Chapter 2: After the Birthday

As the time went on, both Timber and Titanium were growing up to adolescent dogs, with their birthday nearing by the January 12th. It was going to be their first birthday and not only theirs. In fact, their sisters Annabeth, Amanda and Noir, and their brother Geed were going to be one year old. All their siblings but Annabeth were younger than these two.

"So, what are your wishes, my brothers?" Annabeth, the eldest pup of Steele and Elizabeth, who had the identical black fur like the rest of the family, same facial markings as Elizabeth, yet the green eyes and the green collar with the golden tag around her neck, asked her brothers. She was curious enough to ask them.

"As far as I know, my wish is to be a sled dog. In case I don't become one, I hope to meet someone special." Titanium spoke first. Annabeth did seem to like his main wish, but what was he saying by "someone special". Not wanting to ask any other personal questions, she asked Timber: "And what about you, Timber?"

Timber looked at Titanium, then at Annabeth. He smiled happily and just said: "It's simple - as same as Titanium!" Both brothers proceeded to laugh while Annabeth raised her eyebrow in curiosity. Now that they were all three of them on the beach, there was technically no other way that someone'd hear them.

Eventually, after a minute or two, all three of them heard someone approaching them. With Annabeth looking back, she said: "Oh, here comes Noir!" Timber and Titanium looked backwards and indeed they saw their youngest sister and youngest sibling.

Noir was special on her own way. She had the same facial markings as Titanium's hero Kodi. Only that she had white fur and black underbelly! She had the ocean blue eyes, which were typical for the rest of the family. She also happened to wear the ocean blue bandanna around her neck. Hearing Annabeth calling her, she responded: "Hey there!"

"Noir, what brings you here? I thought you were at Geed's?" Timber was tempted to ask his youngest sister about their youngest brother. Geed was black-furred and blue eyed like others, but he was resembling Steele the most by the looks, taking in account the black eye-patches. Unlike his brothers, Geed had no interest into becoming a sled dog.

"Oh, I was at Geed's. We were waiting for Amanda to hang out and so..." Noir narrated what was happening back at Geed's. Amanda was the middle sister of the entire litter, having the same facial markings as Noir and blue eyes like the others. She was wearing a red bandanna around her neck. "But she didn't appear. However, I do know that she's possibly with Brick now!"

These last words were said by utter disgust, especially when "Brick" was mentioned. Brick was Amanda's boyfriend, always followed by the group of three cronies, doing whatever he pleased. None of the siblings, not even Geed, the sibling closest to Amanda, liked Brick due to his manipulative and arrogant personality. Sadly, Amanda was blind to all that.

"I just don't know what she sees in that mutt." Annabeth said that, showing the obvious dislike for that arrogant dog. Sighing in content, Annabeth looked up in the sky in hopes for relief and just said: "I hope Amanda is going to realize what kind of mutt Brick is and that she's going to find a better boyfriend."

"Same here." Titanium spoke once again, hoping that there was someone else, someone that would be a good boyfriend for Amanda and also the one her siblings would be good with. Furthermore, what were their parents even thinking about Brick? Hopefully Steele'd tell Amanda about how bad he was.

Now that the birthday of six pups was nearing, they were all excited about it. But at the same time, all but Amanda were concerned whether she was going to bring Brick with himself or not. None of them even liked Brick if they had to be honest. All in all, the birthday did feel like it was going to be awaited with mixed feelings.

But when it came, all six of them were together, without Brick being there, much to the relief of Amanda's siblings. However, the look on Amanda's face was like as if she had a bad time with Brick. Furthermore, that was proven when the youngest male in litter, Geed, spoke to his brothers: "Amanda had a tad of problem with Brick today."

Curious about what their younger brother was saying, Timber was tempted to ask: "Why? How come? What happened between her and Brick?" All that they could hope for now was that Brick and Amanda were going to break up with each other.

Sadly, that was not the case today as Geed spoke: "Amanda said that she wasn't going to allow Brick to come to the birthday as it was our birthday in general, not hers. Then he accused her for being our dad's baby and that she was too weak to admit that. They aren't going to break up yet though..."

Titanium sighed, listening to all that nonsense about Amanda and Brick's relationship. How long was Amanda going to believe that Brick was the right choice? Couldn't she see how he was treating her now?! Eventually, Titanium said: "I still feel like that there was going to be some kind of point break in their relationship."

Then, all three brothers looked at their sisters. Annabeth and Noir were seen talking to Amanda and it seemed like they were talking about her relationship with Brick. Furthermore, Amanda's face was shown to be disgusted by what her sisters were saying. It came to Geed to say: "Not unless Amanda herself comes to her senses about this first."

As the days went on, all the siblings but Amanda got to hang out like usual. As less as Amanda was with her siblings, more she was with her boyfriend Brick. Geed was pretty much upset by the fact that his favorite sibling was distancing herself from the others and was succumbing to the negative influence coming from Brick.

Then, at the early afternoon, three days after the birthday...

"You know, I went on to see mom and dad not long ago." Noir was talking to Timber as both of them were resting on the wooden porch of Timber's house. Noir didn't sound cheerful that day, as if there was something she had witnessed, or came in wrong time. "Dad was pretty upset, especially when Amanda spat the words in his face."

"What words? Tell me!" Timber was eager to know what kind of words Amanda said to Steele. Even if he was anticipating Noir to let him know, he felt like he knew what was she going to say. Despite that, Noir just said: "She... she said this... "Oh yeah? You don't like him just because he reminds you on yourself long before you met your mom?! Isn't that right?!"..."

Now both Noir and Timber were silent, looking at each other. Neither of them could believe that Amanda, who was obviously adored by Steele the most, would say that to her father! Looking at each other, neither of siblings could force themselves to say anything. As if Amanda's words were hurting them in the worst ways possible.

Suddenly, there were the pawsteps in the distance. Fast pawsteps, as they could have been heard toppling quite fast. In the matter of moments, the pawsteps belonged to Geed. However, something was not right with Geed. He was breathing rapidly and heavily. His eyes were widened from shock and awe. There were the tears in his eyes visible.

Both Noir and Timber spotted Geed and Noir, noticing what was happening to Geed, asked quickly: "Geed?! What happened to you?! You look like you have seen something frightening!" And truth to be said, Geed did witnessed something frightening, but how much it was at all?

"Amanda... Amanda is at the vet clinic!" Geed stuttered at first, but then spat everything to his brother and sister. Both of them looked beyond terrified upon hearing the bad news. Immediately, both Timber and Noir sprang out of their laying positions and rushed to the vet clinic. With Geed following them, Timber yelled: "How?! What happened to Amanda?!"

Geed, however, was not saying anything about it. All that he could say was: "Titanium and Annabeth are already in front! They'll tell you more!" If Annabeth and Titanium, the two oldest pups of the litter, could know this, then why couldn't the younger ones know that?! There was too much to think about that now.

Then, when all of the siblings, but Amanda, were there. Titanium was looking up at Annabeth, who was standing on the boxes below the window. She clearly had the good view inside. Furthermore, Annabeth looked down, exhaled in relief and got down from the boxes. Was Amanda going to be alright? Moreover, what happened to her?!

"Annabeth? Do you know by any chances what happened to Amanda?" Timber was curious enough to ask his oldest sister about Amanda. Annabeth looked at her brother, with the confusion in her face, then she realized what he asked her. Furthermore, Annabeth revealed: "Amanda is in the vet clinic. But it isn't her who was hurt. It was Nero, brother of Rodney's mate Kiana."

The others, with the exception of Titanium, were confused by that. If Amanda was in the vet clinic, but she was not the one who was hurt, but Nero, then what was happening?! Thankfully, Titanium was allowed to say: "Before I tell you what happened and why's Nero in the clinic... Amanda has broken up with Brick!"

That news were anticipated with relief and pleasure! Timber, Geed and Noir looked at each other happily, knowing that Amanda was no longer going to be with that mutt Brick. However, Titanium was able to continue: "After she had a row with dad, Amanda went on to see Brick. However, he and his cronies wanted to make fun of Nova. I don't know if you know him, but that's the golden dog who is known for his puppy behavior."

Of course they knew who Nova was. He was special for his puppy behavior and furthermore, he had a lovely relationship with Cortina. Then, Annabeth continued: "Amanda said that they're through, they Brick and his cronies cornered Amanda in the alley. Thankfully, Nero came to her rescue, but during the struggle, he was knocked unconscious by Brick himself...

...as soon as that happened, mom and dad arrived. Dad punished Brick for assaulting Amanda so he and his cronies ran away scared. Nero was taken to the vet clinic, Amanda is now by his side, as he's her hero now. Rodney... he dealt with Brick afterwards..." That's when she stopped, revealing everything she wanted to tell them.

For a few minutes, everyone went silent. While they were relieved that Amanda wasn't hurt or anything, she was in some kind of shock after all this. But what was now important was that Nero, Kiana's brother, was recovering from injuries. At best, all five of them that could do was...

"I'm going to arrange with Rodney something about this..." Geed spoke, feeling like giving some respect and compassion to Nero's siblings and relatives would be a nice touch. With his siblings looking at him and nodding with their heads, he immediately knew that they were approving this. Wasting no time, Geed left to find Rodney.

"This is so messed up." Noir said, thinking how Amanda's ex could do a such thing to her and Nero... he was going to recover, but now that they had heard about this, this was something that was going to be spread across everyone who was going to hear it. What a day...

Later on, the siblings had found out that Geed managed to arrange Rodney about paying respect and compassion to Nero's family and relatives. Of course, Taiga, Sarah and Tayer got to that as well. All that they had to do was to gather up in a boiler room.

With the evening rolling by, as dark and as shiny as it was, the gathering in boiler room was taking place. But for Titanium and Timber, these two brothers had to catch up as they had their dinner later as usual. Titanium, while running to the boiler room, said to his brother: "Hurry up, Timber! We cannot be late for this!"

"I'm coming, Titanium, I'm coming!" Timber impatiently replied to him. He wasn't bothered by the fact that he ate in rush, but the fact how everything was happening too fast to him today. Thankfully, they were already by the boiler room. The doors were open for everyone right now.

"Hey, brothers. Just in time." Geed was heard speaking to them as he was the one standing by the doors. With him beckoning Titanium and Timber to come in, there were their sisters, half-siblings and other dogs inside. Among them, for now, were Kiana and Amber. While they weren't crying now, they were upset by the fact that their brother was injured.

With Geed leading his brothers inside, Annabeth and Noir, while being younger than Kiana and Amber, did provide some comfort to them. Annabeth was embracing Kiana and Noir was embracing Amber. Annabeth was heard whispering: "He's going to be fine. He needs some rest, more than our sister does."

Kiana sighed in content, trying to conceal how upset she was. She just muttered: "I know... it's just, few months ago he was attacked by a wild wolf... now this...!" She couldn't take it anymore, as Rodney arrived to her and buried her head into her chest. The tears were seen streaming down her cheeks as Rodney went on to lick each of them.

As for Amber, she was doing better to conceal her grief. She just whispered to Noir: "I just hope... I just hope that my brother is going to recover soon..." Then, Geed, who watched at Amber with some kind of compassion, headed towards Amber and much to her surprise, a younger dog placed the paw on hers.

While Amber was surprised by this gesture, Geed did his best not to show any kind of embarrassment, so he just said: "I hope too, that your brother Nero is going to be as good as new once he's out." While it was surprising to hear Geed saying that, Amber was touched by the words of the younger dog, saying: "Thank you."

Timber and Titanium looked how their brother was looking like as if he was making a move to find someone special, both of them looked around and spotted Taiga with her mate Koda, the brown husky with the indigo blue eyes. His fur was both the combination of his parents, yet he had his mother's eyes.

But what mattered the most was that there were two females. One was slender gray and had brown eyes, the other one was maroon red with blue eyes and blue collar. These two were none other else than Tenana and Allina! Judging by the looks on their faces, they were upset about their younger cousin.

"Titanium, do you think that I should go ask Tenana, Koda's sister, how she feels about this?" Timber was eager to ask Tenana, stunned by her beauty. There was no doubt that Timber saw something in her. But he was not the only one, as his older brother Titanium saw something in Allina...

Then, looking back at his brother, nodding in an approval, Titanium said: "Let's go." Seeing that there were no obstacles on their way, they made it easily to Taiga, Koda and his siblings. There was also the bright brown husky, his fur being brighter than Koda's. He had the exact same eyes as Balto did. Of course, that was Balto's grandson, like his siblings were. His name was Ryan.

"Hey, Taiga..." Timber asked first upon getting to his stepsister, who delightfully smiled at her stepbrothers. "May we ask you something quickly? I'd like it to say in private." Taiga didn't seem to find that odd in any way, so she said to her mate: "I'll be right back.", but not before giving him a lick into his cheek.

Now that Taiga could talk in private with Timber and Titanium, she went on to ask: "What do you need?" She still didn't find anything odd about her stepbrothers' desires, so Titanium just asked her: "Taiga, is it okay if Timber and I share the respect to Koda and his siblings? We haven't been in contact with him and his siblings too much."

While it was odd that they were asking her for an approval, knowing that they knew Koda's family well, she still was eager to provide help. She just said: "No problem, go ahead and provide some comfort if they need any." It was obvious that this was a good time for them both to get closer to Tenana and Allina!

Both Timber and Titanium walked in front of Koda and his siblings. Titanium, being older, had the opportunity to say: "My brother Timber and I just want to let you know that we both want your cousin Nero to get well as soon as possible." Both of them hoped that the older dogs were going to understand him.

And thankfully, Koda and Ryan saw how nice it was from both of them to share respect, just said: "Very considerate of you two." But the best thing was when both Tenana and Allina said: "It's nice to see of you two how much you care for our cousin. We hope the same for your sister Amanda."

While inside both of them were stunned by the fact that they spoke to them, they managed to conceal that by saying: "It's our pleasure." Seeing that there were no other things to say, both brothers nodded to them and walked off. But what was for sure was that both of them had a luck to talk to Tenana and Allina respectively!