Rival's Last Quarrel
Nome, Alaska; 9:30 pm;
Balto licked Rosy's cheek as she was tucked into bed, as did Jenna. "Good night." she told them and hugged them both. "I'm glad you're better." she whispered to Balto.
Rosy's mother lead the dogs out of the room. "Jenna, I…I don't want you to come with me and Tina." said Balto, regrettably.
"What? Why? Balto you ne-" said Jenna, surprised.
"Your ankle is still hurt and even if we kill the Outsider, me and Tina could still die out there, someone has to be here for Rosy."
Jenna wanted to argue but knew he was right. She buried her face in his fur and sobbed. "Please don't say that, you're coming back, you promised you'd never leave me." she said, saddened.
Balto nuzzled her comfortingly. "I know I did, I hope I can keep that promise." he said.
"I'll stay here, for Rosy's sake but please, no matter what happens out there, stop that thing." Jenna said and looked up into his eyes.
Tina nudges the door open. "Balto, its time." she said.
Balto walked over while Jenna curls up in front of the fire. "Please be alright…" "Jenna's staying with Rosy." said Balto, he really didn't want to leave Jenna at home but Rosy needed someone.
Tina nodded, understandably. "I understand, I just hope we won't need her help." she said. "I got us some supplies. I got the dynamite like I said. I also got a sled to carry stuff and I 'barrowed' a syringe from the doctor to put a little surprise for the Outsider in. Remember the plan?"
"Lure that thing into the ice cave and trigger a cave in of ice to bury it…did you do something about what I noticed, with the thunder?" he asked, he'd told her earlier.
Tina nodded. "Well I turned an old radio, an umbrella, and a bunch of stuff in an old junk shed to build a transmitter and portable battery that will make a sound like thunder." This got a confused glance from Balto. "What? I have an IQ of 174 and I'm really good with my paws."
Balto chuckled. "Alright, lets go take the Outsider down."
The Outsider sensed them leaving the town. The blizzard was beginning but it was compelled to murder Tina. It calculated were they were going and found a canyon before the Ice cave they'd have to pass through. It let out a massive roar. The cracking of ice filled the air. An avalanche buries the ice cave and closes off that end of the canyon. It looked at its work and emits another disturbingly evil laugh.
Jenna laid on the floor of the shed, waiting for her beloved to return. "Please be alive." she said. The door swung open, inviting in an already fierce storm. "Balto?" she asked, perking her head.
Steele walked in, prompting a gasp from Jenna. "Well where's that useless mate of yours?" he asked, a crazed look in his eyes.
Jenna was glad Balto wasn't there. "He's gone with Tina to put an end to the Outsider." she said defiantly.
Steele laughed, almost as disturbingly as the Outsider, only this time it was because of the crazed tone of it. "That mutt couldn't hurt a flea in his condition. How does he think he can beat a monster?"
Jenna managed to smirk. "We healed him, using something from the Outsider. They're going to trap it in the ice cave."
Steele laughed again. "Didn't you hear? The path is blocked by an avalanche, they're walking into a dead end." he smiled menacingly.
Jenna looked shocked. She didn't want to believe Steele but she could see he wasn't lying. Jenna, calm yourself down, they'll find a way to stop it anyway. she thought to herself.
"Now Jenna, we both know the half-breed isn't coming back, come with me." Steele taunted, adding another psychotic laugh.
"It didn't work a few months ago, its not going to work now." she said.
Jenna turns around but Steele grabs her hind leg and flips her onto her back. He pins her front shoulders to the ground. "I wasn't asking." he said, snarling. He was doing this more to scare her than anything else.
It was working, Jenna was frightened, thinking of what he could do. She straggled but could break free. She realized her hind legs were free. She kicked out and connected with Steele's still injured ribs. He yelped and fell off. Jenna got up and made a dash for the door. She suddenly felt herself snap backwards, her bandana tightening. The back of her head smacked the deck. She didn't notice, adrenaline kicked in, she ran. Steele kept holding on but her bandana came undone and she got away. She ran as fast as she could through town, ignoring the raging blizzard. She stopped behind a houses, shielded from the storm, her heart racing. She groaned. She laid down and put her paws over her aching head. "Oh my head."
"Oh Jenna where are you?" asked Steele, carrying her bandana in his mouth. He couldn't find her and her scent was impossible to find in the blizzard. Jenna held her breath, she didn't even move. Steele growled, then smiled as he thought of something. "Jenna, I'm going to make sure your mate doesn't make it back!" he said with a psychotic laugh, he dashed off, he remembered the path.
Jenna let out her breath and relaxed for a minute. She covered her throbbing skull again. Her eyes snapped open as she realized something. "Oh no, Balto!" she said. She ran out after Steele.
"Jenna, where are you heading in such a rush?" said a familiar voice with a Russian accent.
She turned to see Boris waddle up. "Oh thank goodness you made it back alright." she said, relieved.
"Why wouldn't we be making it back alright?"
"Uncle Boris!" yelled Muk as he and Luk ran up and hugged Boris, almost crushing him, as per usual.
"I'd like it if you'd please be getting off me now!"
"Guys! Balto is in big trouble." said Jenna, trying to get them to settle, she needed help.
The polar bears instantly dropped Boris. He shook the snow off himself and got up. "Jenna, what is wrong?"
"I can't explain right now but Steele is after him and we need to help him, he's out in the wilderness and there is something much more dangerous out there I don't have time to explain."
"Be leading the way. Muk, Luk, come on, Balto is in trouble."
Jenna turned to lead the way when she remembered something. That night on the hill, the Northern Lights hurt it… she thought.
Balto and Tina straggled against the wind and snow as they entered the canyon and it subsided. "Well we're almost there." said Balto, panting.
"Yeah, I wish we'd left earlier before the blizzard started." said Tina.
"Half-breed!" yelled Steele as he stepped forwards.
"Steele?" asked Balto confused. "We don't have time for this."
Steele laughed. "Really, well nether did Jenna." he said, thinking of a way to infuriate Balto.
Balto snarled. "If you so much as touched one hair on her head!"
"I killed her."
Balto snarled louder. "You're a liar!" said Balto, mad.
"Even a liar has to tell the truth sometimes." he said with an evil smirk.
Balto was angry, he didn't believe Steele but he knew deep down that Steele was right, even liars had to tell the truth sometimes. "I don't believe you."
Steele laughed and untied Jenna's bandana from his leg. He laid it in the snow. "Look familiar?"
Balto staggered. He felt like he'd just been punched in the gut. Jenna never took off her bandana, never except to give it to him that night. He quickly began snarling. "I'm going to rip you in half!" He leapt on Steele.
Tina rushed to help but heard that evil voice in her head. Oh no you don't. said the voice. Tina suddenly felt a terrible pain in her head, the worst headache she'd ever had. She fell down and put her paws over head, crying in agony. I'll let him take care of your hero. Do you like my new power? I have to fully concentrate on the link but it should hold you till this fight ends. Tina was in unbearable pain. He head felt like it was going to explode. Tears of pain ran down her face, she whimpered from the horrible pain.
Balto slammed into Steele and they both rolled across the ground, biting and clawing at each other. Steele kicked Balto off and lunged for his throat. Balto avoided the attack, Steele's jaws closing on the snow. Balto bit into Steele's shoulder as hard as Steele in turn bit down on his. Balto rolled Steele over. Steele released his grip and bit down on Balto's maw. Balto had no choice but to release his grip to pull himself free from Steele grip. Balto bit again, this time tearing off a piece of his ear. Steele growled in pain. He drove his head into Balto's throat. Balto coughed and staggered off Steele. Steele jumped on Balto and bit into his back. Balto twisted around and knocked him to the ground. He leapt on him and tried to bite Steele's throat. Steele kicked out with his hind legs, kicking Balto in the stomach. Even with his ribs healed, it still drove the air from his lungs and sent him to the ground in a coughing fit. "I won't give up." he said through coughing.
Steele got up and laughed psychotically. "Fine, I'll just kill you." he said. He grabbed Balto's leg and threw him. Balto rolled across the ground. He tried to stand but still hadn't recovered from the kick. Steele tackled him to the ground and stood over him. "Time to die, half-breed." he said and lowered his jaws slowly over Balto's throat. Before he could close them, he felt something bite his tail. He turned around to find Jenna. "Big mistake sweetie." he said turning his back to Balto. Balto managed to stand and bite Steele's leg. With all his strength he managed to swing Steele around and throw him. Steele's back struck the canyon wall, his head smacking hard against it. Steele fell unconscious into the snow.
Balto panted. He looked at Jenna, a smile crossed his face. "Jenna!" he said and nuzzled her lovingly. "Thanks for not listening to me." he said.
Jenna smiled and licked his on the nose. "I can't stay home while my mate is in trouble." she said.
Balto got Jenna's bandana out of the snow and slipped it around her neck. "I think this is yours." he said, smiling.
Boris and the polar bears walk up. "Balto! Glad to be seeing you in one piece." said Boris.
Muk and Luk just ran up to hug him, nearly crushing him. Tina finally forced the Outsider from her mind, stopping her agonizing headache. She smiled at Balto and his friends but then remembered the real problem. "Guys, we've still got certain problem to deal with." she said.
"Who is this Balto?" asked Boris.
"I'll explain later. She's right, we need to stop something really bad." said Balto.
"Hang on." said Jenna, she walked a short distance away and came back with a bag. She opened it to show the broken bottles.
"The Northern Lights?"
"They stopped the Outsider from killing me that one night. They seem to hurt its eyes and block its vision somehow."
"Of course, the Outsider's eyesight is amazing but that can weaken it." said Tina.
"What is this Outsider?" asked Boris.
Before Balto can respond, the Outsider's roar echoes through the canyon. They look to see the monster standing on the top of the ridge, the full moon behind it, making it a menacing silhouette as it let out another roar that sounded more like a wolf's howl. Its appearence had changed slightly, it stood with a more dog-like stance.
Alright, the stage is set for a final confrontation between our heroes and the genetic demon. The Outsider has evolved into another form but will it matter? Who will win? You'll have to wait till next time!