Lover next trench

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This is a story of one of Balto`s and Jenna`s kids, Renna.

I had to make Balto and Jenna live for little longer. Well, let`s say for much longer (for a dog). Or had to „delay“ the Serum run to Nome for a little. So, this is historically impossible. I know, I am bad one. But it’s just fanfic…

 

Story takes part in Europe, Somewhere in France at WW2, respectively after D Day. West front: It`s summer / autumn of 1944 and Allied forces are advancing towards Germany....

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Renna didn`t know what`s happening exactly. Her peaceful life in Nome was suddenly interrupted. She knew her master and many other men were talking about war in Europe, but she didn`t  pay attention to it. Europe – as far as she was concerned, was far.

But one day her master came home, he looked worried and sad. He said to his wife: “Love, I am going to Europe. I am needed there.” Renna didn`t understand meaning of this words, but she could understand expression of his wife`s face. She turned pale grey, and began to cry.

“Don`t cry for me, darling. I will come back, I promise.”

“But... who will look after you!?” she cried.

“Renna`s going with me, too... you see, I will not be at the first line. They need rescue and guard dogs. And of course their masters...”

Renna didn`t understand again, but she knew something big is going to happen.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tommorow at lunchtime”

“Oh, Thomas...” she cried and hugged him.

Renna realized she would go, too. And she needed to tell her parents.

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“So, you are leaving?” Balto asked her after she had told him. “I knew you wouldn`t stay in Nome for the rest of your life... and where will you go?”

“I... I don`t know this. But to somewhere far away. I am going with Thomas.”

“That`s strange... somewhere far away, you say? Huh... Anchorage?”Jenna was worried. Renna was her second youngest child.

“No... I think it would be VERY far.”

“Wherever you go, don`t forget about us. You are well-bred, remember it. And you are my daughter. Follow your master everywhere.” Balto had tears in his eyes.

“I will return. I will...” Renna cried too and hugged his father and mother like Thomas` wife did. 

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The next day after lunch they left Nome and with other volunteers traversed south. Lots of tears were shed, few words were spoken. They rode directly into the Hell... but they didn`t know that...

 

Next days were so hectic. Renna didn`t remembered clearly what happened. Quick, quicker! No time to lose! Everything went quickly. She saw lot of new face for the first and for the last time. She saw many places, she wouldn`t believe she would see. And then... there was sail to Europe.  She tried to sleep all the way, but she wondered how the ocean looks like. But she was dissapointed. Just water. And there was one thing... she was the only dog on the deck.

How happy she would have been, if she could speak with her parents. She saw them in her dream. But... it was just dream, after all.

“Mum... Dad....” she whispered in tears as she was watching the ocean.

Finally Europe. How it was different from her home! She didn`t understand: What does it mean? Why are they doing this? Why?

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„Private Thomas Kinley?”

“Yes sir!”

“You are assigned to the fourth recon team. They need dogs. Last one assigned to them, and his master, got hit from a Kraut mortar. Everything we could find was just a piece if its collar, hehe..”

“And what about basic training, sir?”

“Oh, you don`t need any. Just try not to die. That`s all. Are you good shooter?”

“Quite good, sir.”

“Good, go with this to sergeant Napper, private. “ Thomas was given a sheet of paper.

So much for the training, he thought.

„Thank you, sir! Renna, come!“

She followed her master to the sergeant. She didn`t understand them, but when it was over, Thomas kneeled infront of her and said: „Now, girl, we are in. Take care.“ And he gave her a new collar which was saying Renna was now member of the U.S. Army. Like her master. He got collar, too. Smaller, and it wasn`t called collar. It was called Dog tags. 

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Few hours later, they met their comrades. And Renna met her first friends in Europe.

One of them, called Jon, was young husky. In fact, he was the youngest dog in the team, but he had proved himself brave already. Second, malamute was informal leader of the team. Although he was 5 or 6, he was experienced like an old soldier, brave and strong, despite his name. His name was Mut and other dogs called him ussually sergeant Mut. And the last one, Danny... well, let`s say if he was a man, he would have glasses, unkempt hairs and sit behind the table in an office. Sometimes absent-minded and very shy, nervous, but clever. And only he seemed to be afriad of death. Jon, very talkative and friendly one suited Renna well, and Mut...  he said: “Don`t be afraid, I will look after you. Like your dad, if you wouldn`t mind...”

“I wouldn`t, sergeant...”

“Oh, don`t call me a sergeant,” he smiled. “I am not a sergeant like sergeant Napper is.” Sergeant Napper was the leader of fourt recon team. He was about 47 yers old and his men held him in a great esteem.

“You... you are the one... w-...who will replace Tim?” Danny asked her.

“Replace? What happened to him?”

Danny`s face was filled up with fear and he gasped. “He.... he... he was hit by something! It just came from nowhere... and... BANG! He... he was no more!” Danny described it like it would have been something unbelievable.

“Pardon him... he... is just...” Jon apologized.

“No, I understand him.”

He was no more...

“So, Renna, would you like have something to eat? And I don`t speak about that awful slop we have. I speak about meat... or they call it the meat in here...” Mut grinned and headed to the field kitchen, followed by others.

“I haven`t eaten a good meat since I left Nome...”

Renna came to life, suddenly: “Did you say Nome? In Alaska?”

“Yes, I did. Oh, don`t tell me you are from there, too!”

“I am!”

“Well, what a coincidence! But in fact, I am originally from White Mountain, I moved to Nome when I was three. Danny, here, is from England and Jon from... uhhh... somewhere from the States, too.”

 

After a while, they managed to reach field kitchen and soldiers, who were having their lunch.

“Here we are. Everything you need is to look adorable, lovable and needy. Got it?” Jon instructed Renna. “Try it... it`s not so hard...”

“Jon, but this is a begging and....”

“So what? It`s beneath your dignity? If it is, you can stay hungry, but me....” and he came near one soldier and began whinning and whimpering, pretending he is soooo hungry.

“Oh, look who we have here!” Man tapped Jon`s head. “You hungry?” Ron licked his own nose and barked. “Okay, I think I can spare little food.” Man gave bit of his ration to Jon, who waved his tail and ran away. “Hm... not so much, but it works.” He told Renna smiling.

“Try it...”

‘And why not? I will try; it won`t cost me anything,’ Renna thought and tried to beg as the best as she could.

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But the next day they had to move. They were sent for inspection of a little village. Altought they were taken by jeeps, they had to make two final kilometers by foot. “Check you guns! Always reload before going into the battle. Watch your back. If you see the flash, it`s already too late. Stick together. And remember... it`s just recon. If you see enemy, no shooting, just get out.” Napper gave last advices and so Mut did: “No barking if necessary. Don`t try to be a heroes. It`s better for you to be living cowards than dead heroes for now. Watch your backs! They`ve got dogs, too. And try to not die. Clear?”

“Yeah, don`t worry!” Jon was optimistic as always.

“I still don`t know, if....” Danny panicked.

“Living cowards are better than dead heroes?” Renna wondered.

“Well, for me yes.” Mut replied, “I want to live at least a day longer...”

They were at the outskirts of the village. “Okay, men. Cover yourself... but it appears no Krauts are here!” Napper whispered, but then...

A gunshot.

“Oh damn! It`s like a practice range! To the village! Run run run! Hide yourself in the buildings! Let`s get them!” Napper started followed by his team and dogs. Gunshots began to be more frequent. One hit the ground just in front of Renna. She panicked, so she did the only thing she could. He followed his master who followed the sergeant. But after reaching first buildings she didn`t hide herself and continued running in fear. And then she saw barn.

‘Yes, I will be safe, there,’ she recalled playing in barn when she was a pup. Of course!

Door was opened narrowly, but she squeezed in full speed and then... she hit something soft, warm and furry.

“Oh, sorry I didn`t want to...”

And then she saw the most beautiful dog she had ever seen. He was young German shepherd, with sad eyes and sad smile. “It`s okay, are you all right?”

She stood up and shook. “Yes...” He noticed her collar, but said: “What you are doing here, it`s unsafe... you can be shot!”

“So? And what about you?” Renna barked. He looked helplessly. “You know...”

“Oh, you have a collar too! Let me see!” Renna made it for dog`s collar, and although he tried to dodge, she managed to catch it with her fangs.

‘It`s different than mine....’ she thought and then a badge slipped out from dog`s dense fur.

And Renna saw the cross-shaped symbol she was told it was enemy`s. She made few steps back in awe, but there was nothing behind her, but solid wall. First enemy she met...

Dog`s look slipped on the badge and he whispered: “So

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