VOICES:
-Buck: Mark Harmon (younger voice)
-Ataneq: Jack Nicholson
-Kaya: Sasha Alexander
-Balto: Kevin Bacon
-Steele: Jim Cummings
I was dead… at least that’s what I thought at first. But dead wolves weren’t supposed to feel pain, and I was feeling it in the back of my head and my chest. I sat up, realizing that I was in the pack’s cave. Dots danced in front of my eyes and my head spun. I groaned and set my head down on my paws. What happened?
Flashbacks raced through my mind and I gasped, remembering the gash down my chest. I looked down but it was all closed up. I guess I was going to be okay after all… where was everyone? No food lay on the den floor and no one was watching me.
Did I start a fight?! Was Kaya okay?! What about Ataneq?! Someone entered the cave and toenails clicking on the den’s floor told me I was going to get my answers soon. Ataneq, head low and tail brushing the ground, entered first. Kaya followed after, sniffling and eyes glistening.
“What happened?!” I demanded. Ataneq and Kaya both jumped and looked as if they had seen a ghost.
Ataneq blinked but Kaya threw herself at me, licking me across the face again and again.
“Easy, easy EASY! OW! Kaya!”
“Sorry” she said shyly, blushing.
“We thought you were dead” Ataneq said, expression unreadable.
He nuzzled me. I knew he had been through a lot since my grandmother, Sage had died from disease. This probably hadn’t helped.
“I’m just glad you’re alive. We should tell the pack before they dig your grave” he chuckled exiting the den. “Or else we’re still going to bury you”
I laughed dryly and gulped. Only Ataneq would say something like that at a time like this. Kaya got up to leave with Ataneq and I got up to follow. But my legs wouldn’t cooperate. They shook and I crashed into the side of the cave. What was wrong with me?! Ataneq and Kaya rushed back as I frustratedly tried to make my body do what I wanted it to do.
“I’m fine! I’m fine!” I growled.
“You need to stay here and heal. Do you know how badly you were hurt?!”
I lay back down with a sigh. Ataneq wasn’t going to let me out without a fight and that was the absolute last thing I wanted to do ever.
Ataneq, Talon or sometimes, Kaya faithfully brought me food as the next two weeks dragged by slowly. I wasn’t completely healed, but I was through with sitting around and doing nothing!
“Just don’t reopen the cut, okay?!” Ataneq said as I pushed past him.
“Yeah, yeah” I replied not really listening. The air was fresh and it was snowing gently; the good kind of snow.
I wasn’t out for five seconds before the pack rushed over to me. I never thought I’d be missed that much… and more surprised that no one had told me how stupid I was to go looking for a fight I knew I couldn’t win. Kaya pushed her way through and nuzzled under my chin.
One of the other wolves made a whistling noise.
“What!? You’ve never seen a wolf nuzzle another one before?” She snapped.
Ataneq approached and I knew what he was going to ask before he even opened his mouth.
“It’s my turn to scout” I said.
Ataneq blinked and shook his head no.
“You’re still healing… anyone else?”
“I’m fine!” I argued, jumping back in front of Ataneq. “I missed my turn for two weeks and Kaya can help me! Right Kaya?”
“It has been kind of boring doing nothing….”
Ataneq looked at me, muttered something about my father then gave in.
“You scout the north side”
It figures, nothing exciting ever happened over there.
“Let’s go Kaya” I said, before Ataneq could change his mind.
I ran off with Kaya in hot pursuit. The north side of our territory was the easiest to protect: all you had to do was sit at the edge of a cliff and look over a flat stretch of land. You could spot anyone from miles away. I parked myself at the edge and lay down. Kaya sat down next to me.
“Look, I’m really sorry about that whole fight” I started, tucking my ears back.
Kaya was silent, not sure what to say.
“It’s my fault. I went looking for him and I thought I could beat him. I wanted revenge…”
“It doesn’t matter any more. You’re still alive and that’s all I care about right now”
She looked away so I couldn’t see her face and stared out over the territory. We sat there in silence until the sun’s yellow glow stopped illuminating the snowy sky. Our shift over, we turned and returned to the den. Ataneq greeted us with good news.
“The scouts from the east border said that Boss is gone. His territory is empty”
Relief washed over me. I never wanted to see him again. Forget about revenge. I was lucky I got away with a scar down my chest. Because of him, I never wanted to fight again. But Ataneq, being over protective as always, wanted to assure my safety.
“By the way, no one is to tell anyone outside the pack that Buck is alive. We don’t want any unwelcome packs here again. And you” Ataneq said, turning to me “Cannot go anywhere alone”
“Well, Kaya can be my body guard!” I exclaimed.
“You’ll need more then Kaya. We’re traveling back west” the alpha replied flatly.
Now that I thought about it, food was getting kind of scarce, and I was sure that’s why Boss and his pack had left.
We all woke up earlier then usual, but it wasn’t as bad since spring was on the way. There was a light snow, but it was slushy and the air was warmer. As promised, Ataneq sent two wolves to guard me; the usual Kanut and Cikuq who were best at being bodyguards. The mild wind played with our coats and kicked up the sweet scent of caribou. My mouth started to water just smelling it. But after a long journey that lasted a few days, the pack was too tired to hunt, and dug little saucers in the snow that crusted overnight to sleep. I couldn’t blame them. I dropped to the ground just as tired, but I hadn’t even closed my eyes before Kaya shook me awake. I perked my ears and listened to the two white wolves whisper.
“He’s asleep. He’s not going to go anywhere any way”
“Yeah but ……” Kanut yawned widely. “…….Ataneq would kill us”
“Well, I’m just going to take a quick nap. Just wake me up if you need me”
The Kanut started to object, but was too tired to fight. As Cikuq nodded off, Kanut muttered enviously under his breath. But not two seconds after his brother had laid down, Kanut’s head nodded and soft snores rose up.
“Lets go!” she whispered excitedly.
“Iwannasleep” I mumbled.
“Oh come on! You haven’t been yourself since Boss beat you up”
“He beat the adventure right out of me Kaya” I grumbled. “He did beat the tiredness back into me though”
“I think he beat the fun out of you too” Kaya snorted.
Now that I couldn’t take lying down! I got to my feet but Kaya bounded out of tackling distance, luring me into a chase. As soon as we were both out of earshot, we broke into a run. I had to admit, after being cooped up and calm for so long, the wind in my face and the cold air sending shivers down my spine felt refreshing.
“It’s so good not to be observed” I sighed.
“Yeah, I’ll say!” Kaya snorted.
“It’s so… stuffy and uncomfortable”
“I can help!” she said, tripping me.
I fell flat on my face but tumbled back up. Three weeks ago, I would have never fallen for that, but three weeks ago, I hadn’t met up with Boss. Kaya stopped and looked over her shoulder. I galloped after her, stretching my legs out. I growled playfully and snapped at her. But something caught my attention. I sniffed the ground feverishly, trying to remember what had happened here and looked around. Kaya spun around and raced back.
“What is it!? Is there someone here!?” she said as she bristled.
“No….. We’re fine…. it just seems so familiar”
I looked up and sniffed the air. A giant black form loomed in front of us, just barely touching a frozen beach. The water seemed to go on forever… then it clicked.
“So….what is this place?”
“This is where my family died”
“Wonderful memories, huh?”
“Yeah…..” I said, realizing the impact I felt. “I think we should go back now”
Kaya snorted and looked at me with one eyebrow raised.
“We haven’t even been gone for that long! You’d never pass up a chance like this!”
“Yeah, and now I’m not passing up the chance to go back”
I turned and headed back, my mind numb and spine tingling. I bristled a little from memory and tried to shake it off.
“So much for a night of freedom” Kaya grumbled, giving in and following me.
“I just want to go home” I said quietly.
Even I was surprised at how pathetic that had sounded but Kaya didn’t say a word. We walked back solemnly across the slick, half melted snow. When we returned, no one, including our bodyguards, had woken up. I spotted Ataneq and curled up as close as I could next to him. He mumbled something in his sleep, then rolled over. I snuggled closer, an empty feeling inside me.
* * *
It had been a month when spring finally set in. The snow had thawed quickly and filled all of the streams and rivers with ice cold melted snow. The grass shot up through the small amount of snow left and made it easier for us to hunt the caribou silently. Still not quite myself, I was a little more then sort of clingy to the pack and Ataneq immediately dropped my bodyguards. But even that didn’t help. Fear of getting into another fight bound me to the pack and Ataneq worried about me. Finally, he reluctantly ordered us to go into the human’s town, to at least have fun if I didn’t get better. I had never seen the town and was curious, but Kaya was excited out of her mind.
“This is going to be so much fun!”
She darted back and forth in front of me. It was a chore just to walk straight without her cutting me off.
“We’re not going to see any people. Maybe some dogs, but probably not much else”
“This is my first time! Don’t spoil it for me” she yipped.
We walked past the first few houses and discovered I was right. The dark streets dimly lit with glowing lights were empty. No one was awake or around. Kaya was still going wild, though. She spied a cat and chased it, barking.
“Shhhh!! Don’t wake anyone up!”
“But that thing! Did you see it?! It was like a mini mountain lion!”
“It was a cat. Ataneq told me…my dad told him”
We turned the corner and found something that smelled good. Birds were hanging out of the windows. I stopped in front and inhaled the strangely good- smelling meats.
“What is this place?”
“No idea, but it smells delicious!”
Kaya walked right up to a long chain of some meat and pulled it down. She carefully pulled off a single one and sampled it. She didn’t even swallow it before she started to chow down on the other links of meat.
“You have to taste this! It is soooo good!”
I knew I shouldn’t but it was really tempting. I picked up the other half and tasted. It was far different from what I was used to and it was a lot better.
“Hey! Lobo! Get away from that! That’s mine!”
I bristled up. I had never been talked to that way before. I whipped around and growled. A black and white husky with blue eyes strutted up like he owned the place. He might have, but he didn’t own me or Kaya.
“Who do you think you are?!” I growled.
The husky paused for a second, realizing I was not who he was looking for. We were about the same size though, so he kept on coming.
“I said that’s mine. Get away half bred” he said, looking down his nose at me.
My anger flared up, but he was still only a dog. A stupid one.
“Why don’t you go dig up a bone or something dog!” I said, shrugging off the insult.
The husky rolled his shoulders and cracked the joints in his neck. Then he got right up in my face so our noses touched.
“This is your last chance to get away in one piece” he uttered coldly.
Behind me, I heard Kaya suck up the last of the meat. The husky snarled at her for eating the last of the meat. He lunged for Kaya with dull dog’s teeth but all it took was a stuck out foot and the husky tumbled, landing flat on his back. I wouldn’t fight him, but I could scare him.
“Now why shouldn’t I tear you to pieces?!” I said quietly.
Kaya looked happy for a moment, thinking I was myself again, but she could tell I was acting. The husky couldn’t.
“Sorry” the husky stuttered. “You looked and smelled like someone else”
My hopes soared. I let the husky get up, tail tucked between his legs.
“Who?!” I demanded.
“His name is Balto. He lives in that old shipwreck outside of town. Go take your anger out on him”
With that the husky turned tail and sprinted away.
“You’re not really going to beat him up too are you?” Kaya asked curiously.
“No, I think I might know him though”
I charged out of
“Don’t try anything you can’t handle” she smirked.
I nodded, took a deep breath and walked up the ramp taking me to the deck of the boat. I walked past a frozen water bowl, chewed bone and spied something white. It was some kind of goose with the upper part of his body tucked under a blanket. It would be a good meal since Kaya ate my half of the meat. I dropped to my stomach and stalked over to it. Something creaked and I froze. I peered over my shoulder. Nothing. This place was really creepy. I turned my attention back to the bird. I concentrated, ready to pounce when something rammed into my side and sent me sprawling to the floor. I turned to my attacker and met the same yellow and brown eyes as mine. I stopped growling and Balto cocked his head but kept his teeth bared.
“Balto?!”
“Yeah” he said cautiously. “What do you want?!”
“It’s me… Buck” I smiled.
“Buck’s dead” Balto growled, bristling all over again. “Did you just come to torment me too?”
“No, it’s really me!” I said desperately.
He relaxed and circled me but it seemed more like sizing up then trying to remember who I was. I shifted uncomfortably.
“So, how are you, huh? How are mom and dad?” he growled.
“They’re… um… well theyare dead”
That didn’t sound convincing at all. I laid back my ears, hoping he would believe me. He didn’t.
“You’re not Buck and you tried to eat Boris” he nodded to the goose that was miraculously still asleep.
“How was I supposed to know he was your friend?!”
“Get out of here now” he said flatly.
“But I just got here! Aren’t you at all”-
“Go away! I’m a husky and you’re a wolf. If you were a husky, I’d believe you”
“You look exactly like me Balto” I said, raising my eyebrows.
He looked at the floor and I tried to nuzzle his head. He shrank away, eyes burning.
“Steele wouldn’t even go that low!”
I was speechless. I had barely recognized him so he probably didn’t know me at all. Still, couldn’t he smell? He interrupted my thoughts.
“Get out of here now! Leave me in peace”
“But-!”
Balto plunged into me with his eyes closed and made me hit the rail, which creaked and swayed with the sudden weight.
“Balto stop!”
“Don’t even use my name…” he opened his eyes and they glistened with tears.
“But I’m really your brother!” I said. How could he think I wasn’t?
Balto closed his mouth and jumped, pushing me over the ship’s deck. I fell and landed on my back. I let out a tiny yelp of shock and Kaya charged up. Balto took his attention away from me to size up Kaya. I groaned and rocked to my feet. I’d feel that tomorrow. Balto bared his teeth and moved towards me.
“I am so sorry for whatever my mate did!” she lied.
Balto and I both snapped our heads in her direction.
“You see, I’m pregnant with his pups and we’re all alone and haven’t eaten in days!” she gushed. “He’s delusional”
Balto must have known she was faking, but like he had said before, he was a husky. He nodded and walked away without another word. A wolf would have never let an attacker get away that easily.
“Let’s go before you get into another fight with someone else” Kaya growled.
I followed her with my head and tail low. I didn’t know what was worse. Not knowing if your brother was still alive or knowing he was but didn’t want anything to do with you. Kaya stopped and looked at me sympathetically.
“Alright, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that me being unusually sarcastic or mean would affect you.
“It’s not that” I mumbled. “That dog back there was my brother”
Kaya’s eyes widened and she looked back at the shipwreck.
“You mean Balto?! Why didn’t you stay?”
“He doesn’t know me and he doesn’t want to know me or remember me. He thinks he’s a dog”
“That would just kill me” Kaya sighed.
I glared at her. She noticed me looking at her and shrugged.
“Sorry. Cheer up! At least you know where he lives”
“I guess you’re right” I said, perking up a little. It could have been worse. We wandered back, or at least the way we had thought was back. The trees grew closer together and the trail started to smell different.
“Great. Now we’re lost!” Kaya grumbled.
“Huh. I was sure this was the way back. Well the good news is the trail didn’t close up behind us like it usually does!” I answered sarcastically. “We’ll just retrace our steps back…”
I turned around and headed down the trail. It started to get cold as we traveled the trail though. I shivered a little, but the chilly spring winds found their way under my coat. Even as we turned around, the trail only got darker and creepier.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine. Just a little cold. Why?” I answered as I scanned the tree line.
“You look like you want to start a fight. You’re all bristled up”
I hadn’t even noticed, but I was a little on edge. I was positive that this was someone else’s territory. And I was even more sure that they were still here and that they were following us. Fortunately, the big shipwreck sat in the distance and I could almost smell our territory. I broke into a jog, relieved of not having to fight. When we were less then a few wolf lengths away from our territory, three wolves jumped out. I skit to a halt so fast, I almost sat down. Kaya crashed into me from behind, knocking me on my stomach.
“This isn’t your territory!” the eldest growled.
“Sorry. We got lost! Our territory is just at the end of this trail” I said submissively.
Kaya rolled her eyes.
“Oh, okay then” The unusually calm wolves moved right out of our way. I watched them as we walked past, still tucking my ears back and trailing my tail on the ground.
“Wow! What happened to you?!” yipped the youngest as I walked past him.
“Uh, I got into a bad fight….with a bear” I didn’t make eye contact and walked faster and tucked my tail between my legs. Kaya scowled at me.
“Wait just a second” said the eldest, squinting.
Kaya stopped, forcing me to stop too. I shoved her. She glared at me. Why did she want me to fight so badly?
“They let us through without a fight. The least we can do is stop for a second” she said. I shoved her again and she backed up, forcing me to back up too.
The oldest of the three approached me. I wasn’t going to let Kaya get away with this. I rolled right onto my back and wagged my tail. Kaya furrowed her brow. The old wolf looked me right in the eyes.
“How did you say you got that scar again?” he asked.
“Um, a fight with a bear” I said, confidence slipping away.
I was frozen to the spot and the other wolf looked serious but unsure. Next to me, Kaya smiled and looked between the two of us.
“Oh dear! I hope you don’t fight.” she said innocently.
The old wolf didn’t even acknowledge her. I barely heard her myself. I felt a growl grow in my throat. The older one showed his teeth while the other two blocked our path. The older wolf started to circle me. I started to circle but in a different way then I was used to. Kaya watched me angrily.
“Well if you don’t fight, I will!” she spat.
She lunged for the old wolf, but he had experience on his side. The old wolf easily won the short fight while I watched in horror. The old wolf had her pinned, but he must have been a kind wolf at one point, but when he let her get up, Kaya attacked the other two.
“Kaya! Knock it off!” I called desperately.
Kaya didn’t listen. The two younger wolves, one a little older then us and the other very young, outnumbered her and fought to hurt her. One of the attackers sank their teeth into her and she cried out. Self consciously, I lunged forward and snarled. The two wolves stopped momentarily and Kaya watched excitedly. I stopped myself and dropped my eyes to the ground, and lowered my head and tail in submission. But Kaya knew what had triggered it.
“We give up, we don’t want a fight” I forced.
“I know who you are! I’ll tell him you’re a live!” the old wolf threatened, confused.
There was no need to mention “his” name. We all knew he was talking about Boss. I started to reconsider, but stopped.
“You’re not part of his pack”
“He still takes all of our food! Turning you in would keep him out of our territory for good!”
I wasn’t going to fight. Kaya kicked away the other two and realized how serious this was getting. For the first time, I was actually terrified. We all stood, tense for the move to make. I met Kaya’s eyes and she motioned to the two younger wolves.
We leapt at the same time and charged at the two younger wolves. Kaya easily cleared the wolves and all I had to do was growl. The young wolf got out of our way with a tiny yelp, letting me go right past. We crossed into our territory and I slowed down immediately. Enemies usually didn’t follow where the other pack could outnumber them. That wasn’t the case with these three.
Kaya turned around just in time to see me get tackled by all three.
“Go hide!” I demanded.
Kaya didn’t like to leave me behind or be ordered, but she got the message. She darted off into the woods and hid.
“This is my territory!” I declared. “Just in case you didn’t notice”
“You’re worth the risk” the old wolf said coolly. “Go get the girl” he said, turning to the older of the other two.
“Where’s your cute friend?” said the wolf tauntingly.
I growled, a little of my old self showing through, but it didn’t last long. Kaya’s long howl pierced the air and the scout set off in her direction. Panic squeezed me and I struggled away from the old wolf, taking of in the direction Kaya was.
I darted from trail to trail, following the scent trail until I found the Kaya and her attacker fighting. She looked like she was winning, so I decided to just sit and watch. She paused for a second, realizing I was there, and got tackled. I was sure she could get out of it though. But I knew she wouldn’t have a chance when the other two thundered toward her. She was badly outnumbered now. My head told my feet to move without me thinking, and I hurled myself at the younger wolf first.
He yelped, but I was in a frenzy now. I grabbed onto the back off his neck and shook until he was unconscious. The second younger wolf let go of Kaya and charged at me. I bared my teeth and waited for him to reach me. He jumped in the air dramatically, showing off for Kaya, but I knew better to do something like that. It left his stomach way to exposed… but that just made it easier for me. I dived under him and attacked his stomach. He yelped, flipping over and struggling on his back. He wasn’t going to get away from me that easily! I let him get up, knocked him down again, let him get up, knocked him down a second time, and then chased him away. Two down, one more to go.
The oldest wolf circled me, sniggering. I watched him, head low and gaze unwavering. Circling was a waste of energy, and it was predictable he’d jump at me from behind. He walked behind me, and as I had thought, he jumped, making it too easy for me to just side step away. He hit the ground and bounded right back into my face. I jumped back and swatted him across the face. He glared at me, shocked but I couldn’t help myself and smirked. He was really angry now. He dived for me, mouth agape, but looked unbalanced. I reared up on my back legs and sprang at him, landing on his head and pushing it down into the dirt. I bounded off and landed a few feet away; he snarled and shook off. I was thoroughly enjoying myself. He charged again, angrier then before, but even more unorganized. It was time to end this. I charged too and pretended like I was going to jump again. He responded and slowed down to catch me, but instead, I bowled into his legs and he fell on his side, knocking the wind right out of him.
He puffed for a few seconds, but his eyes still burned with anger.
“This is my territory” I repeated for him. “Get out now!”
I stepped off and let him scamper to his two scouts who were shivering on their side of the border. I snorted with satisfaction and turned to see the whole pack watching me.
“How long have you been there?!” I blurted, shocked.
“Almost since the beginning” Ataneq answered, clearly amused.
“And you couldn’t have helped me?!”
Kaya shoved her way through and made her way over to me.
“No need to thank me” I started. But when she got close, Kaya head butted me. Hard.
“What was that for?!” I shrieked.
“For being stupid”
“I won! And you wanted me to fight!”
“To fight, not make the old one so angry that he wanted to kill you”
With that, Kaya stormed off. I watched her go, mouth open with insult and shock. Ataneq watched her go and smiled sympathetically.
“Well… I’m getting way too old for this. Buck, you’re the alpha now”
“I guess you are kind of- WHAT?!”
Ataneq had dropped things on me before, but this was a bit bigger. The rest of the pack was as stupefied as I was. Ataneq turned and sat down next to another pack member. I stared at Ataneq like the rest of the pack. He stared back at me.
“What do we do now leader?” he asked innocently.
I closed my mouth and forced my brain to work again.
“I can’t! I’m way too young! Don’t you think that this is a bit soon?!” I stammered.
Ataneq’s eyes twinkled mysteriously.
“Something tells me that you can handle this just fine”
I raised an eyebrow, but considered it. He was usually right about most things. I just hoped this was one of them. I waited for everyone to get up, and then remembered I was leader now. I looked around awkwardly and headed where Kaya had left. The pack followed me. I stopped and the pack stopped. I sighed awkwardly and addressed the pack.
“You know, you don’t have to follow me”
“Actually, we do” Ataneq said matter a factly. “That’s your job as a leader”
I sighed and shifted my eyes from the pack to the trail and started off, uncomfortable again.
Kaya glared at me as soon as we reached our sleeping spot. The pack sat down around me and started to curl up for a morning nap. Kaya studied the pack and raised an eyebrow.
“What’s going on?”
“I think I’m the alpha now”
“Wow. Ataneq really thought this one through huh?” she said, expression not changing.
I lay down next to Kaya but she scooted away.
“Alpha or not, I’m not ready to forgive you yet!”
Females, I grumbled in my head. At least it wasn’t going to be a cold night for me. I worried about Kaya but forced myself to stop. She’s the one that got me into this leader mess in the first place! Leading was going to be very interesting, I was sure…
Buck, Kaya, Ataneq, Kanut, Cikuq and Talon (c) me
Boss (c) Tadie
Balto and Steele (dog Buck sees in town) (c) Universal