Balto (The Revelation)
Chapter 17 – Night at The Caves



 The day was already night. The cave’s condition was good, even many wolves were injured. Luckily for them, they survived the battle with no death. They only had several wounds, resting for a week would be good for them. Both of Luka and Reina also needed to rest, especially Reina. Since she wasn’t so good at fighting, she took more damages than she expected before. Instead of the white wolf, Luka had none of injuries, but he extremely exhausted from the war. He looked like so because he slept peacefully without worrying anything again. Although everything went back to normal, Balto still had one problem. That problem now was facing at him.

 “Umm… Jenna… Please understand…” Balto tried to talk with his mate, hesitated to go further, “I just did it to save our family. I just don’t want you hurt.”

 Jenna didn’t give the answer, only her breath came out. The red husky seemed angry, but she didn’t show to Balto. Even she hid it well, the brown wolf could feel deep inside her, there was a volcano that ready to explode.

 “Jenna…” Balto continued, but cut off when Jenna scratched his left cheek.

 “You don’t know how much I suffer, do you?” Jenna looked angry, “You left me there without saying anything. At least, you could tell me what happened!”

 “But I don’t want you’re involved in this case!” Balto shouted back, his scratch began bleeding, “I don’t want to see something bad happen to you! Since they came looking for me for the first time, I’m so scared they will hurt my family…”

 “That’s not reason for you to…” Jenna interrupted.

 “Whatever!” Balto cut off hardly, “It’s my decision! If you want to hate me, then do it! As long as you and the others are safe, I don’t care what will happen to me! That’s the final!”

 “Balto…” Jenna began crying.

 Jenna suddenly rushed forward Balto, hugging him with loud cry from her. She nuzzled his only mate lovingly like she never met him for years. The brown wolf self could only let her do what she wanted. He knew it was his fault and he must pay it in a hard way. He nuzzled back Jenna, letting her to know there was nothing to be worried about. Both of them curled around silently, only their feeling that would talk. From a distance, Kodi and Saba were quite happy to find out their family was back again. At least, they would understand each other better from now on.

 “I guess they’re back to normal,” Saba started, yawning, “Now, I think I need to sleep…”

 “Surely…” Kodi smiled, looking above, “It’s a hard day.”

 Both of Kodi and Saba went ahead, but before they did it, Luka and Reina came into their way. Reina already seemed fine enough while Luka looked very tired. Even the grey wolf didn’t hurt, he did his best to fight those black wolves earlier. That wasted his energy greatly.

 “Hey, there!” Kodi greeted, “Are you two alright?”

 “I’m fine. Maybe you just need to worry about her…” Luka answered, looking at Reina, “You need to rest, Reina. Now I’ll be on my duty tonight.”

 “On duty? What do you mean?” Saba looked confused, “Don’t you need some rest too?”

 “Perhaps so…” Luka replied, “But since many had been injured, there was no one to guard this place, except me.”
 “But you looked very tired now…” Saba replied, looking at Luka worriedly, “You can’t stand the night.”

 “I have to…” Luka smiled, then leaving everyone and going to entrance.

 Soon, the grey wolf walked toward, leaving for guarding this empty place. Saba who worried about his condition was following him from behind, examining how much his remaining spirit in this night. Meanwhile, Reina went to the comfortable spot nearby, trying to get a rest. Even she tired to close her eyes, her uncovered pain still gave her a sting. The wounds were fine, not bleeding anymore, but still, the opened wounds needed time to heal.

 “Can’t sleep, huh?” Kodi suddenly asked, coming to Reina, “Are you okay with those wounds?”

 “I guess so…” Reina smiled, “Those black wolves really were very tough. I couldn’t get them without being beaten badly.”

 “That’s because you weren’t careful before…” Kodi replied, laying down beside her, “That’s why you got that wounds much.”

 “You don’t make me feel better…” Reina replied, looking ridiculously at Kodi.

 “Sorry…” Kodi grinned, then looking the other direction, “So, I guess this is your second accident, don’t you?”

 “What do you mean?” Reina asked hesitantly.

 The male red husky just stared at him, checking what her thought. His gaze to her looked like he was scanning her memory. Reina suddenly felt guilty. Lying right now to him wouldn’t be so good.

 “When did you know that?” Reina asked.

 “Well…” Kodi started, “After looked your wounds before at town, I noticed something strange about it. There was a big scratch in your wounds, and I’m perfectly sure it wasn’t because falling from rocks…”

 “I’m sorry for lying to you but your father only wanted to protect you, Kodi…” Reina smiled to Kodi, then yawning and closing her eyes, “Now if you excuse me, I want to sleep.”

 “Oh… Okay then…” Kodi replied, “Good night… and one thing… We must race at the next time. Now I’m sure I can beat you.”

 “Kodi…” Reina smiled warmly, chuckling about his childish act, “Good night…”

 Reina slowly drifted into deep sleep, taking her own dream. Kodi who saw her sleeping just smiled to look how peaceful her face when she did that. She looked like an angel, flying in dream world. Although the caves were creepy from now on, she wasn’t afraid at all. The red husky then soon took his leaving, away from her while finding a nice spot to sleep.

 “Now…” he thought, “Where I can sleep well tonight?”
 

 “Still serious, huh?” Saba suddenly asked to Luka, making him turned to her.

 The grey wolf then noticed a female red husky were staring at him, moving closer to where he laid down. Although he looked like guarding the caves, his eyes didn’t tell so. It wanted to close soon badly. Even Saba could see that thing clearly.

 “I bet you can’t stand all the night with those eyes…” Saba started, smiling at Luka, “Your eyes tell me already…”

 “I knew that…” Luka replied with tired eyes, “But I must do this… so if you don’t mind, I have to keep watching this place.”

 “Hey, maybe I can help you!” Saba began spirited, “I can watch this place for all the night too, can I?”

 “Thank you, but it’s not necessary,” Luka replied calmly, “I can do it by myself…”

 “C’mon, let me help you!” Saba smiled, standing before him playfully, “Beside, it’s boring alone here.”

 Luka gazed her carefully, continuing his argument with her. She insisted to tag along, but he thought it would be more trouble if she came with him. Instead of having serious with this duty, she acted like a child, playfully took it like she was playing right now. Yet Luka knew he couldn’t count on her during the time. He then sighed, standing in front of the red husky.

 “Your playfully behavior doesn’t suit for this job…” Luka gazed deeply at Saba, “This job requires someone who always aware and serious about the situation around, and you…, you always think it’s a part of playing. So, do you understand now?”

 “I… I… I’m so sorry, Luka…” Saba hung her head down, came a sound of her crying silently, “I didn’t mean to disturb you…”

 “Great…” Luka thought, watching Saba was covering her eyes, “Now she is crying… What have you done, Luka?”

 The wild wolf felt guilty, knowing he already had made her crying. He didn’t mean that earlier, just wanted to tell her how dangerous his duty was. But now, it was useless. The red husky already fell into his words before, only closing her eyes with her paws. Luka then moved closer to her under the light of moon.

 “Please don’t cry, Saba…” Luka started, whispering to her, “I’m sorry for telling it to you before… I mean you can stay here as long as you want but I want you to be aware… just that…”

 “Really?” Saba replied, still closing her eyes, “Promise me that you will never going on like that.”

 “I promise, Saba…” Luka felt guilty.

 “So…” Saba continued, suddenly opening her eyes that full of surprise and happiness, “I can stay here tonight!”

 “What?” Luka was startled, surprised of the sudden change of Saba’s mood, “Uhh… You made fool