Chapter Two (2)
Author's Note: None, Story Continuation
A deep, scruffy voice replied, "Relax wolf-dog, I mean you no harm." A dark gray wolf emerged from the shadows. The wolf was an average size, and had a shaggy coat. It's left ear flap was missing, and he had a scar with missing fur across his torso on the left side. He spoke again, "I am Graintok, alpha male of the Kuskokwim Mountain pack." Balto then spoke, "What do you want with me?" The alpha responded, "We want you to come with us for a while, get you used to pack life. And maybe, if you learn well, let you live with us."
Balto was about to decline, but then pondered the thought. There was nothing left for him in Nome except for Boris. Muk and Luk had finally left after they learned enough for themselves. And besides, Boris was gone most of the time now anyway, so why stay. Balto looked the alpha in his eyes and nodded.
Graintok smiled and said, "Excellent, follow me and my comrade." Just then, a light gray wolf approached from the brush. The alpha looked at him and said, "Silus, take point and lead us to "the point."" Silus nodded and with a deep Australian accent replied, "Yes sir." With that, they were on their way to the top of one of the lower points in the mountain. They walked in total silence, with the occasional glance at their surroundings.
It took them 2 ½ hours to reach their destination. The sun was setting now and it was cool and crisp. When they arrived, Balto noticed 4 other wolves. One he could guess was the alpha female. She had a white coat with pointy ears, and light blue eyes. Another one was a male who had a black coat with droopy ears, and extremely dark brown eyes. Another, male with a dark brown coat and average ears, who also had dark brown eyes. Lastly, another male, with a tan coat and ears just like the black one. He had blue, almost ocean colored eyes. They all looked at him for a moment, and then continued with their activities.
Graintok spoke, "This is Balto, he will be staying with us. Please be kind, hospitable, and respectful. You may continue with your duties, except you." He pointed to the tan wolf. "Rhushnorick, I want you and Silus to hunt. Do not return until you have something large enough to feed us all." Rhushnorick then looked over to Balto, and said in a British accent, "Sir, I would like to take our guest on this hunt. I want to see if he's skilled." Graintok then looked at Balto and agreed, "Alright, Silus, I want you to be on sentry duty until they return." Silus sighed and said, "Yes sir." He then turned and went up to a small plateau above them. Graintok turned to Balto and Rhushnorick and nodded. Rhushnorick then began to trot away and Balto followed.
After a few minutes of walking Rhushnorick stopped and turned to Balto. Balto also stopped and listened to what his hunting companion had to say. "Ah, no worries, there are caribou in the vicinity. I figured that you and I should chat before we hunt." Balto sat down 3 feet away from Rhushnorick. He looked at him and said, "Okay, what is it?"
"My dear boy, I want to know what brings a half-breed out of town and into the forest." Balto then looked down and sighed.
"Nothing really, I just wanted to take some time and clear my head." He made a mistake in saying that for he knew what Rhushnorick would ask next. "Clear your head of what?" Balto said, "Fuck," under his breath and finally spoke up. "I had to clear my head of my mate." Rhushnorick looked at him and said, "What, humans and dogs still rejecting you? Treating you like shit? Are you gonna lay down and take it and contemplate your options like a bitch? Or are you gonna rebel and fight it?!" Balto had an angry look on his face. "You know what, yeah I'm gonna fight it. People don't want to deal with me, fuck em'. People think that they can toss me to the side. Not anymore, it's gone on long enough. She thinks that she can cheat on me? Hell no! They got another thing comin'! Get ready for the new Balto!"
Rhushnorick smiled and stated, "There's only one way to do this, if you want, you can join us. We are the resistance. In case you're wondering, yes, I'm half dog also. I know your pain brother." Balto then calmed down a bit and said, "Alright…I'm in." With that, they waited a few moments before leaving to get the caribou.
They approached a feeding area for them. Balto took the left flank, and Rhushnorick took the right. They both crouched down low to the ground and slowly inched closer. One of the caribou heard them and looked up. Rhushnorick then ran and jumped on that one with his teeth around it's neck. Then Balto ran at another one and they all took off.
Balto chased them down from behind, trying to catch a slower one. He succeeded within a minute. He jumped on a younger calf around 7 months old. It was big, but not extremely heavy. He could carry that one by himself. But Rhushnorick was having trouble. His was larger, around 3 years old. Balto then remembered that their catch needed to be large enough to feed the whole pack. "Shit," he whispered to himself. He then looked to the heavens, closed his eyes and said, "Sorry." He then gently set his caribou down and went to his partner.
He picked up the other end of the caribou. Rhushnorick looked at him and said, "Thank you old boy." They headed back towards their den. When they reached the point, Graintok greeted them. "Welcome back, brothers. Ah, I see you have a rather large catch, plenty enough for all." They brought the caribou to the center of the closing between small cliffs. Rhushnorick turned to Balto and said, "Your skills are admirable. You only forgot that you needed game large enough for us all. I will notify Graintok of your abilities. Thank you for the help. If you'd like, I can teach you more next time, help you improve sighting and stealth." Balto nodded and with that, his new mentor was off.
Balto then went to an area where a 6x3 ft. cave stood. He entered and lied down. The pack alpha female walked over to the cave and said, "You've selected your sleeping spot I see." Balto looked up and said, "Oh, sorry, is this your spot." She shook her head and said, "No, I sleep up there with Graintok," she said gesturing to a small clearing 6 feet above them. Balto then tilted his head a bit and asked, "Sorry, what is your name, if you don't mind me asking?" She smiled and said, "Certainly, my name is Tamara. Yours is Balto correct?" Balto nodded and stated, "Yes, pleasure meeting you." She looked back for a second then to him again. "It was a pleasure meeting you as well. The caribou is yours to eat. You are a pack member now." Balto smiled and said, "Yes, thank you. I am not hungry, for many things occupy my thoughts. Thank you for the offer though." She bothered not to pry. "No problem. If you become hungry, you know where the food is." Balto nodded and stood to bow his head before she departed. "She is nice, and this pack seems pretty hospitable," Balto thought to himself. Then, Balto began to think about Nome, and about the other dogs there. More importantly, he was thinking about Jenna.