Chapter 33: Situation Critical
A/N: Hey everyone. Well here it is the chapter I told you that would come after the 10th. Thanks for being patient and hope you enjoy it. On the flip side its almost a year since I started writing this story and well it's still going strong. I truly never expected this story to pick up so nicely and get such great reviews and support for everyone. So I just want to say Thank you to everyone, readers and fellow authors for providing your opinions, ideas, characters etc.
Do let me know of what you think of this chapter.
(With Balto)
Hugo's eyes shone with anger causing Mason to cringe as he looked him in the eye. "I brought you two here to help stop fights..." Hugo spoke pausing for a bit as he sucked in a deep breath "... but... you two had to go and START A FIGHT" he ended up shouting towards the end. Mason just looked away his eyes focusing on anything but Hugo. Samson had in meanwhile slowly pulled himself to his feet. "Hey man... relax it was just a joke..." he tried to reason with Hugo. "Just a joke... just a joke... JUST A JOKE!... WHY ARE YOU MAKING MY LIFE MISERABLE..." Hugo shouted his anger rising. "I'M STUCK BABYSITTING HIM..." he pointed to Balto who growled in reply "... AND YOU TWO WANT TO MESS AROUND?... YOU SAW WHAT HE NEARLY DID IN THE MORNING... AND YET YOU WANT TO MAKE MY WORK HARDER!" he finished breathless from shouting but still seething.
As he finished Balto joined in the argument. "Who said I need a baby-sitter?" he asked trying to control his anger. "Everybody" Mason almost immediately replied and an instant later all hell broke loose. Balto leaped at Mason ready to maim only to be intercepted mid-air by Samson. The two fell in a heap each trying to pin the other down. Finally after a minute of struggling and garnering the attention of the pack leaders the fight was brought to an end when Hugo viciously and unceremoniously grabbed each wolf in turn by the back of the neck and tossed them into opposing trees. "THAT IS ENOUGH..." he shouted baring his fangs at both wolves. "... Now either you get along... OR I'LL RIP YOUR THROAT OUT!" he finished a savage look in his eyes before starting to take in deep calming breaths. Mason who had become a spectator felt a chill run up his spine "Oh... this is not good" he thought over and over again.
Balto quickly recovered from the unceremonious toss and rose to his feet growling. Being angry was an understatement now, he was downright furious, Mason and Samson deserved what they had coming and Hugo was preventing this. As he faced Hugo growling his mind raced to put together certain facts. It had been Hugo who had forced him to bring her back to the pack. It was because of Hugo that she had ended with the pack and therefore it was Hugo's fault this entire debacle had happened. His enraged mind begged him to let go of all control, to bite down on Hugo's neck and taste blood, his entire mindset shifting into a form of anger almost primal, a lusting for blood, his mindset shifting into a blood rage. His growl deepened as he braced for his attack and the minute he saw Hugo's eye's turn away he charged.
It was Hugo's sharp senses that saved his life from an almost fatal bite. He had averted his eyes to look at the two offending 'buddies' of his and the next thing he knew his senses begged him to duck and he complied. Seconds later a set of jaws, wide open passed over where his neck would have been. He turned to face his opponent only to barely avoid a well placed slash with a paw. Looking up at his opponent he recognized the offender. "Balto... I don't want to fight you" he growled threateningly only for Balto to try and snap at him. "It's all your fault..." Balto growled as he tried to grab Hugo's neck. "If you'd helped..." Balto clawed at Hugo's face landing a blow on the right side of his muzzle drawing blood. "None of this would have HAPPENED" he shouted before delivering a barrage of blows to the other wolf. Hugo tried to block as much as he could but the minute Balto drew blood he saw red. He blocked Balto's barrage before raining down his own blows successfully connecting with multiple swipes and drawing blood from the wolf.
The wolves looking on were either too shocked to move or cheering on the fight. Mara, Lana, Marron and Karr had been discussing about finding a den site to pass out the upcoming blizzard while waiting for the scouts to return when the noise of the fight had drawn their attention. As they approached the shouting and snarling Mara and Lana came to a sight that made their blood run cold.
It happened so suddenly that Balto never realized what had happened until it was all but over. He lunged out grabbing a chunk of Hugo's shoulder nearly ripping flesh from bone before he felt it. A set of jaws enclosed around his throat cutting his supply of air. Balto tried desperately to break free from the jaws but nothing helped. He saw spots in his vision as his movement started to slow. He felt his lungs burn for air but denied their share, he felt himself going numb, the spots in his eyesight growing before giving way to completely darkness. The last thing he heard was someone shout "BALTO!" before his conscience faded away into darkness.
What no one noticed that day was that the scouts never returned.
(With Jenna)
It had been a while since the trio had moved inside the den and Jenna had, after a brief argument over being called a pup promptly taken a nap. Siku sat in a corner minding her own business, busy polishing off a portion of caribou leg she had scavenged from Fire's kill not caring to any objections he would raise. It was to this scene that Fire re-entered the den.
Having gone out to scout the progress of the building blizzard he had ended up spending a rather long time outside enjoying the peacefulness of the howling wind rather than the argument between Jenna and Siku he had walked out on. Now as he returned he found Jenna fast asleep and Siku promptly enjoying a meal from his kill. "I thought I told you that you could sleep here... who gave you permission to eat my food?" Fire asked casually as he walked in and sat opposite her. "Go kiss a caribou's butt cause I don't care" Siku replied in a monotone as she continued to bite and chew at the piece of meat. "You have a very annoying attitude you know that" Fire spoke trying to start a conversation. "Your attempts at making small talk are almost as pathetic as you are you know that..." Siku replied in a sweet voice "... now get to the point". Fire sighed "Keep calm... she'll be out of your hair soon enough" he mentally told himself before speaking up "Alright fine... Two-face..." before pausing as Siku growled at him. "What did you call me?" she growled irritated at being called names. "I'm pretty sure you heard me the first time Two-face... or would you prefer Ms. Annoyance... I don't mind either" Fire spoke, a grin forming on his face as he found a way under her skin. "You will call me by my name or I'll drown you in this little spring you have here" Siku growled. Fire's grin broadened at Siku's reply before he replied "Well Ms. Arrogance, that is where we run into a problem... My name is Fire but I don't know yours so until then I guess anything that describes you goes". "Two can play that game buster, the name's Siku by the way..." Siku growled at him having completely forgotten about her meal "...and I think I'll call you Mr. Fluffy" she finished with a slight grin.
"Whatever you say grandma" Fire replied nonchalantly eliciting another growl from Siku. "Can you run that by me again... I don't think I heard you" Siku spoke in a sickly sweet voice. "Wow... you're really a grandma... you can't even hear right" Fire replied grinning like a mad wolf only to be tackled by Siku. "If you ever call me by that name again, I'll throw you into a cave filled with angry bears" Siku growled pinning Fire down belly up. "Sure thing grandma... but first I think it's time you cool off" Fire replied before holding onto Siku with his fore-paws and violently rolling onto his side. The effect of it was instantaneous as Siku was unceremoniously launched broadside into the spring she had threatened to drown him in. Siku emerged soaking wet a minute later casting a death glare towards a laughing Fire who only laughed louder.
Jenna awoke to hearing the sound of laughter. As she looked around she found Fire lying on his side howling with laughter while a completely wet Siku glared at him with intensity enough to melt rock. Slowly standing and stretching, she made her way over to the two before sitting down beside Siku. "What did I miss?" she asked cocking her head in confusion "and why does Siku look like a drowned rat?". This question earned her a firsthand wake-up call as Siku abruptly shoved her into the spring. This only caused Fire to laugh louder if that were possible as Jenna emerged completely soaked and angry at Siku. "What was that for?" she demanded indignantly as water dripped from her fur. "Well you asked what happened so I just showed you" Siku replied playfully sticking her tongue out at Jenna. "Couldn't you have just told me... now I'll look like a hairball" she whined before shaking her fur dry and true to her words her fir stood on end making her look like a hairball. "Well it serves you right for calling me a drowned rat" Siku replied before turning her nose up. "I agree..." Fire spoke causing Siku to stare at him in disbelief "... though nice, I personally think she behaves like a snooty grandma so the name grandma suits her better" he finished causing Siku to glare at him in annoyance.
"Cut it out guys... you're behaving like an old mated couple" Jenna spoke trying to keep things peaceful only for both to shout at her "I'M NOT MATED TO HIM/HER". "Well you su-" Jenna started to reply before her eyes suddenly rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed where she stood. "JENNA!" both wolves shouted and were instantly by her side nudging her in hopes of trying to wake her up. Fire lowered his head to her chest and intently listened for her heartbeat and finding nothing off stepped back from her completely confused "What the hell just happened to her?" he asked. "I have no idea... but I have a bad feeling about this" Siku replied starting to get nervous.