gesture.
"Sure thing"
The two walked out of the chamber.
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Saba was the first to see Balto and Jenna as they entered the main chamber.
"Hi Papa" she nuzzled him.
"Hi Saba. How have you been?" Balto asked.
"Okay. How do you feel?"
Balto smiled "Hopefully, I feel ready"
He looked up as a gray wolf with white markings padded over.
"You okay Saba?" the wolf asked. Saba smiled.
Balto looked at his daughter "Saba, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" he smirked.
Saba blushed "Papa, Mum. This is my friend Chris"
Jenna moved closer "It's nice to finally meet you Chris. Saba has told me a lot about you" she smiled at him.
Chris laughed "Oh, really?" he turned to Saba, who blushed even harder.
"Mum, you're embarrassing me!" Saba whined. Balto smiled.
"It's a mothers job Saba. You'll find that out someday" he laughed. Saba sighed.
"Come on Chris, let's go find a good spot"
The two of them padded away towards the seating area. Balto turned to Jenna, smiling broadly.
"You didn't tell me Saba had met someone!" he said. Jenna chuckled.
"Well, I know how Dad's can be with daughters. It's a mothers job to know first and then tell the father" she smiled.
"Besides, Saba's an intelligent girl. And Chris seems nice"
Balto nodded "I know. But next time try to fill me in beforehand, okay?"
Jenna nuzzled him "Sure thing"
Both canines turned as Chester and Stacy padded over.
"Hope we're not interrupting anything?" Chester sniggered.
Balto smirked "How you feeling Chester?"
"Okay. A bit more nervous now to tell you the truth, but nothing I can't handle" the husky said.
"So, what does this contest comprise of?" Stacy asked.
"Well, I've been talking to Sirius, and he said that it comprises of three fights, best out of three. The winners of the most fights are accepted into the team" Balto replied.
Chester smiled "Sounds pretty simple"
"Be careful Chester. You've only gone through sparring matches so far and as I've said, some of these guys could try to kill you. You need to be on your guard at all times" Balto warned.
Chester nodded "Yeah, I know"
Suddenly, Sirius padded up to the group "Balto, Chester. The competition is about to begin. Would you care to follow me?"
Balto turned to Chester "You ready?"
Chester smirked "More than I've ever been in my life"
The group padded into the chamber, where the entire clan awaited them.
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Kodi struggled through the snow. The wind had picked up in the last few minutes, and was now blowing so hard it threatened to knock him off his feet. He struggled to keep following the scent that remained faintly in the air.
"I'm gonna freeze if I don't find shelter soon!"
He stopped for a brief moment to sniff at the air, hoping to pick up the scent. But in the billowing wind he couldn't pick it up.
Kodi struggled on forward, the biting wind stinging his eyes. After a few more minutes, he couldn't go any further.
He let the wind knock him off his feet, He tried to stand up, but he was so tired. He shut his eyes.
"Sorry Dusty. I tried"
He didn't sense the two wolves that approached him as he drifted away.
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Back in Nome, Kirby and Ralph had just finished explaining to Dusty the reason for Kodi's absence.
"I'm going to go after him" Dusty said determidely; staggering to her feet off the chair she had fallen asleep on. She winced as her legs came into contact with the floor.
"What? Dusty, you can't be serious!" Kirby exclaimed.
"Look at you, you can barely stand up!" Ralph said. "How do you think you can go after him? Have you seen the blizzard starting outside?"
Dusty scowled "Which he is out there in! How can you expect me to just sit here whilst he's risking his life?"
Kirby sighed "Dusty, Ralph is right. You're in no condition to go out there, you wouldn't be able to take it"
"So what you’re telling me Kirby," Dusty frowned. "Is that I should just stay here like some invalid whilst he's out there freezing to death? And what happens if he does find those guys? You've said yourself that he would be dead if you hadn't of helped him!"
"Dusty..." Ralph sighed.
"No Ralph! I need to help him!" Dusty said.
"You won't help him by going out and killing yourself Dusty" Kirby said quietly.
Dusty sighed "Then one of you come with me"
Kirby and Ralph stared at her "Huh?"
"One of you two come with me to find Kodi. You're right; I can't do it on my own. So, I'm asking one of you to accompany me" Dusty said.
"But Dusty..." Ralph began.
"It's either that or I go alone!" Dusty cut him off.
Both dogs sighed, and then Ralph looked up "I'll go with you Dusty"
Dusty smiled "Thanks Ralph"
"But," Ralph said. "The second you start to lag, we come straight back here. Understand?"
Dusty nodded "Okay"
Ralph sighed "Right then, we'd best go now. Whilst there's still a scent"
He padded over and nudged open the door, the fierce wind blowing his fur up. Dusty limped up to him and looked outside.
"You sure about this?" Ralph asked. Dusty nodded.
"I have to find him" she said, and then walked outside with Ralph right behind her.
Kirby had to raise his voice to be heard as the two padded down the street "Good luck!" he yelled. They didn't here him as they turned a corner.
Kirby sighed "Look after her Ralph" he said quietly before shutting the door.
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Sirius called the contestants forward. He watched as the fifty or so wolves, Balto and Chester included, sat down around the podium. The chamber fell completely silent.
"Thank you all. Before we begin, a last warning. In this contest you are expected to do everything and anything it takes to win. In a real war, it is absolutely paramount that you do everything in your power to succeed over your opponent, even death"
Sirius paused and scanned over the would-be soldiers.
"You have all chosen to attempt to prove yourselves capable of protecting this clan, it's Alpha, and it's beliefs in the now likely event of war. But I urge you, this is not a game. Some of you gathered here may not survive what is about to happen, and I need those of you who do not think yourselves capable of this...to step away now"
Sirius waited for anyone to move. No one did.
"Are there any questions before we begin?"
No one spoke up. Sirius smiled.
"Very well then. On that note, I will step down, and announce this contest open. Good luck"
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Chester eyed his opponent from the other side of the chamber. He was a tan wolf with dark markings round his face. He appeared younger than Chester, but more agile in combat.
This was his first match.
Sirius moved to the edge of the fighting arena.
"On my command, begin combat"
Chester nodded, never taking his eyes off his opponent.
"Go!" Sirius barked.
Chester and the wolf rushed each other. Chester span to the side and avoided a head on collision, but the younger wolf turned quickly and took him by surprise. With a surge of speed, Chester found himself on the floor as the wolf delivered a solid hit to the side of his head. He tasted blood.
"Blimey! This guy is good!"
Chester jumped to his feet as the wolf charged him again. This time he was ready. Chester lifted his paw and hit his opponent directly in the mouth, before hitting him again on his exposed throat.
The wolf stumbled backwards, blood dripping from his mouth. Before he could react, Chester hit him in the side of the head, throwing him to the floor. He fell limp.
Chester padded over hesitantly "Is he...is he okay?"
Sirius walked up to the wolf and listened to his breathing "He's okay. Congratulations, you win"
Chester beamed "Thanks"
There was a roar of applause from the crowded chamber as Chester stepped down from the podium.
"One down," he thought. "Another, and I've done it!"
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Chester crashed to the floor, breathing heavily. He felt blood trickle down from a sizeable cut under his eye, and a thin trail dripped from his mouth. His opponent, a large white wolf with black paws, stared down at him.
Sirius padded over "You win Mika. Congratulations"
Mika left the podium to loud applause. Chester staggered to his feet with Sirius's help.
"You all right Chester?" the black wolf asked. Chester nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. So, I guess I need to win the next one, huh?"
Sirius nodded "Yes. I'll let you know who your next opponent is after the next fight"
"Thanks" Chester replied. He staggered down the podium where Balto was waiting.
"You okay?" Balto asked. Chester smiled faintly.
"Do I look
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