Chemical Aria (a Balto fic)

Disc.: If anyone has a problem with me borrowing this wonderful movie series, then march your happy asses out of this fic right now before I rain arrows of hatred on all of you!

A/N: Welcome to chapter 2 of this fic! I apologize to everyone who was kept waiting for the next installment, but it's hard to find time to type up chapters when you're working a part time job and not managing your time off properly…and for that, I'm sorry. So, hope this next installment makes you guys feel better about being kept waiting.

Ch.2- Chasing Ghosts

The sun came up to rest beneath gray-green clouds that always seemed to cover the sky, never once leaving the atmosphere for even a brief moment. Balto was the last of his family to wake up, his older sister Naila being there to greet him as she always did.

"Morning, little brother…the pack is waiting, time to get up."

The grey wolf-dog let out a loud yawn, a sign that he was shaking off the last dregs of sleep as he stretched his back and finally stood up on all fours.

Balto had a fair sized family, 4 brothers and 3 sisters. Each of them was either a full blooded wolf or dog…he was the only one among them who was a half breed, despite the fact that their parents were a wolf and a husky. His brothers each had differing personalities that one or all of them seemed to inherit from their father Logan.

Deciding that he could regain his lost energy by walking alongside Naila, Balto followed his sister to the dining hall where his family of 9 was waiting for them. After joining them, everyone present began eating the large moose carcass that their mother Anieu had taken down with help from their father Logan.

The grey wolf-dog looked around at his family and couldn't help but smile at their antics as they ate.

Their father, Logan, was a dark grey husky with steel blue eyes that made you flinch whenever he got angry and glared at you. But when he was with his family, the husky was as playful as a puppy and had a joking streak to match.

Anieu, their mother, was a pure white wolf who was very wise yet very loving. She was often the voice of logic amongst an argument but when she spent time with her mate and pups, she was very laid back and loved to sing.

The oldest son was Russel, a pure white husky with grey rings around his green eyes. He was always serious and never forgave anyone that crossed him without good reason to, his stubborn streak often making him butt heads with their father when the two got into a fight. After him was the second eldest son named Hunter, he was a prankster with a heart of gold and soft grey fur that surrounded a white face and red-amber eyes. He especially loved teasing the younger pups around their hometown, but could be serious when necessary.

Next was the third son, which was Balto himself. He loved staring at the sky and listening to all the different voices that spread songs throughout the endless grey-green expanse for hours on end, and dreamed of meeting the one who had the most beautiful voice he'd ever heard last night. After Balto was the youngest brother, Elwood. He was the baby of the pack, next to the youngest sister Alexis. Elwood was pure black with white toes and rings around his dark green eyes, his favorite hobby was antagonizing his older siblings into playing with him and wouldn't stop begging until he got someone to play with him.

Then came the oldest sister, Naila. She was tough as nails and quick as a whip, she always stood up for what she believed in and defended her family no matter what. She was like a twin of Balto but her fur was at least 5 full shades lighter than his with steel grey eyes. The middle sister was Claire, she was more of a goofball with the heart of a poet and looked the most like their mother. She was pure white with dark grey streaks along her back, her eyes a dark chocolate brown with blonde rings around them.

As Balto watched his family play around and generally ruin the morning atmosphere, he couldn't stop thinking about the beautiful song he'd heard last night or the voice that made that tune come to life. It was deep and clear yet slightly gravelly but smooth and carried really far. The grey wolf-dog was very much looking forward to the day when he'd meet the one who enabled such a melodic song to be carried across the sky like the Northern Lights.

After breakfast was finished, Alexis went out to babysit some of the young pups while their parents went to meetings generally held to discuss important issues. Naila, Hunter, and Russel took shifts watching the border between the wolf territories and the Towns where all the dogs lived. A treaty had been drawn up between the two species a really long time ago by the two Elders of each one: Sergei, the Wolf Elder and Jordyn, the Dog Elder. After it was signed, the wolves all went back to the woods where they'd been living for as long as their elders had taken up residence there. As for Balto, he sat on a hill that overlooked the nearest Town…it was called Nitrous Nenana, and was well known for the many potholes filled with toxic liquids that changed depending on the temperature. In Summer, the liquid was so hot you'd combust merely by touching it; and in Winter, it was so cold that it froze you solid the second you fell in.

"Balto, what seems to be on your mind?" Logan asked as he sat down next to his half breed son, the two males locking eyes for a minute before the wolf-dog sighed.

"Father…have you ever wondered if the one you would have at your side was out there, yet you had no idea who they were or what they looked like?"

"Balto, you know full well that I can't really answer that question accurately…you'd have to go out into the world and find the answer for yourself. Do you believe that your truest one is out there waiting for you?"

"Yeah, I really do…they sing so beautifully, but it was so sad and yet I couldn't help becoming entranced by their song."

"Hold on, you're not talking about that funeral hymn we heard last night…are you?"

Balto looked at his father again with a serious expression on his face, his eyes brimming with the need to find the one who had captured his heart with their song.

"Yeah, I am…I have to find out who sang the song in such a way that it won't allow me to rest otherwise, their voice was deep yet smooth and clear as day…I know their out there, and I won't stop until I find out who they are; even if I have to do this alone."

The older husky exhaled slowly, if anyone was more stubborn than him it was his sons Russel and Balto. The two of them together could outlast him once they made up their minds about something, Logan himself was the same way when he was courting Anieu. Despite her father's protests, the two of them got married and started a family.

Looking back at his son again, Logan stroked Balto's back with his tail before speaking to him.

"Honestly, you and Russel could both put me to shame in the stubbornness department…if you truly believe that your destined partner is waiting for you out there in the world, then you should go out and find them. Your mother and I will understand, as will your brothers and sisters…Balto, believe me when I say that you will never get another chance like this, so take it now before it gets away from you. And don't worry; your family will be waiting for you to come home with your truest one, no matter how long it may take you."

"Thanks, dad…tell mom I'll be home when I find my destined mate, and that I promise to stay safe."

The two males shared a hug before Logan ruffled his son's fur playfully, the grey wolf-dog turning towards Nitrous Nenana and running off down the hill. Wherever his mate was, Balto would find them no matter how long it took.

Even if it meant having to cross boundaries and territories that weren't his own, enduring the harsh changes in weather and everything else in between…the grey wolf-dog was determined to find the one his heart and soul cried out for, his resolve as sharp as glass hidden in the snowy hills beneath his paws.

Balto was, after all, a wolf-dog on a mission…and he would see it through to the end, no matter what.

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T.B.C.- Sorry this chapter's so short, but the next one will be longer. I thought it would be nice to give Balto a large family, as well as have his parents both still be alive. If you guys have any ideas for side pairings, yaoi, yuri, or otherwise, I'd love to know what you guys come up with!