SUP! So guess what, I'm going on vacation with mah fam and since I got kinda busy with the holidays which reminds me (Merry Christmas/happy holidays/happy kwanza/happy Hanukkah/happy Festivus/I'm such an asshole because I missed a few/ I am offended) and a Happy New Year!
So sorry for the lack of content, but don't worry I'll continue as much as I can during my vacation and I should be back home writing as usual on the 11th
So yeah! New chapter! KINDA~its kind of a preview for the next chapter. Just a heads up it was kinda rushed so if you spot any grammar or spelling issues be sure to let me know, also check for some easter eggs that may come in handy in future chapters!
*~Fourteen Days Earlier~ Nome, Alaska, 12:30 A.M. Sunday, February 1st, 1925:*
The night's veil covered the cold and barren Alaskan tundra and the winds howled fiercely as the passing blizzard ravaged the land with its raw, icy gale while keeping the moon and the northern lights' glow away from the frigid landscape. There amidst the raging blizzard and deep within the frozen land lay the town of Nome, a small spec of human presence within kilometers of wilderness and untamed nature, a light one could say in the middle of total obscurity. Tonight, however, the town was gloomy and dark almost blending with the white of the snow, perhaps it was a fitting mood considering the situation at hand.
For the past couple of weeks, the north-west tip of Alaska had been the victim of a nearly unstoppable epidemic, a plague called Diphtheria. This disease, which mostly targeted young children causing them to cough violently, have difficulty breathing until their throats closed up and eventually die of asphyxiation.
This was the case of one little girl named Rosie, who was laying in a hospital bed in the far corner beside a window looking into the town's bay and into the frozen sea beyond. She quivered and stirred inside her bed, groaning at the burning pain inside her neck.
Laying her dying owner's stomach was a rust and cream colored husky with an unending love her owner. This husky's name was Jenna and by the mood of the people around her, she appeared to be the only living soul in the entire ghost of a town with a spec of hope for the dying children. For almost ten days the children had been resting on their beds fighting the deadly disease with little to no success, it was evident by the somber looks, the meaningless words of comfort and even the lights of the town, which slowly turned off plunging the town into a dark void of despair. But the husky refused to give up on her owner just like she hadn't given up on her almost 4 years ago.
Suddenly her ears perked up upon hearing the voice of doctor Curtis Welch "Any news of the team?" he asked "I'm afraid not, both Koyuk and White Mountain say they haven't seen the team." said the voice of the man. After the outbreak of the disease had caused a quarantine in the hospital, Nome had put their hopes on their best sled dogs to recover the vital medicine from the town of Nenana and at first the mission was a success the dogs had arrived in record time and left shortly after with an arrival estimated to take no more than three days. It had been five days since they had last heard from the team.
Doctor Welch sighed as he took off his glasses "I'm afraid it doesn't matter anymore." he said in a somber tone. All of the families in the hospital, including Rosies', turned their gazes towards him and watched as all the hope he had left and drained away from his eyes. He rubbed his eyes trying to wipe away some of the forming tears from his eyes before fully covering his face with his hands in shame and despair. Finally, he opened his mouth and mumbled "I suggest… You say your final goodbyes… Just in case."
Soon Nome's general hospital echoed with the cries of multiple parents as they finally lost all hope for their dying children. Tonight Nome and its population were truly lost, all but Jenna for she knew of one final hope for that might save the doomed town.
After learning of that the team set out to retrieve the medicine had disappeared a local stray named Balto had set out into the blizzard to find the team and deliver the medicine, wanting to save Rosie and the rest of the children. After finding out about this Jenna followed Balto's trail, wanting to aid him his journey for the medicine but as fate would have it she was injured during a bear attack, forcing her to return to Nome along with Balto's friends, leaving her dear friend to complete the task alone. Balto had assured her he would be fine because of his heritage and mixed blood. Because Jenna knew something that everyone else in Nome knew, the heroic stray was half-wolf. Son of a proud sled dog and a mysterious wild wolf. This had once made an outcast of the poor half-wolf but Jenna believed this genetic quirk would keep him alive long enough to rescue the team and the children who depended on the medicine's arrival. Balto's resolve and a promise of return had given the husky enough hope to hold on to.
Her hopes, however, were short-lived.
Upon arriving in Nome she relayed the information to rest of the dogs in town, trying desperately to convince them that there was still a chance their owners would survive but the dogs wouldn't listen. They ridiculed Balto saying there was no chance "a mutt like him" could be of any help, she had almost exploded with anger upon hearing this. Even when he had ventured out into a blizzard, even when their owners were in danger, even when this could be the only hope they had they just wouldn't let go of their stupid prejudice and hatred towards the valiant half-breed. The situation only worsened when an exhausted, ice-covered Steele returned to Nome and barged into the old mill and told all the dogs in the old mill a story of how Balto had attacked the team and deliberately destroyed the medicine. Most of the dogs believed Steele without hesitation and considered him a tragic hero despite Jenna's pleas to believe her. But then Steele told of how Balto had died and even though Jenna refused to believe him, her soul was crushed when she thought of the possibility that indeed Balto had died. Not only would she lose the owner that had saved her, but she would also lose the wolf she had loved for most of her life. And finally what truly broke Jenna's spirit was when Steele pulled out her orange bandana, an item she had given to Balto praying it would keep him warm enough to finish the mission and come back home safely to her.
But then.
"He said he wanted me to take of you." These words brought Jenna back from her trance of sadness and made her realize that this whole time Steele was lying, hopefully. On that moment Jenna had given him a disdainful look before accusing him of lying and leaving the building altogether.
With her hope resurrected she went to a hilltop on the side of the town carrying a few broken bottles and a stolen lantern and after carefully placing the bottles in front of the light she created a faux-northern lights effect that Balto had taught hear a few days ago, hoping the lights would guide him home she hilltop to spend what could be her final moments with her owner. But that had been hours ago, and she now feared the worst, Balto the dog she had loved for many years was dead and soon all of Nome would die with him.
She cast one final look at the sky through the window and sighed, tears slowly creeping up to her eyes.
"Oh, Balto." she began to sob "Where are you?"
So did you guys like it? **Gets hit with a tomato ** : 'D
Welp this is it, I'm off for the week see ya! Thank Tyler for encouraging me and never give up on me 3 also thanks to The Cool Kat, the author of Balto Heritage of The Wolf yadda yadda yadda, it truly was an inspiration for this story and its contents along with Days of Spring which you can find on the Balto Animation Source. Well I gotta sleep, it's 1:00 am and I must be awake by 4:30 Xd Hope you guys liked it!
EDIT: OK I MAY HACE SPOILED SOMETHING HUUUUGE SO I KINDA DELETED IT. Nevermind what it said, let's hope not many people read it XB
Edit: IT'S ALMOST DONE! :D (STUPID THESIS PROJECT TAKING ALL MY TIME! 7_7)
EDIT 2: I'M NOT DEAD! D: (Sadly) I'M STILL VERY BUSY WITH COLEGE AND FINALS AND JUST A NEW SHIT TON OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR IN THIS SHITTY, LOW-BUDGET SOAP OPERA CALLED "ELIJAH'S LIFE"
But seriously just give me until my graduation (Which is in 2 weeks tops) and I'll be free to do as I please . This edit was pretty much me correcting a bunch of mistakes and a little reminder that I'm not letting this story die (Or else Tyler might kill me.)
Hopefully I'll post an update soon! Cheers!
