Chapter 8 - One Friend Leads to Another
"Hey... Balto?" Steele asked.
"Yeah, Steele?"
"Remember when my team and I got lost in these mountains that one time?" he said as he looked around, reflecting on the time he and the team could have frozen to death.
"Yeah, I do. What about it?" Balto asked, looking around and reflecting also.
"I never got a chance to thank you. I mean, you saved our lives! We could have frozen to death if it wasn't for you." Balto smiled.
"You're welcome, Steele."
They walked in silence for about five to six minutes until Steele remembered something he wanted to tell Balto.
"You know something, Balto? Your daughter was the one who made me realize what I'd done wrong in my life."
"She did? How?"
"Well... after I took her, we settled down in a cave for the night and she asked me if I thought this was any way for her mother to fall for me, and if I thought this was helping me get along with my life. That really made me realize what I'd done wrong all these years. I was so worried when she disappeared the next morning... which is today."
Balto felt a pang of sadness at the mention of his lost daughter, but also a stroke of happiness. He had always been proud of her, and he was so relieved that she had returned. If only she would do it again.
Balto smiled and said, "I'm very proud of her. I've always been proud in all that she's done." Steele glanced at Balto and watched him look down. He frowned. "I just wish she was around so I could tell her."
Steele frowned. He felt deeply for Balto and his family. It couldn't be easy to have to deal with Aleu, and it couldn't be easy for the family to deal with Balto. He didn't even live with them. He knew in many ways that his life was much easier than his, and he knew it always had been.
"Balto, if you have negative thoughts about this whole thing, there's a good chance we won't find her. But if you have a good attitude, I know we'll find her."
Balto smiled, but then frowned again.
"Just look at the stars. They will light your way."
Balto looked up at the twinkling balls of gas above him and thought. He thought about Jenna. He thought about Aleu. But most importantly, he thought of the goose he had forgotten about. Boris.
"Steele! I forgot about Boris!"
Steele then remembered what he had done with him. He didn't have the guts to tell Balto what he had done. "Uh... isn't that the goose?"
"Yes! Yes, it is! Back at the cabin, he went outside and then he disappeared! Will you help me look for him?"
Steele looked into Balto's glistening eyes. He couldn't say no.
"Of course I will!" he said, hesitating slightly. "C'mon, let's go!" Steele then began running back a little ways before he stopped.
"Hey! Why'd you stop?" Balto asked, backing up to join Steele at his side.
"Balto, I did a bad thing. A very bad thing. I can't hold it in anymore!"
"Steele! What did you do? Just tell me!"
"Okay... I..." a tear fell from his eye. Balto had never thought that he would see Steele cry. But there was always a first time for everything.
Then Steele finished his sentence. "I... I killed Boris! Okay? I killed Boris!" he yelled.
Balto's mouth dropped wide open. "Are you serious?"
Steele collapsed in the snow and looked up sadly at Balto. "Yes," he said, his voice cracking.
Balto gently laid down beside Steele in the snow and put his paw on his back. "Steele," he said. Steele looked at him. "You can't change the past. You can't change what you've done. But you can apologize."
Steele found it hard to believe that Balto wasn't more upset about losing his best friend. "Aren't you mad at me?"
Balto looked up at the stars. "Kinda. I know now that you've changed. Right?"
"Oh, absolutely, Balto! I'll never do anything like that again!"
Balto looked down at Steele and smiled. "That's good to hear. Now, where was he when you first left him?"
"About 2 miles south from the cabin."
"Okay. That shouldn't take too much time if we run," Balto said, with a determined look as he turned his head towards the southerly direction.
"Balto, are you crazy? It'll take forever to get there and back to find Aleu."
"Steele... one friend leads to another."
Steele didn't get what he meant. Balto took off running south. Steele had no choice but to follow him.
End of Chapter 8
Sorry it was short... please review!