The trio of wolves traveled through the woods, on their way to Nome. Aleu trailed behind, stopping every now and then to see how some things had changed over time while Koa stuck with Chaska further along the snowy trail. Chaska stopped by a dead tree, and checked the marking on it. "We're on track. We should arrive at the town soon." He moved on, but Aleu kept on looking at the marking. "After all these years, they are still here" she murmured. Chaska looked back and slowed the pace, waiting for her to catch up. Koa felt awkward with the silence that surrounded them, and decided to make conversation. Chaska noticed him come up to his side, but kept his eyes and head forward.
"So, this 'Balto'.. Aleu's only ever mentioned him a few times, along with a few others of the pack. Who is he to Aleu? Is he a friend, or a brother, or-"
"Her father" Chaska cut in. "Oh." There was a long pause before he continued. "What's he like?" Koa asked. Chaska was about to answer, but then he thought of a more fun way to describe him. "Have you ever seen him?" Koa shook his head. Chaska smirked, but made sure Koa couldn't see. "Well, he's quite big, and menacing. And his teeth, they could tear through almost anything" he lied, but the look on Koa's face was worth it. He could see a tinge of fear in his eyes, and he heard a quiet whimper. "And don't even get me started on the claws. Once, I saw him cut a tree down with them." Koa rolled his eyes, and Chaska knew he was going too far.
"Okay, now that's hard to believe" he said, but he was fooling no one. Still, his had hints of fear on his face. "Oh no it isn't. It was a bit thin, but still hard. And his eyes..." Chaska stared hard with wide eyes. "..will stare into your soul." Chaska's head kept on moving closer and closer, then Aleu had to ruin it for him. "Uncle! Stop scaring him!" Koa looked at her, then back at the now laughing wolf-dog and scowled at him, but then broke into a light smile. He was quite impressed by how the older wolf at fooled him.
"You almost had me there. But I think I'll ask Aleu about him." The two went ahead, leaving Chaska behind to recover from his laughter. He soon did, and stood up from the ground. He was about to continue on, then recalled that he had to do something. Something to do with Koza. He must have blanked out, because when he looked ahead, Aleu and Koa were giving him worried looks. "Are you alright?" Koa asked.
"You two go on ahead. Aleu, take Koa to the boat. I'm sure Boris can help you there." Aleu squealed and started to bound around at hearing his name. "Uncle Boris!? He's still here? I can't wait to see him again! Come on Koa! You have to meet him!" She raced ahead, leaving Koa to chase after her, running past his limit. Chaska chuckled lightly to himself, and turned away from the two, bounding back at a slow pace.
He arrived moments later, and found Koza alone at the entrance. It was the perfect time and place to discuss some things in private. Koza gazed up into the sky, feeling the cool wind blow against his fur. Chaska sat by his side, watching over the landscape before them. "You're back early" he declared. From the corner of his eye, he saw that he came alone. "Where is Aleu and Koa? Did they get to the town safely?" Chaska nodded, putting Koza's worries to rest. "So they are safe?"
"I sent them to Boris." Koza looked at him, a quizzical look upon his face. "You did not go all the way? Why didn't you?" Chaska met his gaze with his own. "To pay my respects." Koza saw this as the time and went back into the mountain. He and Chaska met up in the den where Takoda lay in the center, below a small hole in the ceiling that the light of the sun came through, and called to the rest of the pack. Both Koza's and Aleu's pack came, and all at once, they let out a sorrowful howl that could be heard for miles. This went on for almost a minute, with some of them pausing to take a breath before continuing. Just as they began, they lowered all their heads in one slow motion as one.
They left one after another, saying one final prayer to their fellow packmate as they did. Even Aleu's pack, who knew nothing of the wolf, paid their respects. Chaska and Koza were the last of the wolves to be inside. Koza waited at the entrance for his friend as he paid his final respects. "I am sorry, Takoda. You were a good friend to my parents, and cared for the sick and injured.' He paused, casting a glance over at Koza. "I should have come to see you. Your death...no one saw it coming."
"He will be missed" Koza added. To give his final farewell, he sat back and tipped his head back, then let out another howl. Koza tipped his forward with a sorrowed look.
Once he had finished, Chaska stood back up on all fours and made his way out. "Koza. I need to talk to you. In private." Koza nodded and led him to his den after making sure it was clear. "Now, friend. What is it you need?" Koza asked, sitting in the center of the den. Chaska sat across from him.
"How did he die?" he queried. "We do not know. It was not from any illness or injury. It's as if he just died in his sleep from nothing. I'm certain it wasn't age. The day before, he was perfectly fine. No signs of sickness, and no injuries whatsoever, so it wasn't infection." Chaska thought over it. He couldn't figure it out. "There's something else, isn't there? Something that is troubling you, and it isn't Takoda's death, is it?" Chaska lightly shook his head. "You can tell me."
"I was getting to it." Chaska sighed, then began. "A week ago, I had a weird dream. I was in the forest not far from here, and I was following a voice that called for me. It was a soft, calm voice. I knew I was getting closer, because it was getting louder. But as I got closer, it started to sound panicked. I went faster and faster until I reached the tundra, and I saw two wolves. A white one on the ground, and a black one standing over it. I couldn't see the black one's face, but I could see the white one's. It's eyes stared into mine, and then the black one struck it's neck. I..I couldn't move. Then, I would wake up. Since then, I've been having the same dream over and over." Koza thought over it. It was odd for some to have the same dream over and over, and most of the time, it was a vision. But Chaska wasn't done yet. "But there's more. Last night, I had the same dream. But this time, it was different. It didn't end where the others did. It ended after the white wolf was dead. But what I wanted to talk to you about...was who I saw."
"Who? Who did you see?" Koza asked. There was a long moment of silence as Chaska mustered the courage to speak his name. The one who had tormented him for most of his life. The one he thought to be dead. The traitor. The one word that instilled fear into all who knew who it belonged to. "Akiak." Koza felt two things at hearing that dreadful name. Fear and rage. A low growl came from deep within him, and his eyes narrowed. "That wolf died because of his greed" he spat, baring his teeth as if the very traitor was there before him. "He would never come back, even if he survived. But no one could survive a fall like that. You know it, and I know it."
"I know. But I just feel that something is coming. Something big."
"Well, we might not know who's back. But I know someone who does. We'll meet up back at the human settlement. Wait for me there." Chaska nodded and trotted out of the den. Once he was out of the mountain, he made his way back to the town.
Chaska followed Koza through backstreets and alleyways to avoid being detected. Koza, being an outsider, would draw a lot of unwanted attention if he walked out in the open. "How much further?" Chaska asked, anxious for answers. "We're almost there. I have his scent." Koza said. After a few more turns down through the alleys the wolves came across a shaking trash can as well as a muffled voice coming from within it.
"I swear it was right here..." the voice said in a thick Russian accent. Koza knocked on the can with his paw, "Dmitri. Come out I need to speak with you." he called. A second later the head of a Snow Fox popped out of the rubbish, his fur a dingy snow white from rummaging through the trash. "Koza! My favorite wolf! What can I do you for friend?" he asked, jumping out of the bin. He was about the same size as Rei in height and even had the same fur color. The only thing distinguishing the two from each other were the size of Dmitri's ear and black markings on his muzzle, the kind usually seen on foxes. He looked over at Chaska, "Who's this?" he asked suspiciously. "Just a friend of mine. His name is Chaska and he needs your help."
The fox looked Chaska up and down, inspecting him to see if he looked trustworthy. After a moment his face lit up with a bright grin. "Okay. So what can I do you for friend? I have lots of product. Many things you like." he said as he walked over to an old rusted wagon covered by a sheet. Dmitri removed the sheet to reveal what looked to be a pile trash, old trinkets, and generally unless items. Chaska looked over at Koza worriedly, Koza only giving him a shrug and a wry smile. "Dmitri has everything you like, eh? I have..." he stopped so he could search through the pile, picking up an old chewed up bone, "New bone. Need something to chew?" he asked. Chaska slowly shook his head, "Not quite. I was wondering if..." he said before being cut off. "You don't like? Is okay. I have squeak toy." he held up a dented ball and squeezed it, the ball made a hoarse wheezing sound. Dmitri smiled nervously, "How'd that get in there? Heheh, I meant to throw that out." he said before going back in the pile.
"Actually I wanted..." Chaska was interrupted again by the fast-talking vulpine, "Don't worry. Dmitri has just the thing for you." he said pulling out a tattered old collar, the name tag rusted with the name 'Jewel' engraved in it. He walked forward and put the collar on Chaska, forcing his head through the tiny opening. Chaska looked down at his neck at the collar with a confused face. He looked over to see Koza chuckling at the sight of half-wolf wearing the faded pink collar, "That's a nice color on you. Really brings out your eyes." he teased. "Don't listen to him. You look marvelous. Now you're sure to get all she-wolves." he exaggerated, "Now, what do you have to trade?" the fox asked holding out a paw. Chaska gave him a confused look, "Trade?" Dmitri gave him an agitated look, "Yes trade. This is business not charity. I cannot give you collar for free. Therefore, you must trade. Now, what do you have?" he asked again.
Koza stepped in, "Look Dmitri, thanks for the offer and all but we're not here for the collar or anything else like that." Dmitri turned his back and sat on his haunches, "Well you waste my time. Go away. Come back when you want to make deal." he said, shooing them away. "We need something else from you Dmitri. Something we're willing to trade for." Koza said. Convinced the fox looked over his shoulder, perking one of his ears up, "I'm listening..."
"We are willing to trade for information." The fox turned all the way around and went back to his original position before them, intrigued by his offer. "What are you willing to trade?" he asked, raising a brow. "Quarter of a caribou. That should keep you fed for a while." The fox took it into consideration, rubbing his chin a paw. "You have my full attention. What kind of information would it be?"
"We need you to spy on the exiled wolves." Dmitri seemed to be stunned, then when he recovered, he shook his head. "No! Never, will I do that! Get one of your lackey wolves to do it, but keep me out of it! I want nothing to do with them!" He pushed himself against Koza, ignoring Chaska, who was still struggling with the collar around his neck. "We'll give you a full caribou!" Koza finally said. Chaska stopped trying to get the collar off, looking dumbfounded at the wolf, as was the fox, for he knew that if this was their offer, then they must have been pretty desperate. He moved away from Koza, letting him back into the alley. "Are you sure? That's is big amount, and a big risk for your pack, with so many to feed." Koza nodded, sincerity all over his expression. "I'm sure. Will you do it?" he asked. The fox turned away from and started to go back to the trash can. But before going in, he looked back over his shoulder.
"Come to my humble abode in two days. And be sure to have your side of bargain with you, or mine may just slip my mind."