Chapter 2 - Penny
Submitted July 29, 2008 Updated July 29, 2008 Status Incomplete | Penny, the youngest of Balto's litter, is done with being overshadowed by weak Kodi for all the wrong reasons. And she's going to do something about it. //Written slightly like a tale// |
Chapter 2 - Penny
Chapter 2 - Penny
“AhhhHHHH!” Kodi screamed, his claws breaking loose, and Balto watched helplessly as his son fell through the air towards the ground.[br]
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“Kodi!” Ketla yelped in a panic.[br]
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“Don’t die!” Dasa pray-whispered.[br]
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“Toldja he was gonna fall…” Penny said loudly, with fear in her eyes.[br]
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“Oh no, Kodi!” Jenna barked louder than any of them, suddenly bursting from the street in long, graceful strides. She easily sailed over Jenny and ducked under the log, and smoothly caught her pup by the neck in her jaws. The dogs all let out a deep breath.[br]
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Jenna set Kodi down and nuzzled him worriedly under the chin. “Kodi, are you alright?” The puppy looked embarrassed as he muttered, “Uh huh,” and ran under his mama, thankful to be alive.[br]
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Just as Balto was about to speak, he watched Penny suddenly race past her mama and brother, take a flying jump, and land gracefully on the log. She hurled herself over to the other side, landing in the snow with a thump. “I made it!” She said to her brothers and sister. They all cheered for her and leapt on her in a celebratory dog pile.[br]
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“So, this is what you’re doing?” Jenna asked Balto in a strong, disappointed voice. Kodi walked sadly between her paws. “You said you were going to play with pups, Balto.”[br]
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The wolfdog slid down from the log and stepped forward, slightly agitated. “Which was precisely what I was doing, Jenna. Why are you following me? I thought this was papa time…”[br]
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“I followed to be safe!” Jenna said to him calmly. “I just wanted to know if the pups would be alright. And then I find my son dangling off a log, his life about to end.” She spoke sharply and sent shivers through Balto’s spine, and made her son’s eyes widen. Jenna put a dainty paw over her eyes and let a breath out, then lifted it and regarded her mate tensely.[br]
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“Balto, they are just puppies. I just want them to be around us, on the ground only, and happy. I… I’m too new at this mother thing to handle losing a pup…” Her eyes filled with unshed tears.[br]
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Balto stepped forward and whispered, “Jenna…”, feeling absolutely horrible, but by that time all the other pups had scampered back across the log and tackled Kodi in a hug.[br]
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“Did you get hurt at all?”[br]
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“We love you, Kodi!”[br]
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“Was it super scary, bro?”[br]
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They all nuzzled and barked at their brother, ignoring their mama and papa for the moment, all excited to see him alive and well.[br]
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But Penny slunk off away from them, glaring at Kodi.[br]
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He was so weak. He always needed something from their mama and papa. Kodi was the favorite, and didn’t even deserve it! Penny tried hard to live in her mama’s shadow, but it was hard with Kodi’s neediness taking away all of the attention. Penny knew all her brothers and sister felt the same way.[br]
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The little puppy smiled at Kodi. “Time to get up or get out, kid…” she said silently.[br]
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