Prologue

 

 

Prologue

 

 

 

 

Arcturus looked over head at the sparkling tundra. “He is here. I can feel his presence.” The Demon wolf said with glee.

“That is exactly what you said last time.” Said Ecliptica, The evil daughter of the wolf goddess. She joined Arcturus in his search for the Night Wolf.

“It was said he was an ordinary wolf.” Arcturus thought aloud.

“Imagine that,” Ecliptica sneered, “Arcturus,come on?” she started walking away. He would not move. “Well?”

He turned toward her. “It was said that he was born an ordinary wolf.”

“I know what the prophecy said.” She huffed.

“Then wouldn’t he look normal as well?” he smiled.

She thought about it. He was right. “Yeah, so?”

“Your sister, like you once thought, that a god or goddess is unearthly good looking.”

“Just tell me what you’re trying to lead up to!” she snapped.

“Okay, Your sister just may still believe that, and if she does then we have the advantage as to what he looks like. She is looking for a wolf that is unearthly good looking, but we are not.”

“Do you know how stupid that sounds! There are millions of ordinary looking wolves on earth!”

“But not all have special powers.”

“Oh! What is up with you!”

While Ecliptica is yelling at Arcturus there is Siren. The daughter also has spent years looking for The Night Wolf. She knew she had to be quick. The Demon wolf and her sister were also in this tundra called Alaska. She sighed. “I have searched for so long,” She thought, “Let this be the one.”

 

 

Nome, Alaska

 

 

Balto and Nightsky went into the dog shed laughing.

“Well hello, Balto, Nightsky,” greeted Doc. They greeted him back.

“What got into us when we were that age,” breathed Balto. The two friends and the old dog sat down chattering about when they were pups. Then Jenna and the mail team walked in on Skylar saying, “You didn’t expect the water to come out anytime soon, now did ya?”

“Ouch! He meant it!” they howled in laughter.

“Hello, Balto.” Said Jenna as she snuggled him.

“Hey, Guys!” chimed Skylar.

“Not so good,” said Ralph.

“Oh, why?” asked Balto.

“He’s got another broken toe nail.” Said Dusty.

“Hey, I can’t help what my toes do!” he defended himself.

Sunnysky, Nightsky’s sister came in the door locking like she had been shot. “Nightsky, dear the clans need you right now.”

“What happened?” he asked in concern. She came and whispered in his ear. Nightsky got up in panic. “I am sorry, Balto, I have to deal with this.”

Balto looked at Jenna and the mail team. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No!” Skylar said too quickly. “Balto, stay here. I don’t need you…yet.” The wolves ran out the door. Balto watched them until they were out of sight.

“Balto?” Balto jumped and realized the dogs were staring at him. “Balto, do you miss the clans?”

“Only sometimes,” he said. The whole town of dogs knew that Balto was supposed to be the leader of the Forgotten clan. They also knew Balto gave this up for his family. Kodi blamed himself for his father giving up being the clan leader, regarding his father telling him he was happy.

Later Balto walked out into the woods. He wanted to be alone for awhile. Something was bother him though he knew not what. He felt the same restlessness before when Alue ranaway and when the clan came back into his life. The more he thought about every little empty void in his life the more he obsessed and pondered things in his life. The more he asked if it was all real. “Time is running out.” A voice said in his head. Then he thought; yes time is slipping away from him. There was no stopping him. It was getting dark and he was not home.

Jenna began to worry. She walked to the dog shed and asked if anyone had seen Balto.

“No, Jenna, we have not seen him,” said Doc.

“He worries me. That’s the thing about him. He restless and can’t help it.” She sighed.

“He has a free spirit,” said Brownleaf. She walked in and sat next to Jenna, “I knew something was wrong. I felt your distress patterns from a distance.

“Yes Balto does have a free spirit,” She said, ignoring the comment that Brownleaf said about feeling distress patterns, “He always has this internal conflict going on.”

“It’s funny how things change.” Brownleaf.

“What do you mean?” asked Kodi.

“your dad never use to be a wolf…or dog who needed to search for himself and all the emptiness that isn’t filled. He was happy. He had everything he needed.” She smiled at her own memories. Then as if she realized what she was doing got up and said, “I guess I’ll be going. Jenna if you ever need me I’m always around.” The medicine wolf slipped into the night.

 

Mean while deep into the Alaskan prairie, sat siren. The only thought in he lonely mind was how she hoped the night wolf was here. The goddess welcomed the night. The flooding darkness calmed her and secretly gave her promises. She hoped those promises were not as empty as she felt. She looked at the sky and howled in worship to the wolf gods and goddesses alike as the stars and land sparkled underneath the moonlight.

Balto had not seen Skylar in days. The winds came harder and it was spring. “It’s supposed to get better, not worse.” Thought Balto. The mail team had trouble racing against the winds. He had this foreboding feeling. First the clans and now the weather had gone topsy turvey.

“Balto!” shouted a voice. Interrupting his thoughts came Waterrains.

“What’s wrong?” asked Balto.

“Come with me!” he said desperately. They ran out into the forest when Waterains came to a stop. “I’m not going any farther.” Balto looked the wolf, whose eyes were wide with fear. “What could be so bad that Waterrains would not go any farther?” he thought. Balto walked up the hill, turning directions every once in a while to avoid walking into trees. When he got to the ground on the other side he almost gagged. There lay a wolf…dead! He was so bad Balto couldn’t have recognized him if he knew him. He bowed his head and prayed to the wolf gods for this wolf’s soul. Balto walked back to Waterains.

“I don’t know what clan he’s from. Did you tell nightsky?” questioned Balto.

“No, I found you first.” He said. Balto started walking to the forgotten clans territory.

“Gather the clans.” Ordered Balto.

“The clans? All of them? What about Nightsky?” Waterains looked concerned.

“Yes, every last one,” said Balto, “Something’s wrong here.”

 

 

To be continued…

 

From the Author:

Names: Arcturus and Ecliptica are borrowed from the writers and I do have permission from them. I thank them for their kindness as to let me use them.

 

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