son.  She was used to having a scent or something that gave her a head start.  But on this search, she had to start from scratch. 

She started from the place she had met Balto.  Doubling back after the hybrid left, she searched for a scent.  Finding none save Balto’s, she went to the street and her search gave fruit.  There was a scent that was faint but was almost like Balto’s except it was somewhat different.  Now she had a scent she went throughout the streets following the scent until she came to the gate Kodi had found earlier. 

He has led me on this goose chase only to go outside where it’s going to ten times harder to find him she sighed.  Well, I can hope he did not go far     

She shoved the gate open and found herself looking at the plain.  She walked a ways out and sniffed the grass.  Kodi was here…and two horses as well she knew far too well what a horse could do to a dog if angry.  It took one kick and one can learn how to fly very quickly then learn how it’s like to hit a rock or tree without any protection.  She only hoped that Kodi didn’t anger the horses he met here. 

Moving farther in the grass she discovered that Kodi ran off chasing them.  I hope he only chased them because of a game she thought.  Otherwise I would not bear to tell Balto if he died The Grey leaped into a run following the trampled long grass praying that the three hadn’t gone too far. 

 

Balto crept to a side gate in the west wall of When.  He had searched everywhere in the village for Kodi all the while staying out of sight of the town dogs.  He had searched everywhere except the outside.  He pushed the gate open and saw before him green swirling grass that rolled for miles.  Never had he seen something so vast up close.  A soft wind upon him and he welcomed it with a sigh.  It was filled with the scent of flowers and grass.  It so felt relaxing.  Just then hoof beats nearby bought him out of his trance.  Turning he turned to see the entire Whenian Herd thundering towards him. 

The one who led the herd was a stallion whose hue was grey outlined with black.  His muzzle had a black and white stripe that ran from his nose to his forehead.  His eyes were outlined in white.  His tail, mane, and socks were black as the night.  The sight of him startled the hybrid.

Apparently, so was the stallion.  He stopped locked kneed forcing himself to a stop and he stared at Balto.  All the other horses stopped around him and followed his gaze.  One of the stallions from the back said, “Lyon, what do you see?”

“A hybrid from the looks of him,” said Lyon.  His voice was filled unexpected compassion and peacefulness that did not match his color at all.  “And I believe I know his heritage.”  His eyes hadn’t left Balto.  “Peace, stranger, and sooth and tell us your name.” 

Balto was caught unexpected but he replied, “My name is Balto the hybrid the blood of a husky and wolf runs through my veins.”

Many stallion and mares shielded and shied nervously at the mention of the wolf heritage.  Lyon glanced at them. 

“Are you able to control yourself?” he asked. 

“What do you mean?” asked the hybrid. 

“Can you control your wolf self?” 

Balto realized that they were afraid that he would turn on them and slaughter them as a wolf would do when the blood rose in anger. 

“I can.” he replied.  Some of the stallions relaxed but some of the mares eyes him still, uncertain.  “Pray, tell me your name Head Stallion.”

Lyon nickered.  “I am Lyon the Forsaken, war horse to Curn wielder of Jerec.  I am not the head of the Whenian Herd but regent until the Head Stallion returns.” 

“Where is he now?”

“Why do you want to know?” asked one of the younger stallions whose color was tan, an edge on his voice. 

“Peace, Nikoe,” said Lyon sternly.  Nikoe backed down his head low but he asked again, the edge gone from his voice. 

“Why do you want to know where our Head Stallion is?  Do mean to do him ill?”

Balto shook his head.  “Nay, I wouldn’t.  I need his help and his permission.”

Lyon shook his head.  “Permission for what, may I ask?”

“Permission to see the herd up close so that—“  Balto’s words were cut off as Lyon laughed. 

“Balto the hybrid, can you not see that we stand near each other without fear?  Come and be welcome among us.” he turned his neck towards those behind him.  “No harm is to come upon him, is it clear?”

Whinnies and knickers responded with enthusiasm.  Just then a foal that the hybrid hadn’t spotted before bolted forward before its mother could stop him.  He was brown with white socks; his eyes seemed to glow with unusual intelligence.  He stopped right in from of Balto and sniffed him.  Balto did the same to the colt.  Then playfully the colt knocked him on the side of the head and whinnied playfully.  The mother ran up to the two.

“Vorgan, watch your manners!”  She faced Balto.  “Peace, hybrid, my colt did not mean harm.” 

“He did not do me ill,” replied Balto.  “I welcome his playfulness.”

Lyon reared on his hind legs, stretching them.  He then pulled Balto aside.  “The Head Stallion here is December, a brown stallion who has a white star on his forehead and also white socks.  He goes by the name Decem, so his name doesn’t get confused with the season.”

Balto nodded and then asked, “Where can I find him?”

Lyon shook his black, grey, and white mane.  “We were searching for him ourselves, not that we were worried, just as an excuse to gallop around When.  We think he is on the east side of When with one of our mares, June the Paint mare, warhorse to Baltheis, Dragon Captain of When.”

“I’ll come with you, for I would like to meet the two,” Balto said.  “Especially June, for I’ve met Baltheis and is his shoulder friend.  Lyon’s eyes widened and he smiled.

“I a, honored to meet a friend of Baltheis,” he said bowing.  “My master, Curn, is also his shoulder friend.  The two humans are sometimes known as “The warrior who is two” because their strength, skill, magic, and master abilities are equal in both men.”       

   The stallion lifted his head and reared.  “Come!  Let’s go run for enjoyment and liberty!” he cried.  He whinnied and galloped away through the long green grass.  Whinnying and rearing as well, the herd followed, throwing up clogs of grass as they went.  With a bark of enthusiasm, Balto leaped after them, his wolf heritage allowing him to stay with the herd as they ran.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Southern Fire and Southern Snow

 

 

Kodi laughed as he dodged Decem’s attempted to get him with his muzzle.  Being small gave him much agility that proved very irritating to the stallion.  June joined in his laughter as the Brown stallion missed again.  Then she cried out in warning as a man came running amongst them.  Kodi jumped back as the man drew a white sword from its sheath.  June reared to meet the human, her hooves flailing.  Sparks flew as her hooves struck the steel blade.  Kodi just watched in amazement for the mare’s hooves weren’t bone soft at all but as heard as steel, no, even harder.  As the husky watched he suddenly leaped away, in instinct, as a dark cloaked figure flew over him.  It was another human wielding a red bladed sword that was red as blood.  He struck at the man wielding the white sword.  Rain of sparks flew everywhere as the swords struck.  Then the two men were dancing away only to come to gather again, seconds later.  They moved so fast that Kodi could only see a blur and once and a while the faces of the wielders. 

The husky felt a tap on his shoulder.  He turned to see a grey husky in front of him.  His mother stood before him.  He shook his head and looked again.  She had the resemblance of his dam but her coloring wasn’t at all like hers.  And her eyes were two different colors: her left eye was blue while her right eye was yellow. 

“Are thouest Kodi, son of Balto?” she asked.  Kodi blinked, not understanding, then he understood. 

“I am,” he said, jumping out of the way of Decem who was circling the two men along with June.  Then the grey husky caught sight of the two men. 

“Behold Orliene and Patinr!” she cried. 

“Lo! June! Decem! Hist away!” cried a voice. 

The two horses and huskies turned to see the entire Whenian herd thundering towards them.  The stallion who had spoken was a stallion colored grey, black, and white.  A brown hybrid followed at his side.

“Dad!” cried Kodi.

“Balto the hybrid!” exclaimed Laren. 

“Kodi! Jen-“ Balto caught himself.  “Laren!” Then he spotted the two men dueling and he recognized the man wielding the white sword.  “Baltheis!”

The man wielding the red sword paused as if in surprise.

“You can-arck!”  His head made contact with an elbow that Baltheis threw at him and as the man was backing away, Baltheis weaved Larkan beneath the hilt of the red blade and disarmed him with a flick of his wrist.

June whinnied approvingly as the black-grey-white stallion walked over to the defeated man on the ground

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