The

Trio

By: Balto5670

This story and its corresponding plotline are © 2007 Balto5670. The characters Balto, Jenna, Steele, Kaltag, Nikki, and Star are © 1995 Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The character Kira is © 2007 Kira~Ice Blooded Pack. The character Kale McGovern, Frederic Thesher, Bill Inago, Samuel McMahn, and any others are © 2007 Balto5670. The lyrics to Wanted Dead Or Alive are © Bon Jovi.

The Trio is a complete work of fiction. Any relations to any events or persons are completely coincidental.

This fanfiction is rated PG-13 for violence, gore, adult language, the consumption of alcohol, and some sexual situations.

Chapter 1

New Mexico, July 26th 1896

          The only sounds the three dogs could hear were the thundering of hooves beneath them as they rode across the vast New Mexico wasteland. Cacti lined the horizon as they rode onward, each dog a different appearance as they rode side-by-side. One was a scruffy gray-brown wolfdog with brown and gold eyes. Another was a tan husky with brown eyes. The third was an average black and white husky with ice-blue eyes. All three dogs appeared to be in their mid-twenties. They laughed and cheered as they rode on, the faint outline of a town before them.

“That’s our next target, I reckon!” the black and white husky shouted to his friends, lowering the jet-black bandana from in front of his muzzle, revealing a smirk on his face.

“Yep, time for the trio to strike again!” the wolfdog said, grinning as the town came closer and closer. He snapped the reigns on his horse and shot ahead of the other two, laughing as he did.

“Hey! Oh no you don’t Balto!” the black and white dog said, giving chase to Balto.

“I dare ya Kale! Try and catch me!” Balto shouted back.

“You’re on! C’mon Kaltag, let’s get ‘im!” Kale said to the tan husky, getting a nod in response and the other two shot forward after their friend in playful sport.

It took the three dogs all of five minutes to ride up to the town. Above the gate into the town was a sign that read:

Welcome to the town of Silent Spring.

The three dogs grinned and rode their horses through the town, tipping their hats casually to everyone they passed. The townsfolk smiled to them and nodded back, unaware of their intentions. Kale looked at the dressing of everyone, noticing that many of the men carried gun holsters with their revolvers tucked inside.

So with a population of roughly 50, that’d probably mean about 30 guns, plus however many sheriffs and deputies could mean a bit of difficulty for us… But not with the trio of my own… Kale thought to himself and grinned as he stared down at the two holsters on his hips and the one on the side of his torso: three revolvers in all.

Balto had also mentally noted the number of civilians, just in case a fight did break out. He glanced down at his twin revolvers, then over to Kaltag’s singe gun, then Kale’s triple set. He smirked, knowing the three of them could take down most of the town if they were in the right place at the right time.

The trio rode up to the saloon and dismounted, tying their horses to the stile outside and walking up to the front doors. Beside them was a wanted poster. Kale glanced at it and chuckled slightly, patting Balto on his arm to get his attention.

“Hey Balto, Kaltag, get a look at this!” Kale said, smiling at the poster, tearing it of the wall and handing it to Balto. It read:

Wanted: Balto McLane, Kaltag Lorden, and Kale McGovern

Dead or Alive

$500 per dog

These dogs have committed crimes across the states of Texas and New Mexico, robbing various towns in a group. All three dogs are considered armed and dangerous.

Beneath the words were three pictures, a sketch of each outlaw. Balto scoffed and handed it to Kaltag, who gave the same reaction.

“Well, they got your face pretty good, Kale!” Kaltag said, handing it back to the husky, “You’d better watch out! With a picture that good, you’re bound to have everyone after you!”

“That would depend, Kal…” Kale retorted, a sly grin on his face, “If by ‘everyone,’ you mean every girl in the state of New Mexico, then I agree.”

Kale laughed when Kaltag tried to hit him on the head. Balto snickered and stepped inside the saloon, followed by his friends. The establishment was completely vacant aside from a couple of dogs sitting at a table at the far wall, talking amongst themselves and sipping drinks. The trio walked up and each took stools at the bar.

“Barkeep! Three beers!” Balto called down to the Great Dane behind the bar. The dog took out three amber bottles, pulled the tops off, and slid them down the polished wood surface to the three outlaws. Balto raised his drink and grinned.

“To the trio that’s still got their rep goin’!” Balto said and Kaltag and Kale joined him, raising their beers as well. The three then tilted their drinks back and took a long swig of the cool liquid, certain that absolutely nothing could stop them. Nothing.

As soon as their bottles were empty, Balto pulled out a few coins and paid the bartender before the three stood up and walked outside again. Leaving their horses tied up, the trio made their way through town, examining every building and getting a mental map of the place. Once they had that down, they found the gun store and walked inside.

Like every other gun store they’d ever been in, various guns lined the walls and counters around the shop. Immediately, Kale went over to the revolvers and began looking at them with interest. Balto and Kaltag wandered about the store, looking at everything they had. Just then, the shop owner, a German Shepherd of about 25 came out from the back room and smiled at the three.

“Hello fellas!” he greeted cheerfully, “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No thanks…” Balto said, “We’ll let you know if we need anyth-”

“Hey, guys! Check this out!” Kale called over to them, holding up a shiny silver revolver, beaming at it, “Ah, this is excellent!” The shop owner smiled and pointed to the pistol.

“That’s the new model of the Colt Peacemaker,” he explained with pride, “Probably the best pistol out there.”

“May I see how it handles?” Kale asked, getting a nod from the owner who led him outside and around to the back of the shop where a target was set up, “Alright baby, let’s see what you can do…”

Kale twirled the revolver around his index finger a few times before tossing it up in the air and catching in inside the trigger-guard and twirling it again with his left hand in a smooth motion. He tossed the gun over his shoulder and caught it in his right hand, brining it back forward and opening the chamber. He pulled out a bullet from his bandolier and loaded it in one of the slots, closing it and smirking. Kale then went back to his fancy twirling, tossing it back and forth before grabbing it in his right hand, raising it, pulling back the hammer, and firing in one smooth, fluid motion. The gun went off and the bullet struck the center of the target, receiving a satisfactory grin from Kale.

“Damn! I love this gun!” he exclaimed, handing it back to the shop owner who promptly began cleaning it off as the two walked back into the store, “Do you have a set of three?”

“Nope, sorry. Only have two for sale, but I do have three. They’re fifty dollars a pistol, by the way…” the Shepherd explained.

“You have three, but only two are for sale? Why’s that?” Kale asked, pulling out five twenty-dollar bills.

“Someone reserved one…” the Shepherd explained, taking the money and putting it the register.

“Reserved one? Who reserved the third one?”

As if by magic, the door opened and another black and white husky walked inside, dressed in a blue shirt and jeans, a gold star pinned to his shirt. He had the same coat and eyes of Kale, but was built bulkier than most dogs. The dog took a quick look at the three newcomers and scoffed slightly. He walked up to the counter and pushed Kale out of the way.

“I put a down-payment on one of those new Colt pistols…” the dog said, “It’s under the name of Sheriff Steele…”

The Shepherd nodded and walked around to the back room once more. Steele tipped his hat back a bit and turned around, staring at Balto. He chuckled darkly and walked up to him.

“You look familiar, half-breed…” Steele said insultingly, “Do I know you from somewhere? Maybe I saw your family out on the prairie!”

Steele laughed to himself and Balto’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Steele. The wolfdog’s hands balled up into fists as he seriously considered decking the husky right there and then. Kaltag shook his head ‘no’ and Balto let his hands relax again.

“Hey, leave ‘im alone…” Kale said defensively, “He didn’t do anything to you…”

Steele then turned on Kale. He slowly advanced on the husky and looked him over. He grabbed him by his white shirt and pulled him up into the air easily. Kale gave no reaction, even as his feet were lifted off the ground.

“You may look like me, boy… But that doesn’t mean I’ll like you…” Steele growled softly, “Learn to stay out of matters that don’t involve you and you’ll be just fine…”

Steele dropped Kale back to the floor and the husky went back to the counter. The German Shepherd came back around with