Chapter 2: All Around Me

One Year Later…

Aleu and Thomas have been so close to each other since the day they met. Thomas was now walking down the street carrying bags of food in his arms while Aleu walked beside him. "Thanks for coming with me Aleu," Thomas said while walking along. "You're welcome and thank you for letting me see my papa," Aleu said looking up at her owner. "You're welcome," Thomas said with a smile. As they walked along they heard some fighting from an alleyway. Thomas and Aleu walked by the alley and saw a Chef throw, Ozzy, into some trash cans and shout "And stay out!" while shutting the door. Thomas and Aleu ran over to the small black and white cat who seemed dazed from being thrown. "Ozzy are you okay?" Aleu asked as she helped the small cat out of the trash can.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Ozzy said as he brushed himself off. "What were you doing in there?" Thomas asked. Ozzy chuckled before looking up at the human. "Eh, it was just a small job I had to do," Ozzy said with a purr. "Oh," Thomas said as he picked up the small cat. "Come on you can come home with us," Thomas said as he placed Ozzy on Aleu's back. "Are you sure? Is Adam home?" Ozzy asked as they started walking. "No, he's out of town," Thomas said with a smile. "Good I hate that guy," Ozzy said licking himself. "You and me both pal," Aleu said with a laugh. As the three of them walked to the house a few cops and an ambulance were at the house. A few townspeople also were outside their homes looking to what was going on. "Mom?" Thomas said as he dropped the bags and ran over to his house. "Oh no," Aleu whispered as she went after her human. Ozzy held onto Aleu's collar as she ran after Thomas.

"Mom!" Thomas shouted as he ran to the door. A police officer stopped Thomas at the door before seeing his mother on the ground by the stairs. "Mom!" Thomas shouted with tears running down his face. "No!" Aleu said seeing Alea lifeless on the ground. "Let him go that's stepson," Adam said from inside the house. The officer lets go of Thomas and lest him and Aleu inside. Ozzy stayed outside knowing that Adam doesn't like him. Thomas ran over to Adam, "What happened?!" Thomas shouted looking at Adam. "I came home early and she… she was on the floor," Adam explained trying to hold back his own tears. Thomas had no words to express, his face was lifeless as the EMTs took his mother's body away. Thomas broke down before running away upstairs to his room. "Thomas!" Aleu shouted as she chased after him.

Thomas ran into his room and broke down on his bed. Aleu ran into the room and jumped on top of Thomas. "Thomas it's gonna be okay," Aleu said trying to calm down her owner. Aleu also had tears falling down from her muzzle as she tried to clam Thomas down. Thomas got and hugged Aleu tightly and cried into her tan fur. "I'm sorry Thomas, I'm so sorry," Aleu said letting her own tears flow down her muzzle. Later that night they both fell asleep on the bed but then woke up to banging sounds from outside of the room. Thomas woke up and walked over to the door and opened. "Adam?" Thomas said still tired. "Hey kiddo, um… go back to sleep okay?" Adam said with a nervous smile. Thomas nodded as he shut the door. "Fuck!" Adam shouted from the outside of the door still looking for something.

Thomas then walked over to Aleu and sat down next to her. "I think we should sleep somewhere else," Thomas said looking at his dog. Aleu yawned before speaking. "We could go to my Papa's to sleep for the night," Aleu suggested. Thomas nodded as he started to grab his things. Thomas then opened the window and climb down the window. Aleu had a way to get down as well as she used to use it as a way to get out of Adam way, Thomas and Aleu walked to Balto's trawler with the moon in the night sky. Once they got there Aleu went ahead and woke up her father and explained things to him as Thomas waited outside.

Balto walked out from his trawler and walked over to Thomas. "Thomas, I'm so sorry," Balto said with his ears down. Thomas fell to his knees and looked into Balto's eyes. "It feels like everything is falling apart all around me," Thomas said with the new tears falling from his face. Balto licks the tears away from Thomas's face as Thomas hugs Balto in return. Balto then brings Thomas and Aleu in his trawler for the night. Thomas went to sleep while Aleu and Balto stayed up for a little bit. "I can't believe this happened," Balto said watching Thomas sleep. "I can't either Papa," Aleu said looking at her father.

"How did it happen?" Balto asked now looking at Aleu. "I don't know, she was on the floor from the stairs when we got home," Aleu said laying down. "That's strange," Balto said now Curious. "But she did have heart problems and she was sick, do you think she had a heart attack?" Aleu asked. Balto titled his head to the left. "Maybe," Balto said but still not believing it. "Papa, you're more of a father figure than Adam is, can't you guild Thomas through this tough time," Aleu asked as she laid her head down. Balto chuckled, "Yeah I'm sure I can," Balto said now noticing that Aleu had fallen asleep.

The next morning Balto woke up to find Aleu still sleeping and Thomas was gone from where he was sleeping. Balto stood up and yawned before looking for Thomas. As the sun was rising Balto found Thomas sitting on the beach looking at the ocean. Balto smiled as he walked over to Thomas. "Hey, kiddo," Balto said as he sat down next to Thomas. "Hey," Thomas said in a low tone. Balto took a deep breath before speaking. "I know this might not help now, but time will heal you," Balto said looking at Thomas. Thomas looked at Balto and opened his mouth to say something but closed it and looked away. "I never knew my parents, So I don't know what it's like to lose them in front of me, but if you let me I'll shoulder you can trust," Balto suggested.

"You're lucky," Thomas whispered. Balto looked at Thomas confused. "Why do you say that?" Balto asked still looking at Thomas. "You have this wonderful family and now I have nobody," Thomas said as the morning sun warmed his brown skin. "Hey, you have me and Aleu and the rest of my family as your family," Balto answered in a straight forward voice. "Are you sure?" Thomas asked looking at Balto. "Of course I'm sure," Balto said with a smile. Thomas smiled a little before looking at his watch. "Shit, I better get to school," Thomas said as he stood up. "Alright, I'll let Aleu know you went to school," Balto said as he too stood from the sand. Thomas nodded as he ran off to school. Balto watched as Thomas ran off to the school.

Thomas started walking as he was now a block away from the school. "Thomas!" a voice said from behind Thomas. Thomas turned around and saw it was one of his friends he went to school with. "Oh, Hey Rickie," Thomas said as Rickie caught up to Thomas Ricki was one of the students who caught the Diphtheria virus. He had dark brown hair almost black, pale skin and green eyes. "I'm… I'm sorry about your mom Thomas," Rickie said as he placed his hand on Thomas's shoulder. "Yeah, me too," Thomas said as they walked along. "Hows Kayli?" Thomas asked looking at his friend as they reached the school "She's doing good, hey maybe you and Aleu could come over and we can hang out," Ricke said with a smile. "I don't know man, Aleu can be hard to handle sometimes," Thomas said as they walked to their class. "That's what I'm saying! She and Kayli could meet and be friends," Rickie explained

"I don't know," Thomas said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean come on, the only other animal I see Aleu with is her father Balto the town's hero and that small black and white who stole one of my mom's rings," Rickie said. "I told Ozzy to return that," Thomas thought to himself. "So, what do you say?" Rickie asked Thomas thought about it for a moment and then nodded. "Awesome," Rickie said as the class began.

A few hours past Aleu was running down the street to the school. "I hope I'm not too late," Aleu said to herself as she raced down the street. Not looking where she was going she cuts off a sled team running past the school. "Hey! Watch it!" shouted a tan husky as the team speeds away. "Sorry!" Aleu said nervously. "Damm wolf-dog," said the tan husky. "What did he say?" Aleu asked herself. "That was a close call girl," said a female voice behind Aleu. Aleu turned and looked at the dog who was a mixed breed. "Oh, I didn't mean to cut them off," Aleu said looking at the dog. "Oh I know but Jano might not think so. Oh sorry, my name is Kayli," Kayli said with a smile. "Jano?" Aleu said confused. "Yeah, Jano runs that sled team I think they're called the Lapers, anyways whos your human that you're waiting for? Oh, and what's your name," Kayli said speed talking. "Um, my name Aleu and my human is Thomas," Aleu answered.

"Oh… I'm sorry about Thomas's mom… wait did you say your names Aleu? Your Balto's daughter! Oh my gosh, that means your half-wolf and everything! I think that's so cool," Kayli said with a smile. "Wait, what? I'm not half-wolf," Aleu spoke up "Well you have to be, I mean your dad is," Kayli said with a chuckled. Aleu's heart started to race and felt her body turned hot. "Did you not know honey?" Kayli asked as the bell ran all the kids came out of the school. Thomas walks out of the school and noticed Aleu was breathing hard. "Hey, Aleu, do you want to go to my friend's house and clear our heads? Aleu what's wrong?" Thomas said as he kneeled down to her level.

"Did you know?" Aleu asked with her ears back. "Know what?" Thomas said as he held out his hand to touch her but she pulled back away from Thomas. "Did you know I was half wolf?!" Aleu shouted. Thomas's eyes widen. "Oh shit…" Thomas said to himself. "Yeah, oh shit," Aleu said with tears rolling down her muzzle. "No wonder everyone all around me looks at me differently!" Aleu shouted before taking off. "Aleu wait!" Thomas said as he ran after her. Aleu was much faster than Thomas, of course, having her father's blood running through her. "Aleu! Stop!" Thomas shouted as he continued to run but with shortness of breath. "Aleu!" Thomas shouted before running into a lady.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Thomas said as he helped the lady up from the group. "It's all good," The lady said as she took off her hood. "Mrs. Jackson, I guess I am truly sorry I ran into you," Thomas said with said eyes widen. "It's all good Thomas and hey you can call me Alexa," Alexa said with a smile. Alexa was a woman in her early 30's with red hair and blue eyes. "Hey, was that your dog that ran past here?" Alexa asked. "Yeah, I'm sorry if she ran into you or something," Thomas said as he crossed his arms. "No, she's all good well. We almost ran over her earlier but she's a fast one, have you thought about putting her on a team?" Alexa asked. "No, I haven't thought about, I just thought that's more of her brother's thing than her's" Thomas explained. "Oh, Kodi and Yukon? *laughs* we raced them last week and they lost but they have potential. But your dog now she would a lead dog or something in leaders position," Alexa explained. Thomas nodded Anxiously. "Oh, you better catch up to her," Alexa said moving out of the way for Thomas. "Thanks, Alexa I'll talk with you later!" Thomas said as he ran past her.

"Alright, Thomas see you around!" Alexa said waving as Thomas ran. Thomas ran as fast as he could to Balto's trawler hoping Aleu would be there.

Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey guy's here's a new chapter and I know I'm fast with this new one but I wouldn't I'll do this every single time lol and anyway I'd like to thank a few people for letting me use their OC's I know one didn't get much of a big spotlight but give me some time to role that Character out because it's going to be important trust me so I would like to thank Jano and Kayli for letting use their OC's Jano's OC's were (Jano and Alexa) and Kayli's OC's were (Kayli and Rickie) Thanks again for letting me use them they are definitely going to be in future chapters and if you have OC's that you want in the story just send me a PM and I have another OC from Stexan Starfighter coming in the next chapter named Kidlat and he is a fox and he's awesome.

Alright guy's, tell me what you think of this chapter tell me if you liked it or hated it and tell me your thoughts and feelings about it and I'll see you soon I hope you have a great day or night wherever you are I'll see you in chapter 3: Can We Pretend see you soon!