hip.
Jason smiled. “I’d try to keep my weight off that if I were you.” He said.
Daema looked at him. “…thank you for that Jason.” She said, her voice laced with sarcasm.
Jason frowned and walked over to her quickly, and before she could say anything he hit her back leg, causing her to fall to the ground, an unbelievable amount of pain shooting through her injured limb.
She cried out and Jason belted her in the face, knocking her head to the snow, nearly knocking her unconcious. He bit the fur at the side of her neck and raised her off the ground. “You listen to me Daema.” He said, his voice muffled by the fur he held in his jaws. “You will show me respect. You will never use that tone with me and you will address me as Master unless I tell you otherwise, do you understand?”
Daema nodded and Jason dropped her to the snow.
Jaosn looked down at her. “…now get back up… and never you forget I could’ve killed you… but I didn’t. For that I have earned you eternal gratitude.”
Daema struggled to her feet and pulled her injured leg up off the ground. Blood ran down her leg and dripped from her paw to stain the snow beneath her.
“…yes… yes Master.” She said.
Jason nodded. “…good.” He said. “…now keep up or I will kill you.”
She nodded and Jason turned and walked back to Fairbourne, the severely injured female limping along behind, struggling to keep pace with the two uninjured dogs.
“Interesting development...” Fairbourne said. “…I told you to finish her.”
Jason nodded. “I like her… she seems strong… if she lives she could be of use to us… if not then she dies anyway, it’s of little concern to us sir.”
Fairbourne smiled. “I like the way you think kid.”
“Thank you sir.” He said.
Jason and Fairbourne started walking again. “…so back to my earlier question, do you know anyone who fits the bill of bait for Balto?”
Jason thought for a moment and nodded. “Yeah, his mate, Jenna. Balto would travel to the ends of the earth for her. I doubt he will think twice about the Outskirts.” Jason paused. “..but we’re going to have to make it urgent. If we just capture her he may take the time to gather some of his allies… we need him to know that we mean bussiness…”
He looked at Fairbourne and winked. “…I think we should have a little fun with miss Jenna and then tell someone to tell him about it sir.”
Fairbourne smiled. “…my thoughts exactly kid.”
Chapter 10
Aleu was about half-way to Nome. It usually only took her a few hours to make the journey to the small town, but she was being extremely careful now, doubling back on her trail every half mile or so, and stopping every ten minutes to wait at least fifteen before moving on. Aleu was reasonalbly sure that she wasn’t being followed, but she remembered the first thing that Shadow had taught her during her training. “…never assume anyhting, assumptions will get you killed.” ...so Aleu assumed nothing, and acted as if she were being followed, her every move watched, her enemies plotting and scheming her demise.
This was tiring though, and aleu was exhausted, barely able to stand. The message she carreid was of extreme importance though, so she pressed onward. Aleu found it hard to believe what the Shadow Clan was planning was even possible. “How could aniu be killed?” She thought. “...and what will happen to us if they’re sucussful?” Aleu didn’t know the answers to these questions, but she knew that they couldn’t be good.
Aleu stopped and looked around. She didn’t see anyone, but she turned right and walked off her trail. She stepped high, trying not to brush any of the foliage, which would leave a clearer scent trail to her potential pursuers. She walked about a hundred yards off her trail and then turned right, doubling back on it. She started forward again, watching the spots she’d just walked by, watching for any sign of someone trailing her. When she’d walked for nearly fifteen minutes she stopped and watched. Five minutes later she was reasonalbly sure there was no one following her. Aleu yawned and turned to walk back toward the trail she’d broken earlier. Then she stopped.
About twenty yards to her left further off her trail, was a small cave. Aleu could barely see it thorugh the bushes that sat in front of it. Aleu knew her message was of the utmost importance, but she was exhausted. She knew she wouldn’t be able to make it to Nome without stopping and it wasn’t likely that she’d find a spot as secure as this closer to Nome either.
“…and I need some anwers…” Aleu thought
She turned left and walked to the cave. Aleu sniffed the air outside the cave, but could detect no other presence besides her own. Aleu ducked down and crawled under the bushes, then she walked into the small cave and looked around. Satisfied that she was alone; she laid down on the cool rock. Aleu was so tired that she had barely closed her eyes when she drifted into a deep sleep.
Aleu opened her eyes and leapt to her paws. The cave was on fire! She remembered deciding to travel to this half-way point between the spiritual plane and the physical own, but never had she seen it like this. A shimmering red portal hung in the air at the far end of the chamber and from it aleu could hear screams, cries of anguish and torment.
Aleu shivered.
She remembered those screams.
She heard a crackling sound and looked up to see a mass of molten rock and fire falling from what had once been the ceiling of the cave.
Aleu leapt forward and the molten rock slammed to the ground where she’d stood not moments before. Aleu landed on her side and rolled, finally stopping against the cave wall.
Suddenly she heard a screech and looked up to see a kind of bird/dragon emerge from the portal. It was consumed by flames and its red eyes seemed to pierce through to Aleu’s very soul. The flying creature screeched again and dove toward her. Aleu tried to roll out of the way, but she was too slow. The creature’s talons scraped through Aleu’s fur and she felt them bite into her shoulder. The force of the impact threw Aleu against the flaming wall, which she recoiled from, a yelp of agony escaping her muzzle as the flames seared her side.
The flying creature rose towards the ceiling of the cave and screeched again.
Suddenly Aleu heard a familiar voice. “…come Aleu, quickly, there isn’t much time!”
Aleu looked over her shoulder and saw a blue portal open up behind her. She stood and ran for it, and as the creature screeched again, dropping toward her, his razor sharp talons extended, she leapt…
…and fell into a beautiful green forest. The portal quickly closed once she was through, keeping the flaming… whatever it was away from her.
Aleu shook her head and groaned, slightly disoriented. Then she stood up. Aleu stood in a clearing surrounded by large majestic pines on all sides. A brook bubbled through the clearing and there was no snow on the ground. The grass was almost unbelievably soft and springy beneath her paws, and as a gently breeze blew, Aleu realized it was niether hot, nor cold.
“Hello Aleu.” The familiar voice said.
Aleu turned and smiled. “…hello Alai.” She said.
The by now familiar emotions rustled through her as she gazed at him, but Aleu remembered what had happened just moments before and pushed them aside. There was no time for them now.
Alai walked toward her; making barely a sound as he padded through the soft grass. “…are you alright?” He asked.
Aleu nodded. “I’m fine… now… thanks to you.” She paused. “…Alai, what’s going on? Why was the cave on fire?”
Alai sighed. “Aniu is under siege. She is weak… and she is losing.”
“…but how can that be?” Aleu asked.
Alai stopped walking and sat down in front of Aleu. “Aniu has made a grave error in judgement, and she is paying for it now.”
Aleu sat down as well. “…what happened?” She asked.
Alai sighed again. “Aniu chose one who was tainted to be her representitive. This allowed Shade a chance to get inside, to attack her directly, and this is what he has done.”
“…what do you mean by… one who was tainted?” Aleu asked.
Alai sighed. “Your sister’s lifestyle was not in keeping with the rules’ wishes. It was un-natural, and therefor prohibited. …and Aniu formed a strong bond with her. Shade has used this against her with terrible success.”
Aleu sighed. “…then this is my fault.” She said. “I allowed her to stay in the cave, to become a member of the Talbourne.”
Alai frowned. “None of this is your fault. Saba made her own choices.”
Aleu nodded and fell silent for a moment. Then she looked up at him. “Alai, does the Shadow Clan’s plan stand a chance at success?” She asked.
Alai sighed. “It not only stands a chance, it’s almost guarteed to succeed.”
“…but how could Aniu be killed?” Aleu asked.
Alai sighed again. “…you don’t know of the Origin of Aniu, do you?”
Aleu shook her head. “…no, but Raeona told me I should learn more about it just before she died.”
Alai nodded. “Aleu, the positioning of the Children of Aniu, the Talbourne, River, Snow, Onasie, and Storme clans is no accident. The origin is centered between the locations of the caves of the five clans. They form a five pointed star around the Origin of Aniu. This is the place that Aniu’s blood was spilled into the earth, specifically, a large table-like rock.
“…what is the
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