Chapter 4

Several days passed. Max had fully healed by now and was walking. The attack had only built their relationship stronger than ever. The only thing on Max's mind was the proposal. A noticeable strand of shyness now lingered between them. Max usually spent time kicking himself and saying whenever he had the perfect opportunity. 

Kodi strolled through the streets. He passed the scene were Dusty and Max had almost been killed, he couldn't help but stop and stare before walking on. The thought of the fight made him wonder how precious life is. Every so often, he would take a deep breath of air. He failed to notice the two strangers following him. 

"Is that him?" one of them whispered. The other made a look of disbelief. "Na. Don't match what the boss told us. We'll ask 'im." They stomped through the snow and litter. "You." Diemos spat out. "Where is he?" he demanded. "Who? Where's who?" Kodi stammered in shock. "Maxwell, the boy whose parents are dead. Where is he?" he demanded again with decreasing patience. "I don't know, why?" Kodi asked assertively. To his shock he drew a knife and aimed at his throat. He gasped knowing he was less than an inch from death. "I'm not asking again. Where is he?" he yelled. He felt pressure increase on his neck. "Where is Ma-" Diemos blurted aggressively again. "Kodi!" someone yelled. They looked to their sides to see Maxwell and Dusty standing side by side, staring at them. "Leave him alone!" Max demanded. Diemos snickered. "Or else what?" he asked rudely. The blade pressed onto his neck harder. "You've come for me, not him. I know you have." he angrily murmured.

They left Kodi, roared and charged for him. They all barreled forwards in a struggle for life. Max's main priority was getting the knife off them. A roaring bundle of fur, claws and teeth cascaded down the slope.

Worried that he would cut himself or his comrade, Xavier let go of the knife and let it skid across the snow. Max managed a good blow into Xavier's ears. He roared in pain and kicked him away. Max went flying backwards, but showed no pain. Xavier felt his ear. It was bleeding. He growled and charged for Kodi yet again.

Simultaneously, Diemos, knife in hand, charged for his main objective with a barbaric scream. Max dodged it and grabbed his paw. Max charged into the back of Diemos' neck. With a faint croak, Diemos fell to the ground, and this time, he didn't get up. Xavier looked up, shocked. Before he could respond, a cold metal blade rested on his neck. Maxwell glared at him with burning eyes."Who sent you? What does this have to do with yesterday? Who does it involve?" he hammered him with questions. Xavier stammered. "I-I can't tell you, he-he'd literally kill me!" he whimpered. "And what makes you think I won't?" Maxwell scared. He pressed the blade down on his throat. "Ah-okay, okay, Valdez sent me. He killed your parents, there's 5- well, 4 of us now, and he wants you and Dusty dead. That's all I know, I swear..." Maxwell drifted off briefly. "I would kill you, but I can't be the one to take a message. Go on, now. Run along back home and tell your boss he will get what is coming to him." he intimidated, slowly lifting the knife from Xavier's neck. He immediately ran off into the wilderness. The time between the start and end of the fight was less than a minute.

Maxwell threw down the ridiculous piece of metal. The team marched up to him as he gazed down at the snow. Kodi was the first to speak. "Maxwell... is it true that you are wanted dead?" he questioned. "It seems so, friend. I don't know why, or what I've done, but I'm sure this attack won't be the last." he answered, still motionless. "But what about me? What did I do?" Dusty interrupted. He sighed. "I don't know. But I'm not letting anyone hurt you. I'll speak to Sarge tomorrow to organize a few guardians for you." he muttered. "But, Max, what about you?" she said, surprised. "Dusty, If... If anything happened to you, I don't know just how I would live. But I'm a wanted dog, and whenever I'm around you, you're in danger too. For the time being, I can't be seen with you."

"Are you sure?" Valdez asked them. "Affirmative, sir. I saw it with my own eyes." he replied. Valdez sharply panted in anger. "I don't know HOW HE DOES IT!!! I throw everything I've got at him, and he swallows it like an falcon's claws would a mouse!" Valdez screamed at himself. "Sor, why dun' we just leave him lone?" Titan asked casually. "What ARE you on about? That boy's father is near-enough responsible for my death. That avalanche a year and a half ago, he was going to save me, but nooo. He had to be the knight in shining armor and save the pretty lady, and left me to fend for myself." he screamed as he took his fury out on a small boulder. "Kenai was allegedly my friend. Not after that. As long as that little brat's alive, so is his father's spirit. And as long as she is alive, the brat's spirit is."

There was a sudden change in subject. "For god's sake, he's a teenager. He should be easy to take down. And now I've already lost two wolves to him. I know what I'll do. Seeing as you are all too worthless to do it yourselves, I'll go there myself and sort him out personally." he uttered just as Akiak and Xavier looked at each other, unimpressed.

Chapter 5

Max and Balto were chatting casually about their businesses in the town. They were walking around the edge of the town, on the end street. Balto chuckled at a joke. "Yeah, did you ask Dusty yet?" he asked curiously. Maxwell sighed. "No. To be honest dad, I can't find the right time or place to ask her. I mean, it's a big thing to ask of a female, and when I do, I want it to feel special." he said. Maxwell was clearly stuck fast over the matter. "Okay. Well to be honest son, I'd advise asking her at a time or place that is very special to her. So like after something big's happened, or where you two first met." "That sounds great! But if she isn't ready, or if she says no, I'll look like a total idiot!" he sarcastically joked. "I know, but if she isn't ready for it, she isn't ready. If you love someone, you shouldn't pressurise them into doing something they don't want to do. If you know what I'm saying." he discussed.

Maxwell's heart raced. Dusty was on the opposite entry to the alleyway. His neck went sweaty with nerve. "Here she is now. I'll leave you two to it. Good luck!" he whispered just as he turned a corner as Dusty turned her head. Maxwell smiled unsurely at her, but she didn't notice his awkwardness. "Hello, who's this?" she joked. Max laughed. "I think it's your boyfriend, isn't it?" the both of them chuckled, kissing compassionately. "I was wondering if you wanted to maybe, go for a walk in the woods for a bit?" he asked. "Yeah, sure!" she said, excitedly. The two headed away from the civilisation and towards the woods.

The two carried on walking, further and further into the wilderness. The nature didn't scare them. They had been here unincidentally countless times. But it was unusually quiet for this time of day. By now, all the animals should have been busy collecting food ready for hibernation. "This is where we first met." Maxwell mouthed quietly. Dusty nodded, looking around at the familiar small plain they used to play on when they were pups. They nuzzled. Max wandered off briefly. He could relive his childhood unfold like it was hours before. Suddenly, he turned. Can I ask you something?" he pondered. "Yeah, sure." she replied friendily. Max gazed up at the trees. "I was... wondering lately... since we've been together for a long time and we've been really close for the past few months... well, I've been thinking about this for a while... I think it's time to ask you if-"

Maxwell looked around. "Dusty? Love?" She was gone.

Valdez grabbed her shoulder and towed her towards the woods. "Get off me, you savage!" Dusty screamed as she landed a smack on his cheek. "This is a fiesty one. You'll be a lot of fun taking down, missy." he snickered. He lunged for her neck and squeezed hard. Valdez's interrogating voice quickly soothed. "Guess what? It's time to go to sleep." he mumbled. Her lungs ached and she gasped gainlessly. "I wonder where your little hero is right now." he asked her, looking around. "Right here." someone retaliated. Valdez's eyebrow raised in surprise. Before he could think any further, a familiar looking dog leapt onto his back and wrestled him to the ground, forcing him to let go of Dusty's neck. The stranger held onto Valdez's shoulders like a bull rider.

The bulky overgrown wolf roared in frustration and stood on his hind legs quickly, shooting the dog off his back. Valdez quickly turned to see Maxwell land in a pile in the snow. He got up quickly. Valdez's pupils shrank in anger. "You..." he grunted. Maxwell scowled at him. "You're just as stubborn as your father." he remarked crudely. "Thank god for that because if I wasn't I wouldn't be fighting you." Max answered. Valdez took it as no joke. "Let's see how stubborn you are on the end of my claws." He suddenly roared and lashed out. But Max knew what Valdez was like by now, and spared the time to dodge him. While the two of them lashed out senselessly at each other, Dusty backed up from the fight, watching on in horror. Suddenly a paw wrapped around her and started tackling her.

Kodi was enjoying a refreshing drink outside the kennel, by himself. He had been spending a lot of time with his friends lately, so he decided he needed some time alone to think, but about nothing in particular. His ears shot up. For some reason, he was quickly alert, and faced his ears to the trees. He held his breath to hear clearly. In the distance, just before the limits of his hearing, there was a scream. Knocking over his bowl, he dashed into the forest.

"Dusty! No!" he cried. Akiak was wrapping his leg around her neck like a snake, destined to suffocate her. In his moment of weakness, Valdez kicked Maxwell forward. He landed in the snow face first. Recovering again quickly, he barely saw in time that the overgrown wolf was leaping out at him.

Maxwell dodged him again and tackled him to the floor. A claw swiped across Valdez's forehead. He violently kicked Maxwell in the face and threw him back. Max shook and recovered. Valdez felt his forehead and roared. "WHY WON'T YOU DIE??" The rest of the gang came up from behind Maxwell. He was surrounded, trapped. There was no way he could fight his way past all of them. "Kill him!" Valdez ordered. The gang closed in on him and cornered him. "Why do even do this for him?" Maxwell suddenly asked. The gang stopped and thought. "You take orders from him, but what do you get in return? What's he ever done for you? Why do you take orders from him?" Akiak released his grip from Dusty's neck.

Valdez leapt out at him and knocked him over. He clawed, bit and tore with every chance he got. "DIE, WORTHLESS HALFCAST!!!" Max tried to hide his face with his paws, but Valdez kept on tugging at his flesh and pulling them away. Maxwell could only scream and helplessly defend himself against the blows. He gave up with struggling, either way he would die by now.

Kodi finally arrived on the scene. He looked around the environment. As soon as he looked to his right, at the bottom of the slope, his heart sank. "Oh no..." he murmured. Valdez turned to see him. "Too late, buddy." Valdez chuckled. An inner rage steamed inside him. He panted in anger sharply at the overgrown wolf. Valdez laughed and looked away. How could such a small and insignificant dog expect to win a fight against him? He quickly found himself forced to the ground and pinned to the floor by his face. But he quickly recovered and kicked the small dog off him. Kodi recovered quickly and landed upright. He bared his teeth at the wolf. The wolf replied with a similar face.

"I'll teach you to mind your business, mutt." he remarked. "Bring it." Kodi urged. Valdez did as he was told and charged for him. Kodi barely avoided another lunge for his chest. Valdez tried again, and succeeded, his huge and deadly jaws grabbing his front legs and throwing him onto his back, pinning the red and white dog down, just like he had with the less unfortunate black and white dog earlier. Kodi felt a paw at his throat. "I brought it." Valdez uttered confidently. He clenched his eyes and prepared for the worst. "Nighty night, doggy."