Sorry about the delay, but Semester Finals are coming up for me and school's really sucking at this point. Luckily, today's a snow day - NO SCHOOL! YES!!!
- so that means I can write and update all I want today! Horray!
Chapter 2:
Kavik
Sheriff Marcus Avery had been the resident Sheriff of Nome for as long as anyone could remember, holding the position only because there was no suitable replacement candidate. He was a big man of 40 or so, with a bugling potbelly that hung out over the waist of his pants. He hadn’t seen much to write home about during his somewhat boring career as Sheriff of a town whose worst problem was the occasional drunk, drug user, or bar-room-brawl officiator and was, by all standards, totally unprepared for what walked into his office at 12: 15 PM.
“Uh…Mark.”
“What is it Bobby?” Avery sighed, sitting up at his desk and stretching slightly. He hated Bobby De’Locke’s (A/N: Pronounced ‘Do – Lock’) inability to say his full name. He rubbed the corners of his eyes with the thumb and pointer fingers of his right hand.
Bobby himself walked in, a man of 26 or so of slim build with green eyes and jet-black hair slicked back along his skull with water. “We’ve, uh, got some fella’ here wants to see you ‘bout the church position thing…”
Avery sighed. What had ever possessed him to hire such an idiot for a deputy? “Is he a reverend? The new one who sent us the letter?”
“A what?”
“Is he a
Priest? Does he have a little white collar?” Avery growled in frustration.
“Yes…what’s a letter?”
“Never mind!” and when Bobby did nothing but stare at him, the Sheriff spat; “Well then don’t just stand there you big idiot! Send him in!”
“Yes sir!” with that, Bobby trotted out, leaving Avery to mumble silent curses.
I need a new deputy…he thought.
One who isn’t so soft in the head…
His silent dressing-down of Bobby De’Locke was interrupted by the appearance of the biggest man he’d ever seen. His eyes widened slightly as he saw that the Priest – for that’s what he was, Avery knew it at once by the little patch of white at the tall man’s throat – actually stoop down a little to make it through the doorway. The cigarette tumbled from the corner of his mouth and lay smoldering on his desk, but Nome’s sheriff barely noticed; his whole attention was fixated on the man now towering over him, the appearance of his size only heightened by the space of the small room.
“Sheriff? Are…you feeling okay? You look a little pale…” The man had a soft soothing voice, contrary to the ‘Fire-and-Brimstone’ growl that most preachers had nowadays.
Avery blinked and smiled, attempting to wipe the look of shock from his face, despite the fact that his heart rate was still a little ways off from his ‘comfort zone’. Scooping up the smoldering roach that had been his smoke and stubbing it out in an ashtray he said, “Yeah, I’m fine Father…You startled me a little, what with your height an’ all…”
“I have a tendency to do that to some people.” He voiced a brief but deeply humorous laugh. “Forgive my manners! The name’s Maverick, Maverick Lupus.” He extended a hand that, when Avery stood up from his chair in order to grasp it, he found the fingers to be a good inch longer than his own.
“Marcus Avery, Sheriff of Nome Alaska!” He motioned to the vacant chair in front of the desk. “Go ahead and sit down Father! I dare say you must be exhausted after you trip!”
Maverick smiled ruefully. He pulled up the chair in front of Avery's desk and sat down in it, the wooden framework creaking and settling with his equally enormous weight. “Eight hours on a train. Eight hours. I never thought I could be so bored in my life! Thank God for the Good Book.” He pulled a large and very travel-worn copy of the Holy Bible from inside his coat and looked at it admiringly as he spoke.
“Scotch?” the sheriff offered, pouring himself a glass.
“No thanks, I’m not the drinking type.” He replied, tucking away his Bible and again voicing that deep laugh of his.
“Aright, suit yourself.” Avery replied and emptied the contents into his mouth before pulling a pair of small rimless spectacles from his breast pocket with one hand and opening a drawer with the other. He rummaged for a few seconds before finding what he was looking for. He put a large stack of papers on his desk. “Now, all I need ya to do is sign these and then you can go about your business.” Noticing the way the Religious’ face fell slightly as he looked at the not-inconsiderable stack of paperwork he added; “Sorry, I know it’s a hassle, but with you living in the church an’ all, I’m required by regulation…”
“No need to apologize sheriff,” Father Maverick – or so he preferred to be called, in addition to just ‘Pere’ if it suited you, aye – replied, pulling a pen from his pocket. “You’re just doing your job…”
((()-()))
Outside, Balto, Kaltag, Star, Nikki, and a few of the other dogs were padding down one side of the crowded center-street, still talking excitedly amongst themselves about the newest arrivals. They all agreed that the so-called ‘dog’ wasn’t a dog at all, at least, not a pure-breed one. The one thing they couldn’t discover however, was his purpose to visit Nome with his master. It was just a backwater community after all, and surely the new dog must have somewhere else he’d rather be…
“How bout’ you Balto?” Kaltag asked excitedly, as they trotted along Nome’s high street.
Balto, who’d been deep in thought about the dog’s arrival, looked up, surprised. “Sorry?”
“I asked what d’you think that new dog and his master are doing here?” Star reiterated, all but bouncing up and down with excitment
Balto pondered the question, but only briefly; his mind was drifting towards other matters. “I dunno, maybe he’s…here on vacation?” he offered jokingly.
Star snorted laughter. “On vacation?
Here? You’re kidding me!”
Draco nodded, his own face occupied by a large grin. “Star’s right Balto,” he said as the quintet rounded a corner. “I mean, who’d come on
vacation to
Nome of all places?”
Balto chuckled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right!”
“Hey, I know!” Kaltag said suddenly, as if struck by inspiration. “Let’s go-“
His brilliant statement was interrupted by a loud exclamation of ‘Holy crap!’ from Star as he spotted what Balto and the rest had failed to immediately take notice of. The front stoop of the sheriff’s office was occupied by the large white dog they had all seen at the station not half an hour ago, monstrous appearance lessened somewhat. He was sitting up, slightly hunched over speaking to a fairly small rust and cream-colored Husky pup that could only be…
“Speak of the Devil.” Nikki breathed, grin slipping slightly.
“Dude,” Star breathed, eyes bugging out slightly, not immediately able to grasp what they were telling his brain. “Is that
Jenner he’s talking to?”
((()-()))
The big dog sighed and adjusted his head on his paws, eyes searching for something of interest. He spied a group of dogs (mostly huskies) down the street a little ways but didn’t bother trying to listen in on their conversation. They were talking about him, of course. He somewhat liked being big and all, but he did get a little tired of everyone always spreading rumors wherever he and Maverick went.
Maybe I’ll just catch a little catnap… he thought and closed his eyes.
An instant later, something small and warm and fury jumped onto his head and his eyes snapped open. He did not attempt to throw off whatever it was, but simply lifted his head and slightly tilted it, causing the small fury creature to slip gently off and plop into the snow beside him. It was a small rust and cream-colored pup, barely four or five months old by the look of him. It fixed him with a pouty glare.
“Hey! No fair!” he cried indignantly, shaking snow from his coat. “You cheated!”
“Oh really?” the dog asked, lips curving into a smile. “You were the one who jumped on my head as I recall.”
“Yeah, but adults aren’t s’posed to throw you off!”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah! And they’re not s’posed to wander around all alone!”
“You’re one to talk…” the blue-eyed dog replied, raising one eyebrow slightly.
The pup was silent for a few seconds before finally saying; “It’s different with kids! We’re s’posed to wander around and get into stuff with our friends!” the youngster cocked his head slightly. “Why are you all alone anyway? Don’t you have any friends to play with like my Daddy?”
“No…I don’t have any friends…I’m not from here…” the other replied, glancing down the street distractedly. "Besides...most people...feel uncomfortable around me..."
The younger canine seemed to be saddened by this a bit. “Oh…I’m sorry…” he said in a low and somewhat embarrassed voice. His ears suddenly perked up again and his eyes shone. “Hey, I know!”
“What?” the other asked, actually curious to hear what the little pup had to say.
“I’ll be your friend!” and his little pink slip of a tongue zipped out and flicked the tip of his new friend’s nose as if to seal the deal.
The big dog chuckled softly. “Say, kid, what’re you doing out here all alone?” he asked, looking around suddenly, an air of concern creeping into his voice. It was rare that any pup his age went anywhere unacompanied by one of his parents. “Where’s your mom?”
“At home with my brothers and sisters.” he said, pointing his snout down the street in presumably the general direction of his home. “And my name’s not kid! It’s Jenner!”
“Jenner huh? Well Jenner, my name’s Kavik. Nice to meet you.” He flicked the pup’s nose with the tip of his long bush of a tail, causing the cute little guy to sneeze and shake his head. Kavik smiled slightly.
“Cool name!” Jenner said, tail starting to wag madly back and forth. “Does it mean anything?”
“To tell you the truth,” Kavik said, smile spreading a bit. “I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think its Inuit for ‘Wolverine’ or something like that.”
“Cool! I wish I had a cool Inuit name!” Jenner paused, staring at something hanging around Kavik’s neck. “What’s that thing?” he asked, leaning forward and sniffing at the large silver crucifix attached to a heavy stainless steel chain that hung around Kavik’s neck and served as his collar.
“That’s my collar,” he said, lifting his head a bit to allow the pup a better look. Jenner stared at his slightly distorted reflection in the metal, trying to make out the word writ in strange letters along the shaft. He screwed up his face, squinting furiously, but to no avail. “I can’t read it.” he said moodily, face attaining that small pouty look again. “What’s it say?”
“Just my name.” Kavik replied, shrugging his powerful shoulders.
“Oh.” A pause. “Where’d you come from?”
“The train.”
Jenner giggled in spite of himself. Adults were weird sometimes. “I know that! I mean-“
“What part of the country? A little town called Lowell in Maine.”
“Where’s that?” Jenner asked, plopping his butt down in the snow. He was very interested in this new dog and had decided to stick around for a few minutes before running home so his Mommy wouldn’t worry about him. He seemed very friendly, a lot like his Daddy. Maybe he could be Kavik’s friend…Jenner smiled inwardly at the coolness of having a Grownup friend who was actually nice to kids…And Mr. Kavik was WAY cool in his opinion.
“Boy, you’re just full of questions today, aren’t you?” Kavik said, eyes shining. "To tell you the truth, I'm not exactly sure but I think it’s somewhere near the other side of this continent.”
Jenner’s jaw dropped nearly to the ground. “You…you rode that far in a train? That big scary thing that makes those awful noises and smells really yucky?” He had changed his mind; his new friend may’ve been nice, but he was also very
brave as well.
Kavik’s smile broke into a broad grin. “Well yes, I - “ He broke off, eyes snapping up from Jenner’s smiling awe-struck face to see a large gray/brown wolf-dog running toward them. He pushed himself into a sitting position, shadow dwarfing the little pup in front of him as the big wolf-dog – for that’s what he was, yes, you bet – stopped to gaze disapprovingly at the little pup.
“Jenner…” the newcomer’s voice was low and stern, eyes hardening slightly.
“Hi Dad…” the pup muttered, ears and eyes and head drooping like a flower. He knew he was in for it. “Am I in trouble now?”
“Yes, you
ARE in trouble now. What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be home with your Mother? She must be worried sick about you!” he chastized his son, his tone grew somewhat harsh, putting special emphasis on the last sentence.
“I know…I just wanted to see the train that you told Mommy about this morning.”
His father looked slightly taken aback. “You were awake?”
“Yes…” Jenner mumbled again only this time a little louder. He didn’t seem to be getting yelled at.
“You know you should’ve told your Mother that you wanted to come after she was up. She might’ve let you.”
Jenner’s head snapped up. “Really?”
“Yes, but that still doesn’t mean I’m not angry with you; you left the house without permission.” Jenner’s head slowly drooped again. He should’ve known…
Balto turned his attention to regard the dog sitting silently behind his son, making the pup look the size of a chew toy by comparison. “I’m sorry if he bothered you, uh…” Balto trailed off, feeling a little foolish at not having introduced himself or asked for the stranger’s name.
“Kavik.” The large dog replied in a somewhat amused tone of voice. “And you are…?”
“Balto.” Balto replied, sticking out one of his abnormally large paws which Kavik shook as well as he could with one of his even larger ones.
He seems nice enough, would have to be to get Jenner to trust him on such short notice… Balto thought. Already he had lost some of his apprehensive and uncertain feelings regarding the dog now sitting in front of him.
At this last remark, Kavik’s face morphed into a large smile. “Balto huh? I’ve heard my fair share of tales about you. Heard you led the Antitoxin sled team home to safety, and in a blizzard with no musher and no real trail to go by to boot!”
Balto grinned sheepishly. “Oh so word does travel fast huh? Yeah, it’s true, I did do all of that stuff and save those kids. But it was nothing, really.”
Kavik’s gaze became slightly heavier as he said. “I wouldn’t call what you did ‘just nothing’ my friend. That took a lot of guts on your part.”
Balto just continued to grin, although in a slightly more embarrassed manner than before. Jenner spoke up; “Mr. Kavik’s my new best friend! He came from some place called Maine.” He was wagging his tail and bouncing around now, all worry of being ‘in big trouble’ apparently gone. Balto barely managed to stifle a smile.
“Is that so?” he asked, raising his eyebrows slightly.
“Yup! He rode in on that big scary train-thing!” Jenner gazed up admiringly at Kavik as though he were a veteran of some great, horrific battle. “He came here with that really tall man who went into the Sheriff’s Office!”
“I’m afraid he’s telling the truth.” Kavik chuckled softly, eyes gleaming. “I did come over on the train, as you probably very well know, seeing as you and your friends were staring at me like a bunch of newborns when I came off.” He raised his eyes to regard Kaltag and the rest, who were still keeping their distance, despite the obvious aura of kindness emanating from the Preacher’s furry companion.
Balto laughed a trifle nervously. “Yeah sorry – “
“Ahh, no need to apologize.” Kavik cut in. He was almost laughing now. “I get stared at wherever Maverick and I go, because of our size and all. I understand.”
“Dad?” Jenner asked suddenly, in the tone of one struck suddenly with a brilliant idea. “Can Mr. Kavik come over to our house?”
“I don’t know,” Balto said striving to sound stern, but failing; Kavik had put him in too good a mood. “Kavik’s owner might come out be worried when he sees that he’s gone.”
Plus there’s Jenna and the rest of the pups to consider… he thought, trying to imagine what his family’s first reaction to seeing Kavik would be. Knowing Jenna, she’d probably faint from the shock of seeing someone so large…
Jenner’s face fell and his ears drooped. “Oh, okay.”
Kavik nudged him gently with one oversized paw. “Hey Little Buddy, your Dad’s right. If Maverick comes out and sees me gone – “
The rest of his sentence was cut off as Father Maverick thumped out onto the porch, calling his last goodbye to Sheriff Avery as he did so. He turned and saw Kavik sitting on the corner of the porch, right where he’d left him…only now accompanied by two others; a small rust and cream colored pup and a gray/brown wolf-dog. The Religious smiled and walked over to kneel by Kavik, whom he scratched behind the ears. “Did you miss me, boy?” he asked as Kavik let out a low whine and licked his master’s cheek. Father Maverick laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes!” he turned his attention to the two other dogs, the adult and the pup. “Well, hello there fella…” he said soothingly, stretching out one hand for Balto to sniff.
As Balto leaned forward and did just that, he saw a ghastly thing; Maverick was missing the last two fingers of his left hand. He licked the stumps that ended where fingers should have been and looked at the Religious with his large yellow/brown eyes, wondering what – or who – could have given him such an injury. The priest smiled sadly, and rubbed Balto behind the ears as he said; “Yes my friend. I'm afraid I’m short two of them. S’pose you’d like to know how they got that way, huh?” Balto perked up his black ears in response, swiveling them intently towards Maverick, causing Kavik’s master to laugh out loud. “Yes! I see that you’d like to hear it very much, but maybe another time.”
Balto studied the Preacher’s face; it was a little long, the features sharp and pronounced, standing to say he probably in his late forties to early fifties. Yet at the same time, it was curiously worn, with lines already beginning to form around the mouth and nose as well as at the corners of his eyes. His white hair - which was somewhat lenghty and swept back from his forehad in a manner that made him look a little like a concert pianist - only underlined this idea. He wore a pair of small rimless glasses that framed his eyes, by far his most striking feature other than his enormous size. They were the same faded blue hue as that of Kavik’s, only there was a certain weight hidden behind the warmth and kindness radiating from his…
Before Balto could get a better look, however, Maverick turned his attention to Jenner, who had jumped up and propped both forepaws on his leg, tail wagging madly. “Well, hello little fella! Is this your Daddy?” he reached into his pocket as he spoke and brought out a small chunk of beef jerky, which he feed to the instantly grateful Jenner, who wagged his tail furiously as he gobbled this little treat down.
Maverick turned his attention once again to Balto, studying him intently. “Wll, you must be Balto.” He said, making the dog in question start a little. How did Maverick know his name? He hadn’t been in Nome anywhere near long enough to hear about the Famous Balto, the Hero of Nome.... Had someone told him? Had he read about him in what the humans called the ‘News-paper’? That last was probably very likely, seeing as Kavik himself already knew and the only person he’d talked to – so far as Balto knew – was Jenner, and he certainly wasn’t the type to go throwing information like that around.
“Yes, I know who you are; recognize you from the stories.” He said, reaching out and stroking Balto with his diminished left hand. “Heard a whole lot about you, boy. How you saved those children, not to mention this whole town. I was real touched by that.” He patted Balto on the head, and scratched Jenner along the back of his neck before standing up and looking down at Kavik.
((()-()))
“I’ve got to go.” Kavik said to Balto and Jenner, the latter crying out “No! You’ve got to come to our house to meet my brothers and sisters and my Mommy too!” The pup, practically crying, ran up to where Maverick had retrieved his two suitcases and tugged at the hem of the Priest’s coat insistently, causing the other to look down with not much surprise. Having gotten his attention, Jenner ran back beside Kavik, yipped once or twice, and then took a few experimental bounds off in the direction of his home, then turned back and ran back to his Father’s side this time.
“Jenner…” Balto began, but Kavik interrupted him.
“It’s alright,” he chuckled. “Maverick probably doesn’t understand any-“
He was interrupted as his owner gave another small laugh, setting down his baggage so as not to drop and spill their contents everywhere. “You wanna’ take my Kavik someplace huh? Wanna show him off to all your little friends I’ll bet.” He walked back over and dropped to one knee in front of his loyal companion, their eyes perfectly level. “You wanna go?” he asked and when Kavik responded with a big sloppy lick Maverick grinned and nodded, saying; “Alright then, but you don’t cause any trouble now, you hear?”
((()-()))
Ten minutes later, Balto, Jenner, and the newly befriended Kavik walked up the side of street, Jenner, prancing and yipping about like…well…like a pup. Balto and Kavik walked along behind, side-by-side, egaged in concersation. They discussed a great deal about each other; Kavik told Balto about his journey when asked and repaid him by asking for details of Balto’s ‘Rescue Mission’ as he called it, which Balto was happy to tell. They paid no heed to the stares they attracted – mostly due to Kavik’s size (he was a least a head taller than Balto, maybe even a little more) and their being seen together – caught up in the subject of Balto’s family.
“Well, there’s six of em’" Balto was saying, meaning of course, his pups. He ticked their names off one by one. "There's Jenner, Kala, Aleau, Nannuk, Kodiak – we call him Kodi – and Dingo.”
Kavik let out a long low whistle, “Six huh? Man, you guys must be swamped!”
Balto laughed. “You could say that...but it would be the understatement of the year!” He replied, eyes sparkling.
“Dad! Dad! We’re here! We’re here!” Jenner cried excitedly, bounding around his Father’s legs with all of his inexhaustable puppy stamina.
“Yes we are.” Balto said seriously. “Now, Jenner, I want you and Kavik to wait outside while I – wait a minute! Jenner! Come back here!” Balto cried, in a fruitless attempt to restrain his son as he bounded up the steps to the front door, overcome by his need to inform his siblings of their new arrival. Balto watched as the small pup leapt nimbly through the doggie-door and raced inside to deliver news of their arrival to the rest.
Balto groaned, lifting his eyes to the sky as if seeking help from God himself. “Aw man,” he moaned as he heard the Jenner’s frantic yips to the rest of his pups, instantly winding them up. “Get ready. Here they come....” He said in warning to Kavik as he heard the scrabbling scritch-scratch of puppy claws on tile and Jenna’s voice calling out “Jenner! Where have you been, I’ve – wait a minute! Get back here, all of you!”
Then, before Kavik could ask what Balto meant exactly - before he could even get started - six small furry blurs came shooting out through the doggie-door along with a larger blur that Kavik had just time to recognize as Balto’s mate, Jenna, a beautiful russet and cream-colored husky who - according to Balto's tale - had saved him from a Grizzly attack during his rescue mission. The pups raced down the stairs, barking and yipping, but when they saw Kavik, they skidded to a halt and stared at him with faces that were all big round eyes the size of saucers.
“Whoa…” one of them breathed, staring at the large white wolf-dog.
“You’re bigger than
Dad…” Another said.
"
Dude..." Was all one of them could manage.
The rest of them spewed out a garbled mass to something of the effect that they all shared the same opinion. Jenner, seeming to be unaffected in the same way as the rest of his siblings, suddenly began to bounce up and down.
“See! See! I told you! He IS the biggest dog you’ve ever seen!” he chanted, rousing the rest from their trances.
“He’s the biggest
ANYTHING I’ve ever seen!” voiced a large tan pup, who – it came as something of a surprise to Kavik, despite his heritage – looked more wolf-like than her father. She fixed him with her large and inquisitive turquoise eyes. “Are you part wolf or something Mister?”
“
Aleau!” her mother said disapprovingly, walking up beside her pups and giving Aleau a little glare. “Where are your manners?” she said walking up beside her pups, instinctively ready to shelter her offspring should anything go arry.
“Sorry Mom.” Aleau replied, ears drooping, tail sagging as she looked guiltily away.
“Ah, it’s alright.” Kavik assured her, hardly noting their Mother’s disapproving tone.
Balto grinned. “Jenna, this uh, is Kavik.” He said, nodding to the large dog next to him.
“Pleased to meet you, Kavik.” Jenna said, loosening up a little, but not quite completely all the way. If Balto trusted this new dog enough to bring him home, then he was probably all right to show to the children.
The large albino hybrid lowered his head respectfully, bowing it so low that Jenna could’ve actually touched the chain where it encircled the back of his neck with her nose, had she wanted to. “Lady.” He said, smiling warmly up at her. “Balto’s told me a lot about you. I’m pleased to actually get the opportunity meet you in person.” He raised his head and stretched out his left forepaw and shook with Jenna’s own extended one, the transaction made slightly more difficult with the fact that his paw would have made seven or eight of her own.
Jenna’s lips turned upwards in a smile, her kind heart opening up to Kavik with the same ease Balto's had shown earlier. She had only just met the massive hybrid and already she liked him. The pups apparently felt the same way, for right as Jenna was about to ask where Kavik was from (along with a great many other questions), Kodi, Aleau, Dingo, Jenner, Kala and Nannuk began to yip and whine impatiently, trying to get Kavik’s attention focused on them again.
“Tell us! Tell us! Tell us! Tell us!” they chanted, all attention fixated upon him, tails wagging, eyes alight with curiosity.
Kavik cocked his head, a slightly lopsided smile coating his features. “Tell you what?” he inquired of the pups, playing dumb and getting the world's biggest kick out of it.
“Are…are you really part wolf?” Aleau asked, causing Kavik to glance pointedly across to Jenna to make sure she got the ‘It’s-okay-I-don't mind’ message in his eyes. With a little smirk, he said. “Well, go play in the snow for a second or two and I’ll tell you after I’m done talking with you Mom and Dad, OK?”
There was a great collective ‘
Awwww Maaaannn!’ of disappointment from the assembled pups, but Jenna told them to go make snow angles and off they went, already yipping and barking.
Kavik chuckled deeply, blue bombardier’s eyes flashing with amusement as the little rascals began to wrestle with each other. “They’re all very beautiful. God has blessed you beyond measure. ” He said, turning his warm gaze to regard Jenna, who gave a little smile and blushed slightly at the compliment. A split-second later, Kavik blushed as well, saying hurriedly, “Sorry, it comes from living with a Priest. Live with one long enough, you start talking like you’re at a sermon or something every once and a while!”
“Thank you.” She replied, making the larger dog smile. "They're all little angels...most of the time." she added with a loving sigh.
“Don’t let their cuteness fool you.” Balto cautioned, the edge of a laugh evident in his voice and eyes. “They may be the cutest little guys to ever walk the face of the earth, but they’re a rambunctious little bunch!” he added, causing both Jenna and Kavik to chuckle slightly.
“That’s right.” Jenna seconded, “they’ll love you to death if you let them.”
Kavik opened his mouth to reply, but just then, Jenner came bounding over, pink tongue lolling out of his mouth as he insisted; “Come on! Come play in the snow with us Mr. Kavik! It’s lots of fun!” He emphasized this strong desire by jumping up, seizing hold of the cross around Kavik’s neck and frantically pulling at it with his sharp puppy teeth.
Kavik’s smile – if at all possible – grew even wider and he looked to Jenna as if to ask permission to do what Jenner asked. When their Mother’s smile grew and she gave a slight flick of her head to signal her consent, Kavik allowed himself to be led toward the other pups, all of who were waiting anxiously, their tails wagging in anticipation.
Kavik stopped a good ten feet away form Jenna and Balto, sitting on his haunches before the impatient pups. “So, you guys wanna know if I’m part wolf huh?” he asked. Their frantic nods were their only reply. His smile grew into a somewhat crafty grin. “Well then…if you must know…I’m…” he trailed off intentionally.
“You’re what? What are you?” Kodi asked frantically, captivated.
The white hybrid lowered his voice even further, to something barely above a whisper. You could've cut the air suspense that hung around them with a knife. “…I’m…really…three-fourths…wolf…and…one fourth…GERMAN SHEPHERD!” he said raising his voice on the last two words to something like a low shout, causing the pups to cry out in surprised amusement and tumble into one another, yipping with laughter.
((()-()))
Balto grinned and turned to regard Jenna who had been watching the little scene before them with slight apprehension that was now smiling relief. You must remember; they were her pups and Kavik - despite his undenyably gentle nature - was a complete stranger so it was only natural to have felt the way she had.
“See? What’d I tell you? He’s a big softie.” He said reassuringly, looking back to where Jenner was now displaying Kavik like some sort of trophy, telling Aleau and the others all about his new friend.
Jenna smiled warmly, turning her own gaze back to regard the one she loved. “He does seem very nice…and the kids seem to like him as well.” She looked back towards them, eyes slightly puzzled. “I wonder why? They’re usually so shy when it comes to meeting strangers, and he’s only been here five minutes and already they’ve got him playing with them…”
Balto shrugged, and shook his shaggy head. “I haven’t the foggiest idea why. Maybe…it’s just his appearance, you know?” When Jenna cocked her head slightly, seeming to not understand completely, he went on; “His eyes, they’re so full of warmth and compassion, hardly what most of us would expect from a dog his size, knowing he was probably teased when he was younger...” Balto trailed off for a moment, thinking '
If anyone had the guts to tease someone his size, that is, seeing as he was probably twice the size of any normal pup, even at that young age.' He chuckled at the thought as he continued to gaze at Kavik who was now telling his pups a funny story, judging by the way they were all rolling around in the snow and barking with laughter.
“You’re remembering what it was like when you were younger, aren’t you?” Jenna asked, seeming to read his mind with that spooky sort of low-level telepathy shared by two dogs united by love.
Balto smiled. “You'd know it, wouldn't you?” he asked, looking into her eyes again and smiling. “He does seem to be good with pups, maybe…oh heck, I don’t know.” He laughed briefly, Jenna following soon after.
“Maybe…” she said, glancing over at the pups again. “He’s just one of those dogs you can’t help but like.” She smiled, returning her now amused gaze back to him. “Kind of like a certain someone I happen to be married to…”
Balto smiled as he and Jenna watched the situation unfolding across the yard. Kavik had all the pups now crowding around him again. Balto snorted with laughter as the enormous dog feigned defeat and tumbled sideways onto the fluffy white powder, crying out in mock alarm as they all swarmed over him, little tails wagging madly, barking with delight. His laughter redoubled as Kodi seized the large silver crucifix around his neck and yanked in a futile effort to obtain the prescious item.
“Oh help!” Kavik cried in fake panic, barely able to keep a straight face. “They’re monsters! They’re gonna’ eat me like a bunch of rabid Grizzlies!”
“
Rarrrrrr!” Aleau growled, trying to imitate a Grizzly bear’s low rumble. “I’m gonna gobble you up!” She pounced on Kavik’s head, little puppy paws covering his eyes.
“Oh no! Now it’s all gone dark outside! I’ve been blinded! I can’t see! I’m as blind as a bat! You’re all heartless monsters!” he cried, laughing and grinning like an idiot, causing the pups to giggle wildly in response. Kodi took advantage of Kavik’s position by touching his snout to one of Kavik’s outstretched paws, causing the canine to jump slightly. He laughed again, and said, “Oh no! Not there! I’m a little ticklish!”
“Oh you are, are you?” Dingo asked, eyes sparkling mischievously. At some sort of signal, the other four sprang into action, yelling “TICKLE TORTURE!” as they did just that, tickling their new friend on the pads of his paws with their small, wet little noses until he finally gasped – between gusts of laughter; “Ah…c’mon guys…seriously…I…can’t breath…” at which point they stopped to let him catch his wind again before beginning a little wrestling game in which Balto was finally dragged into – whether he liked it or not – as the six pups and one full grown wolf/dog rolled over to where he and Jenna were standing.
Jenna, who had actually been smart enough to move out of the way when she saw the way they were coming, was helpless not to laugh as Balto and all her pups ganged up on Kavik who cried in a falsely indignant voice;
“What the - ? Seven against one! Those aren’t very fair odds!” before he was swept into the giggling and yipping fray once more. They had a grand time, rolling and playing in the snow, and all that afternoon the air was filled with the sounds of the pups' yipps and barks of pure delight.
Finally, after much romping and mirth, Kavik reported that he must return to his Master - allbeit regreatably, or so he told the disapointed pups. Their spirits were roused again with the following promise that he would soon return to tell them all about his 'adventurous life' as he called it. How did Balto and Jenna feel about this, you may ask? In all honesty, they were quite relieved, for that was the first night that the pups were all asleep by 7 o'clock that either of them could remember. (It also happened to be the first night that either of them were allowed to sleep fo their required seven and a-half hours in a single stretch without so much as one interuption). To put it bluntly; Kavik was, among many other things, the long-awaited cure for the over-worked parent...
((()-()))
Author's Note
Well hope everybody likes this one - seeing as I had to do a TON of editing this morning (6:48AM - 8:46AM). I added the last paragraph because, after reading how it ended on Fanfiction.net, I decided that the closing was to abrupt - just a sidenote for all you Fanfiction.net readers in the house. Don't forget to reply!
LoL
BaltoLuver63
Dude! Please, show some tact! (no offense) but there are people who haven't read this yet and don't know anything about the story!
