Chapter 3: Hurt
"this being was named Grinch," Thomas said in a low voice. "Haha!" Berry laughed out loud as he rolled on his back. "Right! And my uncle's name is Santa," Berry added. Thomas glared at the raccoon, about to open his mouth to defend himself from the matter. Kodi stepped in for a defense of his human. "Thomas isn't joking Berry, there really is a local story that's here in Nome," Kodi explained. Berry then stopped laughing and looked at Kodi. "So you're not joking?" Berry asked looking at his friends Thomas, Kodi, and Dusty all shook their heads. "Oh boy," Berry said to himself. "Come on, Let's get going," Thomas said while he started walking.
It started to get dark fast with fresh snow starting to falling from the sky. Dusty and Kodi walked together ahead of Thomas and Berry. "So what does this Grinch do?" Berry asked while sitting on Thomas's shoulder. "He takes children and punishes them," Thomas answered while walking. "Oh," Berry said as he swallowed hard. "Anika!" a voice in the distance shouted. "That's my dad!" Kodi shouted to Thomas and Berry. Kodi and Dusty both took off first with Thomas running after them with Berry on his shoulder. Once the group of four made to Balto's trawler, they found Balto looking for Anika. "Dad, what's wrong? what happened to Ankia?" Kodi asked breathing hard. Balto turned and looked to his son.
"The boys came back from playing hide and seek and they said she never came to find them," Balto explained. "No," Dusty said as she lowered her ears. "Don't worry Dusty, Kodi and I will go out and find her. Just stay with the boy's," Balto ordered. Dusty nodded as Balto and her mate left to go into the forest. "Dusty," Thomas said as he ran up to Dusty. "Thomas, Anika's missing," Dusty said as tears started to fall from her muzzle. "Thomas, can't you use your stone to find Anika?" Berry asked. "Your right!" Thomas said as he took out the tracking stone out from his pocket. Dusty lifted her head in high hopes of finding her only little girl. "Find Anika," Thomas whispered into the blue stone.
The blue stone shined a bright blue color, and then the light went out. "What happened?" Dusty asked looking at the stone in Thomas's hand. "I… I don't know," Thomas said as he shook the stone. "Hey! Find Anika!" Thomas said still shaking the stone. Thomas then felt something vibrate in his pocket. Thomas grabbed the thing that was vibrating in his pocket. It was the green stone that was vibrating in Thomas's pocket. "What?" Thomas said looking into the stone. The stone shined its green light into Thomas's eyes. Thomas now found himself in the forest near a frozen lake. Thomas was confused at first but quickly realized what was happening. Thomas saw Anika beside a man wearing a large black coat with his hood on. "Anika!" Thomas shouted as he ran after her. Anika turns and looks at her uncle.
"Uncle Thomas?" Anika said still looking at her uncle. The man in the black coat then slams a hammer on the frozen ice. The ice breaks from under Anika causing her to fall through into the ice water. "Anika!" Thomas said as he jumps into the water to reach her. Thomas pulls Anika out of the water and places her on the grand. Anika coughs up some water and shivers from the cold. "Good girl," Thomas says in relief. "Uncle Thomas I'm so cold," Anika said as she looks at her uncle and shivers. l know, I got you," Thomas said as he pulls out his Firestone and blows into it, warming them both up. "Anika, what we're doing? Who was that man?" Thomas asked. Anika let out a low cry before answering.
"He said he wanted my family dead unless I went with him," Anika said with some tears rolling down her muzzle. Thomas held her close to him as Firestone became warmer. "He also said his name was Grinch," Anika said as she continued to cry into Thomas's side. Thomas was shocked to hear this, the legend was true. The Grinch was real and he had killed Justin's little brother and now wanted to hurt Ankia and the rest of the family. "It's okay Anika we're gonna be alright," Thomas said as he continued to hold Anika. Anika nods with a sniff, trying to calm herself down. "Anika?!" Kodi calls out his daughters name. "Daddy!" Anika calls out. Balto and Kodi come over from a hilltop. Kodi rushes over to Thomas and Anika. "Daddy," Anika said as she nuzzled her father. "Thomas what are you doing here I thought you stayed with Dusty and the others?" Balto asked while looking at Thomas. "The stone teleported me here, just in time to save Anika from drowning," Thomas explained.
Balto nodded in response before going to Anika to see if she was alrightAnikai walks over to Thomas and licks him. "Thank you Thomas," Kodi said happily. "It's no problem Kodi but…. I have to tell you something," Thomas said in a low tone. "What is it?" Kodi asked. Thomas moved closer to Kodi. "The Grinch was here and he had Anika. "What?" Kodi said in a low growl. "Where did he go?" Kodi asked. "I don't know he was long gone after I saved Anika," Thomas answered. Kodi nodded in response. Thomas could tell Kodi was still angry but didn't push it any further. "Come on, let's get everyone home," Kodi suggested. Thomas nodded as he grabbed his Firestone and followed Kodi home.
Dusty ran up to Anika with tears of joy with Berry running up to Thomas. Berry ran into Thomas's arms and up to his shoulders. "There was a flash of green light from the stone and the next thing we know is that you're gone!" Berry said trying to catch his breath. "Yeah I know, I saved Anika before she drowned," Thomas explained to Berry. "So what happened?" Berry asked. "It was him," Thomas whispered to Berry. "Grinch?" Berry whispered back. Thomas nodded in response. "Oh boy," Berry breathes out as he rests on Thomas's shoulder. It wasn't long before everyone gathers up and started to head home. Once Thomas opened the front door to his house he heard someone upstairs. "My dad's not supposed to be home for another hour," Thomas said he grabbed his old baseball bat from the closet.
"I'll be back," Thomas said as he slowly walked up the stairs. "Stay here with Dusty and the kid's Berry," Kodi ordered as he followed Thomas up the stairs. Thomas and Kodi both walked up to Thomas's bedroom door and was ready to attack whoever was in the room. As Thomas placed his hand on the doorknob, Kodi had caught the scent of who was in the room. "Thomas wait!" Kodi shouted. Thomas swung the door open and was ready to swing but didn't. "Hannah?" Thomas asked as he looked at his friend. "You didn't answer my calls or texts so I got worried and came over," Hannah said as she crossed her arms. "Oh, sorry I dropped my phone in the lake," Thomas said as he puts down his bat. "And what were you going to do with that?" Hannah asked.
"Nothing, I just thought you were someone else," Thomas said as he sits down on the bed. Kodi smiles before leaving the room. Hannah sits down next to Thomas and sighs. "What happened at School today?" Hannah asked. "What do you mean?" Thomas asked. "I mean the nosebleed and the thing in the bathroom? What is really going on?" Hannah said as she looked at her friend. Thomas wanted to tell her everything but couldn't. "I can't tell you," Thomas said as he stands up and shuts his door. "And why can't you?" Hannah asks while standing up and crossing her arms. "I don't want to put you in any danger," Thomas spoke up. "And what Danger is that?" Hannah asks again.
"Hannah! I can't! You'll get hurt or worse!" Thomas shouts. Hannah looks down to the ground before grabbing her bag. "Hannah wait," Thomas said as he tried to stop her. "Don't," Hannah said as she left the room and headed downstairs. Thomas followed her but only watched her leave out the door. "Nice job Thomas," Thomas said to himself as he walked down the stairs and closed the front door. Thomas turned and saw Berry at the bottom of the stairs. "Lady trouble? I can help with that," Berry said with a smile. "Don't even think about," Thomas said before running up the stairs. "Hey! Just thought I'd be a pal!" Berry calls up to his friend. Berry then hears the door slam from upstairs. "Alright," Berry said before heading for the kitchen.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry, it's been taking me a little bit on this one, I had some bad writer's block and hopefully, I'm out of it. Anyways guys let me know what you think of this chapter and you'll see a new one real soon :D