Hey guys, here's the latest from me and RTW, part two of the Darkness Trilogy. "When Darkness Falls" This one I think is our best effort yet and I think you all are in for quite a ride in this monster. We are really really proud of how this one came out. we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it. Now onto the story.

Balto: When Darkness Falls
Part II of the Darkness Trilogy

Written by: Anthony E. Rotramel
Co-written by: Solaris

Started: 6.26.2012
Finished: 9.20.2012
Pages: 188
Words: 30,065

Note: This story was inspired by Balto, ©1995 and Balto 2: Wolf Quest © 2000 by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The character's _and the events of this story are © 2012 by Anthony Rotramel. The other characters are copyright by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. All Rights Reserved.

Previously in Balto: Darkness Rising...

Jenna opened her eyes.
She blinked a few times and then winced as a blinding flash of pain traveled down her body. She curled up in a ball and closed her eyes until the pain passed and then slowly opened them. Her vision was clouded with tears at first, but they quickly cleared.
She looked around her and was suddenly faced with a blinding white light that beamed down from overhead. Jenna squinted against the harsh light and turned her head away from it.
As her vision focused and solidified she recognized where she was. "...doc's?" She said hoarsely.
Her memory came back in a rush then and she remembered being attacked by Dema in the abandoned yard. She remembered the piece of wood jutting from her belly and looking into Dema's gleaming yellow eyes as the bigger dog held her throat in her jaws."
"...what happened?" Jenna thought. "How did I get here?" She coughed and stretched slightly, then curled into a ball again as that movement brought back the intense pain. As it passed she straightened out again and glanced down at her belly. The piece of wood was gone, a gleaming white bandage it's place.
"Someone helped me... but who?" Jenna said softly.
Just then another gurney was wheeled into the room alongside her and doc stepped beside her, blocking her view of the occupant.
"...awful lucky." Doc said. "I don't know how he did it. He's quite a hero."
Jenna smiled. "It was Balto, it has to be." She thought.
"I knew he still loved me. It has to be him, he saved me!"
Doc reached down and petted the dog on the other cot. "Good boy, you just lay here and rest." He said. Then he turned and walked away. As he left her side Jenna saw the other occupant and it was...
"...Steele?!" Her voice screamed in her mind. "No! It was supposed to be Balto. If not him, anyone else, but not Steele!"
Jenna watched him laying there, his chest moved up and down slowly, with labored breaths. Even now after Doc and his team had spent a great deal of time of him, Steele looked rough. It was clear that the fight against Dema had went very badly for him.
"...why did it have to be you?" Jenna asked herself aloud. Suddenly her ears picked up the faint sound of pawsteps approaching. Jenna closed her eyes halfway and watched though her lidded eyes as Ebbie pushed the door open and ran into the room.
The husky put her paws on the edge of the gurney and looked at Steele. "Steele!" She said. She nuzzled the silent malamute and laid her head on his chest.
"...daddy?" a small voice said from the floor.
Ebbie turned and looked down at the floor. "It's okay Ronnie." Ebbie said. "Daddy's going to be okay, Master said so. He's just hurt really bad."
"...oh." The small voice said.
Ebbie laid her head on his chest and snuggled it close to her mate, then she glanced at the other gurney.
Jenna quickly shut her eyes, unwilling to confront her granddaughter just yet.
Ebbie smiled and glanced down at the slumbering malamute. "You did good love." She said. "I'm so proud of you." She laid her cheek on his chest. "You rest, I'll see you when you're better."
Jenna heard the sound of pawsteps leaving the room and door opened. She could hear Doc talking to a man outside. "That must be their owner." She thought. "Doc must have called them."
Jenna waited for a moment until she was sure they were gone, then she opened her eyes and saw Steele laying there on the gurney again. Suddenly she was overcome with guilt. Steele had obviously risked his life, and almost given it, in her defense, and yet all she could feel for the malamute was contempt.
She sighed.
Steele groaned and rolled over. Jenna could see a lengthy row of stitches that ran down his belly.
"I've never seen a wound like that on a dog." Doc's voice said from beyond the door." Something really tore his belly open good. I didn't know if were going to be able to get everything back where it was supposed to be, but he's a strong dog that one. It was touch and go there for a while, but I think he'll be fine now, just needs some rest."
Again the guilt overcame Jenna and she sighed again.
Steele slowly opened his eyes.
Jenna gasped, still unable to quell the anxiety that rose in her mind whenever she saw his eyes.
Steele smiled faintly. "Jenna..."
Jenna smiled back and nodded.
Steele looked down at himself and groaned. "I... didn't know if we would make it." He said. "I could barely see anything when I stumbled through the door."
Jenna's eyes started to burn and soon tears were streaming down her face. "Steele... thank you." She said. "I... I'd be dead if it weren't for you."
Steele smiled again and stretched slightly, then winced. "Yeah, don't worry about it." He said. His face took on a mournful look and he sighed. "I could've died protecting you and it still wouldn't make up for what I've done."
Jenna smiled softly. "Steele..." She said. "I... I misjudged you. The old Steele would never have risked his life to save me. Especially after..." She sighed and looked away. "...after the way I've treated you recently."
Steele nodded. "Don't worry about it Jenna." He said. "I understand. Frankly I would understand if you never forgave me for what I did... there isn't a night that I lay down to sleep that I don't wish that I could go back and undo what happened... the things I've done."
Jenna nodded. "...but Steele I do." She said. "You've... you've proven yourself to me. Balto was right, you... you deserve a second chance."
Steele smiled.
"I forgive you... Steele." Jenna said. Her eyes filled with tears and her voice cracked. "Than... thank you."
Steele smiled and nodded. He laid his head down on the gurney and soon he had passed out again.
Jenna rolled over on her side and sighed. "Things sure do change." She thought. Then she yawned and closed her eyes. Soon she too was fast asleep.

Aleu yawned and stretched as she walked outside her chambers. Shadow was still asleep inside, indeed, most of the clan still slumbered. It was very early and the sun still had not risen above the horizon. Aleu turned and walked to the next chamber. "...Solaris?" She asked. Aleu knocked on the rock wall a few times and stood there for a moment, but no one responded. "He's probably still sleeping." Aleu thought. She ducked into the chamber and looked around, but he wasn't there. "Did he flee in the night?" Aleu asked herself. "Oh Aniu, if he has left us then how will we be saved from this coming darkness?!"
Aleu thought about it for a moment and then calmed her panicking mind. "No, Aniu would not abandon us in such a way." She thought. "If Solaris is indeed to be our salvation then he must remain in this cave." Aleu thought for a moment. "Surely he's not..." Then she stopped and thought some more. "...where else could he be?" Aleu thought.
She turned and walked down the stone ramp a little further and stopped outside another chamber. "...Solaris?" She asked. She knocked on the stone wall with her paw. "...Snap?" She asked.
Still no one answered.
Aleu hesitated for a moment and then ducked into the chamber. At first she saw no one there either, but as she turned her head to the left her vision caught the flicker of a tail in dim light of the chamber. As Aleu watched a second tail, this one deep orange, flicked up to wrap around it.
Aleu chuckled to herself. "...they certainly didn't waste any time." She thought to herself. Aleu walked over and nudged the orange wolf-dog gently with her nose. "...Solaris, wake up." She said.
Soalris opened his eyes and saw Aleu standing over him. He rolled over on his side quickly, away from Snap's side.
Snap sensed the abrupt movement and her eyes popped open. She saw Aleu standing there and immediately leapt to her paws. "Oh! Aleu! What... what are you doing here?" She asked.
Aleu smiled. "I'm here to get Solaris off to training, what are you two doing here?"
Snap gulped nervously. "I... um... that is.. we... we spent the evening talking and um... I don't know what happened exactly, but something did and..."
Aleu laughed. "At ease Snap." She said. "You think I care who you're sleeping with? He's not a member of the Defense Force is he?"
Snap shook her head.
"...not over you either?"
Snap shook her head again.
Aleu laughed again and put her paw on the younger wolf's shoulder. "...then I don't care." She said.
Snap smiled in relief and glanced back at Solaris who smiled as well.
Aleu watched the two and couldn't help smiling herself. "okay, now that that awkwardness is out of the way, Solaris, you ready to go?"
Solaris nodded. "Yes Aleu." He said. "...may I have a moment?"
Aleu chuckled and nodded. "Sure, I'm going to excuse myself. I'll be outside the chamber."
Solaris nodded. "...thank you."
Aleu turned and walked out of the chamber.
Solaris watched her until he was sure she had left, then he turned his eyes on Snap. "...Snap, what happened last night..."
"I'm sorry." Snap interruped. "I... I don't know what came over me." She looked down at the floor of the chamber.
Solaris smiled and placed his paw beneath her muzzle, tilting it upward so he could see her eyes. "...was the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me." He finished.
Snap smiled and blushed slightly. "...tha...thank you." She said.
Solaris grinned. "I have to go for now." He said. "...but when I return I would love to explore this, and you, more thoroughly."
Snap blushed again and smiled. "...me too." She said.
Solaris nodded and leaned forward to nuzzle her softly.
She nuzzled him back and closed her eyes. It surprised her how strongly she felt for him. Just a few days ago she was wondering if she would ever find anyone, and now as quick as lightning she had.
Solaris stepped back and smiled. "Guess uh... I gotta go." He said.
Snap nodded. "...be careful." She said.
Solaris nodded back. "I will." He said.
Snap walked with him to the door of her chambers and saw Aleu standing outside.
Solaris walked up to Aleu's side. "...ready?" He asked.
Aleu nodded. "Let's go." She said. "We've got a lot of ground to cover today."
Solaris nodded.
Aleu and Solaris turned and began to walk away.
Snap watched them go and leaned on the rock wall of the entrance to her chambers. She smiled and turned her head upward. "...thank you Aniu." She said. "Watch over him." She looked down and watched their form retreating down the stone ramp toward the floor of the Main Chamber. "...watch over us all."

Uina watched as her family was cornered in a ravine. She looked toward the great white wolf standing beside her. "...Aniu?" She asked.
The great wolf looked down at the earth below and sighed.
Uina looked back to the Earth from her place on the clouds high above and saw the enemy growing closer. "...Aniu, we must do something!" She cried. "They are getting closer!"
Aniu looked at her. "I am sorry my child, but we have not received word to intervene, we must stand our ground."
Uina shook her head. "No! We cannot, you cannot expect me to just sit here and watch them die when I can stop them!"
Aniu sighed. "Such things are meant to happen my child. It is not ours to interfere simply because we can."
"...but they are my family!" Uina cried. Her wings ruffled in anxiety.
Aniu turned an locked eyes with Uina. "Stand. Down. Uina." Aniu said, emphasizing each word.
Uina shook her head. "They are my family!" She screamed. Then she swung her paw at Aniu.
Aniu's head shattered into millions of pinpricks of white light. Time seemed to slow and then the world around Uina shattered as well. The pieces began to swirl around and around a single point and then to disolve into blackness until Uina was swallowed up by it.

Uina opened her eyes. She blinked a few times and rolled over and to her paws. She stood in a stone chamber. There were many other wolves lying, sleeping in the chamber. They tossed and turned as if in the midst of terrible nightmares. Uina's white fur glistened and her wings folded behind her. She walked out of the chamber and into a long hall.
Quickly two hunters swiveled to face her. These creatures patrolled Shade's labyrinth and destroyed those who roamed it, only so they could wake up and be chased down again. They had three heads of a wolf, a body of wolf with legs as a scorpion and a long tail that arched over their back, ending in a dreadful blade. The hunter's stood at twice the stature of a good sized wolf. The left hunter growled and spit a fire ball from one of each of it's mouths. The fire balls fanned out over the hallway.
Uina easily dodged them and ran at the hunters. A bright blue light began to glow in her eyes.
The right hunter raised it's insect like legs and fired them at her, long ropes of red tendon snaking out behind the penetrating points.
Uina jumped and turned on her side. She spread her wings wide and swooped close to the wall.
Two of the spikes hit the floor and quickly began to retract back to their owner. The other two were aimed higher and Uina had to flare her wings again, flipping over upside down so that she was flying along the ceiling of the hall to dodge them. They clanked harmlessly into the rock wall.
Uina extended her legs and her paws met the ceiling of the hall. She ran along the ceiling, gaining speed and flapping her wings. The white wolf grinned at her attackers and the blue light flared once.
A pinprick of blue light appeared on the chest of the hunter nearest her. The blue light grew and then suddenly jumped to meet the blue light emanating from Uina's eyes. A blinding pulse of blue shot down the beam and hit the hunter. More pinpricks appeared on the hunter and more beams of light jumped to meet Uina.
Nearly thirty of these beams struck the hunter before it fell, great smoking holes in it's body.
Uina grinned "Let's see Aniu do that." She thought. "If she only knew what her powers were capable of. If she only had the will to bend them to do hers." Uina flared her wings once more and flipped back around to land her paws on the floor. She ran as fast as she could toward the hunter.
The hunter rared back his tail and the dangerous blade shot out of the end of it.
Uina saw the blade rushing toward her and time seemed to slow. Her wings beat slowly, each hair on her body lifted and fell with each beat. She half closed her eyes, then at just the right second she leapt in the air and landed atop the blade. As she fell to the ground she turned and threw her whole body sideways. Her paws glowed with a blue aura and the blade shot forward, burying itself into the hunter's chest, burrowing through it and bursting out the other side.
The great hunter looked down as if dumbfounded at what had just happened. Then he sank to the floor of the hall, unmoving.
Uina leapt to her paws and ran at the end of the hall It was a solid wall with a path to either side, but Uina knew better. She closed her eyes and passed through the wall with ease.
Uina opened her eyes and saw a wide eyed Shade standing before her.
"...Uina, you're here... and you're awake." He said.
Uina nodded and stepped forward. "Yes I am... father." She said.
Shade nodded. "Well... good to see you again." He said.
Uina nodded. "Oh sure papa, nice to see you too... after you banished me to earth for 500 years. Do you know what it is like to live down there for so long?"
Shade frowned. "Only one blessed of Aniu herself could have killed you and returned you here."
Uina nodded. "One of your own, Steele himself."
Shade frowned further. "I did what I did... for your own good... my daughter."
Uina shook her head. "No, you did what you did to protect your own skin, and it is high time someone with more backbone took charge. This pathetic truce with Aniu is over."
Shade shook his head. "There are reasons for the truce." He said. "You do not understand..."
"...be gone!" Uina cried. The pinprick of blue light lit on Shade's chest and the bright blue beam jumped in an instant to meet Uina's glowing eyes. The pulse of energy that flew from her burst into Shade's chest and threw him backward through the air and off of his tower.
Uina walked to the edge and watched as Shade tumbled through the air for several minutes before crashing into the pool of lava at the base of the tower.
She laughed and walked to the center of the tower, embers of fire floating through the air around her. She looked up and smiled with a hateful gleam in her eye. "Sure it's easy to watch strangers you don't even care about suffer and die, but how will you do when it's your own clan. Will you have the strength of will to follow your own orders then Aniu? Can you watch them die?" She laughed. "I doubt it."

Uina's face shimmered as if a ripple in a pond.
Aniu stood in a stand of short green grass on the edge of a large pond. In the water of the pond the image of Uina laughing could still be seen.
Aniu closed her eyes and another tear rolled out of her eyes to the end of her muzzle and then dropped off to land in the water below, causing another ripple.
Autumn stood beside his mate and sighed.
The image in the pool shimmered and two more joined it, one of the Talbourne in their cave, and the other of Aleu and Solaris journeying through the forest.
"They're not ready..." Aniu said.
Autumn sighed and looked at mate. "...could they ever be ready?" He asked.
Aniu shook her head. "No, no they never could be, not for what's coming."