-NOT AN UPDATE was just changing somethings that REALLY bugged me, for reasons unknown to me likes to screw with my formatting and such.-

-I'd like to thank Agent-007.1 for telling me I need longer chapters, I would have been making them longer but I was worried if I made them to long people might just get tired of reading or something, so hopefully I can break that habit and make chapters longer, that or I'll just start writing what I could consider two full chapters and post them as one, either or they will be longer that I promise. Oh and in case you didn't already guess it, I only own a few things in this world, and sadly Balto isn't one of them.-

Chapter 21 Change

He was angry, he didn't know why but he was, he shouldn't, he had finally gotten what he wanted all along. The one always blocking his path was now out of his way, now he was in a new life, were he was the biggest, the strongest, and most important, all bowed before him, well in this case they got the hell out of his way. As the large brown wolf stormed his way across the gray mush that was the snow, wolves would jump out of his path and pull younger ones with them. Most wolves had come to fear Shazu, after what he had done to Surge.

The attack from the humans had left the entire alpha family dead or missing. It was an almost unanimous decision that Surge should take the place, he and Lundy were the betas after all. This mere notion infuriated Shazu, to the point were he openly challenged Surge, he beat him into submission and long after in front of his entire family. Before he was even attacked Surge already had a limp in his front left leg, due to the fact that he had been shot in the shoulder when the humans attacked, now he was horribly scarred on his entire left side, he could barely use the front left leg and he couldn't even see out of his left eye.

While most of the family was mortified something inside Baku most of snapped, rather then hate Shazu for what he did to his father, he liked him for it. He would follow him everywhere after the incident and do what ever he asked him, he quickly rose to become the new Beta. As far as he was concerned the only bad thing about what had happened was that due to how much he respected Shazu, his family now hated him just as much as they hated Shazu, he and Haze would get into fights on a regular basis, normally ending with Haze beating him until Baku ordered others to come and attack him.

The pack had also moved for obvious reasons, they had gone south, and now resided in a forest near the coast, the nearest human town was about fifteen miles north-west from them, and normally hunters and dog sled teams didn't go this far in this direction. And on the rare occasion that they did the wolves would either avoid or neutralize them, though most would rather just avoid them seeing as how sometimes humans look for other missing humans.

From the attack of the humans up to when they settled in here not much changed for the shadow valley clan, not even their numbers much, though almost half the clan was wiped out a number of wolves joined the pack shortly after Shazu took hold of it, these wolves became his elite guard, it was a total of twenty wolves, the main four were Cruor*, Nex, Leto and Angro*, sometimes called the judges as Shazu often used them for means of punishment. Aside from them there was what was left of the ravaged Shadow Valley Clan, in the two and a half years since few if any pups had been born, mostly because moral was so low at this point none wanted to birth pups to this life.

Shazu also had more wolves rumored to be under his command, hidden way off into the forest were no one else dared to venture. They were said to all be as vicious and blood thirsty as the judges if not worse. Others said they were out their studying human methods, everything from their weapons to their medical supplies. There were many rumors about what he had out there, but they all agreed on one thing, he had something out there.

Shazu thought about all these things as he approached his den, he planned to accompany one of this scouting parties later, just to do something, because nothing changed anymore, it was always the same, literally gray, routine around here. Just as he thought this he heard the rapid wet beating sound of someone running through the slush.

"Sir! I need to talk to you right away, something's happened!" Panted a frantic scout who had been running all day for several days only stopping to rest at nights.

Shazu simply growled and flicked his head towards his den. The scout nodded and followed him in, as soon as they were inside and out of both ear and eye shot of everyone outside Shazu slammed his paw hard across the wolf's face, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"Never come running through here shouting things like that! I don't give a damn if there is a forest fire and we'll all be dead in minutes, you report directly and discretely to me, got that? I don't want any more reasons for them to complain" Shazu growled as he loomed over the gasping wolf while grabbing his muzzle with his paw and pounding his face onto the stone for emphasis.

"now, report!" Shazu demanded as he carelessly tossed the scout back.

"w-well sir, me and my team were at the post you assigned us, you know watching over the place were the human took Caelum? Well a few days ago a pair of humans showed up and got into an argument with the hunter, the next day they showed up and starting beating on his door and windows shouting at him to open up, shortly after we heard two gunshots. Later they brought out Caelum and the hunter, Caelum was still alive but one of our scouts when to take a close look and said he was shot, the human was dead. They took Caelum to the human town, the one just up the coast from us." As the scout got the the end of his report cringed back, expecting to be hit again for his news.

To his surprise Shazu had the exact opposite reaction. He burst out laughing, but it wasn't a joyful laugh, it was a sadistic and menacing laugh, the kind of laugh someone uses just before they mutilate small children.

"little cur just wont die without a fight, alright then I'll give him one. You and your team are to move yourselves to the woods surrounding the human town."

"um sir? Isn't there already a team there?"

"very good, you can state the obvious pretty damn well, now shut up and listen before I have to find a replacement. The team already there is to watch the human town, you are there strictly to watch Caelum, I want to know everything he does, who he interacts with, who he befriends, who he hates and gets into fights with, were he sleeps, were he eats and if he finds a regular spot for it you better damn well tell me were he pisses and how long he takes to do it! Understood? And another thing, if he starts into the woods, I want you to come back, and get the judges, show them were to find them, from that point you can sit back and enjoy the show." Shazu growled in anticipation, he would finally get to make sure Marrok's blood line ended.

The terrified scout nodded and ran out of there, only stopping to get a drink and a bite to eat before he headed back, he found his team half way in between their old post and the pack's location, shortly after they started to Nome.

Shazu was confident that soon the mutt would be dead, even if the judges didn't get him before he found the Shadow Valley Clan over time he had planted the idea in everyone's heads that it was Cael's fault what had happened, that the humans had come looking for Silver and together they were plotting to kill all the wolves in Alaska, now that Silver was dead the humans had taken Caelum to take her place in their plot. Most all of them accepted this and used it to point all their anger over killed loved ones at Caelum, only a few knew it was a complete lie.

One of those few was Moon, she had seen the human almost kill Cael, but instead take him alive, and just now she had hidden herself behind Shazu's cave, were a small opening let her hear everything that was said. Now she knew were to find her friend, now she also knew a way to take Shazu out of power, but first she had to find way to reach him.

The next morning Jenna and her people left to go home, Jenna limping awkwardly with her leg in a cast. Over the next few weeks Cael, with great difficulty, settled into a sort of routine, he would wake up, eat something, get some 'exercise', every two-to-three days he would be checked over by a vet, he would eat another meal, go outside for a bit, eat a third and final meal for the day, and after that he was normally left to himself, till he went to sleep and it started all over again.

At first he had been scared of everyone and everything, even the next morning when Jenna and Rosy had awoken and Rosy reached over to pet him he jumped and tumbled off the bed. Word spread quickly about how he had growled at Jenna the first night, so many of the staff would try to avoid getting charged with taking care of him, that was all except for the head vet's soon-to-be-wife, Diane, whom had looked at it from a different angle, he was abused all his life and had a sudden and drastic change to his life; he was completely and utterly terrified.

Over time she would slowly approach him and show him trust and compassion, he eventually began to trust her more and more, so naturally most the other staff would attempt to get her to take care of him when the task was given to them. Truth be told she had become fond of the hybrid so they need not try very hard, this was to the dismay of her fiance, Alik, who feared the animal would cause her injury. This led to Alik growing a great hatred for Caelum, as a vet the only thing he could do though was get him out of his facility as quickly as possible without Diane realizing what he was doing. Sadly for him, she was a terrific snoop.

"Dammit Alik! I have nothing to fear from Cael." She shouted hotly at the large Russian.

"Nothing to fear? He is a wolf he snapped at a little girl and her dog and on top of that he killed a man!" Alik shouted back, his voice clearly showing his heritage.

"His pedigree means nothing to me, he didn't understand what was going on with those two and was scared and as for that worthless monster, Cael didn't kill him he shot himself." Diane seethed through gritted teeth, furious that he thought Cael was in the wrong for the fate of his abuser.

As their argument continued the canine in mention was with them under a tree in the middle of the fenced off courtyard unsure on how to proceed. He had been trying to work on how to act around others appropriately, when he had tried to bite a vet who was applying fresh bandages to his leg Diane had told him for awhile after that he wasn't to harm humans, but here this large man was yelling at one of the only two humans he cared about; what was he to do? Stick to pacifistic ways or help his friend? He found a simple solution by mistake, in his mental debate he began unconsciously making soft whines reminding the two humans they had a third companion.

"Look, Alik, just trust me on this will you please? And even if you wont you can't keep rushing his treatment, it's not good for him and you took the same oath we all did to always do whatever is best for our animal patients." Diane said in a softer voice, as her worry for whatever now ailed Cael over came her aggression.

Alik hesitated for a moment before he let his own grimace fall away and nodded. He turned on his heels to leave the exercise yard. As he left he thought about other ways to get Cael out faster, after all he had only agreed to stop rushing his treatment. Diane sighed, knowing it wasn't over yet. She turned to Cael who ran to her and nuzzled her hand as she knelt down and began to stroke his head. She was confused for a moment as to why he had been whining before when it suddenly clicked.

"you didn't like hearing us argue did you?" She asked

in response Cael licked her face and let out his odd low pitched, short bark.

Diane couldn't help but smile at the actions, it almost seemed like he knew what she had said.

Again Balto was on the run from Steele and his lackeys. He was almost out of tricks, and worse yet he wasn't familiar with this part of Nome. He was starting to pant badly and would need to slow down soon or risk making himself pass out, he rounded a corner into an alley and then rounded another, then to his dismay he was met with the site of a dead end. Balto pushed his front legs out in front of himself to stop before slamming into the quickly approaching wall, his efforts only slowed him a little before impact and threw up enough snow to bury himself in after he hit. Steele and his goons rounded the corner into the alley to find a dizzy Balto with a split open forehead stumble from a pile of snow.

"aw, look at the little cur playing in the snow. And look, he has little cut! Lets fix that boys, its not nearly big enough to be fatal!" Steele snarled as they all charged across the alley at Balto.

Balto had barely gotten to his feet when Steele slammed him up against the same wall he had ran into, using his paw to hold Balto's muzzle to it while he used it other to start beating him over the head. Balto's already blurry vision started to get worse as Steele hit him again and again, he felt one of the other dogs biting on his hind legs and back, he had to do something and fast. He tried to push down the pain as much as he could as he forced his mouth open enough to bite at the paw Steele was using to hold him, tearing the entire foot open wide as Steele jerked it away while Balto was still clamped onto it.

Steele flailed around enough to send Balto sprawling away into the snow, Kaltag quickly tried to pounce on him. Balto rolled just in time as Kaltag's head made contact with the side wall, he was out with little more then a groan. Star ran to the entrance of the alley to block Balto in while Nikki and a limping Steele started to close in on him from behind. Balto turned and ran towards start, when he was within the proper distance he leapt towards the small gray sled dog, his jaws open wide and pointed teeth flying straight for starts face. Star did just as Balto had hoped and ducked, he didn't want to fight them merely escape.

To both of their surprise one of Balto's canines caught Star's ear as he flew over him, ripping it from the base to half way up the side in an 'L' shape. Balto stood for a moment in shock, he'd never really tried to harm any of them, only escape, and now Star was rolling on the ground howling in pain as he held part of his head as it gushed blood from the severed blood vessels, making to everyone in the alley the wound seem much more serious. Balto didn't stay long as he turned and fled in terror, now they had a reason to hate him besides just his breed, not that it was his fault, they had literally cornered him in an alley.

Balto sprinted to the outskirts of Nome then ran into the forest, using them to hide in as he ran towards the beach. Once there he ran to the wrecked trawler, his large paws could clearly be heard pounding across the deck as he ran up the carefully placed blank and onto the slanted deck. At the sound of someone on the deck an old white Russian snow goose by the name of Boris waddled out with an annoyed look on his face.

"Boychick! Were have you been, I've been wo-wo AHH!" Boris screamed as he saw Balto's blood covered and swollen face.

"h-hey Boris, s-sorry I'm late." Balto mumbled with a small laugh before he fell onto his side and finally gave into to the beckoning darkness.

"Uncle Boris? Whats going on? What happened to Balto?" Muk asked as he and Luk made their way out of the ship's cabin.

"Those damn dogs got him again that's what happened!" Boris shouted in anger, followed by many more obscenities in both English and Russian.

As if on a cue Nikki suddenly bounded up onto the deck, Steele Kaltag and Star were on the gang plank waiting to see if the wolf-dog had indeed come back here.

"Weres did that mangy mutt gets t-to?" Nikki stuttered the last word as he turned to face a large and rather pissed off polar bear snarling in his face before he slapped him in the face, sending Nikki flying over the edge of the ship.

Muk and Luk ran to the lip of the boat and snarled out at the quartet of dogs as they turned tale and fled. After they retreated to Balto's nearly motionless form, the only indication of life being the slight rasp of breath and the rise and fall of his torso. They carefully lifted him and carried him into the cabin to lay him onto his ragged blanket, then without a word Muk and Luk went to get some snow to put on his wounds, they knew what to do as this was not the first time he had come back like this. But this time would prove to be different, as Balto would only become conscious on rare occasions and then not remember much before or even after the attack, sometimes even forgetting who his own name. Boris quickly realized he had a concision.

That night they had no choice but to carefully sneak him to the door step of the vet's office, and hope for the best, it killed Boris a bit inside to just leave him laying there; so he perched himself on a nearby roof top, Muk and Luk were to large to try and hide in town for long, even at night so they left back to the boat to wait for Boris to return. Within an hour a female opened to door to go step outside for a moment and screamed in shock when she discovered Balto laying, she checked for signs of life before carefully taking him inside.

Fate must have been one twisted bastard this night, for the next few hours Balto, Caelum , Steele, Kaltag, Nikki and Star were all stuck in the small vets office. When it was found that Balto was indeed the infamous wolf-dog of the town he was put in the same room as the currently sleeping Caelum; Steele and the others were put in a room just down the hall. For now none of them knew of their current predicament, but as all good things, it wouldn't last.

-A/N hope that one was long enough, but not to long, if not then just let me know and I'll work on it. Also I hope the writing was screwy, its late and I worked this on and off while talking to people so sorry if its messed up.-