Chapter 5: All The Best

"Alright, all I need to do is get Kodi and Chief together and settle this," Thomas said to himself as he walked around in the living room. "Yeah that's what has to happen," Thomas said as he walked out of the house to go and find Kodi. "Thomas hey!" Ann shouted as she ran up to him. "We need to talk," Thomas said as he placed his hands in his pocket. "Yeah um… what's up?" Ann asked. Thomas sighed before answering. "We really need to start training," Thomas explained. Ann nodded in response. "Okay so where is Kodi and Chief?" Ann asked. Thomas bit his lip and looked toward the forest. "They went to cool off somewhere and I also have a bigger problem," Thomas explained. "And what's that?" Ann asked as she crossed her arms. "Billy is also joining the little hunting game and he also owns a dog I kinda know… well know of." Thomas explained. "And what dog is that?" Ann asked. Thomas took a deep breath before answering. "Steele," Thomas answered.

Kodi sat down near a pond and a drink of water. "What do you have on that kid that makes you protect him so much?" a voice asked from behind Kodi. Kodi turned and looked at who was talking to him. It was Chief. "What do you want?" Kodi asked as he looked forward towards the water. "Now, now son I don't want to fight. I just want to talk." Chief said as he walked towards the bank of the pond. Chief then sat down next to Kodi and started drinking from the pond. "So again. Tell me why do care for that kid?" Chief asked before taking another drink of water. "I can ask you the same thing about Amos," Kodi said as he watched Chief take another drink of water. Chief then chuckled before looking at Kodi. "There's a difference between a master and a kid who takes of you," Chief explained. Kodi chuckled. "I don't see the difference… in fact I don't see Thomas as a master or just a kid who takes care of me. He's more than that. He's my kid and that's all the best that I need from him," Kodi explained. Chief smiled at that. "That's how every dog should see their human," Chief said still having his smile.

"Who's Steele?" Ann asked as she and Thomas started walking towards the forest to find Kodi and Chief. "Well he was once on the sled team who brought back the serum, when the kids were sick back at home." Thomas explained. "My class covered what happened during the serum run. But we never knew about the other dogs who were in the serum besides Balto of course." Ann said as she walked beside Thomas. "Well with Steele it was a different story and almost ended in tragedy because of him," Thomas said as he placed his hands in his pocket as they walked. Ann then stopped walking and just looked at Thomas. "Thomas?" Ann said as she rubbed her arm. Thomas stopped walking and looked at his friend. "Yes Ann?" Thomas asked as he looked at her. "Were one of the kids who were sick?" Ann asked. Thomas shook his head in response. "No. I wasn't, but my cousin Rosy was." Thomas added. "Did she um…" Ann started to ask but couldn't. "No she's fine. Very healthy today as we speak," Thomas said with a smile. "Oh good," Ann said with a smile.

"Anyways I know a way on how we can find Kodi and Chief." Thomas said as he pulled out the tracking stone from his pocket. "What stone is that?" Ann asked as she looked at the blue stone. "This is the tracking stone. Also magic from the Native Americans," Thomas explained with a smile. Ann nodded in response as she crossed her arms. "You really need to explain these stones of yours to me a little bit more," Ann said looking closely to the blue stone. "Right… i guess I should," Thomas said with a chuckle. Ann nodded to her friend in response. "Watch what this stone can do," Thomas said as he looked at the blue tracking stone. "Find Kodi," Thomas said to the stone. The tracking stone started to glow a bright blue as it lifted itself off of Thomas's hand and scanned the area. Different types of paw prints and footprints started showing up on the ground until Kodi's paw prints showed up in the dirt.

"Now that's cool," Ann said with a smile. "I know right! I'll never get used to it," Thomas said with a smile as the tracking stone floated back into Thomas's hand. "Now what do we do?" Ann asked as Thomas placed the stone back in his pocket. "Now we follow the paw prints to where Kodi is and I'll explain what all the stones do along the way." Thomas explained as he started to follow the tracks. "Sounds like a plan," Ann said as she followed close to Thomas. Kodi and Chief continued to sit by the pond until they heard someone walking towards them. "Who's there?" Kodi called out. "Who do you think?" Thomas said with a smile as he walked out in the open with Ann behind him. "Oh you scared me," Kodi said as he lowered his ears. "I'll still never get used to talking animals," Ann added as she sat down on a rock. "So you get her to join your little hocus pocus club?" Chief asked. "Hey it's not so bad!" Thomas said as he crossed his arms. "Well I would like the chickens to be quiet in the morning," Ann added as she looked at Thomas. Thomas shook his head before looking at Kodi.

"Kodi I need to talk to for a minute," Thomas said as he walked over to a nearby tree. Kodi nodded as he followed Thomas over to a tree leaving Ann and Chief alone together. "So can you tell me why you want to tear up Tod all the time?" Ann asked as she looked at Chief. Chief huffed while shaking his head. "What's up?" Kodi asked as he and Thomas stood by the tree. "You remember a dog named Steele right?" Thomas asked. Kodi's eyes widened in surprise. "Yeah. That devil of a dog tried to kill my dad back in the serum run. What about him?" Kodi asked as he sat down. Thomas then started to rub the back of his neck. "Well he's here and will be a part of the little hunting challenge that we're doing with Jedediah," Thomas explained. Kodi's started growling and pulled his ears back. "What! Why am I just hearing this now?" Kodi said in anger.

"Calm down Kodi. I just found this out earlier," Thomas said trying to calm down his friend. "Calm down?! This is Steele we're talking about here," Kodi shouted in anger. Thomas opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by an arrow flying in between Thomas and Kodi and hitting the tree next to them. "What the hell?" Thomas said looking at the arrow. Then they both heard something moving in the bushes. "Someone's here," Thomas said as he looked at the moving bushes. Suddenly a black and white husky jumped from the bushes and landed on top of Kodi, making him roll down the hill. "Kodi!" Thomas shouted before getting shoved down the hill himself. Thomas and Kodi both landed on each other and broke each others fall.

"You got to be faster than that Thomas!" Billy shouted from the top of the hill. "What the hell Billy!" Thomas said rubbing his head. Billy chuckled as he ran down the hill while holding his bow in his hands. Once Billy was down the hill, Steele joined him and stood next to him. "Like I said Thomas you got to be faster than that," Billy said as he puts his hand out to help Thomas up. "By trying to kill me?!" Thomas said as he helped himself up. "You have to be prepared for anything," Billy said with smirk. Kodi and Steele became face to face with Kodi growling at Steele. "Hey control your dog why don't you," Billy said as he glared at Kodi. "Back off Billy. I hope you know that these two have some history," Thomas said as he pushed Billy. Billy then made a fist and punched Thomas in face making him fall back down. Kodi then started to show some teeth as he stood in front Thomas and started to guard him.

"First of all. Don't ever push me again and second of all. I don't care much for history," Billy spat before walking back up the hill. Steele smiled as he followed Billy back up the hill leaving Thomas and Kodi alone at the bottom of the hill. "Asshole," Thomas said he spits blood from his mouth. "Thomas!" Ann called from the top of the hill. "Down here!" Thomas called from the bottom of the hill. "Oh my god! Are you okay?!" Ann said as she made her way down the hill with Chief right behind her. "Yeah I'll be okay," Thomas said as he spits more blood from his mouth. "Come on I have a med kit at the house," Ann said as she looked at Thomas's face. Thomas chuckled as he looked at Ann who had a worried look on her face. "Thomas this isn't funny you're really hurt!" Ann said starting getting frustrated.

"Easy momma bear I got this," Thomas joked as he pulled out the healing stone from his pocket. "What stone is that?" Ann asked looking at the pink stone. "This is handy dandy healing stone," Thomas said with a smile. "And what are you going to do with it?" Ann asked. "This," Thomas simply said as he placed the pink stone on his cut that was on his lip. The pink stone started to pink and once Thomas removed the stone the cut was gone and healed. "See, no biggie." Thomas said with a smile. Ann the punched Thomas's shoulder. "Um ow!" Thomas said he held his shoulder. "You don't have to be a smart ass on fixing yourself up with a fancy stone," Ann said as she crossed her arms. "Okay fine. Next time I'll you bandage me up," Thomas said as he rubbed his shoulder.

"So what even happened here?" Chief asked as he looked up at Thomas. "Steele and Billy happened," Thomas answered. "I do know Billy, I have known Billy for years the town Bully but who is Steele?" Chief asked. "He was a stuck up dog who wanted fame and fortune and also hated my father for being half wolf," Kodi explained. This caught Chief's attention real quick. "Your fathers half wolf?" Chief asked as he sat down. "Yeah is that a problem?" Kodi asked. Chief shook his head. "No but he wouldn't be named Balto wouldn't it?" Chief asked. This got Thomas and Ann's attention as well. "Yeah that's my dad's name... what does it mean to you?" Kodi asked. Chief swallowed hard before answering to Kodi.

(Jedediah's old cottage)

"So how did it go?" Jedediah asked as he cleaned his gun. "He's slow. I don't think he's even going to last the first round of hunting," Billy said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. Jedediah chuckled as he blew into his rifle. "Did you get what I asked for?" Jedediah asked as he stood up from his chair. "Yeah I did. I had to punch him to get it though," Billy said as he grabbed something from his pocket. "What does this thing even do anyway?" Billy asked as he handed his uncle what was in his pocket. Jedediah smiled as he held a green stone in his hand. "My friend Charlie Holloway searched all his life for these stones. It's a shame that he past away before using them," Jedediah explained as he looked closely at the green stone. "So there's more of them? What does that one do?" Billy asked as he looked at the green stone. Jedediah chuckled as the stone started to glow a light green. "You'll know soon enough nephew," Jedediah said as puts the stone in his pocket. "But what I need you to do now is push Thomas and his dogs to the limit and get the rest of his stones," Jedediah said with an evil smile.

Kodiwolf321 A/N: Well guys I don't think you saw that one coming! What do you think Chief has to saw to Kodi? I wonder what that's about and Jedediah knew Charlie?! I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens next in the next chapter! Alright guys I'll see you in the next chapter really really soon! :D