2.
Philadelphia Shipyard, Pennsylvania: 1917
"Holy cow," mutters Oliver Dublin.
"That's one way of putting it," Kyle comments as he looks at the organized group before them.
A long line of Marines in their brown coats, tin hats and Springfield rifles, files along as they make their way to their designated ship. Everybody is laden down with their gear, bags of ammunition, blankets, knives and of course guns, while their heavy and breezy coat flutters around them as they struggle to keep them from flapping as the gale continues to whip the Marine's faces. The Atlantic looks dark and forbidding on this day, but that doesn't seem to bother the civilians.
Running parallel to the departing warriors is a crowd of people, all watching like spectators at a big game. There were men, women and children, most of who look like they are dressed in their Sunday best. Women wearing expensive dresses, men in suits and children in tight and uncomfortable clothing. Occasionally though there are people who are dressed in everyday garments, workers, construction men and a few sweethearts who some of the men have already bonded to.
Kyle couldn't help but smirk when he sees Spalding out of the corner of his eyes, the young man breaks rank and went to give the blond he met last night a farewell kiss. He ran back in line before any Sergeants could see, and all that Kyle could do is shake his head.
"You're really asking for it are you?" he finally asks his fellow fireteam member.
Eric Spalding merely chuckles before saying, "You aren't going to turn in your own Sergeant are you Corporal?" he asks in his usual country boy twanged voice.
"No," answers Kyle, "but I thought the squad leader is supposed to be leading by example."
"And I am," he says as he turns and waves at his girl, who in turn waves back, "I'm showing y'all an example on how to catch yourselves a woman." He then turns to Oliver and nudges him, "be sure to take down notes boy, I'm practically giving you free gold here."
Oliver frowns slightly as he tries to figure out whether Eric is being serious or not. Kyle couldn't help but laugh at the poor boy's position. The kid was born and raised to be a priest or something along those lines. He is very respectful, quiet and reserved, he doesn't drink, doesn't try and even court a lady or so much as smoke. His very appearance is nothing but pure innocence, his hair is cut short and his height is five foot eight, matching well with his boyish nature. He is already short, but with his oversize jacket and round helmet, he looks like a child trying to imitate his parents. It's hard to believe the kid grew up on the rough end of the city of Chicago.
Eric Spalding however looks like the spitting image of a Marine. Brownish red hair, massive arms, six foot, and a broad chest that makes the girls go nuts and with a bright smile to complete the image. This looks like a guy who was pampered to be a prince, yet he came from the barren lands of the New Mexico territories, second generation of immigrants from somewhere in Europe, probably England. One of four boys, Eric is the youngest of the family, but here he is seen as the oldest for he is now reaching his twenty second birthday, which for some reason makes him appear to be all the more…rugged.
Kyle is probably the middle man of the group, which in a way he is. He is about six foot two, just about the same height as Eric, a fact that for some reason aggravates the squad leader. He has midnight black hair and light blue eyes that are almost pale. His skin has been baked and golden from all the time he has spent outside in the sun. He keeps readjusting his coat, his helmet and his rifle strap as he buzzes about what is to come next. Finally after a year of anticipation, they are about to enter the war.
He couldn't help but feel nervous, especially for his brother. Tom Shames is serving on a patrol boat and has already been sent over to the English Channel. It was an embarrassing mistake to be honest; both brothers had decided to join the Navy, so they can watch each other's back. Unfortunately for Kyle he joined the wrong military branch when they enlisted at different times. He heard the Marines were the part of the Navy that got to see action and knowing his brother, the roughneck little guy from the country fields, he was sure that was what Tom would be doing. Now here he stands, miles away from his sibling, getting set to fight on land while Tom fights on the seas.
It isn't all that bad though. Kyle got paired within a group of young boys like him, Oliver and Eric. Eric is like Tom, only a bit crazier and Oliver is like a little kid who needed help tying his shoes. Kyle feels pretty solid around his squad mates, especially Eric who is the real sharpshooter in 4th platoon. They practiced so long every day on the field it seems almost unnatural to not imagine fighting with each other. Oliver though…both Kyle and Eric secretly agreed to watch out for him together, when push comes to shove; they'll stick next to their little buddy to the end.
"Stay in line and keep moving," shouts Gunnery Sergeant Jean Cotter as he watches the long trail of Marines. The man is old, but obviously fit enough to stay in the military. Rumors had it he was once a Rough Rider and served alongside President Roosevelt back in the Spanish war, but that was a long time ago. Yet Cotter looks to be about the right age, white hair, broad shoulders and near six foot five statues. The man was built like an impenetrable tower, a real pillar of strength. Whenever Captain Huxley isn't around, it's usually Cotter who is in charge of the platoon.
"Almost there," Oliver suddenly whispers, bringing Kyle back as they are approaching the small moving ramp as it pitches with the ship.
"Just keep your hands on the rope and you'll be fine little buddy," advises Eric from the rear.
Oliver visibly shakes before walking onto the wooden steps, all the while trying to keep himself from being thrown overboard.
Kyle looks up to see the massive vessel up close and personal. The wind is blowing downwind, pushing the black smoke away as the group of Soldiers, Marines and Sailors, make their way onboard. The ship is meant for transporting supplies, it has hardly any defenses, it looks like a regular steam freighter with the massive smoke stack set in the middle, only it was built for supply runs alone, not for the comfort of its potential passengers. The deck, and no doubt the underdeck, is full of people as they all struggle to find a spot to sit or stand as they wait to cast off.
Finally, Kyle reaches out and grabs the long brown material and he steps onto the ramp, stumbling every so often as wave after wave assaults the rear of the ship. Kyle looks over the side at the deep blue before looking up at the horizon.
The Atlantic Ocean looks vast and endless. Seagulls are the only signs of life and for once Kyle actually feels kind of small as he realizes the world is larger than he thought. Terror grips him, but only for a while, he steels himself as he breathes in and out.
This is what he wanted. This is what he has been training for.
The men of the 51st Company, embedded within the 5th Division, have been waiting for this day to come and he will not be seen as weak. He refuses to back down, he will not back down.
"Everything's going to change, you know that right?" Eric suddenly asks from behind as he too gazes at the sea.
Kyle nods before chuckling, "yeah, but I'm sure it won't but anything we can't handle." He ends by wrapping his arm around Eric and slapping Oliver on the back, causing the tiny soldier to jump.
Kyle is surprised when he hears Eric says, "I hope so," as a shadow crosses over the man's face and for once, he really does look like the old of the Marines. This was really different compared to the cheerful guy who was standing beside him a moment ago, almost as if he can tell what it was that's going to happen.
It is then that the gravity of the situation hits Kyle as he thought, we're going to war. But he ignores that moment of dread before hefting his pack a little higher and continues on deck. Not once looking back at the country he was leaving, the country he is supposed to be fighting for.
Nome Alaska: 1925
Jenna rests by the fire, content with the morning.
Sitting a foot away from her is her tiny human, Rosy, who is at the moment humming to herself as she plays with her doll on the rug. The stove is offering tremendous heat that warms everything within their home despite the amount of snow that has piled up outside. The sun is shining bright as its rays slice through the window and alit the building. Sitting not too far away is Jenna's human, reading a book while his mate can be heard shuffling around in the kitchen, cleaning up after the morning meal.
Jenna licks her chops as she remembers having the leftover scraps, which consisted mostly of bacon. She wishes Balto and Aleu were here, they would have enjoyed it as well, but they had struck out early in the morning to check on Aleu's pack and make sure all is over.
She couldn't help but smile with pride as she thought of her daughter. She still can't tell if she has her father's strength or his stubbornness, either way it has gotten her pretty far in her still young life.
But before they had left, Jenna noticed the distant look in Balto's eyes. He was no doubt thinking about the human that Taylor had told them about. Though interesting, Jenna still isn't sure what to think of it. Normally most dogs would have attacked anything that smelled of wolf, but after Balto saved the town they accepted him, so the smell of wolf became tolerable as he, and soon their children, walk freely around the Nome. She wonders if her mate is still thinking of investigating their human, she hopes not, from the way Taylor acted this human must be really-
A sudden knock on the door stops her thoughts, but she ignores it as she continues to lie lazily on the floor.
"I'll get it," her human announces as he puts the book down and stands. He makes his way into the hallway and Jenna hears the door opening.
"Oh, hello," her human says, "uh, what can I do for you stranger?"
Jenna is tempted to go back to sleep when the cold wind sweeps in. She gets the chills, but that disappears when she smells the scent. Her head shoots up so fast that it scares Rosy, but for once in her life, Jenna pays the small human no mind. Instead her mind is spinning from the aroma she is inhaling, it's so familiar yet foreign at the same time, but it smells of only one thing; wolf.
Fear drapes over the female husky as she tries to register this. How can a wolf be here? Is it Balto? Aleu? No, it can't be them, how could they have knocked? Why would her human say hello like they're-
"Good morning…Mr. Richardson I presume?" a voice asks, it sounds as if it belongs to a young male, "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Now Jenna shivers and it's not because she is cold. Getting up from her position, she trots into the hallway in order to solve this odd mystery. Her human is blocking the doorway, but she sidesteps him and stares outside and sees what it is causing the smell.
She couldn't believe it and for a moment she considers the possibility that she is going insane. Standing heel deep in the snow is indeed a young human, wearing what looks to be a heavy coat and a hat. Black hair pokes out along the rim of the cap while pale eyes stare out from beneath it's rim. He stands tall with little worry or shyness, but what catches her attention though is the smell of a predator; a threat to her home.
She releases a low growl, earning the strange man's attention. They lock eyes and she sees it, it's brief but she knew she saw something. A glint of red that appears devious and almost hypnotic within the person's eyes before it fades back to the regular pale blue color.
She releases a small yip when her human grabs her by the bandana that is tied around her neck and drags her behind him.
"Jenna!" her human exclaims before looking back to the man, no, not a man, some sort of freak of nature, a monster.
"I'm so sorry," her human says in an apologetic tone, "Jenna doesn't usually act like this."
"That's all right," replies the monster, "I'm actually used to it."
"Um…right…" there is a pause in the conversation, in which time her human releases her, but she stays behind his legs. She won't challenge this stranger again, but she will protect her home, with or without her human's permission.
"I hear you have a shed for sale," the man finally admits, his eyes going between Jenna and back to her human.
"Oh, really?" her human asks, and she feels just as astonish as he did. The small building her human had built was supposed to be for an elderly man who lives close to the forest and needed a place to keep his tools. However, the elder had passed away, leaving her human in the possession of the lean-to. He tried numerous times to sell it to people, especially the local carpenter, but so far there are no takers, nobody needs a shed at the moment.
The stranger nods, "Yes, I'm planning on building my own home in the spring, but until then I need a place to live and I hear your shed is big enough for living space."
"Oh," her human's face wrinkles in as he ponders for a bit before saying, "Well…I suppose it would suit your needs, but it wasn't originally built to live in."
"Just for the winter," the stranger adds again.
"Oh I believe you," replies her human, "but it doesn't have a fireplace…we could probably fit a stove in there…"
"It's all fine," continues the stranger, "I just require shelter."
"It's also close to the forest."
"Even better."
Jenna's human is now eyeing the man suspiciously, but before he could say anything the stranger says, "My name is Kyle Shames, and I'm not a man fleeing from the law, you can verify that with just about any nearby sheriff."
Kyle Shames, Jenna thought to herself, sounds appropriate for someone as mysterious as him.
"Well Mr. Shames," her human is silent for a few more seconds before saying, "let me get a coat and we can go out and take a look at it." He turns and reenters the house, calling out to his mate that he's going out.
In that small span that he is gone, Jenna looks back up and gazes at Kyle as he stares back in turn. His eyes are hard, threatening and dangerous, his body is tense, ready for action should she make a move. She wishes she could growl again or snarl, anything to let him know that this is her territory and that he is not welcome. The monster, Kyle, she remembers, stands as still as a statue, but his head snaps up when her human reappears.
"Well let's go," he says in what could pass for a giddy voice.
Jenna hurries after him; there is no way she is going to leave her human alone with this, this, monstrosity.
Her human started waving at her, "no, no, Jenna, back to the house."
"It's alright," both dog and owner turns to face Kyle as he says, "I'm sure there won't be any more trouble," he finishes with one more glance at Jenna. Now the Husky wants to bury her teeth in his hide, but instead decides to follow, no point in her attacking if all it will achieve is sympathy for this monster.
Her human gives her a warning glance like he used to when she was a pup before turning and gesturing to Kyle, "Well, follow me."
Together the trio makes their way down the road and heads to the forest. The street is clear of most people, only early risers and shop keepers are up at this hour as they get things ready for the day. Jenna's human is something called "teacher", as far as she knows, he does indeed teach, but only the little humans and today is one of the two days which he doesn't work, for reasons unknown to her.
"So," her human suddenly says, "Mr. Shames, what brings you up here?"
"The call of nature," is his short reply.
Her human gives him an odd look before responding, "Well you certainly found it, I hope we'll make you feel at home, where are you from originally?"
"Oklahoma."
Her human's eyes widen slightly, "Now I know you are from out of town," he gives a light chuckle, "I hope you don't mind the cold."
"I've been through worse," is his only response as he brings up his jacket a little further.
They fall silent as they enter the outskirts of the town and cross the opening that separates the settlement from the wilderness. Jenna looks to her right and can see the damaged fishing boat that has been run into the ground a long time ago, the place that Balto has set up as his home. It looks deserted at the moment; she dully wonders where her mate and daughter are and hopes that they are all right.
"Listen," her human says again, "I know I just met you and you've probably been asked this already but-"
"Yes," Kyle interrupts, "I fought in the Great War."
Her human nods, "I figured as much, you look just like a soldier you know, especially with that coat."
"I'm a Marine," Kyle states with what could pass as pride.
"Uh…a what?"
"A Marine, we're a part of the Navy that specializes in land warfare, we did just as well as the doggies did."
"Uh…"
"The regular army troops," elaborates Kyle.
"Right…anyway, the reason I'm asking is because I know you guys appreciate the company of people who have served as well," her human says.
"Do I?" Kyle asks in an amused voice that makes Jenna want to snap her jaws at him.
"Well, here there's a man named Lloyd Daniels," her human continues, "he fought in the war too, but his leg got amputated, he looked happy when he met his old comrades, so I just thought if you needed someone to talk to-"
"I don't mean to be rude Mr. Richardson," Kyle breaks in, "but is this the shed?"
"Hmm, oh yes, it is," her human says as he takes a key out of his pocket and approaches the small building.
The little structure is definitely small compared to a regular house, but manageable. It stands eight feet tall and appears to be fourteen foot wide and ten feet wide. There is a single door and two windows installed. They are just a few paces away from the woods, its blackness appearing to swallow the very light as its branches block out the sun. Jenna shivers.
There is a click and her human pushes the door inward before gesturing to Kyle, "after you."
Without a word, the mysterious man steps in and Jenna's human is quick to follow. The building looks cramped as it is with the two humans inside, so Jenna just sticks her head in to keep an eye on the odd predator.
"Well, what do you think?" her human asks as he stands off to the side, "now over here," he gestures behind him, "its big enough for a bed, and over there," he points to the window that reveals the forest, "we can remove that glass and place a stove pipe through it…aside from those essential items I honestly see nothing else that can be fit in here."
Kyle nods at the man's words as he continues to survey his new house. It is all made from wood, plenty of space for him to move about, maybe just enough space for a small table too. It's a bit dusty, but that can be fixed. True he will be cramped, but this is only for the winter season.
"It'll do," Kyle says in an approving voice, "where can I buy a stove and furniture?"
"Well you can get the stove at the general store," advises Jenna's human, "and here in Nome we have our own carpenter if you wish to have a custom made bed-"
He is caught off by a sound that catches them all by surprise. The howl of a wolf echoes through the forest, and it fills Jenna with fear when she identifies the voice belonging to her daughter. She sounds like she is close by, maybe just a few yards away in the woodlands.
"Wolves?" Kyle asks, looking curious.
"Err…yes, wolves," Jenna's human confirms, "If that's a problem, then I suggest you look somewhere else for a place to stay."
The husky hopes Kyle would say yes and leave Nome, but he shakes his head.
"It's all right," he says, "I know how to handle wolves," at the end of his statement his eyes becomes crimson for half a second, a sight that she could only see and understand.
Her hackles rise and a growl escapes her. He has just threatened her mate and her child, unacceptable from any mother's view.
She shouts, "You will not harm my mate or my child, you, you monster!" she screams in pure rage.
Both humans stare at her, caught by surprise no doubt from her agitated barking, but that's when she sees Kyle. His pale blue eyes look into hers and she is horrified at what she sees; understanding.
The human heard her. This monster in human skin understood what she had just said. This is worse than anything Taylor could have described, this is something she has never seen or heard of before.
She turns and runs, she sprints as long and as far as she can go. She doesn't want to be in the beast's presence anymore, it's too unnerving, too frightening. That thing is not of nature, an abomination. She needs to find her family and warn them, this is no ordinary man or beast; this is a nightmare come true.
"I swear, I have no idea what has gotten into that dog," Richardson says as he watches the husky run back to town. "Why, this morning she was acting normal now she's practically barking mad, I wonder what got her all wild up."
Kyle could only sigh and shrug, but deep down he knows why that dog has fled. The husky is a mother and a mate apparently, whether her owner realized it or not. And Kyle had flat out threatened them with that remark he had made earlier.
He didn't really mean it, true should a wolf ever approach him he is more than willing to attack and if necessary, to kill it, with his bare hands if need be. Yet this is different, those wolves are a part of the husky's family, people she obviously cares for.
Just like the war, Kyle thought to himself as he wonders about all the people he had killed. How many of them were sons, how many of them were fathers? And how many wives and mothers are sitting at their homes to this day still sobbing for their loved ones who they know will never return.
He feels like he should apologize and correct what he had said, the reaction had much reminded him of his own protective mother, before her unexpected death. Yet how is he supposed to apologize to a husky? As his wolf self perhaps? No, that's not going to work; she will either attack him or run away again.
There is another howl, close, but not too close. He thought he heard a light melody voice within the call, a female perhaps? Is that really the child of a husky? A wolf?
"Are you sure you want to buy this place?" Richardson asks as he looks into the forest trying to pick out from which direction the howl is coming from.
In answer, Kyle reaches into his pocket and brings out a large bundle of cash and simply asks, "How much?"