Chapter 1: The Aftermath

Four weeks later...

Thomas picked up his backpack as he walked out of his room and headed down stairs. His mother and stepfather were standing in the living room. "The press have been here since six'o clock this morning," Duke said as he peeked out the window. Thomas then walked into the kitchen and grabbed a small bottle of orange juice. "Let me guess they're here for me huh?" Thomas said taking a drink of his juice. "Looks like it son," Duke said as he walked into the kitchen.

Thomas chuckled as his father answered him. "Great just what I need right now," Thomas said after taking a deep breath. Thomas's mother came up behind him and started to pat him on the back. "The schools are closed today sweetie," his mother said. Thomas nodded. "Aright mom," Thomas said with a smile. His mother smiled at him before she grabbed her work papers and headed out the door with the press asking all kinds of things as she made her way to her car.

Duke smiled at Thomas before he gave his son a hug just as he was walking out the door. Just as the Thomas heard the door shut; he walked upstairs and into his room and used the phone to call James. "Hey, they just left." Thomas said through the phone. Thomas then looked out the window still seeing the press outside his house. "Let's get the show on the road," Thomas said as James car pulled up.

He walked down the stairs and went outside. The press started asking about everything when it came from the plane falling from the mountian side to the fire at the vets office. Thomas rushed through them and jumped into James' car. "You ready?" James asked. Thomas nodded. "Let's go," Thomas said. James nodded and started to the car heading for Balto's boat. "So... do you think we're ready to do this?" James asked taking a right turn into the beach.

Thomas looked at James then looked out the window. "We have to be," Thomas answered. James nodded. "That's true," James said as they pulled next to the boat. Thomas and james looked at each other. "Let's go to work," Thomas said as he opened the door. James shook his head as he opened his door and got out of the car. Thomas and James walked into the boat to find Toklo, Taka, Aka and Balto. Thomas dropped his backpack on the ground in front of them.

"So here's what I got," Thomas said as he pulled a hand gun out of his backpack. "Whoa! what the hell man?" Taka asked. Thomas looked up at Taka. "Its my step dad's," Thomas answered.

"We're looking for our friends." Taka shook his head. "Not threatening them with a gun!"

"Zack you never know when we're going to need this." Thomas explained. "For all we know there are others like Terry waiting for us to try to find our friends. Not to mention the fact that I've been hearing some odd stories about a rouge wolf recruiting other rogues. If that's true we'll need to defend ourselves."

They hadn't even left yet but the tension had already hit the group. Thomas knew everyone wouldn't take this well but they had no choice. It was either the opposition or his friends and he wasn't holding back.

"You're right." Taka said finally. "We can't risk anymore lives."

Thomas then cocked the hand gun and pointed it outside. "Seems to be intact," Thomas said before it down. He then pulled out a map of sighting of wolves and dogs across Alaska. "So they might be in the mountain pass between Nome and White Mountain." Thomas explained. "So we might have to take the long way this time," Toklo spoke up.

"Oh well I could use some exercise." Taka looked at his slight gut. "I've been enjoying the good life a little to much in Nome."

"I didn't want to say it but you are looking a little chunky." Aka chuckled.

"Shut up!" Taka chuckled at himself. "I just finished recovering give me a break! Don't you have a pack to get back to?"

"No actually." Aka shook his head. "Zero is alpha now. It was his idea. He knew I didn't want to leave your side again brother. Laura was furious."

Taka flinched at the sound of that name. Just two weeks after he got out of the hospital she found him and tried to force him to come back. Balto and the others stepped in however. Before she left though, she vowed that he would be her's.

"Anyway when we go through the mountain pass I guess we could go to the nearest town to see if any locals have seen them." Taka changed the subject.

Thomas looked at Taka. "Alright let's go," Thomas said as he took the map and puts it inside his backpack. "Let's get going," Thomas said as he walked out to the car. Taka looked at the others and nodded to them. "I guess let's get going," Taka said.

"Are we all even going to fit in there?" Balto asked. "It looks big but..."

"It's a Hummer." Thomas replied. "You'll all be able to fit in there. It's just going to smell like wet dog for a few weeks."

They all filed in with Thomas in the front and all the wolves in the back. Aka laughed when Taka attempted to put his seat belt on. When the car started Toklo looked a bit nervous. Before he said anything they started moving down the path.

"You a little car sick Toklo?" Thomas asked.

"Maybe just a little," Toklo said. Thomas laughed. "Sorry to say Toklo but it's a little bit of a long drive from here," Thomas said with a smile as he looked in the rear view mirror. James laughed. "Man I wish I could hear what their saying," James said taking a left turn towards the hills. Thomas smiled and shook his head. "Trust me something's aren't worth hearing," Thomas replied.

"Hey!" Balto complained. "See if we talk to you anymore."

"You'll get over it." Thomas stuck out his tongue. "Plus you guys are always talking to me non-stop."

"Well it's fun." Aka chimed in. "Normally humans don't understand us so it's cool to see one that does. Anyways I hope this journey will he easier."

"I'm not so sure." Balto said. "I have a feeling that finding them won't be a piece of cake. Especially Steele. He's always getting himself into trouble."

They sat in silence for a little while as they watched the trees pass them by. Their whole adventure two months ago had still left them somewhat damaged. They all lost something. Balto lost his grandson, Taka lost his humanity, and Toklo lost his son. Most of all they lost their friends. That's why they were on this journey. To find those who still haven't returned.

"Hold up," James said slowing down the car. Thomas sat up in his seat. "What's up?" Thomas asked looking up front. "Roadblock," James said as the car stopped. Thomas then pulled out his map and looked up where they were. "Well if we get out and walk past this. We're golden and were right there." Thomas explained. James nodded.

He then looked behind him and started the car to pull over to the side. "Aright let's get started," James said as he opens the door.

It's funny. The journey had just started and they already needed to leg it. Not a good sign. They were dressed for this kind of weather so it wasn't too bad. It'd stopped snowing about an hour ago so the cold wasn't a problem.

"Hey Aka?" Toklo asked. "How do you blend in?"

"What's that mean?" Aka scoffed.

"I mean your coat is redder than Jenna's how do you sneak up on prey?" Toklo explained.

"It's so funny! He used to hide under the snow until an unlucky rabbit came by." Taka laughed. "He would sit there for hours hoping something would come."

"Aww come on Bro you said you'd never tell anyone." Aka complained as the whole group laughed. "Anyway now a days I'm just really fast."

"Hey we're here." James announced.

They looked around seeing nothing but more road and a hillside. "I'll go look over by hillside," Thomas said as he walked over there. "Be careful," Balto warned as he watched Thomas walk over to the side. Thomas looked down the seeing nothing. Thomas then turned around and looked at the others. "What?" Thomas asked.

A cracking sound came from under Thomas's feet. A piece of snow broke from under Thomas making him stumbled a little bit. "Shit!" Thomas shouted as he was about to fall over. Balto jumped forward and grabbed on to Thomas's jacket before he fell. Thomas then caught his balance and as pulled forward.

Thomas and Balto both took deep breaths as they were on the hard ground. "What the hell did I tell you?" Balto said in a serious tone. Thomas looked at Balto and shook his head. "How the hell was I supposed to know that it was unstable?" Thomas said. Balto stood up and growled at Thomas. "I told you to be careful!" Balto said angrily.

Thomas stood up and shook off the snow. "Well sorry," Thomas said as the others ran over to them. "Damn Thomas. You alright?" James asked. Thomas looked at James and nodded. "Yeah I'm fine," Thomas answered. Balto growled again. "Balto take it easy. The important thing now is he's alright," Toklo said. Balto looked at Toklo and growled at him as he walked away and bumped into him. "What's his problem?" Taka asked. Toklo looked at Taka.

"Well he's a little under the weather because of the incident with Jenna," Aka explained. Taka nodded as he watched Balto walk back towards the car. Thomas and James both looked at each other. "Come on let's move on from this spot maybe the next town might know something," Thomas suggested as he started walking towards the car. James nodded as he followed Thomas back to the car.

(Ten miles away)

Jaxson lays inside of an old caboose car on an abandoned train tracks freezing in the cold weather. "Is this it?" Jaxson asked himself. A gust of wind hits him in the face. "This can't be it can it?" Jaxson asked himself again. A chill would go down Jaxson's back every time he thought about the animal hospital being on fire. "Is it worth it being an outcast? An outlaw?" Jaxson thought. "My family doesn't need me. Their all better without me," Jaxson said out loud.

It'd been a rough road for Jaxson ever since he left. Being possessed by Terry hadn't improved his mood. When he was finally free from him he realized that once again Toklo did something that screwed everyone. If he hadn't left his brother to die none of this would've happened. Everything would be the way it was supposed to be.

"But it's not." Jaxson said to himself. "The world has been ruined by him. So much so that it's changed people's lives for the worse."

Not long after Jaxson left Toklo after saving him from the fire, did Jaxson make a name for himself. He was a cunning thief and one hell of a smooth talker. He blamed this on his dad's genes but he still used these traits to live, to survive.

"He makes me feel so empty." Jaxson continued. "Every time I close my eyes I see him murdering my father. I hate him so much."

James drove the car through the road slowly that way he couldn't go off the edge. Thomas looked in the rear view mirror seeing Balto looking out the window away from everyone.

Thomas couldn't blame him for being over protective because of the fact he could have lost another friend of his. "Next town?" James asked. Thomas snapped out of his thoughts and looked at James "Yeah," Thomas replied.

Balto didn't feel the same anymore. He was supposed to be the hero of Nome but lately he felt powerless. His friends were missing and he couldn't do anything about it. Terry had left a scar in the wolfdog's heart that wasn't going to leave anytime soon. The kind of scar that makes you rethink everything you've done up until now.

'Maybe everything I've done up until this point has been for nothing.' He thought. 'Maybe all the adventures, the quests, the experience hasn't meant anything."

He let out a depressed sigh that he covered up fairly well. He could feel Aka staring at him as if he wanted to say something. Balto looked at the red pure blooded wolf.

Balto wanted to say something but couldn't bring himself to say it. He just lowered his ears and looked away. Aka stepped forward to say something till the car bumped on some snow the ground. Thomas worried about his friends, he cared about them very much. One life to lose and Thomas thought he was going to lose his own.

The car was quite for awhile which was good for all of them. They all had something to sort out. Well except maybe Aka, who was hopping around the car like a pup. Seemed like he really loved being in a car. That was going to change quick.

They were driving along the mountain side when they something in the trees near them. At first they thought nothing of it until they noticed it was following them. By the time they realized what it was it was too late.

"James move it's a Griz-" Thomas shouted but was interrupted when the car was grabbed by huge paws, stopping it in place.

Everyone looked on in horror as a grizzly bear with red eyes glared at them all. Without warning it smashed the driver's side window and pulled James out.

"James no!" Thomas called out.

"Help...me..." He begged as blood poured out of his mouth.

The bear roared then smashed the car down the mountain. As it rolled Taka was frantic. He gathered all wolves together and buckled them in with him very quickly. When the car finally hit the snow it rolled down the mountain hitting rocks, trees, and snow hills. It finally came to a crash when the front slammed into a rock at the very bottom.

"Is everyone ok?" Thomas asked in a very dazed voice.

"No! Everyone isn't alright!" Taka shouted. "That grizzly killed James then threw us down a mountain! That was no ordinary grizzly either! It stopped a fucking car!"

Thomas got out the car and looked at it as everyone was getting out. Balto got out of the car with a small bleeding scar on the left side of his head. Thomas turns and looked at Balto and saw the scar. "Balto your bleeding," Thomas pointed out. Balto felt the blood rush off his head.

"I'm fine," Balto said as he turned away. Thomas then walked over to him. "Let me take a look," Thomas said as hand out his hand. "I said I was fine!" Balto snapped. Taka growled as Balto snapped at Thomas. "He was just trying to help," Taka said. Balto growled at Taka. "I said I was fine now why don't we just go back," Balto said with a strong tone.

Taka growled again. "What the hell has gotten into you old man?" Taka said getting into Balto's face. "Get out of my face!" Balto growled. Thomas could take this anymore. "Guys stop!" Thomas said.

"No Thomas he needs the sense knocked into him!" Taka barked. "What's wrong with you Balto? You're supposed to be the hero dog everyone looks up to! Why are you acting like such an asshole?!"

"Shut up Taka!" Balto spat. "It's not like you're perfect! You've been lying for most of your life about who you really are! You ran from home because you were too cowardly to be leader! At least when it came down to it I stepped up as a leader!"

Taka jumped forward and started biting into Balto. "Guys stop!" Toklo over as he tried to pull them apart from each other. Aka did the same he tried to get his brother away from Balto and Toklo tried to get Balto away from Taka. Anger rushed through Thomas as his friends were fighting. Thomas then pulled out the hand gun and pointed in the air above him.

Thomas pulled the trigger and let out a gun shot Balto and Taka stop fighting. "Both you shut the fuck up! I know we're in a hard situation right now. But dammit we need to pull ourselves together and help each other out. We have lost someone in the process of finding the rest of friends and family and even dogs we don't know! So just cool it and grab what we need and help find out where we can find the next town." Thomas explained.

Taka and Balto looked at each other with out word. Balto then brushed aside from Taka to get to where Thomas was standing. "There are we on the same page?" Thomas asked. No said a word. "Let's just get to the next town already we're losing daylight," Balto spoke up as he led the way towards the next town. Thomas grabbed his backpack and started to follow. The rest of the group did the same.

'Dammit I did it again!' Taka thought. 'I lost my temper and lunged at someone. Maybe I'm just not used to the extra aggression that comes with being a wolf again. I need to keep it together or I'm going to hurt my friends even more than I already have."

"Hey Zack are you coming?" Thomas spoke up. He hadn't realized he stopped walking.

"Yeah I'm coming." Taka sighed.

The forest wasn't as dense in the area so it was fairly simple to navigate. Unfortunately though, everyone was exhausted from the unexpected stop. Thomas was studying the map while Aka and Toklo were scouting ahead. Balto and Taka just glared at each other.

"It says here that Golovin isn't very far from here. That's a good a place as any to start our search." Thomas said suddenly. "We can talk to the local dogs there to see if they know about our friends."

They walked for another hour. They walked up a hill and over the hill was the small town of Golovin. "Alright looks like it's time to look around and ask around," Thomas said as he started to walk down the hill with everyone beside him.

Everyone split into groups. Thomas went around to asks the locals while the wolves went to ask the huskies. Taka and Toklo went to the east side while Balto and Aka went to the west. Taka was still a little huffy about earlier so what happened next didn't improve his mood. It only took to words.

"Hey Lobo!" A cocky voice called from behind him.

That did it. Taka felt a vein in his head pop. This was the last straw. He'd almost been killed by a bear, fell down a mountain, and fought Nome's hero. He wasn't going to take anymore crap.

"The hell did you just say?" Taka growled without turning around. "I'm sorry I must have misunderstood."

"You heard me Lobo-" The voice began but was interrupted by a furious wolf.

"Say that again!" Taka barked as he pinned a relatively young silver husky. "I dare you to say it again!"

The silver husky whimpered under Taka's cold stare. He looked like he would kill the husky without hesitation.

'I recognize that look.' Toklo thought. 'That's pure bloodlust! I have to stop him!'

Thomas walked around the small little town after they split into a group Thomas then walked into a store and started asking around. No one would talk to him and if they did they would say no. Thomas sat down it a chair next to the deil.

"Great still no luck?" Thomas said to himself. Thomas looked across from him and saw a man sitting there reading a news paper . "Excuse me sir," Thomas asked as he walked over to the man. The man looked up at Thomas. "Hello Thomas," the man said with a smile. "Jedediah?" Thomas said taking a step back away from Jedediah.

The man laughed at the nervous look on the teen's face. This was what he'd been waiting for. He hadn't seen Thomas since... Well that didn't matter now. What really mattered was that here he was completely defenseless.

"You know last time we met you destroyed my truck." Jedediah sneered. "With me in it. I guess you're wondering how I got out without a scratch?"

"No actually." Thomas shook his head. "I'll just be going now."

"No no sit have a soda with me kid," Jedediah offered. Thomas back away form Jedediah. "No I'm fine thank you," Thomas said. Jedediah walked forward. "Come on kid just one soda," Jedediah said. "If he said no then it means no," a familiar voice said behind him Thomas turned around and was shocked to see who it was "Atticus?"

Standing before Thomas and Jedediah was the cocky raven blue haired boy himself. He had a cocky half smile on his face as his emerald green eyes were gleaming with pride. He had a short trench coat on with a hooded sweater underneath and blue jeans.

"Hey Thomas it's been awhile hasn't it?" Atticus smiled.

"You said you weren't coming back for another year!" Thomas couldn't believe it. "What about Tramp and the pups?"

"I had a feeling I needed to be here so I left them with Zane again. I guess I was right." Atticus responded. "Now to business. What the hell do you want Jed? You still up to your crazy bull crap? If you are you're going to pay for me having to leave my family again!"

Jedediah smiled as he looked at the two boys. "Well then still playing with family and leaving huh?" Jedediah said with a smile. Atticus raised one eyebrow. Jedediah then picked up his news paper and walked passed Atticus and Thomas. "Next time I see you boys you all better watch out," Jedediah said before he walked away from them.

"What a fruit loop." Atticus shook his head. "Anyways how've you been after all this time. I hope you've been staying out of trouble."

"Well...not really." Thomas scratched the back of his head.

Atticus shook his head. Typical Thomas, always getting himself into mischief. It was any wonder why he hadn't gotten himself killed yet.

'Its good to see him again.' He thought. 'Lady and Tramp weren't very happy about my leaving again but they understood. I have friends to protect here.'

"Hey how's Lady, Tramp, and the kids by the way?" Thomas asked.

"Oh they're doing great!" Atticus responded. "Scamp is a bit of a handful most of the time but he's just Like his father. I had to quit my Job to get here but Zane doesn't mind taking care of them. Anyways what's the trouble?"

"We have a lot to talk about." Thomas sighed as they sat at a table. "About Toklo's brother, Jaxson, and Zack."

Thomas explained everything. It almost felt like hours of explaining, but it was just twenty minutes of it. Atticus couldn't believe that everything happens just like that. "So Zack turned into a wolf or he was already a wolf?" Atticus asked. Thomas chuckled and shook his head.

"He was a wolf that turned into a human." Thomas explained. "Then he turned back into a wolf to save someone. You understand."

"I guess so." Atticus looked very confused. "Is that why he wouldn't eat chocolate?"

"I asked him the same thing once he told me." Thomas laughed. "He didn't give me a straight answer."

"Ok I think I'm up to speed." Atticus nodded. "Toklo's angry brother Terry tried to take revenge on all those involved in his death. He took your friends and family as leverage then scattered them across Nome. After defeating him you guys are now on a journey to find him. Oh yeah and his son Jaxson wants to kill him. Am I correct so far?"

Thomas smiled "Yep that's about it," Thomas said. "So where is everyone now?" Atticus asked. Thomas then stood up. "They should be around town let's go find them," Thomas said Atticus nodded as he stood up and followed Thomas.

As they looked around town they caught up with Aka and Balto who had found out that a black and white husky was seen on the outskirts of town. Balto was happy to see Atticus again. Thomas smiled, as it looked like the wolfdog had finally lightened up a bit. He hoped too soon however as the happiness vanished as quick as it came.

"My name's Aka!" He spoke to Atticus. "I'm Taka's younger brother!"

"Who?" Atticus scratched his head. "Oh you must mean Zack! Thomas said something about him having a brother. Man this is a little confusing but I think I've got it."

"Ok let's go find Zack and Toklo." Thomas spoke up. "I hope they found some useful information."

Thomas and everyone searched for Taka and Toklo. They turned a corner and saw a silver husky run past them with Taka running after the silver husky. Toklo came right after Taka and stopped in front of the group.

"Toklo what is Zack doing?" Thomas asked as he saw the white wolf chase the husky around the corner.

"A husky and his friends called Him a Lobo so he attacked them." Toklo sighed. "I don't know what's gotten into him lately."

"Neither do I." Thomas shook his head. "Let's go get him before he kills someone!"

The group ran towards the direction Taka was headed. They could hear scuffling around the corner as they ran. After turning the corner they saw Taka fighting three cowering wolves at once in the alley.

"Zack what the hell stop!" Thomas said as he ran towards him. Thomas then pulled Zack away from the wolves. "I'm so sorry about this," Thomas said to the wolves. The wolves growled at Thomas. "So you found my wolves huh?" A dark deep voice said behind them.

The group then turned around to find Jedediah standing there. "What do you want you Fruit loop?" Atticus asked crossing his arms. Jedediah laughed. "Just walking around that's all," Jedediah answered as he walked forward to his wolves.

"I told you we would meet again," Jedediah said as he kneeled down to pet his white Wolf. "Look we don't want any trouble," Thomas said Jedediah laughed darkly. "So I overheard you two talking about searching for your friends," Jedediah said with the dark smile as he looked at the group.

"Now looks like I have a little hunting game now," Jedediah said with another laugh. Thomas couldn't believe that he was hearing this. "You can't do that!" Thomas cried out. Jedediah chuckled. "Oh I can and I will," Jedediah said as he pushed Thomas into some trash cans. Jedediah whistled for his three wolves to follow him and they did as they were told.

"See you on the hunting grounds I already have a list made for your Pooches," Jedediah said as he left while laughing. Taka and Atticus both helped Thomas up from the trash cans. "Well looks like the games have really changed," Thomas said as he stood up. A bolt of lightning struck by a few buildings away from them. "Maybe we find a Hotel," Atticus suggested. Thomas nodded taking the lead of the ally way and onto the Main Street. "I hope we can find everyone before that crazy man does." Aka said with a side of fear in his voice. "Me too Aka me too," Thomas said as thunder started to rumble in the air.

KodiWolf321 A/N Well guy's to say thanks and happy thanksgiving! so I was going to post this yesterday but I thought maybe this would be a good gift for the holidays so yeah and I'm thankful for my readers who give me great reviews and keep me writing what I love writing so thank you :)

AtticusParker17 A/N: This chapter took a while to edit. Oh well it was fun to do. Plus it was very fun to do those promo art pics. So tell us what you think in a review! Atticus out!