Chapter 5

Kodiak's eyes slowly blinked open and shut and voices faint and far away barely registered in his ears. His vision was blurry and dance about without any focus at all and his head pounded deep inside his skull. His eyes finally managed to open completely and he was barely able to make out his new friends gathered around him. He felt sick to his stomach; as if at any moment it would jump out of his throat. He closed his eyes again and felt a paw prod him in the side.

"Kodi… Kodi… re ...ou al…ght?"

Kodiak moaned and half opened his eyes weakly again. His vision was still blurred and unfocused, but he felt that at the bare minimum, he could probably get to his feet. He slowly rolled onto his belly and got his feet under him. With a great amount of effort, he began to push his body up from the ground with weak and shaky legs. He got half way up when his legs buckled again; but this time Dusty was there to catch him with her shoulder. Kirby assisted in helping Dusty get Kodiak to his feet by pushing him up on his left side. Using his two friends for support, Kodiak stood with his head down and his eyes closed. He was heaving heavy breaths in and out so hard it was for him to stand up. Kodiak opened his eyes and shook his head. He winced from the pain inside his skull, but at long last, his vision finally cleared.

"…re you okay," Kirby asked him.

Kodiak's hearing was getting better as well.

"You had us scared half to death," was Dusty's quick continuation.

Kodiak took in a long breath and slowly lifted his head.

"I'll be alright," he began very weakly, "I don't know what came over me, I just…"

"What," everyone asked in unison.

"I can't explain it, but…"

His head began slowly to dip again and Kirby shook his shoulders with his paw. Kodiak opened his eyes and lifted his head.

"Hey, do you need to go to the vet," Soqin asked sympathetically.

Kodiak gave a tired smile.

"I'm fine, just need some rest is all."

He took a step toward the back corner of the shed but nearly collapsed again. Kirby and Dusty caught him and used their shoulders to help him along until he came to the place where he wished to rest. There Kodiak simply fell to his side with snores rising rhythmically out of his muzzle.

- Mr. Simpson opened the door to the shed and looked to the far corner to see his dogs all congregated to one area. They turned their heads back to him and saw the new bowl to go with the six lined up by the door and a bag of food. The six of them showed no interest in either but turned their attention back to Kodiak.

"Kodi, do you think you can eat," Ralph asked gently shaking Kodiak's sleeping form.

Kodiak groaned and opened his eyes.

"How do you feel," Soqin asked.

Kodiak's stomach had settled in his two hour nap and his head no longer throbbed. Mr. Simpson placed the bag and bowl down next to each other and began a hurried movement toward his dogs. They all took a few steps back while Kodiak rose to his feet. Under his own power Kodiak stood tall, his strength quickly rebooting. Mr. Simpson stopped and gazed down at all of his dogs. Nothing wrong here, they were just greeting the new pup. He smiled and turned, making his way back to the bag of kibbles. He slid Kodiak's bowl in line with the others and went to pouring the kibbles inside of each. The pups, even Kodiak, all scrambled hurriedly over to their bowls, but it was noticed that there was a change in Kodiak's gait. Unlike the other pups who sprawled about when they ran, he slid along smoothly with his head and tail held even with his back and shoulders. He also made very little noise with his footfalls, picking them straight up instead of dragging them about. Mr. Simpson paid no heed to this. He watched Kodiak as he ran and shook his head thinking that his dog was just playing around. Far from it; Kodiak was stalking about in the manner of his father's blood that coursed through his veins.

The pups all made it to their bowls and began to chomp on the kibbles inside. Mr. Simpson turned and left, shutting the door behind him. The pups continued with their meals silently, save the crunch of their food. Once finished the pups licked their lips and looked at each other, each one with different questions buzzing about in their minds. The first to speak was Koe.

"So, what happened to you," he began, "one second you were fine and then the next you started to go blank. You couldn't hear or focus on anything, and then you just passed out."

Kodiak sat and hung his head so he could think. After a few moments he raised his head and looked his new friends dead in their eyes.

"It may sound crazy, but I felt this… this… cold sensation running through my body. Then there was this whisper."

"A voice," Kirby asked disturbed.

Kodiak nodded.

"I couldn't make out what it was saying, but then it just stopped. I guess that's when I blacked out."

Everyone in the room looked on in silence. Kodiak continued.

"I had a dream before I woke up the first time," Kodiak stated trying to recall every detail.

"There was this huge wall too big for any dog or human to see over. I approached this wall and there was a growl that got louder and louder the closer I got. I don't know why, but I just couldn't leave. Something drew me in to this wall like a light draws to a moth. So when I got close enough to this wall, I could see the tiniest crack in the middle. Then there was a sound on the other side and the whole thing shook. The tiny crack became a small hole and a fiery yellow eye peeked through to me. I was so terrified that I couldn't even move. There was a terrible snarl and the eye backed up. There was another hit and another, and then the hole began to have hairline cracks webbing out from it. There was one more hit and everything around me melted and went black. I guess that's right about when I started to come back."

There was an absolute dead silence. No one moved and they hardly breathed; all focus was on Kodiak. He rose to his feet and began to pace nervously. Dusty looked at him curiously and finally broke the silence.

"Why are you walking like that," she pressed.

Kodiak stopped and looked at her curiously.

"What do you mean? I'm walking like I always do."

"No," Kirby said catching on, "your tail and head are down. You look like you're slinking or something."

Kodiak smirked.

"Alright, very funny, I have a weird dream that can't be explained and you mess with me by telling me that I'm somehow different?"

He laughed sarcastically.

"I'm serious Kodi," Kirby pressed sincerely, "Ralph, go stand next to Kodi."

Ralph rose and moved next to Kodiak. There was no difference between the two.

"Now," Dusty began, "you guys start walking next to each other."

Ralph shrugged and began walking, his tail and head raised high and proud; the normal gait of the average dog. Kodiak soon followed and caught up with Ralph.

"Now, compare yourself to him," Kirby instructed to Kodiak.

Kodiak looked to his left and saw that his eyes were even with Ralph's shoulder. He then looked behind him and saw that his tail was half way down Ralph's flank. What was he doing this for? And why was he not able to notice?

"Try and match him," Dusty said.

Kodiak frowned and lifted his head and tail until they were even with Ralph's. The two made it to the far wall and turned to go back. At first Kodiak slinked, but corrected himself, lifting his head and tail even with Ralph's once again. This was something he would have to work on. He had no idea as to why this had happened, but he knew that it probably wasn't normal. He had to talk to his parents. Kodiak began padding over toward the door.

"Slink," Ralph reminded him,

Kodiak rolled his eyes and poised himself like any other dog would. He reached the door and began to push on it.

"Where are you going," Dusty asked him suspiciously.

Kodiak turned to face the group of onlookers.

"I have to go talk to my parents. I'll be back later."

Before anyone had time to protest, Kodiak pushed the door open and disappeared into the light that shined through.