Balto (The Revelation)
Chapter 19 – Just Talking



 Kodi walked slowly among the different place he ever saw. He looked around, trying to figure out where he went and where he was now. The caves looked same every time he rushed in. Perhaps, he had to admit he was lost, yet he didn’t want to admit that embarrassing words. He would humiliate himself. The red husky then kept guessing until Reina notice him from the distance.

 “Kodi?” Reina moved closer to him, making the red husky felt relieved, “What are you looking for? You seem lost?”

  “What? I? Lost?” Kodi replied hesitantly, trying to cover the real of him, “Are you kidding? I’m not lost. I’m just wandering around… you know, because it’s very boring in here…”

 “Oh… alright…” Reina smiled warmly, “I’m going now. Just see me if you need something. Bye, then!”

 “Hey, wait!” Kodi rushed to her, looking at the white wolf, “Umm… I think I will keep close to you. You know, maybe I can find something interesting out here.”

 “Well…” Reina thought for a while, “Okay if you want it…”

 Both of dog and wolf were walking together. Around them, they found many wolves were hanging around just after their wounds were fine enough to let them did their chores. Still, it was good to see everyone was back to themselves.

 “The situation will be getting worse by the time…” Reina began spook, turning to Kodi, “Do you think we can survive?”

 “Why you ask that?” Kodi asked confusingly, “I saw nothing worst here. Look! Everyone is safe now…”

 “That’s not what I mean,” Reina chuckled, “The Alpha maybe has already predicted this… that we or them will attack each other sooner or later.”

 “What?” Kodi seemed shocked, stopping his pace quickly, “I never thought about it! Is there any chance to avoid that? I mean this fighting only hurt more people…”

 “Yeah, I know, Kodi…” Reina smiled warmly, “But this is the only way of wolves. Here in the nature, we must protect our clan against anyone who can interfere with our safety.”

 By explaining it to Kodi, the white wolf kept walking slowly to the entrance while leaving Kodi behind. The red husky still thought about what his friend said. The nature was so hard to them, unlike his home with human. Kodi was thinking for a moment that it would be wonderful if every wolf in here could get together with humans so they wouldn’t have to fight or survive in this nature. With that thought, he caught up with Reina in front of the entrance of the caves.

 “The moon is so shiny this night…” Reina began, smiling to the moon she gazed, “Are you agree with me, Kodi?”

 “Yeah, sure!” Kodi quickly answered after he caught up with her from behind, “Sure, the moon is very beautiful…”

 “Beautiful?” Reina looked hesitantly at Kodi, “I said it’s so shiny, not very beautiful.”

 “What’s different?” Kodi replied back.

 “Yeah, you’re right…” Reina sighed, “What’s different? I don’t know if I could see the moon again…”

 “Hey, don’t say that!” Kodi exclaimed, turning over to Reina, “You can’t just let go all your hope. Anyway, you still have a promise to me…”

 “Promise?” Reina asked, not knowing what the red husky meant, “What promise?”

 “It’s a race!” Kodi replied happily, “We still have a rematch. Never think you’re going to miss it easily.”

 “Did I promise that?” Reina began to remember again, “I thought that was your challenge alone, not involving me…”

 “How could you say that?” Kodi asked playfully, hopping around, “Well, how about this? Let take a race now!”

 “But, I have to guard this place…” Reina replied, “Maybe the enemies are going to launch their attack once again.”

 “C’mon!” Kodi said impatiently, “Just one lap! It won’t hurt you! Or perhaps, you’ve already lost your touch…”

 “But, Kodi…” Reina pleaded, but the red husky seemed more spirited.

 The female white wolf couldn’t help, but chuckled as soon as she saw the red husky was trotting around impatiently. It seemed he couldn’t stand against his feet. Those four feet gave him more spirit than anything. Reina then sighed, coming closer to Kodi.

 “Okay, just once!” Reina giggled, taking her position beside him, “After that, I have to guard the caves.”

 “You’ll be sorry you had already beaten me in first place…” Kodi replied, taking his position as well as he did, “Maybe, you can give up now.”

 “Maybe not now,” Reina replied back, grinning at him.

 “Okay then, if you say so…” Kodi replied confidently, motioning over the the rocks at the distance, “The finish at there!”

 “Alright!” Reina began spirited.

 Without any warning, both of them rushed away to the open field out there. At first, Kodi was on the lead, but followed closely by Reina behind at the first quarter. The white wolf began catching up at the same position as Kodi when the race was only in half distance. Kodi then quickly unleashed everything he had on his own feet. He didn’t want to loose again. He fastened his pace, gripping the ground below in order to get good momentum to rush. Slowly but sure, he left Reina behind, and he began running away far. Yet, one Kodi didn’t know was the battlefield. Being the wild animal since little, Reina had an advantage on this area. She knew exactly where she must move or not. And with that, she caught up with Kodi again. Before Kodi could reach the finish line, the white wolf had already reached it first. The different between them was very small in time matter.

 “I lost again…” Kodi thought, catching up his breath, “Why I can’t just win?”

 “Happy now?” Reina suddenly asked.

 “Huh?” Kodi was startled, looking at Reina, “This is not over yet. We have to do it again.”

 “Again?” Reina asked unbelievingly, “Oh, Kodi. You said just once.”

 “I mean when I get my victory just for once…” Kodi replied.

 “Kodi…” Reina smiled, laughing at his childish act.

 From her point of view, the red husky reminded her about the happiest memory she ever had. Memory she had forgotten and lost for few years. She began remembering back after watching Kodi’s behavior when he lost. She was just like him when she was little. Then, the white wolf did something awkward to him. Something he never predicted before. She nuzzled him right on his neck.

 At first, Kodi felt weird. He wanted to get out from it quickly, but as soon as the time kept flowing, he found it was good. It was really good for him. He never felt something like that before. The feeling was warm, hypnotizing every muscle in him to stop. He then wished she never stopped. He just wanted she kept nuzzling him. It removed any worry on him. Before the red husky could feel more, Reina released her nuzzle, looking at Kodi.

 “Sorry, Kodi…” Reina began smiled, “I just remember my past…”

 “Your past?” Kodi asked, trying his best to cover his blushed face before, “Well, I think your past is really great…”

 “Huh?” Reina replied confusingly as soon as she saw Kodi’s blushed face, “How do you know?”

 “Well…” Kodi replied, not mentioning her nuzzle before, “I’m… I’m just guessing…”

 “Yeah…” Reina sighed, remembering back, “You reminded me about my father.”

 “Your father?” Kodi asked curiously, “Do I look like your father?”

 “No… Kodi…” Reina smiled, “But your childish behavior before reminded me... When I was little, I remembered I was look like you. I’m so childish when I was with my father… Every time I wanted something, I always nuzzled him.”

 “Oh, I see…” Kodi hung his head down, “I thought you… you…, you know what I’m saying is…”

 “Yes…” Reina looked at Kodi, “What it is?”

 “Well… I don’t know how to explain it…” Kodi replied nervously, “When you nuzzled me, I thought you… you li… you li…”

 “Lie?” Reina answered.

 “No!” Kodi exclaimed, then catching up his breath, “Sorry, I mean you… like… me…”

 “Of course, I like you, Kodi!” Reina answered, smiling at him.

 Kodi didn’t believe what he heard about him. Somebody finally liked him, or maybe loved him. He never thought it would be a wolf. He always assumed he didn’t need girl, but when he felt the surge feeling of this strange thing, he just felt he would like it. His blushed face suddenly appeared again.

 “I like all of my friends…” Reina continued, making Kodi suddenly