sound too bad either.” She said.
Dash smiled. “…June, I have to admit it doesn’t to me either, but… well there’s only an hour, at most two before the meeting… that’s when I told Rauel to have everyone gather in the Main Chamber.”
June blinked her eyes slowly and smiled, rubbing him lightly with her shoulder. “…aww, come on, please?”
Dash sighed. “June I really need to go get ready and…”
June rubbed up his shoulder with hers and licked his cheek, then looked up him and opened her eyes wider.
Dash sighed again. “…oh come on June please don’t do…”
June’s lip started quivering. She opened her eyes even wider and turned her head to the side a little.
“…oh… alright.” Dash said.
He smiled and kissed her. “You know I can’t turn you down when you do that.”
She smiled and nuzzled him. “I know… why do you think I do it?”
Dash grinned. “My, my you are such a manipulative little thing.”
June laughed and kissed him. “…when it comes to spending time with you, of course.”
Dash placed his left foreleg in between June’s and bumped her shoulder. She squealed and fell to the left as he had planned, but Dash’s legs got tangled up in the mix and he fell with her. Dash managed to get his paws back underneath him before he landed on her, and he stood over her.
She grinned up at him from her position on the ground. “What was that?” She asked.
Dash smiled. “You like to manipulate, I like to take control.”
June leaned up and kissed him. “…fine with me…”
About an hour later June still lay beside Dash, who was staring at the far wall of the chamber. She picked up her head and looked at him. “You seem a bit preoccupied…” She said.
Dash sighed. “Yeah, sorry June… I’m just thinkin’ is all.”
“…whatcha thinkin’ about?” June asked.
Dash sighed again. “well… the Talbourne has been led by a lot of wolves over the years,and they’ve faced a lot of trials… now, well… in a few hours anyway, I’ll be the leader, and… and I just don’t want it to fall on my watch.”
June laid her head against his shoulder and sighed. “Dash, I don’t think the Talbourne will fall. The Talbourne have faced many challenges in the past, you’re right… but, though Aniu’s power was a great boon to us; I don’t think that’s the sole reason we’ve always won in the past. The reason we’re still here today is you and Shadow and Timbre; because you inspire the wolves under your command to fears I have a hard time believing sometimes.” She closed her eyes and rubbed her head against his shoulder and up the side of his neck. Then she opened her and turned her head to look straight up at him. “I’ll be honest with you Dash, sometimes I really hate your job, I really do. I hate it when you’re gone; when you’re out there in danger without me by your side… but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m very proud of what you do Dash. You love it, and I love you. …and there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not so very proud of you.”
Dash smiled and put his paw on the side of her neck, squeezing her against him. Then he looked down and kissed her gently. “You always know what to say June; what I need to hear. How do you do it?”
June smiled and let her head slide down to her shoulder. “…guess it’s just something we females are born with.”
Dash laughed. “…guess so.” He said.
June snuggled up against him and closed her eyes.
Dash sighed. “Well June, I’s about time to do this thing… the wolves are going to be gathering in the Main Chamber soon and I need to talk to Shadow.”
June sighed too. “I know… but I don’t want you to go. I wish we could stay together like this forever.”
Dash sighed again. “I know.” He said. “I wish I could stay with you too, but you know how it is… duty calls.”
June sighed as well and sat up. “…doesn’t it always?”
Dash sat beside her. “…yeah, guess it does.”
June smiled. “well I’m sure you’ll do a fine job as Alpha Dash. The Talbourne has never been in better paws.”
Dash smiled back at her. “Thank-you June.” Then he stood. “Well, I’m going to go talk to Shadow.” He said. “The wolves are going to be gathering in the Main Chamber soon. You should probably get out there yourself.”
June nodded. “I will, Timbre should be there too. He’ll have the kids.”
Dash nodded. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll meet you after it’s all over and we’ll move up to the Alpha’s Chambers.”
June nodded. “Okay... I really enjoyed my time with you today.”
Dash smiled. “I did too June…” He paused for a moment. “…think Timbre could be persuaded to take the kids for the night, or you think he’s had enough of them today?”
June smiled back and nuzzled him. “Oh, I don’t think they’ve been that bad. They’re a good bunch of kids.”
Dash kissed her. “Yeah they are.” He said. “I’ll talk to him afterwards and see what he says, but right now I’ve got to get to Shadow’s Chambers.”
June smiled. “Alright, go get ’em Dash.”
He smiled back at her. “See you soon June… and thanks for the support. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
June smiled. “…or I you.” She said. “See you in a bit Dash.”
Dash turned and walked out of the chambers.
“What do you mean he’s gone?” Dash asked for the second time in as many minutes.
Thunder sighed. “I mean he’s gone.” He said. “I don’t know where he is.”
Balto stepped forward. “I talked to the sentry at the Main Entrance and he said that he saw Shadow leave about three hours ago. He didn’t say where he was going or when he’d be back. As far as anyone seems to know he’s still out there.”
Dash turned to his father. “What were you doing up here Dad… I mean, no offense or anything, just wondering.”
“No problem son,” Balto answered. “I just came up here to see Shadow; to ask if he’d mind if I led the memorial service tonight… but he wasn’t here.”
Dash sighed. “Well in his absence I’m in charge, and if you wouldn’t mind doing that it would be a great help, and really appreciated.”
Balto nodded “I don’t mind; thanks son.”
Thunder looked up at Balto. “Grandpa, since you’re in charge now…” The young wolf sighed. “I’d really like to say a few words about… about mom.”
Balto nodded. “That’s fine Thunder.” He said. “I’m sure she’d like that… you can sit with me tonight and I’ll call you up when the time comes.”
Thunder nodded.
“Well, we better get out there.” Dash said.
Balto nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
With that Thunder, Balto, and Dash walked out of the chamber.
Chapter 5:
Balto, Dash and Thunder walked out of the Alpha's chambers to see that every last wolf in the Talbourne Clan, from the youngest to the oldest, was standing in the Main chamber below them. As Dash stepped out into view the wolves' voices fell silent. Dash led the way down the shelves of rock until he came to the third one from the ground floor. His paw-steps echoed in the eerie silence of the chamber. Dash stopped and turned around, telling Balto and Thunder that they could sit down.
Timbre stood and walked up the steps, stopping in front of Dash. "Sorry about..." He stopped, words failed him and stayed quiet for a second. "I... I just heard." He said finally.
Dash nodded.
"Shadow hasn't come back yet." Timbre whispered. "I'll stand in for him in this ceremony if you'd like."
Dash nodded. "...thanks buddy."
Timbre nodded back at him and stepped backwards. He turned sharply to the right and walked behind Dash, stopping beside Balto. He sat down and waited.
Someone started to talk quietly near the back of the large group, but was quickly shushed by everyone around him.
Dash sighed and began. "My Fellow members of the Talbourne, I apologize about the lack of notice about this gathering here tonight..." Dash paused and looked back at Timbre.
"There are two hundred and forty eight present." Timbre whispered. "All Defense Member's present and/or accounted for sir."
Dash nodded and turned back to the wolves before him. "...but it seems everyone is here." He continued. "I have called this assembly for multiple reasons, but the first is the most.."
Dash stopped as tears came to his eyes and his lip quivered slightly. "...not already..." He thought. "...most important." He finished. Dash turned and looked back at Balto. "Dad, I believe you have something to report."
Balto nodded. "Yeah..." He said.
Dash nodded back and turned, walking back to sit beside Timbre Balto moved up and took Dash's place at the front of the shelf. Balto had no idea what he was going to say... what there was he could say. ...no amount of words would bring his daughter back to him.
Balto sighed and began. "As most of you already know, my daughter Aleu, Shadow, and I went to Nome yesterday... what you don't know is that she... she won't be coming back..." Balto paused, lacking the words to continue.
One of the wolves stood up. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted a wolf-dog to lead us." He
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