Day 7

Kodi.

Kodi was lying on his paws now, staring out into the chaotic storm as he patiently waited for Masons return. He wasn't actually hungry, but he wanted him to return so he could ask questions. He recognized his smell... It matched Siku's… But it also matched the wolves he fought off that nearly killed him and Siku.

He starred out into the wild beyond, the landscape stretched far, at least a full mile from the cave entrance, to be met by thick forest. Where this cave was situated, Kodi could easily see above the distant tree line, but it didn't matter, he could not see anything that could hint to where he was. As far as he could see in the distance, was a tall wall of snowy white mountains. If he could see ocean, it'd mean he was near Safe Harbor, and he knew that it was only ten miles west of Nome.

He turned on his side now, as his deep cut was healing, it still hurt like hell. He whimpered for a bit as he struggled to lie on his side.

"I miss you already, Siku... I feel lost without you." Kodi said aloud, and even he felt embarrassed at how cliché that sounded.

He could not see far in any direction, night was starting to wash over the Alaskan outback, and the thick storm clouds above that dropped many billions of raindrops over the landscape made it even darker. Kodi thought about Siku more, and it got to the point where he stood up, and considered running off in hope of finding his own way back home, but as he took a step, he was reminded if what pain his chest wound could cause, and as he shifted it about, it sent him crashing to the floor, yelping in agony. This was one hell of a bite mark.

Kodi lied there for a bit, flipping in pain yet again, as he caused more damage to it by simply taking a few steps. He knew he wasn't going anywhere for a while, and wondered when Mason would return, and thought about the wolf, out there hunting in this storm.

Mason, first person, out on the hunt.

I smiled at the kid before I left, I had offered him to come as hunt with me as a joke, and I think he got it.

As I set off down the ridge preceding the cave face, I started to run through the rain. I loved it, for once; it was warm and actually felt comfortable, aided by warmer winds blowing in from the Bering Sea to the south.

At this point, it was my 5th attempt at scoring an arctic hare and ending in failure, either due to them burrowing away, climbing trees, or simply hiding their annoying asses in the snow with their near-perfect camouflage.

"Annoying little bastards, they aren't worth the energy." I thought, and decided to set my sights in a much larger prey. Elk... I can smell them, just 100 meters west of here, so I decided I'd take my chances at that.

When i got there, I hid low to the ground, using the storm as cover, and walked very low and hid behind the trees. I spotted three adult elk, and one calf.

"Perfect."

I got a little closer, anticipating my attack, and smiled as I could feel my instincts taking over already. I stepped on a branch and froze, but in the cover of the storm, I still continued undetected. I figured I had stalled enough, and came out of hiding with a loud roar. Naturally, they ran off, and I ran after them. But I had not intended to chase down any of the three adults, I got what I wanted, the adults to run off in fear, leaving their calf defenseless.

"What sloppy parents" I thought as I slowly chased the calf, it was a futile effort on its part, since its parents were nowhere to be found, and all it could do was run, but outrun a full grown timber wolf like myself? Ha.

I eventually got bored and jumped on it, having to reach higher. It may have been a young elk, but it was already taller than I was, but it didn't make it any harder to take down. With one bite to the back I the neck, the elk collapsed, and I had won the chase.

I let go of its neck and closed my eyes, praying to Aniu, thanking her for a successful hunt. This seemed foreign to me, it's been such a long time since I prayed to the white wolf spirit, and of course, I had to keep it hidden when I was around Nehalem and the rest of the pack. Even though everyone around me seemed to worship Amarok, this was not true for a majority of them. Only Nehalem actively confided in the teachings of Amarok, yet the rest of the pack secretly kept true to Aniu, and I was no exemption.

I lay down to enjoy my kill, skinning it before eating. After about half an hour, I was stuffed. It's been about four days since I last ate, so I made up for that, and also stored extra. I enjoyed my meal in the torrential downpour, and didn't care; besides, this calf would be too large to drag all the way to the cave in full anyways.

I dislodged both hind legs of the massive animal for Kodi, and still struggled just to carry that, then I started of back to the cave, proud of my successful hunt as a lone wolf.

Kodi and Mason.

Kodi was lying in the same spot all this time, still struggling to fight off the pain. Then, he remembered what helped last time.

He struggled to stand, carefully trying to not shift his chest and chase more damage, then he walk over to the puddle and stared at it.

Kodi cringed a bit at it, the once clear water was a pale red, tainted with at least a full pint of his own blood. He figured he should find cleaner water, and where else to go but outside during a hurricane? Settled on his decision, he walked out into the warm rain and wind.

"Wow, this is great..." Kodi thought as the soothing water flowed through his red and white fur.

Kodi took a few careful steps out of the cave, and quickly realized that I wasn't easy at all to walk out here.

The warm winds and rains melted the snow and it formed dangerous slurry of melted snow and mud. It caused Kodi to slip.

Kodi fell with a loud yelp of pain even before he hit the ground with a noticeable watery splash.

Kodi fell just as he caught sight of Mason, returning to the cave with a huge prize in his mouth. Mason dropped it and ran to help Kodi get up.

"Hey, Kodi, where are you trying to run off to?" Mason said with a chuckle.

"Nowhere apparently oww." Kodi replied.

"Heh, then let's get back inside. I've brought something better than rabbit."

"Okay then." Kodi said, holding a face of pain.

The storm was not letting up in the slightest. Constant downpour was accompanied by constant thunder and lightning. As Mason helped Kodi stand, clouds above let lose whatever it was charging, a huge bolt of lightning and with it, a huge crack of thunder.

Both Mason and Kodi jumped and yipped for a split-second at the explosive sound.

"Haha, you scared of thunder boy?" Mason teased.

"Hey, you jumped too!" Kodi said and they both laughed.

"Ah, well, talk about the big strong wolf that's afraid of thunder..." Mason said with slight embarrassment.

"Joke about the big strong sled dog that's afraid of thunder..." Kodi said sharing his self-pity.

As the two passed the wall of water at the cave opening, they stayed quiet for a second before Mason jumped back up and walked outside. Kodi watched him slowly head for the food he dropped earlier and bring it back to the cave. When he got back and dropped the food by Kodi, he shook the water out of his fur, sending it back on Kodi, who laughed a bit at it. Mason faced him now; he had a question for him.

"What does that mean, "sled dog". I've heard... Others talk about it." Mason said, leaving out any names, such as Nehalem.

One of Nehalem's previous speeches mentioned a team of sled dogs, and them risking their lives to be slaves to the humans. Even getting stuck in a blizzard for it. Mason figured he'd get his own answer to this seemingly stupid way that dogs would subject themselves to, plus he figured there was much to learn about these dogs.

"Some dogs are trained to help the humans deliver mail, it's sort of like longer-range howling that humans use to send and receive messages. We dogs are trained to pull wooden cartridges called sleds many miles through the snow." Kodi explained, and Mason could see huge pride showing in this dog.

"What weird creatures you dogs are..." Mason said quietly.

"Humans fed and care for us, I don't mind to help them with things like that, since they can't help themselves." Kodi added.

"I guess I can understand, it's a mutual relationship in which you both work together to survive." Mason finally said.

Kodi looked down at the soggy raw, still bleeding Elk legs before him, and his face involuntarily turned into one of disgust.

"Something wrong?" Mason asked.

"No, no. Just that... Well..." Kodi struggled to say.

"What?"

"I don't know how to eat this..."

"You've got to be kidding me... Are you dogs really that stupid?" Mason said, but even though it was meant to be an insult, Kodi knew it was mostly playful joking.

"I've eaten elk meat before... The town butcher would sometimes throw out cuts of it, but this... I don't know." Kodi said as he nudged the leg with his paw.

"Fine, I'll show you."

Mason got down on his belly, and Kodi did the same.

"Grab that other leg and copy me."

"Okay." Kodi replied, and then brought the second leg to him like Mason.

"What you want to do is strip the skin off like so." Mason said before ripping the skin off of the leg with ease.

Kodi hesitated, but as his stomach growled, reminding him how hungry he was, he proceeded to do the same. After checking again, he tore into the furry flesh and attempted three times to grip it just right, then used his paw to hold down the leg as he ripped the skin off of it completely.

"Good, now dig in, but watch for the bones, they can splinter up and I you eat it, and, well, there isn't a promise that the bones won't come out as easy as they went in." Mason said, hinting to his hindquarters.

"Ouch..."

Mason smiled and nudged the second leg over to Kodi too.

"Eat up, I'll go keep watch for now, but I've got something to talk to you about soon." Mason said as he turned and began to walk away.

"I've to some things to ask you too, if you don't mind." Kodi said.

"Of course you do." Mason said, then continued walking.

Kodi watched him walk up to the cave face, stopping, then sitting just a few inches from the wall of water that dropped down over the cave entrance. Mason continued to stare out into the wilderness, as memories if his past started seeping back up yet again.

Mason, flashback, first person. Siku.

"Papa?"

I shook my head, snapping out of a trance. It's been almost a full month now, and I watched Siku open her eyes, ears, speak her first word, and today was the day I finally let her out of the den and explore the wild forest around us.

This was quite possibly the happiest part of my life. I was a single father, too busy raising Siku to look for another mate. I don't think I could do it anyway... I feel like it'd be disrespectful to Katja.

But another wolf was standing by my side, watching Siku as she sniffed about for the first time; my old friend Scion. He was around much more often now, and pretty much lived with us. He claims that he's being a good friend and keeping me company in a tragic time in my life, but we both knew it was because he fell in love with Siku just as much as I had. It could also be in part, due to his parents finally getting on his ass about leaving the pack and finding a mate, so he figured he'd hide away at my house for the time being.

We did find another family for the other two pups, and although it pains me, I felt that it would be better for both me and Siku if she was an only child.

Me and scion smiled as Siku played in the snow, jumping around and yipping in a high pitched puppy sort of way.

"So I guess I'm your mate now?" Scion joked.

"You-" Mason said as he turned, but found that Scion was mere inches from him with a seemingly flirtatious smile on his face.

"You know I'm focusing on Siku for now... Plus, I don't think it'd be right. Wolves mate for life..." I lowered my head as I said the last part, looking back up at Scion and shoving him away softly.

"I don't think Katja thought the same way..." Scion said with a low tone, barely audible.

"What did you say!?"

"Nothing you don't already know..." Scion replied, holding his stance.

His comment alone made me furious, but a few seconds later my entire expression changed, and Scion picked up on this.

"Just... Don't talk about it." I said in a low tone.

"No! Katja cheated on you! You need to stop denying-" I jumped Scion now, teeth shown.

"What the hell Mason! You know I'm right!" Then scion threw me off with his hind legs.

I stood here now, not knowing how long, staring him down, but he did not show aggression. Scion was right. Any sacred bond that wolf culture would express, was already split long ago by my late wife.

"Papa, why are you sad?" Siku asked in the cutest voice.

As the tiny voice snapped me back to reality, I forced a smile, as I did not realize that my face was a face of sadness, even though I thought I was showing aggression towards Scion.

"It's nothing Siku..." I replied in a soft tone, then, as Siku walked off, I turned to Scion.

"Nothing at all..." I said with a smile.

I turned my back to Scion as Siku played off to the left, and seemingly thought for half a minute. Scion sat patiently and watched over Siku.

"What do you think about introducing Siku to... Hamoura?" I asked Scion with a smile.

"Hamoura? You don't mean..."

"Yes."

"But you haven't talked to her since... You met Katja..."

"I talked to her the night of our ceremony."

"Huh. So why talk to her now?" Scion questioned.

"She's single, right?" I asked with a turn of his head.

"Aha!" Scion laughed as he finally caught onto what the hell I was getting at.

Kodi and Mason, present day.

"Ow, damnit..."

Mason turned an ear towards Kodi.

"Damnit!" Kodi muttered quietly again.

Mason sighed and stood up, Kodi saw him walking over and already started to speak, but Mason cut him off.

"Let me show you."

Mason came to a stop over Kodi's food. He was frustrated by a bone not separating and always would snap back at his face. Mason knew this already and helped Kodi better enjoy his meal.

"Grab that side." Mason motioned Kodi to hold down the bottom portion of the leg.

Mason nodded once Kodi grabbed a good place, then with a brute force, twisted and strained the bone, breaking the knee joint with a loud snap.

"Oh, thanks."

"No prob kid."

Mason turned now, listening to Kodi rip apart his meal and snapped about at it behind him. Once again… Mason was lost in his memories.

Mason and Scion, flashback. Decision day.

"You sure Siku is safe with your sister?" Mason asked Scion.

"Of course she is... You know how long she's wished for a child of her own? The only thing we need to worry about is this meeting..."

"Yeah..."

Mason and Scion were both nervous. Siku was nearing a month old now, and Mason considered moving away, to find a place where he and Siku would be safer.

He had to... Ever since that little challenge about two months ago, from some yearling almost overtaking the pack, everyone has been a little unstable. The current alpha was getting old, nearing in his 9th year. The yearling was a newcomer, once referred to as Nehalem. He was banished a month ago after the incident, but he knew that the pack wanted him to be leader instead of the "old fart" currently in charge.

Today was the day, at nightfall the alpha was stepping down, and a new leader would be chosen. This new leader would be the change Mason would use to decide whether or not he should leave. The yearling, on the other hand, Nehalem was nowhere to be found.

Once Mason and Scion got closer to the main den, where the decision would be made, a friend of theirs came up to them.

"Hey! Well, if it isn't the two honeymooners. You guys sleeping in the same bed together yet? Haha." Drago teased.

"I'm working on it." Scion whispered to Drago with a paw covering the right of his mouth so that Mason wouldn't hear it.

"You both are retards…" Mason said with a serious face.

"Yeah, in all seriousness… Mason has been hanging with Hamoura!" Scion said with an up-lifting spirit.

"Wow, Mason, are you really moving on?"

"It's what Katja would want…" Mason said.

"That's not all she wanted…" Scion whispered to Drago.

"I will kick your face in Scion if you don't shut it…" Mason said angrily, while Drago and Scion were both smiling and having a good time.

Scion closed his mouth and the three walked over and joined a few others as they sat and patiently waited on the edge of the small crowd that listened to the soon to be retired pack alpha speak.

It was nearing night now, and an address from the former pack alpha would be what everyone was waiting for.

The event got the attention of the entire pack, plus all orbiting sub-packs. Some traveling over 20 miles just to attend this meeting. It's been nearly 5 years since the pack alpha was chosen, and this time it was a huge turnout, with 183 wolves from many different packs and counting.

The pack operated somewhat democratically, a few of the best wolves who thought they had a chance, were said to address the pack and try and get their approval. All members of the pack would then vote on who they chose.

"I know in the past months… Some of you have heard rumors… Some of you believe that I am no longer fit to run this pack, and I am not here to disagree with any of you. I am nearing 9 years of age, and now it seems that only my spirit is in a fighting stance, while my wisdom continues to build."

The entire forest lay silent as the wise old wolf spoke out his words with such depth and meaning that his speech alone caused a few wolves to regret ever doubting his abilities.

"We will choose a new leader today… And I will guide him as his advisor, a role that I am more than happy to play…"

Nobody made a sound… All eyes were locked on the old wolf as he stepped down and whispered to another wolf that stood beside him.

It was so silent that when a certain wolf chose to show his face again, everyone turned and stared at him, Nehalem.

"Nehalem… What in the hell do you think you're doing here?" The alpha yelled.

"You were banished last month… Never to return again. Do not make me send my guards after you." He added.

Nehalem did not say a word, but continued to walk up the ledge and came to a stop ten feet from the old wolf.

"Go ahead and try me old man…" Nehalem snarled.

"Guards… Seize him!" The alpha did not hesitate to command.

Three wolves came armed with teeth and claws planning to destroy Nehalem, but he just sat and smiled.

"Oh man, this should be fun to watch." Scion nudged to Mason on his left.

"Haha, yeah…" Mason replied, though in the back of his mind, he sensed something terribly wrong…

"Something is wrong here… Scion, I have to go… I need to check on Siku."

"Fine, Mason. But you're going to miss some action!" Scion said.

Mason turned just as he heard a loud roar emit from Nehalem… No… Behind Nehalem.

"Your time is done Old man!" Nehalem said, and with it, a huge shockwave seemingly came from nowhere and knocked everyone off of their feet.

Demonic laughter came from the dark forest beyond and dozens of demon-controlled wolves came from the trees, completely hidden. The pack erupted in screams coming from mothers as their children were killed by them…

Children, pups, anywhere from newborns, to as old as a year, were brutally killed off as it was the main objective Nehalem had set into place.

Nehalem smiled as the pack alpha watched in horror in front of him. The guards jumped Nehalem now, and with a single snap, they died instantly. Nehalem had the aid of a supernatural being and in order to fulfill his physical duties, Nehalem needed a pack of worthy soldiers.

This, unfortunately for the pack, meant that all children and other weak members of the pack would be killed…

Everything happened so fast, to Mason, the world around him slowed. He watched, one mother cried out for her child, but only just then did Mason watch her child get ripped in half a few seconds earlier… Mason panicked, and looked at Scion.

"We need to get out of here!" Mason yelled.

All three of them ran off now, joining another dozen or so who were lucky to escape, but it wouldn't matter. Seven of Nehalem's wolves quickly ran infront of them, and began growling at them, not attacking, but still not permitting anyone to leave.

A voice came from all of them, and it resonated, seemingly originating from each one's mouth that never moved.

"You are all to return to Nehalem to be judged, whether or not you live is his decision."

They repeated this many times, as one wolf tried to escape, he was killed by the demons.

Mason and Scion agreed along with the others, and turned back to the den.

Nehalem stood now, on his perch, right next to the former pack alpha as he stared with tears in his eyes at the event that just unfolded before him.

Nehalem looked over the now, re-forming pack of wolves before him. He counted 120 or so. 60 of them were either children, or too weak for his plans.

Many of them were barking mad and growling at the demons, while others just cried at the loss of a loved one, or simply in shock at the event.

Nehalem waited a few more moments as a last group of 4 wolves were forcefully returned to the pack now.

"You see what happens when you defy me… Things are going to change. This is my pack now, you are all my slaves. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Stick with me, and follow my teachings, and you will be forever rewarded by the great and all-powerful.

Amarok…"

Just then, Mason growled and stared Nehalem down.

"Mason… Stop… Stop man, you don't want to get killed…

Present-day

Eventually there was only bone left, Kodi had barely touched the second leg, but he was more than satisfied with this meal.

He stood and walked over to join Mason as he sat at the cave face.

"You seem distressed?" Kodi asked.

"Siku… I hope she's safe in this storm." Mason sighed at the end.

"We can only hope… She'll make it back in no time, and with my dad and the others protecting her, she'll be just fine" Kodi assured him

"She really loves you, you know?" Mason said.

"I love her the same… And I know you love her too…" Kodi said hinting to Mason.

"How did you know already?"

"Figured. Plus you guys do look remarkably similar, also you're a 4 year old wolf that is "friends" with a wolf pup…"

"Haha, yeah… I suppose it isn't that hard to tie together… Wait, do you really see my resemblance in her?" Mason asked curiously.

"Of course. You guys are both small for wolves, that's one give-away."

Mason growled slightly and lowered his head.

Kodi instantly realized the mistake in saying that, but chose to move along.

"I can only imagine… Siku said that she was abandoned by her parents when she was a month old… I can only imagine being forced to leave your daughter behind, and then you finally find her a year later…" Kodi sighed. "And then she runs off yet again." Kodi said as he placed a paw on Mason's shoulder.

"How did you know I was forced to leave her?" Mason asked. Kodi saw his eyes begin to water, but he knew a man does not cry without a good reason, and chose to respect it by ignoring it.

"You're a good man Mason. I can tell. I know you wouldn't leave your daughter unless someone or something literally ripped you away from her." Kodi said with a keen voice.

Mason sat quiet for a while now, both of them staring out into the rain in front of them. Kodi perked his ears as Mason began to speak.

"It was... Terrible… Siku was just a month old… My little girl... The look on her face when I told her to run... To leave me behind." Mason struggled to say.

"Go on. I'm listening." Kodi turned to him and Mason turned away now, hiding tears.

"Those… Demon assholes…"

Mason, Flash-back. Siku plays a game.

Nehalem was talking to the former leader, surprisingly in a non-aggressive sort of way, as if he was asking to become the next leader.

Mason stood there shaking his head; he saw many of the demons leave in search of there that may have tried to run.

"Siku..." Mason said to himself.

"Mason... You can't do it... Siku is safe, don't worry! The demons won't even find-"

Just then both of the focused on a scream that came from another pack of four or so wolves that the demons have brought back...

"Oh no... Sis!" Scion yelled out.

"I'm fine! Mason! It is safe and sound! Hidden behind the place where we first kissed!" She yelled out in an encrypted form so that the demons didn't catch on.

"Wait, kissed?" Scion asked.

"Yeah, uh, me and your sister had a thing years ago." Mason said.

"Huh..." Scion said with his mouth open.

"Scion I have I get to Siku..."

"How the hell are you going to do that?" Scion questioned.

"Do something crazy?"

Scion was already shaking his head, ready to talk Mason out of it, but mason was already gone...

Scion watched as mason jumped up and launched at Nehalem, successfully knocking him down the ridge - a full 20 foot drop - and landed on Nehalem, using his body to soften the fall for himself.

Everyone was silent, as Nehalem stopped moving now, dust cleared from the two, all staring at Mason as he stood over Nehalem's motionless body, breathing heavily. Cheers could be heard, and mason used this time to run off. The demons did not chase him, seemingly lost their own consciousness and returned to normal. Mason was already gone, but Scion got a first-hand account on the transformation.

One wolf, one that actually hit Scion just earlier, fell to the floor and began to shake his head. He instantly began to apologize to everyone and had tears in his eyes.

"What the hell...?" Scion thought.

"Hey, guy! What's going on here?" Scion asked, but the wolf did not reply, instead he ran off into the forest, panicking and crying a bit, traumatized at the deeds he was forced to do and had to watch, trapped, a prisoner of his own mind.

Mason had only one thing on his mind - to get to Siku - and he was not going to stop running until he got to her hiding place.

Everyone that surrounded the pack den, Nehalem and the former pack alpha, we're in tears. Nehalem had sent his wolves out and killed their children, and he was not going to get off easy.

A group of wolves were growling, furious, and ready to tear apart the unconscious wolf. Drago and Scion joined them, and ran to Nehalem's body.

Right before any of them touched Nehalem, a huge explosion ten feet above knocked everyone back, burning a few of those unluckily enough to be closer.

Nehalem was being protected by Amarok.

Nehalem shot his eyes open and jumped up, obviously furious, as he began to look around for the one who attacked him.

"Where is he!" Nehalem roared, and the entire pack fell silent. His voice seemed to be on loudspeaker, amplified by each and every one of his wolves.

"Speak! Where is the one is called Mason!"

Nobody said a word.

"Fine... I guess I'll have to knock it out of you all!"

And with a few commands, every controlled wolf surrounded the pack and threatened to kill them off.

Scion looked at one wolf that he recognized. The demons had taken his wife away and were going to kill her.

"Wait! Not my wife!" He spoke out, and turned to Nehalem.

"I know where he ran off to!" The wolf added

"Oh shit..." Scion thought to himself. He recognized the wolf as a friend of his sisters and he knew where mason was, and where Siku was hiding...

"Good..." Nehalem said as he walked up to him.

Within seconds, fifteen of Nehalem's wolves ran off in the direction Mason was going.

"Oh man Mason, you better run..." Scion thought as he considered jumping the three wolves that were guarding him to go and help Mason.

Mason was tirelessly looking around the small den near the waterfall. Him and Scion's sister dated a year ago, and shared their first night, and their first kiss here, among "other things".

"Siku!" Mason whisper-yelled.

"Papa?" Siku answered in her tiny voice.

She emerged from a thick bush on the other side of the shallow stream.

Mason smiled and ran to her.

"Siku..." Mason didn't want to scare her, so he chose not to tell her the truth that she was in real danger.

Mason opened his mouth to speak, but he heard howling and barking from behind him. The demons were here to get him, to take him away, and he knew it. Taking Siku and trying to run away would not work as they'd easily track him down, and in the process, most likely kill Siku... Mason had to think.

"Papa? Why are you sad?" Siku asked the same question again... Bringing tears to Masons eyes. He looked at Siku, and thought for a split second...

"Siku! Lets play a game." Mason said with a staggering voice, as he was sure he'd never see her again.

"I want you to run along the stream, as far, and as fast as you possibly can. Pretend like I'm a scary monster that's going to eat you!" Mason said with an intimidating growl.

Siku playfully laughed and growled back.

"Run now Siku. I will give you a head start... I love you."

Siku stopped her playful jumping, and she seemingly got smart. She heard the wolves approaching, saw the pure terror in his father's eyes, and noted him saying that he loved her in a voice full of despair and pure fear. She knew she was in trouble.

"I love you too papa! I will run... Run as far as I can and as fast as I can."

Mason smiled at her as a single tear rolled down his muzzle.

"Good... Go now!" Mason shouted.

Siku nodded and ran, ran like she never ran before. She got to the edge of another waterfall and took a second to stop and look back. Mason sat there, not watching her, but watched as the wolves emerged from the tree-line and surround him. Siku cried at the sight, but remembered her word. She would try to get as far away as possible, and with that thought, she jumped down the waterfall, 50 feet to land in deep cool water. Luckily, she knew how to swim. She got back on land and started running again. Not knowing where she was going, as long as it was away from that place, away from danger... Away from her father.

Mason closed his eyes as he knew what was next for him. He'd be executed on the spot, and he wasn't going to try and fight off fifteen over-powered demon wolves.

He waited, as they surrounded him, growling, snarling, some taking snaps at him, but they weren't biting or fighting.

He looked around now, as a few of the wolves moved to let Nehalem through.

"Ah, Mason? Is it?" Nehalem asked.

Mason did not reply.

"I did not enjoy your little attempt at being a hero back there..."

Mason continued his silent stare as Nehalem circled around him.

"I could snap my fingers and have these guys tear your skin off first, then break bones later, but instead, I've got a job opening I suggest you'd take upon. I could use a wolf with your... Spirit." Nehalem chuckled, he had the face of pure evil, and in this light he even looked more like a Jackal rather than a wolf.

Mason matched his stance to Nehalem's, "I'll never work for you..." He kept a mean state into Nehalem's own eyes, considering trying to kill him right now.

"You don't have a choice... Not if you want your little girl to continue her game. Perhaps I should send a few wolves to go and "play" with her." Nehalems smile never resided.

Mason growled in frustration, but ended it and looked to the ground at his feet.

He was defeated.

And now, the tale of how Siku was separated has been told. This chapter was pretty much dedicated to Mason and Kodi, although you also got to learn about the history behind the supposed "evil" wolf pack. The relationship/connection between Mason and Kodi is important, and will come into play pretty soon.