turned his body, cutting out any spaces that she could have slipped through.

“Let me go!” she cried.

“And what if I--Ooh, nice try.” Jenna had tried to slash him across the face, but he predicted her move and blocked it easily. “Now it’s my turn…”

He brought a paw up quickly and slammed her chin up before swiftly backhanding her and sending her flying into the wall. Her head slammed against the firm surface and she was knocked out as cold as the frozen wood. While she slumbered, Henry opened her delicate muzzle and slipped her orange bandana in before tightening it. He dragged her sleeping body out from under the building and towards the edge of town.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

This room was as dark as it ever had been since it was first built all those years ago. A stack of cardboard boxes blocked any light that could have escaped through the window, which was broken in itself anyways, and unlike the rest of this rundown shack, there were no holes in the ceiling. The room reeked of a lovely, acrid, yet intoxicating smell that swirled around the enclosed area. Hal’s nostrils flared as the scent overpowered his being. The paper at his feet was damp and smothered with a potent liquid. He licked his black lips and gave a delightful chortle as his head swam. Hal stole a peek into a toy baby carriage, one that you would see a merry female human pushing about on a sunny afternoon. He lifted a paw and brushed it tenderly over the porcelain face of a little doll. The paint that made up some of the more prominent features such as her rosy lips and blue eyes melted and burned away as this liquid ran down her delicate face. Her short, black hair and lacy dress, a very tender ruby red, were heavily soaked, somewhat ruining her more elegant appearance. He could just imagine it… The sweet gurgling sounds of another life slipping through his claws, and the begs and pleas of mercy that he pleasantly ignored. The feeling of another dogs throat in between his jaws or the taste of sweet, delicious blood on his tongue made his mouth water hungrily. The greedy flames in his eyes danced fiercely as if they were about to leap from his eyes and catch the entire structure ablaze. After tonight, these flames that demanded power and control would be set free, once and for all. All who had, and would have opposed him would cease to exist in this cruel world, just like all the useless pawns that would be of no use to him. After that, he frankly didn’t care where they went. A paw on his shoulder actually startled him, and he whipped around to face another dog.

Nikki gave him a smirk, “We’re finished here. Not what’a’we do?”

Hal began to hum quietly to himself. He walked to the nearest wall and began to peel the dusty paint with a sharp claw. On second thought, maybe he’d let a few live, spare them so they could live out the rest of their lives in mediocrity, just a thought.

“Alright,” he snickered, “go fetch Henry, he’ll most likely be far out of town on a boat. After you do, run back here so I can give you your next assignment.”

Nikki nodded cheerfully as he walked away from Hal, his eyes dim and his mind scattered beyond belief. He padded to the door and gave it a strong nudge. It swung open and thumped against the ancient hallway, sending a dull echo all around. Hal stopped Nikki briefly with a laugh.

“Now, don’t take too long My Boy, because your life is definitely on the line,” he snickered.

The chow didn’t even seem to be affected by his words, and he just laughed back as he left Hal by himself in this dusty, foul-smelling room.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Douglas paced impatiently back and forth across the wooden planks of a derelict boat. He eyed his prize with an insatiable lust. Her crimson and snowy fur blew in the frozen gale and her eyes were still shut. A collar was fastened snugly around her leg and a rising pole. Douglas took a few steps towards her, wondering how to wake her from the slumber he had caused. There was a sudden shouting that made itself known to his ear.

“You are to be getting away from her this instant you flee-bitten mongrel!” the gander honked.

“Shut it you overgrown chicken, I’ll be happy enough to have you for dinner, but not right now,” he hissed.

Boris, who was currently held down by heavy ropes, was far past the point of frustration. “You try that and I will be giving you one horrible case of indigestion!”

Douglas, now successfully distracted, stepped over to the goose. He lifted a paw and put a claw dangerously close to Boris’ neck. Boris gave a quiet gulp and shut his eyes tightly.

“You, Bird, are truly insufferable beyond the shadow of a doubt. I think I have enough reason to end your pitiful life here and now, or at least clip you of those scrawny wings.”

Boris opened his eyes and tried to sound more brave than he really was. “Feh, I am old bird. It would be doing you no good to harm me, but…” he raised his thick, bushy eyebrows, “I could take the pain if you would be letting Jenna go.”

Douglas scoffed and turned away from the bird, “That’s one thing I don’t understand about you animals! None of you care about your own lives! You all say that you don’t care what happens to you, as long as others are safe… but let’s test that shall we.”

He whipped back around and without a second thought, dragged a claw through the goose’s skin near his wing. Boris yelled out in surprise and in pain, trying to wriggle away from the dog. Douglas sneered viciously as he waited for the goose to claim defeat, but that would never come. A quiet voice quickly stopped his actions, her voice like a choir of angels to his ears.

“Now, Jenna, why on Earth would I stop? I’m only proving a point,” he said innocently.

Jenna shook her dizzy head. “No… No… It’s me you’re after… Leave Boris alone, please.”

Douglas licked his teeth and sauntered over towards his sister arrogantly. “Why yes, you’re quite right, I did come for you. And I really don’t want to waste much more time.”

He walked behind her shaking form and snickered with sheer delight. But he didn’t know that he would never have her, ever. His ears perked to the sound of running paws. A chow rushed up the plank of Balto’s boat and skidded to a halt in front of Douglas. Jenna gave a weak smile.

“Nikki, I’m so glad you’re here! I-” her sentence cut off when he gave a crooked grin. “Nikki?”

“Douglas, you’re needed by Hal for one, last assignment. He promises that this’ll be the last thing you’ll do. Then you’ll be free to have your-” he gazed down at the now fearful Jenna, “prize, without any of us bothering you.”

Douglas looked down at her as well, rather unhappily. “Are you sure it can’t wait?”

Nikki shrugged, “It depends if ya really wanna tick him off. Which I wouldn’t try.”

Douglas huffed impatiently. “Fine, I’ll go… Lead the way.”

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Becca stretched before lifting her sleepy head. She gave a thoughtful gaze around, but quickly remembered that this was no world of dreams and happiness. She saw her tired brother by her side, and her now fearful aunt to her left. She gave a heavy sigh. When had everything gone so wrong? It had seemed like so long ago when she last saw her mother’s shining face. She missed her soft basket more now than she ever thought that she would. She even longed for the time a few days ago when her aunt had come to seem more and more like a mother to them, but ever since her uncle had come back, she became something that frightened Becca. She licked a wound on her front paw. Seth had scratched her when they had been fighting for the food scraps that were left over from the grown-ups. Becca heard her aunt shift about, and she gave a sad look to her.

“What do you want?” Lilith asked suspiciously, scratching at her collar.

Becca cocked her head, “Why you keep scratching your collar? Is it itchy?”

Lilith shook her head, “No, but it’s getting to be downright annoying… Why would you want to know?…”

She scratched again and something small suddenly fell from her collar. Both the females looked down at it, with obvious confusion. It was a tiny, white tablet. Lilith twisted her collar and more of these tablets rained down, pattering against the hard dirt.

“What are these?” Becca asked.

Lilith studied them carefully. She knew what these were, or at least, she hoped she did.

“I think… I think this is my medicine,” she almost questioned herself.

Becca’s face suddenly lit up. “You mean that stuff that makes you fun?!”

Lilith was still uncertain, “Yeah, that stuff. But, what would it be doing in my collar?”

“It doesn’t matter!” Becca was now on her feet, “Just take it, pleease!?”

She shook her head, “I’m not sure… Something doesn’t feel right.”

“Auntie,” Becca said, staring at Lilith, “please just trust me and try it. You’re no fun like this.”

“But what about your uncle? He wouldn’t be happy if I did it. Trust me, he’d-”

“He’s nothing but a jerk! I don’t know why you keep listening to him. I promise that he won’t find out if you take it. Cross my heart and hope to die.”

She glanced down at the little tablets scattered across the ground. Maybe Becca was right? But what if she was wrong?… No… She had to… trust her. Something about trusting unnerved her. Lilith leaned down and took one of the white tablets between her teeth. It was now or never. Her eyes glanced over towards the empty doorway and she gulped heavily as her ears flattened against her head. With a great deal of courage, she let the tablet enter between her lips and she quickly swallowed it, coughing at the somewhat bitter taste. Becca stared at Lilith hopefully.

“Do you feel any better yet?” she asked.

“Well I don’t know, we’d have to-”

She stopped short. The sound of crunching snow had come to her ears. She stood up slowly and looked towards the pitch black entrance. She took a few sluggish steps forward, passing a sleeping Kaltag

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