Balto hid in the trees as he saw Steele come into the forest. His muscles rippled in anticipation and he bared his teeth. But he held himself still as the husky passed. He couldn't act too soon. The only way to defeat the larger dog was to get the jump on him. He slipped through the trees as Steele made his way deeper into the trees.
He was glad for his half wolf heritege. His paws barely made a noise as he walked through the snow. Steele's crunched through the snow, alerting everything to his presence. Squirrels raced away while birds took wing. Balto waited for his moment and in the ambush of noise he leapt. His fangs tore into the scruff of Steele's neck.
The large dog bucked and sent Balto flying. He slid through the snow but got up. He wouldn't lose this fight. He bunched up and charged at Steele. The husky faced off with him. Fangs flashed and blood splattered the ground. Balto took pleasure in seeing Steele's face mangled from his teeth.
They broke apart and circled each other. Fur bristled and growls filled the air. Balto leapt forward and snapped at Steele's leg. The husky bit at his unprotected back and he felt a rib break under the pressure of the larger dog's fangs. He bucked against Steele's hold and managed to break away.
Balto stood there panting as Steele came closer. He held still until the last moment then slid beneathe the bigger dog. Using his fangs, Balto tore at Steele's underbelly. Blood, hot and warm flooded his mouth. He didn't let himself admire it for long as Steele got ahold of his tail. He felt himself yanked up and slammed into the snow. He laid there in a daze as the husky stalked him.
He got up and got hold of Steele's neck. He tore at his throat until blood spurted and the larger dog began to fight less. He let go when Steele went limp. He gazed down at the lifeless animal and felt a surge of triumph. He had beaten Steele and now it was Jenna's turn. He would wait until nightfall. He knew Jenna liked to visit the window of the hospital that she had held vigil at until Rosie became better.
With his plan set, Balto abandoned the black and white dog in the snow.
Evening was falling as Balto slipped into the boiler room. He had a clear view of Jenna's perch. All he had to do was wait for the pretty red and white husky. As he waited a memory took over him. It was the first time he had brought her here.
Rosie was gravely ill and Balto wanted to take Jenna's mind off ot it. He led Jenna inside and down a narrow shaft. He smiled at the comments she made when he had told her about dogs traveling for years to come to where he was leading her.
The shaft opened up into a wider space with grate above a little hill. He climbed up the hill and positioned the bottles. Jenna had looked at him skeptically until he moved aside and a rainbow burst forth to light up one wall. She had looked so beautiful in the soft glow. Like an angel.
Balto was shaken from his reverie when he heard soft paws in the snow. He looked up and there was Jenna. She still looked like an angel. It was a shame that he had to kill her. The pain in his head throbbed again as he stared at her.
"Jenna," he called.
The red and white husky turned her head, "Balto? What are you doing here?"
She jumped down from the barrel and trotted over to him. Balto hid further in the boiler room. She kept following like a puppy on a string.
"Balto? Are you alright?"
He sprang forward and went right for her vunerable throat. She cried out in pain as his fangs sank deep. Blood spattered against his muzzle as he struck the jugular. He didn't want her to suffer as Steele had. Her body slowly stopped twitching and he let her drop to the floor. Her blood spread across the wooden floor and glowed like rubies in the firelight.
In a moment of clarity Balto felt horror. What had he done to his love? He dropped down beside her and whined as he pressed his nose against her still warm cheek. He hadn't meant it.
"I'm so sorry Jenna!" He laid beside her not even noticing her blood soaking into his fur.
Then the enormity of his actions hit him. He couldn't stay here. The townspeople would kill him. He got to his paws regretfully and lunged out of the tight confines of the boiler room. Luck was on his side as he raced from the town. Everyone had been asleep or indoors when he had murdered Jenna. His angel.
He left the town far behind and kept going past his boat and into the darkness of the forest. As he ran a blizzard kicked up and he became blind in the whiteout. But he kept moving forward. He had to find a safe place to hide.
Suddenly the ground disappeared from beneath his feet and he slid down a steep incline. He landed hard on a lake and slid out over the ice. He laid there for a moment as he assessed himself. Once he was sure he was fine, he started to get up. With his sudden movement the ice splintered and began to break apart. In desperation he clung to the largest chunk but it began to tip over.
Balto scrambled to hold on but his paws slipped into the cold water. The bit of ice tipped further and he fell completely into the water. The ice covered over the only hole he could escape from. He tried desperately to find another way out. But the air in his chest was escaping fast and the current dragged him away from the surface. He knew he would die in this murky, cold world.
The last breath escaped him and he waited in suspended motion. Darkness soon claimed him and Balto knew no more.
Wind whistled past his ears and snow blasted against his face. Balto opened his eyes to see endless white. He pulled himself out of an embankment of snow and collasped. He knew he was dead.
"Jenna..." he whispered her name and began to sob.
His sobbing came to a halt when a strange scent filled his nose. He looked up and saw a white wolf standing there. Once the wolf knew he was aware of its presence it lifted its head in a howl. Balto looked away and the wolf waited a moment before walking away into the blizzard.
If you want to be with Jenna again, you must make the transition now. You are in limbo at this moment, but the choice is yours.
A warm voice filled his head. It wasn't his angel but it was comforting. He turned back to the way the white wolf went. He struggled to his feet. He wanted to see Jenna again. He made it to his paws and saw a perfect print in the snow.
It was the white wolf's. Balto knew what he had to do. He placed his paw within the print and lifted his head in the first wolf call in a long time. He put his soul into the howl and soon the white wolf came. It lifted its head and joined in his song.
He felt all his agony fade as he gave voice to them. The wolf before him glowed gently and soon he grew quiet. The glow faded from the wolf's coat.
"Come, my son." the wolf led him through the blizzard.
Balto kept up with the wolf until an image to his left caught his eye. It was Jenna! Joy filled his heart as he raced over to her. They tumbled about in their joy and then their gazes locked. Balto had so much he wanted to tell her. But the words lodged in his throat. She seemed to understand though and brushed her head against his neck. He nuzzled her back. She broke away after a moment and turned her attention to a glowing rainbow behind them. He knew something was coming and he didn't like it.
"I have to go now Balto." Her image began to grow indistinct and glow.
"Can't I come with you?" He watched her glow brighter.
"You have a different path, but we'll see each other again." Her voice grew faint.
He watched as she formed into the Northern Lights and gave him a farewell howl. Then she faded up into the sky. He lowered his head and despair filled his heart. He came to see her only to lose her again.
"Balto," the warm voice sounded to his right.
He turned to see the white wolf.
"It is time." The wolf led him off into the unknown.
Balto vowed he would find Jenna again and never let her go. Darkness engulfed him as he followed the wolf.
The End
Hope you guys enjoyed the story. I know I enjoyed writing it.
Also sorry if it isn't a happily ever after scenario but it would be wrong to let Balto escape punishment for what he did in his life.