Chapter 3

(WARNING!: The following chapter contains a few swear words, just letting y'all know.)

Balto's confidence and happiness was boosted quite a lot. He was no longer starving, and hadn't even been seen. Although it had been pretty close, Boris had proved to be enough of a distraction to allow Balto to escape unseen. They had both returned to their old boat that night happier than they'd been in quite a while. Balto had learned that Boris was also sort of an outcast. Since he didn't like to fly, he'd been abandoned by his kin, often being taunted and teased himself.

Maybe we can form an outcast gang, Balto thought to himself, gather up all the outcasts we can find and make friends.

Upon arriving back at his new home, Boris had given Balto and old blanket. It was nice, because now he didn't have to sleep on the hard wood deck. Boris already had a den of his own made up in a hidden portion of the structure, and allowed Balto to do whatever he pleased with the upper deck. Balto pulled the old threadbare blanket into a corner, making himself a nice little nest. He then flipped over onto his back, taking a moment to gaze up at the stars.

There were so many up there, he wondered what they all were made of, how far away they were… Balto blinked tiredly and tried to hide himself as deep as he could in his nest. Only when he felt safe enough did he allow himself to go to sleep.

The weeks passed slowly but surely for Balto and Boris. Although the goose did his best to teach young Balto how to hunt, he could only show so much. As it went on, Balto had to go to town for his food a lot more than he would've liked. Although the food there was good, it came at a big price. About seventy percent of the time he would end up getting caught, and then being abused in some way, usually not physically, but the words hurt almost as much as any injury could. Although Boris told him to ignore it, and Balto did his best to do so, the pain and punishment was eating away at him, a little bit at a time.

The black malamute Balto quickly learned to be named Steele was often the source of his problems and abuse, he and his gang. They were only a year older than Balto, and felt they had a lot to prove in how worthy and experienced they were, and by torturing Balto they felt they were proving such things. While it really didn't help them much as they'd hoped, others never objected to their torturing the pup and would occasionally praise them.

That was what really hurt the most. How everyone could just sit there and not even care about his being abused was beyond Balto. He was a very young dog, he'd learned a lot from his life, and wondered why they feared him so. He knew it was because of his difference, heritage… but what did that have to do with anything? Someone should be judged on their heart and their intentions, not because of what they were.

This was what hurt him the most, when his heritage was attacked. He had no idea what could be true or if it was true, and that not knowing was what really hurt, not so much the attacks. Though he'd managed to make it through two of said attacks, the third time was Steele's lucky time, or unlucky, whichever way one preferred to look at it.

One late evening, Balto had snuck into town unnoticed, getting himself something to eat. Just after he'd finished it happened. They trapped him in an alley. There were six dogs, two Balto had never seen before. Balto had though he was ready for any and all possible torment, but he was proven wrong quite quickly.

"Yo Balto, we've got a message from yer mother." The one known as Nikki said. With that, the whole group tilted their heads back and let out the most horrible, insulting howls. Balto just looked at them questioningly.

"Need a translation? What she said was that she was ashamed of having such an ugly mutt as a son and-"

With an enraged growl, Balto flung himself at the nearest dog, which just so happened to be Steele himself. He latched on to the dogs leg, and although he'd grown substantially since their first meeting, Steele was still more than twice Balto's weight. The malamute easily lifted him and slammed him into the nearest building, causing Balto's teeth to be torn out.

He cursed at the blood running down his foreleg, and proceeded to beat the one who'd caused it. His gang all watched, unsure of what to do. They'd never seen Steele this intense and angry before, and it scared them. Balto tried to scan the environment, desperate for some way to escape. He saw a small hole that it was possible he could shelter in, about five feet away from him.

Powered by a short burst of adrenaline, Balto put a paw up and caught Steele's next blow, staring down the big dog for a short moment. Balto then kicked him in the face, and was able to drag his beaten body into shelter before anyone else caught him.

Steele growled in rage when he found out that the place was too small for him to get into, and he found Balto just out of his reach, the wolf dogs yellow eyes wide with fear as he realized what he'd just done Steele didn't give up trying to get the little mutt out, it had just bitten him! Even when his master called out, the call fell upon deaf ears.

"Get out here you little shit!" Steele snarled.

Nikki tried to intervene, approaching Steele wearily. "Boss, I think he's had enough, we really should go…"

Steele gave Nikki a long, hard stare before relenting.

"If I ever see you again-" he was cut off by another call from his master, this time much sharper.

"I will beat you so hard your parents will wish they hadn't been born." The malamute finished before turning on a whim, hurrying off before his master got even angrier, not even looking back. Nikki, Kaltag, and Star did look back though, each feeling at least a little bit guilty for the mistreatment of Balto. They didn't think he deserved it, but didn't dare say anything, lest the same treatment be bestowed upon them.

Balto stayed in his hiding place for a long while, letting the pain from his most recent abuse go away. After his initial adrenaline rush, the pain had begun to appear, and his whole body felt bruised. It probably was. After the sun had sent and it was well into the night, did Balto crawl out and stretch himself out. He'd have to remember that hiding place, and perhaps find some new ones. Balto climbed the nearest roof and proceeded to cross town, going above everyone's heads. It was something he'd become quite accustomed to, and had also quite improved his abilities to be silent and to jump, which in turn helped him become a better hunter.

After reaching the last building he slid down the roof and landed quietly, making his way across the field towards his home. He especially loved it when the grass gave way to the sand, as the sand felt so cool beneath his paws at night. Balto padded up the board to find Boris, pacing the boat.

"Balto, there you are! I was wondering if something happened… they beat you again, didn't they."

Balto nodded, knowing he didn't have to answer. A sudden wave of hate and anger came upon him, something he'd never really had before.

"I hate them. I hate everyone."

"Now Balto, don't say that-"

"WHAT THE FUCK IS THE POINT?"

He whirled around, smashing his head into the wall. Boris tried to calm him down, but his voice was lost amongst the sound of Balto's own blood flowing through his ears.

"Balto!" Boris shouted, wrapping his surprisingly strong wings around said wolf dogs chest, preventing him from hitting himself yet again.

"Balto, look at me!"

"I want to kill them! Every damn one of them!"

"Balto, listen to me! By doing that you'd only be doing what they want you to do, becoming what they think you'll become." Boris calmed down a little, his tone softening. "You can prove them wrong, Balto. Don't let yourself become the killer they think you'll become. They stereotype you, and that's not fair. Their treatment is what usually causes the killers, but you can rise above that. I promise you, one day you will feel good about yourself."

"But that's not now… I'm so sick of it. Why can't you just let me die?"

"If you really want that, then I won't try to stop you. But that's not worth it, you're cheating yourself, you're cheating life, and… you'd be cheating me. I think of you like a son, and I don't want to lose you."

Balto forced himself to calm down.

"Thank you, I don't think I'd make it through this without you."

"It's nothing, Balto. Now you go get yourself some rest, you look like you need it."

Balto nodded, "I will."

Boris accepted that, and retreated quietly into his den. Balto did the same, going to sit down on the blanket he'd come to cherish. He glanced up at the sky above him, a silent with making its way up to the stars.

Please, show me someone that cares.

Balto curled up and was asleep within a few moments. Somewhere high above his head, a single orb of light streaked across the night sky, leaving a brilliant trail of light in its wake.

...

The following note is going to be a little on the longer side, so if you don't feel like reading it, don't. This could be a shorter story with a lot of time skipping, as there's really not too much to explain (from my view anyway) about Balto's growing up. It's mostly him going into town, being tormented, being tormented again, and hey! Being tormented some more! I guess this is more about how he get's through that, with the help of a few new friends, and another who was hinted at if you remember a certain part in my previous story...

On that note, does anyone know the names for Rosy's parents, if there are any set names?

I was also thinking of making this extend through the first movie, and I would attempt to novelize said film. I have another idea for a story after the movie... but we'll see. I'll figure something out.

As always, hope y'all have enjoyed. Until next time,

-may peace be with you all.

ANonymouS