Note: Foul language ahead. Aniu had a nightmare. A certain Alaskan Malamute got shot. :O Writing transitions is a bit tricky thanks to a former English professor of mine being mean :( let alone a fandom I left last year. So my apologies. -An artistic student welder. :3
"I need a drink," muttered the owner. He peered over the evening horizon seeing a settlement not to far off in the distance. "Nome." He whispered under his breath. He slung his rifle to his back to pose no harm to the townsfolk.
He turned to look at his husky with a smile. "We've made it boy." He gingerly whispered. Zodiac slowed down ending his trek at the treeline. The smell of smoked meats churned his hunger. He had sensed the feeling of abandonment.
He peered behind seeing the wolf off in the distance lying beneath a tree. She panted heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Tired and feeling alone she let out a whimper. "What's wrong?" The husky asked lowering his head along the way.
She avoided any form of contact as she let out a huff. He tried to nuzzle her but she curled into a ball seeking comfort on her own. "You miss them don't you?" He questioned with a whimper. She nodded her head against her fur.
"I'll go into town and look for his people." Zodiac spoke causing her ears to perk up. He ran as fast as he could to catch up to his owner. The husky whizzed past teams of dogs with their mushers.
He sniffed the air smelling something familiar. He wagged to tail as he made up close to what seemed to be a bar. Zodiac looked around only to see his owner to be sat with a familiar face.
He whimpered at the door scratching at the very barrier between him and his happiness. "Go on, get outta here mutt." Shouted a man dressed as a musher.
He kicked the husky without warning earning gasps from passersby along the way. The pain was radiant in his chest as he yelped in pain.
The musher turned around only to be met with cold steel pressed against his cheek. "Easy now." The owner ordered cautiously as he lifted his finger of the trigger of his revolver. "I suggest you leave." He spoke with a grim line upon his lips.
The musher slowly inched himself away. "God damn coward." Zodiacs owner said as he watched the musher high tail it out of the block.
He made his way over to a table with a gentleman huddled over his beer. He was about six feet tall and built rock solid. "Nice to see you too John." The man spoke with a solemn smile.
"Damn it Mitch it's rather a curse to see you." He joked, "you're about as ugly as sin." he informed with a smile ordering a shot a whiskey along the line. "They kept the picture." He said softly as he peered across the bar.
The time seemed to blur as they sat there in silence. Men as tough as nails surrounded their table. Men who hadn't learnt the respect from their fellow man.
They bumped the two trying to trigger a reaction. Mitch just turned to look at those causing a nuisance and returned to his beer. He tried to ignore them.
Then it happened. One shoved him from his right side. He looked over grabbing the instigator by the back of the head smashing his skull into the edge of the table. He looked over at the other four never leaving his seat. He dropped to the floor in a small pool of blood.
He sighed heavily trying to control his rage "The uprising is happening and they need volunteers that speak Russian." Mitch informed lowly as he sipped what was left of his lager. "How's it going Zodiac?" Mitch as playfully as he rubbed him behind his ears releasing euphoric endorphins.
"The reds are taking over." He continued softly. "Up to you if you want to answer the call." Zodiac peered into the human's eyes with questions gleaming from his stare.
He let out a whistle and out coming running three pups from behind the bar keeps counter. "Smart dog of yours." Mitch commented rather intrigued with his intelligence.
"What about the rest of the guys?" John asked as he drank his shot. He peered around looking for familiar faces but to no avail he had found none.
"They're leaving tonight in an hour to join the white army." He said standing up ready to leave. "Men like us with no wives nor children have nothing to lose." He informed with a soft smile laugh. "Mountain men." He chuckled as picked up two pups as white as snow.
"Count me in," John spoke with honor in his voice as he reached for Balto as grey as ash. "We'll be back within a year." Mitch spoke knowingly. As they stood up leaving the bar. "If you ever as much touch my fucking dogs again I'll rape you that knife of yours." He spoke to the troublesome musher as they rounded a corner. "Looks like the one I shot in the forest."
"Where are they going this time." Zodiac muttered to himself as he followed them down the coastline.
"Have you spoken to your brother yet?" Mitch asked curiously setting down the pups to the ground. John sighed at his question. The feeling of dread and fear washed over him.
"No," He started as he let the pup go. "last I heard he had a daughter with her. As far as he knows I died in Europe." He replied in a solemn tone.
Zodiac howled staring at the sea of stars emitting their radiant shine. Although he had no clue what it meant he felt proud to be a canine. He perched himself upon an old fishing trawler that lay long forgotten.
The pups nibbled on his ears and tails as he stared away into oblivion. "Staring at the diamonds in the sky? I see." The wolf questioned playfully as she laid her head into his furry chest.
"What are you hiding from me?" The white she wolf questioned in sorrow. "I can sense your fear, you're scared." She whined as she felt his heartbeat skyrocket to that of a hummingbird.
"My owners leaving me and I wanna follow him." He lamented in fear of her answer. His ears flattened submissively at her growl.
"I left my pack you." She growled in anger pinning him to the ground. "What am I supposed to do if you don't come back." She whimpered in fear as she saw more men arriving by the dozens.
By the looks of it they were getting ready to leave. She struggled at the idea of him being gone. Being a lone wolf meant four times the risk during a hunt.
"Let's get a move on men!" Shouted a familiar voice near the docks.
"I got to go." Zodiac whispered as he nuzzled her neck only to get a growl in response. She sighed at the naive husky.
Knowing if his countless stories were true about human beings waging war upon each it would be the last she saw of him.
"Balto, Zeus, Rosco we're leaving." She cooed leaving the husky to his thoughts. The pups cocked their heads in confusion.
"Goodbye little ones." He whispered to himself as Balto nuzzled himself against the husky.
A howl ripped through the air sending shivers down the spines of man. The grey husky watched their slowly disappearing forms merge with the shadows.
She reached the treeline. Upon turning back his silhouette had merged with the crowd of men. Until we meet again. She thought in pain.
It must've been hours seeing his departure. Her stomach growled at her in offense of her transgression. Hunger.
Upon the sight of her pups paws covered in frost and ice splinters she called it a day. She laid to rest under a rock with some protection from the elements.
She curled herself with her back to open in an effort to protect her spawn. "Whens dad coming back?" Questioned Zeus a pup with crystal yellow eyes.
"Soon." She answered while gently living their feet in an effort to warm them up. They snuggled their faces deep into her coat. Tears that were frosted became evident in their eyes.
Please hurry back. She mentally pleaded as she looked up at the partially visible moon. "You'll be gone for many moons." She said softly with whimper.
Note: Next two chapters kicks off the main story. Just wanted a background story. Some chapters will be bouncing around between their "teen years" to adult age. I'll try to keep notes down to a minimum. After every chapter or so check my profille for additional news/notes.-RWP2