“What are you talking about Riley?” Jenna’s heart was racing, the only brown dog she knew of was…someone she had tried to forget about. “Who is this brown dog?”
“H-he saved me.” Riley said looking up at her mother with a pitiful look.
“From what?” Jenna asked, standing up taller and scanning her surroundings. Her maternal instincts kicked in and she growled lowly.
“A dog tried to take me away.” Riley said starting to whimper.
“Shhh, don’t cry Riley.” Jenna picked up Riley by the scruff of her neck and carried her back to the den; there was no use in forcing the information out of a crying pup. When Jenna walked through the den opening, two small heads popped up.
“Riley’s in trouble.” Disk mocked, and Riley pounced on him.
“You two cut it out.” Jenna said, sternly and the two pups rolled away from each other. “Riley, dear can you please tell me who was in the forest with you?”
“A brown dog and a black dog.” Riley said, staring at the ground.
“Where did they come from?”
“I don’t know they came out of nowhere.”
“Did either of them have names.”
“They didn’t tell me,” Riley looked directly at Jenna, “You told me to never talk to scary animals.”
“Ok ok you’re right.” Jenna nodded and stood up; she walked apprehensively outside her den and looked around. This part of the forest was beautiful; the sun glimmered off the snow on the pine trees and shone brightly. Jenna sighed and tilted her head up slightly breathing in deeply through her nose. “From now on, no one leaves the den unless I say so.” Jenna said without turning around to see her pups’ reactions.
“But mama…” Raven objected.
“No buts,” Jenna closed her eyes, “I can’t risk someone taking you away.” A mother’s biggest fear was losing her pups, and Jenna didn’t want to experience something like that again.
“How are we supposed to learn how to hunt?” Raven said standing up and wagging her tail slowly and in an aggravated mood.
“You are not going to learn how to hunt.” Jenna glared at Raven.
“We need to learn or we won’t eat.” Disk whined.
“By the time you are ready to hunt, we have to leave!” Jenna snarled, causing the three pups to huddle together and whine with their tails between their legs.
“Dusty!” The small gray female lifted her head and saw in the distance Ralph running towards her. Dusty had been dozing on her porch; she had fallen into depression.
“Hey Ralphy.” She said, smiling.
“Dusty, you have to come quick!” He said gripping her collar and yanking.
“Let go of me,” She said pawing him in the muzzle and a flirty smile spread across his face and he pulled harder, “Ralph what is it?” “Kodi?” Dusty asked, her heart turned cold and she glanced at Ralph. “Where is he?”
“Come on!” He said, racing off the porch Dusty followed right behind him. He seemed to be leading the way towards the boiler room. When the two dogs pushed open the door, Dusty felt her stomach drop. Kodi was holding a meeting, and it didn’t look appealing to most of the dogs there.
“What in the world is he doing up there?” Dusty muttered to Ralph.
“He’s got something important to say I guess.” Ralph shrugged; he can be such a bonehead sometimes. Dusty rolled her eyes.
“Of course he has something important to say, do you have any idea what it’s about?” “I think it’s something about Jenna’s sudden disappearance.” Ralph sat down close to where Kodi was pacing. Dusty gulped and turned her attention to the small red husky, “I hope he knows what he’s doing.” “Dogs of Nome, I’m sure you are all aware of the long absence of mother, friend and mate, Jenna.” Kodi hung his head and a few dogs whimpered Dusty glared at Kodi. “Well my friends, I have some interesting news as to why Jenna left and it would intrigue every one of you, especially my father.” Dusty, like every other dog in the room, turned her attention the brown elderly dog sitting in the back of the boiler room.
“A few months ago, an unmistakable crime was committed, involving Jenna and a mysterious wolf that seemed to have come out of nowhere. Jenna and the wolf engaged in an act that is looked upon in disgust. My mother and her partner committed adultery one night, and about a month later Jenna came to a conclusion that she was pregnant. She later ran away to live with her true love, the wolf, her partner in crime. We have someone here to thank tonight for aiding in Jenna’s escape,” Kodi turned his focus on Dusty, the gray female growled, “Dusty the female sitting directly in front of me, anything you want to say?” Kodi had a devilish grin plastered on his face.
“Yes there is.” Dusty stood up, facing Kodi at first then turning around glancing at the awed faces that stared back at her, “Do you honestly think that Kodi had a right to do this?”
“Of Course.” “Yes.” “What else could he do?” All these responses came from the crowd; they were baring their teeth and snarling. That’s when Jenna caught Balto’s face; he was looking down at his paws with no expression.
“Would you also like to know something about our beloved Kodi?” Dusty smirked, and turned around to get a good look at her new enemy. Kodi sat down, waiting for her response. Dusty waited until the room was at a hush, “The night Jenna had planned to run away, Kodi faced her for possibly the last time,” Kodi’s face transfigured into fear, “He tried to kill his own mother…” the crowd gasped and looked at Kodi with unbelief.
“Liar.” Kodi breathed and the boiler room was suddenly divided by opinion, snarls and a few swings were surveyed by Dusty. She turned her head for a second to see Kodi spring on top of her, he growled deeply opening his jaws to give her a lethal bite. Suddenly the whole boiler room erupted with howls and barks. Dusty kicked off her opponent and stood up ready for a fight that could cost her, her life. He fell back on his haunches, preparing to spring again but a large dog stepped in and Kodi bounced off him.
“Thanks Ralph.” Dusty smiled, licking his cheek and Ralph chuckled. Their moment didn’t last long, Kodi was suddenly on top of Ralph biting into his large neck, but Ralph didn’t seem uncomfortable just aggravated. He spun around and ripped Kodi off of him, with such force that Kodi hit the wall hard to enough to be knocked unconscious. Dusty looked at Ralph and sighed; she had lost one of her best friends tonight. “What’s going on in here?” A human burst in, and silence followed his question. He held a gun in one hand and another human stood behind him.
“What is it Ernie?” The man asked, trying to get a good look inside the boiler room.
“Eh…nothing just the dogs having a bit of a fight.” Ernie shook his head and the smaller human backed up allowing Ernie to exit the room. The dogs slowly began to file out behind the humans with their ears and tails down. There was no going back now Nome had been changed forever.
“Get up, you filth.” A sharp bite was felt on Jenna’s left ear and she whimpered.
“Don’t touch me!” She growled and her eyes flickered open, she saw Luke towering over her and two other males who had grim looks on their faces.
“Your time is up here.” Luke growled, “I want you gone by sunset.” The year had passed by so quickly that Jenna hadn’t noticed her pups were fully-grown and ready to move on. Raven, being the eldest, was the largest and toughest out of the three. Riley with her sleek appearance had the greatest speed and Disk the runt had a loud, outgoing personality. Jenna looked at the three of them; they stood at the back of the den glaring at the wolves that were standing over their mother. Jenna had no doubt that a human would adopt Disk once they return home. The other two looked more like their father; they had the muscular build of a wolf and had developed wolf-like qualities.
“Yes sir.” Jenna muttered, and Luke along with his accomplices exited the den.
“Mom what is he talking about?” Disk asked he was the first to step out of the shadows and into the light that peeked in through the opening of the small den.
“I-I think you are all old enough to hear a story about your mother.” Jenna sighed, sitting up facing her young ones. “I haven’t told anyone my whole story, it’s not very happy,” she said glancing at her son who had lost interest immediately and his smile faded to a blank expression, Jenna sighed, “I had a mate named Balto and he loved me with all his heart…”
Mishka sat near her own den, her ears pricked up listening for any sound of danger. Her den was on the outskirts of the territory; her job was to warn the pack of any oncoming threat. She sighed and glanced over at Jenna’s den, she recalled the first day she met the outcast. Mishka’s heart broke for Jenna; she had no idea what she was getting herself into. Mishka knew all to well about Luke’s horrid behavior towards female dogs, she had been his first mate when he was a decent pack leader but after Luke’s mother passed on he started acting strange. He began cheating on Mishka and trying to fill the void in his cold heart where his mother’s love used to be.
Mishka turned her attention back to the dense woods she heard paw steps in the distance and she squinted to get a good look at who or what it was. It was only a small group of wolves returning from a successful hunt, they had caught a rabbit and three ground squirrels. Mishka smiled at them and they nodded, a small wolf pup followed behind them proudly trotting with a rabbit in his mouth. “Nice catch there, young one.”
The pup seemed taken aback by her kind comment, “Thank you Mishka.” He smiled and raced ahead to catch up with the older wolves. The little wolf reminded Mishka of her pups, she only gave birth to two pups and Luke ended up killing them immediately after birth. Mishka breathed in deeply and closed her eyes allowing a few tears to escape and drip down her cheeks.
“RILEY STOP!” Mishka looked up to see a gray blur running from Jenna’s cave. Jenna took her time walking outside of her den, a black wolf/dog was suddenly next to Jenna and then that creature sat down next to Jenna. “I wonder what’s going on.” Mishka said out loud. She stretched her legs out so that she could lie down flat on the ground.
Riley breathed in deeply as the tears rolled down her furry cheeks. She had had enough of her mother’s story; she didn’t want to believe that her only role model committed adultery. Riley felt that she was the product of a horrid crime. “Riley, please come back.” Her mother’s voice grew fainter and Riley slowed her pace but she had no intention of turning around. Her heart was set on leaving her mother behind, but she still loved her brother and sister. She stopped in front of a large oak tree gazed up at it.
“Whoa.” She said in amazement.
“Pretty amazing, these trees.” Someone said from the other side of the tree.
“Yeah they’re huge.” Riley sat down, assuming the voice belonged to a pack member that she couldn’t recognize.
“Are you out hunting?”
“No…I had a fight with my mother and I needed some space.”
“Ah, your one of Jenna’s pups aren’t you?” Suddenly the owner of the mysterious voice stepped out from his hiding spot and gave the young wolf a warm smile. It was the brown dog that Riley had met when she was a pup.
“Yes I am, she was telling us of her past.” Riley looked down at her paws, and shuffled them nervously.
“Not very pleasant is it?”
“Well there are some good parts, but I was disappointed as to how me and my siblings came to be.”
“Yes I—” The dog turned around suddenly, his ears were straight up and twitching, catching each sound that was heard.
“What is it?” Riley asked her tail flicked with excitement. The brown creature turned his attention to the gray she-wolf he smiled.
“Tell Jenna that Balto is waiting for her to return and that he still loves her, despite the mistakes she has made.”
“You’re Balto?” Riley asked her eyes widened in surprise. Balto nodded and turned making his way back through the dense forest. Riley shook her head and slowly crept back to her own den, she noticed her mom sitting outside the den speaking with Disk and Raven. Riley made a speechless entrance and she sat down next to her mom.
“Oh Riley, I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Scared? That’s the last thing I was feeling.” Riley grumbled.
“Oh…”
“I’m disappointed in you mom,” Jenna sighed, “But I saw a brown dog and he says that Balto is waiting for you and that he still loves you.” Riley kept her focus on the ground.
“What?” Jenna asked, puzzled.
“Well that’s what he said.” Riley said.
“Are we going to Nome?” Disk asked, excitedly.
“Do we have to?” Raven growled. Jenna looked up and realized it was almost sunset.
“We have to go now.” Jenna said jumping up, the young wolves followed suit and quickly scampered after their mother who was racing through the woods. Disk’s heart beat fast with anticipation, Raven fell behind, not really caring as to where the small family was headed. Riley kept up with her mother and ran alongside her, “We can rest up ahead, Dusty and I had to travel the whole day to get here.” Jenna glanced up at the sky and realized she was still on Luke’s territory, if they didn’t leave in time he had permission to slaughter her and her pups. “Faster!” Jenna shouted.
The sound of barking and yipping wolves followed the family a few yards back. The wolves were going to chase the small pack of four off their land or kill them in the process. “MOMMA!” Disk shouted, Jenna swung her head around and noticed the wolves closing in on them.
“You have to run faster!” She shouted, breathing harder. The borderline was up ahead and it was marked by two of the largest trees in the forest.
“I can’t!” Disk shouted Jenna could hear his yelps as he was bitten on the heels. Jenna was faced with a decision, allow her son to get killed or risk her life to save Disk. “Riley…Raven, no matter what happens do not stop running. Understand?” Riley and Raven were now on the sides of Jenna, and the two females nodded. “I love you both.”
“Mom?” Riley asked, looking at her mother in fear.
Jenna closed her eyes and turned around, facing a whole pack of angry wolves. A massive wolf was attacking Disk savagely, and Jenna threw her whole body at her son’s opponent knocking him off, “DISK RUN!” She shouted. He took off at lightning speed, following his siblings, “DON’T YOU DARE STOP UNTIL YOU REACH THE BOUNDARY!” Jenna fell to the ground as three wolves slammed into her, she hit the ground hard and looked once more at her pups running away from the danger lurking behind them. “Goodbye my pups.” She looked up at the wolves that were now on top of her, and she faced death with no fear or regret.
“It’s Kodi.” Ralph said, loosening his grip.