Chapter 36: The Old Friends
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As for Aleu and Kenai's puppies, Tundra, Aki, Denahi and Naia remained unadopted. They already knew that they weren't going to be adopted due to their wolf looks.

''Well, here they grow.'' Aleu commented. ''But is there enough space for six of us?''

''I'm not quite sure.'' Kenai said. ''Maybe they'll like it, maybe they won't.''

''If they don't...'' Aleu continued. ''Then what?''

''I don't know.'' Kenai said. ''It'd be too cruel to expell them out of the boat. There must be some answer to this.''

As the time was passing, their puppies were growing up, and the bigger they were, the less space there was.

When they were six months old, there seemed to be even less space for all of them than they thought.

''I'm not sure what to tell them.'' Kenai said. ''Should I teach them to hunt? Or something else?''

''It's never too late for anything.'' Aleu said.

Later that night, everyone was asleep. Everyone was sleeping peacefully, even Kenai, but his dreams weren't what it was thought to be.

He was walking in the snowy plains. It reminded him on the same ones he had in a dream before he was destined to go to Nome.

''Could it be?'' Kenai asked himself, looking around. ''Is my spirit guide here anywhere?''

Then, someone's steps were heard in the snow. As soon as he heard them, he looked around and noticed a large white husky approaching him. He knew who it was.

''Juneau.'' Kenai said, noticing his spirit guide. ''Did you come to help me?''

''I sure did.'' Juneau answered. ''I see that you and my niece are being bothered by the problems with your pups.''

''True.'' Kenai said. ''It feels like as if they are going to protest for living with us.''

''As I could have seen all this time...'' Juneau said. ''You two are indeed good parents and there are almost no chances for any protests, but I know what you are trying to say.''

''Well?'' Kenai asked, hoping for Juneau's answer.

''As your puppies have more wolf blood than Aleu, then I see in their futures to be skilled hunters.'' Juneau said.

''So our pups shall be hunters?'' Kenai asked.

''Yes.'' Juneau confirmed. ''They will start their own wolf pack over the time.''

''A wolf pack?'' Kenai asked, concerned. ''Does that mean that there will be times when we won't see them?!''

''Take it easy, Kenai.'' Juneau said, calmly. ''You've been hunting in that forest for a long time, yet you never left.''

''So if I never left, then our pups won't leave too?'' Kenai said.

''True.'' Juneau replied. ''They'll hunt the animals that inhabit the forest and they'll be always there. It also means that they'll be able to visit their family anytime.''

''Well, that's good to know.'' Kenai said, relieved. ''But shall I teach them how to hunt? So, you know, they form a wolf pack?''

''I'm sure that will do.'' Juneau said. ''They'll be grateful to you for the help.''

''Thank you, Juneau.'' Kenai said.

''Anytime.'' Juneau said, then she turned away. ''Goodbye, Kenai. Hopefully we meet again.''

Kenai nodded as he watched his spirit guide heading away and soon enough, she disappeared in the white background. Then Kenai woke up.

The sun had already risen, yet the pups were sleeping. But after Kenai woke up, Aleu woke up as well.

''Morning, Kenai.'' Aleu said, yawning. ''Slept well?''

''I sure did.'' Kenai said. ''I had a dream.''

''Yeah?'' Aleu asked. ''What about?''

''My spirit guide came.'' Kenai said. Aleu was listening carefully. ''She told me not to worry about the problem we're dealing with.''

''And?'' Aleu asked.

''They will form their own pack.'' Kenai said. ''But, hey. Don't worry! They will remain in these woods, we will see them anytime and they will visit our whole family!''

''That's... good.'' Aleu said. Kenai noticed that her voice was a bit worried.

''Is something wrong?'' Kenai asked.

''Do you remember when I told you the story of the hunter that almost shot me?'' Aleu asked. ''Before my papa revealed the wolf heritage inside me?''

''Yes, why?'' Kenai asked.

''Kenai, I'm afraid for them.'' Aleu said, as she sounded that she was going to cry. ''I don't want to lose any of our pups because of the hunters!''

''Aleu! Calm down!'' Kenai whispered, trying not to wake pups up. ''Look, we'll see what can we do! Alright?''

Aleu looked at Kenai. She was still unsure about the future of their pups, but as long as they have her family support, she was calm a bit.

''We should tell my family about this.'' Aleu said.

''Good.'' Kenai said. ''Then we'll tell to our pups about their future.''

Later...

Aleu was with the pups waiting in the boat. Kenai headed to the town to inform Balto and the others what he had dreamed and the problem about the hunters.

''Mama, why's this taking so long?'' Tundra asked.

''Your dad has to tell you something.'' Aleu said. ''But he has to tell your relatives what is it about first.''

''I think I see dad coming.'' Denahi said, noticing Kenai on the way back.

Soon enough, Kenai entered the boat and just said: ''Don't worry. We got everything secured.''

''Good.'' Aleu said.

''Papa?'' Naia said. ''What's going on?''

Kenai looked at his pups. After taking care of them on the old boat, it was their time to start living on their own.

''I had a dream.'' Kenai said. ''My spirit guide came to me and told me about your futures.''

''And what is it about?'' Aki asked.

''We all know that you won't get adopted.'' Kenai said. ''But she told me that you will start your own pack.''

''Our own pack?'' Denahi asked. ''But, dad, we don't know how to hunt!''

''You don't have to worry about it.'' Kenai said. ''I and your mom will teach you how to hunt.''

''That sounds good, papa.'' Tundra said. ''But what about the hunters?''

''That's the question I'm going to answer you.'' Kenai said.

''Okay.'' Everyone said.

''When you are hunting and when you suddenly hear howling coming from the town...'' Kenai said. ''It's us, your relatives or the other canines of Nome.''

''Is that some kind of alert?'' Aki asked.

''An alert that the hunter is coming.'' Kenai continued. ''When you hear it, let go your prey and hide! Do not hestitate!''

''Alright.'' Naia said.

''So, Aleu.'' Kenai asked. ''What do you think about it?''

''It sounds good to me.'' Aleu said. ''And about teaching them how to hunt, we can teach them together or sometimes one of us can do.''

''Good.'' Kenai said. ''Later we are going to the woods here nearby and we will teach you how to hunt.''

The pups nodded as they accepted their futures, although not quite confidentally as the hunters would eventally go in there.

Later...

Aleu and Kenai took their four pups to the forest to teach them hunting. Soon enough, they were deep enough in the forest.

''So, dad.'' Aki said. ''Is this the part where you hunt?''

''Absolutely.'' Kenai confirmed. ''For the hunting, I suggest we split in two groups.''

''Sounds good to me.'' Aleu said. ''Denahi, Naia, come with me.''

''Aki, Tundra, you are with me.'' Kenai said. ''All you need to do is watch and learn first!''

''And what do we hunt here?'' Tundra asked.

''Rabbits and weasels mostly!'' Kenai said. ''But sometimes the other animals can be found!''

Aleu went with Denahi and Naia in one direction while Kenai led Aki and Tundra into the another one.

Soon enough, Aleu caught the scent off the prey. Denahi and Naia noticed that and sniffed it as well.

''What is it, mom?'' Denahi asked.

''I found the prey.'' Aleu said, noticing the weasel in the small clearing. ''Stay here, watch and learn.''

Two siblings nodded and remained behind. They watched their mother silently walking to the prey, who was minding its' own business. And then... she leapt at it and managed to catch the prey.

''Good one, mama!'' Naia said, impressed.

''Thanks.'' Aleu nodded.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Next page