Chapter 11

Aniu took no more than four steps before she turned around and looked back at Storm.

"Um, I just realized… I don't know the way."

Storm just stared at the white wolf incredulously.

"You don't know the way?"
"No… I was unconscious most of the way here, how would I know the way?"

"You just go that way." Storm said, pointing with one paw towards the direction Aniu was supposed to go in.

"Yeah real specific there," Aniu laughed, "but seriously, I don't know the way back. Think maybe you could… lead me?"

Aniu wanted this, for him to go with her. It was partially because she didn't want him to do anything stupid, but more so because of her other feelings. She did like the grey husky, and she told herself that that was the only reason. She didn't want him to get hurt.

Storm shrugged. "What else have I got to do?" Inside he was actually excited. Although he wouldn't show it, Storm did very much want to stay with his wolf friend, and would be more than happy to help her. He was a bit nervous though. A dog and a wolf could spell trouble, and from either species. Their most prominent worry was from the wolves at the moment. Dog and wolf pairs were so hated… and Storm would hate to have his friend killed for simply travelling with him.

"It could be dangerous though… if any other wolves see us together, they might get the wrong idea and…"
"I know." Aniu responded, "We should try to stay away from them. I'm sure that I can convince my pack that you were just helping me, and at the very least they'll let you go free."

"I hope so, I don't wanna die yet."

Storm led Aniu back out, following the trail that he and his team ran, and that he had just followed back. He knew it by heart, and it pained him to think of his friends… killed like that. When he got Aniu where she needed to be, he decided then and there to return and finish what he'd started last night. Even if it meant his dying too.

"You're thinking of them, aren't you?" Aniu asked, gazing at Storm as she walked.

"Yes… I can't stop. Every time I think I've forgotten, something happens and I remember."

"It'll take time, maybe a lot of it. But don't let hate for their killers overwhelm you. It's okay to be angry, but seeking vengeance will only hurt you, Storm, and I don't want anything to happen to you. You're too good of a dog to do that."

Both went on, not saying anything else after that. It was about an hour before Storm felt the same feeling he'd had the night that his team had been killed. He felt that overwhelming sense of dread, it felt like they were being hunted. Aniu noticed his uneasiness and stopped.

"You feel it too?"

Storm nodded, and both scanned the area, each covering one-hundred eighty degrees. They watched and listened. There were no sounds, the forest was absolutely silent.

"Let's get out of here." Aniu said. Storm turned to reply to her, and that was what saved his life. The shot went right between his ears.

"Go, run!"

Storm and Aniu took off running through the forest as fast as they possibly could. Behind them, the yelps of several dogs and the shouts of at least three men echoed after them. The tree's became scarcer as the two climbed higher, finally reaching a plateau, where the snow thinned out as well, making running a lot easier.

Aniu, who was in front of Storm, stopped abruptly causing the grey husky to stop as well, and while trying to avoid her almost went over the cliff.

"Whoa." Storm's voice echoed down into the gorge. About twenty feet below a river rushed through, crashing against the walls with such force it could be heard from their position. The other side was too far to jump to, they were trapped.

Both turned around and saw the first of the dogs. Both recognized the silver dog, who they had fought last night, and who was likely here to extract his revenge. Behind him were more dogs, some of which were also from the previously mentioned fight. Behind that were the humans, all three of whom had their weapons ready.

Aniu turned and looked into her friend's eyes, and both knew the unspoken message that passed between them. They were going to jump. Storm and Aniu took one last look at their hunters, before leaping into the abyss.

The mountain water was cold, soaking through Storm's grey fur in a matter of a few seconds. It took his breath away for a moment, and he struggled just to keep his head above the roaring water. It soaked his ears, which felt less than pleasant, but that was the least of his worries. He couldn't find Aniu. Suddenly a rock appeared out of nowhere, and the current forced Storm to crash right into it. He pushed off desperately, that having shaken him up even more. Storm was slammed into the walls of the canyon multiple times after that, slowly draining his energy until he simply lost consciousness, the whole world seeming so far away. He thought he heard Aniu call somewhere, but the sound was lost, as the dark tunnel overcame him and put him into a deep void, somewhere you usually didn't return from.

…

The river eventually calmed and flowed out of the gorge, allowing Aniu to pull her almost froze, battered, and drained self out of the water, crawling up onto land and falling in a mess of soaking white fur.

"Storm, are you alright?" She managed to say. When she got no response however, Aniu got back on her paws, scanning the river for any sign of her friend. She saw a flash of grey, but it disappeared underneath the water as soon as she saw it.

"Storm!"

Aniu, temporarily reenergized, dove back into the water, desperate to save her friend. She opened her eyes, ignoring the stinging of the cold water and searched for her friend. She saw him floating quietly along, not moving.

Aniu surfaced for a breath, before diving back down to save Storm. She swam underneath him, and swam up, with the husky on her back. Her strength ran out as she dropped him onto the rock that she'd been on earlier, stumbling back a few steps, she regained her breath and checked the husky over.

He wasn't breathing, but just lying there.

"No, don't you die on me!" Aniu pushed down on his chest with all the strength she could managed, and to her relief, Storm coughed up quite a bit of water, and seemed to be alright, albeit still unconscious. Aniu allowed herself to relax, until she heard something coming towards her. She tried to rise, but couldn't.

Three grey wolves stepped out, but Aniu was unable to see anything other than blurry silhouettes, as she finally passed out from exhaustion.

...

I thought about leaving this off with a real 'cliff hanger' (lol at my pathetic attempt of a joke) but this ending is still good. Two hours of study hall tomorrow will give me plenty of time to get a good start on the next part, so expect it tomorrow. Hope ya enjoyed.

-ANonymouS