chap_10
Addressing the chronological failure:
FIX: Siku is the same age, 11 months. Kodi is a little younger, considering that I doubt Jenna birthed him the night of the serum run (but I don't doubt they "created" Kodi that night :DDD). Siku was a pup, at four weeks, when she followed Balto thinking he was her dad, and witnessed him and Jenna fight off the bear from the first movie. THERE. EVERYTHING FIXED WITHOUT CHANGING TOO MUCH!
Balto, first person. Home.
Balto, Jenna, Siku and Steele walked along the outskirts of town with the storm behind them starting to pick up now, and a light downpour began to wash over. The light over town was a low, dark blue color, bright enough to still be considered day. The lazy town of Nome still had its few busy bodies, briskly walking from building to building, saying hello to everyone, as everyone knew everyone. Kids were outside still, playing in the now- melting snow, with their respective parents scolding them to come inside. It was still a bit dangerous to be outside during a large storm when it was still this cold.
The end of the storm could not be seen as far out into the Bering Sea, no break in the cloud cover either. In a time before satellite imagery, nobody in Nome knew just how crazy a storm that they would have to endure, for it was one that could easily destroy and flood the entire valley.
Balto looked to Jenna and smiled. Jenna didn't see him, but she felt his kiss on her cheek. Jenna blushed a bit, but did the same a second later, followed by a bit of licking.
"Jeez guys, get a room..." Steele muttered.
"Maybe later..." Balto said with a laugh.
"Ugh, Balto..." Jenna said, then joined him with a light chuckle.
Siku kept silent, but she seemed to be thinking hard.
"Siku? Something wrong?" Jenna asked. She seemed to instantly detect the other female in distress, when neither Steele nor Balto would have caught on.
"Uh, nothing... Just worried about Kodiak..." Siku replied.
"Kodi? You worried about Kodi... He takes after me, remember? A simple bite wound won't stop that kid!" Balto said, more for Jenna and himself.
All stay quiet for a few seconds, and continued their walk, with Balto still showing how happy he was that Jenna was safe. Every few steps, he'd look at her and smile, sometimes with Jenna returning it, sometimes she missed it. Either way, it made Siku think a lot. Think about Kodi, if she really loved him, or was she just lonely? She went with the first one. She did feel good just being in Kodi's presence, then again, she also felt the same way around Balto.
"I really do love Kodi, it seems." She thought. How would their future be like? How responsible of a life-long mate would Kodi be?
"He's a sled dog! One of the most respected of the team, and even made it to lead dog! He's obviously responsible." She continued to reason with herself.
Siku looked up now, just as Balto snuck another kiss to Jenna. She seemed more or less annoyed by it, but she still smiled.
There was pure love between these two, and Siku often wondered if she would ever find love like that.
"You know... You and Balto make an adorable couple. If I didn't know any better, I would have though you were two yearlings falling in love." Siku bleeped out of nowhere, earning direct eye-contact from them.
Balto and Jenna smiled back at her.
"Yeah, well. Jenna isn't exactly that hard to love. She is my dream girl, considering I e never dreamt about any girl this beautiful." Balto said.
"I only wish to be able to find love like the love you two share. Kodi is great and all..." Siku cut herself off. She didn't even know what she was trying to say.
"Having second thoughts about this whole love thing?" Jenna asked.
"No, no. I love Kodi... Just... Something else."
Jenna gave a look to Balto, and instantly, he got the message. This was girl talk.
Balto walked ahead, and motioned Steele to walk up. He and Steele sped up ahead to let Jenna and Siku talk.
Jenna smiled at Siku, which helped her think better.
"Everything's happening so fast... Just a week ago I was all alone... Then Kodi comes all out and tells me he loves me, next thing you know, he almost gets himself killed." Siku paused.
"Kodi is a good kid. I should know, I raised him after-all. What makes you think that he will stop at nothing to make you happy, make sure you're safe... Make sure you're the only thing in his world worth living for?" Jenna talked to Siku with strong words. She knew how love was, but if there was a problem Siku had with their relationship, there wasn't much she could say. She'd have to talk to Kodi on her own.
"The only problem I have is Dusty. Kodi and she were mates... But I feel like he left her for me, and that just isn't right..."
"Oh her? No no. I'm sure for a fact that Dusty wanted to break it off with Kodi. If they ended it, it was on Dusty's terms."
"Well, she isn't exactly around to ask..." Siku said.
"Yeah... Poor girl. It's been over a week and Kaltag still asks people if they seen her."
"Another thing you should note, dogs are different than wolves. We do mate for life, but early on, like humans, we can "try out" different mates until we find one that is just right. I don't know much about wolf culture, but surely you get a choice at least? Dogs aren't much different.
Siku nodded her head as they walked, still brewing thoughts in her mind. They stay silent for a few minutes.
"I feel like I was forced to say it... Only now have I finally been able to think with a clear mind... I'm not sure if I really love Kodi, or did I just say that because he was on the brink of dying in front of me..."
Jenna smiled and looked at her.
"You love him."
"I really can't be sure unless I can talk to dusty first..."
Jenna and Siku watched as Steele playfully shoved Balto, and overheard their laughter. They seemed to get along now and were sharing a funny story, meanwhile Jenna and Siku continued walking in silence.
"Ah... Young love... You guys are only a year old!" Jenna said.
"Most wolves find a mate when they're two." Siku added in a low tone.
"It appears that dogs move a little faster then... We usually find mates as young as 7 months." Jenna said, putting a different tone on the word "mates".
"Yeah, well... I've already learned how to be a dog, I walk with dogs, I play with dogs, and I fight against wolves. I might as well start young like a dog too." Siku said.
"Yeah, and don't wolves usually go in heat around spring time?" Jenna said with a dirty smile.
"Wow, Jenna!" Siku laughed.
Balto and Steele turned back as Siku said "wow! Jenna!" Then they both laughed, at what? Neither Steele nor Balto would ever know.
Steele was just telling Balto about the time when he tripped chasing him and slid into a pile of barrels. They both laughed about it, followed by yet another apology from Steele.
Eventually the rain started to really fall, and the four were forced to run now to the boat, which was another half mile or so away.
When they reached it, Balto nodded to Doc and the rest of the dogs put on sentry, as they retreated to the lower deck.
"Man... I never thought I'd be here..." Steele said as he lay down next to the doorway.
"Come on in Steele, you don't have to keep watch." Balto offered.
"Nah, I'm fine. You guys get your rest." Steele said.
Balto looked to Jenna and Siku, who were already snuggled together.
"Man, Siku really is a sticky little wolf." Balto smiled at his thoughts. Siku really seemed to stick to him, Kodi and Jenna a lot.
Balto curled up next to Jenna and licked her nose before turning over. Jenna smiled and lay on his back, both fell asleep quickly. Siku, on the other hand, had a problem...
The storm was really pouring, causing the sentries and Doc to hide in the drivers' box of the boat. They couldn't see anything at night and through the thick downpour anyway. A huge flash of lightning was accompanied by a loud crash, and roar of thunder. Siku jumped and began whimpering, hiding her face in-between Jenna and Balto.
Balto opened his eyes and watched Siku as she really struggled to keep still. Her body was shaking, her fur was standing up along her back, and she was making a high pitch whimper.
"Siku?" Balto asked.
"I don't like thunder..." Siku said quickly.
"Aw, it's okay..." Jenna said half-asleep.
"You... Afraid of thunder?" Balto asked.
"Ever since I was little."
"Well, isn't that cute." Jenna said.
"Hey... I-" Siku began to argue, but jumped and barked at another thunder clap.
Jenna chuckled and offered to comfort her, but she shook her head and instead, walked over to the other side of Balto and snuggled with him. Balto shrugged his shoulders and looked at Jenna, who smiled back and lay her head down. Balto and Jenna found it cute that the same wolf who took down a bear, saved Kodi, and killed another wolf, was afraid of a little thunder.
Balto yawned, he looked to Jenna and smiled, then to Steele, who nodded back, then down at Siku, who was huddled in fear, before he thought about Kodi. He hoped he would be safe, but Balto was still happy for Jenna's return, and admittedly, happy for Siku's return. For the first night in the past few days, he could sleep, and sleep easy.
Balto would sleep easy, but he was going to meet someone for the first time.
Balto's dream, first person. The meeting.
I could feel... Nothing, not even a floor under my paws. I was floating... Floating where? I could not see anything either.
I heard a voice come from my left.
"Balto..."
I turned to the source of the sound; it was a barely audible whisper, scary, almost.
"Come towards me..." Continued the whispering leading off to an echo.
"Siku?" I asked, but once again, no sound came from my mouth.
At this point I was all too familiar with what this was, but I didn't know where this was.
I followed the voice, and somehow ended up floating towards it, the lyrical whisper from someone that I could only identify as female, and nothing more.
I began to slowly fall and finally reached a flat surface, but the ground I was standing on seemed invisible. Two new canines formed before me; Jenna and Siku.
"Oh no, what is this now?" I asked.
"Choose one to fight by your side..." I heard the same whispering entity say.
"W- what will happen to whom I don't choose?"
I was given no reply.
I gulped then looked at the two. Both Siku and Jenna were blankly staring at me, following my moments with their pupils, and not a single other form or indication that they were actually living beings.
On both sides, I had to think of. Siku was a great fighter, and I did not want to lose Jenna. On the other hand, I'd stick by Jenna's side through the end, and I know she will do the same...
I made my decision and walked over and sat in front of Siku. She slowly blinked and moved her tail, seemingly coming back to life. She began breathing heavily and shaking her head, then began to say something. I watched Jenna's form disintegrate to the left of Siku, and closed my eyes in shame, but I knew Jenna would understand.
"Balto?" Siku asked as if I she wasn't sure it was real either.
"Yeah... I-"
I was cut off as the entire world changed views, and I found both me and Siku a few feet above the ground as we were literally thrown out Ito the wild. Both me and Siku hit the ground and rolled a bit, luckily the surface was a deep, untouched 2 feet of white snow.
The setting around me seemed familiar. We were in a forest somewhere, nothing that I could recognize directly though. Familiar trees rose high above and branched out into the canopy above, the snow between my paws a familiar cold and melting now. Once again, this entire place reminded me of home.
"Ouch... They could have given us a softer landing..." Siku said as she licked her forearm.
"Where are we?" She added.
"I have no idea... I can't really detect anything familiar." I said as I sampled the air.
"I smell wolves!" Siku said fast and scared.
"I smell them too... They're getting closer."
"Uh oh... We should go..." She suggested.
I nodded in agreement, and we started to run in the opposite direction. Siku ran ahead and I looked back to make sure we weren't being followed, not watching where I was going, I crashed into Siku, who stopped herself because of what was in front of her. My jaw dropped as I took in the scene before me.
We seemed to have entered the den of a wolf pack, thirty or so, with one big, and not exactly friendly looking wolf standing above them all. Not only was he, but the entire pack staring at us.
"Oh crap." I muttered.
Siku whimpered and turned to run away, but two wolves jumped in front of her and started growling. I expected Siku to whimper and run to my side for safety, but she was apparently full of surprises.
Faster than I could comprehend, she jumped both and started an all-out fight to the death with them. I watched for a second as Siku ripped one wolfs neck off, then, not only ten seconds later, flipped the other wolf and killed him too. I stood there dumbstruck as Siku stared back at me with blood still dripping from her mouth. One hell of a fighter indeed.
A few more wolves came now, and this time I joined Siku in fighting them, but something went wrong, Siku froze right before she even touched one of the wolves. He did not even flinch as he knew what happened.
"Siku?" I asked, but I would not get a reply.
I turned now, to the apparent Alpha-wolf of the pack, who only stared me back down.
"What did you do to her!?" I yelled.
"She is fine; I only asked one of my slaves to keep her still." The wolf responded.
"Your wolves stepped in our way... Release her and we will move on. Nobody needs to fight now..." I tried to reason.
"I'm afraid that cannot happen."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"You know me Balto. Jenna, Siku, Steele, Kodi, and even Aniu knows who I am." He replied.
"How do you know them?" I asked quietly.
He did not answer, but only smiled.
"I also remember... Rosie..." He added with a devious smile.
"Nehalem..." I said under my breath.
"Yes."
I instantly growled and launched at him, releasing the rage that was built up over the past week. I ran and jumped past the other wolves, who just sat still watching, and armed my teeth, ready to kill. I was just five feet away as I felt a click, and with it, lost all control of my body. It fell limp to the ground, and something else began to drive me, putting me in a sitting position in front if Nehalem.
"So, now that that's over with... I'd like to talk." Nehalem said with a smile. He commanded the demons to release me. A green spirit left through my right ear and shot toward the sky, and I fell to the floor, panting frantically. I got up and continued growling, but held back this time.
I stared him down with pure hatred in my eyes, as he stood there just smiling back.
"Now, I've got a bit of a proposition that you'd be interested in hearing." Nehalem said.
I did not respond.
"Speak wolf dog!" Nehalem yelled.
But I continued my stare. He stared back now, ending his smile, as he tried to decipher my thoughts.
"Your boy. Kodiak, isn't it? He is not back home safely with momma, isn't he?"
I stayed silent.
"What if I were to... Pay him and Siku's father a visit?"
"No...What do you want?" I asked, not breaking my stare.
"My slaves tell me everything, Balto. That you've got sentries at far ends of the forest, that you've rigged various alarm systems... You're preparing for something…" He continued to circle me now, and came to a stop in front of me.
"You're preparing for a war." He added with a flat face.
I did not respond.
"Why?" He asked.
"We will fight. You've killed our people... An innocent little girl! Then you kidnapped my wife!" I yelled and launched at him, but he simply hit me aside. I flipped over and tried to stand up, already feeling woozy, and jumped at him again. This time he stepped to the side, causing me to fall over the twenty foot drop and hit a pile of rocks pretty hard.
I held back cries of pain as blood started pooling in my mouth, having hit my muzzle pretty hard. I tried to stand, but fell, and discovered that I was also dealing with a broken front paw from the landing. I was still pissed, determined to kill this wolf right now, but that would be difficult to do in my current state. It didn't matter though.
Nehalem laughed and called for the demons to take over my form. Once again, I tried to fight it off, but it was a futile effort. They forced me to stand, then walked me all the way up, and around the cliff side back to Nehalem's perch. Each step causing a huge burst of pain that I was unable to express. I was a mindless zombie walking back to the top of where I jumped off of. The demons returned me to a sitting position in front if Nehalem and then released me. I instantly hollered in pain at my broken wrist that the demons carelessly forced me to walk on, but I fought it off and stared back at Nehalem.
"I can see you aren't in a talking mood, so I'll make this quick."
"There does not need to be a war. You're the one we want, you're the god child of Aniu, you're the human sympathizer, and you're the disgraceful wolf hybrid with tainted husky blood. Turn yourself over and your family, your town, everything else, will live on."
He proposed a tempting offer. To sacrifice myself just for the well-being of Jenna, not to mention everyone else I love.
"How can I trust you?"
"You're still alive aren't you?" Nehalem replied instantly.
"So why not just end it now? Why not just kill me while your demons can hold me still..."
Nehalem smiled and pointed his nose to the sky.
The sun disappeared and the sky became pitch black, without a single star.
"This is your world Balto. Turn yourself in right now, before sunrise."
I opened my mouth to speak, but something hit my head, seemingly knocking me back into reality.
Balto, first person. Late night talk
"Holy crap it was a dream..." I thought, but this time it wasn't as much of a surprise.
Nehalem's message was clear... Even if it was only a dream, he seemingly knew everything about our precautions; he knew how to easily sneak into the town... He knew that Kodi was stationed with Siku's father...
I sat up now and looked at the people around me. Siku and Jenna were closer together, since I was obviously not the most peaceful sleeper. Two dogs from the sentry group were taking their shift off and sleeping down the hallway. I looked at where I saw Steele sleep, he was no longer there.
"Must have gone home to sleep, hardwood floor must be uncomfortable to a dog that's used to sleeping on a mattress..." I smiled at the thought.
I was proud of Steele. While nobody else ever saw it, I always knew he had good in him somewhere, like... It was my responsibility to unlock his true potential.
(Yes this is a reference to The Cool Kat's: Heritage of the wolf 3: Salvation. :)
I sat up and yawned, it was still night, and would probably be for another few hours. I looked around the room that I've slept in as long as I could remember. Boris was sleeping on the deck below. I didn't want to wake him, but I needed to talk to someone. I smiled as Siku whimpered in her sleep with Jenna sleeping like a log next to her. Siku was obviously having a nightmare like I did; she resembled me when I was dealing with terrible things in my sleep. Her tiny legs were tossing around trying to free her from something that she could never escape. I thought about comforting her, maybe try Boris's technique and sing a soothing song in Russian. Ha, like that was going to happen. I stood, but Siku seemed to get over it, and finally was able to stay still and sleep peacefully.
"Good job, you fight off those monsters." I thought with a smile.
As I turned to the hall to the left and peered outside, I noticed something.
The storm seemed to have calmed down, and stopped raining.
I heard a noise from outside, quietly and stealthy, I walked out to meet it. Out on the main deck, I saw Doc and one other dog in the drivers' box, with one keeping an ever vigilant watch. He would have to watch for any suspicious activity along this side of the forest, or watch for signals from the other various sentry teams along the forest two miles east.
I nodded to the dog keeping watch as Doc slept. I turned my attention to the lower main deck, the first with direct access to the ground via a ramp. I recognized his smell before I saw him, Steele, as he sat out on the edge of my boat, in the same spot I've sat in for years. I smiled at the sight; he seemed to be peering out into town just like I would.
"Enjoying the cool breeze?" I asked quietly.
"Morning Balto." Steele replied without turning.
"So it looks like the storm has died down?"
"I suppose so."
"What are you doing up so early anyway?"
"Couldn't sleep." Steele replied in a low tone.
"Nightmares?" I asked.
"No, just." Steele replied.
This was an odd experience. Steele seemed to be struggling to speak, as if he wasn't the over-confident dog I've known for years. For once, I was in a better position to comfort him. And again, odd experience indeed.
I walked up next to him and smiled at him, but he turned his face away.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked in the best possible way I could think of and still come off as "macho" to better match Steele's apparent mentality.
Steele didn't reply, but returned his face to its earlier position, staring out into the town beyond. His muzzle was damp with tears...
"Oh great, now Steele isn't an overly-masculine-dog, he's just a crying pup now..." I thought.
I'd still try to comfort him though.
"Uh... Something in your eye?" I said, and instantly wanted to hit myself for such a stupid statement.
Steele stayed quiet for a while, and I turned now to stare out to the town of Nome just like he did.
"You know you're living the dream, Balto..." Steele finally responded.
"Great, so that's what you're sad about? Jealousy? Self-pity?" I said harshly.
"Don't do that shit to me... Where's the Steele I used to know?" I added.
"I know... But it's not... That..." Steele replied in an annoyed voice.
"Then what are you crying for?" I asked quickly.
"I'm not exactly crying..."
"Okay... Why the manly tears, then?" I said with a smile."
"That's better. Heh, I would have killed someone if they saw me crying before..."
"And that's what it is. For years I've just been... Me! It's... All I know... Now I've seen how horrible I was, and I'm supposed to just change and hope that I live a happy life knowing what I used to be? That was me... This isn't." Steele added.
I thought for a bit, while Steele sat silent. I didn't realize how much this troubled him. Sure, he's better now, hell, I'll even consider him a good friend, but something like this... I've never dealt with. How do you change your whole image and mentality and still be "you"?
"So what are you saying?"
"It's nothing. No offense to you, after all this is your boat, but I did kinda come out here at 2 am for a reason..." Steele said as he turned to me and lightly smiled.
I could see the internal struggle in his face, it was cold, emotionless, yet the fur on his muzzle was still moist with fallen tears. I knew this face all too well. It was one that I would have seen if I looked in my reflection anytime during the first three years of my life.
"You want to be alone with your thoughts… I understand." I pat him on his back and turned to walk off.
"You know... I've spent many, many hours in that very same spot, doing the very same thing." I said as I walked off.
"Hey… lobo?" I turned with a smile as he used his name for me.
"What do you want Steele..." I replied playfully in the same matter that I did all those years when he would call me by that name, though, it usually mared the beginning of a fight.
"Do you really think I can change? Do you think I'll find love like you and Jenna share? Do... Do you think I'll even find someone who cares about me? Someone who... Doesn't just care about medals, awards, or, how much I can lift... Do you think I can be... Like you?" Steele asked desperately.
Once again, I got his signal, he really needed someone to talk to, something I needed too when I was in the same condition. I always had Boris to talk to... Meanwhile Steele practically has nobody...
I turned with a smile and walked back to him.
"There's a simple answer to all of that: Hell yes."
Steele chuckled softly and nodded.
"Seriously..." He said.
I still smiled but looked down a bit, focusing on a point on the ground 15 feet below us.
"I always figured you'd turn around. Who knew it took a bear and the white wolf spirit to get it into your thick head for you to see it."
"I suppose so..."
"As for someone who cares about you..."
Steele turned now and looked at me, he knew it.
"Apart from you nearly killing me several times... I've always felt like we shared a bond. Like... A brotherly bond. If you we're ever in real trouble, you know I would spring into action and save you, even if just a few seconds later you were trying to kill me off. I care about you. Jenna cares about you. Your owners care about you. Man, when I saw the looks on their faces as they thanked me for saving you... Not to mention the pure happiness they had when you recovered from your injuries..."
"Yeah... They were the only ones who I could turn to that night when you saved the town... Oh god those kids would have... I thank you personally, for kicking my ass and saving those children..." Steele laughed a bit at the end and playfully shoved my shoulder.
I let out a long yawn that meant my body needed to sleep, but I could not sleep now.
"Gettin' tired there?" Steele asked.
"I can't sleep... Steele, I had another dream..."
"Oh great, what is it this time..."
"I met Nehalem..." I stopped myself before saying more.
I wanted to keep Nehalem's little deal for me to turn myself over a secret.
"Really? What did he say?"
"Not much." I lied.
"I met him too, got to sit in on one of his monumental speeches. This guy really hates dogs!" Steele explained, saying "monumental speeches" funny.
"Yep, and he hates wolf dogs even more."
Steele seemed to say something, but we were interrupted by loud thunder rolling in from the sea.
"Balto?" I heard Doc call from the other side of the boat.
"What's up?" I replied as Steele and I turned to talk to the three dogs before us.
"Looks like the storm from earlier has an older brother. Frank here thinks it's a category two. We will have to bunker down in the lower decks, is there room to accommodate us all?"
"Yes, there is, but if Frank happens to be a meteorologist, it sounds like we'd be better off somewhere where the roof and walls aren't already falling apart..." I replied.
"Alright then, in that case, I recommend we keep safe in the old mill. Frank volunteers to keep watch through the storm. Who's to say the wolves don't have a plan to invade during a hurricane?"
"Good man, Frank."
He nodded in reply. I think he looked like a Samoyed. That's kinda rare.
"You three go on, I'll wake Siku, Jenna and Boris."
"Very well." Doc replied.
He shot a look at Steele, still not exactly on good terms with the dog after he nearly killed off half the population of Nome. Steele lowered his head in apologetic response, but after everything that's happened, obviously Doc was not nearly as forgiving as Balto.
"I'll uh, stick with Balto." Steele awkwardly replied.
"Maybe it's for the better..." Doc muttered under his breath.
I jumped down a deck to where Boris slept, and woke him, warning him of the impending hurricane we might be facing. I still wanted to talk to him, but now was not the time.
Then, down a singular short hallway into the main room where we slept. Jenna and Siku were still snuggled up, with Siku ending up lying on her back, paws in the air, but still deep asleep as ever.
I looked at Steele and smiled.
"They're so adorable, I can't wake them..." I said.
"Oh come on..." Steele replied.
"Balto... Lets just take our chances here. That Frank guy obviously seems to think that he can man this storm, why can't we?"
I got it instantly.
"Okay fine, you still don't want to go into town... Big baby." I replied.
"Yes. And Doc doesn't seem too friendly..."
"Well... In his defense-"
"I know what I did damnit." Steele cut me off.
I yawned again and finally agreed with Steele. I returned to my spot next to Jenna and Siku, still sleepy as ever, I plopped down next to the two. It was just us four plus Frank now. Steele finally actually entered the room and chose to lie down on the other corner.
Both me and Steele fell asleep quickly, the rolling thunder soothed me to sleep, and I figured it had the same effect on Steele. Siku on the other hand did not enjoy the hurricanes song.
Kodi and Mason, trouble comes a-knockin'
I listened to Mason tell his story about Siku's escape, and couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor wolf... I couldn't bear the thought of having Siku leave, and I've only know. Her for a week! This was Masons daughter...
"Ah, well, Kodi... It's getting late. I think I'll lie down now... All this depressing thoughts need to end. Wish I had some liquor..." Mason muttered the last part quietly.
"I'll watch out for a bit, I'm not exactly tired... And what if Siku comes back?"
"Very well then." Mason said as he turned his head over.
The smaller wolf fell asleep quickly. I watched out over the horizon, and guessed it was about 10 pm. The massive storm showed no signs of dying down, and it was really tearing apart the forest. Trees fell; the valley flooded, and in the distance a landslide could be seen on the far mountain beyond the forest. I thought about leaving on my own, but there was no way I would do it in this weather.
Eventually enough time passed, it was probably midnight by now, and I yawned, signifying that I was tired. I sighed and walked over to the other side of the den, and curled up to sleep. My bite wound still hurt when I moved it, but my night would have been spent suffering much worse if Aniu didn't help. I thanked her once again in my mind for that.
I watched Mason as he seemed to be running in his sleep. It seemed like everyone was having nightmares nowadays... But something equally as scary could be heard in real life, something Mason also heard.
A wolf howl.
Both me and Mason instantly perked up, Mason seemed much more worried.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Oh no... This is bad... The north patrol from our pack is here... That's their call signal. I have to answer them and go meet them and hope that they don't smell you..."
"Kodi... You have to run. As soon as I go down to talk to them-". Mason explained, but was cut off by another howl.
"Nehalem..."
"You get the hell out of here Kodi!" Mason yelled as he ran off and out of the cave.
I could sense how worried he was, even though I've only known him for a few hours. I crawled up to the cave face, and noted that through the dark was and heavy winds, not to mention the huge amount of water that dropped in land every second... I was safe from being detected here.
Mason ran quickly past the treeline and met the wolves with a howl. I watched in the distance as he howled and barked at the group of wolves, and decided that now was the time to sneak out. I ran off in the opposite direction, and didn't stop until I came to a river. Thankfully, I recognized it as Mountain Side River, and it leads about ten miles to meet with Snake river, then after that it was another 15 miles...
"Man, I really got far... Or maybe Mason dragged me far..." I smiled at the thought of the smaller wolf pulling me a few miles through the forest.
Nehalem, not a democracy
The pack was silent as they regrouped to hear Nehalem's address to the pack. It's been two years now and almost every day; Nehalem's would speak to the pack, preaching the word of Amarok to the group. It was also in everyone's best interest to listen to him speak, for if something happened and you didn't know what, Nehalem himself would kill you for not paying attention. The pack started with over 90 wolves. Today there was only 30 listening to Nehalem speak.
"Today we are not facing a lone enemy. We are facing a group of simple dogs who think they're safe. They've setup sentries. How clever of them... My second in command, Drakken here, will explain more of what his pack has discovered about our enemy."
The wolves were all silent as they watched Nehalem step aside to allow an equally large, black-furred wolf take a stand.
"You all know me as Drakken. The sniveling pathetic life's that dogs live, are due to the humans! It's all because of the humans. These dogs cannot be saved, but what I suggest is that as much as we want to wipe out all dogs, we also want to kill every single human we possibly can. Contrary to Nehalem's plan; I believe that we should make killing the humans our top priority!"
"Yes. I have spoken with Drakken and his team; they believe that the humans would actually make an easier target for us to fight." Nehalem added
"The key difference is that the humans are oblivious to our existence! The dogs know we are coming, and they've setup plans! Traps! Alarm systems!" Drakken said.
"This pack does not operate as a democracy, but at this time, I believe that our entire pack needs to operate together. We will vote. Humans or dogs as our main target." Drakken added then nodded to the pack before walking up a bit.
"We have eight hours. That's when the sun will rise, and I would hope that a few less humans or dogs will be alive to see it." Nehalem finished bitterly.
Drakken followed Nehalem back to his den, obviously happy that he got to speak. Both wolves entered the den and after Nehalem noted that nobody else was around, he turned on Drakken.
In an instant Nehalem was at Drakkens neck, ready to kill within a split second. Drakken was scared and involuntarily started whimpering.
"Listen here you piece of shit. I let that little contradictory statement of yours pass. Balto and the dogs are our main focus. Humans are a secondary objective!" Nehalem yelled.
"I let it go because you've proven yourself to the pack, but I wanted to kill you right there for defying my word. You think you have the authority to make such decisions?" Nehalem yelled and growled at Drakken, never releasing his death hold on his neck. Drakken struggled to speak, so Nehalem growled in frustration then threw him to the ground.
Drakken was coughing and gagging for air, but eventually found his breath and spoke.
"You can't run this alone... There's been talk. Talk that your motives are no longer the best thing to run off of." Drakken spoke out
Nehalem growled louder and prepared to charge at him, but stopped himself.
"Who? Who has been talking... Kill them off!"
"That's your problem! You run the pack based off of your apparent God-given knowledge and if anyone defies it or suggests otherwise, you kill them! Think Nehalem! Just a year ago our numbers were over 100! Now were down to 30!" Drakken yelled back. He was not afraid of Nehalem, and even walked up to him while he spoke.
Nehalem was pissed, but could not deny the fact that he was right.
He walked up to Drakken now, acting like he understood, instead he had another plan. Within a split second Nehalem bit into Drakken's neck and tossed him aside. He kicked Drakken a few times until he no longer moved...
"Nobody defies my word!" Nehalem snarled as he looked over Drakken who now lied motionless in his own puddle of blood. Nehalem walked out of the den with a devious smile on his face, he stood back on the ledge, overlooking the wolves that were already started on their daily routines and went about their nocturnal day. Nehalem's smile turned into a light demonic laughter as he knew he could run the pack now without any more nagging.