Chapter 5

Since leaving the area that the mysterious wolf had been in, Balto had felt a sense of impending doom. Something bad was going to happen, he could feel it, even almost taste it in the air. Boris had thought Balto was upset over something though, so when the two polar bears had finally left, Boris tried to cheer Balto up. First he needed to know what was wrong.

"Something's on your mind Balto, what is it?"

"I just feel… no, I know something bad is going to happen."

Boris went to reply, but was beaten to it.

"Keen senses, young one, too bad they're about to go to waste." A voice said. Its owner was a good sized black wolf who stalked up onto the boat, a whole group behind him. The wolves' eyes glittered as they surrounded their prey, trapping them inside the boats small cabin.

"You wouldn't remember me, Balto. My name is Night; I knew your mother and father, both of which are now dead." It was a lie designed to anger Balto. All said wolf dog did was stare curiously at Night.

"I don't remember what happened to them… how did they die?"

"Oh? I, no; we killed them, slowly and painfully."

Balto felt one of Boris feathered wings brush him lightly, telling him not to do anything rash. The wolf dog considered the story. It was very possible what this… Night said was true, and that was why he'd been abandoned, so he'd be kept safe from this wolf and his pack. That meant his parents had died for him. Not that it mattered now… but he was glad that he finally knew. Night's amusement grew when he saw the wolf dog accept the lie as the truth.

"Why?" Balto asked in an almost totally unemotional tone, "Why couldn't you have just killed me?"

"Because they would just continue to make more of the little mutts like you. Destroy the source and then the products." Turning to a wolf on his right, Night whispered something in his ear, and he nodded. The others tightened the circle around Balto and Boris, trapping them in a corner. Balto knew that this was probably the end, but he had one last thing to try.

"Alright then, kill me." Balto was afraid, but he didn't show it. He forced himself to sound as certain and unafraid as he could. "I'm not afraid to die. The torture you'll put me through is only temporary, but the peace death will bring to me is permanent. And there is nothing more appealing to me than permanent peace. I hate my life. So go on, kill me."

Balto stood, leaving himself completely open to attack. He forced himself to stand firm, even though he very much wanted to turn and run.

"Living is the worst torture I've ever been through, so come on, kill me!"

Balto saw something flash in Night's eyes, and he felt a small bit of hope flare up inside of him. His ploy seemed to be working.

"With pleasure." Night stated, the pure evil in everything about him making Balto's blood run cold.

"We need to go, there's a-"the wolf was cut off as the shot from a rifle rang out, the bullets momentum throwing its victim off the edge of the boat. Night shot Balto a hate filled glare, one the wolf dog would remember for the rest of his life, and he shrunk back immediately. This was the second time hunters had taken Night's pleasure!

It was only a single man, and the wolves could've taken him eventually, but no one wanted to be the few that he would be able to shoot first. So they all leapt off the boat, taking off towards the safety the forest provided. Two more fell before they were at a safe distance.

The man was none other than Steele's owner, and he had all six of his dogs with him. Night looked back and saw this, and he knew that Balto probably wouldn't survive anyway. He could still have some fun with Aniu.

When Boris realized who was coming, he lifted a board off the deck of the boat and shoved Balto down inside just as Steele appeared. Boris looked up at him nervously.

"Hello, is there something I can do for you?"

Steele put his nose to Boris and took a deep breath. A growl rumbled deep inside his body.

"Where is the mutt?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Balto, whatever his name is. Where is he?"

The other dogs had taken to sniffing around the boat when Kaltag stepped on the board, removing it from its place and exposing the wolf dog they were after.

"Boss, he's down there!"

Balto leapt up and slashed at Kaltag, the dog taking a step back to avoid it. Nikki rushed him and he jumped up, pushing himself off the dogs back, over Steele, and over the side of the boat to the ground nine feet below. Balto landed awkwardly, giving the dogs a few seconds to catch up with him. Their master saw the wolf dog. He considered shooting it but decided he'd let them have it. He had three more prizes to collect anyways.

"Fan out," Steele ordered, "force him to go into town."

The dogs did as they were told. Balto felt like he was flying, running the fastest he'd ever gone. It felt amazing despite the impending doom, but even then they were gaining on him. Balto knew they were going to trap him. He willed himself to go faster, but it was these dogs' jobs to run, and there was no way he was going to outrun them, at least not yet.

The funneled him into town, leading Balto exactly where they wanted. He made a break for the hiding place he'd used before, turning sharply down the alleyway between the two houses, making a dive for the place.

"No you fucking don't!" Steele growled, diving for Balto at exactly the same time. He caught the wolf dogs tail in his teeth and pulled Balto out of his hiding place and flinging him against the side of the building. The hard wood didn't give an inch.

Balto, despite being breathless and dazed, still was able to turn and slash at Steele. The malamute took the blow like it was nothing, hitting Balto over and over. His friends surrounded them but didn't join in, they were afraid of the intensity of Steele's rage. Balto felt himself slipping away from the world. Maybe what he'd said earlier was true, maybe the peace and tranquility of death wasn't so bad.

Steele was elated. This little thing would pay for biting him. Steele felt lucky that he hadn't contracted some sort of disease from the injury. After a minute of waiting Star stepped forward.

"I think he's had enough…"

"I'll decide when he's had enough! Leave if you don't want to see it!"

The other dogs stood for a second before shrugging and turning away, all of them hoping that Steele wouldn't kill Balto. He didn't deserve that. Steele turned back to the dizzy, breathless, and bleeding Balto and gazed down upon him, his eyes glittering with triumph.

"I got you."

Steele went to hit Balto again but was stopped by a menacing growl which echoed down from above him.

"Get. Away, from him." it said.

A dark grey furred husky dropped down from the roof above, his blue eyes glinting dangerously. Steele met the icy stare.

"You're not going to take my prize away from me." Steel retorted, thinking that this dog wanted Balto. He was correct about that, but was off on the reasoning. "What are you anyways, a wolf lover?"

"Yes, I am a wolf lover, and yes, I am going to take my son away from you." The dog moved so fast and was so impossibly strong Steele didn't even have time to blink. Within three seconds he found himself pinned to the ground, totally at the mercy of Balto's strange savior.

"You're his… father?"

"I am. And remember this; you're living tonight because I let you." With that the grey husky sank his teeth deep into the scruff of Steele's neck and lifted him up, throwing him hard against the building with a loud thud, waking the people inside it. Storm kicked him twice, ensuring Steele was well and truly knocked out before taking a look at Balto. The last thing the wolf dog saw was Storm's eyes gazing into his own.

"I'm sorry Balto… I'm so very sorry." Storm whispered into his sons ear before lifting him up, leaving Steele where he lay.

…

Aniu's soul was filled with hope when she saw Night return missing three wolves, and without any trace of her son.

"He got away didn't he?"

Night had considered lying to her, but he didn't need to.

"He got away from us, yes. He didn't get away from the hunter and those dogs though. If he's still alive, he won't be for much longer."

Any hope that'd been left in the white wolf was drained then, and she didn't even try to stop it. She was probably the last one of her family left alive. She wanted so very much to just die, for Night to kill her too so she could go and be with her family in the next life. She knew that wouldn't happen though, as Night would never let her do such a thing to herself.

"It's okay Aniu." Night assured her, the tone of his voice oddly comforting. He turned to his pack, "We leave tomorrow. There is nothing left for us here."

He turned back to Aniu, who kept her face hidden beneath her paws.

"By the time we're done with you," Night said menacingly, "you'll be wishing it was you who had killed Balto."

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Right here folks is a whole other conflict for the future. My head is filling with ideas as I type this, so I'm off to go write them down. Thanks to all those who Favorited the story, I've had more of those alerts in the past few days than I can even count. Glad y'all are enjoying these stories.

ANonymouS