Okay. Here she is. Chapter 9 (There's a lot of swearing in it. Just a warning.) I know it's long overdue. My trip to DC was very cool...but also very tireing. I've never walked so much in my entire life. My feet still hurt! I had to drive 10 hours to get home yesterday. But...since I know I owed you guys something...I stayed up from 11PM to 2AM just to offer up something that I hope will tide you over for now. Please, don't hate me! (lol) Thanks for sticking with me! Hope you like the chapter!

Chapter 9
The Enforcer

Kavik lay contentedly on the porch of the General's Store, smiling as he watched Kodi and the rest of the team being congratulated by almost every dog in Nome. They were all practically lining up to get a chance to talk to the young lead dog, every voice ceaselessly clamoring for his attention. The resulting din was overwhelming to say the very least. The hybrid closed his eyes, retreating into himself for the time being. He – like the rest of the town – had rushed off the second word of Kodi's arrival had reached his alert ears. A great many things had transpired as of late, and one particular matter that involved a certain gray Husky required his nephew's immediate attention…. But, it seemed God had plans to postpone their conversation for the time being. As it was, Kavik couldn't have muscled his way over to Kodi even if he'd wanted to; there were currently too many others crowded around the exhausted sled-dog. So, he settled his head onto his forepaws once more, deciding to wait till the opportunity eventually presented itself.

He had only just closed his eyes, having decided on attempting to catch a few Z's while he waited, when they flew open again; he looked around, slightly puzzled, but wary. His attentive blue eyes jumped from canine to canine, studying each intently. Initially, he could find nothing amiss…not with his eyes at any rate. His nose was another mater altogether and the air around him spoke volumes…something was not right…but what? He continued to search without success and was beginning to be tempted to believe that it had been a false alarm caused by the simple overabundance of conflicting scents when something finally caught his eye.

There…. Right there….

To be more accurate, what had caught his eye was not so much a something as a certain someone…it was the albino Malamute who had recently filled the position of wheel dog during Dusty's recovery absence, in fact. What was his name again…? Balto had told him just the other day…. Ah yes. Forest. What was this guy playing at, skulking away from the rest of the team like that? Kavik's eyes narrowed and he watched him suspiciously. He didn't like the way Dusty's replacement was making every attempt to be inconspicuous, and liked the dark, musty stench of malicious intent emanating from him even less so.

This dog, whoever or whatever had drawn him away from the team aside, was a bad egg. No, he was more than just bad; he was rancid. Kavik detected a stench like week-old meat left out to rot under a July sun and his gut twisted. There had only ever been one other creature that'd carried that particular odor…Juji. And, even though the scent now coming from Forest was of a much weaker variety, there could be no denying it. This dog was evil. Kavik felt it not just in his gut or even his brain, but in his very bones.

Whatever idea was on this repulsive canine's mind would come to bear only bitter fruit when all was said and done…this was not good.

But, then again…maybe he was jumping the gun? Suppose this Forest merely had an embarrassing errand to run? A pre-arranged tussle back in his shed with the town tramp, perhaps? Not that there were many to be had in Nome, but it was still a possibility…. Then, a new thought came to him; who was he to stick his nose into Forest's private affairs? What gave him the right? Kavik mulled this over, never taking his eyes from the now slightly nervous looking Malamute. The more he thought about it, the more Kodi's uncle began to second-guess his first assumptions. Indeed, his doubts had nearly won out when both his eyes and his nose alerted him to more serious developments.

Forest, having successfully detached himself from the rest without much difficulty, had wandered over to the alley to Kavik's left, the one that ran between the General's store and the Hospital. Kavik, now realizing that discovery was not an option, remained motionless, feigning sleep. Being unable to move his head even a fraction of an inch, he was forced to content himself with the somewhat fuzzy view from the corner of one, half-closed eye. He could just make out the shapes of two dogs, one a white Samoyed and the other a burly Husky. He felt a strange shiver of unease race up and down his spine as his sharp ears detected what sounded like greetings exchanged between the three. He strained to hear them with all his might, but to no avail; the commotion going on not ten feet away made eavesdropping all but impossible. He could tell the three were talking about something and in what sounded like slightly hushed tones, but the topic remained a mystery so long as he was distanced from them, and the throng in the street continued.

He lay there, contemplating his options for at least five minutes. On one paw, there was the smell he was picking up, and not just from Forest now, but also from the other two as well. No doubt that the rest remained ignorant of this stink had to do with the fact that most of them were still fixated on Kodi and his team and had not yet noticed the unpleasant aroma. He could sneak over and listen in – he'd done it often enough to know how to make himself undetectable. What could it hurt? And it might be worth something…or nothing… On the other paw, however, there was the fact that Forest had seemed quite eager to get away from the rest so, maybe he was just tired of the company of Kodi and his team. Kavik knew without a doubt that the albino and his nephew were on decidedly less-than-friendly terms with one another; even an idiot would've been able to tell they were complete opposites with merely glance and a sniff.

Then, just as he was once again preparing to leave these three turds to their own devious agenda, he heard something that instantly snared his attention once more. One of them said something, only what sounded like a name and a few other words, most of which was engulfed by the noise of the ebullient crowd. The sound was fuzzy and indistinct in his ears and he couldn't be one hundred per cent sure of what he'd heard. Were it not for his gut that was, and it had never steered him wrong before. And, to the best of his knowledge, there was only one dog in Nome named Dusty…and those other few words sounded suspiciously like 'get her good' to him…though he couldn't be certain till he questioned them.

All thoughts of leaving them to their own devices left him and he got to his paws, being careful not to make a sound. He lifted his head, checking to make sure he was downwind of them. Armed with the knowledge that his approach would go undetected until it was too late to do anything about it, Kavik began to pad his way over towards the alley, closing the gap between himself and these fools, who had been stupid enough to talk of causing trouble for his precious niece within his earshot. He felt his temper begin to rise like an impending geyser eruption and had to pause for a moment or two to force back down the red mist that wanted to cloud his vision.

He padded forward on velvety paws, making not a sound as he slowly drew closer and closer. Now he caught snippets of conversation. He heard a voice, probably Forest's, say, "…Dusty or rather Little Miss Bitch…" and "…put a scare into that worthless slut…." He felt the red mist threaten to rise again…and banished it, but only with a monumental effort. These…these bastards dared to talk of Dusty like that? The nerve…! Oh he'd make them pay, oh you bet, he'd fix them but good! 'Just you wait till I get my paws on you, you…'

But here, reason managed to find a gap in his ever-broadening rage and squeeze through to make its tiny but insistent voice heard. These dogs were verbally disgracing her, (never in all his life had he ever heard anyone accuse Dusty of such a despicable act) true enough…but that, by no means meant that they were the ones responsible for the terrible deed that had befallen here only a few days before. His rage tried to take control again, saying that just because they hadn't come right out and confessed to doing the deed, that didn't make them innocent, that they'd soon confess if he had his way with them….

Reason found another hole and spoke again, in a louder tone this time. If he allowed his anger – oh excuse me all to hell, rage – to win over common sense, and he did something he would live to regret, he would have no proof with which to defend himself. True, there had been the briefly – make that very briefly – overheard conversation but he realized that meant nothing by itself.

A possible reason for their talk rose to the surface. Forest had hung around Kodi for the past few days; they obviously didn't like each other. Yes, he could buy that all too easily, especially if Forest always talked in such a manner as he was now. In fact, if such was the case, Kavik reflected darkly, then the Malamute had been lucky to return alive, as he knew Kodi and the rest wouldn't have allowed for such slanderous lies to go unchecked. Okay, so maybe Kodi had accidentally let something slip to the rest of the team about his feelings regarding Dusty, easy enough to envision. Mayhap these guys were just going to scare her a little to get back at Kodi. Not right, of course, but it was by no means an act that was punishable by death at his fangs….

Having managed to regain control over his emotions, he moved closer, still listening. Forest was talking now, obviously laying out some sort of plan for the other two. "…jump out and pin her down…" Kavik had heard enough. It was time to put a stop to this potentially dangerous piece of mischief….

((()-()))

"…and then Sabbath, you'll come out and drive the two of them towards the woods so Pride and I can jump out and pin her down – " Forest stopped, starring at his companion's suddenly darkening faces. What was the deal? He had just been explaining all this to the two of them when all of a sudden…. "What's up, guys?" he asked, scorn all too evident in his voice. "You getting second thoughts or –"

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were…." said a deep, imperious voice from directly behind him. Forest spun, heart leaping up into his throat. Damn! If they'd been discovered…! The rest of this thought petered off into nothingness as he turned and beheld what he first mistook to be a wolf at least a head taller than he was and who probably weighted in at around something close to 200 pounds. His body was covered in snow-white fur and his eyes…

Forest felt a shiver run down his back, despite his self-confident attitude. The eyes were an imperious cerulean blue and deep within them burned a rage so colossal, it made his heart fall dead in his chest and his bowels feel dangerously loose. That fury was just barely contained…if he decided to send them to the vet…then to the vet they would go, or maybe even to….

'…Ah…ah, damn it we're dead. If he heard….' Forest had never been as scared of any dog as he was of this white demon that looked as though he wanted to rip them to pieces and then gobble them all up for good measure. Instinct told him that this was one dog he most certainly did not want to cross…

Yet…here was something. If the brute before them HAD heard their plans of assassination, surely he would've commenced to administer punishment before now…? Suddenly, this new menace didn't seem quite so threatening as he had a moment before. Mayhap…mayhap the three of them were still safe. But even if he hadn't heard the whole thing, the beast surely must've heard something that'd pissed him off because he looked…well, like he was about to commit murder…. And how the hell had he managed to get the drop on them anyway? This son of a bitch was good…too good….

Praying to all the gods that would hear his blasphemous request – mainly Satan, Lord of Lies – he mustered up as much courage as he could…which wasn't very much at all to tell the truth. It was fair to say that, in light of this most recent development it was a wonder – no, a frigging miracle – that he hadn't pissed himself. He swallowed, and met the stranger's cold, scrupulous gaze with his own level one. "And what," he asked, hoping his voice betrayed none of his fear, "would they be scared of exactly?" He offered the stranger a wintery smile accompanied by a small derisive chuckle. "You?" he added before he could stop himself, and hoped that the parting shot wouldn't just push this monster over the psychotic edge.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they were scared of me…." And to Forest's horror, he moved closer, and the Malamute was forcibly aware of how much smaller he felt compared to him. The beast thrust his snout down at Forest, sniffed loudly, and drew away, a cold smirk gliding onto his smug face. "And…" he said taking a step forward, and Forest was helpless to note that each of his paws were about the size of a man's clenched fist. "I'd say all three of you have good reason to be scared…" he took another step forward, forcing them to back towards the alley's fenced-off end.

"Considering,"

Another two steps, "That the dog you happen to be talking about…"

Another foreboding step followed. "Is a good friend of mine…"

Another step and the three were nearly out of backing room. "My niece…as a matter of fact." He grinned, exposing wickedly long canines and gleaming incisors. It was a grin that made your blood run cold…. The grin of a killer born, one to who murder is an old hand.

Oh…shit.

Forest felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach to lie, steaming in the cold snow beneath him. Their present situation was bleak to say the very least…yet, mayhap there was still hope; it all depended upon how much this –

Then, quite suddenly, things began to happen very fast.

Looking back on it later – not that there would be much time for reflection that was – Forest would be drawn again and again to how easily the hybrid had disabled them. So damn fast…and yet, he hadn't even been trying…. Moving faster than Forest would've ever thought physically possible for a creature of his size, this white monster moved in, lashing out at Pride with one of his fearsome paws. The blow to the muzzle caught the large Husky unawares and sent him flying into a pile of empty snow-covered crates with a sickening crunch of wood on bone.

Sabbath was quick to react. Even as his friend was being incapacitated, the creamy Samoyed leapt, jaws agape as he sprung for the interloper's momentarily unprotected throat. He too was a born killer and had honed his skills to a razor's edge over the years. Yet his target nullified the attack quite easily, having seen the smaller dog coming from the corner of one eye. Even as the other's needle-sharp teeth made to close over his windpipe, he rolled with his adversary, crushing him under his massive weight. Sabbath was unable to suppress a scream of pain and surprise as he felt Kavik's teeth close on the base of his neck before he was hurled bodily through the air to strike the wooden fence which barred Forest's only hope of retreat. He sank into the snow beside Forest in a senseless heap.

Forest, meanwhile, was in shock; the conflict had begun before he could utter even a sound and had come to a close just as quickly. The Malamute hastily considered his options and realized that running would be futile, as this behemoth would catch him all too easily. He was still trying to formulate a plan to weasel his way out of this mess when his 'executioner' closed in. Forest shrank back until his curly tail pressed into the wooden mass of the fence and he let out a whimper of placation, hating the sound but helpless to contain it. He glanced to his left, looking for support from Sabbath. No help there though, as the lady-killer was out cold with his eyes rolled up to show the whites. Pride seemed just as injured because he remained motionless beneath the pile of splintered wood.

What felt like a fist of iron smashing into his head brought his attention back to…what the hell was this devil's name anyway? Forest tried to get another good look at him from where he now lay on his back next to Sabbath, but his vision was still spotty and kaleidoscopic from the bastard's blow. Damn, did he hit hard…. The face looked somewhat familiar…but where had he seen it before?

"B…Balto?" he asked, momentarily stupefied. He'd never once seen the Hero of Nome up close, but he'd heard his fair share of tales of course (every dog anywhere close to Nome had heard of the hybrid's great deeds). The legendary mutt was supposed to have a brown, somewhat matted-looking coat, with abnormally large paws and yellow-brown eyes. The dog before him didn't look anything like that; his fur was alabaster white, not brown and he was a good deal larger than the famous wolf/dog was rumored to be, not to mention those hellish eyes. But…it wouldn't be the first time the stories had led him astray….

For a wonder, the angelic avenger smiled the tiniest bit. "That's my brother's name," he said, placing one of his massive paws on the other's chest and none-too-gently either, "but close enough. If you must know, you lowly coward, the name is Kavik." The smile vanished to be replaced with a look of unbridled rage that made Forest yearn for his mother's protective warmth for the first time in god-knew how long. "And, if you or any of your 'friends' ever dare to talk about my niece in such a disgusting way again…I will find out…. And I will kill you…" he leaned even closer as he ground out, "All of you…. Do you believe me, Forest?"

How in the devil did Kavik know his name? Forest blinked. There would be time for inquiries later. At present, there were other more pressing matters to attend to. "I…I hear you…" he spat. "Hear you loud and clear…you freakin' sneak." Again, his tongue had betrayed him. He could now only pray it wouldn't cost him his life.

Kavik's eyes narrowed dangerously and the pressure on Forest's chest increased two-fold. "What was that? Did I just hear you right?" A grim smile spread across his features. The look alone was enough to deplete whatever marginal degree of courage the Malamute had left intact. "Were I you, I wouldn't be running my mouth right now, my little albino friend…" the pressure mounted to an almost unbearable level. "You and yours were the ones planning to cause trouble for someone I love who, by the way, has had more than her share of undeserved abuse as of late…so, I'd shut up if I were you."

Kavik's face lowered until his nose was nearly in contact with Forest's own. The pinned albino could smell the stink of grief and wrath and, very faintly, a secret desire for the taste of blood…his blood. He swallowed, the movement made painful by the constrictions to his chest and windpipe. If this dog intended to kill him, Forest knew the process would be painful beyond his ability to comprehend. Kavik's eyes were flinty and it didn't surprise the other in the least to see there were sparks pin-wheeling deep within the pupils.

"Don't fuck with me Forest, I am not someone you want to fuck with…" Kavik breathed, and his decepitvly low growl was somehow more terrifying than any raw snarl ever could have been. Now, I'll ask just once more…"

He broke off as he sensed Sabbath and Pride beginning to move to try and flank him, though they were making far too much noise to be anywhere close to getting the jump on him as even Forest himself could see. "Don't be foolish, you idiotic mutts…or I'm liable to give you something more permanent than a concussion to remember me by." Kavik snarled, and his voice held such malice that both stopped in their tracks immediately, though their eyes burned with anger and hate. "I'm glad you're awake though…because I want the two of you conscious enough to hear this as well…" he turned his attention back to Forest again. "You touch me niece, go anywhere close to her, even think her name…and I'll be all over any one or all three of you before you can even draw breath…" his voice dropped to a level that was almost a whisper. "And when I do…I'll rip you in ways that'll make you useless to any woman…do you get me?"

Dumbly, knowing there was no other choice, all three nodded, staring at Kavik with flat murder in their dark eyes. Whether or not Kavik noticed – not that it would've affected him if he had in any case – he stepped off Forest who began coughing convulsively, his cheeks flooding with color as he was once more able to breath without restriction.

"Good," the brute said coldly, his stony eyes burning holes into the winded Malamute. "Now…do yourselves a favor…and get out of Nome before the sun sets…." He turned to leave. "I don't know what you were planning, and frankly I don't give a damn; all I know is that you were going to mess with someone I care about…and I don't put up with that crap. We don't need your kind of filth out here…. My niece has suffered more than enough without your added torment, thank you very much, and doesn't deserve whatever you mongrels were planning for her…Be grateful I spared you a more thorough ass-whooping."

Forest listened with only half an ear. Never had he felt so grateful to be able to breathe of the frosty air…. When he once more had the strength to, the Malamute lifted his head, looking for the hateful wolf/dog…and saw him striding confidently out of the alley and onto the street, his nostrils flaring as he tried to calm his still racing heart and rid himself of his inbred bloodlust. At the mouth of the alley, he turned, his face still contorted with barely contained fury, eyes ablaze. "Remember Forest…Do anything to hurt her, anything at all…and I'll know…I'll smell it on you and your mates like bad meat…." His eyes narrowed dangerously once more. "…And I always make good on a threat to your kind…keep that in mind…." And with that, Kavik was gone leaving nothing to attest for his presence among them save for the injuries they all now bore.

Forest struggled and, after a few failed attempts, managed to gain his paws, though his stride was still ungainly and his chest still ached. He was lucky his ribs hadn't cracked under the strain. He hobbled over to where Pride and Sabbath sat, each still trying to recover from the shock of having their tails handed to them with such…such ridiculous ease! But…what was done was done.

And it hadn't been all bad after all…they were still alive. Which meant that 'the Wolf' hadn't heard the most intricate part of their plans, so there was that to be thankful for…he had thought they had spoken of some sort of idle prank when in reality, they had been planning a double homicide. They could still pull it off, only now they would have to exercise the utmost caution, for if 'Uncle Kavik' told anyone about what he'd overheard, that someone might find it advantageous to run the three of them out of town, to be sure that they took his advice…. Or, oh, and here was a LOVELY possibility, Kavik might just be smart enough to put two and two together and figure out who had really almost gotten Little Miss Bitch the first time around…. And that would be even worse….

That was a possibility they could not afford. Forest winced, massaging his chest with one paw. Their plan mightn't be so easy to pull off as he first thought…. Now they had this damnable brute to contend with…not to mention his brother, that cursed mutt Balto. And…there was the possibility Dusty remembering her attackers' identities. But, these recent developments would by no means thwart their chances for a successful killing…quite the contrary, in fact. If they played their cards right, all this might actually work to their advantage…. He turned to Pride and Sabbath who regarded him stoically; they didn't even have to voice their joint question aloud. He could read it on their faces

What do we do now?

"Let's move…" Forest commanded, jerking his head in the general direction of their cozy little shed. "We might have to put off bagging Lover-Boy and Little Miss Bitch for a few hours…but it'll be easier after dark…."

"Are you kidding?" Pride asked, staring at him in disbelief. "You've got to be crazy! Did you see that – "

"I don't care." Forest snapped, and his growl shut the troublesome Husky up in a hurry. "We're blowing this town in a few days as it is, and I'll gladly leave it to rot out here in the middle of nowhere…but not before I have Lover Boy's throat in my jaws…him and his little bitch as well…."

Knowing reason would do nothing but further anger the seething Malamute, the two stood and followed their leader. After making sure their 'retreat' would not be noted, they limped off to their shed to further their plans for the evening's events….

If 'Uncle Kavik' thought they would be so easily intimidated…then he had vastly underestimated the devious trio….

((()-()))

Author's Note

Err…well, hope you all liked this chapter. Yes, yes, I know I'm probably going to catch hell from all of you for not imparting all the fluffy KodiXDusty goodness yet (which I know many, MANY of you are practically chomping at the bit for)…but the fact is, I was having some trouble with that – and this chapter was already long enough as it was. In short, I really made this chapter up to sort of…well…foreshadow upcoming events, in a way.

No, wait…that's bull.

Okay, to come clean with you guys; it was an excuse on my part to show off a more…uh, how shall I say 'homicidal' aspect of Kavik's nature (once again). Not to worry, all the KodiXDusty fluff will be in abundance in the next one, chapter 10: The Lovers (as you should probably all be able to tell just from the flippin' title!).

Hoping you're all still sane and able to restrain the perfectly understandable urge to flay me alive and then feed my carcass to a pack of rabid pygmy sea monkeys,

BaltoLuver63