Native Chapter 8: Into The Wildlife

"Nava tell me the quickest way to get down there!" Balto implored.

"Well besides the waterfall the fastest way down is a two day treck." Nava responded. "The odds of them being there by the time we get there at very slim."

"What do you suggest we do then?" Balto asked desperately. "Hope and pray they make it back?"

"Yes that's the best option." Nava replied. "Plus we have more pressing matters to handle. Like warning the rest of your family about the dangers you've just witnessed."

Balto nodded following Nava out of the forest. Jenna reluctantly followed suit, not wanting to leave her grandchildren behind.

'I hope Jaxson knows what he's doing.' Balto thought worriedly.

"Uncle Jaxson I'm tired!" Leo complained.

Jaxson looked back at Leo who was having a very hard time keeping up. After what they'd just went through he couldn't blame the poor pup. He laid in his stomach allowing the pup to climb on top of his back then onto his head.

"Where are we going anyway?" Leo asked.

"I'm not sure." Jaxson said truthfully as he looked around the dense forest. "With any luck, forward."

Jaxson sighed as he walked up the hill with Leo on his back. Leo laid his head on Jaxson's shoulder. "Uncle Jaxson? Are we ever gonna get home?" Leo asked. Jaxson thought for a moment before he answered. "Yes Leo I'll make sure I get you home," Jaxson answered. Leo nodded, as Jaxson continued to walk up the hill.

They went on for what seemed like hours. Jaxson was exhausted and needed something to eat or he wasn't going to last. Suddenly he heard a twig snap. Jaxson's guard went up as he looked around. He couldn't see anything but he felt the presence of something.

"Show yourself!" He called out. "You've already given yourself away."

No sooner than he said that did ten wolves spring out from different sides. They circled him trying to assess the situation. Leo curled up and hid behind Jaxson's head.

"I don't want any trouble." He stated. "I'm just trying to get my nephew home safe."

"How did you come across this place?" One of the wolves said.

"We fell from the waterfall." Jaxson replied.

"A likely story." The wolf responded. "You're coming with us back to our den. Our leader will decide your fate."

Jaxson sighed. He reluctantly followed the wolves back to their den.

Leo started to whimper as they walked along. "It's alright Leo we're going to be alright," Jaxson stated. Leo nodded as tears fell from his muzzle. "I miss mommy," Leo cried. Jaxson nodded. "I know you do buddy," Jaxson added.

(Flash back)

"Leave me alone!" Jaxson shouted. Hunter followed his son into the cave. "Jaxson don't walk away from me," Hunter said as he continued to follow his son. "Mom would hear me out on this!" Jaxson raised his voice once. "Your mother isn't here right now," Hunter said raising his own voice. Jaxson then looked down "I hate you," Jaxson simply said.

(End of flash back)

"Keep moving!" One of the wolves behind Jaxson growled.

Jaxson kept going forward with the wolves. He knew he had to keep a level head otherwise him and Leo wouldn't make it home. His mom had been leader of a pack so maybe they weren't so bad. Then again his mom could be very scary at times.

"The den is through here." The lead wolf said, gesturing to a mass of trees very close together with low hanging leaves acting as a cover for the entrance way. "You first."

Jaxson was pushed forward. He growled a little but pushed past the leaves without protest. He gasped when he entered. Inside was huge with tons of smaller dens with many wolves going about their day to day lives.

(Flash back)

"Aleu come back here lets talk about this," Hunter said as they walked into the cave. All the pups were asleep besides Jaxson. "There's nothing to talk about here Hunter. God" Aleu said as continued to walk away from Hunter. " I think we have something to talk about. They need you back there that pack needs you," Hunter explained. Aleu sighed and turned away.

"You know damn well why I can't go back there," Aleu said as tears started to fall from her muzzle. Hunter sighed and calmed himself down. "Aleu I'm sorry," Hunter said as he nuzzle. "I shouldn't have pushed you to it," Hunter said still nuzzling her. "I'm so sorry," Hunter said. Jaxson walked out into the open. "Mommy, daddy are you two fighting?" Little Jaxson asked. Aleu sniffed and walked over to her son, "no sweat heart. We were just talking that's all," Aleu explained. Jaxson nodded as he turned around and walked back to bed.

(End of flash back)

"Incredible isn't it?" The lead wolf said. "This is a colony of hundreds of wolves. Come this way.

Jaxson could see the wolf a lot clearer now. He was a young pitch black wolf with a lean but strong physique. His eyes were mid matched, one green, one gray. As he was being led through the colony wolves of all shape, sizes, and colors stopped to stare at him. He felt Leo Shake with fear.

"Hey it's okay I won't let any of them hurt you." Jaxson reassured.

Eventually they came across a large den. They walked in to find it was very warm and cozy. The atmosphere was that of a comforting home.

"Aka I've found some trespassers!" The black wolf called out.

There was sound near the back followed by a sigh. Out of the shadows emerged an odd wolf. It was red and white a lot like Jenna but still had a completely wolffish appearance. He had kind dark blue eyes with a comforting smile.

"Zero we've talked about this." Aka said to the black wolf. "Just because they're in the area doesn't mean they aren't just passing through."

"Aka you know exactly what standard procedure for this is!" Zero complained.

Aka sighed but nodded.

"Fine. Okay what am I supposed to say?" He asked himself. "Oh yeah now I remember. Why are you trespassing on our territory?"

Jaxson then took a step back as Aka walked forward. Zero looked at the small pup who was still shaking from fear. Zero then walked forward towards Jaxson to try and grab the small pup. Jaxson looked at the corner of his eye and saw the black wolf going for Leo.

Jaxson then shot a growl at Zero. "Relax pup we're just trying to keep him safe," Zero insisted. Jaxson let his guard down and let Zero take Leo. "Uncle Jaxson?" Leo cried as Zero picked him up. "It's going to be alright buddy," Jaxson said with a crack in his voice. "Uncle Jaxson don't let them take me please," Leo cried. Jaxson then started to cry as they took Leo into another cave. Jaxson then turned to Aka. "Please don't hurt him I'm all he's got out here," Jaxson said as he started to calm himself down.

Aka put an paw on Jaxson's shoulder. Jaxson looked up seeing a comforting half smile on the red wolf's face.

"He's going to be fine." He reassured. "My brother doesn't hurt pups. We just want to get the little guy cleaned up and fed. You two look like you've been through quite the ordeal. What happened to bring you here?"

When Jaxson calmed down he told Aka all the events that led up to this point. As he was talking Aka's kind look slowly became more and more troubled. When Jaxson got to the part about the wolf leading Leo away he looked towards his subordinates.

"It can't be..." Aka said to himself. "Morpheus! Double the guard! Have all the mothers take their children home! Get the hunting squad here pronto!"

"Roger!" Morpheus saluted before leaving the den.

"What's the matter?" Jaxson asked.

"More on that later." Aka took a moment to regain his composure. "What happened next?"

Jaxson continued with him saving Leo but falling down the waterfall.

"So that's why your fur looks like it's been dragged through the mud." Aka chuckled. "There's a hot spring to the left you can clean off in. After that one of my attendants will lead you to where your nephew is so we can eat and talk more on this."

Jaxson nodded as Aka walked off. Jaxson went to the left, finding the hot spring very easily and walked in. The warm water did wonders for his sore muscles.

'I hope Leo's doing alright.' Jaxson thought as he cleaned off.

KodiWolf321 A/N: Yes another chapter down! I hope you all enjoyed the halloween chapters on friday! Still more to come! Be ready!

AtticusParker17 A/N: Ok real quick trivia. Aka is the Japanese word for red. Zero is pun on the fact that the color black is the absence of color. Aka and Zero are from my Balto fanfiction Balto Legacy and What Can't Be Forgotten. Just thought it would be cool to add them in since Jaxson had to run into a wolf pack. Ok thanks for reading! Atticus out!