Chapter Five

Edon. Ayame. Ivaylo

3,345 Words

"But, what about the wolves?" Star asked worriedly looking up at the top of the cliff.

"Yah wha' about them?" Nikki repeated.

"Leave them to me." I growled.

I sat on the snow head bowed as I thought hard over this. Balto should be on his way soon, knowing him he would have left the second word got out that the team missed the checkpoint. I mean it was late by far later than it would be, if the team was on track we should have been past that checkpoint and halfway home by now.

I looked up at the setting sun. I could only see the oranges and reds of the sun set through the layer of clouds that blanketed the sky. I snorted softly when I took a whiff of the frigid winter air seeing if I could by chance smell anything alarming, in other words wolves.

My teeth bared as I growled quietly in my throat. My eyes shifted from the sky to the ridge as a scent wafted down with the air. It was familiar but so were so many scents around me. It was faint so I could recognize it completely but it was getting closer by the minute, sharper by the second, and unfortunately without so too did my bloodlust.

I haven't felt this angry in a long time, I felt like the wild animal I was raised as, the wild animal charged with providing and defending the pack that raised me above all else. I wasn't Cain anymore; I wasn't the calmer semi domestic wolf that lived with his adoptive father in broken trawler at the edge of a small town. No I felt like myself again.

The smell got stronger as I stood up and moved closer to the cliff still taking deep whiffs of the air. The others noticed my movement and heard the deep growls that rose in my chest and throat. I moved closer passing the small mound that was Star curled up in the snow. "Get with the others." I growled at him.

He nodded sharply eyes wide with fear. I had a feeling I'd know what I would look like. My eyes would be narrowed and glowing slightly with the blood hunger my type was famous for. "Cain?" I heard Jess ask. I look at her and saw her flinch back. That hurt me more than my shoulder did. "What's wrong?"

I growled, but not at her. "Stay down, stay quiet try not to be seen." I looked away the growl still rumbling in my throat. Steele was fine still in the same corner hunched over. Star was now with Jess and Rex by the musher and Nikki and Kaltag were safe camouflaged by the snow that covered most of their forms from view.

I could hear the whispers of the team behind me and I growled again wheeling part way around and letting out a bark. "Quiet! If you guys are heard they won't hesitate to attack." I was sure of the smell now; it was wolf, not a hint of dog in the scent either so it wasn't Balto like I had hoped.

"So are they…" Star tried to ask but I cut him off with a growl.

I looked at the top of the hill just as three forms became visible. They looked down at me their eyes glowing slightly before they stepped forward and slid down the ice track. I backed up giving them room as I should.

All of our hackles were raised and growls rumbled in our throats as we glared at each other heads lowered and teeth bared. "Edon." I growled nodding at the lead wolf. "Ayame." The only female. "Ivaylo." The third and largest of the three.

"Gunnolf is that you?" Edon growled. "My I thought those hounds killed you, or you ran with the rest."

"I don't run. And my name is Cain now." I growled back taking a step forward and lowering my head more. The other two Ivaylo and Ayame stepped forward growling in their throats. All three of them were slimmer than me, more lithe especially Ayame. "I see you finally made hunter, how long now? Five ten…" I trailed off head cocked to the side.

"Seven." Edon answered.

Someone must have given themselves away behind me because in an instant all of their gazes shifted to over my shoulder. I had placed myself directly in the way hoping that they wouldn't see anything behind me but I guess it didn't work. "It looks like team of dogs." Ayame mused stepping forward.

I mimicked her move and stepped forward ears lying flat as my hackles bristled and my growl grew louder. Ivaylo stepped forward also growl growing as loud as mine as if he was personally threatened by my move. "Cain?" I heard Jess whimper.

"A female?" Edon asked shocked. "A future mate perhaps?"

I growled again. "Enough Jess."

"Jess and Gunnolf, my that sounds wonderful." Ivaylo said speaking for the first time.

"Almost as good as Ivaylo and Ayame, or should I say Ayame and Ivaylo considering she probably has more than you." I matched them glare for glare before I took a more serious turn. "Now what do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious, your trespassing on Valley Pack territory?" Edon explained.

I was shocked by this claim, I was expecting something like this but I didn't think it would actually be the reason. "This is and always will be Mountain Pack territory so you get your rangy furred butts off my ground!" They will not take what my pack fought them for and won fair and square.

"You don't get it do you?" Edon asked teeth being showed before they were covered again. "We took the territory that your poor excuse of a pack gave up, without a fight. So leave before we make you!"

I growled but I knew this wasn't the time or the place. I was starting to get my mind back from the instincts that wanted me to stake my claim the second those three came within sniffing distance. "Try to force us than, I dare you." Oh no.

I froze muscles tensing as all attention shifted towards the one dog that I totally forgot about. Steel stood up now eyes hollow and looking at the wolves with a snarl on his face. "Steele you idiot!" Jess yelled. I had to agree with her. He is an idiot he just challenged a group of three wolves and he can't even fight like them, he would be killed in an instant. Mind you I'm not against that but the team needs a leader and I'm no lead dog.

"Steele back down." I warned him.

"Shut it Pup!" He barked. I growled but he ignored me instead focusing his attention on Edon. "You and me right now!"

"Nikki! Rex!" I barked looking at the two large dogs. "Hold him!" They hesitated. "Hold him or you have no lead dog!" That got them moving.

With only slight hesitation they leaped forward and tackled Steele to the ground pinning him with their paws as he barked and tried to wriggle free.

"If you want a fight Edon you fight me." I growled. "After all we have unfinished business."

He grinned baring his sharp teeth. "Fine but let's make this interesting shall we. You win you get free passage and your land back, but you lose and we get both the lead dog, and the girl."

I growled and couldn't help but start pacing. I can't believe this. "Fine." I growled.

"Cain what the…"

"Enough Jess, stay out of this." I yelled back at her. She flinched and lowered her head letting out a whine.

"Let's settle this than shall we." Edon growled. "First to submit loses."

I let out a growl of agreement and hunkered down getting my body low to the ground as I let a snarl take my muzzle and warp it. I let my mind slip back into the repressed instincts of before and growled again.

Edon matched my pose and let a growl grow as we started to circle. This is going to be fun.

He jumped forward and I dodged to the side before tackling him in his side and making him crash hard to the ground. I pounced on his teeth bared as I went for his throat. Before I could clamp down on his shoulder he swiped with his forepaws scraping my chest and forcing me back.

Using the opening he got to his paws and growled at me before jumping again. I met jump for jump and pushed him back to the ground my larger size forcing him back. He pawed at me and I whined when I his claws drag through my fur and cut my skin. I swiped with my right forepaw and snapped at his paws with my strong jaws when I could.

A noise caught my attention and I yelped when Ivaylo plowed into my side sending me skidding alone the snow. I whimpered when my shoulder pulled and stretched painfully but forced myself to my paws. "This is one on one Ivaylo you step in you brake the deal and forfeit."

He didn't answer instead he jumped forward. I ducked down and jumped up when he got over me grunting when his stomach collided with my back. Swinging to the side I swiped my left forepaw and batting Ayame in the muzzle before biting down on the scruff of her neck. Turning with her struggling form in my mouth I tossed her right into Edon.

"Yah Cain!" I heard Star cheer.

"Give it up Edon I was born and trained for this." I growled grinning at the wolf as he got to his paws ignoring the whimper Ayame that lay on the snow. She was no fighter, none of them were they were trained to gather food nothing else. "You won't last against me."

"I am not done yet mutt." He growled lunging forward. I braced myself before howling in pain when I felt Ivaylo clamp down on my shoulders. I withered ignoring as my skin tore. With a yelp I was tackled to the ground by Edon.

I struggled on the ground as his claws dug into my stomach and chest. Looking up at him I growled when I saw Ivaylo standing behind him just in case. I will not lose!

Shifting slightly I got my paws under him just as his teeth started to put pressure on my throat. With a heave I pushed him off and into Ivaylo making them both yelp. Rolling to my paws I got up just in time to stumble to the side when Ayame lunged past me.

I whimpered when I felt the blood pour from my shoulder. That dogs got some bite in him that's for sure. I growled as I tried to keep them all in view. Ayame limped slightly on her right so she must have done something with all the crashing she's been doing. Edon was stiff but not hurt too much. All in all it looks like I need to watch out for Ivaylo.

I rolled my shoulders ignoring the sting of pain it sent to my head. Letting out a growl I lunged at them. My first target is Edon, he's the ring leader take him out and I know Ayame with back down. Ivaylo though won't be easy I might have to end him.

Pushing past Ivaylo and Ayame was easy and instantly I hit Edon in the chest pushing him backwards. A large rock behind him caught my attention but I couldn't act on it because I caught movement beside me. Using a move I learned from being on the receiving end of it I turned sharply and used my tail. The slap of tail on cheek was easily heard when it hit Ivaylo. I snapped at Ayame and she backed up with a worried growl, heh all bark no bite.

I growled again and pushed into Edon sending him backwards. I heard a crack and groan followed by a crunching sound that I took to be Edon collapsing on the snow.

I was now looking at Ivaylo. Ayame just like I thought stopped fighting when she saw Edon being taken out. Behind Ivaylo I could see the sled team. Rex was back beside Jess on Gunnar who still lay sprawled on the ground. Steele watched shocked about something though I wasn't sure what and Nikki and Kaltag sat beside each other with Star slightly behind them.

I looked back at Ivaylo. "You done yet?"

He growled and looked around. With one more growl he slumped in on himself. "You win; you got your land and safe passage."

I grinned ignoring as my shoulder flared again. God I'm going to have bad back problems when I'm older. "Good now get your boss and go." I slowly moved to the side as they both moved towards the prone form of Edon on the ground. I backed up slowly getting closer to the team but keep the two still fight worthy wolves in sight.

They struggled slightly to get Edon on Ivaylo's back before they slunk up the hill using their sharp claws to find purchase.

The second they were out of view I whined and slumped slightly feeling my wounds add up. My chest felt hot and stiff. My shoulder was going numb but still found a way to burn with pain. I felt light headed with blood loss and exhaustion and my paws hurt from the sharp bits of rock and ice I've been fight on.

I groaned as I slowly lay down on the snow letting the cold cool my wounds. "Cain?"

I snorted and opened my eyes slowly looking up at the small dog. "Yes Star?"

"Who were they?"

"Yah it looked like you knew them?" Kaltag agreed.

I groaned again and rolled onto my side. "They're from a rival pack, used to be friends till we went to war. They were taught to forage, I was taught to kill. We didn't see eye to eye all the time but, we were still friends."

I yawned feeling my jaw crack as I did so. My eyes were getting heavy, muscles relaxing as my mind slowed down. "No let me…" I yawned trailing off as my eyes closed.

"No you don't." I heard Jess growl before I yelped when something bit my tail. I jumped to my paws whirling around to see a smug looking Jess.

"Ow!"

She shrugged keeping the smug look on her muzzle even as I glared at her. Suddenly I didn't feel hurt anymore though I was stiff. Growling I lay back down on the ground and rolled over onto my back wiggling back and forth like I was getting rid of an itch before rolling back to my paws and looking at the mess.

It was an old trick I was taught by my dad when I was small pup. It was after my first real fight outside of training and he told me how to do a rough judge on how bad the wound is by how much blood you leave. Mind you it hurt so much just to do that and ran the risk of opening the wounds back up.

Hmm not bad. I thought cocking my head as I looked down at it. There were more flakes of blood than smears so that meant the wound was closing. It was small to so that much means the wound is more superficial. The pain must have just came from being in an awkward spot and so close to my sutured shoulder wound that it pulled a little.

"Uh why did you do that?" Rex suddenly asked from his spot on Gunnar.

"Old trick my Dad taught me when I was a pup." I told them grinning. Suddenly I sobered. I wonder what happened to him, to the pack that he led for my whole life. From what I heard they ran, that was heartening to hear, I thought I was the last Mountain Pack member alive, until I found a mate to settle down with. This said we 'gave up' the territory so maybe the blow was too much to whether and then to defend against the war we caved and left to regroup.

God I hope that was the case. It was heart breaking to think of the only other option.

"…Gunnolf?" I was shocked out of my thoughts when I heard my name before letting out a growl.

"My name is Cain." I growled.

Jess flinched slightly shrugging back down beside Rex. "Sorry, I. I just want to leave my past behind me, please don't call me that." I rolled my shoulder wincing when I felt all of my wounds with that one move. I sighed and looked at the sky again, still orange with sunset.

"I'll be right back." I told them, moving off to the sheer ice cliff that we slid down.

"Where are you going?" Star yelled. Man he is scared. I could literally here his nerves in his voice when he asked that. I bet he was just barely trying to keep a collected appearance but on the inside he was probably shaking enough to rattle his brain.

"Up, to take a look around." I explained.

I looked up and sighed this is going to be fun. Not! It wasn't completely vertical but it was damn near close and all ice to bout. I flexed my paws looking at my nails and running them along the ice smirking when they left scratches. Taking my first couple steps I braced myself as I slid slightly before my nails caught.

After a bit I got the hang of it. As long as I kept my weight even never putting my full body on one paw as I moved I was fine. I went one paw at a time, one side at a time. It only took a minute but by the end of it I was sore as hell from having to move so stiffly.

I got to the top and let out a panting sigh. Taking in a large gulp of frosty air I let it sit in my lungs before slowly exhaling and looking down my muzzle as it fogged out of my mouth. I was hoping I could see how cold it was because too me I only really felt it in the bare patch on my shoulder and even that was slowly growing back and covering the pink skin.

I growled when a sudden gust of harsh wind brought with it even more snow which started to come down in earnest. You think it would have calmed down by now but nope it looks like the eye of it had just passed over us.

Shaking my head I hunched my shoulders against the wind and pushed through the ever deepening snow. I stumbled gasping as I fell face first into the snow.

Within a heartbeat I was free and sat there shaking the snow off of my muzzle snorting when I felt it melting in my snow nose. I wriggled my nose when on top of the funny feeling of melting snow in my nose I caught smell of something familiar.

Balto.

I couldn't the happy bark that was quickly snatched away from me by the harsh wind blowing in from behind me. I looked out into the snow only able to see slight blurs of forms like trees and other things even when they were no more than six feet from me.

I could only faintly see a figure approaching through the snow stumbling when the snow gave out under it. I could hear grunting and sniffing in intervals from the form as it approached.

Slowly I started to make out features. Lean form, brownish-grey fur. Bared teeth. And all other aspects that couldn't be described that made up my brother and father figure.

He looked up at me brown eyes squinting against the onslaught of snow and wind that blew his way. "'Bout time you found us." I growled.

Thank you for reading chapter five of this story. This chapter stands around 3,345 words and around seven pages long. This and the chapters before it were written a while ago so I had to read through them a couple times before I posted them to check over for errors, after this the chapters will be finished just before I post them. I do not know how well I will be able to keep up regular updates but I'll try once a week.