''No reason, you just look as though you've got something on your mind'' Dingo said. The wolf nodded.
''I do. I do indeed''
Dingo remained silent for a few moments before speaking again.
''So, what are you doing up here? If you don't mind me asking that is'' he asked.
The wolf smiled ''Not at all, I just came up here to think. And, look at the view''
He gestured for Dingo to sit next to him, which he did. He gasped at the sigh that met his eyes. Rolling hillside and valleys covered in snow spread out for miles in front of him, under a calm black sky dotted with stars.
''Wow, it's amazing'' Dingo said, not tearing his eyes away from the view. The wolf smiled again.
''There's no better view like it in the whole region. I come up here when there's something preying on my mind, and all I have to do is look out there, and all my troubles seem to melt away''
The two remained silent for a while after that, just staring out at the brilliant Alaskan landscape. The wolf sighed, catching Dingo's notice.
''What are you thinking about?'' he asked.
''There's going to be conflict here very soon. Blood will be spilled. And I fear that the view will be less appealing after that'' The old wolf sighed.
''A conflict with who?'' Dingo asked.
''A rival clan. To think, that we are all the same species. Proud, noble wolves. And yet, we cannot learn to live at peace with each other. The humans hate us for what we are, but we have grown to accept that. But why do we fight each other? Why must it all end in bloodshed?''
Dingo didn't know what to make of this, so he remained quiet. The old wolf looked at him.
''You are Balto's son are you not?''
''How do you know that?'' Dingo asked. The wolf smiled.
''I know many things, which given my age I should be expected to. You are the kin of Balto though aren't you?''
Dingo nodded ''My names Dingo''
The wolf nodded ''I'm Tanner. It is an honor to meet you Dingo, if you don't mind me saying so. Your father is known with high regard amongst this clan''
Dingo smiled ''I thought he would be. It's like everyone knows him''
Tanner nodded ''Tell me, what have you heard since you arrived at this cave?''
''About what exactly?'' Dingo asked.
''Everything'' Tanner replied.
''Oh, well...I've been hearing a couple of whispered conversations, which you've answered for me. About the war and everything''
Tanner nodded ''Anything else?''
Dingo thought for a second ''Oh yeah, and something about...erm...Bad Wolf?''
Tanner closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, they were once more filled with pain and sadness.
''That's what I was afraid of''
Dingo licked is lips ''What is...Bad Wolf anyway? I've only heard the name, nothing else''
Tanner shook his head ''You wouldn't understand. You would think me a fool''
''No I wouldn't. Come on, try me'' Dingo replied. Tanner smiled faintly.
''Okay I'll tell you. But first, tell me something. When you were younger, did your mothe or father ever tell you stories about the bogeyman? The thing that would come get you if you misbehaved?''
Dingo frowned in puzzlement ''Yeah, but what does that...?''
Tanner cut him off ''I will explain. You see, although we are different, we wolves have similar laws and beliefs as those of the dogs. And the stories your mother and father told you are no exception''
Dingo smirked ''Ah come on! Your not gonna tell me the bogeyman's real are you?'' he chuckled, but stopped when he saw Tanner's expression.
''You said you wouldn't laugh'' the wolf said. Dingo stopped laughing.
''Sorry''
Tanner smiled faintly ''Ah, you young ones may laugh. But Tanner knows, more than you could imagine''
Dingo nodded ''Please, carry on''
''The Bad Wolf is a legend woven through history. The wolf that devours all others. Where he treads he leaves nothing but dust, and darkness'' Tanner said, his eyes as hard as flint.
''And the heavens shall split, and the world plunged into shadow. And evil shall reign supreme''
Dingo shivered at Tanner's words.
The old wolf sighed ''I was told that prophecy many years ago, and I have never doubted it. Just as Aniu stands for all that is good in this world, The Bad Wolf stands for all that is evil. He is the wolf bogeyman that haunts our dreams. He is evil in all its forms''
''What...what does it mean? Why is everyone in the clan talking about it?'' Dingo asked.
''My dear boy, they are scared. We have only been settled here for a few months, and in that time we have tried to secure the peace. But recent events have made that impossible. One of our own wolves has been driven mad by what he claims to be The Bad Wolf. He was a messenger we sent to the Zanik clan, and when we found him...his mind had been destroyed. By what, we do not know''
''And you think it has something to do with The Bad Wolf?''
Tanner frowned ''It has everything to do with The Bad Wolf! I've seen it all before, just like this''
''You saw Bad Wolf? When?'' Dingo asked.
Tanner sighed ''When I was younger, many years before Aleu came, this clan lived many miles from here far from the humans gaze. It was a small clan, but we kept the peace and lived prosperously with the other clans in the region. But then...''
His voice trailed off, and Dingo noticed the pained expression return on Tanners face.
''There was a plague, an epidemic. It swept through the region and wiped the caribou out almost completely. There wasn't enough food to go around, and what we could find was usually contaminated. We started to die out. I saw friends, family, all of them dieing either from hunger or disease. By the time the disease lifted, there were but only a dozen of us left. I was one of them''
Dingo noticed a single tear trickle down Tanners cheek.
''I know without question that the disease was the work of The Bad Wolf. Nava, our Alpha, had seen it in a dream. Aniu had warned him, but there was nothing he could do. So, we left our home to start again. This clan is the outcome of that epidemic. And I fear that it could all have been wasted should a conflict arise''
Tanner sighed, and then chuckled faintly. ''You must think me a stupid old wolf after all that''
Dingo shook his head ''No, no of course I don't''
Tanner smiled ''Thank you Dingo. You know, you’re the first person I've been able to really talk to in a long time. I appreciate it''
Dingo smiled, and then yawned. Tanner noticed.
''You are tired. Perhaps you should get some rest''
Dingo nodded ''Yeah. It was nice talking to you Tanner''
The old wolf smiled ''And it was nice talking to you too Dingo. I hope we do it again sometime''
Dingo nodded ''I'd like that. Well, goodnight Tanner''
''You too Dingo. You too''
Tanner watched as Dingo padded away. He sighed.
''I know many things Dingo. And I fear for you dearly''
Unbeknownst to Tanner, someone else had listened in on the conversation. He watched as the old wolf slowly padded back inside the cave, then shook his head.
''Bad Wolf? Conflict? I was right about these wolves, they're all nuts!'' Chester muttered.
-------------------------------------------------
Saba slowly opened her eyes. The last thing she remembered was tending to Chris's wounds, and then she must have dozed off. She yawned, and then felt something prod her side.
''Hey, uh, do you mind letting me up?''
With a start, Saba realized what she had fallen asleep on. Blushing, she stood up and allowed Chris to get up from underneath her.
''I'm so sorry, I must have fallen asleep'' she said, her cheeks burning. Chris smiled.
''It's okay. It was quite comfortable actually, and I didn't want to wake you''
Saba looked at him ''How long were you awake?''
Chris grinned ''Couple of hours, give or take''
Saba blushed even more, but managed to compose herself.
''How are you feeling?'' she asked. Chris shrugged.
''Not too bad. Just tender 'as all''
Saba nodded ''Your wounds look better''
Chris smiled ''Yeah. I guess I have you to thank for that''
Saba looked down in embarrassment. Chris chuckled.
''Your not a member of this pack are you? I've not seen you around'' he asked.
Saba shook her head ''No, I live in Nome''
Chris raised an eyebrow ''A city dog? Wow, never thought I'd find myself speaking to one of those!'' he smiled.
Saba smiled back ''Well, it was nice talking to you Chris, but I'd best be going''
Chris nodded ''It was nice talking to you too Saba. Maybe we could do it again sometime, maybe?'' he said with a hint of shyness.
Saba smiled ''I'd like that''
With a last smile, Saba padded out of the chamber.
''Later!'' Chris called to her before padded away, a slight limp from his front injured leg.
Outside the chamber, someone had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
Lance sighed ''I need to pull myself together. Cause it looks like I've got some competition''
-------------------------------------------------
It was later that day when Saba got the chance to see Chris again.
She spotted him milling around the entrance to the cave, as if considering whether to go out or not. She walked up to him.
''Hi Chris'' she said.
Chris smiled ''Hi. Its Saba, right?” he asked.
''Yes'' she replied.
After that, they went walking in the forest close to the cave. They were talking about nothing really, just enjoying the day and the bright, crisp weather. Saba plucked up the courage to ask a question that had been bothering her.
''So, how exactly did you get injured Chris?''
Chris sighed ''I was part of the hunting party. As a member of the security team its one
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