Chapter 10: Starting A New Life
Note: Sorry it took so long. Couldn't decide on a definite continuation for quite some time. Hope you like this.
It had been four days since a certain incident had occurred concerning Balto and Jenna. Ever since that day Jenna had been confined to the cave with either Mara or Lana keeping a constant watch over her, ensuring that she stayed away from the males especially Balto while she remained in heat. Balto had meanwhile been relieved of his duty as host to the husky. He now spent a majority of his time either lying around with either his sister or mother whoever was off duty or practicing and honing his hunting skills.
This day had been like the rest. Mason, Hugo and Samson had wandered off on their somewhat daily patrol of the surrounding land keeping an eye out for dogs especially since their recent guest arrived. Balto was off hunting on his own enjoying the alone time. However one thing was different. Neither Lana nor Mara had kept an eye on Jenna nor had they ensured that she stayed put in the cave. Seeing her chance at freedom Jenna simply walked out of the cave before wandering off.
Meanwhile in Nome the hunt for Jenna continued. Steele had forced all the dogs in town to look for her. "She's nowhere to be found Steele. Forget about her" spoke Kaltag. "Well then we'll look for her in the woods" growled Steele. "Steele this is pointless... none of us can survive alone in the woods for more than a day and you expect her to survive alone for a week" reasoned Star. "I know she's out there and I'm going to get her back and make her my mate even if I have to torture that darn wolf for it" shouted Steele before heading towards the forest. Star and Kaltag just turned and walked off "What's gotten into him one minute he's all I don't need her and now get her back at all costs" whispered Kaltag. "I guess it has probably to do with that wolf she defended" whispered back Star. "Well we have to find a way out of this... he's going to hand us our death certificates at this rate" spoke Kaltag as they continued to head away from Steele. Unknown to the group Doc had overheard the entire conversation and decided on following Steele to learn the entire truth behind the situation.
Jenna had wandered around all morning having not seen a glimpse of any pack member. "Where can everyone be?" she thought. She continued to wander across the territory until she crested a small hill and caught sight of the town of Nome. "This is a nice view " she thought as she found a clearing to lie down and enjoy the view. Settling down she allowed her thoughts to drift to other matters. "I have to regain their favours... but how... after what I did... and being a dog... how can I?" she thought. As she continued to reflect on these matters the rustling of nearby bushes distracted her. Knowing better than to face off against a wild animal on her own Jenna cautiously started to back away and put distance between her and the approaching animal. As she continued to back away the mystery animal finally showed himself. "Oh no... Not him... not now..." Jenna thought as she tried to back away as quietly as possible. Her hopes of a silent getaway were quickly downed when she unintentionally brushed against a bush causing it to rustle. Jenna cringed as she realised that she had nearly destroyed her chance at a silent getaway. As she turned her attention back on the animal she realised that she had been discovered.
Steele had been searching the forests surrounding Nome. Although he was alone his cockiness and arrogance made him refuse to ask for any help. As he continued to walk through the forest he picked up a scent he thought was familiar. Deciding to follow the scent he walked up a nearby hill to reach a small clearing. Taking a deep sniff he found the origins to be nearby. As he decided to look around the sound of a twig snapping caught his attention. Turning towards the source he spotted the very husky he had made every dog look for during the course of the week. "Well, well, well, Jenna... here you are... you had everyone worried for this entire week" he spoke. Jenna just flinched but continued to back away from Steele knowing that things would get worse if he sensed her being in heat. "Come now Jenna... leave those flea bitten savages and lets go home... I have a nice warm meal and a nice place by the fire place where we can cuddle like mates should" he continued. "I'm not your mate Steele and I never will be... now leave me alone" shouted Jenna. "Don't lie to yourself Jenna... every female in town wants me... there can't be an exception" Steele replied in a smooth voice as he started to advance. Jenna continued to back up but at a more hurried pace.
Steele picked up the pace as he continued to try and convince Jenna how much 'SHE' loved him but only said she didn't because she was afraid to admit it. Jenna by now had found herself backed up against a low ridge face with nowhere to go. As Steele continued to close in he picked up the smell that Jenna was dreading about. "Smells like someone's ready... so what do you say Jenna it's just you and me" Steele spoke. Jenna was by now very afraid. The look in Steele's eyes showed a kind of obsession and lust that made her want to run and hide in a deep cave. Steele continued till he was face to face with her. "I know you want me Jenna... no one can resist a chance with all this muscle and ravishing looks" he boasted. Jenna by now seeing no way out let her instincts take over and snapped at Steele.
"Well... someone's frisky... I like that... rough is good" Steele spoke as he avoided Jenna's lunge before pouncing onto her and pinning her onto the ground. Jenna let out a loud yelp as she felt her legs give way.
A short distance away Balto walked back towards the den satisfied with his hunting. He had managed to bring down an adolescent male caribou with the help of Lana who had shown up just as he had begun the hunt. After having made the kill he had decided to head for home while Lana used the trio of Mason, Hugo and Samson to catch a second for their meal to come. As he walked back the silence of the forest was broken by a loud yelp. Attracted to the distress call Balto started to quickly make his way towards the rough direction of the source.
Meanwhile Jenna's constant struggles paid off when she was able to flip over tossing Steele against an exposed root. As she watched him stand up she saw a deranged look in his eyes. Seeing no way out she stood her ground ready to fight her way out. Steele again approached her "Come now Jenna... don't push me away... I just want to show my love to you" he spoke. By now Jenna's fur was standing on end, she needed to get out of here. She couldn't match up to Steele in terms of his stamina and strength even though she was lighter on her feet and more agile. "Stay away from me" she shouted as she jumped away from him trying to find a way out of this mess.
Doc had followed Steele through the forest and was nearly lost when he heard the yelp. Fearing someone was in danger he quickly made his way towards the source of the noise. As he arrived at the spot he spotted the two dogs that had become the talk of the town. Steele had Jenna backed up against a ridge face and had cut off all her escape routes. As Doc approached for a better look he heard words that scared him "... will be my mate even if I have to force you". Before he knew it Steele had mounted Jenna and anchored himself onto her using his teeth to hold onto her neck as she shouted her lungs out and squirmed around trying to get him off. "Oh no" thought Doc "I have to stop this" but before he could move a grey blur tackled into the two dogs knocking Steele off of his perch. Turning his attention to the new figure Doc froze in his spot... a wolf stood between Steele and Jenna fangs bared at the malamute.
Balto had run in the general direction of the yelp for about ten minutes when he heard the sound of a scuffle. Deciding to take caution he cautiously approached the noises. As he approached he heard a familiar voice "Jenna... you will be my mate even if I have to force you" followed by a feminine yelp and grunts and groans of a struggle. Balto quickened his pace as skirted around the area coming to a stop on top of the low ridge. Looking down he saw Steele mounting Jenna and latching onto her neck with her teeth to try and subdue her while she continuously tried to shake him off. Watching this unfold Balto felt a deep set anger well inside of him. His fur stood on end as he watched the desperation of the female husky. Deciding that he had to help he pounced off the ridge crashing squarely into the black and white malamute throwing him off of the husky.
"I knew you were a lowlife" growled Balto as he faced off against Steele knowing not to let his anger get the best of him. Steele had been stunned by the impact but quickly recovered and stood and sized up Balto. "Me a lowlife... I'm higher up than you lobos" growled Steele. "And yet you commit acts of such nature... I pity those mutts in your town" countered Balto. "Why you..." Steele growled before pouncing on Balto in blind fury. Balto avoided the pounce before landing a hard head butt to Steele's exposed flank knocking the malamute off balance and following this up with a hard body slam knocking the malamute to the ground. "You still fight like a brainless mutt" Balto taunted. Having faced off against Steele before he knew how easy it was to anger the malamute. The effect on Steele was as Balto expected. The malamute blindly charged Balto head on only to end up hitting the ridge face as the nimble wolf sidestepped. "I'm wasting my time with you... you're not even worth it" Balto spat as he turned his back on the malamute.
Steele slowly picked himself up after the collision. Watching Balto turn his back to him to him the malamute let out a savage growl and charged as fast as he could. Balto saw the charge coming but mistimed his movement. Steele had charged faster than Balto had anticipated and hit the wolf square on the ribs. Balto stumbled after taking the hit but quickly recovered. "Attacking from behind... pathetic... maybe I should end you and spare the world the trouble" Balto growled.
What followed next was a savage round of bites, scratches, kicks, tackles and every other move they could utilise. Both parties took damage with cuts, scrapes and scratches adorning their bodies. Balto though seemed to be in better condition thanks to his thicker fur, nimble movements and his adversary having smaller fangs and claws. Steele on the other hand was covered in wounds. Balto's larger fangs and bigger claws had caused some serious damage on Steele. "You can't even fight... even a pup could beat you no problem" taunted Balto. Steele seemed to get angrier with each of Balto's taunt. His attacks came with a blind fury making them predictable and easily avoidable. Balto took every opening he had landing strikes and bites where ever he could. The fight seemed to be one sided until Steele shifted the momentum in his favour when he kicked snow into the wolf's eyes. Temporarily blinded Balto received multiple strikes from Steele as he blindly tried to dodge the hits. Steele pushed the advantage as much as he could pushing Balto until he was backed up against the ridge face. "Where's your cockiness now lobo... look who is going to meet his end now" growled Steele as he slowly approached the cornered wolf.
Balto stood on shaky legs. Steele had attacked like a savage animal after blinding the wolf and the wounds were now having a effect on the wolf's body. "I have to end this now before things go wrong" he thought as he sized up the chances he had at taking out Steele. "Hope this works" he thought before he again taunted Steele "Underhanded techniques... I commend you but there is still one thing you lack... you hit like a female". Steele growled even louder charging at Balto. "Ok here goes..." he thought as Steele closed the distance. "Wait for it..." as he watched Steele close the distance. But before he could act a red and white figure tackled Steele knocking him off of his feet. The next thing he knew Jenna stood in front of him growling at Steele. Steele now realised that he had a smaller chance of getting to the wolf. "You want to take his side... fine then I'll put both of you out of your misery" he growled as he started to approach the two. Balto gingerly walked up beside Jenna baring his fangs but a scent filled his nose that caused him to drop his snarl into a smirk. "Well took you guys long enough... why not join in" Balto casually spoke as he proceeded to sit down. Jenna looked at him with a confused expression until she felt a shadow cast down upon her. Looking up she spotted Hugo and Samson standing on top of the ridge.
"Are you telepathic or what? Every time you get into a mess your sister gets to know without even being present" joked Hugo. "No I'm not but now that you mention it it does kind of sound freaky" replied Balto before directing a question to another figure "Hey sis, how do you find out I'm in trouble without being there?". "Well..." came a voice from behind Steele as Mason and Lana moved out of the bushes " you do create quite a bit of a ruckus every time you get into a fight plus mom or me shadow you everywhere". "Well you could have timed it better" Balto argued back. "I know but these guys wanted to see how much you learnt to fight" Lana countered. Balto just growled before lying down allowing the cold snow to press against his many cuts and scrapes.
Jenna though didn't calm down, she was not going to let Steele get away after what he had tried with her. "You're going to pay..." she growled before lunging at the malamute. Before she could reach him, her lunge was intercepted midway and she found herself pinned under Mara. "You will do no such thing young one... now calm down and let us handle this" Mara spoke before turning her attention to Steele "I warned you once about trying to hurt my son, now you tried to hunt us down... I should kill you where you stand... but I'm in a forgiving mood... get out of here now and if I ever see you again you will be walking home with four broken legs at least" she growled. The others closed in around the malamute baring their fangs to make Mara's point clear. Seeing no other choice Steele boldly called a retreat whilst planning a way of using his injuries to get the town dogs to target the wolves.
As Steele left Jenna finally brought her temper into check. She shivered as she remembered the near horror she had suffered at the hand of the malamute had Balto not arrived. As the rest of the pack kept an eye on the retreating figure Jenna slowly made her way to Balto, her head hung low, ears pulled flat and tail drooping. Approaching him she lay down next to him before snuggling into him and finally did she allow herself to break into tears. As she cried into his fur Balto hesitantly lay his front paw over her in a comforting motion.
After ensuring that the malamute was out of sight Mara ordered Samson and Mason to ensure that the dog left the forest. While the two took off she turned her attention back to Balto and found the husky pressed up against him, her face hidden in his chest fur while she whimpered. Sighing she approached Balto "How do you feel son?" she asked. "I've been through worse... had he not sucker punched me with the snow I would have mopped the floor with him" Balto spoke, snarling towards the last part. "I do not doubt your competence son. Now what seems to be wrong with her" Mara enquired. "He tried to impose himself on her... had I not heard her yelp and interfered the deed would have been done" Balto spoke in an emotionless voice but cringed as Jenna snuggled up closer to him as he said these words. "My apologies husky, had I known I wouldn't have spared him" she addressed Jenna before speaking to everyone "We will depart in the morning, it's no longer safe here. Balto take the husky back to town, we cannot have her travel with us".
Hearing this Jenna slowly lifted her head out of Balto's fur "Please take me with you... I can't go back... not with him there... please" she begged. Mara took in the pleading of the husky into consideration but before she voiced her decision a new voice spoke up "I believe that she speaks the truth, Steele has the whole town dancing on his paws" . Everyone's attention turned to the source as a Saint Bernard made his way out of the bushes. "And who are you?" Mara growled. "My name is Doc..I have no quarrel with your kind but I witnessed the entire thing so please listen to me... I was one of the original dogs to arrive in town. I have been there long enough to know that ever since Steele's rise to fame every dog in town has started to take his words as law. She is no longer safe if she returns. I know I don't have a right to voice my opinions in your decisions but I cannot allow for a dog to be treated in the way she was." spoke the Saint Bernard. "Aniu guide me... very well she can come along but if anything goes wrong she is on her own" Mara sighed. Jenna just sighed before again burying her head into Balto's chest fur finding a certain sense of security being near him. "Thank you" spoke Doc before turning around and heading towards town.
Turning her attention back to the husky "Now listen... you will be travelling with us till we find a place good enough to call home. You will do what you are told, learn to hunt and track, you must sacrifice everything you held dear in the town you leave behind. You are no longer a guest and must learn to integrate and function with the pack" she spoke before turning around and heading back towards the Den. Lana looked at the husky snuggled up to Balto before turning her attention to Balto "Looks like you're back on duty" she joked before heading off back to the Den followed by Hugo. Balto just sighed, there were going to be some big changes in the pack and the husky next to him was the cause of it.