Chapter 4: Wolves
Thomas shot open his eyes as he found himself inside a dog cage. "My head…" Thomas said as he rubbed his head. Suddenly the cage door opened with Thomas seeing a light in the middle of the room. Thomas gathered himself together as he got out of the cage. Thomas looked around and noticed he was in a pit with high walls and many cages around him. "Well look who's up," Kidman said with a smile as she looked down at Thomas. "What is this Kidman? You gonna be like that guy in silence of lambs? Telling me to put lotion on the skin?" Thomas as he crossed his arms while looking up at Kidman. "No I have something better in mind," Kidman said with a smile. "And that is?" Thomas asked still crossing his arms. "You will have to fight him," Kidman said as she press a button releasing another cage door to Thomas's right.
Steele jumped out of the cage while growling and showing his teeth. "Oh come on! Not you again!" Thomas said as he looked at Steele before looking back to Kidman. Kidman chuckled before speaking up. "You'll have to fight him with him," Kidman said as she pressed another button releasing another another cage door to Thomas's left. Thomas turned to his left with eyes widen as he saw who came out of the cage. "Balto?" Thomas said in shock. "Thomas?" Balto said in a low tone. "What's he doing here Kidman? How did he get here?!" Thomas shouted in anger. "I have my ways," Kidman said with a laugh. "You'll pay for this!" Thomas shouted as he made a fist with his right hand. "Hey! If you fight and win. I'll let you take Balto with you and you can see your old man for a few minutes. Now enough talk now fight!" Kidman ordered before dropping a wooden baseball bat.
As the baseball hit the ground, Thomas was quick to act and grabbed the baseball bat and started swinging at Steele. Steele played his moves smart and jumped out of the way and charged at Balto. Steele pushed Balto on his side and started to bite his neck. "Hey!" Thomas shouted to get Steele's attention. Steele stop biting Balto on his neck and turned to looked at Thomas. Thomas swung his bat as hard as he could, hitting Steele in the muzzle. Steele flew into the air and landed on his side. "Home run!" Thomas cheered. Steele spits blood from his muzzle before looking at Thomas. "Now your going to get it!" Steele shouted in anger. "Uh oh," Thomas said now noticing his bat was broke from the powerful swing he did on Steele.
Steele then stood up and growled in anger before jumping forward at Thomas getting ready to bite Thomas's arm. Thomas then braced himself for impact, but nothing happened. Balto had jumped and pushed Steele back on his side. "Stay away from my son's kid!" Balto snarled. Steele growled as he shook himself off. "I'm going to make that scar on your face much bigger lobo!" Steele growled. "Then show me that you mean it!" Balto shot back. Steele then jumped forward now attacking Balto. As Balto and Steele were fighting, Thomas was trying to figure a way to help Balto from not getting himself killed. Thomas looked at the broken bat and then thought to himself. "A torch!" Thomas said out loud. Thomas then ripped off a piece of his shirt and wrapped it around the broken bat and then got out the light stone and fire stone.
"Flash bang!" Thomas shouted as he slammed the two stones together causing them to make a flash of light and smoke in the room. Thomas then uses the light stone as a lighter and lit up the piece of his shirt that was wrapped around the broken bat and made a torch. Thomas looked forward through the smoke and saw that Balto and Steele were still fighting. "Balto! Get down!" Thomas ordered as he threw the flaming bat at Steele. Balto ducked down just as Steele was ready to jump on top of him. Steele was then smack in the muzzle by the torch and was burned. Steele started yelping in pain as he was trying to brush off the flames from his muzzle. "What's going on down there?!" Kidman said as she turned on the sprinklers to clear the smoke and fire. Kidman smiled as everything was cleared up.
Steele was in the corner rubbing his muzzle in the cold wet dirt as Thomas stood next to Balto who had fallen to the ground in exhaustion from the fight. "Balto!" Thomas shouted as he got down and checked to see if Balto was alright. "Well done Thomas! Well done!" Kidman said as she clapped. Thomas then stood and looked up at Kidman and shook his head. "Are you happy now?" Thomas asked as he threw his arms in the air. "Very happy! Now that door to your right will take you to your father just leave poor little Balto here and he'll be waiting for you before you leave." Kidman explained with a smile. "Not a chance! He's coming with me!" Thomas said he picked up Balto and walked into the next room. "If that's how you feel then so be it," Kidman said as the door closed behind Thomas.
Thomas walked down a long hallway before walking up to a door at the end of the hallway. Thomas then opened door and walked into a room where his father was sitting at a table. "Dad!" Thomas said before placing down Balto. "Thomas!" Alan said before hugging his son. "Dad how are you?! Did she hurt you?!" Thomas asked a worried tone. Alan shook his head. "No she didn't," Alan said as he patted his son on the back. "Good what about Uncle Grant?" Thomas asked. "I don't know about him. They took him away an hour ago before you got here," Alan explained before looking past his son. "Son is that Balto?" Alan asked as he looked back at his son. "Yeah Kidman kidnapped him here," Thomas said as he looked back at Balto. "Is he okay?" Alan asked.
"We just got out of a huge fight with Steele," Thomas explained still looking at Balto. "Steele? Wasn't he a part of the Serum run too?" Alan asked Thomas turned and looked at his father. "Yeah he was. But he didn't complete it like a true dog should have," Thomas answered. "How is everyone and where's Kodi?" Alan asked as he placed both on his hands on Thomas's shoulders. "Don't worry Dad everyone is safe and Kodi's safe too. But I'm sure how he's going to react about his dad being all the way out here," Thomas said as he looked back at Balto. Kidman busted into the room with Archie and Cole by her side. "Alright Thomas time to go you and Bingo as Steele puts it need to leave," Kidman said as she looked down at wounded wolfdog. Cole then picked up Balto and placed him on his shoulder.
"Hey! Put him down!" Thomas shouted now getting into Cole's face. "Or What? You gonna use those useless stones on me?" Cole said with a laugh. "Break it up boys! Now Thomas say goodbye to your dad for now," Kidman said as he placed her hands behind her back. Thomas sighed before turning to face his father and giving him one last hug. "I'll be alright son," Alan said before kissing his son on the head. "I know you will," Thomas replied before breaking the hug. "Gross… anyways grab him Archie," Kidman ordered before leaving the room. Before Archie could grab Thomas. Thomas snapped Archies hand of the way. "I can walk!" Thomas said before walking out of the room.
As soon as Thomas step out of the building he was pushed by Archie. Thomas fell and landed into a puddle of water. "Here's your wolf loser!" Cole said as he threw Balto at Thomas. Thomas caught Balto before he hits the ground, while Archie and Cole started laughing before they closed the door on Thomas. "Jerks!" Thomas shouted as he picks up Balto into his arms. Thomas looked to his right and found his car waiting for him. Thomas then rushed over to his car as it started to pour down rain. Once Thomas got into his car with Balto, Thomas placed Balto on his passenger side and then got in the car on the drivers side.
"T-Thomas?" Balto said in a weak tone. "Hey Balto. You should rest I can heal you up and stuff but you need to save your strength." Thomas said as he took out his healing stone and started healing Balto's wounds. Balto laid there his eyes closed as he started to drift off to sleep. After healing Balto up, Thomas then turned on the car and then the heat. "Alright Balto. We're going to see Kodi," Thomas said as he started driving.
"And so here are now on a wild goose chase trying to get Thomas's dad and uncle back home," Kodi finished his story as he laid down. "Wow that is some story," Rita added. "Yeah it is," Dodger said while scratching his ear. Everyone lifted their heads at the sound of a car horn beeping. "Is that your boy Kodi?" Einstein asked while standing up. Kodi stood up now thinking that Einstein was right maybe it was Thomas honking his horn. "Come on Kodi we better check it out," Berry said as he stretched and then jumped onto Kodi's back.
The rest of the gang stayed in while Kodi and Berry walked outside. "I hate the rain!" Berry complained Kodi looked up towards the ducks and saw Thomas's car. "Something doesn't feel right," Kodi said to Berry. "Then we better get up there," Berry replied. Kodi nodded as he started to make his up towards the docks with Berry on his back. Thomas step out of the car as Kodi and Berry reached it. "Kodi!" Thomas said as they all stood in the cold rain. "Thomas where have you been?" Kodi asked. Thomas looked down to the ground before looking back at Kodi. "Kodi it's… it's about your dad," Thomas finally spoke up.
Kodi's eyes widen. "What about my dad?" Kodi asked now concerned. "Get in the car Kodi," Thomas said as he opened the car door. Kodi jumped inside the car still with Berry on his back. After Kodi and Berry get in the car, Thomas gets in after them. Thomas looked back in the backseat and saw Kodi with his father. "Dad," Kodi said while looking down at his father. "Kodi…" Balto said weakly. "It's okay Dad I'm here now," Kodi said as he nuzzled his father. Thomas started up the car and drove to the one place Balto would save from Kidman and anyone else who would want to hurt him.
Thomas pulled up to his Aunt and Uncle's house and to his surprise the police were there with Thomas's uncle Grant sitting on the steps. Thomas then parked his car and got out. Before Thomas could say anything, his phone vibrated. Thomas looked down at phone and looked at the text. "Tell the cops anything and you won't see your father alive -Kidman" Thomas read the text. "Shit," Thomas whispered to himself. "Thomas!" Berry said from the car. Thomas turned and looked at his friends and nodded. Thomas then raced over to his car and helped with bringing Balto out of the car. Kodi and Berry both step out of the car and followed Thomas with Kodi following very closely to Thomas and his father.
Thomas then raced up to the house with Balto in his arms. Thomas ran up the steps and ran past his uncle and the police officers. "Thomas wait!" Grant said as he stood up from the steps and went into his house. "Thomas!" Kelly, Shella and Jenny all said as they walked out of the window. "Thomas what the hell happened to you and where's your dad?" Kelly asked. Thomas turned and looked at everyone, "Hang on I'll be right back." Thomas before jetting off upstairs. Kodi and Berry both followed Thomas upstairs leaving everyone else down stairs. Thomas then rushes into the guest bedroom and finds Dusty laying on the bed. "Thomas? Balto?" Dusty said confused. "Dusty!" Kodi said as he ran into the room with Berry right behind him. "Kodi!" Dusty said as she jumped off the bed and nuzzled her mate Kodi then nuzzles his mate back before watching Thomas getting everything ready for his father.
Thomas then places Balto on the bed and then runs into the bathroom and gets some water and a washcloth. Thomas returns and places the water on the bed and washes down Balto with the washcloth. Balto slightly opens his eyes and looks at Thomas. "Thomas… thank you," Balto said with a smile. Thomas smiled back at Balto as he continues to wash down the blood stains on his fur. "I should have done this a long time ago," Thomas said as he took out the healing stone. "What are you going to do?" Balto asked softly. "This," Thomas said as he placed the healing stone on Balto's scar that was on his right eye and healed it up. Once Thomas took the stone away from Balto's right eye the scar was gone.
"Good as new," Thomas chuckled as he show Balto what he looked like without the scar. Balto smiled seeing that he no long had a scar on his face. "Thomas I can't thank you enough for that." Balto said still smiling. "Your welcome," Thomas said he stood up and looked at Kodi and Dusty. "Okay um… I'll be right back." Thomas as he walked out of the room. Kodi and Dusty both walked over to bed and started talking to Balto. Berry on the other hand followed Thomas and then sat down at the top of the stairs while watching Thomas make his way down the stairs. Once Thomas made it down the stairs and joined the rest of his family in the living room. "Thomas," Grant said as he stood up from the couch and ran over to his nephew and hugged him. "So tell us what happened and why is Balto with you?" Kelly asked. "Oh my that was Balto? The hero of Nome?" Shella asked as she looked up the stairs.
"Yeah um... it's a long story with Balto. But my dad's safe I just know when this is going to end yet," Thomas as he looked down. "They let me go and I don't know why," Grant said as he placed his hand on his wife's shoulder. "But I know one thing. We have to tell the police about this," Grant added. "No! We can't!" Thomas spoke up. "What do you mean we can't? We have to!" Grant protested. "If I tell them what I know then… my dad won't be alive when I get him back," Shella gasped at that. "Alright then. Let me go back out there and talk to them," Grant said as he started to make his way out the door. "Uncle Grant," Thomas said before Grant walks out there door. "Yes Thomas?" Grant said as he looked back at his nephew. "Thank you," Thomas said before heading back up stairs. "Your welcome kido," Grant said before walking outside.
Thomas walked up the last few steps and met up with Berry at the top of the stairs. "So what do we do now?" Berry asked while following Thomas back to the room. "Not sure yet. But I think we should just wait for another call or text," Thomas said as he walked along. Berry nodded as he jumped onto Thomas's left shoulder. Thomas walked into the room with Berry and saw that Balto and Dusty had fallen asleep while Kodi stayed awake. Kodi turned and looked at Thomas before standing up and walked over to Thomas. "I need to talk to you," Kodi said as he walked passed Thomas and Berry. Thomas then leaves the room and follows Kodi into the piano room. "What's up?" Thomas said as he closed the door behind him.
"Where have you been for last few hours?" Kodi asked as he looked at Thomas. Berry then jumped off Thomas's shoulder and landed on the piano. "I had some business to take care of," Thomas answered as he crossed his arms and leaned up against the door. "And what business was that? What happened with you and my dad?" Kodi asked with ears back. "Look Kodi I know this looks bad but-" Before Thomas could finish Kodi interrupted him. "Looks bad?! Thomas my dad is hurt badly and you look like you went through hell." Kodi raised his voice. "Kodi I-" Thomas tried to speak up but couldn't. "I don't want to lose you! Or my dad!" Kodi shouted with some tears rolling down his muzzle.
Thomas looked down to the ground while rubbing the back of his neck. "No more going in it alone. Do you hear me?" Kodi said. Thomas nodded still looking down at the ground. "Alright. When we go we do it together," Thomas replied as he looked back at Kodi. Kodi nodded as Thomas got down to his level. Thomas placed his hands on Kodi's muzzle and wiped away his tears away. "Together," Thomas with a smile. Kodi smiled at that and nodded. "Hey um guys…" Berry said while looking out the window. "What?" Thomas said as he stood up. "There's some guy here with Dodgers gang," Berry said still looking out the window. Thomas walked up to the window and looked outside. "Hey I know that guy," Thomas said before walking to the door. "Really who is he?" Berry before jumping on Kodi's back. Thomas stopped and turned to look at his friends.
"He used to work for my dad..." Thomas replied.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey guys! How's it going? Sorry for the delay I've been a little busy with other things haha. Anyways here we are with a new chapter of REPUTATION. Be sure to check out Grinch right after this, it takes place in between The Fate Of Us and REPUTATION. Alright guys I'll see you guys later in the next chapter of REPUTATION.