Chapter 3: Hidden Agenda

"So the ritual needs a specific sacrifice in order to work then." The bulky animal growled as he spoke.

"That's right FREAK. And since the animal you need doesn't exist then I guess you're out of luck." An injured lynx lay at the animal's feet. It had already been severely beaten, probably in an attempt by the larger creature to find out what it wanted to know. The lynx continued "Fenrir never had any pups and since you need Fenrir's blood, well lets just say AAAAGH." The unknown animal stamped on the cat's stomach. The small cat vomited blood as the large foot connected with his body. As the large creature lifted his foot a young osprey landed on his shoulder. Both animals smiled as the osprey delivered its "news."

"Actually cat" The dark creature mocked. "Fenrir did have two pups, one male and one female. Either of them would make a fine sacrifice for MY ritual."

"Fenrir would...would never grant you his pow...power if you kill his son or daughter." The cat was struggling to breathe let alone speak.

"Well since his daughter is already dead I guess it'll be his son I kill won't it." The creature was laughing as he spoke, showing his black heart.

"Gevadon! You won't...ge...get aw...ay with..." Gevadon picked up the small cat as it spoke. Before the animal could finish his sentence Gevadon de-sheathed his claws and eviscerated the small creature.

"Oh I think I'll get away with anything I like." Gevadon gloated as he dropped what was left of the animal in his paw.

"Your next son of Fenrir." He laughed as he walked into the forest.

Spirit woke up panting; he looked out of the window of Jenna's house. It was still dark outside, what had woken him up so early? Aleu and Jenna were still fast asleep. He didn't know what had woken him up; all he knew was that it felt terrible. Just trying to remember what he had dreamt made him feel sick to his stomach. He shrugged off the early awakening and simply put it down to his injuries playing up.

"Well no point trying to go back to sleep now." He thought to himself. He crept slowly out of the small shed. Spirit walked the empty streets of Nome for hours, doing nothing more than waiting for sunrise. When the sun eventually rose he decided to head back to Jenna's, they'd be waking up soon and he didn't want Aleu to worry about where he was. He still couldn't shake the feeling he had that something had happened to him last night.

"I can worry about that later." He thought as he walked back to the small house.

"Spirit where have you been?" Aleu sounded terrified as she spoke to him. Tears were running down her muzzle as she ran to see him.

"I woke up early so I went for a walk around town. Aleu what's the matter? What's going on?" He was confused; he didn't know why she was so scared.

"Two dogs were found just outside the town last night, they had... they had been torn apart Spirit." She could barely speak to tell him what had happened. He couldn't believe what she just told him, but maybe that explained why he felt so ill this morning. He didn't understand, did he kill them? NO he couldn't have someone would have heard him leave last night, it couldn't have been him. He looked around nervously, Aleu was watching him, she didn't understand, what was he thinking.

"Spirit what's wrong?" Aleu sounded relieved that he was ok, but she was also wondering what possessed him to take a walk that early in the morning in the first place.

"Spirit." Balto's voice cut through the silence as he walked into the house. "Are you ok?"

"Well yeah why wouldn't I be?" the young albino asked.

"Because whatever killed those dogs..." Balto hesitated not wanting to continue. "Whatever it was, it was looking for YOU."

Spirit and the two bitches were shocked. "How do you know?" Jenna asked her mate.

"Because Star heard it threaten those dogs it said it would kill them if they didn't tell it where Spirit was, but it looks like it killed them anyway." Balto answered.

Something tore those dogs apart and Spirit could only draw one conclusion, there was only one animal he could think that would do such a thing to get to him. It didn't make any sense though, Diego was dead. Spirit had killed him barely two weeks ago.

"HOW!" Spirit howled catching everyone of guard. "HOW CAN HE BE ALIVE? HOW!"

Spirits howl pierced the eerie silence that had fallen over the town. His howl could be heard for six miles. Everyone simply stood where they were watching, Spirit standing in the middle of the group. He was panting, his eyes showing clearly the fear that now gripped his heart. Despite looking helpless and scared no one made a move towards the young male, whether out of shock or trepidation he couldn't tell at first but as he looked into Aleu's eyes he couldn't see the love he saw on that first night, now all he saw was fear and panic. He looked down, he couldn't believe Diego was still alive but no one else knew him.

"Aleu, I..." she stopped him before he could finish. He walked slowly towards her. She looked terrified as he approached her. She shrank away from him as he neared. She backed into the wall of the shed as the albino male walked towards her.

"Aleu listen I didn't mean to scare you." He attempted to reconcile her.

"Spirit maybe you should leave for a while." Balto suggested. "I'll talk to her."

Spirit decided to follow Balto's advice. He needed to calm down. After a walk he realized how stupid he was being. Diego couldn't be here looking for him. No creature could survive having its neck broken and its throat torn out. He would go back to see Aleu tomorrow; give her some space for now. Balto would talk to her. He laid his head on the cold wood and tried to get to sleep.

"Spirit, Spirit wake up." Jenna was standing above the dog as she spoke. He vaguely heard the voice but it wasn't enough to wake him up. What did wake him up however was the foot that just connected with the side of his head. Jenna had only kicked him gently but it had woken him up. He looked up at the husky, she was crying.

"Jenna what's wrong?" The male was bemused.

"Aleu's missing, Balto's trying to find her but I thought you would be able to help." The bitch was hysterical.

"Listen I don't think Aleu would want my help right now." Spirit answered.

"Of course she does, she loves you." Jenna sounded a little defensive. Spirit understood why, she was worried. He agreed to help his tracking instincts were better than Balto's, he loved Aleu and he wouldn't let anything happen to her. He walked to Jenna's house; he picked up her scent and started to follow the smell. After about ten minutes he caught up to Balto.

"Balto what's happening? Have you found her yet?" He asked.

"No I think she went into the forest." The half wolf answered.

The albino looked towards the forest as he spoke "I'm going after her."

"Spirit, don't its dangerous." Balto woofed, concerned for the male's safety.

"What? How do you know?" His gaze never left the forest.

"Spirit something took her, she was on her way to see you last time I saw her. She'd never run away again, she had no reason this time." Balto was worried; he loved his daughter more than anything but he wouldn't risk Spirits life. "Going in there is suicide. Remember it's after you."

"Balto, when you've had a life like mine you come to welcome oblivion." Spirit walked slowly away from him. He followed her scent into the forest. The forest was dark and sinister in the pale dawn light. As soon as he entered the forest he smelled someone else. Whoever this other animal was Spirit didn't like the smell of him. A while later he saw Aleu lying on the ground near an unidentifiable black shape, he guessed that was the animal that took her. He walked forward confidently. Gevadon turned upon hearing the dog walk towards him.

"Spirit!" Aleu howled as he closed in on the pair. Gevadon lifted the young bitch so they were eye to eye.

"Shut your muzzle you worthless half breed." He growled at her as he spoke.

"Let her go. Don't you dare hurt her you monster!" Spirit shouted at the animal holding Aleu.

"Very well son of Fenrir. I will let her go." His voice was calm and slightly psychotic. He lowered his foreleg slightly before throwing the young bitch. She hit a nearby tree, tearing open a small (though deep) gash on her back. Spirit ran to her aid as she hit the snow-covered ground.

"So son of Fenrir now that you are here I can gain the power I so hunger for." He was laughing as he spoke. Spirit thought this creature was insane. The creature raised itself and stood on its hind legs alone. Spirit had never seen anything like this before, not that he had seen much. This animal was over six feet tall, shaped like a human/wolf hybrid. It had huge muscles, razor sharp claws and five-inch long fangs. The huge animal walked towards Spirit, its fangs dripping.

"What are you?" Spirit was scared, with good reason this thing was massive and it was truly insane.

"I am Gevadon." It replied "I am the carrier of lycanthropy, the demigod of the jackal and the wolf." Spirit took a step back, almost tripping over Aleu. Only one of them was getting out of this alive.

"Aleu run, your father's at the forests edge." Spirit stood his ground in front of the hurt bitch, if nothing else she would be safe.

She ran out of the forest as fast as she could. Before she left she saw Spirit dive at the animal and sink his fangs into its neck. She now knew what Diego's enemies had feared, it wasn't Diego it was Spirit. Gevadon reeled as the dog sank his teeth into the animal's soft throat. Gevadon spared no time in acting; he gripped the young dog and threw him. Spirit hit the ground hard and slid on the snow, almost breaking his back on a nearby tree. Spirit opened his eyes and saw a large red circle full of strange patterns engraved on the ground. He had no idea what this was but he could guess who made it. Spirit looked up and saw Gevadon running towards him, claws bared. Spirit rolled onto his feet and dived out of the way of the charging animal. He narrowly avoided the sharp claws of the insane creature. He then dived at Gevadon and bit into the animals forearm. This attack was not enough to even phase the enormous animal; Spirit knew this so he just let go. Before he could move Gevadon's elbow connected with his neck sending him sprawling on the ground. Gevadon leapt at the dog missing him by inches. Taking this opportunity to do some real damage to his aggressor Spirit struck out, sinking his teeth into Gevadon's ankle. He howled as Spirits teeth tore their way through muscle and sinew. Gevadon was in a lot of pain but he kept cool. He swung his leg forward dragging Spirit in front of him and forcing him to release his grip. Spirit was on his back looking up at Gevadon. The animal then brought his foot down onto Spirit's chest. The young dog gasped at the weight on his body. Gevadon was staring into the dog's eyes laughing. He then increased the weight on his foot. Spirit could barely breathe; the air was being forced from his lungs. This was it, he couldn't escape this, he was going to die. Spirit could feel his ribs starting to crack under the immense weight being concentrated on them. Suddenly Gevadon lifted his foot, grabbed Spirit by the neck and threw him into the center of the circle.

"You fought well son of Fenrir, as a reward I'll let you see your father before you die." Gevadon teased Spirit.

The next thing he felt was a searing pain in his side as Gevadon's claws cut into his body. He felt the warm liquid running down his side onto the snow. His blood ran through the engraved circle filling it and the patterns in it. There was a flash of red light that blinded, almost burnt the two animals. When Spirit opened his eyes it was dark, they weren't in the forest any more either. He looked around weakly, and then he saw Gevadon speaking to a massive black wolf. He slowly limped towards the two creatures. Blood was still running down his side.

"I resurrected you I deserve your power." Gevadon was screaming at the wolf. Spirit was in awe of this wolf it was almost twice his height and it looked immensely powerful.

"Spirit, welcome." The huge wolf barked without looking at him.

"Who are you, how do you know my name." Spirit asked.

"I am Fenrir the god of beasts and I know your name because I am your father." Spirit stopped, he was shocked, his father, how? Fenrir then turned to Gevadon.

"Fenrir you will give me your power now!" Gevadon snarled.

"You attempted to kill my son, YOU WILL GET NOTHING FROM ME BUT ETERNAL SUFFERING!" Fenrir growled at Gevadon.

He hurled himself at the large hybrid, teeth bared. Gevadon was an extremely powerful fighter, Spirit knew this from experience but Fenrir outclassed him in every way. Words could not describe how Fenrir fought, Gevadon was scared, for the first time in his life he couldn't win.

"GEVADON FOR ATTEMPTING TO KILL MY SON I BANISH YOU TO DISCORDIA FOR THE REST OF EXISTANCE." Fenrir yelled and as he did Gevadon was swallowed by a vast black tear in the air. The last thing either of them heard was Gevadon howl in pain as the tear disappeared. Gevadon was no more.

"I am sorry you had to see that Spirit." Fenrir walked over to him as he spoke.

"Fenrir? Are you really my father?" Spirit asked, still a little wary of the massive wolf.

"Yes. I am sorry I wasn't there for you and Arianna, I was killed not long after you were conceived." Fenrir sounded apologetic.

"Killed? But you're a god what could kill you?" Spirit wondered, he couldn't think of anything that could kill a god.

"A creature named Shardik but that doesn't matter. Spirit I'll give you some of my power, I think you may need it in the future." Fenrir responded "Then I shall send you back to earth."

There was another bright flash. Spirit opened his eyes to find himself lying in the forest as he had been before Gevadon cut him. He knew that wasn't a dream though, if it was he wouldn't be bleeding. He also wouldn't be stronger or faster than ever before. In fact all his abilities were heightened, strength, speed, and agility not to mention his senses. He didn't think he had seen the last of Fenrir, to think his father was a god. He stood up carefully not wanting to agitate his side, it hurt enough already. Something was wrong, he looked around and the forest was different somehow. It had changed, he guessed it would have taken maybe two to three weeks to change like this but he'd only been gone a day at most, unless.

"Father!" He yelled.

"What is it Spirit, what's wrong?" Fenrir asked.

"How long was I in your world?" He couldn't have been there that long.

"Three or four hours." His father replied. "But on earth about eighteen days have passed."

Spirit looked down as his father disappeared; Fenrir knew his son wanted to be alone for now. He couldn't believe it, eighteen days; everyone would think him dead by now. He limped back to Nome, his side and his ribs hurt. He would feel better when he saw Aleu, he knew it. She'd help him. As he walked the streets he saw most of the dogs and almost all humans who saw him were staring at his injuries. Steele stared at him as he passed. He then began walking towards Spirit; he was a lot more confident than the last time they met.

"You don't look to well wolf." Steele teased.

Spirit didn't answer he just kept walking. He wasn't in the mood for games.

"Didn't die then I see, everyone thought you had." Steele was being unusually friendly to the half breed. "Why'd you come back then? Oh that's right, you think Aleu still loves you."

"What!" this had pushed Spirit a little too far.

"I'm only telling you the truth Spirit, she waited a while for you but now she's found another dog." Steele was laughing at the hurt mongrel.

Spirit didn't believe what Steele had told him, he started to run as best he could towards Balto's boat. When he reached the boat he heard Balto and Jenna woofing, he forced himself to ignore the pain he was in and struggled up the plank. He turned into the cabin and saw Aleu's parents.

"Spirit, you're alive!" Jenna barked as she saw him. "What happened?"

He just stared at them a moment.

"Aleu told us everything that happened up to when she left but what happened to you? Where have you been for the fortnight?" Balto asked.

"Don't worry about him, he's gone and he's not coming back." Spirit answered. "My father saw to that."

"Your father?" Jenna asked.

"Yes, Fenrir." He replied. He recounted his fight with Gevadon and his meeting with his father to the dogs, who listened eagerly. He also told them of his "chat" with Steele.

Balto looked at him "Well, Spirit he was telling the truth."

"What?" Spirit barked.

"I think you should talk to her about this." Jenna suggested.

He agreed and Balto left to find his daughter and tell her about Spirit. He lay on his good side in the cabin. How many times had he been seriously hurt lately? He didn't know. Jenna spotted his injuries and told him not to move. She began to lick his side to clean the wounds. It was uncomfortable however and he yelped every time her tongue touched one of the lesions on his side. Once she had cleaned his side they began to talk some more. She told him that Aleu had waited for him for a week but eventually she had given up. Her new dog was a husky named Sabre. Apparently he had always had feelings for her but only now had he worked up enough courage to tell her.

"Yeah right." Spirit thought to himself.

"Spirit I missed you so much." Aleu said nuzzling against him.

"Oh Aleu, I love you." He told her.

"Sp...Spirit I'm sorry but... I've found someone else." She told him. She sounded apologetic but this still hurt the male more than any of his injuries ever could.

"Why?" He asked getting to his feet. He was furious at her, she had betrayed him.

"I don't need to justify myself to you." She barked, also angry.

"Tell me WHY!" He growled.

"Why, because you never came back, that's why!" Aleu shouted at him.

At that moment Sabre ran in to see why she was shouting. Spirit looked at the pure bred. He hated this dog with all of his broken heart.

"I had no choice." He added calmly, trying to keep his anger in check. He doubted he could fight Sabre at the moment. Killing Sabre would probably just make Aleu hate him more anyway.

"I'm sorry Spirit." She whispered.

He turned to leave, as he stepped off the plank and onto the beach he turned and shouted at her.

"You're nothing more than a selfish, superficial bitch! I can't believe I was ever stupid enough to love you! I should have killed you when Diego told me to!" He could no longer contain his anger.

Aleu turned and ran to her parents crying, but Sabre jumped off the boat to confront him.

"How dare you talk to her like that you MUTT!" he shouted.

Spirit knew this dog had the same prejudice as so many others he had met. He had tricked Aleu but not Spirit, not that it mattered now, Aleu would never speak to him again. Did he really mean what he had said to her? Did he really wish he had killed her? Right now he didn't know. His perfect new life had fallen apart around him. He had nothing left in Nome now. He decided to leave, but where would he go? It didn't matter to him really, no one wanted him here. Once again he found himself an outcast. He gave Nome one last look as he walked into the mountains. His heart ached to be with her, he didn't mean what he said he was just angry. He still loved her but that part of his life was over. This was the second home he had lost. The second family to turn their backs on him. The second time he was alone.