Balto: How the Mighty Rise Again( part 7)

The party continued without with out Balto. Jenna went over to Kaltag. "Shouldn't you be out there with Balto?"

Kaltag chuckled. "Where is he off to now?"

"He's going after Chiffre." Jenna said worriedly.

Kaltag slammed his paw on the floor. "That's my pal! Taking stupid risks!"

Suddenly the door slammed open. The room became silent. A large dog padded into the mill. He was surrounded by wolves.

"Nice party." The dog said. "Names Killer. I wasn't invited."

"What are you doing here?" A dog asked.

"I'm looking for someone. You know anyone named Balto?"

The dogs were quiet. Killer looked around the room. "No? How about Jenna?"

Jenna's blood froze. She looked for a way out. She was spotted.

"Hey, is dat one Jenna?" One of the wolves grinned, sighting his prey. "Well. You look good. Come with me."

Jenna slapped him across the face. "Go to hell!"

Killer got up again, still grinning. "Aggressive one are we? I like that."

He leaned in closer to her. She slapped him again.

"Stay back!" She snarled.

"Make me." Killer sneered back.

Jenna tried to slap him again. Killer grabbed her paw in mid air.

"We can't have that." He tutted. "The boss wants you intact. He wouldn't notice a little scratch, would he?"

He scratched her across the face, drawing blood. Then he punched her. Jenna was thrown into a wall.

"Now, will you come quietly?" Killer asked.

He didn't give her a chance to answer the question. Immediately the wolves surrounded her. They dragged her out of the mill. Before leaving Killer turned to the rest of the dogs.

"Great party."

As the dogs turned around Jenna managed to free the paw around her muzzle. She barked loudly. Killer slapped her again. "Shut up bitch!"

All over town, humans heard the barking. At a tavern a group of hunters heard it.

"What the hell was that?" One asked.

"Ah probably just some dog getting lucky. All these freaking Nome noises. Ignore it."

Killer and the others went to an abandoned marina. In the center was a large warehouse. It was now the hideout for Chiffre and the wolves.

"Honey I'm home!" Killer called when he opened the door.

"Ah Killy. What have you brought me tonight?"

Killer threw Jenna down on the floor. "A little treat. This ones a fighter, she is."

Chiffre grinned. Jenna gasped when she saw the damage on his face.

"What? Balto didn't tell you about me?" He chuckled. "I'm disappointed. I thought my brother was smarter than that."

Jenna said nothing. "What are ya a freakin mute?!" Chiffre snarled.

"She warned them." Killer said nervously. "She barked. I think the humans…heard her."

Chiffre smashed his paw into the wall of the building. "Wonderful! Freakin wonderful!"

Killer sat silent, waiting for the axe to fall. Chiffre noticed. He smirked.

"Don't worry Killy. Forgive and forget, that's what they always say. I don't believe in punishment."

Killer breathed a sigh of relief.

Chiffre suddenly noticed the injuries Jenna had. He ran his paw over them. Jenna pulled back.

"Dear, who did this to you?"

"I did." Killer declared, a lazy grin on his face. "Enough, or should I give her more?"

Chiffre lashed out. His paw slashed Killer's throat. Killer stood still for a second, then fell limp to the ground. The lazy grin remained on his blank face.

"Enough." Chiffre answered coldly.

He gestured to a pair of wolves. They dragged the body outside. There was a splash as it was dumped into the ocean.

"Why did you kill him?" Jenna asked nervously.

Chiffre frowned. "Because he was an idiot. A perverted moron. Would you rather I'd have let him hit you again?"

Jenna shook her head. Chiffre examined her. "You seem repulsed by me."He suddenly leaned in close to her. "Why is that?"

She drew back, frightened.

"Is it my face. How horrific my injuries are?" He asked. He began to advance on her. Jenna backed up to the wall.

"Is it the things I do? The killing?" He sneered. "Or are you horrified that a terrible seed like me is related to your mate?"

"Kind of a mix of all three." Jenna said defiantly. Chiffre grinned.

"Honesty. I like that in my females."

"Balto will kill you!" Jenna cried. "He'll kill you like the vermin you are!"

Chiffre clamped his paw over her muzzle. "I will kindly ask you to SHUT IT!!" He snarled. He calmed down. "Balto is harmless. He has all those stupid morals. Rules. He wouldn't harm a fly."

Balto followed the scent to an old marina. He could see a group of wolves patrolling the docks. "Shit!" He snarled under his breath. There was no way past the wolves.

"Watch the cursing pal." A voice behind him said. Balto snapped around. It was Kaltag. "Hi Kaltag. How's the leg?"

Kaltag shrugged. "Itching for revenge."

Balto chuckled. Same old Kaltag. "We can't get in. Too heavily guarded."Kaltag shook his head. "Bullshit. If there are enough of us, we can get past them."

Balto's smiled. "How many?"

"At least fifty dogs." Kaltag replied. "Didn't think I'd let you get him yourself did you?" His smile disappeared. "They got Jenna."Balto accepted this silently. "He won't hurt her."

"What? He's a psycho! Of course he will!"

Balto shook his head. "No he won't. He still wants me to join him. He'll use her as a bargaining chip. Go warn the humans."

"What? I'm not letting you go in their alone!" Kaltag hissed.

"Kaltag, you're leg is messed up. It would just get in the way. Warn the hunters. They'll take care of the wolves."

Kaltag sighed. "How am I supposed to communicate anyway? In case you haven't noticed they're human, and I'm a freakin dog!"

"Bark at them or something! Just get them here!" Balto snapped.

"Fine. The other dogs will storm the marina. How will you get in?"

Balto looked out to sea. He noticed some floating barrels next to the shipyard. He grinned.

"Old trick."

"Okay. Don't do anything stupid."

Balto nodded. "Take care of yourself."

Kaltag limped back into town. Balto watched him go. He sighed. It was going to be a long night.

It began raining. It drizzled first, then began pouring down.

This would make his job harder.

"Why so silent?" Chiffre asked. Jenna said nothing. Chiffre shrugged. "I guess you're angry. I can relate." He sniggered. "I grew up to hideous people. They beat me. They hated me. And I loved them." A tear dribbled down Chiffre's muzzle. "They said I was a wolf so I deserved it. So I killed them. Is it such a crime darling? Killing to end misery?" He paused. Jenna said nothing. He continued. "And afterwards I realized how much I love killing! How great it feels to snatch a life away. Wonderful!"

Jenna shuddered. "That's sick."

Chiffre chuckled. "I know, isn't it wonderful?!"

Balto padded onto the snow. He briefly recollected the first time he used the barrels. He had been trying to win a race, to see who would be on the serum run team. He had won because of this path. Now it could lead him to victory again.