In the Name of Aniu (Sequel to Balto: Alternate Ending)

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2006 4:06 pm

Kalgorn's urgent whispers struck a nerve, and in an instant, Balto realized who he had scented.
Keso.
And now, he could scent him more than ever. Wherever he is, Balto thought, looking around, he's watching us...
Though every instinct in his brain told him to run, that he and Jenna were both completely exposed near the clearing, he stood slowly and leaned down to wake Jenna.
But just then, he heard the snap of a twig off to his left across the clearing, and moved caustiously toward them. In the back of his mind, however, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him from behind. And he knew if he was caught off-guard in a fight, there was very little chance for him...

Anayu · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2006 4:23 pm

Keso froze as a twig snapped somewhere, though where he wasn't sure right then. He realized it must have been under him somewhere under the snow and silently cursed himself. 'Years of training in surveilance and stealth and yet you still make such rookie mistakes,' he silently cursed himself and then returned his gaze to the group in the clearing.

Though he and Cale would be outnumbered by one, he knew the female couldn't fight for her life, literally, and besides he and Cale would be easily able to take care of their oponents. But he couldn't help but feel the old curiousity, and instinct to observe his opponent carefully, learn his every habit and way of thinking, and then destroy him from the inside. With Nexus's help, he could achieve all this easily, and then he would be the wolf that all would talk about for ages to come. Not to mention in the process, he would be fulfilling his goal, to eradicate the scum wolves and half breeds who allowed themself to be allied to the humans and their loyal pets.

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2006 5:05 pm

As Balto padded slowly in the direction that he'd heard the sound, he scented the air again and found that Keso's scent grew weaker, another grew more and more prevalent. Who was it?
He felt a sudden gust lash against him and squinted against the wind and peered into the forest, though all he could see were trees, shrubs, and snow...

(OOC: My plan is that Keso is behind Balto, hidden somewhere near the clearing and Jenna....)
I'm glad we started this back up!

Kalgorn · **Posted:** Tue May 16, 2006 6:35 pm

Kalgorn waited impatiantly for Balto to awaken Jenna. He knew every second was another second closer to the attack they were no doubtedly about to be engaged in. He wanted to get as far away from here as possible. Though he was scared he tried not to show it. But he'd become a bit jumpy in his anxiety. The crack caused him to jump. He could feel his heart beating in his chest. Angry with himself, he tried to get himself undercontrol. He was dealing with a very stealthy and clever pack. It would not do to lose it now. Plus, he didn't want to be the reason the two he was trying to protect were injured. While he hadn't made any noise, he was certain the sudden movement would draw attention to him.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward slowly beside Balto. Catching a glimpse of white flash by behind the trees, Kalgorn turned his attention in the direction. could that have been. . . Cale? He knew the wolf to be extremely swift and deadly. But, it could have just been snow falling from a tree limb. [/i]

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2006 12:39 pm

Balto shook his head to clear his mind. He was having trouble thinking straight with fear clutching his heart. He was not normally one to be afraid, but the fact that he and Jenna, particularly Jenna, might be in extreme danger made him shiver, for he could only guess at how many pairs of eyes might be upon him even as he thought...
He turned around and padded softly back to Jenna. She lay curled up in the snow, still fast asleep with a content smile on her face. He leaned down to nudge her awake...

Anayu · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2006 1:43 pm

Keso watched as Balto moved away from him, towards Cale and felt relief that it had been his beta who had made the sound. At least Cale could blend in better in the snow than Keso himself could. It also eased Keso's pride a bit that his stealth skills had not slacked as he feared they had just then. He watched then as Balto leaned to try and awaken the fea husky and grinned at one of his own malevolent fantasies springing forth in his mind.

Cale on the other hand was not so relieved as Keso. He cursed himself silently for making the twig break under his paw and then cursed himself some more for his lack of patience. He knew good and well that when stalking prey of any type, you had to remain still and not flinch or heed some small habit as he often tended to do. Though he couldn't help his current anxiety and lack of patience. He'd never been good at waiting and was more the gung ho, spur of the moment fighter. This had been what gained him the reputation of a feared, brutal warrior.

Kalgorn · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2006 6:16 pm

"Balto" Kalgorn started, keeping his eyes in the direction of the trees "we've got to get out of here now!" He whispered this urgently. If Cale was about to attack. . .even if Kalgorn could fight off the wolf, he'd only be able to hold the wolf off for at least a minute. Plenty of time for Balto and Jenna to get away, but that left more than enough time for him to be killed. The last time he'd seen this wolf fight. . . well, to put it in short, He really really didn't want to fight Cale. But if worst came to worst, he'd do it to save his friends.
This was a rescue mission for Kalgorn and he was determined to sucseed. While he waited for Balto to wake Jenna, he stepped forward to the trees. He wanted to inspect what he'd seen. He had to be sure if that was Cale or just snow. Cale was bad news and he wanted to be sure the wolf wasn't near them. But stepping forward, his eyes fell upon another set. Starring straight back at him. Fear flodded Kalgorns heart, causing him to freeze. He knew those eyes.

Cale. . .

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Thu May 18, 2006 7:12 pm

"Jenna, wake up," Balto whispered as softly as he could. He nudged her with his muzzle and her eyes blinked open.
"Balto, what's going-?"
"Shhh. We need to get you out of here now," he replied quietly, "If necessarily, Kalgorn and I will fight them off."
"Who, Balto?"
"Keso and Cale," Balto said. The next words sent a wave of fear washing over her:
"Jenna, we're being stalked."

Anayu · **Posted:** Fri May 19, 2006 2:48 pm

Cale blinked only once while Kalgorn had been inspecting the area near him and he knew as soon as he spied the look in the wolf's eyes that he'd been seen. Their plan to stay out of sight had gone down the drain...or had it? Just as Cale had begun to think that all was lost, he found an idea wash over his mind. They hadn't seen or found Keso yet, nor would they be able to more than likely since Cale himself was upwind of Balto, Jenna and Kalgorn and Keso was downwind. Perhaps he could give his alpha the advantage and keep them from running away just yet?

This thought in mind, he stood in a rush, noisily to be sure they all heard him and saw the flash of his fur. He turned and fled into the forest, the soft crunch of the stale snow indicating that he wasn't circling, but actually running back, away from the clearing.

Keso, now alone in his undertaking, kept ever more still, though he had listened intently as Cale had departed. His beta was clever at times, he had to admit, and perhaps now the three would not be so rushed just yet. Perhaps he could over hear something vital, and even if not, Cale had surely gone to enlist some more help, so, if he didn't hear from Keso in a short period, he would know to bring a squad back with him for a possible attack.

Kalgorn · **Posted:** Fri May 19, 2006 6:22 pm

Getting over the shock of seeing Cale, Kalgorn gathered himself. He was ready to defend Balto and Jenna. Even if the price was his life. But then the eyes blinked, and vanished. Blinking, Kalgorn stepped forward to inspect further. Apon seeing the white fur dart past several trees, not to mention the noise Cale was making, he wondered Did i just scare him away?
Shaking his head he knew he couldn't have. Cale had to be retreating to get. . .Keso. Kalgorn turned back to Balto and after swallowing nerviously "Balto, i think we should go. Like, right now. I think we're about to be attacked by Cale. As well as Keso"

With this being said, Kalgorn rushed quickly over to Jenna and gave her a slight nudge in the side. "Time to go Jenna"

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Sat May 20, 2006 7:38 am

Jenna nodded to Kalgorn and got up.
Balto looked around the clearing once more and shook his head. With all the noise Cale had made, he'd lost Keso's scent. Perhaps it was safe for them after all.
"Kalgorn, if Cale left, maybe we're not in danger after all," he said, "but if we really must leave, I think we should talk to my friend Echo. Maybe he knows something more of Keso... We can talk on the way."
He then turned and, with Jenna beside him, waited for Kalgorn.

Kalgorn · **Posted:** Sat May 20, 2006 9:39 am

Kalgorn wasn't sure how to react about Echo. what does he mean they can talk on the way? Echo's not even here right now But he was glad that they were finally on the move. As they went, Kalgorn nervously kept glancing over his shoulder back at the clearing they were leaving. Some of his fur on the back of his neck kept standing up on end, giving him the feeling that someone was watching them. He was doing his best to cover Balto and Jenna from all sides, darting to a different side of of them everytime he heard a rustling in the tree's or an unexplained crack of a twig or fallen tree branch.
"Balto, what did you mean by your friend Echo? How are you going to talk to him? He's not here right now"

Then he heard another crack behind them. Darting to the rear he growled, seeing no one sneaking up on them. Shaking his head he lifted his paw and put it to his head. He was getting way too jumpy. Trying to relax himself some, he stretched his legs and after glancing behind them again, jogged slightly to catch up with the two dogs.

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Sat May 20, 2006 1:57 pm

"What I meant, Kalgorn, is that we should go see him," Balto replied, "He's mentioned Keso to me before, but long before any of this happened."
He glanced back when he heard the snap and scanned their surroundings.
Still nothing.
Balto sighed and tried to tell himself that it was just his nervous fears. But he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

Anayu · **Posted:** Sun May 21, 2006 7:26 am

Keso watched as they all stood, and even though Cale had left, they still decided to vacate the clearing. Well, what harm could it do if he were to tail them for a little while? Their voices had become unclear at his present distance, so he first heard nothing about Echo, but as he stood and trotted quietly to catch up with them, careful to place his steps away from noise makers, he finally heard the name. 'So, it's Echo that you're going to see. Interesting...very interesting. He paused only a moment while they were still relatively close to the clearing and rubbed his side up against the nearest tree. He then moved forward once more, keeping the small group in earshot at all times, though staying a good distance away, off to the side.

Lone Wolf_fanwriter · **Posted:** Mon May 22, 2006 1:28 pm

As he made his way among the trees, Balto kept glancing at Jenna. He had enjoyed their time together, that was certain, but now he wondered if he was perhaps getting her into more danger than he intended to. After that morning, the last thing he wanted was any harm to come to her. He'd never forgive himself if she was hurt.
At last, they reached the river, and he turned to follow it along its bank. Echo's den was not much further upstream, and the woods were unusually quiet...

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In the Name of Aniu (Sequel to Balto: Alternate Ending)