OK! OK! I finally figured out the next chapter. I hope you all like it and yeah. Enjoy it all!
Chapter eleven: The Chase!
The next morning, Shadow slowly opened her eyes and looked around. She saw that all her friends were still sleeping soundly. She smiled as she stood up and carefully stepped around them.
She walked out of their lean-to and bent down and stretched out her body. She opened her mouth, curled her tongue and yawned wide.
She blinked her eyes and looked up, she could see the snow falling gently towards the ground. She smiled as the snow flakes gently landed on her nose.
She giggled softly and buried her nose into the snow playfully. She hadn't slept much that night, but she still felt good. The snow was refreshing to her.
Then before she knew it, she was rolling around in the snow. She kicked it up and let it shift through her fur. She remembered when she was little and her parents would take her out to play in the fresh snow. But they always had to be careful, because some of the Wolves that lived nearby, didn't like her father.
They always said that Huskies should stay with their kind, not roam about with the Wolf packs. But Shadow didn't care what her father was. She loved him and that was all that mattered to her.
After a bit, she rolled onto her belly and sighed. She rested her head on her front paws and let a gentle smile cross her maw.
Then she thought about her parents and her little brothers. She was very worried about where they were, or if they were alright. She was scared that they were out there, hurt. Or even possibly dead.
She quickly shook the thought away. Her parents and brothers couldn't be dead. Could they?
Then she perked her ears up, when she heard someone coming towards her. She looked up and saw Kodi walking towards her. She smiled and rested her head on her paws again.
Kodi walked over to her and laid down next to her. Shadow looked over at him and smiled lightly. He returned the smile and cocked his head slightly.
"What are you doing out here?" Kodi asked.
Shadow looked down towards the ground. Kodi laid his nose near hers and waited for her answer.
"I-I was just thinking is all." Shadow said, after a moment.
Kodi nodded. He could tell she was still nervous from yesterday, but something else seemed to be on her mind.
"Wanna talk about it?" Kodi asked, gently.
Shadow stared at the ground for a moment. She never had told anyone how she felt, for fear she would be picked on, for her feelings.
"I'm worried about my parents and my two little brothers. I have no idea where they are, and it worries me." Shadow explained.
Kodi nodded in understanding. He had been worried about his dad, when he left to go find Duke, once he realized that his dad had the right idea, going to help him. He understood what that was like; to worry about your parents well being.
He always worried about his sister, Aleu, every day. After his father had come back without her and had told them, she finally found her home. The place she felt she truly belonged. He worried about her.
Kodi knew that deep down, his sister was alright and was where she needed to be, but that didn't mean he wouldn't worry about her well being.
It was the same way with Shadow. Shadow was like his sister in a way, and he would do anything to keep her safe from harm.
"Hey, what are you two doing out here? Playing in the snow?"
The two canines turned and saw Balto walking towards them. They both let out a chuckle and Balto walked over and laid down in front of them.
"Oh, we were just talking, dad!" Kodi said.
Balto nodded and looked at the two canines. They both smiled at him. And he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright. Are you feeling better today, Shadow?" Balto asked.
Shadow nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling much better from my scare." she said.
Balto nodded once, pleased that she was doing better. He knew that they all had a hard journey ahead of them, and they all needed to be strong.
After a while, everyone had woken up and all tried to get themselves awake enough to walk straight. That being harder for Muk and Luk. They were all very glad that Shadow was doing well, and pretty soon, they were off on their journey again.
They all hiked through the sleet and snow together. Each watching the others backs. They knew how dangerous the woods could be, in the early morning.
They continued onward. Trying to be careful of the slippery ice. They, who had claws, used them to dig into the ice, to keep from sliding so badly.
They continued on, until they made their way up into a mountain trail. It was thin, and only two of them could walk on the trail at a time.
Shadow and Balto led the way followed by, Kodi and Dusty, Ralph and Kirby, Boris and Muk, then Luk last, since he was so much bigger.
Shadow looked back and saw him and Muk trying not to look over the edge. She chuckled quietly. That was just like the Polar Bears.
Balto watched her and could tell she was doing much better, which made him feel better. He was glad she was getting over her scare.
They finally made it to the top of the narrow way and lined up side by side. They stood, looking out at the forest, that stood before them.
The trees stood tall and proud. And the snow blew lightly between them. The sun barely shone through, casting an aroma, that smelled of danger and darkness. They all knew that hiking through the woods could be dangerous. But they weren't scared.
"A-are you sure we have to go through there?" Muk asked nervously, as Luk shifted and whimpered next to him.
Shadow turned back and smiled at the Bears. "Don't worry you two. It's fine!" she said.
Then her ears perked up, as did Balto's. They both turned back to the forest and bared their fangs, and growled low. The others saw this and worried looks crossed their faces.
"What's wrong, dad?" Kodi asked.
Balto and Shadow didn't move a muscle. They knew something was wrong and they were fearful of what it was. They both lifted their noses high in the air and sniffed.
Both their eyes widened, when they caught a whiff of what the danger was. They both looked to each other, with fear in their eyes.
"Alright everyone, we need to find safer and higher ground. It's not safe here and we need to get out of here. Now!" Shadow said.
They all looked at her and Balto, with curious and almost fearful expressions. Then Shadow and Balto quickly bounded through the snow, and led the others away from the trees.
The others hurried after them, then they saw another ledge along the mountain. It was wide at the bottom and so thin at the top, that only one of them could walk across, then it came to a small bridge, which made Shadow shudder. She sent Balto ahead and the others followed him, while she stayed at the bottom.
Kodi was the last to go, before Shadow. He knew something was wrong, just by the look in her eyes. Then it was his turn and he carefully made his way up. Shadow was about to follow him, when she heard something.
She spun around and her eyes widened. Coming through the trees, was the largest black Bear she had ever seen. He had red eyes, and was simply furious and hungry.
He looked at Shadow and just stared at her. His eyes almost seemed to burn right through her. She stood there and shook fearfully. Then He let out a loud roar and made his way towards the Wolfdog.
Shadow stood there, motionless. To scared to move. The enormous Bear, continued to advance towards the shaking pup.
"Shadow RUN!" Kodi called, from higher up on the ledge.
Shadow stared at the Bear for another moment, then took off running as fast as her legs would carry her. The Bear roared again and took chase after her.
She ran up the ledge, as quickly as she could, with the Bear hot on her heels. She slipped on the ice, but kept running. Everyone had already made it across the bridge and didn't realize that Shadow was in trouble. Only Kodi knew it and he wasn't about to leave her behind.
He ran down the ledge again and hurried towards her. The Bear was almost on her and he swiped his large paws at her, knocking her off the side.
She let out a terrified scream, as she clung to the side of the ledge, with all the strength she could muster. She looked up and saw the Bear standing over her, his fangs bared.
Shadow was afraid she wouldn't be able to make it out of this one, but then Kodi came from no where and knocked the Bear to the side. The Bear fell, and Kodi ran over and grabbed Shadow by the scruff of her neck and hauled her back up.
Then the two canines took off running as fast as they could. They could hear the Bear roaring and running after them. They hurried and soon made it to the bridge.
When the others saw them, they knew that they were in trouble. Shadow and Kodi both looked at each other, knowing that they both wanted the other to go first. But when the Bear caught up with them, Shadow pushed Kodi ahead of her and stood behind him, so he had to keep running.
Kodi shook his head and hurried across, with Shadow hot on his heels. They could hear the Bear and knew he was close behind them. They ran as fast as they could, and Shadow glanced behind them.
When she saw the Bear, starting to cross the bridge and she could feel it starting to crack. She ran faster and faster, knowing they had to hurry. Kodi could feel the ice cracking and ran faster then ever.
Kodi ran and made it to the other side and turned back to look for Shadow. She ran as fast as possible and he could see the black Bear was almost on her.
Shadow hurried as quickly as she could and she knew how fast she had to be, if she was going to make it across, before the ice cracked.
She could hear the others calling to her and saying 'you can make it'
She ran faster and faster and finally made it to the other side and her friends. They heard the ice crack and they all turned and saw the bear falling down, down, down. Down to the raging river below.
The group hurried over and looked over the edge. They saw the bear swimming hard, and climbing up onto the bank of the river. He shook off and roared angrily, then he muddled off into the forest and disappeared.
They all breathed a sigh of relief. That had been much to close of a call. They all looked at Shadow, who shook lightly, but not as badly as she had, when she had her fall.
"What? I'm alright!" she said, when she saw them staring at her.
Balto walked over to her and nuzzled her. "Just making sure, little sis." he said.
Shadow smiled up at her big brother. She knew he cared about her. She just wished sometimes her friends and family wouldn't be so worried. She hated seeing them so worried about her.
After a little bit, they all slowly continued on their journey. They were all still shaken a bit. Kodi and Shadow, more then the others.
All they could do was continue on. But they all knew that this was not the only challenge along their path.
They would have more things to over come, very, very, very soon...
Alright, I FINALLY got a new chapter up. I'm sorry for taking so long, but I've been so stuck on this story. BUT! I can tell you that things are going to get VERY interesting in the next chapter. Hope you all enjoyed this and PLEASE don't forget to REVIEW!
