Acceptance

Balto sighed as he was pulled away from Jenna yet again. It wasn't that he disliked all of the attention but that he wasn't used to it. He'd gotten more praise, petting, and compliments within the ten minutes of the teams successful return than he had in his entire life up to that moment, and all because of a simple box of medicine. It was like the people were trying to take back everything that they had ever said or done.

The dogs too were accepting of Balto, and most notably were Nikki, Kaltag, and Star, formerly Steele's teammates and assistant tormentors. All of the sudden they were his friends. That was what worried him about this whole thing. Sure they liked him now, but what about a month or two later? This would all be blown over and forgotten. Would he go back to being hated and feared? Balto thought about this as all the commotion went on around him. Someone seemed to know his feelings though, Balto guessed, as everyone just all of the sudden backed off, although that could be partially due to the fact that they wanted to see their children and that it was very cold outside. Though the snow had stopped, the temperature was at about zero degrees Fahrenheit.

No matter what happened though, something good had come out of this whole ordeal. Balto had finally accepted both sides of himself, something he had thought he'd done a long time ago but had truly never done. That white wolf… he wondered who she was. He seemed to remember a white wolf as his mother, was it possible that…

Balto shook that thought away. His parents had been killed a long time ago, so long ago that he only remembered his mother's fur color and nothing about his father. It disappointed him that he didn't even know what his father looked like; he wished he could remember something.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Jenna inquired, concern written all over her face. She would have thought Balto would be cheerful, but he looked almost… disappointed?

"Oh I'm fine." Balto said, putting on a smile and trying to sound cheery. His act was good, and would have probably fooled any dog. Except Jenna.

"You know I can see right through you?"

"Yes…" Except for one MINOR detail, Balto's mind finished, I love you!

He kept that well-guarded though; no one would've ever accepted that with the way things used to be, and it was very possible it still wouldn't be accepted. It hadn't started as love, but it'd grown to that in the three years he'd known Jenna. Still, he hadn't really been sure of the feeling until that moment a few minutes ago, when both of them had simply gotten caught and stared into each other's eyes.

"Then won't you tell me what's wrong?"

Balto took a breath, "I am very happy, it feels good, so much better than I'd have thought to be accepted, but… I'm just worried about how long it'll last. When this all blows over will I go back to being what I used to be?"

Jena couldn't resist a small laugh, eliciting a puzzled stare from her friend, "Balto, I don't think you should even be worried. You've got a good heart, and I think they all realize that now. What you just said goes to back me up too. Famous for ten minutes and you're already worried."

Jenna just shook her head and smiled before looking up at the sky. Balto's gaze followed hers and they both looked at the steady fading glow of the aurora.

"You saved me with that." Balto commented.

"It was you who showed me how." Jenna shot back playfully. Balto turned to face her, and only then did he notice it.

"How'd you get that back?" he questioned, meaning Jenna's bandana that she once again had tied around her neck. The last he'd seen of it was with Steele, after the malamute had fallen down the cliff. Balto didn't think he'd ever see that thing again. But apparently Steele had beaten him here, and only then did Balto realize that it was the malamute that'd sabotaged his trail of markings. It made Balto angry, but he kept that hidden.

"Steele. He came back with it and said everyone, including you… had died." Jenna finished unsteadily.

It would've probably been true too, Balto thought, if I hadn't seen those lights.

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know, we left him in the mill when we heard your howl."

By now almost everyone had left the street, either returning to their houses or to their kids' sides. That reminded Jenna of something.

"Would you like to, take a walk with me?" the red furred husky asked, her gaze shifting to her paws.

"I'd like that." Balto replied, "Where to?"

"Up there." Jenna answered, pointing with her nose at the hill the aurora lights were coming from. Balto followed the husky up, both silently making their way through the snow. The wind picked up a bit, with even more snow beginning to fall, dimming the lights further. But when they reached the lamp there was still enough for the rainbow of colors to dance around them. Both stopped, being sure not to make eye contact. Both simultaneously took a breath and spoke the others name, the result being a weird word that sounded something like, 'Jenalta.'

They stopped and looked at each other, unsure if they'd just really spoken that.

"You go first." They both said again.

Balto held up a paw, indicating that he though Jenna should go first. She nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

How can I tell him this? The red husky thought, it's very possible that it might drive him as far away from me as can be done. How do you tell someone you love them? She shook those thoughts away and decided to just wing it. She needed to know.

"Balto… I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just go straight to the point. Over the past few days, I've really been thinking about it, but I wasn't sure until tonight. Balto, I-" the husky was cut off by another voice, deeper, and very angry.

"Isn't this cute?" It growled.

Balto and Jenna whirled around to face the source, even though it was obvious who the voice belonged to. Steele stalked towards them, the darkness beyond him, the way the wind blew his fur, and the way the remaining light shone in his eyes made him look truly evil, like some sort of demon.

If he was the representative for evil, Balto was there for good, the light at his back and the fire in his eyes confirming it. But before the wolf dog could reply, yet another someone beat him to it.

"You're not welcome here," another voice spoke. This time it was Steele's turn to whir around in surprise. His three former teammates trotted up the hill to join Balto and Jenna, all five of them facing the malamute.

"You follow him now because he's the hero." Steele commented, "I find that rather amusing."

Nikki lashed out at Steele. The malamute, expecting an attack, ducked under the paw but then cried out in horror as Nikki's paw got exactly what it wanted. The paw ripped the gold studded collar right off Steele's neck and tossed it away into the night, never to be worn by him again. Steele's eyes narrowed. That collar was the last remnant of his so suddenly destroyed life, and now, because of Balto, that had been taken from him as well.

"You don't deserve that." Nikki said coldly.

"You're a lying, cheating, piece of-"

"You're evil." Star cut in. While normally Kaltag would've hit the smaller dog for interrupting him, this time he agreed completely.

"You said we follow Balto because he's the hero. That is true. He didn't care about his glory, but the lives of the kids. He didn't leave us for dead, and didn't try to mess up our trail so we couldn't return. You only cared about yourself, and because of that many innocent children could've died. You are evil, and many in this town want a piece of you Steele. You're lucky we found you first."

The malamute had been preparing a reply, but upon hearing that began to back away fearfully. Nikki and Kaltag took a step forward to match him, the result being Steele turning and running off into the night. His three former teammates all laughed at the sight, further humiliating the retreating dog. Steele left a silent vow with all of them; someday he would return and destroy Balto's life just like the wolf dog had done to him.

The three teammates then turned to face the stunned Balto, who had expected that he would've had to fight Steele.

"Look Balto… we want to thank you for helping us." Kaltag started.

Star continued, "We're very sorry for the way we've treated you. We knew it was wrong all along, but we were too afraid to say anything. I hope - no, we hope, there's some way we can make it up to you…"

"I don't even think we deserve forgiveness, none of us here'd blame you if you didn't…" Nikki put in.

At that point Balto was so astounded he wanted to faint. This night was full of surprises.

"I don't even know what to say… thank you," Balto managed, "thank you, for helping me with him."

"We owe you that, at very least. I do hope you'll give us a chance to at least try to make it up."

Balto gave a small nod, "I'll think about it."

The three accepted that and moved back off down the hill. Balto had forgotten completely about what he'd been about to say to Jenna, and instead realized just how tired he was. Said husky sat as still as a statue, gazing at everything but him.

"Let's hurry and get this stuff put away, I'm tired." Balto yawned.

"Okay." Jenna said, Balto could tell she was disappointed about something. He was disappointed too, but heck, it could wait.

Between the two of them it was fairly easy to return the items to their proper places. Within twenty minutes they were done and standing just outside the doctors building, Jenna gazing in.

"I guess I'll go now… see you later I guess." Balto yawned again.

He started off towards his boat, Jenna turning around, her voice failing her.

Say something! He's leaving, her mind scolded.

"Balto, wait!" she finally called. The wolf dog turned around again, "You don't have to go back to that boat." She continued.

He gave her a funny look, "Where do I go then?"

"Come with me." The confusion in Balto intensified. Just what was she getting at?

"Come on!" she insisted.

Jenna turned and went to the door of the building. Balto realized what she meant and hurried after her. The red husky was let in and immediately went to where Rosy lay, sleeping in her bed. Her parents lie on a blanket beside her bed, in case their daughter needed anything. Jenna lay at the foot of the bed. Balto followed her there, sitting down next to Jenna before giving in and simply collapsing in a heap. The exhaustion caught up with him and the wolf dog was out before he even hit the ground.

...

Well, I was gonna make this a one-shot that was about three times as long as this, but I decided to release this since I've been pretty busy lately and haven't much time to write. I think I'll make it into a short, maybe five chapter story, unless I get more ideas for it. Hope it was enjoyable.

ANonymouS