Balto, The Ice Bear's Legacy

We consider Wolves to be the outcasts of the natural world, yet it is the wolf that gave rise to Man's best friend the dog. Even the most docile of domestic pets has a hint of wildness in it, for although we bred the dog from the Wolf, we cannot breed the Wolf out of the dog.
This is a story about A lone wolf's journey into discovering her legacy and finding the true spirit with in herself.

In the Late summer of 1924, in the Mountains near the ice-caps, was the Ice Bear clan.
Being the strongest Wolf pack in the region, it was led by the Great Grey Wolf Ornlu, he was the strongest in the pack but was smart and gentle.
He waited outside of the cave, for weeks he was expecting it But didn't realize how quick it could happen, as he paced back and forth wearing out the ground, a Beautiful Graceful White Wolf came walking up to the Den.
The white Wolf smiled, "Ornlu the ground will become a gorge soon"
Ornlu Looked at her "Ah Aniu, It is good to see a friend well, however I'm glad to hear about your cub Balto"
Aniu remained graceful and pleasant "Balto is fine Ornlu, but thank you for your concern"
Aniu walked straight into the den to see Lunar, Ornlu's mate, Ornlu however paced back and forth the Great Grey Wolf had waited patiently during hunts, but this was gnawing at his brain.
"the stress seems to be great, my Brother, My clan gives you congratulations"
Ornlu stared at his Brother "Nava My Brother, the Ice Bear clan welcomes you"
Both Grey wolves Welcomed each other, nava was the leader of another wolf Pack Closer to the ocean, he was an old wise Wolf, the Alpha Male, with his understanding of things made him a natural leader.

Suddenly Aniu came out of the Den with two other female wolves following, closely behind.
"You can see her now Ornlu, You'll be proud"
Ornlu walked down into the Den and saw Lunar lying on her side, she was a silver white Husky/wolf almost looking similar to the color of the moon.
Below near her stomach was the litter of five pups, "Ornlu here's your children"
Ornlu smiled happy to see his children, as the pups started suckling their mother, one in particular caught his interest, as the pups looked grey in color, one stood out having the Grey fur but had silver streaks running down her back in her fur, the pup started wriggling away, crawling towards her father, he put his paw out and scooped up the pup, the pup's eyes opened for a brief moment healthy blue eyes, even though the pups were blind, she started biting, Ornlu put her back and she went back with the others.
"Lunar this one, her name?"
Lunar smiled "Nara"

A few months had past as winter was now heading in, the pups were growing up fast, Out of the Pups however Ornlu had his small favorite, his daughter Nara, Unlike her other siblings she was only an Omega, But due to the fact she loved playing and was able to break up most of the fights between them.
As Nara was playing around with her siblings, especially her Friend Kenai, a gray wolf with black patches near his eyes.
He was a very strong young pup when a couple of wolves joined the Ice Bears Pack.
Ornlu stated his dominance, but treated the young pup Kenai like his own, now he was a beta soon to become an Alpha, apart of his pack.
Nara was about to pounce on her sibling when Kenai strolled on a rock, saw him start to pounce, he lunged himself at her, but Nara quickly rolled out of the way, kenai collided into the dirt, then Nara jumped him, she then bit his ear, he rolled then Nara fell back to the ground. She got back up as he did "see I still can pin ya"
Kenai smirked "yeah but not long enough"
"NARA!" she stopped at the voice, it was Ornlu.
Nara turned around, and ran towards him "Dad!" Ornlu immediately snarled slightly, Nara stopped and smiled awkwardly she bent her tail lower and her ears laid back "Sorry dad"
"Nara what have I told you about biting a higher ranking wolf!"
Nara Nodded Sullenly "I'm sorry I won't do it again"
Then ornlu nudged her off again, Nara played rough, biting ears and tails, Ornlu would sometimes join in, the pups enjoy it when he pinned them down all except Nara would somehow get on his back and start biting his ear, Ornlu shook his head and Nara fell back,
Nara smiled then plodded along, however as kenai followed her, Nara Stared at him, her blue eyes seemed to pierce him, Kenai stared bewildered, but then smiled,
Kenai walked up to her, then he stared into her eyes "we'll always be friends, right?"
Nara walked back to him and nudged him slightly under the neck "Always"
Then Nara's siblings came back, running full ahead, Nara and kenai looked at them. "AAH!"

However Aniu and Nava returned again to meet with Ornlu, Nara looked up to the hill a patch of rocks sat sticking out of the ground, it had a view over most the valley below.
As Ornlu greeted them, then they walked over to the rocks, all around other wolves sat to listen to them.
Nara watched as well until a female wolf came by "Nara play with the others"
She picked her up and placed her away from the older wolves.
But as the pups played Ornlu, Nava and Aniu Met once again to talk.
Ornlu sat on a rock" are you sure Nava, why would the Caribou be so restless?"
Nava closed his eyes but could think of a reason "I don't know brother but we've found less"
Aniu spoke and the rest listened "the Packs need to keep strong and united"
Nava nodded "yes Aniu, stealing from each other we'll get us nowhere, I still have to find one worthy to lead the pack"
Niju looked from the back of the pack, he was a very young wolf, he watched as nava his Alpha discussed about replacement "one day I might lead the pack" he snarled to himself.

But Aniu gracefully spoke "nava you will find one that is wolf but yet does not know it"
"Wise words Aniu" nava smiled
Aniu spoke to Ornlu "ornlu what if one of your clan were to join Nava's?"
Ornu looked for a few moments around, then he sat back down "Kenai is a beta soon to be an Alpha"
Aniu raised her body upwards "what of Nara, she seems very strong willed?"
Ornlu looked at his daughter Nara "what Nara, she's just an omega, a Beta would be more suited, despite being my daughter, she's not ready,...she can't even howl"
Aniu smiled "maybe Ornlu she needs to find her path,...As alone"
Ornlu nodded "perhaps your right Aniu, speak with her Nava"
nava got up "ill speak with her now my brother"
Aniu smiled "perhaps Nava would like to keep his ears a while longer"
Ornlu Laughed raising his head into the air "AH HA, HA, HA, don't worry Nava her howl is worse than her bite"
Nara saw Nava walking close to them as the other siblings continued playing, Nara ran to Nava "UNCLE NAVA!"
She ran and collided into his paw, she shook her head and peered up her bright blue eyes shining at him.
nava guided her away from the others to talk "Nara, Aniu speaks highly of you..."
Nava was cut short as Nara raised her head "Aarrroooo!" Nava shook his head her howl needed growing into, Nava put his paw in her head and roughed it
"Uncle Nava what is it you want?"
"First Respect" Nara smiled sheepishly, flopping her ears back, Nava then chuckled slightly as he continued "how would you feel about joining my pack...once you're old enough"
Nara's eyes beamed wide "I would love that Uncle Nava"
they both walked side by side until they came up to the edge of the cliff there they sat for a while the small pup listening to all his knowledge, learning about everything she could.
The grand scheme of things and how they were all connected.
Nara looked across the vast valley above the mountain she saw the northern lights dancing around shining in the beautiful colors.
However as they looked across the land scape and the frozen ice a small silver line snacked it's way through the wilderness steadily week by week it was slipping through.

It was now nearing the Early winter and a few of the Caribou herds didn't come back from over the ice bridge, or from the open lands further North, Nara by this time had grown to a relative size, about half the size of Balto her puppy fur was still shedding but her Grey coat with silver Streaks remained She had a strong upper body and fluffy tail.
Nara was sitting on the rock watching the Aurora lights shine above Wolf's Peak a mountain top that looked like a howling Wolf.
Just then Kenai came out of a den nearby, he too was growing he had a strong upper body and lean legs, but his gray fur still had the black marks over his eyes.
"Hey Nara what you doing?"
Nara sighed "dad was supposed to be here, we normally would watch them together"
kenai nodded "your definitely his favorite, even when your wild at times"
Nara smirked at him "I'm not wild like that, well sought a"
Kenai then smiled "so maybe he thinks you're growing, to learn to look after yourself"
Nara nodded "never thought of that,"
kenai looked at Nara in the eyes "come little omega lets have some fun"
Before he could realize it, a snow ball flew hit him directly in the face, he shook off the snow then only to have a huge lick across the face, he opened his eyes to see Nara standing there with her fur pushed up making her look fluffy, "HE, HE, HEH!"
Kenai ran after her "Come back here"
Both ran around the hill side either nipping pouncing or chucking a snow ball at each other.
Then Suddenly Kenai pounced and manage to pin Nara to the ground she tried getting up but to no avail "fine you've pinned me...finally!"
kenai laughed "friends forever!"
Nara nudged his cheeks "friends forever!"
But little did they realize they were at the bottom of the valley, ahead was the Caribou Herd.

Near the pack of wolves however Ornlu was worried as the other pups still played about
However Nara wasn't there, he walked over to Lunar as she sat on a rock.
"Lunar have you seen Nara anywhere?"
"No Ornlu, but I think I know where our little omega might be"
Ornlu was agitated, then a young Wolf came up to him his tail in between his legs he touched Ornlu's nose, greeting him "I have seen her, she's near the Caribou"
Ornlu stared across the valley, snarling "find her quickly!"
Far from the Ice Bear clan a loud noise filled the valley, a thunderous rumbling echoed.
Six wheels plodded along with chains strapped around them, the loud engine clambered away, as thick smoke came from the back, the truck stopped.
A man jumped out of the cab and walked steadily to the Massive herd of Caribou, as they ate peacefully, his arm cradled a gun, he raised it up pointing into the sky "Bang!"
The herd in a massive fright bolted away from the man the herd turned into a stampede
He smiled then turned back to the truck, "Frank let's leave, it's done"
"Right Micheal, this ye cold is gonna freeze me inner skivvies"
The man rolled his eyes as he climbed back into the truck, a few minutes later the truck drove off again.
Nara froze in an instant the tranquil peace was gone a loud bang echoed in the valley, she sniffed the air and smelt the musty petrol, then her ears erect she heard the herd coming, towards her, Nara saw the herd stampeding through the snow it looked like a white avalanche, in an instant Nara was running for her life.
Kenai was running beside her "Nara run to the edges of the valley I'll scare them away"
"Kenai be careful please!"
Nara's paws dug deep into the snow, and her hind legs propelled the young wolf forward.
She could hear the galloping hooves behind her, if she stopped she would be trampled.
After running what felt like miles Nara as starting to feel tired, then to her disbelief, she tripped.
Nara cascaded to the ground she flipped onto her back then she quickly rolled back up, the stampede was coming right on top of her then suddenly from out of nowhere a Wolf's jaw snapped around her neck and she was yanked away.
Nara was flying in the air as Aniu ran with her in her mouth, the snow flew beside and towards them, and almost blinding Nara but Aniu ran like the blizzard almost as one
Aniu ran to a nearby tree, Nara was placed at the base of the tree then Aniu disappeared.
The stampede came thundering down, Nara saw Kenai but behind him a caribou trampled over him, knocking him to the ground
Nara called out but words were lost "KENAI!"

Then suddenly Nara saw Ornlu her father and a couple of other pack members struggle to fight the Stampede, the wolf member helped kenai stand back up, Ornlu Growled loudly Almost to a roar, In fright the Caribou ran on either side, all the while Nara saw Ornlu stare at her Fury swelled in his face with a fix of disappointment, it was directe towards her. The stampede ran past thundering, for a while then they left into the snow.
Nara looked up from the snow the wind blew hard making it nearly impossible to see, then
Nara saw a shadow appear through the blizzard, then out of the howling white snow, Nara heard a familiar sound, her father "NARA! NARA!" "AARRROOOO!"
Nara got up from the tree base an tried to howl, but her throat couldn't make the sound.
she tried again to howl "Arroo...(cough, cough)"
then in the raging storm the voice of her father faded in the wind, Nara stared in disbelief, and afraid, "Dad, DAD!?"
Soon afterwards Nara could see the white wolf Come walking out, of the blizzard Aniu stood there watching as the young pup tried to find her bearing's, then as she saw Aniu she ran to her, Nara's tail was in between her legs, and her ears laid back.
"Aniu I'm lost, I can't see my dad"
Aniu stared for a few minutes, then she made up her mind she walked over to Nara and grabbed the scruff of her neck, Nara felt the tug upwards but didn't resist.
Aniu walked for a while in the snow Nara just watched sometimes blinking her eyes to stop the snow.

Soon Aniu found what she was after, Nara saw the opening in the snow then Aniu was headed straight for it, as soon as the entered the hole Nara saw in was dug out, an old Wolf's Den.
Aniu walked to the far back and dropped Nara on the ground, then she lied on her stomach with her back to the wall.
Nara looked around then decided, to find her father "Aniu where's my dad?"
Aniu didn't speak she grabbed Nara again an brought her closer holding on to her with one paw she began licking the young pup clean, Nara was surprised, and determined
"Aniu I don't need a clean, I need to find my dad"
Nara squirmed out from under the paw and began walking away, but Aniu was quick she grabbed the pup again, Nara squirmed again but Aniu growled baring sharp teeth,
"GRRRR!"
Nara flinched then stopped squirming, after the cleaning, Nara was placed next to her.
Nara felt warm and safe next to Aniu her voice was always calm and caring.
then finally Aniu spoke "Nara do you realize how dangerous today was?"
Nara looked up to her, her golden eyes shined in the dark, Nara's ears flipped back wards,
"I didn't know..."
Aniu spoke "do you know who you are?
"I'm... Nara daughter of Ornlu and Lunar of the Ice Bear Clan"
"And what you are?"
Nara thought for a moment then spoke "I'm a wolf..." Aniu cut her off "who can't howl!"/
as Nara looked towards the ground Aniu's words flowed in her ears "Nara your old enough to journey on your own now, it's time to make your own Quest"
Nara was stunned she had only ever heard of wolves that lived on their own, Alone.
she knew Aniu was the most respected Wolf in the region she herself was a Lone Wolf.
"but Aniu how will I know what to do..."
Aniu nudged Nara to lie down, "I will guide you, but now go to sleep"
Nara rested her head next to Aniu then she drifted off to sleep.

Coming soon Part 2.