Part Eight: The Land Past the Alps

The snow wiped the tears of sorrow from his face but the pain in his heart remained, and the one cause of all his woes was lying at his feet, shaking. The animal was none other then Scanlon, and Kensell was very angry with him. He knew he'd made a promise to look after his best friend, but he had just lost his sister and knew that his blood was a stronger loyalty then that of friendship.

Grabbing the wounded and freezing Scanlon at the scruff, the now scar-faced Rottweiler wobbled toward the edge of their platform. He had watched his sister bounce of it and fall down to nowhere, yet Scanlon had hit him and they had both crashed onto the stone and stayed there. He heard the whine of the pathetic shepherd in his jaws and was unafraid of what his heart was telling him to do. Though the wind made his eyes weep even more, Kensell lifted his head up, ears flapping so his eyes were half blocked, and prepared to discard Scanlon over the cliff. There was nothing left for him anymore, and so Scanlon would have to suffer.

"Kensell don't!" Before Kensell could release his catch, something smashed into his side and threw him back to the wall of the cliff. Scanlon slipped from his jaw and was about to go over the edge, but Amaya was there to grab his tail and pull him back to the platform. She turned to Kensell with a harsh glare, but she could see the sorrow on his smashed and bleeding face. "Do not blame him. I get the feeling that whoever sent you all out here was hoping for either your deaths or a chance to take down Ohu. Whoever did this, it is not Scanlon, though he has made rash decisions! Do not take your fury out on him; Tibelda already knew what her fate would be."

"Perhaps you are right! I know who it was and I had assumed they were up to something cruel, but I have lost my sister. I do not know what to do? I don't understand why she is gone and yet I am still here?" Kensell whined pitifully and he lowered his sore body to the ground as the blizzard began to fall off the edges above and reach them. He looked wretched and Amaya looked down at Scanlon, wishing he was conscious because though he always relied on Kensell to save him, boy did Scanlon say some interesting things.

"You do have something to live for, something to protect." Amaya growled gently and then she began to lick at Scanlon's freezing ears. "Scanlon needs your help right now more then anything. You've always been there for him in the past, and now you can protect him for as long as you would like. Help me shield him from the cold and you can dream over your choices."

Kensell gave a grunt, looked at the weak and shuddering form on his oldest friend, and then nodded. He paced over and huddled down beside him and Amaya, hoping that the night of dreaming would make things all the more clearer. But even so, his heart was broken and he had no wish to forgive so quickly.

Kerriane woke up first of the pack, her nose scenting the arrival of strange dogs. She had done well in guiding the remnant to safety and then down the cliff face when the storm had passed. It had been three days and they had passed into the land of Mutsu and the Four Generals. This place was dangerous, not overly dangerous for the allies of Ohu, but it was not the most attractive land. Whereas the other realms were filled with forest, Mutsu's landscape was pocketed with gorges and drops where it would be only too easy to fall into and die. Now Kerriane knew she would have to make them believe her claim of the warrior John as her father, of face their wrath.

She stepped away from the forms of her fellows, her body shaking with fear as the scent of a very powerful male wafted into her nose. Kerriane was unsure what she would expect when she stepped outside, but to her surprise it was not a whole pack of dogs waiting for her. Instead it was just one husky male, sitting patiently in the open with his head tilting as he tried to figure her out. She was unsure what to make of his reaction to her, but she also did not want to get into trouble with the others by speaking to him. However, she knew that the four generals who owned Mutsu were all huskies and that surely; this husky male with a strange white droplet of fur on his forehead must be related to them. Lowering herself and wagging her tail in friendship, she shuffled over to him and gave a low whine of greeting. The male replicated her friendship and soon they sniffed each other before stepped apart and preparing to speak.

"I am Kerriane. My pack and I have crossed the mountains in search of Ohu. We were looking there to meet Boss Weed, as we were to become new members of his group after an arranged event with our Boss. But our journey has taken its toll so far, our group's leader has disappeared. Have you seen any strangers apart from us?" Kerriane could not help but blurt things out. But she was eager to know if Scanlon was alive still and if anything could be done to help him. But being in the land of Mutsu meant that she would not be far from Ohu and hopefully the end of a horrendous journey. She didn't care anything about the supposed mission that their old leader had given them, so much had happened she didn't believe in it, but at least in Ohu she would be able to settle.

"I'm called Sangatsu, son of Kisagari. He is the boss of the Four Generals of Mutsu. I'm his youngest son of last year's litter, but I know the rules and goings on. As far as we're aware, you're the only newcomers to this land, and very strange ones you are indeed. Where are you actually from?"

The interest of the male was worrying; Kerriane was unfortunate in wanting to tell him the truth. But a greater part of her mind warned her about it! She could claim they were from a neighbouring land to the now dead Hougen, and that they had been fighting him for ages. But if she mentioned her own master's name, then what would that mean? Her only hope was to ignore who her old boss was and make herself the new one. If anyone had to know, then she was John's daughter with a group of dedicated friends heading to Ohu – the land her father loved more then her mother!

"I'm from the far south, an old territory that used to be attacked often by Hougen. We were saved once by Weed and his fellows, who did not know of Hougen's threat at that point. Upon their time there, my mother conceived me and my brother to the warrior John. I am returning to the land he loved, to work for his master, and to bring those that followed me from terrible lands, seeking paradise and friendship." Kerriane was surprised by the authority in her own voice, it seemed to impress the male too and he even looked delighted, offering a quick bow, which she happily returned. But then, as she had hoped to step forward and ask for directions – someone else turned up.

"Father…."

The noise of the waters below woke Scanlon first, and as he opened his dreary eyes the memories of hell returned to him! Had he actually been dead and given another chance to change? Scanlon did not know, but he was definitely going to change and listen more! He would redeem himself first by offering Kensell the blood he was probably lusting for! But when he managed to turn his head despite the bitter pain and stiffness, he was greeted with a smile.

"I don't understand…" Scanlon managed to murmur as he looked at the gentle and caring face of the large Rottweiler. His eyes widened a little more, and he spotted the sleeping form of Amaya at his other side. Suddenly Scanlon felt foolish, he owed them both terribly and yet they had not let him die! But while Scanlon was trying to figure out his position amongst them, Amaya's gentle snuggling motions surprised him. Had he not noticed it before?

"She really does care about you! I think it was not only your bravery, but because you did not care about what her family did! In some ways, you don't deserve her companionship – but I still like you Scanlon!" Kensell growled in amusement and to the young shepherd's surprise, the big Rottweiler began to groom his ears – warming him up so he felt better.

"Thank you Kensell. I don't deserve your friendship, and you know that I blame myself for your sister's death. But I will make it up to you… Someday…" Scanlon fell back into sleep and Kensell gave a gentle grunt of annoyance before curling back to rest as well.

A few hours passed, but when they woke up it was to a terrible wind and Scanlon being pulled along the plateau. The wind was dragging him too the edge and he was far too weak to try and pull himself away. Kensell was worried, this was what he'd feared would happen. The big male darted forward and grabbed Scanlon's shoulder. But to his own surprise the wind was pulling him onward, trying to drag him over the edge as well! Amaya gripped his stumpy tail, then his shoulder and pulled back. But even her strength was not enough, they were beginning to panic. But to his surprise, Scanlon spoke calmly without fear.

"Let me go and jump off with me! We're not going to die; we're going to be alright! Just trust me! There is a spirit with us!" Scanlon's words were convincing, but they were still nervous. Despite it all, Kensell jerked him forward and then jumped. He was surprised to feel the wind catch his paws. They were half gliding downward, but he could see the river coming up, and he was scared. But Scanlon called back to him. "It's okay; we have a friend of Ohu with us!"

Scanlon did not know who it was, only that it was a dog that could jump well and had known when was the best time to stretch out your paws and fall. Scanlon nipped and encouraged his friends to follow him, but there was always something telling him to prepare for water. He called back, telling them that they would fall into the river below, but he worried about Kensell. After-all, the big dog was not very fond of water and definitely not the best swimmer in the world. But they would have no choice in the matter.

"John's daughter? That's a claim now isn't it?" Kisagari was not what he had looked like according to Akuma's description. But the fact that he knew who Akuma was made Kerriane's situation much more fearful. Here she was with a huge pacl of dogs and an almost outrageous claim to uphold. Here was Kisagari, missing an ear and aggressive as ever. His brothers had let them come in and feed however, their approach toward others much gentler then they had feared.

"Yes. But despite what you think, we are here to join Ohu and Weed. We are escaping Akuma and the lands back there because of the tyrants. We have gone through many struggles and wish only to gain friendship with others. I told you before, Master Kisagari, we are not the enemies!" Kerriane growled, she could hear the fear from the other dogs and see the anger twitching in the muscles of her guards that remained beneath the feet of the Kisagari's soldiers. Before the great husky could say anything again, his son stepped in front of Kerriane protectively.

"Please father! They are telling the truth, they must have been the ones spotted coming over the mountains! We were told that they had many females in their mob and several of them have not had mates! Though some of the bitches are carrying young from dead mates, or so they have told mother! Please father, believe them!" Sangatsu whined gently but one of the bigger huskies muscled past him. This male was bigger and practically black in colouration.

"It could easily be a ruse to stop us from fighting them and let them on their way! We know that Akuma was not above keeping pregnant females amongst his gangs so that they were not attacked by us! It could easily be a ruse led by this obviously clever female!" The big male growled, but Kerriane noted with her one eye that there was a slight twinkling of interest in his mahogany eyes. Kerriane was a little flattered by the clever comment, but she noted to look of annoyance in Sangatsu's eyes.

"Don't be foolish! They're nice dogs and won't hurt us! If she says she's John's daughter, then she must be! It is not likely that she would make this kind of claim!" Sangatsu seemed convinced, as he should be, but Kerriane was nervous of what Kisigari would think of it all.

"Hmmm… I think, if this is the truth. Then they will gladly join our pack and when we convene with the pack later, you can be taken from there…"

"WHAT!"

COMING NEXT:

Part Nine – Ninjas and Tigers

Kerriane is trapped with the Mutsu dogs. They won't hurt them but she doesn't want to be there and she wants to find her brother but they won't let her. Only Sangatsu seems to be able to help her and is willing to travel to find out the information she needs. But while the pup's away, Kerriane and the big black boy, Uzuki's son Raiden, are getting a little chatty. But if the call doesn't come for the meeting soon, Kerriane might just have to become Raiden's mate in order to get her pack back on the road to Ohu.

But what about Scanlon? Well he's landed in a strange mist-strewn land of Ninja dogs. The river has led them to the Koga lands, but some of the Koga ninjas that they did not want returned have done so! Koga is once again at war with one another, but this time it's over something very strange. Its all about who is in love with the Kai bitch Naratora, daughter of Kurotora and one of the prettiest bitches around. Apparently the war over who is going to be her mate might go beyond the boards if the Kai dogs find out! So what can Scanlon do to solve the situation?