Animation Source Forums

Charcoal thought for a second then relaxed with a smiled, "Oh yeah I remember." Charcoal sniffed at the fence, "You’re stuck?" Charcoal looked around the fence. There was no opening she could use to get out. Maybe digging would work. Charcoal found a soft spot where the dirt was easiest to move and started to dig like crazy. It didn’t take long for her to remove tons of dirt for the spot. Finally there was a big enough opening for KC to get out. She stood back and waited for the young hybrid to come out.

KC dug furiously on her side as well and when the hole was big enough, she slipped out with a sigh.
"Thanks!" KC exclaimed. "I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever!"
KC tilted her head curiously.
"Why are you out here anyways?"

Charcoal smiled at KC, "No problem." Her face suddenly turned intense. Why didn’t she think about KC before! She lived in her fathers pack for abit didn’t she? Charcoal suddenly grinned with an excited look, "Hey you lived in Bucks pack right? Do you remember where it was?" She hoped KC wouldn’t suspect anything. Maybe, if KC was willing, she might even let her come along. No matter what anyone said, at this moment, she would do anything to finally meet her father.

KC's eyes lit with curiosity.
"Buck?" She repeated. "I knew him for a little bit... and I think I lived in his old pack for a while, but yeah, I think I remember the way back. Why?"

Charcoal twitched her tail, wondering to herself if she should tell KC the truth or not. KC seemed like the type to keep a secret. And maybe, once she understood why Charcoal was doing it, should would help her out. Charcoal finally decided, "Can you keep a secret KC?" Charcoal lowered her voice and her head. She didn't want any unwanted animal to hear what they were talking about. Expecially if Klondike happens to walk by. He would certainly mess up her plans.

KC looked around as well. She was good at keeping secrets!
"What?" she answered, lowering her voice, ready to burst with wonder. Did she know Buck too?

Charcoal couldnt help but smile at KC when she stared at her. Her wonder made her giggle, "Well I'm Bucks daughter, but I have never seen him at all since birth. I heard from someone else that maybe if he knew that he was a father, he might come back to live here with my mom again. Well my plan is to meet him and bring him back, but I cant do that because I dont know how to get to the pack." Charcoal looked around again before turning back to KC, "Could you tell me where Buck's pack is?"

"You're Buck's daughter?" KC asked mysteriously. "Mindy's daughter too then, right? I remember she was pregnant when I was little"
KC considered it for a second then nodded.
"I'm not really a big fan of the wild" KC shrugged sheepishly. "But I guess I could take you back there"
When she had seen Buck as a pup, he'd never found out that she was Boss's pup and she didn't want to stick around if he managed to find out.
"But I'm not sure if he's in control of his pack again... Boss might still be"

Charcoal nodded, "Yep. I’m one of Mindy's puppies. Which kind of means you are my second cousin I guess." She nodded in understanding as she declared her distress about the wild, "I would be completely greatful if you took me to the pack. You wouldn’t have to stay long. Well Boss still being in control could be a possibility, but anything to lead me to my father is good enough for me." Charcoal smiled triumphantly. She was going to see him! It must be fate that she ran into KC.

KC thought about it, then nodded. How long had it been since she travelled the long trail back to Nome? Atka had carried her most of the way, but she was sure she'd remember the way back as soon as her paws hit the trail.
"Okay" she replied. "Are you ready to leave right now?"

Charcoal nodded, "Yep. But we have to make sure no one sees where we are going. If anyone found out what I was doing, they would probably chain me up or something. We also have to move quick, I dont want you moving around in the woods after dark."

KC smirked.
"I can do that! I know a few secret ways out of town"
As the sun slowly began to lower, the young wolfdog led Charcoal through a series of back alleys, careful to avoid any strays whatsoever. For a second, Klondike's voice echoed down an alley, causing both to freeze, but he was busy terrorizing some poor stray who had gotten on his bad side. The pair slinked away from the loud husk until they found themselves on the outskirts of town.
"Okay, here's the only risky part" KC started, turning to Charcoal. "I remember coming back to Nome by Balto's boat, so we're going to have to go around it. If we go far enough around, they still might see us, so we'll have to be fast"

Charcoal nodded, "Well I’m good at fast." Charcoal took a second to look back on the town. She would miss her mom deeply, but what she was doing was a must. She had to go. She would be back anyways. She was sure of it. Charcoal turned her attention back to KC, "Ready?"

KC nodded, expression impossible to read. With a deep breath, both darted into the open and swept over the frozen snow towards the woods. No sight or sound came from Balto's. Who knew where they were, but they hadn't seen
charcoal or KC.
After a few minutes of panting and fear, the pair made it to the edge of the woods and finally stopped.
"Well, that was... lucky" KC puffed.
As soon as she caught her breath, the wolfdog started to sniff around for the trail she'd travelled on so long ago.

Charcoal tried to catch her breath. As KC sniffed the ground, Charcoal laughed lightly, "A couple of fast dogs like us? I guarantee we could have made it even without trying so hard." Charcoal boasted. She knew for a fact that they were just lucky. But she was glad about it. Now she was only a forest away from her one chance at seeing her dad. Charcoal sighed and kept watch while waiting for KC to find her scent.