A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you're doing well. Here is the next chapter! Enjoy :)

Chapter 6: Buried In Lies

There's a certain magical feeling when Jenna looks up at the tall, huge pines painted in snow. A smile begins to form on her face as she tilts her head watching the white flurries drip off the leaves.

The bitter cold winds have been harsh, stripping away the bark and outer layers, yet rendering them all the more beautiful. They have the appearance of driftwood, twisting in patterns like waves crashing against the white sand.

She always laughed at the idea of a seashore being a part of something so opposite. Being warm and yet cold. So cold. Snow and sand didn't mix together and yet it did. It was magical. How could two things that make no sense coexist together? Become one with each other? She would never know. The sand never froze over and the snow never melted. They existed. Together. And she didn't understand why.

The sky is an overwhelming black abyss. There's no light except from the snow shimmering against the moon's reflection. It is like a white shiny glitter. Like a million little diamonds appearing when the light touches the surface.

The deep hazel hues shine brightly and she runs further into the woods, feeling the cool snow sink into her paw pads.

She lets a long exhale of air escape her body as she feels herself relax. She rolls her shoulders back as she walks further into the forest. She loved to be alone in the woods with the cool crisp wind rushing through her fur. Making her red and white pelt come to life.

She perks her ears up as she hears the sound of water flowing from deep within the dark depths of the unknown.

The forest was always mystical. It always left an opening for joy or fear. As the trees kept going further and further back, the dirt hidden underneath the snow, there was always a secret lying beneath the woods. Sometimes even if you went beyond your own insecurities and kept walking, you still didn't discover it. And sometimes if you hid from the unknown, all you could do was dream about it.

There was never an answer in nature. Just more and more questions. More secrets. More mystery and magic hidden within the tree trunks, within the glimmering snow. Within the crystal rivers flowing beside silver stones. Beyond what her eyes could see.

Jenna loved to hide herself within the woods. It seemed to be an escape from her friends, her own problems as she let herself get immersed with the beauty that a single snowflake falling from the sky could bring.

She loved getting lost in nature. Lost in colors. She felt a sense of peace reignite all her senses. There wasn't a single soul here. There wasn't a single sound to be heard. Just nature framing a picture that only her eyes could understand.

Moki and Loki scurried quickly out of the den bumping into Balto's legs. Eyes big, tongues out, mouths watering with the promise of food on the way.

Balto's eyes widened as he stumbled, but he pressed his hind leg firm into the ground to regain his balance. He looked up and rolled his eyes when he heard Tala snickering at him.

"Very funny." He retorted casually and felt his lips turn up into a smirk.

She smiled and batted her eyelashes at him before walking out. Food quickly replacing any natural thought.

Mira's jaw dropped open when she saw Tala exit the den she shared with her son. She watched as the tan wolf leaned back on her haunches and arched her back to stretch her spine.

She couldn't contain the shock on her face as she made her way over to the shewolf. Sleeping in another wolf's den, a male wolf, was a sign that those were becoming one with each other. Becoming Mates. And that male wolf just happened to be her son.

"Moki! Loki! Come here!" Tala yelled at her pups when she saw them running past several caves chasing each other back and forth.

Loki stopped suddenly on all fours and slid right into his brother's back. Moki fell over with a squeak as the two became a rolling ball of whites and brown blurs. They turned into a tangled puppy mess of legs, tails, and teeth, poking out in all directions.

Tala couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her boys and sat down at the entrance of the cave keeping an eye on them, but also waiting for Balto to appear. She licked her paw and rubbed it against her ear, when a voice startled her.

"Oh my. Tala…"

Tala's golden eyes widened when she realized where she was and how this would look.

"Mira…uh good morning." She stood up immediately and straightened her posture, giving her a shit eating grin and tucked her tail between her legs, suddenly overcome with nervousness.

"My, I had no idea." Mira simply states.

"About?"

"About you and Balto of course."

"M-me and B-balto?" Tala stuttered over her words, unable to contain the blush heating up under her thick fur.

"Yes. I had no idea. I mean….uh he never told me. Not even a hint to go on for that matter." Mira spoke rather intensely. One of her blue eyes twitched in irritation as yet another secret was revealed in her son's life which she knew nothing about.

"That's because there's nothing to tell." Balto spoke from the shadows, coming out.

Balto didn't miss his mother's glare between him and Tala and he groaned internally.

"Mama, there's nothing going on. Believe me."

Tala flattened her ears against her head without realizing it as she heard the seriousness in his voice.

She couldn't help not thinking about it. She had been lonely for a while now since her mate had died when he was gunned down by a hunter. She couldn't believe when that had happened. She didn't even know how it had happened.

The pack was always so careful and stayed close when they hunted. Akeli had led them into a different part of the territory and her mate hadn't been so lucky. She never understood how that could have happened if the pack was with him. Whenever the pack hunted, two wolves would always pair up so no one was alone. No hunter would attack a wolf surrounded by other wolves. It was code for kill or be killed.

And yet her mate had been shot. And from what she had heard from the rumors, he had been alone. Lost even. It had hurt her to think about it. Her heart ached for him. She still felt like he was close to her. His aura surrounded her every waking minute. But he was gone. The father of her pups was gone. And he has been gone for 3 years now. The pain was still with her, the memory constant, but the loneliness burdened her immensely.

He had been the only wolf to die. He had been the only wolf that had gotten shot. When she had received the news, she couldn't even speak. She didn't even cry or moan through a howl. She stayed silent. And when she told her pups, she held them as they cried and mourned over losing their father. She never did.

She couldn't believe how everything had been planned and was so perfect and then nothing. She had wanted a mate, wanted a family and she was given that. And then it was taken away. She was alone.

No more warmth. No more hope. No more love. Just a mother left alone to raise two pups.

Tala sniffs and refocuses her ears back on the conversation. The glazed look over her eyes fading slowly.

"Oh really? So Tala just sneaks over now? At night?" Mira asks, a slight smirk playing on her muzzle.

Balto scrunches his nose, annoyed and raises an eyebrow at his mother.

"Moki and Loki snuck away from her last night to come find me. She came looking for them and found them here."

Mira's blue eyes stare at him, the blue appearing to shine even more radiantly as a short moment of anger passes through her soul.

"That's it. That's all that happened. Then we fell asleep."

"Not quite." Tala says with a smirk and holds back a chuckle when two yellow orbs shoot over to look at her.

"Oh?" Mira asks with peaked interest.

"Yeah…I didn't sleep. He snores."

Mira stays silent for a moment, looking between the two and then she bursts out laughing. Tala had a way of catching her off guard and she gave back as good as she got.

Tala joins in as she feels the nervous tension leave the air. She laughs harder when she sees Balto's tail flop lazily against his rear. His ears flick with annoyance and he sways his tail back and forth.

"I'm gonna go…" Balto replied uneasily and walked away, still hearing them laughing behind him.

Mira had grown to love Tala as the daughter she never had. And she could tell that Balto had definitely been experiencing new feelings for the lithe golden shewolf.

She was beautiful, smart, and could hold her own ground. Wonderful qualities to have in a mate. But she had heavy weights on her shoulders. A constant painful memory was locked in her eyes and in her heart. Her golden brown eyes always spoke of her sadness and misery at losing a part of her soul. But she wasn't left with nothing.

She had pups. A family. Mira didn't know if her son could step up and take on such a responsibility. Being the alpha alone was such an important responsibility and he hadn't exactly taken to it, yet. But becoming a father? Having a family? She wanted to believe he could, but with how he had been acting lately, so closed off, she didn't know.

Tala's laughter starts to fade as she watches Balto walk away.

"He's so distant."

Mira takes in a shaky breath to compose herself. It felt good to laugh. She hadn't done so in so long that it almost felt new. She looks up at Tala and then back at her son.

"Yes, well…."

"He doesn't even smile anymore. Or even joke. He's so serious all the time." Tala interrupts, pulling her muzzle into a grimace.

"Well he's an alpha now, Tala. He has to keep a level head, be focused so that he can lead the pack and gain their respect."

"I know….it's just I miss him. He used to be fun to be around. Now I worry about what I should say around him, how to act around him…"

"I miss him too. But he'll come back. He'll be his old self again. He just needs to get the pack, his wolves in a row so to speak."

"I think it's ducks." Tala says with a hint of smile and Mira shakes her head, unable to stay serious around her. She had such a warm presence about her that you couldn't help, but smile with her.

"My dear, don't correct your elders."

"Elders? Pfft Mira please….. you look great!" Tala scoffs.

Mira laughs out loud once again caught off guard by Tala's words.

"Yes I'm sure I do. What with my scrawny legs and lifeless complexion."

Tala smiles, trying to keep the worry for her out of her eyes. It was easier to lie than tell the truth. Because the truth was terrifying. The truth was painful. And the truth was brutally honest.

Because in all honesty, Mira looked absolutely terrible.

There was no meat on her bones, just skin stretched over. It didn't stop her veins from poking out from her cheeks, down her neck, and through her legs. Her spine bones could be seen protruding from her frame. Her fur had been falling out, leaving bald spots all over her body. Her veins weren't a normal blue and green color, but rather a pinkish red which stood out in stark contrast against her snow white coat. Her eyes were sunken in, the mystical blues dulled by her lack of energy and life.

"It's not polite to stare."

"Sorry." Tala whispers and hangs her head low, keeping her eyes on her paws, shifting uncomfortable.

"You don't have to worry. I'm not afraid to die."

Tala shoots her head up, her golden eyes wide with panic.

"What! Mira, stop! You're not gonna die….you're not."

"Oh, Tala, you don't sound very convinced." Mira chuckles to herself.

"How can you smile? Joke like that? A..after saying that?"

"I've accepted it. It's my fate. My destiny if you will."

Tala remains frozen in shock, her jaw slightly hung open as she stares at Mira.

"Tala please stop looking at me like I've kicked your pups. Anui has come to me and this is what has been chosen for me."

Tala closes her jaw slowly, her eyes bouncing back and forth like pinballs as she stares at the ground, trying to form her next words. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.

"Why haven't you said anything? Have you told Balto or Akeli?"

"It's hard sometimes to say things that matter. Words will hurt the ones you love the most."

"You haven't told them? Mira…my god. How could you not? How could you wait like this?"

Mira flicks her ears annoyed at Tala's persistent questioning. She wasn't wrong with what she was saying. That's what was annoying.

"Tala, please understand me. I love my sons, but knowing what I know and keeping them in the dark for now has helped me to make p…peace with this myself. I haven't told them yet because I don't know how to start. How do you tell your sons you're going to die soon?" Mira asks, getting choked up, but manages to compose herself.

"So…but….uh you've just told me. Does that mean…I mean am I the first..I mean the only….o…one who knows?" Tala gulps and growls at her inability to form a sentence.

"Well…yes. I guess you are. I did not see that coming." Mira jokes, realizing that Tala is the first person to know. Out of any wolf in the pack, she picked the one who might possibly be screwing her son. The irony wasn't lost on her.

"And you think I did?"

Mira chuckles disheartenedly and sits beside Tala. Tala watches as Mira moves to sit on her haunches with difficulty. Her bones poked out under her skin. Tala felt pity for Mira when she heard her groan in pain. She knew she was getting worse. Everyone knew. The only one who didn't know was Balto.

"Your eyes betray your words. You look at me like everyone else does. With undeniable pity. I remember when I used to walk and my pack would lower their heads in my presence. Now I walk and someone offers to catch me if I stumble."

"Mira…"

"Tala, I don't know why I told you. I don't know why I was so blunt with my words. I guess this was going to slip out of my mouth sometime. And I guess you're the unlucky soul who has to deal with my truth."

"I won't say anything." Tala promises in a firm voice.

Mira looks up at her, feeling her eyes well up with tears. There was a certain gratefulness in telling someone your darkest parts. And Mira knew deep down that Tala was true in her words.

"I know you won't. Perhaps in my foolishness, I have picked the exact right person to tell my truth to." Mira gives Tala a warm smile and presses her body into hers for warmth.

She was always so cold, always shaking. Always feeling so weak inside.

Tala nudges her head against hers and nuzzles her.

"But you must think of Balto and Akeli. They have to know. Especially Balto. You cannot leave your body until he knows."

"There's so much more than just death to be unburied from my mind."

"He's strong. He can handle it. Whatever you have to say, I know he can and he will."

Mira looks up at the tan wolf with admiration in her eyes. At that moment. Tala said the exact words that she needed to hear. She returns the soft nuzzle back.

"Thankyou Tala."

"Good morning, your royal highness." Akeli spat out as Balto walked past him.

Balto flattened his ears against his head. Normally he would have retorted back, but his mother taught him that an alpha has to have a quiet mind and a quiet presence. That alone would make him strong and wise.

A few wolves lounging around on the dirt and on the boulders snickered. Others looked at Balto with peaked interest as the rumbling in their bellies got louder. Some stood up, shaking the dirt out of their belts and walking over to form a group.

He made his way to his perch that allowed him to oversee the entire pack.

It was time to find food. In the mornings they split off in groups to hunt. And it was during this time that decisions were made about who would eat and who wouldn't. A time that Balto despised to his very core.

Mira watched as her son climbed up on his boulder that hung high off the ground. She stood up and walked with Tala to join the group forming underneath the boulder.

Hunger was an undeniable power that couldn't be ignored. No matter how hard they tried.

"Good morning, today we will split off into two groups. I've felt the wind grow even colder so the caribou will want to desert. Don't let them! You must find one. If you find one, it will lead us to the rest." He paused a moment, furrowing his eyebrows as his next words pained him.

He could see the anxious assortment of oranges, greens, blues, and purples staring at him, waiting. He could practically see the drool hanging from their jaws.

"Today, the elders, the omegas, and the little ones will eat."

Murmurs flow throughout the crowd of wolves as anger quickly replaces hunger.

"The elderly wolves ate last time! When will we get a turn?" One brown younger wolf spoke up. He stomped his paw on the ground.

Balto narrowed his eyes at the younger wolf and then glanced over at his mother who was shaking like a leaf next to Tala. She needed to eat and until she did, the elderly ones would always get a turn.

It was selfish of him, but it was his mother. He couldn't help feeling a sense of duty to her. To provide for her needs.

"You will get your turn I assure you, but today the elderly ones will take part in the meal."

"This isn't fair!"

"How come you decide who eats and who doesn't?"

"I'm hungry enough to rip half of you apart!" One huge wolf growls out. His body was a black mass with little touches of grey throughout his coat. His fur was standing all the way to his tail, his eyes turning almost red by how dark the shade of orange was.

A bunch of wolves start growling at eachother and arching their backs as rage takes over.

"He's trying to starve us all!"

Mira exchanges a glance with Tala who winces as she hears the shouts of pure rage against Balto. It wasn't his fault. She knew he hated making these choices. Causing such disruption and hatred in wolves. It wasn't who he was.

Mira brushes past Tala's shoulder as she makes her way up the rocky boulder, hoping her legs won't betray her and show how she was really feeling in this moment.

Finally she manages to muster enough strength to make the climb up and stands behind Balto. She can feel the tension flooding through his entire body and sighs.

How could she leave him when he was so unprepared, so lost, so afraid now? He didn't even know what was yet to come.

"Silence!" Mira yells, almost stumbling from the amount of force she had to put into her voice.

Balto looks back at her, grateful for her presence.

She walks over and stands beside Balto.

"You've heard what your alpha has said, have you not? You know better to question an alpha's decision! You never questioned me this way! How can you show such disrespect to the err of the pack? Has your hatred and foolishness consumed you?"

The murmuring stops immediately and all eyes fell on Mira. Despite how she looked, she held a certain command within her bones. She was once alpha and her presence used to bring obedience. Now it brought worry and pity.

"We are all tired and angry and frustrated with the lack of food, but must we become so unwise that we question our leader and turn on each other? We must stay strong and the only way we can do that is by keeping peace with another and showing respect to our Alpha."

"Show me that you can behave like a pack!" Mira shouts, trying not to feel pride as she realizes her voice and presence still holds power. Even if she was weak and dying.

The whole crowd grew silent and held their tongues. The growling stopped and everyone faced forward, waiting.

"I don't know what I would do without you." Balto whispers in a warm voice.

Mira feels her heart ache when he says those words. What would he do without her? How could he be strong without her? She had to put him in his place.

"A word?" She whispers against Balto as she brushes past him.

Balto looks out over the boulder. His ears perk straight up and his eyes widen as he sees the sudden change take over the pack.

"Balto?"

Balto hears his mothers voice and pulls his eyes away and walks to her.

"You cannot do that." Mira states firmly, her eyes showing no mercy.

"Do what?"

"Become weak and vulnerable in their eyes. You'll never gain their respect or trust if you cower before your pack."

"But…they're all starving Mama. You…are starving. I need them to just listen to me and not become angry at every decision I make."

"Then don't let them. Hold yourself up. Do not let yourself become weak. You're an alpha. You're their leader. They depend on you. You have to be strong for them. Son…you have to be strong for yourself."

"I'm not strong. Not without you."

Balto's words hurt Mira beyond any pain she could ever imagine, but what hurt her even more was what she said next.

"I won't be here anymore…o..one day I mean. You have to learn to rely on yourself. Become strong for yourself. Not for me." Mira whispers, almost saying the very thing that has been burdening her heart and mind for weeks, but she saves herself with stupid, awful words. The truth once again becomes blurry and distant.

"Don't say that. You just need to eat to get your strength back."

Mira doesn't have it in her heart to argue with her son so she just agrees with him, unable to break his heart.

"I suppose so."

The silence grows between them. The wolves watch below, waiting.

"Now be strong. Be wise. Be the alpha I know you can be." Mira nuzzles his head and starts walking down the rocky path.

Balto watches her depart with an overwhelming heaviness in his chest. He closes his eyes for a moment and breathes deeply through his nose.

Be Strong

He opens his eyes and the yellow orbs are ignited with a new sense of power.

"Nyko, you will take the lead of the first group and head into the eastern territory. If you find caribou or even the slightest scent of one, you do not abandon it! You will not desert it. You will not stop until you find a hint of food, do you understand?"

Nyko, the huge black wolf who was threatening the others, stands up and straightens his posture.

Balto picked Nyko despite his unwise actions. He knew Nyko could be depended on and would gladly die for any wolf in the pack, but hunger had a way of distorting the good and turning everything ugly. Even so, Nyko had proved more than once that he was capable and compassionate even though he sometimes had a temper.

"Yes I understand." Nyko's deep voice rumbles out as he speaks up.

"Good. We can only survive if we work together. Now…Akeli."

Akeli looks up at his brother, his amethyst eyes showing his curiosity.

"You will lead the second group into the western territory and…"

"Oh…spare me your Boy Scout speech! Find food? Right? Cause that needs to be said…and here I thought wolves could survive by eating dirt." Akeli taunts, earning laughs from the wolves surrounding him.

Mira's eyes grow dark towards her son once again.

Balto ignores his jest and continues on with what he was saying.

"You will lead the second group into the western territory. And since you already know what I'm going to say, I guess I don't need to warn you about the hunters we've spotted recently in the area. Traps and such. I guess that doesn't concern you?"

Balto smirks when for once the wolves in his pack laugh with him and not at him.

Akeli growls, hearing them laughing. He was caught off guard by his brother's words, not expecting him to speak that way to him. He sees Mira smile proudly at Balto out of the corner of his eye and his anger boils towards her.

"Why didn't you tell Nyko about the hunters, hmm?" Akeli asks, ignoring the noise around him.

"Because the hunters have only been spotted in the western territory."

"Ahh I see. Willing to risk your pack's lives for the sake of standing up to your brother, are you? Not very alpha like. More like a pathetic dog rolling in his own feces." Akeli haughtily retorts.

"Akeli…you may think that by talking like that, that you are showing strength, but my son, you are only showing weakness." Mira speaks up and walks towards him.

Akeli looks at his mother with such intensity that she almost flinches under his stare.

"How dare you speak to me like that in front of everyone?" Akeli spits, his purple eyes firing with rage.

"And yet you speak like that to the Alpha. Your own brother, in front of everyone. Haven't you said enough already?"

"Leave Akeli."

Akeli's eyes shoot up at Balto.

"Stop wasting daylight with senseless talk. Go." Balto's voice booms.

They needed to find food and he knew Akeli would continue to argue and taunt until the sky fell down. There was no need to entertain his jests.

Akeli scoffs at his brother and turns around, the second group following slowly behind him. Akeli stops for a moment and turns his head back to look at Balto.

"Someday, she won't be here to protect you." Akeli says. Then he turns around and leads the group into the woods to begin the very exhausting hunt to find food.

Balto holds his ground as Akeli leaves, but Mira can see the fear in his eyes when he glances at her for a moment.

Akeli knew. And he didn't.

Mira had thought maybe Akeli had forgotten her words just as he had forgotten her love for him, but he had remembered what she had said when she came to him that night. He knew.

Balto clears his throat and takes charge once again.

"Alright Nyko, even though there are no hunters being spotted….

"Don't worry sir, I'll stay alert." Nyko interrupts, his green eyes making a silent promise to keep his group safe.

Balto nods and Nyko nods back before turning on his heel to leave. The other group follows behind and soon they are nothing but a fading blur disappearing into the woods.

"Sir?" Tala mocks, walking up a rocky path to sit beside him.

"It's better than "him" I guess." Balto replies, his eyes showing no interest in this conversation. He keeps his eyes focused on his mother.

"She's so strong."

"Strong? She looks awful, Tala. Completely weak and tired."

Tala doesn't respond, taking in his words. So he did know.

"Balto…."

"I know what you're gonna say."

"Oh really?" Tala asks with peaked interest, watching as Mira rolls on the ground, letting her pups play with her.

"Well go on…mister "I can read your mind."

"You're gonna tell me she's fine. That she just needs time to get her strength back. That it's just for right now that she doesn't have food to eat. But how much longer do I have to watch my mother turn into a corpse?"

"You're right. I was gonna say she's fine, but only to comfort you. You need to know that she is strong and she can pull through. She can make it past this."

"I don't need comfort buried in lies, Tala. I need the truth. I deserve the truth, don't I?"

Tala stares at him, unable to get her lips to form a word.

"Tala, don't I?"

But what if the truth hurts more than you could ever imagine?

Tala stays silent and presses her body into Balto for comfort just like Mira had done the same to her.

Comfort.

Was it really just buried in lies?

Alright, that's chapter 6! I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think! Next chapter Balto meets Jenna or rather Jenna gets thrown at Balto? Hint hint for next chapter. Thanks for reading!