I.
Togo backed away as the huge wolf approached him, glancing at Aniu for reassurance. She didn't move an inch to stop the elder pack member or comfort him as he stopped directly in front of the husky. The dog felt like a puppy, a very, very small puppy who was going to die.
"You have wandered far from home," The wolf observed wisely.
"I followed her." Togo innocently indicated Aniu with his nose.
"That makes no sense." Shanarow interrupted.
"Let your grandfather speak," Barano quietly reprimanded him.
The old wolf was still staring at Togo when the pup looked back. "That does not necessarily clarify your reasoning. Why have you followed my son's pack here?" he demanded to know.
"For her." The husky insisted.
Everyone could hear the youth and naivete in the pup's voice.
"He's no older than Cotto and Nelle."
"Oh, surely not Nocturno." The older, jittery female approached. "We cannot teach another."
Shanarow was surprised. "He's not a-,"
"He will remain for the night." Barano leveled a look with his son and then seemed to look to his own father for reassurance; Nocturno remained unchanged. "The young dog poses no threat to our pack. Once morning comes, we will continue on our way." he said nothing else.
Shanarow flashed his fangs at Togo once more in a growl.
Barano grunted at him.
The husky and Goddess watched as he followed his father to the end of the snowfield.
All the wolves branched off into pairs.
This was just fine with Togo. "Some team, huh?" he looked at Aniu.
The white wolf had headed off to the outer rim of the pack to clean her immaculate fur. He watched her go anxiously before pawing over to her. Aniu's pelt blended in so well with the snow, Togo was a little self-conscious about giving her spot away. But he quickly recovered.
"Hello, Goddess." The husky said in a friendly voice.
Aniu looked up at him, then went right back to cleaning herself.
"Your family is nice... so, uh, you like fishing? We could-," He remembered his ordeal with the river. "Huh. Uh...you like running, right? We could... " They'd been running for hours. "I guess you're a little tired. We could swap stories! I could tell you all about my life and you-,"
Suddenly, two sets of paws grabbed Togo and tossed him back. The husky barely had time to react as the large wolf pups started stalking him. Both had big, deep eyes set on Togo's movements... both were much bigger then Togo. The yelp of the old female alerted the two.
Togo breathed a little easier as they both ran towards her.
"Wow, she looks just like you." The husky commented. "Except, of course, you're all white."
When he looked back to his Goddess, she was gone. He saw her going the way they'd came.
Confused, Togo looked back at the unconcerned pack. No one seemed to have noticed her leaving. He turned back to see her form had already melded into the snow. Togo sighed out of longing before folding himself back on the ground to wait for her. Instead of harboring an awkward sense of obligation to follow her or try to bond with the pack, Togo merely waited.
Two pack members watched him closely... Shanarow and Nocturno.
...
Late day came again with the pack still resting.
The night went on and grew colder. As snow fell across the landscape, six of the wolves had moved in close to keep warm. Togo had tried without success to squeeze in between Cotto and Shanarow. He had tried moving towards the Goddess, but she was invisible to his red-brown eyes. In the end, the husky had resorted to curling up on his own and trying to sleep.
...
A whisper of memory moved through the steady wind, much too weak for most to hear.
Golden eyes opened in the thickening blizzard and Aniu rose her big head out of the snow, the white sliding off of her in a powdery mist. She saw her pack sleeping safely in a huddle. Then, her acute gaze came to linger on Togo; the dog shivered, flinched and tightened up.
His coat was thick, but not sufficient for this type of weather.
Aniu knew what the outcome would be.
...
The warm water of the fishing village was long behind him.
Togo felt himself awash in cold. He fought around in the snow as distant voices echoed and a sense of fearful obligation anguished his heart. The dog ignored his own chilled limbs. He had to help, he had to get someone help...Something furry moved along his back, applied no pressure at first, then gently settled over him. Togo huffed from the weight and his eyes popped open. Confused, the husky looked up to see the great white wolf half-curled on top of him. Togo very slowly moved his head out in a more natural position facing forward and his Goddess moved her head to lay on top of his again with a long sigh. The dog just stared up at her until he felt her long arms close in around him. She never said anything to him or met his eyes. After a while, Togo looked out into heavy oblivion with peaceful obliviousness.
To be continued...