge of other pounding hearts, little ones buried deep within Aurora's flesh, caused the wolf to let out a snarl at his brother. "No, Skok. I am sorry, but my destiny dwells here, my family dwells here."
Skok shut his eyes for an instant, and a low whine sounded from his muzzle. "Ah, brother, I had hoped you would see reason. But now, I have no choice."
Novac lowered his body as a howling wind sounded around the clearing, and he watched as his brother began to stalk up to him.
"When you ran off, do you think the Howl would simply allow itself to be carried off, to be passed on to halfbreeds? It couldn't free itself from you entirely, but neither could it allow itself to be lost to time. So, it took the only option left."
Skok shut his eyes again, and when he reopened them again, Novac let out a startled yelp. Instead of being a stark gold, Skok's eyes had turned pitch black. "It split itself," Skok began, his voice taking on the sound of many growling wolves. "And the High Pack with it. All have been torn in two, and we are now governed by NightPack, and MoonPack."
Skok grinned a bit. "You retained the power of MoonPack, while I was chosen by NightPack. Unlike your patrons, however, the Wolves of Night trained me in the use of the power, making what was once an equal match, now a slaughter. Breath your last, brother."
With that, Skok flicked his tail, and the wraiths surged forward. Instinctively, Novac dropped to the ground, and in his panic, three white wolves, snow-wraiths, surged into existence on either side of him. With a high pitched howl, the trio leaped to form a barrier around Novac, just as the bulk of the night wraiths jumped forward. Ice and shadow met in a fury, and Novac rose to his feet.
His heart pounding, Novac felt a primal force awaken deep within his chest, and claw it's way up to the surface. No...
Skok made his way towards his brother, his eyes still pitch black. Novac shut his eyes, and the Howl broke free. An instant later, Novac opened his eyes, and pure white light streamed out from them. Novac's body flicked his ears back, and the ice and wind behind him began to gurgle and tremble. The Howl was out- at least for an instant.
Long, sand-colored claws raked themselves down Novac's throat, and Skok spun back before his brother could retaliate. The sharp pain brought Novac back into control, and the wolf sputtered to the ground, the his eyes returning to gold. Skok stood above, and with a grin, bared his teeth. "Again, I am sorry, my brother."
In the instant before Skok sank his teeth just behind his brother's head, Novac was able to howl out two words, his pain and desperation left to the wind. His legacy, at least for the time being, would be the remnants of his last howl-
"My Child!"