Chapter 11
Dan winced as he laid down. The pain was pretty strong and he didn't have anything to help get rid of it. So he just sat there. Things seemed to be getting worse and worse as the days went on. And something was happening. He usually white legs were getting gradually darker and darker, now they were a gray. There was also a mark becoming apparent on his back, although he could not see it. He was taking the little foxes' word for it. Dan winced as his leg involuntarily moved. He stayed still and considered the possibilities that he now had for getting back home. So far the possibilities were infinite! But only a handful probable.
"So who are you?" An animal came up asking.
"My name is Daniel" Dan replied "You can call me Dan, Danny, whatever..."
"Okay Daniel, how did you get here?" another asked.
"I just fell asleep and woke up here, and I was a wolf"
There was a whispering throughout the crowd of animals and Dan began to wonder what they were discussing. Where they considering whether Dan should be trusted? Or whether he was in league with the wolf who called himself Marcus? Whatever they were talking about it didn't sound too good.
"Would you mind changing into your human form?" a voice came.
Dan thought for a moment. "Why?"
"Because, I would like to see it"
Dan shrugged and began to transform. The usual light began to envelope him and eventually it faded. Leaving a kid in a hoody and baggy cargos sitting in the same position the wolf had been in. There was some more whispering and Dan finally began to think aloud.
"What are you whispering about?"
There was a pause before the previous voice stepped forward. It was a young Golden Retriever who had a familiar voice.
"Your Daniel Crowe aren't you?" She asked.
"Yea, so?"
"I saw you, on stage, against Husky" She explained "Its me, Sammy"
Dan thought about the name for a while before asking "Sammy Thomson?"
She nodded and Dan began to think some more "This is where you went? I always thought that your family had moved"
"Well we did...I ran back to the general area and fell asleep one morning...next thing I knew when I woke up was that I was a Golden Retriever."
"So what does that mean?" Dan asked.
"That something weird is going on Dan, something that maybe only you can find out!" Sammy yelled while stepping forward.
"Why do you think that only I can find out whats going on?!?" Dan yelled in response "I'm just a kid! I can't even pass Algebra!"
"Think about it Dan, your the only one here who can transform back into a human, doesn't that tell you something!?"
"You mean all of you used to be humans?" Dan asked looking over the crowd of animals "EVERY single one of you!?!"
A few animals nodded and others just stared at the clueless kid trying to figure out the universe. Dan slammed his hand against his head. He cussed and looked out past the waterfall.
"I don't know..."
"Well what do we do? Marcus is gonna come back at dinner time and we're all gonna be screwed!" a panicked voice called out.
"No you won't be..." Dan replied smilng.
"Why not!?!"
Dan motioned for the entry way and the animal turned around. It backed up at the sight of a wolf and a husky standing in the light.
Sonja couldn't believe what she was seeing! Dan was smiling! He had a concerned look on his face though...The kind of look that anyone who knew him would say in an instant "Good bye".
"Everybody, this is Sonja and Balto, they're gonna help us with Marcus!" He yelled above the many voices that echoed throughout the cavern.
"What? Who the heck is Marcus!?" Sonja yelled walking up to Dan.
"A wolf thats coming at dinner time to take some lives, thats not gonna happen" Dan replied getting up with a grunt "Cause you and Balto are gonna help me fight him!"
"Dan you know me!" Sonja pleaded "I can't fight!"
Dan thought for a moment and then said "Fine, your right, just help keep the others safe then...Balto are you with me?"
Balto looked around at the faces staring at him, young and old. He then looked at the ground with a solemn look at then he looked back up. He nodded and smiled. Dan returned the gesture and then closed his eyes to get some more sleep. It felt as though that was all he was waiting for, all he was looking forward too anymore. The bliss that would take him away from all of his problems. The little thing people call sleep.
As Dan opened his eyes things were blurry. He saw a little fox in front of him as well as Balto standing over him. The fox was saying something and Dan began to wake up. His wounds didn't hurt as much as they had and Dan had gotten more energy from sleeping that long. He got up and became a wolf. As the light faded and the usual nauseating sensation passed Dan welcomed the more delicate senses of the wolf that he was.
"Its almost time, are you ready?" Balto asked as Dan got onto his four paws.
"Yea, as long as I don't die I'm good" Dan said getting up.
Balto froze at the sight of Dan's wolf form.
"Something wrong Balto?" Dan asked stretching.
"Your fur is...different!" he said walking forward.
"Really? Whats changed?" Dan asked looking himself over.
That was a stupid question that he shouldn't have asked. His legs were now black instead of white, and the tips of his ears and the tip of his tail were the same color of black. His usually light gray/blue fur was now a dark gray/blue, and there was something else that seemed to have Balto concerned.
"What else?" Dan asked looking at his back.
"Other than the X on your back?" Sonja asked walking over.
"What the heck? How did I get these!?!" Dan yelled in disbelief.
There was a silence that told Dan that he had asked, yet another, stupid question. Because the answer was that no one knew! But it reflected something of Dan, he was certain. But he didn't know if he was right.
"Well, well" A menacing and familiar voice called "Look at this! The peanut gallery!"
"Marcus your not taking any more lives!" Dan yelled stepping up.
"Oh! Hello there Mr. Cut deep!" he yelled turning his head to show the three parallel cuts across his face "You've changed! And just in time for me to have an interesting meal!"
"That meal won't happen Marcus!" Balto yelled after hearing the wolve's name.
"Oh really!?! lets just wait and see" Marcus taunted walking forward "What are your chances of beating me? You have a crippled wolf, a sled dog! And a little husky!" he yelled spotting Sonja.
"Thats more than you could ever handle!" Dan yelled taking another step forward "Not today! Not ever!"
Marcus grew an evil grin which eventually burst into a howling laughter. He slowly calmed down and gave them all the evil eye. He then without a word charged for the closest target. Dan. Dan jumped out of the way and charged for Marcus after turning on a dime. There was a quick "YIPE!" as Dan bit into Marcus with all of his strength. Dan jumped back and stumbled. He looked down and saw that a wound had opened up, and his leg was about to re-break. Things weren't going well.
Sonja watched in horror as the fight continued right in front of her. The figures of Daniel and Marcus were dancing in the small amount of sunlight that was allowed through the falls. Dan was slowing down and was getting closer to losing. No matter how big his ego was, there was no way he was going to win this fight. Balto suddenly jumped in as Dan was thrown against a wall and as Marcus turned to face the new threat. In a flash of red there was another cut in the side of Marcus' face. Marcus recoiled and Balto pressed forward. Marcus slowly moved backwards until his back was facing the waterfall. Dan walked forward after slowly recovering.
"Its over Marcus, you've lost!" He yelled bearing his teeth.
"No I haven't pup!" He yelled "I'm not giving up!"
Marcus charged forward, and at the same time so did Dan. They collided in the air and wrestled around on the ground before falling out of the opening in the cavern. There was a flash of light as Dan transformed back into a human and grabbed onto the edge of the cave. There was a grunt as he caught something else. Sonja ran over to see him holding onto the front paw of Marcus. Sonja smiled at the fact that even when someone doesn't deserve too, that he would try to save them.
"LET GO OF ME!" Marcus yelled struggling.
"Sorry buddy! No-can-do!" Dan yelled in response.
"Wanna bet?!?" Marcus yelled bringing his muzzle up.
There was a cry of pain as Dan was bitten in the arm and as his grip was released. Marcus fell through the air and there was the sound of a splash. Sonja looked down to see the broken form of a wolf drifting down the rapids that followed the waterfall. Sonja heard Dan cuss and then saw an arm grab onto the dirt right in front of her. She smiled and grabbed the sleeve and pulled the 135 pound boy up. He immediately grabbed at his arm and began to grind his teeth. He then opened his eye and said "God I wish I hadn't tried to do that!"
Sonja began to laugh and then sat next to Dan and nuzzled him. "David can fix you up"
"Nah, ill be okay" Dan replied getting up "But...will they?"
Sonja looked at all of the animals that were huddled around certain spots. Some caring for their sons and/or daughters, others staring at the battered kid standing in front of them. The rest of the day included many tasks. One such task, was patching Daniel up. He had multiple cuts and bruises as well as a broken leg. The sun's light was beginning to fade away and the younger animals slowly, one by one, fell asleep. But Dan and Sonja, and the actual adults stayed awake.
"So let me get this straight" the German Shepard (now known as Jackie) began "You came from the year 2006?"
"Well...I was more taken than anything." Dan answered "I fell asleep and woke up here"
"You claim that you speak to the white wolf often?" Jackie asked.
"Yea, I do, she keeps telling me of a choice...that involves all of you" Dan answered.
He had decided to spend the night as a wolf, because of the fact that his hoody and his pants were cut up pretty badly. But as a wolf his fur could keep him warm enough to survive the night. Not to mention fight on the dime if Marcus somehow survived. His wolf self had changed though. At least the appearance. And without knowing how, a mysterious "X" had shown itself on his back. He seemed to not mind, but Sonja knew that he was bothered with his sudden appearance change. His legs and ear tips, as well as his tail tip, were now black. And his fur was darker overall. Although he didn't look any scarier or "shadier".
"And what about your sudden change in appearance?" Jackie asked.
"I'm not sure about this...and it doesn't matter to me, I've noticed nothing different." Dan answered with his voice a little shaky.
Then the voice of the little fox Dan had talked to earlier came through his ears.
"I know why your that way..."
Everyone looked at the small little fox that had been named "Brady". He stood in the light of the fire that Dan had lit, and it reflected off of his eyes.
"And how did it then Brady?" Sonja asked.
"Well...there was a light when he was sleeping and everyone was away!" he began "His fur was really messy before, and then after he was this way with his fur a little nicer looking"
"Hey I noticed that too!" Sonja yelled "Before and after!"
"What?" Dan asked "Sonja that last part didn't make sense..."
"No! Think about it! before...and...after" She moved her paws to two different points on the ground.
"I'm still not following you..."
Sonja sighed and drew two points. She labeled one 1925, and the other 2006. She then drew a stick figure representing a human over "2006" and left the other side blank.
"Okay...what did you just do?"
"Dan I swear to god you can be so dense somtimes!" Sonja yelled "Before you came here you seemed like nothing bothered you, you were HUMAN!"
Dan nodded "And?"
"When you came here you were a wolf, things began to come out" Sonja explained more "What if your where your supposed to be?"
Dan thought and turned his head "I don't know Sonja...I just don't know..."
Everyone turned their heads and Dan looked out of the cave at the roaring falls covering the one place they got their natural light. He got up and Sonja watched as he went above the "1925". He looked at it for what seemed like forever. He then moved his paw over it, and pushed it down. When he lifted it up, it left a wolf 's paw print. He bowed his head and looked up at Sonja.
"What I do know, is that there was another side just waiting for the chance to show itself" He smiled "I'm just glad it finally did"
Dan opened his eyes and shut them at the sight of the sun filtered through the falls. The light danced along the walls and the floor, and over the wolfs' body. He looked up, yawned and stepped forward, but slipped. He fell face first into the ground and into a piece of meat. He got up, licked his chops, and looked at the amount of food that was in front of him. There was some fruit, and meat. As well as a couple vegetables among the numbers. He looked around to see no one else around and began to eat.
His stomach stopped growling as he downed bite after bite of the food in front of him. He finally was full, and he heard a voice.
"Like it? We spent all day getting it.
Dan looked over to see Brady coming over and looking at the few pieces of Intact food.
"Sorry...were you going to have some?" Dan asked feeling a little guilty.
"Nah...We got it for you!" Brady yelled getting a smile "For getting rid of Marcus"
Dan smiled and waved his paw in the direction of the remaining food "Dig in"
The little fox grinned and picked up a piece of meat. Dan watched the boy chow down and thought of what he must have looked like eating food as if he was the end of a conveyor belt. He laughed and the boy stopped.
"Keep eating Brady, ill be right back" Dan said getting up.
"Going to find Sonja?" He asked before stuffing his face again.
"Yea, how did you know?"
"You sleep talk"
Dan felt like he was in an anime show and that he just tear dropped. He turned around and walked out of the small room that must have been excavated by the inhabitants. He walked around and then saw Sonja with some other girls and he smiled. He then thought "They are talking about one of two things, one is they are talking about me. Two is that they are talking about shoes or something...wait...shoes?"
As he walked up the two girls giggled and walked away. Dan then knew that they WERE talking about him and that they were about to leave so that Sonja could say something. As they got up and walked away Dan then thought "Why am I right about these things but I cant pass a math test!?!"
"Hey Sonja!" Dan opened up "What was with all the food?"
"They got it for you, as a thank you" She answered smiling.
"You were talking about me weren't you?" Dan asked.
"Yes we were" Sonja answered "Nothing bad, don't worry"
"Oh great! I have girls talking about me, and my girlfriend won't tell me what they are saying!" Dan almost yelled "GREAT!"
Sonja laughed a little bit and then got up. She turned her head to face Dan and she walked forward. Dan, getting the hint, got up and began to follow her. There was some distance covered before coming to a fork in the road. Dan looked at his choices and noticed that Sonja had gone left. So, Dan followed.
"Where are we going?" Dan asked.
"Someone said this place was beautiful in the morning" Sonja answered "We are going to confirm a rumor"
"Oh jees, something like this always happens to me..."
"What?"
"Nothing" Dan covered up quick "Nothing at all"
As they wormed their way deeper and deeper into the system of tunnels. They finally came across a lit room. With water covering all but a few areas of the floor. Dan and Sonja went over to one corner and watched as the light danced along the walls and over their fur. They turned to face each other and Dan looked at Sonja's eyes which seemed to be catching the light and displaying them as if letting Dan stare into the Northern lights. They nuzzled each other and got close. Sonja began to giggle, and Dan began to chuckle. And they were there for the rest of the day.
Dan opened his eyes to see the two girls staring at him. He pushed back and expected to hit Sonja, but instead he fell into the water. The light had faded as Dan closed and opened his eyes.
"Need somethin?" He asked getting up.
"Other than to tell you that you had a good time last night? Nope" One of them answered.
"Good time...what the fuuuuu...oh shit" Dan cussed as he pieced it together "Did I?"
She nodded.
"With Sonja?" Dan's eyes got wider.
She nodded.
Dan began to mumble incoherantly as he brought his paws in the air and began to make a bunch of motions. The girls looked at each other then laughed as they caught some words.
"But...whatthe...how?...why...god that sucks..." Dan finally pulled out of his ramble.
"Don't worry, you didn't screw up" One of them said "She liked it"
"Well yea but...wait what am I saying?!?..." Dan fell on his face "God how can I show my face around her?"
"Easy, get on your paws, walk up the tunnel, and look at her" The other girl replied.
Dan looked up and got a good look at the girls. One was a small petite fox with green eyes and a pierced ear. The other was another petite animal, except it was a cat. They laughed and turned around and began to walk away.
"Where is she?" Dan asked getting up.
"By the entrance, have fun lover boy" The fox said walking up with the cat.
Dan sat down and began to whimper. He had been taught better. He just hoped that he wouldn't have pups running around in 9 months. He got up, collected himself. And prayed to god that no one but those girls knew. But the funny thing is, wouldn't he remember something like that? Cause last night he thought all they did was fall asleep watching the water and talking. As he cleared the roof coming out into the main cavern, Dan saw Sonja and swallowed. She caught sight of him and walked over.
"Sleep well?" She asked smiling.
"Sonja, did I...well...ya know?" Dan stammered.
"They told you that you did the nasty didn't they?" Sonja replied shaking her head "Dan they are my sisters, now you can see why I have never had a boyfriend for longer than two weeks, but no, nothing like that happened."
Dan sighed "Okay, that clears things up"
"Hope it does, the last thing I need is you getting concious about even hugging me" Sonja joked "But come on, we got stuff to do"
"Like what?" Dan asked "What do we possibly have to do?"
"Find out what that decision is" Sonja said getting up and turning around "But whether you want to know is up to you"
Dan smiled "Always up for a challenge Sonja, I think this counts"
They walked out of the cave. And left in their wake were two very angry girls.