"Hey, hey, Balto. Your name is Balto, right?" Radolf ran circles around Balto while asking him random questions. Since Balto felt better after talking to Duke, so he answered most of the questions Radolf had.

"Balto, is it true that you fought an abomination?" Radolf asked.

"I didnt do much, it was Half-Face that fought it the most." Balto answered.

"Half-Face? Is Half-Face your friend? But why Half-Face? I thought all dire wolves are born with at least a full face?" Radolf looked at Balto as if he was lying? Balto didnt think much about it. Before he got to answer, Radolf dashed through a giant berry bush. Balto had to lower himself a little bit before managing to get through. The inside of the big berry bush was oddly hollow, so that Radolf and Balto could both be inside with extra room to spare. For once, Radolf was quiet as he licked another dire wolf.

This dire wolf had fur similar to Radolf, but much duller. She seemed to be even older than Beowul with how wrinkly she was. Not only that, but Balto was surprised to see that she had gray eyes with no color or focus in them.

"Radolf, tell me, who is the young one with us?" The old dire wolf asked Radolf as she sniffed the air.

"I think you are talking about Balto, mom. But he isnt a young one, he is way too big for that! Do you remember Duke? Duke and Balto are the same height!" Radolf said in a low voice. It was obvious that Radolf cared deeply about his mother.

"Of course, I remember Duke. I might be old, but I am not that old. Besides, I am sure that your friend here is younger than you by a couple of years." Radolf's mother said with her eyes pointing to where she thought Balto was. Hearing this, Radolf couldnt hold in the surprise, and shouted out loud.

"WAIT BALTO. YOU ARE YOUNGER THAN ME?!" Radolf's voice could be heard from outside the bush. Ulva, who was sneaking behind Balto and Radolf, was startled when she heard what Radolf said out loud. Normal wolves are considered adults when they are around 3 years old or older. For dire wolves, they are considered adults when they are 10 years old and can live to be 50 or 80 if they are lucky.

"Radolf, dear. I understand you are surprised, but please remember that my ears are sensitive. Oh, where are my manners. My name is Fridolf." Fridolf, with her gray eyes, politely bowed to where she thought Balto was. Balto didnt say anything, but bowed to Fridolf as well. Ulva pushed herself into the bush, glancing at Balto before talking to Fridolf and Radolf.

"Good morning Fridolf. Why did your son shout so loudly?" Ulva looked at Radolf while saying so. Fridolf didnt have to say anything because the energized Radolf couldnt help himself from speaking.

"Ulva! Did you know that Im older than Balto! He is so huge, but also so young. Doesnt that make him the youngest one here! Maybe Balto will be even bigger than Duke in the future!" Radolf was still talking loudly, but manages somehow speak softly at the same time.

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Just like how Radolf was surprised, so was Ulva. The only one who didnt look surprised was Fridolf.

"Do you two not remember the old leader of the Gavir clan? It was a while ago, but not that long ago. He was as big as a bark bear, but you somehow managed to forget him." Fridolf sighed.

"Are you talking about Tyr? Anyone who has seen Tyr won't be able to forget him." Ulva said while thinking about the old leader.

Tyr. The Giant King of Dire wolves. It was said that when he was born, he was the size of a normal wolf and killed his own mother during the birth. He never stopped growing in size, easily towering over all the other dire wolves. But when they were attacked by the goblins, Tyr was the last defense. The remains of the Gavir clan havent managed to find him, despite the size of the beast. While Fridolf, Radolf and Ulva were reminiscing and Balto was trying to imagine what Tyr looked like, Beowul poked his head into the berry bush and looked at everyone.

"Radolf, we gotta go hunt together with Balto. Because we found goblins the other day, we have to go and look for more." Beowul pulled his head out of the bush and Radolf followed.

"Bye Fridolf, it was nice to meet you." Balto said to Fridolf, who was scratching her ear.

"It was nice to meet you, Balto. Take care of Radolf for me. That Beowul is always so grumpy." Balto left to go after Beowul and Radolf, leaving Ulva and Fridolf alone in the bush. After a while, Fridolf sighed.

"What is it, Ulva, it is unusual for you to be so stressed like this." Ulva was surprised at how accurate Fridolfs nose was. Ulva hesitated before answering.

"Fridolf, I know your nose can pick up on things no one else could. Did you smell something odd about Balto?" Ulva's tone was serious. Fridolf could tell from Ulva's heartbeat and her smell that she was stressed.

"Could you be more specific on what you mean when you say 'odd'." Fridolf knew what Ulva was talking about, but didnt mention it. Ulva, knowing what Fridolf was probably thinking, took a deep breath before continuing.

"I tried to paralyze him because he didnt feel right to me. I was surprised that he managed to wake up as if nothing happened to him." Fridolf was quiet for a couple of seconds, shocked of what she heard Ulva do.

"... You tried to paralyze a stranger? No wonder it didnt work."

"What do you mean?" Ulva was confused at what Fridolf said. 'Why wouldnt it work'.

"There is something wrong with Balto, or rather. There might actually be something in Balto." Fridolfs voice went from a motherly voice to a one of worry.

"You mean he might be an abomination? But if thats true, how is he able to speak to us?" Ulva asked, but Fridolf didnt answer. Whatever it is residing inside Balto couldnt be described with words. She didnt smell Vita, but rather, the other cells that Vita had implanted.

The smell of grass mixed with the tiniest hint of death that abominations carried with them. There was also something else, but that wasnt a smell that Balto carried. Some monsters could sense the life force. Or rather, they could sense the soul or aura of others. While it was rather faint, Balto's soul had something to it that wasnt right. Fridolf could sense auras and seemed to be able to faintly sense it too, but whatever it was that resided inside Balto could help the Gavir clan reclaim its old glory. Or it could be the doom for them all.