Chapter 3: A chance meeting (Part 1)

Balto awoke to the rays of sun warming his body. It was something he allowed himself to enjoy in these cold autumnal weather. He lay still allowing himself to absorb as much heat as he wished before deciding to observe the voices playing around somewhere below him."Might as well study their habits. May come in useful when I face hunters" thought Balto. Casually pushing his head out of the gap between the railing bars he observed the people wandering around town.

He continued his observation for a while before deciding to retire inside to see if Boris had left him something to eat. As he walked down the stairs he smelt the scent of fresh meat and true to his senses there lay a sizeable helping of fresh meat along with a refilled bowl of water. As he started to chow down the meat Boris walked in. "I see you have not left. So you still want to leave?". Balto cocked his head to the side taking in what Boris had said before moving his body in what could be interpreted as a shrug before continuing to eat. Boris watched Balto eat before resigning himself to tasks around the house. Balto having finished eating watched with curiously as Boris set about shifting objects around, bringing in wood before pulling out what Balto recognised as a 'exploding stick'(Gun). His instincts kicking in Balto lowered himself into a offensive position baring his teeth and letting out a menacing growl. Boris surprised by the loud growl dropped the gun before backing away into the corner. Balto grimly stalked over to Boris his instincts having subdued every other feeling he felt. Seeing Boris backed into a corner Balto prepared to pounce but something stopped him. It felt like a part of him wished to spare the man who provided for him even though he was the enemy.

Seeing the hesitation in the wolf's actions, Boris took his chance to try and return to neutral terms. "Calm down boy. I said before I mean you no harm yet you doubt me. But this..." indicating to the gun on the floor next to Balto "... is the implement that provides you with what you eat." Balto seemed to calm a bit but remained on edge. Seeing no immediate way out of the situation Boris turned to the nearest solution.

Cautiously walking to the back door he pushed it open showing the vast expanse of open snow clad land running off to the nearest forest on the horizon. "I believe it is for our mutual interest that you return to your pack... I cannot feed you without using that" he again indicated to the gun on the floor "so it is for the best that you get back on your own two feet." Balto slowly walked out the back door before giving a look back at Boris standing at the door, giving him a nod and then walking off to a structure in the distance, an old dilapidated fishing trawler.

As he walked towards the dilapidated trawler Balto couldn't help but notice a presence following him. Lifting his nose in the air for a tentative sniff he could not place who or to what the scent belonged. Putting this unknown presence at the back of his mind Balto trudged on through the snow until he reached his destination. The boat looked sturdy enough to withstand a snow storm and could prove to be adequate shelter for now.

Balto had just climbed on board to look for a suitable place to nap when he felt the presence for the second time, this time much closer than earlier. Turning around he carefully walked over to the edge of the boat and that was when he spotted the source of the scent. There stood a curious red and white husky. The dogs proportions told Balto that the husk was female. She seemed to wear a deep orange bandana around her shoulders and here hazel brown eyes looked up at him with curiosity. Balto stood there and observed her closely before turning his attention back to the wheel house to look for a place to nap. He had barely turned that a female voice broke the silence "Hey wait". Irritated at being disturbed when he wished loneliness Balto turned his head so that one eye stayed focused on the husky before snapping out "What?". The dog didn't seem to be afraid of the show of aggression. She only seemed to get more annoying.

"What are you doing out here? What is your name? What breed of dog are you? Are you new here? Do you want to play? Where is..." she rapid fired questions at him until having enough he growled at her to get her to stop. Giving her his full attention he answered through gritted teeth "What I'm doing out here is none of your concern. My name is not for you to know and DON'T MIX ME WITH YOUR INFERNAL KIND" he shouted out the last part.

The dog seemed to flinch before getting even more curious. Seeing no way out of this situation Balto lay down on the deck before turning his attention the husky before questioning "Don't you know what I am and why have you followed me here?". "I'm new here I just moved here from big town. You seemed lonely so I thought you needed company so I followed you and what do you mean by not mix you?"

Sighing at the naive husky Balto replied "I came here to be away from company and... I... AM...NOT...A...DOG". The husky cocked her head to the side in confusion and was about to ask more questions when a husky masculine voice called out "Jenna... what are you doing here... I was so worried about you... I can't have my mate being killed." Jenna sighed before turning to face a black and white malamute before coldly replying "Steele... I have told you before I am not your mate nor do I plan on being your mate in this life." Steele just played a grin on his face before he picked up a scent... the scent of a wolf. Looking at the surrounding his eyes moved over the boat before picking up the dog like animal laying on the deck listening in on the conversation.

Steele's eyes immediately narrowed at the sight of the wolf before turning to calling to Jenna "Jenna... get behind me there is a wolf behind you on the deck of the boat." Jenna turned to the wolf she had just been trying to talk to before realisation finally hit her. "Y..You are a wolf?" she asked him. "I did say not to mix me with your kind" came the reply.

Balto had been hoping that this would get this Jenna girl to leave but instead she only seemed to get more curious. What happened next shocked both him and Steele. Jenna made her way onto the deck before cautiously approaching the wolf, curiosity and a hundred questions evident from her eyes. Steele not liking the proximity between Jenna and the wolf sprung into action, jumping onto the deck he growled threateningly at the wolf "Leave here at once lobo... before I make you regret it." Not one to be intimidated Balto replied "I sense the hollowness in your challenge... I have faced your kind multiple times before you don't scare me the least." Steele growled and approached the wolf ready for a fight but before he could a whistle blew from the town in the distance. "Saved by the whistle lobo... next time you will be nothing more than a cat toy." Balto just laid his head down not interested in a verbal exchange.

As Steele departed Jenna again started to approach the wolf before settling down a few centimetres away from him ask looking him over with a questioning gaze. Balto realised that Jenna was not going to give him the peace of mind he wished for at that moment and was shocked by the fact that she being a dog didn't show even a glimpse of hostile nature towards him. Jenna was again the one to break the silence "You are really a wolf?" Balto looked at her with an incredulous look on his face "what is with this girl... that Steele guy told her I was a wolf" thought Balto before replying "Yes I am... Is it really so hard to believe?" . "Well... I was told... that wolves killed dogs on sight and..." Jenna stated nervously before breaking off midway. "And?" Balto questioned her further. "And... uh... uh... were... wild, uncivilised and voracious" Said Jenna mumbling out the last part barely audible for him to hear but he heard her none the less.

Balto chuckled to himself at what he had heard before questioning "Is there anything more?". Jenna looked at him before stuttering out "I... uh... I...uh... I got to go... ya... that it... I have to go" before quickly jumping up and running off.

Balto watched her run with amusement clearly visible in his eyes. He was about to climb into the wheel house when a sudden thought crossed his mind causing him to groan. "She is going to be back." Not wanting to think over the matter further Balto pushed aside his thoughts as he curled up inside the wheel house to enjoy a late afternoon nap.

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