Author's note: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy. Anyways, again, thanks to everyone who reviewed. Also, the beginning of this chapter was inspired by the Three Days Grace song, "Animal I Have Become". I forget to do this with the two others, but other songs inspired them. "My Child," by Disturbed for the prologue, and "World So Cold," by Three Days Grace for the first chapter. I have to say, I am really enjoying writing this story, i guess that comes from having it inside your head for over five years. Anyways, enjoy.

Disclaimer: Aniu, Balto, Nava, and Niju all belong to Universal Studios, I only own the characters that you've never seen before.

Chapter 2- Animal

Sabaec just ran.

He could feel it rising, the animal, and his wolf half. For reasons Sabaec couldn't fathom, when this side mixed with his dog half, he became a beast. Everything was a threat to him, mingling into full rage. Despite retaining some of his awareness, Sabaec couldn't keep himself from lashing out. Instead, the more reasoned part of his brain could only watching horror as he turned to the primal, endangering those he loved, or so he thought.

Of course, he had never actually harmed Luka, Buck, or his mother, but he had come pretty damn close. He had been instants from burying his teeth into one of his family's necks before, and Sabaec knew it would probably happen again, though when was up in the air. And next time, the target of his rage might not be so lucky.

His paws continued to pound into the snow, as Sabaec's breath came out in ragged huffs. Why this happened to him, he honestly had no idea exactly. He had originally suspected it may have a lot to with his wolf half, but he knew that wolves in general tended to be shy creatures, not the monsters that the human legends had made them out to be. So, that left Sabaec with quite the puzzle to solve, and the solution had made itself scarce every sense the problem had reared its head.

As well, Sabaec wondered often, why him? The only wolfdog that he knew of, that wasn't related by blood to him, would be Buck and Luka's ancestor, the famous Balto. And not only had he saved Nome, but he was also said to have been a kind, and noble soul. Sabaec doubted that someone like that would have had the same struggles that Sabaec did, save for the acceptance of the wolf side.

Sabaec tended to have an uneasy relationship with his other side. Not because he hated wolves, but because of the circumstances of his birth. A couple months before Sabaec was born, his father, his wolf parent, had vanished during a heavy storm. His mother was left pregnant, and desolate. It was only through the intervention of Buck that she was able to pull herself together, and to stay strong for her pups. Sabaec couldn't help but grin as he thought of his stepfather. Buck had served as Aurora's loyal friend throughout her pregnancy, and then the raising of Sabaec and his brother, Shilok. Soon, however, the two grew very close, and Buck officially became Aurora's mate about 8 months ago. Luka and her litter followed soon after, making Sabaec a big brother.

Finally, the aching in his legs forced Sabaec to slide to a halt, and his panting grew exponentially. He lifted his gaze to wander among the wilds, taking in the mountains snow that surrounded Cedarlark. He was a lone speck, a simple thought in the vastness of the world surrounding him. As much as Sabaec hated to admit it, his wild roots had a very profound affect on his psyche, such as the calming affect being among the wilds immediately had on Sabaec. Out here, he was a master, so much better able to navigate his way around than any of the purebreds back in the town.

Taking a deep sniff, Sabaec allowed the scent of nature to overload his brain, and once more chain the beast within.

Sabaec quickly scanned the surroundings, as another feeling of frustration made its way into his head. Shilok. Like Sabaec, he had struggled with the opposing sides within him. Unlike Sabaec, however, Shilok had succumbed to the wolf, and had run off at the beginning of fall, which was a couple of months ago now. Shilok's disappearance had hit Aurora hard again, although this time she not only had Buck to help catch her. Luka and Sabaec had both stepped up reassure their mother, and she wasn't as distraught as she was the first time around. Still, it hurt, and Sabaec had his own pain as well.

Slowly, the young wolf dog felt his instincts return to normal, and he finally dropped his rigid stance. He needed to go back, his family was undoubtedly fretting over him. As he looked back, Sabaec silently cursed to him, knowing how his wild run out of town must have looked. So soon after Shilok's disappearance, if his mother had seen that…

Sabaec shook his head a bit. Buck would have calmed his mother, he knew that. The husky would never had let his mother work herself up so bad. Still, returning ASAP might be a good way to help out with that.

Sabaec turned, about to jog back to the town, when a surge of wind blew hard right into the wolfdog's face. Sabaec blinked a bit as the wind surged up, but by the time his eyes opened again, the air was still. Sabaec took a step forward.

A blast of ice cold air hit right against Sabaec's chest, and he ducked slightly to shield himself from the wind. Instead of dying down, the wind howled even harder, and Sabaec found himself amidst a roar of scents, the distinct fragrance of summer blowing across his nostrils. He froze as he scented this, as the rest of Canada was clearly encased in the deep grips of winter. What the….?

The wind continued to howl, and a low tingling surged up Sabaec's spine, and radiated out into his paws and tail. The air around him took a silvery tint, and Sabaec felt like he was going insane.

Finally, a low, melodious howl sounded fainting around him, and then, Sabaec thought he heard a low voice sound next to his ear. "It is time."

That voice did the trick. Sabaec started out of his stupor, and jumped high into the air, sending up a few puffs of snow, that were devoured by the roaring wind. "Okay, what the hell?"

The voice gave a low chuckle, and then murmured above the roar of the wind. "I come from not the human's hell, Sabaec, but from the forest, the stream, the wilds. I come from those of your blood, the wolf."

Sabaec, on his paws once more, whipped his head back and forth in a frenzy, struggling to find the source of the voice. "Okay, then you're a wolf. Now where are you, and what's with the freaking wind?"

"I am nowhere you can see, at least yet. But still, I come to guide you."

"Well, that's helpful," Sabaec muttered, as he crouched a bit lower, his body shaking. "Then what are you?"

"I am a… the best word for my kind in the human's tongue would be a spirit. However, I am much more than that."

"A ghost?" Sabaec shouted, a bit more high-pitched than he would have liked to. "Crap, you're haunting me? "

"Haunting you? No, I would think not. I simply have a message for you."

"Well then, why don't you spit it out, then?" Sabaec growled, still struggling to wrap his head around the entire experience.

Instead of speaking again, the spirit remained silent, and Sabaec waiting for a few minutes. He was about to snap back another retort, when a bright flash of silver light engulfed the clearing. Sabaec felt himself be lifted off the ground, and than he found himself flying along a mountain ridge, the wilderness below a blur. Suddenly, Sabaec's body twisted, and he found himself, watching the movements of the stars. He turned back to the ground, just in time for his body to lose the ability of flight. Sabeac let out a terrified howl as his body pelted to the ground, and let out a low yelp as his body stopped dead, this time surrounded by darkness. He dizzily glanced his head back and forth, and then heard the voice begin to speak once more.

"Set out to the east, on the night of the new moon. Follow the white wolf, a spirit of the wilds. She will be in the distance, but you will always see her. Your guardians shall meet you along the way. Go the Cave of the Moon, and you will receive your destiny."

"Be brave Sabaec, for you are greater than you ever imagined. Go forth, and become who you were always meant to be."

With that, the wind and voice faded, and Sabeac cautiously opened his eyes. He was still near Cedarlark, in the same position he was before the spirit appeared. Sabaec shook his head, and than gently rose out of his crouch. He glanced back and forth, wondering where his vision had come from.

He stared at Cedarlark, and sighed. He must have had too much rabbit the night before.

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"Well, is it done?"

Novac swiftly glanced up, and slightly flattened his ears. "Yes, it is."

He was in the spirit lands, having completed his messenger duties, to none other than his grown son. Now, the spirit padded over to the other gathered wolves in the meadow, and one of the younger spirits moved over, to allow for Novac to join the council. Novac glanced up at the first wolf that had spoken, and let out a low growl. "Yes, he got the message. But surely it didn't have to be so harsh, Aniu?"

Aniu simply flicked her ears at Novac. "We do not have time to be gentle with him, Novac. He must begin his journey, as the stars have made clear. I know that Niju has already chosen his Bearer, and that wolf in question is already well on his way to the Cave of Night. Unless we want to upset the balance, Sabaec must gain entrance to our Cave within the next moon. It is the only way."

Novac flicked his tail slightly in annoyance. "But yet, he's my son. Surely his well being should be taken into account!"

Novac said that a bit more harshly than he intended to, and some of the gathered wolves began to mutter. However, Aniu simply gazed at him, although something flashed in her eyes just before she spoke.

"I understand your concern, Novac, but remember, Sabaec is not the only son of a MoonPack spirit to be tested. And not the only mixed breed, either. I choose your son because he is strong, and I have full faith that he will rise to the occasion. He reminds me much of my own, you should be proud."

Novac took a deep breath, and then gently bowed his head. "I forget my place, Aniu. I am sorry. I just wish for him to be safe. "

Aniu nodded. "I do understand, I truly do. That is why I will assign two spirits to guide him. Novac, you shall be the first. Anyone else?"

Silence surrounded the council, while Novac held his breath. Finally, a low voice sounded from the back. "I will."

Aniu dipped her head. "Very well, Nava, you shall be the second." Raising her voice, Aniu continued to speak. "You all know what must be done. Go forth, and let the moon shine forever upon you." She let out a low howl, and the rest of the group chimed in, and at once, they began to fade into the wind, Novac included. However, Nava padded up to Aniu swiftly.

"Does he know…?" the old wolf asked, even as Aniu shook her head.

"Given the present circumstances, it is best to not reveal that, at least not yet. I'm sure he will make himself known in due time."

Nava nodded, and than faded into the wind himself. Aniu stood for a moment, and than the wind began to blow, and the white wolf was blow out of sight.