A/N: I have always loved the Balto movies ever since I was little. I love the characters and the stories that were told. I have been inspired to write this fanfiction because of m336 story "Balto: Story of a Wolf.

I've always wanted to write a story about an animated film, but I wanted to change it up. I have admired their story for years so I wanted to do one of my own with a similar theme. And I love wolves and have always been fascinated by the Wolf comics and animations. So please enjoy and thanks for taking the time to read.

Balto is a pure wolf in this fanfic.

Chapter 1: Sacrifices

The night was pitch black with a cold, chilling wind blowing through the trees of the forest. The air was getting chillier and winter would be coming soon. The wolves of the Shadow Pack were resting in their caves, trying to keep eachother warm. Hunting had been very difficult. Food had been scarce. They would not survive this winter if they could not find a decent meal to eat. Fights within other packs had broken out over the lack of food. It had been a hard season and now with winter settling in the pack wouldn't survive. Not here. Not now.

"What are you thinking about?" Mira asked in a soft tone, coming beside the grey wolf who sat at the entrance of the cave.

She was an all white she wolf with blue ice eyes. She had black tipped ears and a black tipped tail with black swirls coming from the edges of her eyes flowing to the edges of her cheeks on both sides. She had a small build and was slightly shorter in height. She sat beside the grey wolf, pressing her body into him to provide him some warmth. He was a head taller than her with a muscular build. He had dark yellow orbs and his fur was a deep dark milky gray with white fur trailing his jaw, chest, his inner legs and ending under the length of his tail.

The grey wolf cast a glance in her direction, but he didn't give her a response and turned his head back to what he was looking at.

"Come on now, what is it?" She asked again, more insistent in getting a response.

She took her tail and curled it up beside her as she felt a cold breeze course through her body.

It was quiet in the den. The pack had gone to sleep a few hours ago. It had been a long day of hunting and scouting. They had found a sizable deer to eat, but only enough for some of them to partake in. The bigger wolves hadn't eaten. There was only enough for the mothers and pups and the older ones in the pack. This was how it had to be for them to survive. Some ate and some starved.

"Son?" Mira questioned again and stood up and walked in front of him. She tilted her head as she watched his eyes go low avoiding eye contact with her.

"Look at me Balto." Mira ordered in a stern but gentle voice.

Balto hesitantly lifted his head and his yellow eyes were dull and dark. He had hunched his back over and she could sense his distress. She knew exactly what was bothering her son.

"It's not your fault." She cooed.

"But it is. I know it is and so do you. I should be able to provide for our pack. For us all. No one should have to starve."

"You can't control that. You know the caribou have been scarce. Food has been scarce son. That's not your fault."

Balto didn't reply and hung his head low again. He curled in on himself when he felt the cold wind rush through his skin, reaching deep into his fur and chilling his bones.

Mira came beside him and wrapped her tail around him. She nuzzled him gently. A sound caused both their ears to perk slightly and Mira watched as her son's eyes filled with tears.

Her stomach had grumbled loudly reminding them both that she had not eaten today. Balto felt so ashamed and he whimpered. He had to choose who ate and who didn't. That was his responsibility. It felt so unfair for him to make that choice, but he was the alpha of the pack and his mother had insisted on letting the others eat today.

"Shh...it's alright." Mira whispered and nuzzled him.

He laid his head on his mother's neck and tears flowed out of his eyes.

"I'm so sorry Mama. I wish things would be different for us. For you."

"Oh son, I'm fine. Truly I am. I've sacrificed before and by Anui, I'll do it again and again. There are others who need food more. I'll be fine."

Balto kept his head on her neck and pressed his body into her. They stayed like this for a while, the warmth from their bodies comforting them.

"Now c'mon an alpha has to get his rest." Mira licked his nose and stood up to lead him back into the corner of the den.

Balto watched her walk away and cast a glance out of the den once more before reluctantly following her with his tail tucked between his legs and his head low.

Alright I know it's short but that's the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it and I would love to hear your thoughts. I want to see if there's any interest first before I fully bleed this story out. Thanks for taking the time to read!