Shadow sighed. “…right now I’m going to go see my family… they’re… they’re all I’ve got left.”
Dash nodded. “Alright Shadow.” Dash said. “I’ll stay in command till then. Shall I tell the team that you’re back?”
Shadow shook his head again. “I’m… I’m in no condition to lead them right now… and I doubt I ever will be again. You… you take command Dash. The security teams are yours. I’ll… I’ll promote Ami to Lieutenant and she can take your place as Second Unit’s Lieutenant… I’m.. I’m through with all that.” Shadow said.
Dash nodded, still stunned by the awful news he’d just received. “Alright Shadow, but it’s yours again if you want it. All you have to do is ask.”
Shadow nodded. “Thanks Dash.” He said. “I’ll be up in my chambers.”
Dash nodded and Shadow walked away.
It was silent for a moment, then Balto spoke. “Dash… there’s something Shadow didn’t tell you.”
Dash turned back to him. “What’s that dad?”
Balto sighed. “Well… I’m not certain of this, and the clan doesn’t need to know, but… well we think Aleu saw the car.”
“Oh no…” Dash said. “…so... so you think she…” Dash fell silent, unable to speak the words.
Balto sighed and nodded.
“…but why would she do that?” Dash asked.
Balto shook his head. “I don’t know Dash.” He said. “She… she was real upset about… about Aniu…”
“Well yeah.” Dash said. “…but I never thought…”
Balto nodded. “I know, neither did I.”
It was silent for a long while before Dash spoke. “Well Dad, you look really tired… you can crash in my chambers if you like.”
Balto shook his head. “Thanks Dash… but I’ve got to go tell Melody first.”
Dash nodded. “I… I can’t believe it.” He said.
Balto nodded. “I know…”
After that it was silent again. Neither dog knew what to say. Finally Balto sighed and broke the silence. “Well Dash, I’m going to go see Melody… I’ll see you a little later.”
Dash nodded. “Dad… would… would you like to say something tonight… I know… I know she’d like it.”
Balto nodded. “…sure.” He said. Then he started walking toward the main entrance.
“I should tell June.” Dash thought.
He walked back to the main entrance. “…hey Rauel.” Dash called.
A black and a silver wolf walked up to him. “Yes sir?” he asked.
Dash sighed. “can you watch my post for a minute… I’ve got to go talk to June.”
Rauel nodded. “…sure thing Sir.” He said. “Sir… is everything alright Sir?”
Dash shook his head. “No Rauel… no it’s not… you’ll.. you’ll find out about it tonight though.”
Rauel nodded.
“..thanks Rauel.” Dash said. “I’ll be right back.”
Rauel smiled. “It’s fine sir, take as long as you need.”
Dash nodded and started walking inside the cave.
It didn’t take Dash long to reach his chambers and he stepped inside. June wasn’t in the small entry chamber. Dash guessed she was probably in the bedding chamber, either tending to the kids or asleep.
Suddenly, the weight of the news he carried hit him and his legs faltered beneath him. Dash slid down the cave wall and lay on the floor. His grief finally overwhelming him as the horrible news hit him like a freight train. His eyes quickly filled with tears and his throat closed tight, making it hard for Dash to breathe. He looked up at the ceiling of the cave. “…why Aleu?” He asked quietly. His words were choked and barely audible. “…why…”
June walked around the corner then, a smile on her face. Her smile vanished in an instant when she saw her mate lying on the floor. She ran over to him. “…Dash?!” She asked. “Dash, are you alright?!”
Dash didn’t trust himself to speak so he just shook his head.
June laid down beside him and pulled him close. “What is it Dash?” She asked. “…are you hurt?”
Dash shook his head. “No, I’m… I’m fine June.” He said. He pulled her closer and laid his head on her shoulder.
“…then what is it Dash?” June asked. “What’s wrong? …you’re starting to scare me.”
Dash picked his head up and looked at her, his face wet with tears. “It’s… it’s Aleu.” Dash said.
“What about Aleu?” June asked.
Dash sighed. “She’s… she’s dead June.”
June gasped. “Oh no! …when? …how?”
Dash sighed again. “Dad and Shadow were with her in Nome yesterday... she was hit by a car.”
June laid her head on his shoulder and pulled him closer, tears in her own eyes now. Aleu had been her close friend… one of the few she had. She nuzzled Dash and squeezed him tightly. She wanted to comfort her distressed mate, but she didn’t know what she could say… maybe it was better that she said nothing, as just her physical closeness to him opened Dash up a bit and he could begin to breathe again.
He hugged her tightly. “…but there’s more.” He said.
June picked up her head and looked at him. “…more?” She asked. Her voice quivered a bit and Dash saw a stream of tears run off her muzzle to splash on his shoulder.
Dash nodded. “Shadow resigned his commission.”
“…what?” June asked.
Dash nodded. “He’s… he’s taking this really hard.” Dash said.
“I imagine he is…” June said.
“…he said that he was in no shape to lead the teams.” Dash continued.
“…but who will replace him?” June asked.
Dash sighed. “I… I guess I am…”
“What about your unit?” June asked.
“Shadow is going to make Ami a Lieutentant and give it to her.” He said. “…she deserves it, and she’ll do a great job…but… but I’m afraid.”
“…afraid of what?” June asked.
Dash sighed. “Well… with Saba and… and Aleu gone, that leaves me as temporary Alpha.”
June nodded. “It does… but you’re a great leader Dash.” She said. “Why would you be afraid?”
“It’s not commanding the teams that’s got me scared.” Dash said. “I’m comfortable leading my unit, and the teams, though on a grander scale, is more or less the same, but… but all I know is war. I know nothing of the needs of the pack, of politics…. I’ve been a member of the clan behind the scenes, doing what needed to be done to keep the clan safe… I’m just a soldier, I follow orders, not make them… now I have to step into the scene. I’ve got to call the shots that decide who lives and who dies. I’m just afraid I’m going to fail them…”
June smiled. “Dash, I’m surprised at you.” She said. “During that little spiel right there you said “I” like eight or nine times… you should have said we, us. I’ll be right there with you, always. We face everything together Dash, because no one can stand against we two. We’ve had our share of hard times. When… when I lost Dalchiei… I though the world would stop spinning… and I know you had a hard time with… with Shasta...”
Dash nodded slowly.
“…but we made it through Dash, together.” She continued. “We did it because we were together… and that’s how we’ll survive this too, together. I’ll always be by your side Dash.” She said. June pulled him closer and nuzzled him softly. “…always.”
Dash smiled and nuzzled her back. “…you’re right of course.” He said. “…but then aren’t you always?”
She smiled back. “…most of the time.” She said.
Dash sighed. “Thank you June.” He said. “I… I really needed that.”
June smiled at him and put her paw on the side of his face. “It’s my job.” She said.
Dash smiled. “Oh it’s far more than that June.” He said. He was going to say more, but he yawned instead.
“You should get some rest Dash.” June said. “You’ve been going non-stop since the Shadow Clan left.” She stood and smiled. “Come on, let me show you some of my other jobs.”
She winked at him and he chuckled. “…believe me, I’d like to June, but…” He sighed. “…I’m on post for a while longer, so I’ll have to take a rain check on that… but I’ll be back… and the kids are out today right?”
June smiled and nodded.
Dash smiled. “Alright, it’s a date.” He leaned over and kissed her on the nose.
June backed up a bit and wiped at her nose with her paw. “Dash, you know how I hate it when you do that…” She said, smiling.
Dash smiled back at her. “I know…” He said. “…but the face you make is just priceless.”
June laughed.
Dash sighed. “Well, guess I should get back down there… Rauel is covering my post and he goes on for the next six hours.”
June sighed. “…always busy huh?”
Dash nodded. “…you know how it is June.” He said. “…and it’s not going to get any better if I take over as Alpha.”
June smiled. “…guess I’ve got to learn to share you with the rest of the world.”
Dash smiled. “…guess so.” He said. “…but yeah, I’ve got to get going. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
June nodded. “I’ll be waiting.” She said.
Dash smiled at her. “I’m counting on it.” He said. He turned and started to walk out of the chamber, then he stopped and turned. “Oh, I told dad he could crash here… if he wanted… he’s not taking this too well either.”
June nodded. “Well I’ll take care of him don’t worry.”
Dash winked at her. “Let him lay down in the kids’ chambers since they aren’t here… that way we’ll be alone in ours. …be a little awkward with my dad looking over our shoulders wouldn’t it?”
June laughed looked away, embarrassed by Dash’s comment. . “….yeah, yeah it would Dash.”
Dash grinned. “I love you June, see you in a bit.”
“…love you too Dash… bye.” She said.
Dash turned and walked out of the chamber.
Balto stood outside Melody’s chambers. He didn’t know if he could relay this news again. Balto had tried to remain strong for Shadow’s sake, and his family’s, but Aleu’s death had hit him just as hard as everyone else, if not harder.
Balto had let the wolf in him surface and that had kept him from falling apart… but the wolf was losing the battle and Balto’s mind was beginning to twist and bend under the pressure.
Finally he sighed and walked inside…
…but no one was there.
Balto stopped and looked around for a moment. His ears
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