Animation Source Forums

KC smiled at what Charcoal had just said and kept sniffing. She wasn't sure she could pick up the scent, but the trail must have still ben there! KC looked up at the boat that seemed miles away. She still remembered the way Nome had looked when her mother, brother and uncle had found it. That's how she could find the trail! KC trotted along on the edge of the woods toward the beach until it looked the same way it had when she first arrived. The red hybrid looked to her left and much to her surprise, an old, beaten trail was just visible under the thick bushes.KC turned to Charcoal with a smile.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to do this? The wild isn't anything like Nome... if you attack something out there, it'll attack you back. There's no rules. No laws"

Charcoal took a breath then stared at KC with serious eyes, "I have to do this. Ill just have to make due in the wild. I am part wolf. I’m just guessing some things will come naturally. Charcoal stood in front of the trail KC found in looked into the deep forest. Deep inside, she could sense that after going into this forest, nothing would ever be the same. She looked at KC, "Ready to go?"

KC nodded and started off down the trail. As she walked down the now over-grown trail, memories of being carried by her mother rushed back to her. What if Boss was still there?! What if Buck hadn't killed him?! Would he recognize her?! What would he do if he did?! KC shook her head as if trying to shake the thoughts out of her head.
Instead, she concentrated on the dark path ahead of her. Last time, the trail had been clear and easy to see. Now the bushes has over-grown and the pair had to push through them.

As Charcoal walked, she couldn’t help glance at KC while she had that worried look on her face. Charcoal looked concerned. Would having KC take her to Buck bring back something bad for KC? Charcoal nudged KC gently, "Hey are you ok? If you’re worried about coming back to the pack, you know you could just tell me the rest of the way and then head home. I don’t want to force you into this." Charcoal grinned reassuringly. She wouldn’t want KC doing something she didn’t like. What kind of a cousin would she be if she treated KC like that?!

"No, I'm okay" KC managed. "Just thinking about the last time I came through here"
The pair pushed through the brush until the sun touched the ground and stained the sky with shades of pink, gold and purple.
"We should probably find some place to bunk down" KC suggested. "Bad things come out around here when it's night. And it'll probably take a few days to get there"

Charcoal looked seriously at KC and nodded, "Do you think there is a random cave or tree trunk to sleep under?" Charcoal looked around quickly. She sniffed around, looking for any smell of fresh dirt. Charcoal finally found a tree that was half torn from the ground by the roots. She ran over to it and sniffed the inside. It seemed to be some wolf's old den. The scent was a good couple of months old, so she figured it was a good chance the den had been abandoned. Charcoal looked at KC, "What do you think of this one. There should be enough room for both of us. Charcoal poked her head inside to check just incase. She lifted her head and smiled, it seemed perfect to her.

KC cautiously peered inside the old tree and sniffed.
"It seems okay... we just have to leave early in the morning. It seems old but there could be a chance whoever owned this will come back. But then again, I doubt there's a cave around here, so what choice do we have"
The reddish hybrid slipped into the make-shift den.
"This is going to be a long night" KC moaned, shifting around in the uncomfortably small den.

Charcoal moved in after her, "Well just have to make due. I just hope I actually get some sleep." As the world got darker, Charcoal finally realized that the forest was completely different. The nocturnal creatures made noises that she was not completely used to, which made her stay alert most of the night. She often stared out into the darkness and wondered about whether her mother had found out about her being gone yet. She sighed slightly and looked away from the entrance, 'I should get some sleep. I might at least be able to get an hour or two.' She looked back over at KC, who she figured was fast, asleep, then laid her head on her paws and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long till she finally fell asleep.

As soon as the sun had started to rise and when the sky was still fairly dark, KC was wide awake. Sleeping out in the wild had definitely brought back old memories, some of which she wished she didn't remember, but for the most part she was surprised at how soon her instincts kicked in. She sat quietly for a little bit, just listening to everything. Nothing threatening caught her attention, so the red hybrid decided it was time to get a move on.
"Wake up, time to go" KC yawned, shifting to her feet and squeezing through the opening to the den.

Charcoal wiggled her way out of the den after KC was out. As soon as she could fully stand, she took a long, well deserved stretch. She took a moment to let her eyes adjust then turned her attention to KC, "Are you ready to head out? Or do you think we should catch breakfast first?" Though Charcoal was a born and raised house dog, she had some instincts of her own. Plus, she had practiced before once when the master couldn’t feed her team because of low funds. She had caught rabbits to feed them all. Charcoal smiled, remembering the old times.

"Hmmm.... good idea. Fish are an easy source of protein! We just need to find a stream"
KC lead the pair through the woods, a bit further off the trail. If memory served her right, there was a small creek or river just off the familiar path. It didn't take long for them to find it and when they did, KC sat at the edge and turned to Charcoal.
"Uncle Yukon used to be the best at this" she smiled. "Have you fished before? It's not too hard; it just takes getting used to"

Charcoal looked at KC and shook her head, an apologetic look on her face, “Sorry but no. I have only hunted rabbits. Do you know how to fish?” Charcoal tilted her head slightly. Before KC could answer her, Charcoal’s attention was taken by movement in the stream. She had seen a large fish that seemed to just drift closer without taking notice of them. Charcoal grinned then looked at KC, “Over here! There is one right there!” Charcoal couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the weird creature. She had never seen a fish before.

KC had to laugh at that. It had been so long since she herself had seen a fish, but Charcoal's enthusiasm was hilarious.
"That's a fish" KC laughed. "Just wait until you learn how to catch one! You won't be so thrilled then!"
KC leaned over the bank and stared into the water. Silver things flashed only a few inches below the surface. The hybrid crouched, then plunged right into the freezing water. She sloshed around in the cold water then leapt out without a fish.
"It takes a few tries..." KC said sheepishly.
After a few more times and after she was soaked from head to toe, KC finally was able to catch a fish.

When KC finally came out with a fish, Charcoal was ecstatic. She grinned widely and gave KC congratulation. It was her turn. Without wasting a second, Charcoal was at the edge of the bank, crouching and waiting for one of the fish to come her way. As one got close, she accidentally got over excited and jumped in to early, missing the fish completely, and scared it away. She walked out of the river and shook her fur off. Charcoal turned around, crouched and waited. She had tried at least 5 times after, and failed completely. She wasn’t about to give up yet though. Finally she had jumped at the right time and caught her very first fish. Charcoal came out of the river and shook herself off again, "How was that?" Her voice was muffled by the fish in her mouth.

KC laughed.
"That was great! Eat it quick though! Bears come when they smell fish"
KC scarfed down her meal as quickly as she could, stood up, then shook off again. While Charcoal finished, KC surveyed where they were. She could clearly see the trail, and the sun was high in the sky. If it wasn't winter, it would probably be a bit warmer, but at least the snow would show other animals' tracks.
"Are you ready to head out again?"