Balto (The Revelation)

Chapter 8 – New Leader

          “Papa…” Aleu thought, “What are you doing now?”

          At the top of rocks, a female brown wolf sat while wondering about something far away. Her blue eyes gazed directly to the stars above. Although she was at ground, her mind was floating at the sky. She kept like that until all of sudden, a disturbing sound came into her. She then turned her sight, staring darkness around. She only smiled, knowing already what would come.

          “I got you!” a small male red wolf shouted, leaping to where Aleu been but she was found nowhere, “Huh? Where did she go?”

          “I’m behind you…” Aleu replied.

          With less time to react, Aleu suddenly jumped to a hopeless red wolf. She held him down tightly, letting no way to escape. Even the red wolf still struggled under pressure, his effort ended in vain. There was no way he could beat her power.

          “Give it up, Baki…” Aleu started, still holding him down, “You never can beat me.”

          “No way!” Baki shouted loudly.

          “Okay, then…” Aleu replied, “You can try as much as you can.”

          Still being held down, Baki tried his best. It seemed there was no escape unless he did some tricks. He then made his shock face, facing beside him.

          “Look!” he exclaimed, “Raka is coming.”

          “What?” Aleu quickly turned around, “Where?”

          “Got you!” Baki leapt at confused Aleu.

          “Baki!” a loud voice called, “Stop it!”

          Baki suddenly halted his rush. He knew that voice, the voice he never forgot. When he turned around, he saw a male blue wolf was watching him deeply. His gaze to him looked like he would get a scold.

          “Brother…” Baki started nervously.

          “Baki, I told you before…” Raka replied, looking at his little brother, “Don’t always disturb Aleu…”

          “Raka, don’t act too harsh to him…” Aleu interrupted, “I think he just wants to play around.”

          “But, Aleu…” Raka replied.

          “As the beta,” Aleu smiled upon him, “You should obey me as your alpha, isn’t that true?”

          “But…” Raka complained, but gave it up, “Okay, Aleu. You win.”

          “I am…” Aleu laughed happily, then looking at Baki, “I already saved you. You owe me one.”

          “What!?” Baki was surprised, “That’s not fair. I didn’t ask you to save me.”

          “I don’t care,” Aleu smiled, turning around from him, “You still owe me. Better not forget it.”

          While Aleu was walking away, Baki was just staring at her. He then suddenly followed her, pleading not to owe her but failed. Her answer was still same. As his big brother, Raka only laughed when he saw it. He really knew that Baki just wanted playing, yet too much of it wouldn’t be very good idea. He then kept close to him, and also his alpha, Aleu.

          Many days had already passed since they left their precious land. Raka still had fresh memory on it. Nava chose Aleu as a new leader, and Aleu led them into prosperity on this new land. But long before that happened, he didn’t believe at her. How could an inexperience wolf lead them? As the beta, he strongly rejected her as the alpha. Although of it, he gave a deepest respect to Nava’s decision. He knew he couldn’t abandon his wish. So then, a cruel and hard drill finally came.

          He trained Aleu hardly, almost like military training. Rest meant delay and failure meant punishment. He taught everything he knew to her. Even the training itself like a nightmare, yet Aleu faced it successfully. She never cried, she never mumbled. All of those things made him amazed her. But then, a strange sense came into Raka.

          “Alright!” Baki suddenly started after tired for pleading, “I don’t have to owe you because I don’t ask you for it besides, you’re not a true leader.”

          “Why I’m not a true leader?” Aleu asked curiously, “Tell me…”

          “I thought a true leader must have a mate…” Baki explained, “But, you don’t have one, do you?”

          “Well… Umm…” Aleu was hesitated, not knowing what to do, “Is that very important?”

          “Of course, it’s very important…” Baki answered, “You’re not a true leader until you have mate.”

          Aleu must think hard to get out from this conversation. She never expected he would ask it. She still wanted to be free. If she had a mate, she wouldn’t have a chance to do fun things. A brilliant idea then suddenly visited her mind.

          “How if I pick someone right now to be my mate?” she started.

          “What?” Baki asked unbelievingly, “Really?”

          “Well, let’s see…” Aleu began choosing, “Probably…”

          While Aleu was wondering away, Raka’s heart was beating fast. Was she serious or she was just joking? Nobody knew except herself. Although she impressed him, he wasn’t sure about his own feeling. Did he like her as the alpha or something more than that? He closed his eyes, not strong to hold this grudge any longer.

          “I choose you!” Aleu suddenly exclaimed.

          There was no sound after that. Raka’s heartbeat became faster as soon as he slowly opened his eyes. He was so afraid if Aleu chose him. Not because he didn’t like her, but he just felt nervous. Soon, his sight revealed everything.

          “Baki…”he thought.

          “Me?” Baki was startled, “Are… are you serious?”

          “Well, it depends on how will you accept it,” Aleu answered, “What are you thinking about it?”

          “No… no way…” Baki replied, “You must be kidding. Besides, I’m still small. If you want a mate, you should choose my brother.”

          “Yeah, you’re quite right…” Aleu turned around to Raka, “So, would you like to be my mate?”

          “I… I…” Raka grew nervous.

          “What your answer?” Aleu asked with her smile.

          “I… Aleu, I…” Raka answered nervously.

          The intense was killing Raka. His black eyes wandered around, trying to get a suitable answer while Baki’s black eyes stared at him. As Aleu’s blue eyes became closer, Raka’s mouth became harder to open. It lasted long until suddenly, Aleu began to burst out of laughing.

          “Did you see your face?” she laughed uncontrollably, “I’ve been fooling all of you for this time.”

          “Huh?” Raka was confused, “What?”

          “She fooled us, brother…” Baki interrupted, then turning around to Aleu, “I’ll get you now!”

          “Catch me if you can…” Aleu laughed, running playfully from Baki who was chasing from behind.

          While both of them were running each other, Raka only sighed. He looked like he was disappointed. Aleu who noticed it soon came closer after him. She walked to him with curiosity.

          “What’s wrong, Raka?” she asked, bringing him back to reality.

          “No, nothing’s wrong…” Raka answered quickly, turning to his little brother, “We must go back now. You need to sleep, Baki.”

          “Okay,” Baki yawned, walking away with the last look of Aleu, “Aleu, remember this! I’ll get you someday.”

          “That day won’t come to you…” Aleu chuckled.

          “Baki! Go now!” Raka ordered, making Baki soon moved away, “I’m sorry, Aleu. My little brother has been making you trouble.”

          “That’s fine…” Aleu replied, “He just a child. What he seeks is only playing.”

          “But, he can’t play forever…” Raka told her, “Someday, he will grow up. And at that time, he must learn to survive.”

          “I know…” Aleu smiled, jumping above him, “And, I think you need to play too.”

          “Hey, what are you doing?” Raka was surprised.

          The blue wolf tried hard to release himself from her grip. He knew she was just playing, but at this rate, he didn’t know exactly what to do. He then felt tired, lying down while Aleu was still above him.

          “C’mon, Aleu…” he started, “Don’t play anymore…”

          “So, you give up now…” Aleu chuckled, putting her head close to him, “I thought you were tough.”

          Raka’s face quickly blushed when she put her head on him. He could feel the warm from her was killing him, yet it was comforting. He wanted it kept like this forever, but he knew he couldn’t.

          “Umm… Sorry, Aleu…” he quickly got up, “I have to go back now. My little brother needs me.”

          Without any word left, Raka slowly left Aleu. While Aleu could only think of his act, he went far and far than before. He couldn’t understand why he always felt nervous when he was around her. Was it love? He quickly swept away that thought from his mind. He couldn’t like her, he just couldn’t. But in his heart, he wished it. The day was still far away. He then ran faster, heading back. Perhaps he could be ready for this feeling someday. When he was, he might do something he even wouldn’t think about it.