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Very nice job on the very first Muru fanfic,it was really enjoyable.

Thanks a lot! I thought I needed to work on something different for a change, and I had no idea if anyone had written a fic about Muru yet. Besides, he's so mysterious that we don't know anything else about him except that he's a spirit, he likes crystal prisms and his parents are Kahu and Quillac. I just added a whole bunch of other things to make the fic work. The next part's coming up soon, so get ready!

(Quick question: Did you cry at the ending of the second part? If you did, you'll bawl on the third . . . seriously.)

- Juuchan17

I most certainly did cry at the end,and,heh,heh,I can't wait to bawl at the end of it. ~~C.J.

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

"Proven Worthy" was one of those oneshot fics that just . . . came to me all of a sudden. And BOOM . . . I started writing. Actually, I had only planned it to be a very short story, but I started making the characters so interesting (especially Starlight . . . she's such an intriguing husky) . . . and I couldn't stop it.

Keep on reading, you guys!

- Juuchan17

I know I've said this a million times before.. but all of your work is amazing and I can't wait to see more! bring it on!

UPDATE: 4/15/08

Just a quick little ditty today (it's past midnight here!) - I have a new fic up on Lion King Source!

An Impulse of Heart - a one-shot Nala fic. Please check it out when you get a moment!

And yes, I am still working on the finale for "Sparkle in your Eyes" and several other stories, so please don't PM me, okay? It's makes Balto cry.

Anywho, I am working on the next parts of "StarCrossed - a Balto version of Romeo and Juliet", and a couple of others. I have also started a fic about Steele and his past, so expect that to be finished very soon!

Other than that, I'll be seeing you in the galleries!

- Juuchan17

Yes! Huzzah! *throws up arms*
I've been waiting for news on the end of Sparkle, and it's nice to know that it is a work in progress. Can't wait to see the ending. I'm so, so excited.
And Starcrossed, you say? Heck yes! I've only see the prologue and I'm already hooked. Yes, I know it's a Romeo and Juliet crossover, and I know in that case there's really only one reasonable ending...but I like to hope that it won't happen. It makes my reaction to the ending all the more violent... *ahem*

Anyways, keep at it!
-LWf

Well, Lone Wolf, I think everyone that has faved me on the site is awaiting the finale for "SParkle" . . . but the truth is that I have ignored it for a while. (I know, I know . . . I've been very bad!) But don't worry! I've thought things over and I'm working on fleshing out the story for the big finale. Maybe I'll post a little snippet sneaky peek next week or something.

And about "StarCrossed" - the ending will be true to the Shakespeare tragedy . . . however, I be a fan-fic writer . . . the actual ending will surprise you! But I'm not going to give things away. (I'm working with Steele's character in the story . . . he's actually a bit more likeable here, so I hope there won't be any hard feelings to the die-hard Steele fans!)

Until next time, buddy!

- Juuchan17

UPDATE: 4/25/08

New fic!

Steele: Carpe Diem - A tale of the proud Malamute's past . . . and how he struggled through near death to become who he was in the first movie.

The first part will be up in my gallery soon! Be sure to read it while you await the finale for "Sparkle In Your Eyes!"

- Juuchan17

*I apologize . . . triple post!*

To add to my previous update, here's a short sneak peek to the final part of "Sparkle in Your Eyes!"

(Note: Things will make sense if you've read the first two parts of the story in my gallery!)

The grounded boat was covered by the sparkling glitter of the night sky as the four creatures slept close together within the safety of the large room that was once a captain’s quarters. A few large clouds covered the light of the moon and most of the northern constellations surrounding the lunar sphere, decorating the land with light snowflakes to tickle the nose. It was still winter in Alaska, meaning that it could snow whenever the weather gods above preferred.

The night made the gray-brown wolf-dog underneath the blanket smile with happiness and joy as he snored. Beside him lay a large bunch of mixed wildflowers, tied together with a thin white string-like rope; their soft scent made him sleep with much relief and serenity, especially because his dreams were filled with the kind words and praises of his purebred husky mate at the sight of the lovely flowers that he would give her.

Hours ago in the previous day, Muk and Luk – two polar bear cubs – had informed him of a large hidden field of Alaskan wildflowers that still grew despite the cold winter season. As the three of them left, Boris, the Russian snow gander, stayed behind to guard their home and silently watch for any intruders that may sneak around their territory. After about an half-hour of traveling and making their way past the human town of Nome towards the mountains that lined the western side of the town, the three of them arrived, taking in every fragrant scent of each different blossom and of the organic palette that stood in front of them. The selection process was a bit difficult for the wolf-dog, but as he sampled each wild bloom, he thought only of his mate until he had his jaws filled with a romantic bouquet of colorful winter flora.

The Valentine’s Day celebration is tomorrow night, Balto thought as the warmth of a polar bear’s fur coat cushioned his head. But I’m ready for it to arrive now . . . I have her gift ready and there’s nothing that can stand in my way of making Jenna happy.

What could possibly go wrong?

------------------

Ah-hahahahah. I warned you it was short! You have to wait until I finish up to read what happens next!

Also, for you Shakespearean fans out there, here's a sneak peek to the beginning of "StarCrossed" - Act I: Introductions!

------------------

Our story begins on a sacred day,
Where both families come out to play;
Yet what begins within this morning hour
Only makes existence of Destiny’s power . . .

It was a peaceful mid-morning in the streets of Nome, Alaska. The year was 1925, some time into the late winter, when snow still fell almost daily and remained for the locals to tread their feet upon constantly until the hopes of a warm spring sun melted it away.

At this time of day, the common human folk that were up at this time were out doing their normal deeds: early church services in the town cathedral, beginning their Sunday brunch within the shelters of their cozy houses, or for a few desperate townspeople, who wished to earn a little extra allowance, were selling their wares and belongings down on the Main Street Market. Most people wouldn’t step out of their houses for at least another couple of hours since it was a Sunday, so most of the streets were empty in the morning. Of course, this town was mainly famous for its dogs and its usefulness for the reliable yet old-fashioned method of transportation, so they too had earned their freedom to roam without the use of a harness and leash.

It was proper manner to have the local huskies and other breeds to mingle amongst themselves in friendly gossip and chatter, but now with the feud between the purebred racing huskies of the Capulets and the untamable wild children of the Montagues still much ablaze within the city limits, even during these times of freedom, brawls were not a common thing to happen . . . especially in the presence of the innocent.

Three sledding dogs, each working huskies by birth, began to strut from the alleyways near the wealthier side of town. Each wore a thick sepia-colored collar made of leather with a silver ring donning the center, showing that they were sled dogs.

The tallest one in the center of the trio, an orange-brown male with beige markings and a brown patch on his left eye, spoke up first. “My friends, let us walk with our kinsmen today. There is no race today, so today shall be our day of rest.”

“Indeed!” The shortest of the three replied. He was a medium shade of brown with pudgy legs and markings of beige covering his face and underbelly and three thick blotches of dark brown stripes marking his back. “Well stated there, Kaltag!”

“Of course!” Kaltag answered back to his companions, placing his paws around his smaller companion. “Today is going to be the most relaxing-est, the most incredible, the most exciting-est . . .”

“It’s gonna be totally fun!” The third husky, a thin light grayish-colored husky with light beige markings around his face, chest and paws and a series of brown stripes on his back, completed the tall one’s sentence followed by a fit of uncontrollable laughter. He was quickly subdued by a strong whack against the top of the head by the orange husky, in which the thin male collapsed onto the ground of snow and dirt with a splat.

“You know, it’s hard to believe that Star has the blood of the Capulets in him too,” the short one said. “One of his stupidity is meant to be a part of them Montagues there, eh?”

Kaltag laughed in response. “Ha! You said it, Nikki!” His companion joined the laughter as Star began to arise from his punishment. Star had no recollection of what his fellow Capulets were talking about, so he was clueless about their comment; however, they meant well, for they were all friends and relatives of one another.

“Come on, youse guys,” Nikki walked in the lead, his tiny ears pricking towards the Main Street of Nome. “Let’s go talking with the normal dogs and hope that by some chance of fate, we will have a rumble by afternoon!”

He treaded forward, with Kaltag close behind him and Star towed in the back. With their pride in their faces, the trio of Capulets went on their merry way, entering the booming area where their friends and relatives awaited their company. Of course, they were still laughing, hooting and having a good time, hoping that they would have a little fun.

Meanwhile as the trio of huskies made their way into the town, another group of canines were also entering the town’s street. Seven figures varying in height and build remained in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to begin their promenade through Main Street.

“Is it safe yet?” One of the larger figures asked another. “I can’t see nothing in this alley!”

“Shh!” A small, thin-necked creature that had a mix of a Russian-Yiddish accent in its voice replied. “We won’t be safe if you keep talking so loud like that, Nuk!”

The other large animal leaned forward, peering its piercing blue eyes out onto the street. “It looks safe enough to me. I promised Monty we would get in town, come out, and not cause a riot, unless it becomes necessary to fight.”

“Of course, Niju,” One of the smaller and thinner creatures agreed. “If those Capulets cause any more trouble for us, they’re . . . well, they’re gonna wish they were never born!” It let out a nervous set of chuckles. “Right, Sumac?”

“Oh, yeah,” The final canine answered his kinsman. “Yeah, we’ll show ‘em some of our ‘trademarking’ Montague fighting spirit, . . . right?” He added a couple of awkward-sounding guffaws afterwards, but he quickly silenced when he realized that no one else in the group joined him or even understood why his comment was funny in the first place.

A quick, yet muffled whimper filled the air. The much smaller creature beside the large mute spoke up. “Well, Luk says that we can do it, and if he says so, I say so too . . . well, as long as they don’t like to fight near water . . .” the creature murmured nervously. “We can’t stand water . . . it’s just so embarrassing.” He sighed.

“Well, the coast is clear,” the leader of the small Montague group moved forward, stepping out of the shadows and into the almost high-noon sunlight. The speaker was tall and covered in navy-black fur with white markings on his face, chest, paws and tail. He let out a short growl to his companions, telling them to come out.

One by one, the group emerged from their hiding place. First was Nuk, the second-largest of the group; he was a faded navy and white wolf with a large belly and short legs. He was followed by his best friends, the thin tan and beige wolf named Sumac and the light gray-blue wolf named Yak. Trailing behind was an interesting trio: a large mute polar bear with a pink nose named Luk, his much smaller and smarter twin brother Muk, and their guardian and best friend Boris, a snow goose from Russia. On Niju’s command, they moved into Main Street, hoping to find some gossip and maybe to cause some trouble if the Capulets were around.

BONG! BONG!

The bells began to shake the peaceful air that filled the town for nine strokes, signaling that it was only three hours until noon. The trio of Capulets were in their own little world, flirting with local singles that wished they were lucky enough to become the brides of such a strongly-bred male as those in the Capulet line. The shortest of the three suddenly moved his gaze toward the other side of town, his eyes blazing with mischief.

“Hey, Kal,” Nikki nudged his orange kinsman with his leg. “Take a look over at what I see over dere!” While chuckling, he pointed a clawed paw towards the obvious band of wolves and their companions.

Kaltag let out a gasp. “I can’t believe it! It’s impossible, quite honestly the most unbelievable, the most craziest . . .”

“It’s a band of Montagues!” Star completed with a gasp, making sure that he didn’t blurt it out too loudly. Again, he got what he expected: a punch on top of his head, causing him to fall on the ground.

“Well?” Nikki asked his tall companion. “Are we gonna get ‘em?”

Kaltag had a look of anticipation in his eyes as he lowered his eyebrows close to his dark eyes. “Not quickly. Let’s fool with ‘em for a bit first, then we’ll go in for the kill!” Following the orange husky’s lead, the three of them crossed the street, moving themselves ever closer to where the group of intruders were causing no harm.

------------------

A bit longer than the other one, but it's okay, right? Again, read the Prologue in my gallery or at least the original play to understand what is going on . . . although, nothing much has happened yet.

And I guess that's enough sneak peeks for now. Maybe next time, I'll post a sneak peek of the conclusion of "Proud of Your Boy" (a very Kodi-centric fic . . . read my gallery for info!)!

Later!

- Juuchan17

Wonderful!
I thought everything might be okay until that last line in the Sparkle snippit... Whenever somebody says that, you just know something's going to go awry.
Ohhhhh...

The dialogue for Starcrossed has a quite interesting mix of Shakespeare-era and semi-modern language. It's nice to see that Kaltag, Nikki and Star haven't changed much. And Boris, Muk and Luk as part of the Montagues? Brilliant. Can't wait to have more of Boris' little one-liners.
All that I'm looking for now is further development of Balto and Jenna.

Write on! You rule!
-LWf

Oh, don't worry . . . it's just leading up to the big revelation! (Of course, I'm still working on that part . . . GAH brain-fart) But I'm just gonna have to leave you in a state of mystery for now . . . If I went anymore past that last line, I'd give away a bunch of twists . . . and you know I can't do that, right?

Ooh, suspense is building . . .


Yeah, I tried. It's harder than it reads to try and rewrite Shakespeare, but I also made sure to add some modernizations to the classic tragedy so that it fit the setting of Nome in 1925.

This was actually my first fic featuring the original Trio, so I tried to made sure they still were in character from what we saw in the first film. And yes, the only reason why Boris and the bears are Montagues is mainly because of Balto . . . especially because they're his best friends.

Oh, and Boris gets a lot of parts in this beginning act, especially since if you read my Author's Note for the Prologue you already know what'll happen to him about mid-way through the fic. (ooh, spoiler?)

Balto doesn't show up until the last part of this Act, while I'm working on Jenna's debut in the beginning of the next Act (Steele is introduced as well, but he doesn't play a major part until later within the story). And besides . . . Balto and Jenna first meet in the Second Act . . . so wait for it!

- Juuchan17

BIG UPDATE - 5/31/08

- New fic in the works:
This fic was not a request - I asked Rotramel's permission if I could write this a few months ago, and thankfully, I thought it was a good idea to work on. So I did it: Jadze: A Blessed Curse (If you haven't read any of RTW's Balto-set fics, it is a must read prior to reading my fic, which begins just after the events of "Balto: . . . Must Come To An End". Also, it does not follow the "Aniu Trilogy", so for you guys that have read his first two parts, breathe a BIG sigh of relief!)

- Destiny of the Small:
Yes, the next part, Piece III is up on Balto Source! Find out what happens next for Muru as he learns about the destiny that awaits him!

- Sparkle Finale?:
Still working on concluding it . . . months after Valentine's Day too, so be patient, okay? But if you haven't read the snippet I posted earlier, check it out and ponder on how this will end! (Again, thanks Lone Wolf_fanwriter for the inspiration for this last part! You always seem to offer something nice!)

- One-shots?:
I do have a couple of one-shot fics that are almost complete - "I Remember Keliah" is more focused on reincarnation and has quite a connection with Aleu, while "Giving Her Away" is a sweet father-daughter fic based on Wolf Quest. Note that these titles are only tentative, so they may change by the time I complete them.

- Unofficial Transcripts:
And I'm not sure how many of you guys know this, but I have begun to transcribe each of the Balto films for your fandom-pleasures, exclusively for Balto Source! The "Wolf Quest" transcript is up now, so download it for all the info you could ever want in a transcript! - includes a character guide, voice cast, song lyrics, detailed character movements and settings, and more!
The original "Balto" is currently in progress, soon to be followed by "Wings of Change", so look for all three to be completed by the end of this year!

As for other stories, I am trying to work on them while I have time (although right now, finding a job so I can make some money is more important . . . *sigh*), so please be patient with me! Also, don't PM me, saying "When will *insert fic here* be finished?" . . . I will only delete your message. It gets annoying, okay, and I don't like people getting too pesty about things like that.

Thanks and I hope you all have a great summer!

- Juuchan17

UPDATE - 6/7/08

You know, I'm feeling rather nice today (despite the heat wave going on where I am . . . GAH!), so I'll post a few snippets for other upcoming fics that I have in the works.

Snippet ONE: I Remember Keliah - an Aleu tale

(Note: This is a different yet fun Aleu tale . . . She'll learn something that not even her father knew, but I'll see if you can figure it out!)

-------------------------------------------

The chill of the winter air grew cold against the quarter-wolf’s fur as she stood first watch for the night. It was rather early for such a frigid wind, but she didn’t know that – she wasn’t even born in the wild after all, but now she had accepted this world as her own, for she was now the Alpha Female of the Kawa Clan, one of the many wolf packs that roamed freely in Alaska.

She shuttered as her light-brown fur slightly bristled against the chill. A part of her wished that she were back at home . . . sharing a warm blanket with her father beside her on his little old trawler just outside of Nome. Of course, there was no way that she could return there anyway – over a month ago, she chose to join a pack of wolves as their leader by helping them cross the Great Water via a bridge of broken ice. She had no knowledge of how wide the distance was between where she was now and the old territory of the Kawa. The ice bridge that had carried them across was long gone, disappearing as soon as they had stepped onto the new land where the caribou awaited them as if to make them unable to return to their homeland.

She did know one important thing, however: She was sent to help them . . . and it was her destiny to do so.

But why exactly – that part she never really knew. During her first weeks of life, she felt a sudden call of the wild, although she knew nothing of her wolf heritage. Neither of her brothers and sisters understood why their eldest sister was always howling whenever she was excitable, acting like the ringleader of all play activities, and always feeling a very close bond to their father. It wouldn’t be until over a year after the fateful day that her five other siblings were adopted off to new homes when she finally learned about her father’s mixed blood – he was half wolf, half husky – and about that fact that although she shared the same genetics as her siblings, she took the appearance of the ancestors of her father’s lupine ancestors. She found it rather strange that only she sensed that wild instincts of the wolf, since her siblings were just as wild as she, but her mother was a purebred Siberian Husky – a normal breed for a sledding dog – and somehow, the dominance of that tame pedigree influenced them more than the wolf.

Furious, she ran away into the wild, completely unaware of exactly where her paws were taking her, but soon, her father came after her to bring her back home where he thought she belonged. However, a raven that promised to lead him to his daughter led both of them to an ocean-edged canyon where a pack of wolves – the Kawa Clan – and their leader, Nava, were waiting for their arrival. After learning about the Clan’s situation with the coming winter, it was told that one of them – “the one who is wolf and does not know” – would guide them to where the migrating caribou herds had chosen to make their permanent home.

She had had many questions about all of the different things she was learning and the visions that she had briefly seen flashing through her mind, but despite her eagerness and determination to help the wolves, her father was too defensive to have her remain in a situation that they did not belong in. By the morning, his plans were changed as a rebellious group of wolves had their own ideas for the Clan. Soon, the ice bridge appeared, making her father realize that they had to cross the Great Water at that time or else face starvation for the quickly approaching winter. On the way, the Clan was separated from Nava, who could not complete the journey; she chose to defend the elder wolf, and with some help from her father, the point was understood: she, not the father, was destined to lead the Clan to the caribou, completing the exodus across the Great Water.

However, that life-long choice was the easiest part of her destiny.

The Alpha let out a soft sigh as her body slowly slid onto the grass and rocky ground below her large clawed paws. She wanted to sleep . . . but she knew she had to keep watch over her pack until the next guard arrived to take her place. I never realized that guard duty could be so . . . exhausting! She thought as she extended her claws a bit further out from her toes and scratched the ground beneath her.

Actually, everything about living like a wolf was not as easy as it seemed at first. Hunting, marking territory, following rules and guidelines . . . Learning all this information about survival hadn’t been a walk in the park, especially since she was only a quarter-wolf, not a purebred wolf like everyone else. She easily made mistakes, scared prey away during hunts and had some wolves loathe her due to her sudden rise from complete outsider to Alpha Female, but after a while, she learned from her mistakes and began to grow stronger and a little less dog-like.

She had left that world far behind her, entering a brand new world that only continued to amaze her with every changing flicker of nature.

The moon was high above her fallen head as the cries of nocturnal birds – mainly the ravens, eagles and owls – danced in the presence of the twinkling stars and hunted for small prey that scurried around the forest ground. The noise of caws and cries from the avian hunters took a while for her to get used to, but it was rather soothing to her dark sepia ears. Sometimes she would even hear the faint cries of other lupines and dogs from nearby, howling at the lunar winter sphere above.

She sighed once more out of frustration and exhaustion. Where was the next guard? She thought with impatience. He should be here by now. Her head was on top of her marked forelegs as if she were ready to sleep. Her eyelids felt heavy, almost like weights were trying to close them for a good night’s rest . . .

No, no . . . The quarter-wolf shook her head. No, I can’t sleep now. I’ve got a duty to uphold to the Clan, to my wolf family, to myself . . .

But she couldn’t help but to close her eyes . . . some higher force wanted her to sleep.

Sleep . . . sleep . . .

- - - - - - - - - -

“Keliah! Keliah!”

It was a feminine voice she could not recognize, but it was faintly growing louder. She could hear it again – this time she felt herself being shifted against a rough surface by the pressure of small paws against her furred side.

“Keliah, wake up! You’ve been summoned!”

She opened her eyes, but she didn’t see the night sky across the Great Water. It was daytime here, and nothing looked familiar to her eyes at all. The land was a gentle forest by a small mountain range. A wide river slept by the rocky forms, gently babbling against tiny pebbles that lined it.

Oh my! Is this still Alaska? She thought to herself as she tried to absorb the vistas she saw around her. Where am I? Why is it daytime here? Oh no, don’t tell me that I’ve been captured by an enemy pack! She gasped to herself as she noted where she currently was. In this strange place, she was on the flat face of a smooth boulder near the river, lying on her belly beneath the warmth of the sunlight.

The other creature that had called her by this strange name of Keliah was a small, dark-colored quadruped with only a gray-white muzzle – perhaps she was a smoky-gray wolf pup? She was not sure about it at the time, especially since this world and these names were so unfamiliar to her, but that’s what the teeny canine standing below her seemed to be in her eyes.

Actually, she had no idea why she was even responding to this unfamiliar name in the first place . . . It was one she had never heard before, not even in her hometown of Nome. Hey, my name is not Keliah! I am Aleu, the first-born daughter of Balto and Jenna of Nome and the current Alpha of the Kawa Clan! A part of her wanted to scream out to the smaller wolf, but she could not get her jaws to open to speak.

This only bothered her even more, causing her to growl impatiently under her breath.

However, this one – Keliah – spoke in another unfamiliar female voice, but she sounded as though everything around her was normal.

“Yes, Palei. I’m up . . . and I’m coming down,” This ‘Keliah’ spoke from her own mouth against the quarter-wolf’s own will, rising to her feet . . . no, they were paws! Four clawed paws of white! She realized one clear thing – Keliah was a wolf, no doubt about it!

But was she all wolf or only part wolf like herself? She could only hope that this female, whoever she was, could show her what she wanted to know.

Keliah leapt into the water – probably to wash herself after resting . . . and to also take a drink with the cool liquid – and this was exactly the opportunity that the quarter-wolf wanted. Her fur was the shade of natural earth – a soft brown hue. She was marked with white around her thin, almond-shaped eyes of yellow and blue. Down her belly and from her ankles to her large paws were also white as snow’s dust. Physically, the she-wolf was slender, making her seem smaller and weaker than the average lupine, but the quarter-wolf felt a strange energy about her – she was actually quite strong and swift, despite her fragile appearance.

Oh, this Keliah is beautiful – even more beautiful than any wolf I’ve ever seen! The quarter-wolf reflected on what she saw from the she-wolf’s eyes to herself, nearly to the point of blushing. Of course, this discovery caused her to question herself more than ever. Hmm, why I am in her paws anyway . . . or better yet, why am I seeing this? I’m so confused . . .

Since there wasn’t anything she could do, she felt almost like a supreme being – an all-seeing spirit witnessing something she had never seen before. Besides, just seeing this world through the eyes of a beautiful she-wolf made her start to feel comfortable like a pure-blooded lupine, despite the fact of not being able to move when she wanted to.

“Come on, Keliah!” The teeny wolf, Palei, leapt on the ground near the river bank. “I don’t want you to be late to your first summoning!”

Keliah let out a chuckle, one that sounded almost like a gargle – probably due to the water she was splashing beneath her paws. “Oh, Palei. You’re my dearest friend. You always want to do big jobs to help out in the Clan as well as myself . . .” She giggled again. “even if you are the youngest . . . and the smallest of us all.”

“Oh, stop teasing!” Palei growled playfully, joining the brown she-wolf in the water and using her paws to return a nonverbal attack of cool water at Keliah. “Just because I’m your youngest sister . . . AH!” She paused with a slight scream whenever the slender Keliah splashed back at her, interrupting her response. “ . . . who happens to be the runt . . . doesn’t mean I can’t help you and the Clan.”

“Oh, you’re right – I’m sorry,” the she-wolf lowered her head, admitting defeat. “I just don’t want you to get hurt . . . I mean, with the upcoming dangers and changing times, that’s all.”

Hmm, dangers? Changing times? The quarter-wolf thought with a tilted head. I wonder what they’re talking about. This place is so beautiful, lush and relaxing . . . It seems much more comfortable than our land . . . with very little threats. What could possibly be so dangerous here? She looked around once more, becoming more confused by the minute.

“Now, come on,” Palei escaped from the river, returning back to the safety of the grass. She instinctively shook her fur of the excess water, and once she was dry, she happily turned back to Keliah. “I don’t think we should arrive any later. Summonings don’t exactly happen every moon, you know.”

“Yeah, especially nowadays with the war being our main focus,” Keliah replied, following it with a sigh. “So much sorrow we have seen, so many wolves lost as casualties of war . . .” The quarter-wolf could sense a couple of small tears swell up in the she-wolf’s eyes and suddenly drip down wetly on her cheeks as Keliah leapt from the water herself and shake her fur dry. However, the sheer emotion in her eyes didn’t change the seriousness of her tone as the two of them, mainly with Palei close to her side, walked towards a small ridge of small mounts. “We have had to grow up fast and learn to defend our Clan and ourselves . . .”

“Not to mention . . . we’ve lost so many that were close to us . . .” Palei began to tear up as well, but she still maintained a brave expression of hope on her face. “but this has only made us stronger than ever.”

Keliah nodded. “Indeed. You and I are all that’s left of Mother’s broods. We have to live on . . . for the memory of her and the rest of our fallen siblings.”

How horrible, the quarter-wolf thought as the two she-wolves arrived at the foot of a dark mountain cavern. I’ve never experienced losing someone I love from them dying or being killed before, so this is uncharted territory for me. It must be hard for them . . . but I can tell they’ve been able to endure many things. She tried to crack a slight smile, admiring their courage and strength to deal with the tough times of life. I just hope that maybe as a wolf . . . I could be that strong too.

The cavern’s immense presence in front of them caused the two wolves to gulp nervously once they realized where they were. This wasn’t as scary of a place as it seemed, but by the looks of it, it felt forbidden . . . almost a place where only the bravest dare to enter.

“Well, this is it. This is where you have to go,” Palei shuttered as she tried to speak in a brave voice.

Keliah looked back at her youngest sister as if to ask “Aren’t you coming too?” through her expressions and facial gestures.

Naturally, the black wolf replied back. “Only you were summoned, Keliah – not I. You know that.”

Keliah wanted to sigh deeply, but instead, she gathered her courage in the form of a deep inhaled breath – followed by a long, relaxing exhale – and stepped forward towards the entrance.

“Good luck, Keliah,” Palei barked her well wishes to the brown she-wolf as she nervously walked closer and closer to the cave. “I’ll be waiting out here, okay?”

Keliah did not answer, for her attention was to the darkness of the cavern. Her eyes were focused forward, as if she were being drawn into it like a black hole. Every paw-step made the quarter-wolf’s heart pound against her chest, just as it was to Keliah’s as well.

What is happening? She thought as the quarter-wolf also felt that same drawn-in sensation in her eyes. Something just doesn’t feel right about this place . . . oh, this doesn’t feel safe! Why doesn’t she go back?

But Keliah could not go back now – she had a duty to uphold herself, and it felt as if she was meant to enter this cave, whether the quarter-wolf inside her head liked it or not. Of course, the she-wolf didn’t know that the quarter-wolf was even seeing this anyway.

Just when the quarter-wolf felt herself – or in other words, Keliah – almost became engulfed by the darkness of the cave’s entrance, a loud howl blasted through her ears, causing the two wolves to freeze as if they were paralyzed on the spot. Only the quarter-wolf could hear the piercing din; naturally, she tightly shut her eyes and let out a scream of fear, hoping that the noise would soon cease.

Aah! I knew this didn’t feel right! The quarter-wolf cringed in pain. This noise had better stop soon! I don’t think I can take much of this!

And at last, it did. The wolves were gone from her sight in the darkness, as were the strange background that had left her completely spellbound. She could hear nothing else now – the loud cry was gone, hidden in the dark black around her.


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Snippet TWO: Jadze: A Blessed Curse - based on RTW's fics

(Note: This is a new version of the Prologue . . . sorry, I added more stuff to it, but it's basically similar to the one on the story's actual thread - also, the first ACT: BEGINNING will be posted once I complete it . . . I have no idea how long this story will be, but it'll be something you'll never forget! Consider it as a tribute to your wonderful works, Rotramel! *bows*)

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Prologue - Two months ago . . .

It was hard for the quarter-wolf to give up her title of Alpha to her little sister, but it was what she wanted . . . and Aleu knew that her reign as Alpha couldn't last forever.

She wanted to be with her family now - with herself as Alpha, she had been through many risky and dangerous battles and situations . . . she had even died a couple of times before, and she didn't enjoy the feeling.

It was always darkness, always the pain of feeling life slip away like the wind using its breath to pluck off the last leaf from a tree’s branch. She shuttered at the thought. Aleu never enjoyed dying, and never wanted to feel that until it was meant to be her time.

Not yet . . . I don't want to leave the ones I love yet, she thought. They need me here . . . and they need me alive . . .

That's why her sister had returned to her. Aniu had restored her lost sister's life and gave her a chance to step down only a couple of nights ago. It was still strange to see Saba in the form similar to that of the white wolf Aniu, but it was indeed her. She was no longer red and white like their mother, but Saba was still inside there, no matter what her body looked like, Aleu knew that. The only major differences were that Saba’s face was marked with what looked like a crossed black lightning bolts on each of her cheeks and that her voice was still the same old Saba.

Thankfully, this chance to be with her family would give her that feeling yet again . . .

"Aleu?" The familiar voice called her as she lay on the ground of her new den. It was a wolf, one with that familiar color that she knew far too well.

"Oh, I'm still awake, Shadow," she replied back, lifting her head up with a smile. "You can come on in."

He stepped in, still in serious mode as usual, and laid down beside his mate. "How are you feeling, Aleu? I mean, do you still feel strange after, . . . you know, . . .”

Aleu didn’t need him to babble on like that. “I’m fine . . . relieved, actually. It’s nice not to have such large responsibility for once.” She smiled back at him. “I believe Saba will be a good leader – she has Aniu on her side, as I do after all, and I trust her with my very life.” She paused for a moment. “I have faith that she will do what is right for all of us, and that’s why Aniu brought her back to us.” It is what I wanted, after all, Aleu added to herself. I asked for it, and Aniu provided the answers to my prayers . . .

Shadow could only nod back. He understood why Aleu stepped down. Her skills as a fighter had started to wane after the arrival of Lima and Sheik, their two children, and the adoption of Thunder, an orphan that Aleu had rescued. In battles around those times when her children were old enough to be weaned from her, she suffered scratches and bloody wounds, clearly showing her weakening status to her enemies and rivals. She was still strong strategically, but her main care was for the future of her Clan – Aniu’s Clan – but most of all, her family.

She has faced so much, Shadow thought as he looked at his quarter-wolf mate endearingly. She’s fought in so many battles, endured so much heartbreak within our Clan and her own family . . . I never want her to feel such pain again. I love her far too much to lose her . . .

“I still can’t believe that Saba is back,” he replied. He was there when Saba perished to her death on that ice bridge while training the once-tamed-now-exiled quarter-wolf to become in tune with her wolf breeding, but somehow she had been revived by the grace of the White Wolf spirit and with Aniu’s assistance, she had defeated Shade once and for all from their world. The new Saba would take some adjusting to, but now she was here to stay. “but yes, I feel she’ll be a great leader, but she’ll be nothing like you were, Aleu.”

“Of course – there’s only one of me, and I’m sure we don’t need another stubborn Alpha around here, right?” Aleu joked, but she soon let out a sigh as she heard the din of her three children pass by her den. She loved them so much, wanting to be there for them and protect them from any harm, just like any parent naturally would, . . . but it was time to allow them to defend their Clan as she had for many years. It was dangerous, but it was a natural part of life, and life was not without its own set of risks. “Oh, the kids are old enough to take care of themselves now. They’re no longer pups anymore – far too old to even be considered as pups actually . . .” Her light-beige cheeks began to flush pink. “and I’ve been thinking . . . since I’m no longer Alpha, maybe we should . . .”

“Expand the brood again?” Shadow completed her thought. Aleu was silent, blushing brighter than before and nodding her head. The dark wolf could only smile back. “Well, if you’re okay with it, so am I.”

Aleu’s face beamed. For once, the all-serious wolf was being sensitive. This was the Shadow she loved and adored. “Oh, I love you, Shadow.” She buried her nose into his dark red neck, allowing him to do the same to her.

She loved seeing pups, just like her father did. Perhaps that’s why he’s had four litters thus far, she thought as she felt the warmth of Shadow’s touch on her back. Maybe another litter of bouncing baby pups is just what the Talbourne needed to welcome a new Alpha into its midst. I know Saba’s children would enjoy having playmates around their own age. Most of the pups that she had seen only moments after birth had grown up long ago, following their own destined life paths and risking their mortal lives to protect her and their Clan. It nearly brought her to tears as she remembered that a few of those pups were now walking with Aniu now . . . But alas, life continues to go on, right? She somehow brought herself to smile at that thought.

“I love you too, Aleu,” Shadow said, playfully tackling her until he had his light-brown mate pinned with her back to the floor. He soon kissed her lips, savoring her scent and taste with his muzzle.

O Aniu, Aleu thought as she felt her mate’s fur gently touch her own. Her eyes were closed, enjoying the moment of passion using her other senses as she prayed blessings to the wolf goddess that watched over them all. I trust that things will only become even better for your Clan now that my sister has taken my place and that you have taken her under your wing . . . She suddenly felt warm all over as a sharp pain hit her from below – Shadow was completing his duty as a mate to her, she knew that for sure. However, she just ignored what she was feeling, knowing exactly what the outcome was to be. And now, this moment shall only be the start of something great for us all . . .

Well, at least I hope so anyway . . .

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Snippet THREE: Connections - a present-time fic with a twist of the past

(Note: This is a strange tale, but far from complete right now . . . however, the Prologue will give you a peek into the past, which will soon lead into the present-day.)

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Prologue

The moon has just begun to rise in the eastern horizon, signaling the official start of night, despite it was about an hour past midnight anyway. Within the clustered peaks of the Bendeleben Mountains about 80 or so miles northeast of Nome, Alaska, a long, lonely howl echoed – welcome to the territory of a pack of wolves! The terrain was rough and rugged with a touch of fallen April flurries carpeting any spare crack and crag in sight. A forest was nearby – the border between the town of Council and the wild territory that housed the wolves within its leafy branches – but the wolves only traversed there for hunting and battle purposes, which was probably about a couple times weekly. Tonight, they remained on the safety of their mountain, where they had spent many moons carving dens and caves with their visible sharp claws.

It was the year 1930, a mid-spring night called for celebration amongst the pack that called themselves the Darby Clan, for the Alpha Female was in the process of delivering a litter of cubs into the world. All other wolves in the pack – about twenty of them of many shades of dark, earthy tones – lounged and waited outside of the she-wolf’s whelping den. They restlessly whined and whimpered, as if to wonder how much longer the Great Wolf Spirit would make them wait to know whether their next generation of cubs would be a success.

They did not know who the father was, especially since their Alpha Male was recently killed in a rough battle over territory prior to the she-wolf’s conception; most of the members of the pack weren’t sure if it was a lone wolf or their recently-deceased leader that may have impregnated her – it was hard to know this because the mating process was a secret ritual that only the male and female would witness and take part in. Knowing that she was recently widowed, the wolves only believed amongst themselves that their leader left a final legacy within his loving mate and congratulated her for the new joy that she would bare into the world; however, on this night that they would welcome new life into their pack, the wolves were about to get a surprise visitor – one that would change things forever.

From out of a set of bushes near where the forest and the mountains met, a solid gray wolf approached the beta male guard that stood by the den, lowering his ears and tail as a show of respect to one of higher rank. He was young – about three years old perhaps – but he, like every other wolf, was knowledgeable of the customs of lupine protocol. “Sir, I wish to speak,” he replied with a low bow. “I have a status report.”

The Beta, a wolf with dark-brown fur and a white patch around his right eye, answered first by returning the gesture before speaking. “Yes, young Scout Raider, what is it?” He asked the young wolf.

“Sir, there seems to be a visitor in our territory,” Raider said. “He’s not one of us, but he smells like a wolf. Should we let him in, Beta?”

Beta paused to think. He was currently the one of highest power since the death of the Alpha Male, and with the Alpha Female still in labor, the dark wolf had to take authority for his pack – it was his duty.

“I’ll speak with him then,” Beta replied. “Escort him here, and perhaps we shall learn of his purpose of being on our territory on this fated night.” He dipped his head slightly, signaling that the scout’s presence was no longer needed.

“Yes, Beta,” Raider lowered his head in return. He turned and trotted back into the bushes to find the stranger and invite him in.

Within minutes, Raider returned with a leap, this time with a scruffy male creature following after him. His face easily showed no fear to the wolves, for the scout had discovered one thing correctly – this visitor was merely part-wolf. Against the moonlight, the hybrid’s coat dulled into a gray-brown shade, his markings were lighter, but more gray than anything. His eyes were red, engulfed in gold like a pure-bred wolf’s, but he did not show any signs of respect to the much larger Beta once the scout left him in front of his shadow.

“You trespasser!” Beta growled, causing the hybrid to lower his dark-brown ears and crouch closer to the ground. “How dare you invade our territory? Explain yourself!”

After a sudden whine and a gaze at the several pairs of glowing eyes returning their attention back at him, the stranger bravely stood up to speak. “I’m sorry to intrude on you, Sir. I . . .” He nervously stammered in a rough, aged voice, trying to find the right words to state why he was really here, but he cleared his throat with a cough, continuing to explain. “I-I . . . I’m not invading; I’m a friend stopping by for a visit, that’s all.”

“Humph!” the brown wolf barked angrily. “I’ve never even seen your face here before!” He leaned his muzzle close to the stranger’s, allowing the stench of his wolf and whatever other ancestors the strange male had inherited to enter his nose. “Hmm! You aren’t even a wolf! Your kind is not welcome here!” With a threatening growl, Beta shouted. “Get out, mixed-blood!”

“Please – I’m an ally of Silver Pine, Alpha of the Darby Clan! I just wanted t-t-t-to . . . check on him, t-t-t-that’s all . . .” He lowered his head once more, sighing deeply as he did so. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen him, and I’m sure that things have changed since the last time I visited . . .” Obviously, he was relieved to get his point over with, but he didn’t expect the next sentence from Beta’s mouth, interrupting the hybrid with surprise.

“If you want to know where Silver Pine is, . . . he’s dead!”

Just the shout of Beta’s response made the stranger gasp in complete shock. “No . . .” He lifted himself up to a seated position, but his head continued to stay lowered. “I . . . I’m sorry for your loss . . . I . . . I didn’t know . . .” A tear trickled down his cheek as he let out a short sniffle.

“Well, now you do,” Beta huffed. The thought of remembering the Alpha’s death was difficult for him, as well as for the rest of the pack, but by the sound of his tone, one would think he was angry about it.

“He was a good friend whenever I was around these parts for a visit,” the visitor continued to mourn, calmly reminiscing about the fallen Alpha despite hearing Beta’s harsh tone towards him. “I never would have thought . . . Oh, he could take anything . . .”

“Yes, he could, but he fell during our scuffle with the Twin Peaks Clan of the western part of the range about two moons ago,” Beta explained; this time, his voice was solemn and calm, now that he had silenced himself to listen to the stranger’s words of remembrance. The other wolves had their ears lowered in respect for the memory of the Alpha they had recently lost. “ I . . . I watched the whole thing: Their Alpha surprised him with a mortal strike to the chest . . . By the time we ended the battle and were able to return back to our land, there was nothing our medicine wolf and clan shaman could do. No bark or plant in the world would be enough to bring him back – he was already close to his final breath when we arrived.”

“How awful,” the hybrid commented. “He always had a strong fighting spirit, even when we first met.”

“He fought a valiant fight, strong fellow,” Beta’s ears fell to the side as he remembered his friend. “He was a close partner of mine as well, and . . . as a sign of forgiveness for my harsh treatment of you earlier, any friend of Silver Pine’s shall now be a friend of mine.” He placed a paw on the part-wolf’s scruffy shoulder as a sign of his friendship.

The hybrid smiled at the gesture, returning it with a lifted paw of his own. Because of his breeding, not many wolves had dared to befriend him, but he felt grateful that now he had more comrades on his side – in case anyone dared to challenge him. “Thank you, . . . uh . . . I’m sorry, but what is your name?”

“The name’s Beta – I’m the Darby Clan’s beta male, but I am soon to be Alpha once things calm down,” The brown wolf introduced himself with a nod.

“Calm down?” the gray-brown male queried. “What’s going on? Is that why I’ve been hearing howling tonight?”

“You are correct, my friend,” Beta smiled, turning his attention to the den behind him. “The pack’s focus is on Silver Pine’s loving widow – Sierra – and she’s bearing his final cubs as we even speak.”

The hybrid’s eyebrows lifted at the sound of the she-wolf’s name. Sierra . . . why does that name sound so familiar? He thought. The last time he was in these parts was around two months ago and he befriended a beautiful sienna-brown she-wolf named . . .

“Oh no . . .”

Beta’s ears pricked up. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” The hybrid jerked his head around, showing him an expression of shock. “What?”

The larger wolf was surprised by the visitor’s reactions. “You look pale, my friend. Are you all right?”

“Y-y-y-yes, . . .” the hybrid lowered himself back to the ground in near shudders. He felt instantly sick, almost to the point of throwing up. The thoughts within his head were spinning of what took place the last night he had visited the pack – he tried to remember what had happened. I didn’t . . . no, . . . Did I? All he could remember was the friendly gestures that the she-wolf had given him . . . did it go any farther? Did I . . . Oh, no . . . NO!

“You look ill, Brother,” Beta nudged him gently for comfort after carefully observing his friend’s actions. “Please, allow me to escort you to the medicine den. I’m sure that you are probably just fatigued from your long journey.”

“I . . . I suppose so,” the part-wolf replied, trying to keep his personal thoughts to himself. Beta helped lift him onto his paws with a groan while also whistling for another wolf to stand guard in front of the Alpha Female’s birthing den. “It is quite a trek from Council to here.”

“I see,” the wolf let the hybrid lean on his sturdy form, allowing him to walk safely without hurting himself even more. They began to hobble towards another rocky den where the medicine wolf and the clan shaman resided. It was about several wolf-lengths from the whelping cave, but the edges of the cliffs were narrow against the walls of the mountains. “Watch your step, now . . . Well, if you need any time to rest and recover your strength for your return journey, you may stay as long as you wish. We have a bit of caribou kill left over from the evening hunt; it should be more than enough to satisfy your hunger.”

“I appreciate your clan’s kindness, Beta, but I really should be heading back by dawn,” the male visitor spoke with a light groan. “It takes about a couple of hours to travel from here to there, and I don’t want my musher to think that I’ve run away back to the place of my birth.”

“Ah, so you are a wolf, yes?” Beta questioned. The stranger bobbed his head low to the ground, weakened by his fatigue. “Hmm, I thought so. The scout that sought you out told me that you were a wolf, but I wasn’t sure to believe it at first, but when I caught a whiff of your scent when I first saw you, I knew he was right; however, I can also sense that you are no ordinary wolf.”

“Yes,” the stranger replied. “but I’m only half. My mother was a purebred wolf, and my father . . . well, he just so happened to be a husky – a tame dog – so I guess that’s why I feel torn between both sides of my heritage.” He chuckled a bit at himself. “Actually when I was younger, I tried to deny my lupine roots, but I grew up and learned to accept myself after a while.”

“Well, you shall always be welcome here, Friend – no matter what breeding you are,” Beta gave him a nod of acceptance. “You know, even if you have a tiny drop of lupine blood flowing through your veins, the wolf’s instinct will always continue to live through you, no matter where you choose to live.”

Huh? . . . Wolf instinct . . .?

“T . . . thank you,” the hybrid soon collapsed to the ground in exhaustion; his thoughts were no longer on the wolf’s words, but on his previous visit with the pack.

He could remember how lovely her figure felt underneath his own, the way he could sense the warmth of her kind aura emanating from her dark-auburn fur, how they slept underneath the stars with the vistas of the Northern Lights guiding them into a relaxing sleep by each other’s side . . .

Oh no . . . I did do that . . .

He now realized what he had done . . . now he had to atone for the sin he had committed those two moons past.

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Well, that's all for now. Please tell me what you think and whether I should continue these fics or not, okay? Thanks!

I hope those are enough cliff-hangers to last you a while!

- Juuchan17