Faith
By Wolf Witch

This is the first story about Balto’s mysterious sister Faith.

Faith ran on aimlessly through the blizzard, not knowing which way to turn.

“Mum, Balto where are you?” she called.

At last she found a cave where she could shelter from the storm. Morning came and found her weak but alive.

“I have to find Mum and the others,” thought Faith

So she set off not knowing where her family was, the blizzard had left its mark on the landscape, trees had fallen, and animal’s homes destroyed. Finally she reached the spot where she and Balto had parted, but there was no trace of her family.

“They must be dead, so I’m an orphan what am I gona do? Maybe if I find a wolf pack they’ll take me in? That’s what I’ll do” with that she set off. On the ridge looking down on Faith stood The Great Spirit and Koda the bear.

“Does she know of her powers? asked the Great Spirit.

“I don’t think she knows or understands what she is or that she has extremely powerful magic. Though she knows that strange things happen depending on what she is feeling”

“Are you going to say something and help her control these powers? We don’t want a repeat of what happened with Moria”.

“I plan to let her discover her powers on her own, but in a good way. I have staged an event that will require she use them. I will then explain everything and teach her how to use them for good”

“Everything? Are you sure it’s wise? She’s not even a year old, far to young”

“But she has to know, the sooner the better. You always say to tell things like this when they begin learning.”

“If she were older then yes, I would say that. Remember, she was to begin when she was two years old. As it is, Moria must have suspected something, sending a blizzard to kill her. I think it best if you tell her some things but not all; only what she has to know. Also let her explore a while before you go to her.”

“I could see that she goes into a cave and finds me”

“Then do” with that they left.

A little way up the path Faith saw a deer trapped under a tree.

“I must help, I wish I could lift the tree off the poor thing”

To her amazement she saw the tree begin to lift off and realized that she was doing it. She lifted her head until the tree was off, then made it explode in mid air.

“How did I do that, what am I? What ever I am at least I can help other animals.”

Faith went on wondering what else she could do with her powers. As she was drinking in a river, she heard a noise. Faith looked up to see a rabbit drowning. Without thinking she used her powers to lift to rabbit out of the water and onto dry land.

“Are you ok?” Faith asked

“Thanks to you I am. I’m Willow Moon, I’m so glad to meet another creature with powers like mine”.

“I never knew there were others like me”.

“Sure there are, where are you headed?”

“ I’m trying to find a pack or a home. I’m an orphan”

“Me to, you want to travel together?”

“Ok, I’m Faith”.

After a few days Faith learned how to catch food, small mammals, though never rabbits. The pair passed trees and lakes not knowing where they were going. One morning Faith collapsed.

“Are you alright?” asked Willow Moon

“I’m not well it’s all the traveling. Even though it’s spring I’m not that good at hunting. I’ll take it steady”.

One night cold and hunger they came to a town.

“Lets see if we can get some food, look there’s an abandoned building, go and rest in there Faith, I’ll get food”.

Some time later she arrived back with chicken, having been in the rubbish. Over the next few days Faith regained her strength, though the pair decided to stay in the town for a while longer. Faith finally was able to go get food herself, sneaking into a garden she found a bin. Then gracefully knocked it over and found food.

Suddenly Willow Moon came dashing in

“Faith we have to get out of here. Some pups are coming to get us, run.”

With that they took to their heals and ran.

“There they are, get them” shouted the lead pup, Steel.

Faith and Willow Moon were trapped in an ally.

“Quick in here, then follow the corridor until you reach a hole, then through it and into the woods” a voice said.

Faith looked around to see a wolf cub standing there.

“Thank you” said Faith as she and Willow Moon went through the door. Out side the pup gang had reached the spot.

“Where are they wolf? Come on out with it.” Snarled Steel

“I’m not telling you,” replied the cub

Faith and Willow Moon ran on as the cub had said; as they reached the hole they heard.

“Out with it half breed.”

“That’s not my name”

“ Oh isn’t it, then what is it?”

“Balto”

Faith heard the name and turned round, but Willow Moon forced her out, they ran into the trees.

“Willow Moon, that cub that helped us was my brother Balto”

“Are you sure, Balto my be a popular name”

“No it was him, he’s exactly the same colour, and he’s half husky like me, it has to be him. I wish we could have spoken to each other, I hope we meet again some day”.

The pair traveled on through forest alone and scared. Faith suddenly collapsed as did Willow Moon. They awoke to find themselves in cave surrounded by wolves.

“Where are we?” asked Faith

“Safe in pack territory” replied a she wolf.

“I am Mila leader of this pack, I had a vision that the two of you would be arriving.” said Mila

“You have special powers too? I though I was the only wolf that had them” Faith said.

“Far form it there are other wolves that have them though not ones like yours. Some wolves are what humans would call witches, they can cast spells, others lift things, and there are those like me that can see into the past, present and future. Some of the wolves with powers live alone on a packs territory but never in the pack. Some like me live in packs and are leaders or else highly respected.”

“ Thank you for helping us, can we stay here in your pack?” Faith asked

“Yes for now you can though there’s somethink about you that makes you different from other wolves that have powers. The spirits generally have a destiny for a wolf like you. I have a feeling that you have more powers then you know of, in time you will find them “.

For a time Faith and Willow Moon stayed in the pack, Faith had the life of a normal wolf. She didn’t need to use her powers and forgot about them for a time. The spirits having been in contact with Mila and explaining what Faith was, decided to let her life like a normal wolf until she was two years old. She played with Mila’s cubs and they adopted her as a sister, meaning that Mila could take her as a foster daughter. Faith and Willow Moon we happy as the pack were told not to hurt the little rabbit.

When Faith was six months old every thing changed on one terrible day. Moria still suspected Faith to be the One so she sent her servant the bear Evil Eye to kill her. Faith was playing with Ranger Mila’s son the morning of the attack. Suddenly out of nowhere he appeared.

“Ranger run or we’ll be killed” Screamed Faith

Ravine, Ranger’s father appeared and attacked Evil Eye.

“You two get the hell out of here” he howled.

The whole pack attacked the bear in defense of the cubs.

“Out of my way fools I come for Faith, give her to me and I’ll spear you,” he roared.”

“Never” howled Mountain a grey/black wolf, one of the best hunters in the pack.

“ Never mind I’ll kill her any way”. With that Evil Eye lunged at Faith but Mountain attacked badly wounding the bear. Though Evil Eye was under Moria’s command he wasn’t a spirit.

“You son of bitch, your dead now” the bear roared. Mountain attacked Evil Eye and bit where his heart was. The creature gave a roar and struck Mountain dead. Now the whole pack was at him, seeing he couldn’t win he fled.

“Mountain speak to me,” cried his sister Amber

“Amber it’s no good he’s already dead” said Ravine.

“This is your fault Mila, yours and Faith’s, if it wasn’t for her Mountain would still be alive,” cried Amber

“The bear was ordered here by the sorceress who has terrible powers, and fears what Faith may become, because of the powers she possesses,” said Mila

“Then it is her fault, because of her powers my brother is dead. Were it not for Faith my brother would live, if she has powers then why can’t she defend herself, Mila”

“Amber, she is only six months old, already she has lost her birth family because of what she is. I have spoken to the Great Spirit and he said this never meant to happen, had things gone how he had planed Faith would still be with her family. As it is the sorceress suspected she is the one and sent a blizzard to kill her. Faith got separated from her family that day, a day after this happened the Great Spirit and Koda the bear came to me, and asked if I would look after her until the time was right. I accepted and she will stay, I have seen her future and it will help us all” snarled Mila

“No Mila, normally I agree with you but not this time, what if the Sorceress sends that bear again, who will die next time. I for one will not risk the fate of the pack just for one cub, what is this destiny that Faith has? Then maybe I may reconsider”

“I’m sorry Amber but I am under oath not to tell anyone”

“Then I refuse to let Faith stay”

“Now look here Amber, you will do as I say”.

All the time Faith had been watching and listening to what was going on.

“This is all my fault, if it weren’t for me then, Mountain would still be alive. I should leave, the pack are better off with out me” thought Faith

Mila was about to spring on Amber when Faith stood up.

“Please don’t fight because of me, I’ll leave and find another home.” With that she ran away with Willow Moon at her heals.

“Thanks a lot Amber now look what you’ve done” Snarled Ranger Mila’s son.

“Faith come back Amber didn’t mean what she said” called Ranger.

“Ranger she’s right it is my fault Mountain died, bye Ranger I hope we meet again some day”.

Ranger sadly watched his friend had foster sister run of into the distance. They would meat again when they both were older, with his help Faith would defeat Moria.

Faith ran endlessly through the forest with Willow Moon following her.

“Faith where are we going?” she asked

“I don’t know just that I don’t belong with other wolves, Mila spoke about Koda, maybe we should find him.” Faith replied

“Good idea he’ll help us” replied Willow Moon

For days on end the pair walked through the forest thick with summer vegetation. At last they came to the mountains where they hoped they may find Koda. Suddenly a raven appeared, it flew on, then waited for them to catch up.

“Faith I think it wants us to follow it,” said Willow Moon

“Your right, lets see if it leads us to Koda” said Faith

The raven took them to a cave high in the mountains there they followed the bird inside. Finally they reached a large chamber and in it stood a large brown bear.

“So at last you have come, I am the spirit Koda and this is Darkness the raven. I sent her to watch over you and guide you here. I will teach the both of you how to us your powers. Darkness show Willow Moon where she will be sleeping, I need to speak to Faith privately.”

Darkness took Willow Moon to another part of the cave.

“Faith you have a great destiny of which you will find out in time. You have all the powers that every spirit has, unlike you little friend. You powers are to heal, alter weather, lift objects, supply food, make things explode, see into past present and future, tell truth from lies, orb to different places, cast spells. The final power you are yet to young to know. Moria is like you but evil, she is identical to you in blood, her mother was a spirit and her lover a husky. The powers made her evil because her mother hated us for hating her lover, Moria wishes to inflict suffering on living creatures and rule the world. It was prophesized that one like her but good may defeat her, that one is you Faith. As spirit you are immortal but your husky side means that only another spirit can kill you, if you don’t get killed then you will live forever. I must say, Faith you look just like your mother”

Did you now her” asked Faith

“Yes I do and in time you will see her and your family again. It will be when your brothers and sisters no longer need her, as they don’t have your powers and are not risk from Moria.”

So Faith and Willow Moon lived in the cave and were taught how to use their powers. Faith was not allowed to go into the forest without Koda, thought Willow Moon was.