Chapter 6: Spirit Guides
"A… what?"
"Don't you know what they are Balto?" Maska asked. "Above all, the idea of a spirit guide is universal to all wolves."
"Except I didn't know any wolves until recently, remember?"
Maska nodded. "Of course, forgive me. Sometimes I forget that you were raised around dogs only," he conceded, before starting to explain. "When you look at the name, you realize you have a pretty good description right there. First, there's the spirit part - when you hear that word, what do you think of?"
"I think of… what drives me and makes me act. I think of what makes me do what I do," Balto replied.
"That's a good start. When we wolves think of spirits, we think of what makes us who we are. Our personalities, our motivations, our memories; everything we've done and want to do," Maska explained. "There are other words for it, like soul or consciousness, but they all end up meaning the same thing. It's the part of us that can't be touched, measured or destroyed, and yet is still present in our bodies every day. It is the part of us that outlives us, even past death."
"Past death… you mean like a ghost?" Balto asked.
"Hm… I suppose that's another way to put it, but I don't think they're the same as what you're thinking of," Maska continued. "Unlike the wandering spirits of so many scary stories, a spirit guide has a purpose in this world. That purpose is to, well, guide."
"Guide? How can they do that if they're just a spirit?"
"They may be just spirits, but they can take on many different forms, seeming as solid as you or I if they wanted to," Maska replied. "That is also what makes them unique - they seem to exist between our world and another, able to be there and not there at the same time. It's… tricky to explain in physical terms, which is part of what makes them so mysterious. Whatever form they take, they usually do it to pass on knowledge or wisdom that they think someone living can benefit from."
"So, do they just tell us what to do?" Balto asked. "What happens if someone doesn't want to listen to them, or doesn't believe them?"
"I'm not sure; all of the stories involve following the guide's advice, so I don't know what would happen if they refused… but chances are it wouldn't be as good. You remember from the story that the pack was starving - not following the clues given by the guide would have led to disaster," Maska explained. "But what that wolf saw was just that - a clue. He had to solve the problem himself," Maska explained. "He was shown a way in his dreams, but he didn't make the connection until he found that place in the real world. Had he not had that dream, he would've just turned around when he saw that river, never knowing that food was only a short distance away."
"That still sounds like it gave him the answer," Balto added.
"It's not, it's… oh how can I put this into terms you'd understand," Maska mused, pausing a moment to think it over. "Okay, it's like how a sled dog is taught how to run, but if it wants to win a race, it has to run the race itself. Does that help at all?"
"You mean they're like a teacher?" Balto asked, and Maska nodded.
"Yes, and that brings me back to your first question about induced dreams," Maska continued. "Sometimes our dreams are induced by spirit guides in order to show us something important. It coud be something we would need to know later… or something we knew, but forgot and need to remember."
'Okay, this is getting spooky. Boris said the same thing about the dreams too... but it can't be this, can it?'
"Getting back to your dreams, would you care to tell me about them?"
Despite his skepticism, Balto knew he'd already gone this far, so it wouldn't be fair if he backed out now. As he told Maska about his dreams, the wolf's face lit up with excitement once he mentioned the raven flying overhead, like a pup who was hearing a riveting adventure story. "I always try to get away from the wolves, but I'm never able to escape for one reason or another. After that, that's when I usually wake up."
"And you've been having these dreams every few days now?"
"Almost like clockwork," Balto affirmed, while Maska just stood there with his jaw open in awe.
"You have no idea how lucky you are," Maska said. "It's actually very rare for a creature to encounter their spirit guide."
"Do you mean that most don't have a guide?"
"No, it is said that all creatures have a spirit that walks with them as they go through the journey of their lives," Maska replied. "For most, their guide only needs to make small, unseen impacts for their lives to be in order. A spirit guide will only make its presence known when it needs to; when the one they are guiding needs more than a tiny nudge to help find their way."
"Are you saying that the only way to know your spirit guide is if they come to you?"
"Not always; if one feels lost enough then they may call on their spirit guide to help them. They may not appear, but they still help in some way," Maska replied. "But even then, it will still be more subtle. It could be a nudge in a different direction, or a new puzzle for you to solve, but you will receive guidance when you need it most. It's like how a teacher can give you a lesson, but you can also go to the teacher for extra help if you need it."
There was a pause as Balto tied to take all of this in. "Wow, I always thought that humans were the most powerful things in the world, but these spirit guides... they're something else entirely. They can change shape, come and go as they please, and even invade our dreams - just what is the limit of their power?"
"To be honest, no one really knows," Maska replied. "Some stories have spirit guides having no more power than you or I, while others give them the power to influence the actions of others, or project illusions and images that seem almost real. But their true power comes not from the ability to shape the physical world, but to shape the minds of those who live in it. They have wisdom and experience that, when passed down to others, can change lives. When one life is changed, they have the capability to change the lives of others as well. I think you yourself know how powerful a change in one can be… especially after the serum run."
Balto thought back, and when he remembered that one crucial moment, he realized that part of what Maska was saying was right. He'd almost given up on his journey, but an intervention from an ethereal white wolf turned everything around. That wolf showed him the power of his wolf side, allowing him to get up and take the medicine back to Nome. By changing him, it had affected the destiny of so many others. The team and all the children in Nome were saved because of one wolfdog who was able to change what he thought of himself. That change allowed him to use his abilities to their fullest extent, delivering the medicine safely.
'He's right, changing one life can have an impact on countless others. That wolf impacted me, and I impacted all of the kids and their families and the town. Does that mean that wolf was a spirit guide as well?' he wondered. 'I don't know. She was so real, I could even smell her. It was a scent that seemed familiar… and comforting… that doesn't mean for sure that she was a spirit… but she seemed to come out of nowhere when I needed someone the most.' Balto was silent as his mind went back and forth, trying to make sense of this. There was the spirit guide story and how it explained most of what was going on with him, but there was also his rational side, which demanded concrete proof before it would accept any supernatural cause for recent events.
"That's… something, but I'm not sure about it," he started. "Don't take this the wrong way, but this whole spirit thing… it seems a little farfetched."
"I know it's a lot for someone like you to take in, but if there's any chance that this is the cause, then I think you should pursue it," Maska replied. "If your spirit guide is trying to give you a message, then I'm not sure I can decode it myself. Messages such as this draw on things that only have meaning for the recipient, so you'd have to decode it yourself. If not that… then you should seek them out for more guidance. This message could be important, and there could be dire consequences if it's missed."
"And you were talking to me about worrying about what could or could not happen," Balto quipped, but Maska grinned.
"Yes… but I still think you should follow this. You don't have anything to lose, and who knows what else you might learn."
"I'll… think about it," Balto replied, trying to downplay his reluctance.
"I hope you do. Just a word of caution – a spirit guide's message can sometimes be cryptic, unsettling even, but you must press on if you are to understand what they are trying to say," Maska urged. "Is there anything else you need help with?"
"No, I think I'm okay," Balto replied.
"In that case, then it might be best if you go home and think this over. If you need anything more, my ear is always open," Maska finished, before letting Balto start on his way home. As he walked through the woods, Balto's thoughts were sent into a spin from everything he'd heard.
'Should I bother to pursue this? It could help me understand my dreams… but it could also be a waste of time. I mean, c'mon, spirit guides? I know wolves hold them dear as part of their mythology, but they're just that – myths and fables,' he thought. 'Just because it fits doesn't mean it's true. It could simply be stress from the pups combined with an overactive imagination. I have been thinking about wolves quite a bit, at least when thinking about my pups and whether or not to tell them about their wolf side-'
He stopped mid-stride at the thought that this could be connected to his pups. 'Could this be related to it? Could it be some way of trying to show me which way would be better for them? I mean, they started happening soon after I found out we were going to have pups… and from the start this was one of my concerns… or it could just be a coincidence. I mean, the dreams don't have my pups in them, and my pups are only a quarter wolf – I'm having full-blooded wolves appearing in my sleep.'
He continued walking, trying to dismiss any thought of how this could be connected to his pups. 'Even if it was these spirits – which it probably isn't – I have no idea how to find out. Ugh, I should have asked Maska how I'd call them. Do I have to go to some special spot, or say magic words?'
He stopped again and took a look at his surroundings. During his musings his path had taken a slight detour, wandering a little to the west of his usual way home. The area was much rockier, with large boulders strewn about and much steeper hills with exposed rock along their sides. Nearby there was the trickle of a stream of fresh meltwater as it flowed along a shallow ravine. Other than the trickle of the stream, the area was silent, with not even a breeze to rustle the branches of the evergreens.
He scanned left and right, but there was no sign that any sort of spirit was around. Unsure of how he would call them, he first decided to just sit still and think about finding them. He tried to think about asking his question, asking to see them, or even thinking a lot about his dilemma, but all remained silent. He was just a lone wolfdog, silently mulling his thoughts around.
"Hello?" he called out, wondering if his voice would be enough. "Is there anyone or anything out there?" His call faded into the empty quiet, with no response.
"Hello?" he called again, this time a little louder. "Please, if there's anyone out there I'd really like some help here. I don't know which way I should go."
'This is ridiculous, there's no one here,' he thought, but he pushed forward, desperate for any answer to his dilemma. "HEY!" he shouted out. "I want to know what's going on here! Why am I having these dreams? What are they trying to show me?" he bellowed. The words echoed off the cold, hard rocks, ringing until they faded off into the distance.
'Great, you probably woke up most of the neighborhood. Yelling at nothing is just going to make everyone think you've got a few screws loose. If there was any spirit - which there probably isn't - wouldn't they have come by now?' he thought. "Please, all I'm asking for is some help," he asked to the empty boulder field. "If you're out there, then you'd better come out now because I'm not going to ask again," he finished. He waited for a moment, looking from side to side and swiveling his ears to pick up the sound of anyone approaching. Still, the boulder field was still as empty as when he first entered it.
"Hmph… thought so," he muttered, standing up to start his walk back towards Nome. 'There's nothing out here - this whole spirit guide thing is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. I've never believed in ghost stories anyways, so why would I start now? My dreams aren't messages; they're just my mind going in circles. Just because there's some wolf legend about a guiding raven doesn't mean my raven is going to drop out of the sky and-'
Something flashed past in his peripheral vision, followed by the flapping of wings and the feeling of something flying past his head, barely skimming his ears. The sudden appearance of something so close made him jump back. He knew that it was probably some bird, but he hadn't heard any signs of life before in this area. Normally birds would tweet near-constantly, but this one seemed to come out of nowhere. He looked to the side to see what bird had decided to practically do a diving run at his head, but when he did, his heart skipped a beat when he saw it perched on top of a nearby boulder.
With feathers as black as night, free of dust or any other mark, was a raven. Time itself seemed to slow as it stared at him with its shining black eyes, peering right through his body and into his soul, probing his very mind. He didn't know how, but he knew - he knew that this raven was the one from his dreams. It was the same raven that always followed him as he ran, watching over him from afar.
"You," Balto whispered. "How can this be?"
The raven only bobbed its head from side to side, much like how a real bird would when investigating a possible piece of food. It ruffled its feathers a little, before letting out a sharp 'caw' at him. Maska's earlier description of them being cryptic was starting to look like an understatement.
"Okay, you might not be able to talk, but I can't deny that you're here… although you sure took your time," Balto said to it. "Alright, if you are real, then what now? What are you going to show me?"
At his request the raven spread it's wings and lifted into the air, flying off and cawing, as if calling for him to follow. Part of him wanted to turn away and avoid getting involved with what could be nothing more than a mad quest, but he was drawn towards the raven. He couldn't put his paw in it, but something about the raven was evoking old feelings within him. It was a sense of complete comfort and trust - something he hadn't felt since his mother disappeared. He remembered snuggling up to her warm, white fur, feeling like nothing could hurt him as long as his momma was around.
However, the memory was as fleeting as the time she was with him. It was soon replaced with his memories of his time alone. He'd been so young, but he had been left isolated and fearful, always wondering where his mother had gone too. Was she still alive? Did she even remember him? He took another look up at the raven, and decided to add those questions to the list of things he would ask it if given the chance. After a short distance, the raven flew down a hill, stopping at the bottom to rest. When Balto caught up with it, he saw that it was looking intently at the side of the hill. He followed its gaze to the entrance of a cave, formed from a space in the rock and eroded further by centuries of rain and snow. From there he couldn't see very far into it, so he had no way of judging how deep it really was.
It didn't take long for him to guess the raven's intent, and so he didn't need much encouragement to follow it when it took off and flew into the cave, vanishing into the darkness. He wasn't sure what he would find inside, but he had come this far, so he pressed on to see which way this road would take him. Ahead he could hear the flapping of the raven's wings, but they grew fainter the deeper it went. The cave grew darker, and there were faint drips of water from the ceiling as it sloped lower and lower. He couldn't hear the sound of the raven anymore, and after a while he started to wonder how it would navigate in the ever-shrinking tunnel.
The sloping rock started to brush against his ears, forcing him to crouch. The temperature in the dark cave dropped quickly, and it wasn't long before he saw ice running along the walls, untouched by the warming weather outside. Through the dim light he could see that the space narrowed to a much smaller hole ahead. Through the hole was light, in addition to a much larger open space. Crouching until his belly was flat on the ground, he inched himself towards the opening, managing to squeeze his shoulders through, then his midsection before sliding his hips through last. With the greater space afforded to him, he stood up and stretched before moving towards the new light. It was definitely daylight, and he could tell the cave led to a much more open area outside. He dashed forward, ready to face whatever was out there.
All around him were steep hills, forming a sort of natural amphitheatre. Scanning around the small valley, he could not find any trace of the raven. Once again, the elusive bird had vanished as soon as it had appeared. He sniffed the ground and started to move back and forth in a search pattern, hoping to glean some other clue when something else caught his nose. It wasn't the raven, but more canine… like a wolf. Another sniff only confirmed it wasn't anyone he knew, but it was fresh, which meant that they were close. Any wolf might not enjoy a stranger infringing on their territory, so he went on alert. He panned his head back and forth, watching carefully for any sign he wasn't alone. His legs wound up, ready to spring him away. He was in unexplored territory, so he knew to be on his guard. Suddenly, the dirt crunched to his side and he snapped his head to the right. That's when he saw him – a dark-furred wolf staring at him, watching him as he investigated. Neither of them moved as they locked eyes, with the wolf tilting its head in curiosity at the stranger in their midst.
"You look like you're a little lost there, friend," the wolf greeted. "Can I help you?"
"I was… it's just… you wouldn't happen to have seen a raven pass by here would you?" Balto asked, suddenly feeling very foolish.
"Maybe," the wolf replied. "Why do you ask?"
"It's just… it's complicated," Balto replied, hesitant to reveal what he was doing to a complete stranger.
"I'm no stranger to complicated things, so you don't have to worry about it," the wolf assured him, as if he could sense his apprehension. "Can I at least ask who you are?"
"My name's Balto," he replied. "How about you?"
"Well, it's nice to meet you Balto. As for myself… the name's Mias," the wolf retuned. "I may not be an expert on ravens, but I still might be able to help you."