Okay welcome to my first ever Balto fanfic story. This is a bit of an experimentation in a way, you see I'm addicted to Balto right now so I thought I'd be able to write about our favorite hybrid. Now about eight web pages of research later and one window of the movies here is the first chapter of my oc oriented story. Hope you like.

P.S. Don't expect frequent updats.

Chapter One

A Painful Introduction

3,939 Words

I ran through the snow covered woods, my breath panting out of my furred muzzle and frosting in front of my nose as my heart pounded in my chest. I have to run faster, just a little farther and I'm home free. I dodged around a dead tree that was somehow still standing and slid to a stop my paws making furrows in the frost laden ground.

A large ice covered rock blocked my path, no way around it. "Wrong way pup!" A deep voice barked when I tried to turn around, only to come muzzle to large muzzle with one of my chasers. I whimpered tail between my legs as I backed up. I looked around franticly trying to find any way out but there wasn't any.

No this couldn't be the end not here, not now. I was only jus allowed away from the pack and already they wanted to end me. I whimpered as the largest of the three hounds stalked forward, paws crunching in the snow. "Now where were we?" The hound asked himself head cocked to the side as he scrutinized me. "Ah yes now I remember. Right here!" With a growl he lunged forward and I tried to dodge but too late.

The hounds sharp teeth bit down on my scruff and picked me up off of the ground like I weighed nothing, to him I probably didn't. With a flick of his head he launched me flying laughing when I cried out and slid to the ground at the base of the frozen tree that I just hit.

The other two dogs laughed eyes glinting as they watched their leader stalk closer to my prone form. I whimpered as I got my paws under me blood dripping down my grey and white coat and staining the snow. "So the pup bleeds like a dog," The hound mussed lowering his large head so it was level with my smaller height.

I growled and tried to look intimidating, but I bet I just looked stupid. "So he has some fight in him after all," The other dogs chuckled, stalking forward to flank their fearless leader.

"I have more fight than you mutt," I spat on the ground a glob of blood landing on the snow at my feet. With a yell the hounds paw swiped towards me and knocked me to the side. I slid across the ground, another whimper escaping me without my being able to stop myself.

One of the other dogs growled and lunged at me knocking me down onto the ground before standing over me, paw placed heavily on the side of my chest pushing me down into the snow. I gasped as more pressure was put down. I could feel his claws pushing deeper into my skin as he flexed his paw smirking down at me.

"Come on howl. Call for help you soft toothed excuse for a wolf!" The first one barked swiping my back open with his claws. I whined but held my muzzle shut. I will not give them what they wanted. "Fine if you won't howl. We'll make you howl."

That seemed to be the turning point. The one on top of me put his full weight on me pushing me down deeper into the snow. I could feel my ribs threatening to give way. I groaned but held on. I will not howl. The second dog lunged forward and clamped its teeth onto my shoulder biting down hard. I jerked hoping to get away because I knew soon enough I'll either die, or I'll give them what they want. More wolves.

"How does that feel pup?" The first one growled spitting out the word pup like it was poison.

"Superb," I whimpered and went dizzy for a second before I could focus again.

I blinked and looked around me. Something's wrong, I felt. Light? I lifted my head and caught the sound of whining fading into the darkness under the eaves of the forest. My head flopped back down onto the snow when I suddenly went light headed and the world started to spin.

I whimpered as I forced my lethargic legs to move. After much trial and error I finally got to my paws wobbling woozily back and forth. I stumbled and fell to the side back colliding with the stone that had barred my way and started this one sided fight.

Is it bad if I didn't feel anything? I didn't feel the cold that should be just on the edge of my awareness, nor the pain of my wounds or even the stone that I leaned against.

A crunch met my ears and I perked up new energy rushing through my battered and bleeding body. It was a wolf, no dog? What then? I growled my hackles rising as I tried to look bigger than I actually was. "Cain it's okay."

I whimpered and let my energy leave me. With a heavy sigh I collapsed onto the ground as my paws went fuzzy. I could feel pins and needles travelling across my body as I looked at the moon. "Thanks…Balto."

My eyes fluttered open and I looked at the worn dark brown wood of the trawler that we called home. I sniffed the air letting my eyes close as I looked around with my other senses. Nothing. The only scents left were old, my own being dominant.

I groaned as I got to my paws and stretched, yawning wide and showing off my fearsome rows of sharp teeth. Licking my fangs I limped forward putting as little weight on my right shoulder as possible. That dream was no dream. I've had that memory replaying a lot lately and couldn't help but think that it means something.

A pop echoed followed by a hiss and my head shot towards the source of it. Ah that's right it's the race today.

I leapt down from the trawler and lopped gently down the ice towards the town that lay close by. I could see the team running full tilt towards the main entrance to the town the thundering of their heavy paws echoing so I could hear them clearly.

I stopped the growl before it could come out. Damn dogs. If it weren't for them I wouldn't be in constant pain, both emotionally and physically. I would still have a family and I wouldn't live here knowing that I wouldn't last a week with my injury in the woods. I stomped and almost fell over as my shoulder flared with red hot pain from the abuse.

Taking deep breaths I looked at the sky, another flare lit up the cloudy dark blue. A honking filled the air. Now I'd know that frustrated honk anywhere, especially considering there's only one snow goose close enough to make that noise. Grinning I took off at a ground eating lop covering a lot of ground quickly despite running mainly on three legs, the other only skimming the ground.

It only took me a couple minutes to make it to the edge of the large crowd that lined the main road waiting for the team. I could only faintly hear the harsh panting of the sled dogs as they plowed over the hard packed snow. I crouched down in my hiding spot in a small alley at the edge of the crowd.

Just faintly I could hear Boris yelling over the crowd at Balto. "When will you learn to stay on the side lines?!"

What he do this time? Staying as low as possible I jumped up onto the slanted roof of a nearby building using some crates that made impromptu steps. Ah there he is. I watched as Balto went up to Jenna a cute red and white husky and her human, a small child named Rosy. Clutched gently in Balto's mouth was a musher's hat.

"What a crazy thing to do, just to show off to a pretty girl," Rosy reprimanded. I grinned toothily as I watched Balto's and Jenna's ears lower in embarrassment. "I'm sure Jenna would want you on her team,"

Don't try it. Don't try it. I muttered in my head getting up and standing straight as I looked down at the confrontation. I saw Rosy's father move towards them at a fast pace concern clear on his face. Turning around I jumped down from my elevated position and jumped back down the crates.

The crowd was quickly leaving, the excitement down for now and I got there just in time to see Dixie and Sylvie slide in front of Steele blocking him from getting to Jenna. I wasn't too fond of any of the dogs, the only reason I stayed here was because of Balto so I tried not to cause too much strife.

Frankly I didn't see what Balto liked in Jenna, sure she was cute but that was it. And she was a dog! That was enough reason not to like her in my opinion. Though I shared his opinion on Steele, if I had it my way he would be dead by my teeth within days of me being rescued a week or two ago. It's sad when you don't even remember the date that you almost died.

I watched as Dixie flirted with Steele but failed miserably. With what looked like no effort at all Steele brushed past them Dixie literally melting into the snow like a puddle without the mess. I let a growl rumble in my chest as he sauntered up to Jenna. I may not like her but Balto does and that's reason enough for me to make sure that mutt doesn't do anything.

I slipped through the crowd keeping my ears and nose trained on them even though my eyes were busy slinking past humans that would surely freak if they saw me. "Enjoy the race?" I heard Steele ask.

"Yah," Jenna replied sounding like she just wanted to get away from him. "Almost as much as you did," It sounded like it was meant to be an aside comment but it was really loud, or at least loud enough for my acute hearing to hear it.

"Thanks," Egotistical glory hound. "Look Jenna, why don't we go celebrate. I know where all the bones are buried," A break in the crowd let me see Jenna's face. She looked disgusted as Steele leaned into her.

"I don't know Steele, I suddenly lost my appetite,"

Thank god that's over. Just as I was turning around I heard one comment that made me freeze and the hackles to rise on my neck. "Well maybe your taste runs more towards wolf,"

I was just turning around when I was grabbed by the muzzle. I looked down. "Don't even think about it boichik," Boris said looking up at me his wing still firmly gripping my muzzle.

"Just one second all it would take is one little bite to the neck and that's it, no more Steele," I pleaded whimpering slightly as I saw Steele walk farther away.

"No," Boris said firmly turning me around and forcing me to follow him. "No matter how much it would help we can't,"

"But,"

"No,"

"Please,"

"No Cain," Another voice said. I looked up and saw Balto sitting there in front of us head hanging. "It's not right to fight,"

"That's what you think." I scuffed, but I dropped it. Anyways it seemed that Balto wasn't too willing to talk.

With a sigh he got to his feet and started to walk away heading down the alley and in the direction of the trawler. I tsked and shook my head as I watched him go, Boris hurrying to catch up to him and try to cheer him up. "I'll be back later!"

"Be careful!" Balto yelled.

"I'm not a kid!" I turned away from them heading down a side alley but not before I heard they're reply.

"That's what you think!"

I grumbled under my breath as I jumped over a batch of frozen barrels and further into the alleyway. "I am not a kid." I muttered huffing angrily. They always treat me like a kid, I was only a couple years younger than Balto like come on. I was over twenty, mind you not by much but Balto was only twenty-five, I think. I wasn't really too sure.

He wasn't even that much better than me. He was more passive, yes. I was violent, finding it better to fight for what I believe in rather than talk it out. He was faster. I was stronger. He had good sense of smell. I had hearing. He acted on logic. I acted on instinct. We were polar opposites; we couldn't be better brothers for each other. Even if he tends to take on the fathering role with Boris.

I yawned and looked up at the cloudy sky. The sun was lower than I thought it would be. I wonder when I actually woke up, because either I lost track of time or I woke up late. My ears perked up and I froze, head coked to the side to better catch the rebounding sounds. What was that?

I bent down letting my stomach skim the ground as I concentrated on the sounds. Slinking forward I peeked around the corner of a building and looked towards the old furnace room that the humans kept warm for the hospital that it heated, the hospital that was kind enough to let the dogs of the town take refuge and hang out in to stay warm.

It was laughter, I think. Looking back and forth I saw the street was clear and dashed across staying close to the shaded wall of the building. A group of boxes were stacked in a pyramid like shape stopping just under a small window that released the flickering glow of the furnace from inside. I jumped up onto the first box wincing in pain as I jarred my still healing shoulder. Climbing more gingerly, I laid down flat on my stomach and inched forward, I peered into the good sized room.

Dogs were everywhere! And I mean everywhere. Lying on the ledges that held the wood supplies off the ground. Lounging in groups, sleeping soundly by the furnace. There was talking, laughter, and singing? It was a regular Dog Club.

A clunk was heard as the heavy door was shouldered open and all the dogs that were still conscious looked up at the now approaching group, their tails starting to wag as they recognized the leader, Steele.

Steele walked forward head held high and tail curled and almost as high as his head. His sleek black fur glowed in the light of the closed off fire and he looked down his white muzzle at the other dogs like they were below him.

Nikki, Kaltag and Star walked forward trying to imitate their fearless leader as he sauntered towards a large group that I recognized as the other sled dogs, all of the sled dogs wore these thick leather collars so it made it easy to tell them apart from the rest. The group opened up their little circle making enough room for the large dog and his companions. "Did you get 'em Steele?" One of the older dogs asked. Using our own personal age definitions I'd say he would be late forties so one of the oldest Sled dogs in town.

"Of course I did! I always get him." Steele roared outraged that the dog would even think that he didn't get 'him'. Who were they talking about, though I got an idea who, I was just hoping I was wrong? "That Lobo didn't even know what hit him."

A growl cut through my throat but luckily most of the group below roared in laughter, the others faking a chuckle. Despite what Balto thought the whole town didn't hate him, it was actually only a small select group. They were scared, but not of him, no of Steele. They were scared what he would do to them if they ever tried to help Balto or I. But not a lot of dogs knew about me as I liked to stay in the dark in more than one way of speaking.

Suddenly a dog that I recognized as Kaltag, a tan colored husky started rambling off praise for Steele and degrading Balto. I let a soft growl out, not loud enough to be heard but pushing it. I stopped the growl when I noticed one dog's ears swiveled backwards to face towards me but other than that the dog made no move to give me away.

"He's the best!" A smaller cream colored husky cut in. It took me a bit to remember his name but eventually I did, it was Star. I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me when Kaltag wacked him on the head knocking him out.

That same dog, a fuzzy black colored husky really noticed me this time. Its ears shot straight up from their relaxed spot and its tail swiped the air in shock. I caught a look at the dogs' eyes as it tried to imperceptibly turn its head almost like it was getting the kinks out of its stiff neck and I just faintly saw the grey mask that circled its bright green eyes.

Standing up and stretching the dog let out a yawn before shaking out its sleek black coat. "Well it's time for me to go boys. Fun as always." A female voice said. It took me a bit but finally I realised that it was coming from the black dog. She seemed familiar, I wonder if I've seen her running before, god knows Balto has dragged me to enough races for me to recognize a couple of them.

The door opened and closed and within seconds my eyes widened as I felt a pressure on my tail. With a muffled yelp I was pulled down and tossed unceremoniously onto the hard snow. I groaned as I rolled over onto my stomach feeling my cut pulling painfully on my back and shoulder. "Hello to you too," I growled getting to my paws.

I shook out my fur wincing when I felt my shoulder finished pulling, I don't think it tore but I'll need Balto or Boris to look at it for me to double check. I looked down at the black husky, looking into her green eyes with a glare to match the one she was giving me. "Why are you spying?" She growled advancing slightly.

I let out a growl of my own and took a small step towards her showing off my teeth. Her tail lowered a bit and her ears flicked when she gave up a small step to gain some distance from me. "Why not? Is there something wrong with spying?" I asked her keeping the gruesome grin on my muzzle as my yellow tinted eyes flashed.

I looked her over. I recognized her. She's one of the team dogs on Steele's sled. One of the dogs that was well balanced in speed and strength, not enough strength to turn the heavy sled and driver like the wheel dogs and not enough speed to be a swing dog. "Well it's ba… Hey are you checking me out?" She asked me tail tucking between her legs as she backed up slowly, now fully frightened.

I was much larger than her easily standing over a head tall and was also visibly stronger than her. "Don't flatter yourself. I was trying to figure out where I saw you before." I sat back down head cocked to the side in a puppy like position as I tried to remember her name. "Eh no use can't remember your name. By the way why do you put up with Steele he's a worthless glory hound?"

"My name is…"

The door banged open and I whipped my head up in shock as I saw Steele round the corner followed quickly by his shadows. He seemed shocked as he looked back and forth between the two of us before his eyes narrowed.

Acting on instinct I lunged forward knocking the black dog in front of me down into the snow and forcing her head down with one of my large paws. "Don't ever say that about him!" I roared getting close to her face and baring my fangs.

Her eyes were shut tight and I could feel her body shake and twitch under me as I tried to block out her pathetic whimpers. "Act along or else he might attack you to," I whispered when my muzzle was close enough to her laid back ear.

The whimpering hitched slightly and when I leaned back a bit giving her the chance she needed she jumped up to her paws and pounced on me with a growl. I yelped not expecting that. I was expecting her to get up and back away towards Steele but instead I found her on top of me teeth bared and close to my throat as she pushed down on her paws that rested on my chest and throat.

I gasped when my air was cut off and struggled to get up ignoring the burning pain when my shoulder was ripped open again on a jagged piece of ice. "Balto's a wimp, a coward. Not worth the husky blood that's in his veins. We only let him live for the entertainment," I whimpered again when she leaned down even more. I was never more scared in my entire life, and I was scared by a female. Well it's like the old saying goes, 'Hell Hath no Fury Like a Women's Scorn'.

"I'm sorry," She whispered when she pushed down making my vision go fuzzy before jumping off and turning around walking towards Steele. Gasping for breath I rolled over watching as she acted like she just noticed Steele standing there.

"My, my, that was interesting. I didn't know you had it in you to take on a pure wolf Jess." Steele purred stepping towards her with a wide grin. "Maybe you were worth the acting it took to get you on the team,"

"Hmpf. You knew I was worth it Steele." Jess purred back walking around him and letting her tail trail up under his nose. Something in me turned at the fake flirting.

Whining I got to my paws almost collapsing when I put weight on my newly reopened wound. "You even badly wounded him. My aren't you talented."

I heard a light gasp and looked at Jess when she wheeled around and looked at the blood stained snow I stood on before she followed the trail up my elevated leg and to my sliced shoulder. I could see disgust and something else in her eyes when she saw the blood and she turned away. "Get him. Maybe this will teach him and Balto a lesson they won't soon forget." Steele ordered.

With a chorus of barks Nikki, Kaltag and Star jumped past Steele and started to advance towards me. I growled and put all four paws firmly on the ground ignoring when my shoulder flared and more blood came out. This isn't good.

I could have easily taken on these three any other day but I was injured, dizzy from blood loss. Plus I didn't like Steele standing there waiting for his moment to attack. And something just didn't want Jess to see this side of me, not yet, not till absolutely necessary.

With one last growl I turned around and ran away.

Thank you for reading Chapter one of my story. Hopefully there will be loads more to come I'm hoping to draw this through all three ,movies and most likely beyond.

This chapter stands at 3,939 words without this AN. And about 8 pages.