remain in wolf form forever.  It was part of Denifence’s curse.”

            “Visious!”  Jenna barked angrily.

            Though he had never heard that word before or known its origins, Balto understood what she said.  Curse him!

            “What!” he exclaimed.  Jenna looked at him in surprise.

            “What is it, nephew?”

            “Why did you curse him?”

            Aniu stepped forward.  “Sister, he can understand the ancient language.”

            Jenna looked at her, still surprised. “How?  He hasn’t had lessons or—“

            “He is my son,” the white wolf said calmly. “He was born with that talent along with many others.”

            Balto’s memory flashed back to when Baltheis raised his hand and shouted something at him and a wind blew the coffee table he was under off him. 

            “Hirda!” He had said.  Wind!

            “Mother,” He said.  “What is the ancient language?” 

            Aniu shook her head as Jenna stepped forward. “It is time for us to depart,” She said. “The answer you see will come to you in time.”

Then a multicolored star appeared on her forehead and the Balto felt himself falling backward, away from the light. 

            Then he awoke.   

             

 

The Forest of Compassian

 

           

            Alue blinked away weariness as the dawn rose in her eyes.  Shadow lay beside her still ever since they entered the portal and found themselves not in Alaska, but in a whole new time and place. 

            Half of her pack had entered the cave with her when they heard that the old goose, Boris, had gone in there.  Only eight of the thirty-six were still with her. Where the others went, she did not know. For a whole day, they searched and explored the woods that they had found themselves, finding much like food, water, and other stray wolves.  But they were not part of the original pack.  But they joined Alue and their pack began to grow. 

            Just then Alue sensed another wolf behind her. Turning, she saw Snowfoot, a young grey-white wolf who had joined them a day before.

            “Good morning, Snowfoot,” she said, nodding her head.

            “Good morning, Mistress Alpha,” he said, lowering his body to the ground, his ears laid back.  Alue touched her nose to his.

            “Come, now,” she said gently.  “There is no need to do so.”

            “It is my duty to do so,” said the young wolf. “As an insubordinate—“

            “I wish that you would not do that.” Alue said sternly now.  Snowfoot’s lips twitched into what would’ve been a smile. 

            “Two early risers, aye?” came a voice behind the two.  It was Shadow.  He was smiling.  “Despite the fact that we have no idea where we are, the scenery is pretty lovely.”

            Alue nodded, her blue eyes reflecting the beautiful dawn’s light.  Unlike other wolves, Alue’s irises remained puppy blue instead of turning yellow. She smiled to herself.  Many who were born in the land they came upon called her “the blind seer” because of this, not that she disliked the title.  She accepted it after a whole day of being called “the blind seer”.  Then she learned that “the blind seer” is name given to those who were born like her, whose irises remained blue instead of turning yellow. A soft wind blew through the forest, lifting Alue’s spirits in its warmth.

            Never before had she been in a peaceful place such as this.  Food was plentiful, the water was fresh, and the air was refreshing and cool.  In doubt this place was the most beautiful place that she had ever set foot on.

            However, something about the forest kept her from feeling what the other wolves felt.  Instead of peace, happiness, and relaxation she felt alert, jumpy, and just about fearful of her surroundings. 

            Just then another wolf joined them.  Her yellow eyes glittered in the sunlight as she switched her gaze from wolf to wolf.  “First we lose friends we haven’t even met, then we go exploring into a forest that seems to satisfy everyone’s needs, and then we wake up to a beautiful sunrise.  Could anything get better of worse?” 

            Alue couldn’t help but smile at the she-wolf’s words.  “Moonlight,” she said.  “I have no idea if you’re happy, disappointed, angry, or irritated.”

            Moonlight grinned slightly; one of her ears flipped down, a sign of mischief and then went to wake a fellow wolf who was sleeping within a tree trunk.

            “Lucind,” she said.  “Come now, pup, we don’t have all day.”

            Lucind, who was really was a pup growled at the older she-wolf.  “Leave me, Moon,” he said, his ears flattened and his fangs blared.  “I am no early riser who likes to be awakened.”

            “I’m sorry, oh great pup,” said Moonlight. “But you are already awake and it seems to me that if I do leave this opening the sunlight will pour into this den of yours and make it impossible for you to sleep.”

            Lucind scoffed and turned his back to Moonlight. “My back can block out the light,” he said.  “You’ll see.”

            Alue could barely keep back her laughter. Though the two were not related in blood both half-grown and pup acted as if they were brother and sister.  When she had met Lucind, Alue learned that he did have a sister but they got separated months ago.  And now he joined up with her pack hoping to find his sister. Alue closed her eyes and tried to remember the pup’s sister’s name.  Then her eyes snapped open as she remembered.  Lucinda.  It was Lucinda. 

            Upon remembering the name, Alue suddenly felt herself rising into the air.  looking down she saw Shadow shouting franticly to her body as it lay still as dead. Looking in front of herself Alue saw a flash of light then everything went white.

 

 

The Envoy of Jenika and the Grey Wolf

 

           

            The plains were not what the envoy of Jenika expected.  Instead of a land filled with roaming bandits and savages, which he had heard from the king of Jenika himself say, it was a peaceful, beautiful, and futile land. The envoy leaned back on the saddle and saddle and sighed.  Was the king mad?

           

 

 

            Balto gazed out on the plains, enjoying the peacefulness it supplied.  JennaHe thought.  If only you were here to experience what I’m feeling…

            Upon waking up, the hybrid walked into the village, searching for his son.  He found Kodi with Laren and a huge black dog.  Laren introduced him as her father, Black, who well known for his color.  Balto liked him immediately for his nature.  Black loved to joke as well as get into mischief.  But Balto knew that the dog was kind, loving and compassionate at heart and was a good father.  The two were having a conversation when Baltheis, Curn, and two dozen horsemen rode past.  Balto excused himself from Black and called to Baltheis.  To Baltheis and Curn, he was asking, “Where are you going?”  But to a soldier and villager it was a series of barks.

            “We are going to meet an envoy from Jenika,” said Baltheis. 

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