Hi, yes I'm still alive. Just warning you that…well, you just have to read to understand so I'll let you carry on.

Is it real?

All dreams have roots in
both the real
and spiritual world

The sun rose over the horizon to warm up the frozen world left by the nights grasp. Or at least it would if the dark grey clouds would drift away. The landscape was of a cold and depressive grey shade.

Life stirred within Kodi. He knew deep down he should be frozen to death, yet somehow, he was alive. The fact that he was still cold confirmed it, but there was something else, something warm, close. He tried to open his eyes, but everything was a blur. The dim, grey light was enough to blind him, but he could still glimpse a silvery figure next to him. His eyes shocked open; he stumbled on his feet and backed away a few feet until he hit the wall, too scared to talk.

"Well, look who's alive and kicking."The silvery figure spoke with amusement. "Good morning to you to, I was beginning to think you had passed on to the eternal plains."

Kodi was still in shock and only managed to stutter."Who…what…where…"

The silvery one raised a paw to calm him."Relax; I'm not going to kill you. Besides, you nearly managed to do that yourself yesterday." The last remark was spoken as if it was an obvious fact.

Kodi stared at the stranger."Y-you saved me? Why? Who are you?"

The stranger rolled his eyes."So many questions…"he muttered."In that order: Yes, I felt like it, and I am…call me Anuk." His ear twitched slightly like he was hiding something."And yes, before you ask, I'm a wolf. But now, I would like to know the name of the one I stayed up all night to save."

Kodis fear had somewhat lessened."Kodiak, but my friends only call me Kodi." He said wary.

Anuk chuckled."Seems like your parents graced you with a name too long for your liking."

Kodi gave him a glare."I'm proud of it."

Anuk raised his front paws diplomatically and chuckled."Didn't mean anything bad about it Kodiak."

Kodi looked at him quizzically. "Why do you call me that?" he asked.

Anuk looked confused."What? Kodiak?"

"Yes." Kodi answered.

Anuk smiled."I would never be so arrogant as to presume were friends."

Kodi sighed."You saved my life." He lied down, relaxing."In my book, that makes you a friend." He then chuckled."Besides, the only time I hear my full name; it's usually one of my parents giving me a lecture or something."

Anuk smiled humorously."I can see why you prefer the short version."

The conversation hit a halt as both ran out of subjects to talk about, and instead contemplated each other, trying to figure the other one out. While doing this, a question came to Kodis mind.

"Hey Anuk." Kodi asked."You said you saved me because you felt like it. I'm not sure I believe you." He finished with a grin.

Anuk looked at him without expression."At first, when I walked by around fifty yards from here, I smelled a half dead dog. Curious as I was, I checked it out. But when I got closer, I smelled something more. I got even more curious, and decided I should at least try to help. I stayed by your side and tried to keep you warm."

Kodi chuckled."So you saved me only because I smelled interesting? Gee, thanks."

Anuk sighed."Ok, so I cared! Not all wolfs are heartless you know." He raised an eye-brow."In fact, I think you DO know that."He sniffed the air around Kodi."From what I can tell, you have wolf blood in your veins."He sniffed again."But not too much… I guess one of your parents is at least half and half."

Kodi chuckled. "Hit the nail on the head there."

Anuk tilted his head."What?" He asked confused.

Kodi sighed."Sorry, human expression. It means that you are right. My father is half wolf."

Anuk nodded affirmatively."As I thought…" He stopped."Wait, what's your parent's name?"He asked curiously.

Kodi gave Anuk a confused glance."Balto and Jenna" he answered."Why do you ask?"

Anuk grinned and mumbled something inaudible under his breath.
"I see I'm in the presence of someone notable." he said after a while.

Kodi just looked confused at him."What in the world are you talking about?"

Anuk chuckled."Surely you have heard what your father did a few years back. And then the incident with that wolf-pack crossing the great waters."

Kodi scratched the ground with a claw. "Yeah, I've heard about that, he saved the town and…wait, you've heard of my sister?"He got up on his feet.

Anuk smiled."Most wolfs in the surrounding territories have heard, one of them came back some time ago"

Kodi cut him off."My sister?" He asked hopefully.

"No, I'm afraid not."Anuk replied sorry.

"Oh…"Kodi said and sat back down.

"But then again, he did bring news." Anuk said optimistically.

Kodi looked at him expectantly.

"It seems that your sister was more successful in her leading the pack than anyone expected. The clan eagerly accepted her as alpha. They are doing quite well." Anuk finished with a smile.

Kodi sighed relieved."I'm glad Aleu is alright." He looked at the sky. "Oh no!" He exclaimed, startling Anuk."It's almost noon, I have to get back to town before they begin to worry." He got up and trotted outside. "Thanks for everything Anuk, I'll see you around."

Anuk smiled."Your welcome, but I won't be around much."

Kodi wanted to press the subject, but the urge to get home won. He nodded and started running back towards Nome.

Anuk got up slowly and walked deeper into the forest.

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"Where is he?" Dusty mumbled. She ran around in the forest, searching everywhere."Kodi! Where are you?"

Dusty and the others, namely; Kirby, Ralph, Jenna and Balto had split up to cover more ground as soon as the storm went on and the sun came up. Dusty didn't know why she chose to look for him in that exact part of the forest, she just went with her instincts.

She had run around for what seemed like hours when she spotted something. "Kodi…? Oh my god no…KODI!"

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Kodi ran towards the voice, but it became muffled and hard to determine where it came from. Suddenly, his eyes went blurry, his legs cramped and all went black. He went from warm and energetic, to feeling stone cold and half dead. He tried opening his eyes, but couldn't. He heard a voice scream, and then a crying sound, and something warm. He forced his eyes open and blinked confused. Wait…where am I? I was running… why am I back… under the roots again…

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Dusty ran towards the fallen tree roots where she had spotted something red. She ran into what looked like a cave made of rotting wood, and towards the motionless Kodi.

"Oh, Kodi. Please, please be alive" she cried. "Don't leave me alone…" she finished with a whisper. She tried to warm up his frozen body with her own warm one. He was ice cold, his body barely rising and falling from breathing. He was alive, but only just. Dusty held her breath as she listened to his breathing. She released a sigh of relief. At least he lives…for now… she shuddered at the thought.
She watched his back rising and falling, counting the seconds between every breath he took. Suddenly, a noise from below her startled Dusty.

"Mmmmhhh." It was almost inaudible, but it was there. Dusty perked her ears. "Kodi?" she whispered. Unsure if it was her imagination.

"Whu…what…where…am I?" Kodi whispered hoarsely.

Dusty broke into a teary smile."Oh Kodi! I'm so glad you're awake!" She dug her face in his neck fur and nuzzled him.

Kodi blinked his eyes and tried lifting his head."Dusty…? What are you doing here? What happened to me?"

Dusty lifted her head and looked him in the eyes."I came here to find you. You didn't come back last night. I almost thought that you…" She broke back into tears, unable to finish her words.

Kodi shook his head confused." No, this is all wrong. I was running towards your voice…then I fell.

Dustys tears stopped. She looked at him confused. "I was calling out to you, but when I found you, you lied right here, and from the looks of it, you haven't been moving for a while…" Her voice was low and cautious.

Kodi looked at her dumfounded."Then…"he mumbled."It was all a dream?"

Dusty nodded slowly."I think so."

Kodi sighed. The two stayed silent for a while, as Kodi was warmed up by Dusty.

Kodi was the first to break the silence. "So… you still mad at me?" he asked meekly.

Dusty looked confused at him, not remembering the day before at first. "What do you…? Oh. That." She blushed a bit. "I guess I just overreacted. I met someone who did about the same thing as you and got some inside info on how you boys think."

Kodi chuckled."Dingo?"

Dusty raised an eyebrow in surprise."Y-Yes… how did you know?"

Kodi smiled and tilted his head forward. "I've heard that story to, or one like it. He has had some…Uhm…unfortunate relationships."

Silence fell yet again.

Kodi got up on wobbly legs.

"Careful" Dusty warned.

Kodi smiled and gave her cheek a lick."Thanks for your concern, but I feel better now." He slowly walked outside."Hm, it must have been a dream…"he mumbled."No footprints aside from yours."

"What are you talking about?" Dusty asked concerned.

Kodi shook his head in defeat."In my dream…or whatever it was, a wolf saved me"

"A wolf?" Dusty startled.

"The nice kind."Kodi assured her."Anyway, he found me, freezing to death, and saved me. Easy as that."

Dusty was scratched the back of her head."Much good that did you" she commented. "You were almost gone when I found you."

Kodi smiled and turned to her."You're right." He said as he gave her a quick kiss."It was you who saved me."
Dusty blushed at the kiss. Even though they had been a couple for some time, kisses were something that Kodi didn't give often. But that just made it all that better when he decided to give one.

After a few minutes of looking at each other, they decided to make the journey home. They were greeted by the sled-team and Jenna. Balto soon returned from his own search since he insisted to keep looking as the others went back to town to look for him there.
After a verbal beating from his mother and stern looks from his father, Balto, Jenna and Kodi embraced each other.

"Hm…" Kodi said. "Something's missing…" He looked at Dusty and grinned.

"Wha…" was all Dusty could utter before Kodi included her in the group hug.

When the hug ended, Kodi looked her in the eyes. "You know I love you, right?" he whispered.

Dusty smiled softly."I know." Suddenly she grabbed his neck and pulled his face to hers and kissed him deeply. When the kiss broke, Kodi looked towards the ocean and sighed happily.

"You know," he said."I'm still a little chilly. Why don't we go to the beach and enjoy the sun?"

Dusty smiled."Sounds great" she whispered. They walked together towards the ocean, closer than ever.

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Anuk sat at the top of the mountain overlooking Nome. "It's done." He whispered to the air.
The wind picked up and brought with it tiny flakes of snow.

"You have done well" a bodiless voice spoke.

"But why only help in his dreams?"Anuk protested."Why wouldn't you let me save his life if he was who you said? What if his girlfriend hadn't come along when she did?"

The wind gathered the snow in front of Anuk. Suddenly the snowflakes disappeared and left stood a white wolf."Because I knew that she would make it in time to save his life. And wasn't it your wish to stay hidden from the world?"

Anuk sighed."That was my wish, yes. But perhaps…I've changed my mind…" Those last words were spoken more as a statement than a speculation.

The white wolf smiled softly."You now wish to see your brother again." She stated.

Anuk stayed silent for a moment. He lifted his head and looked into the others eyes. "Yes." He whispered.

The white wolf nodded approvingly. "I see." She touched his forehead with her nose."I'm glad you finally learned how important family is…my son"

A smile flickered in Anuks face. "I love you mother." He whispered.

"And I you Anuk." She withdrew her head and smiled."Before you go" she added " be careful, Kodiak might be a bit surprised to see you now, since he thinks that you were a dream."

Anuk lifted and eyebrow."You really think he would recognize me?"

The white wolf chuckled."He is just as clever as you are. He is my grandson you know."

Authors note

Well…this all went differently than I originally planned it. Over the past month I have been reading some stories that changed the way I wanted to make mine. Praise where it's due. I have decided to start spin a few stories around Anuk (his relation to our other heroes should be clear by now=P)

I will still stay true to this fics title and end the story in the epilogue. Hope you won't hate me for it.

As always, read and review, and if you have questions or just wanna chat, don't hesitate to PM me here or on BaltoSource (same name as here)

PS: If you all behave I might just finish my drawing of Anuk and show you.

Silwer-Paw