Thy Name Is Brother

The sheer beauty of  Aniu that had perplexed his father now perplexed Balto as the small pup looked up at his mother who was as white a snow with stunning brown eyes full of love and affection as she nuzzled her only pup.

‘Oh Balto you are so important to me…I will always protect you.’ Aniu said in sweet voice as Balto huddled up closer to her. Balto had never known his father or had ever seen him but he always marveled at the stories his mother would tell him of a proud dog who brave and loyal, this world of man she spoke of fascinated her only son but Balto never wanted to leave his pack he was a wolf and thats how he wanted to stay.

Later that day whilst Balto slept in the warmth of the den beside his mother the large heavy paws of the Beta Male coming down into the den woke Balto up causing him to frown and dig his head into his mothers fur trying to fall sleep again.

‘Beta what news do you bring?’ Aniu said looking up at the Beta.

‘All quiet Alpha, the caribou are down by the plains and are plentiful for a hunt later today, our scout is keeping track of them incase they move.’ The Beta said proudly. The Beta had always thought highly of himself and when everything worked out smoothly he was more than happy to tell Aniu of what a great job he was doing.

‘Well done…gather the pack now we will hunt soon before it gets dark.’ Aniu said standing up as the Beta nodded before running out of the den to gather the hunters.

‘When can I go hunting?’ Balto smiled looking up at his mother who laughed.

‘Not till you are a little older, now rest my son the pup-sitter will be here soon to look after you.’ Aniu started to walk towards the den entrance when Balto quickly jumped in front of her looking up at her with his bright brown eyes. ‘Promise me one day you will take me hunting!’

Smiling down at her only son Aniu nodded and nuzzled him, ‘Of course my son.’ With that she slowly walked out of the den just as an exhausted looking pup sitter walked past her and down into the den.

Outside Aniu could see that most of her pack had gathered and were talking and laughing just like they had when she was only a pup, the pack was happy again. Every since what happened with her family and brother Aniu had been put under so much strain and pressure to reorganize her pack and settle everyone down, but now for the first time she believe she had done it, her pack was at peace, they were happy, and so was she.

The hunting trip was a successful one and all the wolves had plenty to eat and by the time they were on their way home they were all about ready to collapse and sleep off their bloated bellies.

Whilst they walked Aniu was cheerfully talking to one of her pack mates when the Beta suddenly hushed everyone down. Everyone stopped talking and looked around trying to find out why the Beta had called an alarm.

Walking up to her Beta Aniu whispered to him, ‘Beta what is it?’ Aniu trusted his judgment and new if he was on edge then he wasn't faking it and there could possibly be danger.

‘Wait here…’ the Beta said softly as he motioned for two others to follow him to an area behind a group of huge trees.

Aniu and the others watched as the three wolves disappeared behind the trees and for what seemed like hours they were gone before finally the Beta and the others reappeared but one of them was carrying something…a rabbit perhaps?

As the Beta got closer and closer Aniu soon realized that the object looked alive and was whimpering. When the wolves finally reached Aniu they gently put down the small pup on the ground and it cowered into the snow. ‘We found this Alpha…a dog…’ The Beta spat looking down at the pup.

Looking down at the small pup Aniu nudged it gently with her nose as it whimpered a little before looking up at her with its big blue eyes, Aniu wasn’t sure what it was but at that very moment she could see that this pup needed her and that a special bond seemed to instantly form between them.

‘We should leave this area…man may be about and with this lost pup who knows what dangers we will be in if they try and retrieve it.’ The Beta said looking at Aniu who looked back up at him.

‘I agree we must leave this area…and we will take this helpless pup with us…’

‘What!’ The Beta cried out in disbelief. ‘If they look for it our tracks will be easy to follow…in all respect my Alpha I believe…’ Before he could finish he stopped as a snow flake fell on his nose causing him to sneeze abruptly.

‘The snow will cover our tracks…no men have ever come this far, we will be quite safe…now lets get back to the den before nightfall.’ Aniu said looking at her Beta who obediently nodded before turning around and leading the way. Bending down Aniu looked down at the pup before saying gently, ‘What is your name little one?’

‘Lucan…’ the pup said taking a step closer towards Aniu who smiled down at him.

‘Where have you come from?’

‘Lost.’ The pup stuttered looking confused.

‘Not any more.’ Aniu said gently as she picked him up and followed after the Beta.

Balto couldn’t sleep as he waited  because he knew any moment his mother would be back and he was starving! Hearing the sound of voices Balto jumped up on to his feet and ran past the pup sitter and up the den till he reached the surface. Looking through the group of wolves he instantly saw his mother, running forward to her so fast Balto didn’t even notice what she carrying as he snuggled up beside her paws. ‘Mum I have been waiting so long…’ Balto said wagging his tail and looking up at her and that’s when he noticed that she was carrying something.

Slowly Aniu put down Lucan on the ground and Balto looked at the pup who was a little smaller then he was. ‘Balto this…’ Aniu tried to think of the right words to say and when the perfect word came to her mind she smiled, ‘…this is your brother Lucan.’

Balto turned from his mother back to Lucan and smiled as he looked at him, Balto had always siblings and although it was obvious that he wasn’t a wolf Balto didn’t care because finally he had someone to play with. Lucan looked up at Balto and smiled weakly before looking back up at Aniu as she slowly pushed him forward towards Balto with her nose. ‘Lucan meant Balto.’ Aniu said and watched as the two pups looked at each other, Balto’s tail wagged madly behind him and Lucan confused but safe expression on his face.

Balto no longer felt hungry as he jumped around Lucan laughing, ‘Lucan come on I must show you everything!’ Balto said running towards the den and for a few moments Lucan stayed where he was feeling a little unsure as all the wolves watched him. Looking back at Aniu for a brief moment Lucan nervously took a step forward towards Balto who was waiting for him outside the den. ‘I always wanted a brother.’ Balto said as Lucan walked up beside him and the two exchanged a smile before disappearing underground.

Watching the two Aniu smiled as she turned to the Beta who still looked a little unsure but didn’t say anything as he walked away to attend other duties.

That night when all the wolves were fast asleep Balto was woken up by the sobs of another, opening his eyes he turned to his mother who asleep beside him and he decided not to wake her as he slowly walked towards the entrance of the den where he could hear the sobs coming from. ‘Lucan?’ Balto said walking into the moonlight and seeing Lucan trying to hide his face from Balto who walked up beside him. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘This world is so different…and I’m scared.’ Lucan admitted turning to Balto who looked a little unsure about what to say. 'I want to run away...but I have no where to go.'

‘Listen to me Lucan, being a wolf means always looking out for your pack mates…’

‘But I’m different, I'm not a wolf.’ Lucan looked away.

‘That doesn’t matter because you are one if us now…you’re my brother and I will look after you and so will our mother and our pack.’ Balto said looking up at the moon.

‘Thanks…brother.’ Lucan said turning to Balto as the two smiled before walking back down into the den.

The two brothers did everything together, they got into trouble together, played together, annoyed the Beta together and would go off exploring in secret together and whereever one was the other was and it wasn’t long before Lucan began to feel like a wolf and apart of the pack. Lucan could never remember much about his old life before he had gotten lost and was reluctant to tell anyone but Balto of the strange memories of the men and how they lived when he did remember.

The Beta male returned from a border patrol and saw Aniu watching over her two pups who were playing together in the sun, he took a deep breath before walking up to Aniu who turned to him, ‘How was the patrol Beta?’ she asked.

‘Very well Alpha…but there is something I need to tell you.’ Aniu turned to him with a worried expression. ‘I want to apologize for doubting you with that pup, I was only looking out for the best interests of the pack and I thought I was doing the right thing.’

Instantly Aniu relaxed and laughed. ‘Beta you are my Beta because you look after the pack and I would expect no less from you than to do anything and everything to protect this pack and I respect you for help which has been invaluable.’ The Beta looked shocked as he smiled trying to shrug it off.

‘I just do my best Alpha and I am glad I am doing a good job.’ With that beta walked away as Aniu turned back to her pups who walked up to her.

‘That beta is so funny.’ Balto laughed