Chapter 6

As we are crossing one of the rivers off from Solomon, my eyes started to see footprints. I halted the sled and took a peek at the tracks.

"What is it?" Kodi asked.

"I'm seeing tracks, are you seeing them?" I said and asked. Jenna and Kodi looked at each other questionably clueless as they're not seeing the footprints, because it is covered with deep snow.

Realizing that it wasn't from anything natural, but it was coming from me. I picked up some of the snow and smelled it as it was Axel's scent. I guess I had another ability to see and smell tracks. Their direction has changed going north as another scent of tracks goes into the town of Solomon.

"It appears that they may plan a diversion to cut off our tracks. We should probably go north heading towards Solomon Lake." I told them as I was coming back towards the sled.

"We'll be able to find Rosy and Balto if we head north?" Jenna asked.

"Hopefully… if not we'll come back here and take the other route to the town." I answered with another plan to reset our course.

We turned north and mushed out for another miles to reach towards the lake. The clouds were fully white and gray while any snow hasn't fallen down yet. When we arrived at the lake, we stopped to see if Axel is keeping Rosy and Balto nearby. We smelled the air in effort to see if we could get a scent.

"I'm not getting anything." Kodi said.

"Me neither." Jenna said as well.

"I guess the smell fades off towards the trees on the other side." I concluded.

Finding a shallow water level, we're able to cross to find tracks or scent. As we stepped off from the entry points of the lake, I saw footprints within the muddy shallow waters. I started to hear footsteps that were coming in close, I upholstered my knife to be prepare for a quick take down. We moved closer to the sounds and it turned out to be Rosy. I holstered my knife quickly came over to her.

"Thank goodness… are you alright?" I asked.

"Yes I'm okay." she answered.

"How did you got over here by yourself?" I asked.

"I escaped… Balto somehow untied ropes that we both were tied into. He helped me escape, but those dark things and the hooded men somehow spotted us and we ran. Balto hid me inside a tree log and he barked quietly and he headed out." she told me. "Before he head out, he gave me this." she pulled out something from her coat and it was Jenna's bandanna. As I looked at it, it was partially ripped and some blood stains were on it. I begin to clench the bandanna, when Jenna came to smell her bandanna and saw her bandanna's condition. She begin to muzzle Rosy for comfort.

"I should have helped him…" she begins to tear up with these words.

I gave her a big hug. "You couldn't done anything better. It was important for you to be safe rather than being in harm's way. I'm sure Balto, Jenna, even your parents would want you to be safe." I complied as I wiped off her tears. "It is important for you now to get back to Nome safe and sound."

I brought her over to the sled, as Jenna and Kodi were strapped into the leashes. Searching through my coat and my pockets to find a small pocket knife.

"Have you carried a knife before?" I asked Rosy.

"No sir."

"I'm only giving this to you for now only if you were in danger in a harm's way. You'll be taken back to Nome, Jenna and Kodi here will take you back to your home. I'm going to ask you and your family to stay put inside the house until you guys felt the need or it is safe for all of you to come out." I gave her instructions. "Do you think you could remember that?"

"I think so." Rosy answered.

"If you don't know it's okay, but Jenna and Kodi more importantly will help you get home." I assured her. She gave me a hug.

"Please bring Balto safe." she told me as I nodded back.

I went over to Jenna and Kodi, and told them what they're going to do. Jenna confirms me with a bark, but Kodi barked in a worry protest.

"Kodi… you need to look after your mother and her owner for now. I'll bring your father back. If you think I haven't been back or you need to find me, you have my word. However, not until you three get back to Nome safe." I instructed him as he was about to be the man of the house. He begins to muzzle with a whimper and I gave him a pet.

He almost started to act like me when I was little. I thought to myself.

"You both need to take another route rather than being out in the open, you could come from the same direction we came, but go around the river path to avoid going into the water for Rosy's sake, and it will take you back towards Nome." I add more instructions to Jenna and Kodi. They both barked for acknowledgement. I came over Rosy for the last time and gave her a fur coat to keep her warm.

"I'm giving you this fur that I had when I was coming to Alaska. If your parents asked you how you got back, tell them Eli send you back and you'll give this note." I said to her as I gave her the note that her father gave to me.

"You're the man who came to my house." Rosy realized that she had seen me before. I gave her a wink and stepped back from the sled, as her own sled dog team mush off.

I stood and watched them head out for Nome. When I no longer see them, I journeyed on where Rosy came from and search for Balto. As I was coming close to the trees, snow started to pour down like a light rain shower. Smoke ascends from the distance and I started feel like Axel is close and I feel that he was near my presence. As I hurried over to the smoke, I spotted a camp where the dark creatures were there. Finding a vantage point, I upholstered my rifle and look through my scope to see the creatures roaming in the camp. I also saw Axel was sitting in a chair in his tent.

Started to feel worried, I was kept searching through the lens to see if Balto was around. Sadly, I haven't even spotted him. I decided to holster my rifle and quietly move unseen around the camp and started to gaze outside the camp to see if they took him somewhere around here.

I left the circle edge of camp and started to see stream paths that lead to a river. In silence, I looked around to see a trace of Balto. I started to smell some scent and started to hear a distant faint noise. As I was following the noise, it turned out to be a voice. I closed my eyes and tried to interpret the voice… it was Balto. His voice was shivering and he was also suffering. I continued to follow his voice and it was growing louder. His voice fades, as I opened my eyes and see a small river path, where two dark beings are on guard for something. I closed my eyes and see some sort of in flare vision.

They were guarding a figure that was being tied up to the water and he was moving quickly that it was probably cold. I opened my eyes and the color of the figure was gray. I may have deep grave feeling that it was Balto. The only way I could get close was to take out the dark creatures. My knife was the only thing that could make my kill go stealth without creating a noise. There were small pebble of rocks that I could use to divert the creatures to create a distraction. I toss a rock over towards the river and the creatures heard the rock landed the water.

They only come to see the ripples of the water. I moved fast and got close to the creatures and perform a take-down as their faces were face down. Stealthily, I stabbed and sliced the creatures and started to bleed out some dark blood like substance. As I cleaned my knife, I come to see that the gray wolf was Balto. I ran towards him see him shivering from the chilled cold water and snow, as well he was badly beaten with scratch marks, bruises, and he was bleeding for a while that his blood was attached to his fur. His eyes were nearly closed that he was near death. I tried to shake him gently and talk to him, in effort to get his attention. He lightly raises his head and lightly opens his eyes while groaning in pain. My heart begins to break that I would rather see him safe, rather than not seeing him in his current condition. I cut the ropes with my knife and got him out of the water.

"Eli…" Balto spoke weakly. I tried to quiet him down without speaking.

"It's me… did Axel did this to you?" I asked him and he slowly lowered his head to the muddy evaporated water on shore.

My heart was beating on what hurts the most more than since I lost my family. I took off my heavy fur coat and wrapped him around to keep him warm. I hugged him in relief that I nearly lost someone I dearly hold on to like family.

"It is my turn to take of you like you had taken care of me." I comforted him in my turn to help him.

He chuckled mellowly with a smile and raised his head slowly like a slug. He tried to muzzle my lap, but he suddenly groaned a bit louder than before. A tear came out of my eye and I laid down and muzzle his cheek as if I was a wolf.

I started gathering some of grass and scattered wood to make a small fire to keep Balto warm. The fire was lightly sparked and the wind keeps suppressing the flames. I kept piling the fire with more pieces of wet wood to speed up the fire. I couldn't stay with Balto forever, because I have to kill Axel and have his minions disperse.

"Balto… you need to stay here, I'm going after Axel." I instructed and told Balto what I was doing.

He then tried to get my attention. "Rosy…" he said weakly.

"She's safe, Jenna and Kodi are taking her back to Nome, they'll be alright." I assured him.

He smiled and thanked me with a lick on my hand.

I stood up and headed back to the camp to finish a task. I thought I could no longer just hide in the shadows and show Axel, who I really am. I quickly prayed and ask for guidance and strength. Afterwards, I upholstered my rifle and started to pick my first target. Than I see the creature, presumably a scout, told Axel that two creatures didn't come back. Axel looked towards my direction, in telling me that he knows where I was at. It only gave me an opportunity to shoot at the creature I was aiming at and it dropped dead. I bolted my rifle and fired again at the creatures continuously until my clip was empty. I dropped my rifle and used my handgun taking out three. Axel's minions started to charge towards me, my tattoo began to glow and demolished these beings.

Axel only has three of his followers left and they started to attack me. I pulled out my knife and the creatures pulled out hatchets and I kept blocking their attacks. Axel came into the fight. We both than encountered each other in combat as his followers stepped away. His hatchet nearly slice and almost got me cuts on my body. I managed to push him to the ground, before I could try to finish him off the bat, a follower threw a hatchet at my back. There was impale however it knock my balance and Axel swept me to the ground. The three of his men picked me up and Axel changed his knife into a whip.

"This whip could be the enjoyment of beating out you like I did with your mutty friend." Axel said.

I grew angry that his followers were restraining me, before Axel started to whip my back.

In two minutes, I ended up being on the ground tired and wounded from the whip. Axel's followers picked me as he switch his whip to his knife. He grabbed my hair and pulled my head up, as he's about to cut my throat.

"I'm sorry to cut your saving the world plan was cut short." he evilly joked. "Any last words?"

I only did was putting my head down and felt shame by letting everyone down.

Axel raised his knife preparing to kill the last surviving family member.

My eyes were closed and was prepared for my demise. Footsteps came quickly and I opened my eyes to Balto tackled Axel causing the knife fall from his hand. I got back on my feet knocking one of the followers and took out two of the followers with the hatchet that was behind me.

"I thought I said we're going to do this together." Balto said.

I brushed myself, "I remember you saying something like that." I added.

He came over to my side and we noticed that Axel gain back on his fight and we're ready. However, before I made my move, I came to notice that I still have Jenna's bandanna.

"I'm sure Jenna is wanting you to have this again." I put the torn, blood tarnished bandanna back on Balto.

Axel came out of nowhere and tackled me down. His hands were around my throat, while I was trying to grab his knife and sliced his chest. In pain, he removed his hands from my neck, as his hand was placed on the mark that the knife was slashed. I came over and he quickly got up and try to regain his knife from my hands. However, I made just in time to toss his knife elsewhere he couldn't find it. He once again grabbed my throat and I started to pierce his wound until he screamed in pain. I kicked him off of me.

"I was too easy on you maybe you should handle with this!" he angrily stated as he starts to morph into the black grizzly that I once encountered before. I had my knife and starting swinging towards him, but his mighty paws tossed me to the side. He rushed towards me, however he was attacked by Kodi.

He appeared from behind me from the bushes and started biting Axel. It caused Axel to fall, however Kodi try to get on top of him, but the grizzly nearly critically clawed Kodi. Balto came in just in time before Axel could have killed his son. He bitten the grizzly's paw and partially mutilated Axel's paw.

"Leave my family and Rosy out of this!" Balto growled angrily.

"I think it's about time to make my amend with you MUTT!" Axel said in rage as he pounced Balto.

Balto regain on his feet and they battled once again. They continued to claw at each other until Axel dodge a tackle from Balto and Axel clawed him causing Balto fall. The grizzly Axel made his way towards and continuously keep dodging his claw attacks. He then scratched my right arm almost nearly close from being mutilated. Axel started racing me towards the minor injured Kodi. I made it towards him just in time to shield him before Axel had his mouth open for a bite. Balto bolted right in front of me and took the biting. Axel started thrashing him around with his teeth and tossed him where he landed on his back on a hard rock knocking him unconscious. Kodi raced over to his father's side while shouting for his father. He seen him being bitten on his back, close enough that could have been his neck. Axel came over to finish Balto, but Kodi shield his critical injured father.

I was furious, somehow morphed as a wolf, and viciously pushed Axel to side and having him pushed over towards the river's shore. The grizzly morphed back to into his human Axel and started limping his left leg.

"I wouldn't have to kill your mutty friend you know…" he started saying words self-righteously.

I started to circle around him.

"I was more importantly wanted to negotiate with you and I could have let your friends go. It'll be a easy deal… and I'm sure your faith will want us to make peace if you could have given me a chance to talk you some sense into you."

I became hesitated that he was speaking in denial of shame. "You would call yourself a bad liar and there won't be a deal." I growled. "You murdered my family and killed my only friend that I had and harm everyone he knew."

"Maybe you should have helped him to become your apprentice… other than him being a caring mongrel like your mother."

The boiling embers started to burn inside me and yelled as I ran towards him and bite three of his fingers from his left hand. He tossed me after I bite his fingers. He turned from denial into a furious mad man.

He grabbed his sacrificial knife that he used to kill my father. I came towards him again as I was biting his left hand again. He slashed his knife creating a large scar, nearly losing my left eye. I morphed back into my human form. I upholstered my knife. We came at each other like gladiators in a coliseum. I tackled him towards the ground and had my knife pierced his chest where I slashed early and his bleeding continues. Axel grabbed me around my head and started chewing my scar where some skin were peeled off. I kicked him in his stomach got back on my knees before he started to stab the right side of my abdomen. Pushing myself away from him, I was on the ground. He had his knife pierced my left hand, before I could slash his hand where he was holding his knife. Axel turned himself face down and started crawling to the water to escape. I quickly removed the knife from my left hand and crawled towards him. He gave me kicks as I continued to crawl like a quick reptile to impale his right leg. He groaned weakly in pain. I got up towards him and grabbed his knife to stab his back.

I turned him over facing me and we was wounded enough that I could end his wretched life. "You came to find me just to have your revenge right? You got what you wanted and you could kill." he was asking for me to end him.

I raised my hand while holding his knife and he begins to smile.

"Either way … it's not going to bring your family and your half breed mutt back." he said it with a sinister smile. I went into a froze while staring at him. In reality, killing him would do no difference if it gives me peace or avenging under my family.

"You're right on one point… justify killing you won't bring them back." I said disappointingly.

Looking over towards the other side of the river, there was a wolf pack.

"When we're dead… we'll be in between the gates of Heaven and Hell… it is up to God's judgment, not mine." I proclaimed.

With no more words to say, I dragged Axel to the water, where the river took him to the wolves. One of the wolves started to chewing him up fatally, as I watch. I was paralyzed and gazed at my family's and friend's killer being viciously clawed and mutilated by the wolves. His screaming only took three minutes to go silent like being hanged in the gallows. After his screaming comes to cease, one of the wolves looked at me and howled. My memory came back to see, that they were the wolves I encountered before being swept away in the bay. The wolf pack begin to walk away after our encounter. However, one of the wolves looked back and nodded it's head at me. I watched them walking off to the woods, until they're gone. My body was in pain from all the sufferings I had dealt with. Normally, when people say that they're revenge will filled them with peace once again. As I was sitting on the snowy muddy waters, I didn't felt the satisfaction about avenging, but I let nature to do away with Axel.

"Eli… Eli…" a voice was shouting for my name and I looked and it was Kodi.

I finally return back from my vengeful world back into reality. Almost forgot about what happened to Balto, I stood up and followed Kodi to regroup with the critical wounded Balto.