Part 4 is up for your enjoyment! Hawkeye puts his plan into operation, and 'The Carver' plans to torch one final victim. Enjoy!
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Balto: Cruel Intentions
Part 4
Aleu could here the sounds of the snow storm whistling outside the cave. It had started up during the night, and for a brief moment she had hoped that it would put off the humans. If not that, then at least it would slow them down.
She looked up at the sounds of approaching feet, and a moment later Chester poked his head into the chamber. She half smiled as he padded inside.
He shivered "It's getting cold out there"
Aleu nodded "How does it look out there?" she asked.
Chester half shrugged "It's too difficult to say. There's so much new snow out there, perfect cover for them. I'd strongly advice you to prolong the curfew for at least another day Aleu"
Aleu sighed "I wish I could Chester. I don't want to be responsible for any more deaths, but we need to hunt. Besides, the storm might have put them off for a while, at least for today"
"That's wishful thinking Aleu" Chester replied.
"But it's all we have Chester" Aleu said. Chester nodded in understanding.
"Do you want me to round up the team?" he asked.
Aleu nodded "Yes. Hunters or no hunters, we can't allow them to starve us out. We have to take the risk, however great"
Chester smiled faintly "Yes Ma'am"
Aleu watched as he walked out of the chamber.
"I only hope I'm making the right decision" she thought.
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Balto was on his way to Jenna's, strong winds ruffling his fur and the occasional snow flake blurring his vision. He shook his head to clear it, padding through the thick blanket of snow underfoot.
He looked up suddenly as he saw several figures huddled together near a barn. As he looked closer he could make out Doc and Kaltag, their heads down and looking at something just out of his vision.
He padded closer, and noted immediately the grim expressions on the faces of the small group.
"What's going on?" he asked one of the dogs.
The dog shivered, from the cold or fear Balto couldn't tell.
"Wolf attack" he muttered grimly.
Balto looked at the other dogs nearby. Some of them were whispering, and he perked his ears up to listen.
"Anyone see what happened?"
"No. But it's obviously the work of wolves. No dog could cause such injuries"
Balto looked up ahead where Doc and Kaltag were standing. He pushed his way through the crowd and into the barn.
"Oh no" he whispered.
Niether Doc nor Kaltag said anything, their focus on the scen in front of them. The body of a dog. Balto felt nauseas as he looked towards the dogs head, or what was left of it.
Dried blood stained the floor, a large puddle of it trickling away from the dead dog. Balto lifted his head up and sniffed. The strong scent of copper obscurred any chance of picking up the scent of whoever was responsible.
"Do we know who he is?" Kaltag asked.
"I don't recognise him. Most probably one of the sled dogs. I'll need to ask around" Doc answered. He lifted his head up and looked at Balto for the first time.
"Oh, Balto! Sorry I didn't see you there"
Balto looked at Doc sadly "You think a wolf did this?" he asked.
"I'm keeping all roads of investigation open. I've learnt my lesson from last time" Doc forced a smile.
Kaltag shook his head slowly "Poor guy. Whoever did this is...evil"
"Tells you what kind of culprit we're dealing with" Doc muttered.
"I can't see a wolf doing this Doc. I just can't" Balto said.
"Maybe, but I can't take that as concrete proof Balto" Doc replied.
"If I hear anything to suggest the otherwise, you'll be the first to know Balto"
Balto nodded wordlessly, and padded away from the barn.
"Trust him to take a wolves side" he heard someone whisper.
He ignored the comment, and walked away from the awful scene as more dogs approached inquisitively.
"This is all I need" he thought. Now everyone would be cautious, and less inclined to turn away from the sled teams and their...fun.
He took a last look back at the barn, and then took off running towards Jenna's.
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A few streets away from the barn, Miranda made her way stealthily through the town. Hawkeye was ready to put the plan into operation, and it was she who needed to find the Major and tell him.
"Trust him to be so difficult to find" she thought, padding into an alley. True, he needed to keep a low profile, she understod that, but when he needed to be found...
She came to a halt as she picked up a familiar scent, and a few seconds later a dog padded up to her.
"I've been expecting you Ma'am" he smiled at her. She didn't return it.
"Hawkeye is putting the plan into operation today. I trust you'll be ready?" she said hautily.
The Major nodded "I will. I just have one last thing to do before I leave" he smirked.
"Well make sure it doesn't take long. You know how the General gets when he's forced to wait" Miranda said.
"Indeed. For dog and country, as the motto goes" The Major said. "The reinforcements will be together and ready to use at his disposal"
"Good. I want this plan to succeed, after the months we've planned and waited. It's high time these wolves realised who the true masters are. We dog's will always be better than them. We've seen the ways we can use human companionship" Miranda said.
"Wolves shun humans, and so humans hunt them. Which will make it all the easier for us to blame this incident on humans once we've succeeded" The Major chuckled.
"Someday, humans will succeed in wiping their kind off of this earth. We're merely speeding up that progress" Miranda laughed.
The Major stiffened at the sounds of someone approaching, and poked his head out slightly. His face broke into a grin.
"Ah. Ma'am, I think you will want to see this for yourself"
Miranda moved closer to him and looked out. She saw a wolf dog hybrid making his way down the street, and she couldn't help noticing how handsome he was.
"Ooh. This must be the great Balto I take it?" she eyed Balto as he passed by unnoticingly.
"For now at least" The Major replied. "I have a feeling that he won't be around for much longer. Not if I have anything to do with it"
Miranda sighed "It's a shame he is a half breed. He is very good looking"
"You should have gone with the pure blood side of you Balto" she thought.
She turned back to The Major "By the way, I've been hearing rumours of a further recruit to our aims"
The Major grinned at her "Ah, so you've heard of 'The Carver' then Ma'am?"
"Hawkeye has talked about him, and he's very anxious to know about him. What have you found out?" Miranda asked.
The Major shrugged "Nothing. Except for the fact that he hates wolves, I don't have any further information"
"What a shame. I was so dying to meet him" Miranda said. "Oh well, maybe next time" she smiled.
"Tell the General I will have his recruits within the next few hours" The Major said.
"See that you do" Miranda replied. "For the glory of Operation Bad Wolf"
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Hawkeye was at that moment standing before Strike, Deacon and Franz. The three dogs were each wearing a black harness which fastened onto most of their body, attached to which were four small green canisters. Hawkeye smiled.
"Gentlemen, today we embark on our great mission. It is out duty, for dog and country, to remove all threats to the pure blood line. And today, we shall take one large step to acheiving that great aim"
The three dogs saluted him as he continued.
"Under my leadership, we shall take down Aleu and her clan, and begin anew. Purity must be upheld at all costs! For the glory of Operation Bad Wolf!"
Hawkeye paused, and strapped on his own harness.
"Defeat is not an option. We shall strike whilst the enemy is weak, and await the arrival of willing recruits from the town"
The three dog unit saluted Hawkeye once more, before dispersing into the foliage.
"Oh yes. Defeat is most certainly not an option" Hawkeye sniggered.
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Vasil made his way through the woods to where he was to meet his contact.
He had heard the rumours, he had seen the scene of the crime for himself. And he could say quite truthfully, that Tex got exactly what he deserved.
"That's what you get for supporting the wolves Tex. Ironic that you got mauled by the same animals you were trying to defend" he thought, and a smile slowly plastered itself onto his face.
He perked his ears up, expecting to hear the sound of his contact arriving. But the woods were as quite as a mortuary. Only the sounds of the wind rustling throught he tree's broke the silence.
"He's taking his time" Vasil thought aloud. He had met his contact an hour ago, and had been told to meet him at a designated spot in the woods. but so far, he was the only one in the vicinity.
"If this is a wind-up someone's gonna pay" he grunted aloud.
"Glad to hear it Vasil" a voice from behind him caught him off guard. He span round.
The Major smirked "Sorry if I kept you waiting, but I've got quite a hectic schedule"
Vasil shrugged "No worries. I've only been waiting a few minutes" he striaghtened his shoulders, not wanting the new arrival to think he had caught him off guard.
"I've come to make you an offer" The Major started. "I heard about your friends unfortunate incident. For what it's worth I'm sorry"
Vasil snorted "Tex wasn't my friend. He was a lousy wolf lover and he got what was coming to him!"
The Major raised a quizzical eyebrow "But nether-the-less, you would like to take your revenge out on the culprits, yes?"
Vasil smirked "Hey, any excuse when it comes to wolves buddy!"
The Major nodded "I'm offering you and your team freedom and life within a new 'pure' existence. If you agree to our plans, then you are free. Free from the wolf scum forever. What do you say?"
"What do I have to do?" Vasil asked.
"We plan to get rid of Aleu and her clan of wolves" The Major said. "She and her kind have defied the pure blood line for too long. For this they must die. I want you to lead your team in assisting us in the final assault. We strike today, all you must do is show up"
"That shouldn't take too much on my part to convince them in agreeing to follow me. I am team leader after all!" Vasil smirked.
The Major flexxed his claws "You'll find us at the large peak on the edge of the woodline. Myself and my associates will be waiting"
Vasil smirked "You've got a deal my man!"
"Capital! Assemble your team and make your way to the cave at the stroke of darkness. Bring as many dogs as you can from the other teams. We'll be waiting for you"
Vasil nodded and began to walk away.
"And Vasil" The Major said. Vasil stopped and turned round.
"For dog and country, my brother"
Vasil smirked, and padded away.
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Stacy circled anxiously round the main chamber as the team assembled itself. She saw Chester walk into the middle of the crowd.
"Aleu has decreed that it is time we resume the hunt. We know the potential risks, but never-the-less we have a duty to this pack. We all took the oath, and we have a duty to uphold it"
Chester paused and looked around at the rest of the wolves who surrounded him.
"I'll understand if some of you do not feel up to this. We all have families to look out for. So, I will allow those wolves who do not feel up to this task, to leave"
Stacy half smiled as none of the wolves gathered took up the offer. Their loyalty to Chester was clear.
Chester smiled "Okay. Lets move out"
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Chester led the way as the team carefully made their way through the forest. Though he hated to admit it, he was nervous. No, he was terrified. They were wide open for any hunter to take a pot shot at, and Chester knew that should anything happen to his team, he would be responsible.
But, whatever his feelings, the pack was depending on him and the team for food. And he had a duty to uphold.
He perked his ears up. He thought he had heard something. A twig snap, or perhaps the sound of a foot crunching on snow. The wolves behind him came to a halt.
He saw it before he heard it. The silver gleam of a rifle barrel.
The shot blew the snow near his leg into his face, disorientating him. He staggered back, and his ears rung as another shot cut through the air. He felt something splash across his face, warm liquid. He opened his eyes.
"Scatter!" he yelled.
He didn't bare to look at the body of the dead wolf that had been at his side. Instead, he span round and took off after the rest of his team. Another shot echoed through the woods, smashing through the trunk of a tree just above his head. Chester kept running.
The hunter looked on as the retreating wolves ran through the foliage, and smiled as he lowered his rifle.
"I'll get y'all next time, ya son of a bitch!"
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At that very moment, three figures creped up the outside of the cave.
Strike raised a paw as he saw an opening. He took a glance downwards, at the main entrance to the cave. He smirked as he grabbed at his harness.
"Time to get this thing started with a bang!" he thought, and gestured at Franz and Deacon to continue climbing up. As they past him, Strike grabbed one of the canisters off of his harness.
He looked down at the lone sentry on guard. It was a young female, maybe a year and a half. Probably her first job on sentry duty.
Strike forced back a laugh as he pulled the pin out of the cannister and threw it down the cave. The green cylinder dropped into the snow right in front of the female.
Strike held his breath as the female approached the cannister, and leant her nose down to examine it.
The cannister exploded, and the female wolf staggered back in alarm. A green gas started to leak from the cannister, and soon the female was completely engulfed by the choking gas. She went limp after a few seconds of struggling, and collapsed to the ground.
Strike smiled. The gas worked perfectly, and now the main entrance was blocked off. Taking one last look at the body of the female, he started crawling back up the cave wall. He approached the opening he had spotted earlier, and squeezed through it.
They were now inside the cave.
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Franz walked on down into the lower levels of the cave. It wasnt hard to remain unseen. His black fur allowed him to conceal himself within the shadows if any wolf approached, and he knew the layout of the cave by heart. The Major was responsible for mapping out the entire complex of the cave, and Franz was heading down to his target.
He crept silently through the passageways, until he came to a new cavern. He peaked round, and spotted four wolves huddled together in conversation. He smiled as he made a grab at one of the gas cannisters attached to his harness.
His target was the food storage area. Once activated, the gas would slowly seep through the entire lower complex, exactly as planned.
Franz kept his eyes on the four sentries as he released the pin on the cannister, and gently rolled it down the floor towards the wolves.
One of them, a brown wolf, looked down in surprise as the cannister rolled into his leg. he looked down an examined it.
Franz just smiled as the cannister exploded in the wolf's face, releasing the gas. In seconds, it had engulfed the four wolves in a thick green cloud, slowly choking them. Within the cloud he saw the wolves scrambling to get free, their eyes streaming from the blinding gas.
The wolves fell, very dead, to the floor. Franz allowed himself a brief chuckle before taking off back down the cavern.
Behind him, the gas slowly seeped into the food store, and down the corridor.
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Aleu was aware of the sounds of screaming as she opened her eyes. Jumping to ehr feet, she ran out of the chamber and down towards the shelves. As she looked down, she saw at least a dozen wolves run into the main chamber, their faces twisted in pure terror.
Aleu only had seconds to try to make sense of the stampede, before Sirius grabbed her and pulled her aside.
"Sirius, what's going on?" Aleu demanded.
"We're under attack Aleu" Sirius panted. "The hunters have released gas charges in the cave"
Aleu stared at him in shock "How did they get in? How could they get in without being seen?"
Sirius shook his head rapidly "I don't know! But we're under attack, and I need to get you to safety!"
Aleu didn't have time to argue as Sirius pulled her down the shelves.
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Hawkeye was making his way to to Aleu's chambers. He could here the sounds of the screams and cries echoing from below as he climbed up the shelves.
The Major had mapped out the entire cave, and Hawkeye knew exactly where Aleu would be. Unless she was stupid enough to have been in the lower areas of the cave.
Hawkeye hauled himself up the final shelf, and then padded down until he came up to the main chamber.
He paused, and took a slight step forwards. He was sure if Aleu would have guards posted, or maybe they had all taken off to investigate the panic. He stepped lightly inside the chamber.
It was empty.
Hawkeye growled "Where is she? This whole plan depends on her being here!"
He span round in alarm as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. He tensed up as a lone figure stepped through a secret alcove dug into the far corner of the chamber.
Strike raised his eyebrows as he saw Hawkeye "General? Have you located Aleu?"
Hawkeye scowled at Strike "No, I haven't Captain. She's supposed to be here! Why is she not here?"
Strike turned back towards the alcove he had come out from "I'll see if she's attempting to escape"
Hawkeye watched as Strike bolted back into the alcove. He turned his attention to the main wall. It led out onto a platform overlooking the Alaskan landscape.
Hawkeye loosened his harness, being careful to put it gently down onto the floor, and padded out on the plato.
"Run while you can Aleu. But you can't outrun destiny"
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Sirius looked round frantically at every turn he made, still holding onto Aleu. He was heading to a secret escape tunnel that only he and Chester knew of, and which he intended Aleu to escape through.
He didn't know how it was possible that humans had managed to get into the cave, nor did he know the extent of the pain sweeping through the cave. All he knew was that Aleu was in danger, and as her mate it was his duty to protect her.
"Sirius! Stop!" Aleu growled as he pulled her down the tunnel.
"Aleu, I'm not arguing with you! Your the alpha of this clan, and I have to make sure your safe!" he grunted as she attempted to slow him down.
Aleu struggled against his more powerful pull "Sirius, I can't abandon them! This is my clan!"
Sirius sighed "Aleu, whatever it takes I'm going to see you get out of here safely, with or without your consent! I love you too much to risk you getting killed"
"Sirius, I have an obligation to uphold! Please!" Aleu pleaded. Sirius didn't reply, as he pulled her down another tunnel.
Sirius stopped as something jumped in front of him. It was a black dog.
Sirius looked at him and growled, stepping in front of Aleu.
Deacon smirked in cool confidence, before leaping at Sirius.
Sirius tensed up as Deacon barrelled into him, and shoved him backwards. Aleu watched on as Sirius intercepted the dogs attack, and the two of them rolled into the wall.
"Aleu! Run!" Sirius yelled out, as Deacon snapped a his face with his jaws. Aleu froze up, unable to tear her gaze off of her struggling mate.
"Aleu!" Sirius shouted.
Aleu snapped out of her trance, and ran down the tunnel. She looked back at Sirius, as Deacon pinned him down to the floor.
She let out a small scream as another dog bolted down the tunnel after her.
"If we lose her, we're finished!" Franz growled at Deacon as he shot past him, gaining on Aleu with every stride.
Aleu pumped her legs as fast as she could. The escape hole was a few yarda ahead of her. If she could just keep running...
Franz snapped at her legs, hoping to pull her off her feet. Aleu jumped, avoding the attack, and kept ahead of him.
Aleu saw the hole in front of her as Franz slashed at her. Bracing ehrself, she jumped out and made a grab for the ledge. Her paws scraped against it, and she frantically tried to pull herself up.
She screamed as Franz grabbed her leg, and pulled. Aleu slipped, but managed to keep her grip. She kicked out at her attacker, and caught him on the nose with her leg. Franz lost his grip, and Aleu pulled herself up throught he hole towards the surface.
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Sirius looked up from the floor as Franz padded back down the tunnel empty pawed.
"She got away. I couldn't stop her!" he growled, a paw up to his nose, which was bleeding.
Deacon snarled in frustration "The General isn't going to be happy"
Sirius gulped as Deacon increased his grip on him "But, at least we got her mate" he sniggered.
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Balto was sitting in Jenna's house, Toby sound asleep next to him.
Jenna sighed "So, they think a wolf killed that porr dog?" she asked.
Balto nodded "That's what I gathered from all the comments I heard. Thsi couln't have happened at a worse time"
"What if..." Jenna paused. "What if it was deliberate?"
Balto didn't have time to think on this comment, when he heard a frantic scratching at the door.
He padded up to it and pushed it open. He stpped back at the sight that met him.
"Aleu? What are you doing here?"
Balto was taken aback as Aleu threw herself upon him, tears streaming down her face.
"Papa..." she sobbed into his fur.
Jenna poked her head round the door, and was surprised at the sight before her.
"Aleu! Sweety, what ever's the matter?" she asked.
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Aleu was completely cried out as she finished her story, and looke dup at her parents with dry red eyes.
Balto stared at his daughter in shock "Hunters? In the cave? How could...?"
"I don't know Papa, but that's what happened. They used gas, and they took Sirius captive. He might be dead for all I know" she started sobbing again.
Jenna hushed her comfortingly "It's okay Aleu. We'll help as much as we can" she nuzzled her daughter.
"Thanks Mum, but I just don't know what to do. How can we fight hunters?"
Balto looked at her with a questioning look "You said you and Sirius were attacked by dogs?"
Aleu nodded "Yeah. Two dogs attacked us before he could help me get out" she sniffed.
Balto's brow furrowed "I'm beginning to wonder whether it's hunters you were dealing with, or dogs using hunting equipment"
Aleu stared at him "But why would they do that Papa?"
Balto sighed "Some dogs dislike wolves more than others, and are prepared to go to greater lengths to vent that dislike"
Jenna looked at her mate "Maybe that murder today. Maybe that was...propaganda?"
Balto stiffened "Anti wolf propaganda! Gas attacks! Maybe they're using the hunters as a decoy! Make it look like humans are doing the gassing, and wolves murdering the dogs in town!"
"That sounds like a military operation to me" Jenna said.
Aleu looked down at the floor "What am I going to do?" she whispered.
Balto got to his feet "The first thing we have to do is get you out of this house. If Rosy's parents find you here..."
Jenna walked ovwer to wake up Toby. Balto helped Aleu get to her feet.
"First things first. You need some rest. And we need to come up with a plan"
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Balto looked down at Aleu's sleeping form. It hadn't been long before she had collapsed to the floor, exhausted from the exhaustion of what she had gone through.
Balto let out a sigh. They had taken Aleu to the dog barn, where Kodi and Dingo had been when they had arrived. They were the only ones in the barn, along with Jenna and Toby, and Balto was the only one still awake.
"How am I going to sort out this mess?" he thought. He didn't know a thing about fighting dogs who resorted to using human equipment, and whoever these dogs were they were professionals. They had done this sort of thing before.
Balto shivered at the thought. He didn't know how long he had to come up with a plan, or whether it was already too late.
He felt his eyelids begin to grow heavy, and he let out a yawn.
"Maybe...if I just...rest my eyes for a minute" he thought, his eyes slowly closing.
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Balto woke up with a start, and shook his head to clear his vision. He had fallen asleep, and he didn't know for how long.
His vision was still blurred, but as he looked up he thought he saw movement. A black blur of movement.
Balto's eyes sharpened as he image came into focus. He was looking up at a black dog wearing a black fedora hat, and wearing a red flying scarf round his neck. In the dogs paw was a lighted match.
Balto tensed up as he smelt something. Diesel.
The black dog looked down at him, and dropped the match.
The match hit the fuel soaked floor, and erupted into flame.
Balto just had time to see the black dog disappear into the shadows of the rafters as thick black smoke began to sweep through the barn.
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END OF PART 4
Tell me what you all think! Part 5 coming soon!
Balto123
seems like it
