As we come to the end of this story we will be rejoining Balto and Dusk near the end of their lives, the two of them now in their late years. Please enjoy.
Balto woke with a small smile spreading across his graying muzzle. He slowly opened his eyes and let a yawn escape him, lifting his head up from his paws as he did so. When he finished his yawn he turned his head down to the right to see his mate pressed snugly into his side, her head resting gently on her paws, and her tail wrapped around her body so it covered her eyes.
She looked so much different now than she did the day they had first met those seven short years ago. Her gray tones were now mixed with highlights of white, her muzzle and the fur running between her eyes taking on the same white color. Her body had retained its slender shape throughout her life, though now it seemed so much more fragile; but Balto wouldn't change a single thing about her even if he could. To him she was just as beautiful now at the age of thirteen as she was the day he had first laid eyes upon her, the perfect blend of elegant grace and beauty.
Balto himself had change quite significantly with his age as well.
His tan and brown fur had now faded into a lighter shade and his muzzle was completely gray around the base running halfway down his snout, as were the goggles around his eyes. His fiery yellow eyes had dimmed slightly over time, but the fire and compassion in his spirit still burned as bright as the mid day sun. His hot paws had long ago cooled, and his ability to run had long since become no more than a distant memory.
He moved carefully so as to not disturb his mate and began to rise to his feet, stopping halfway up when he felt a pang of age coursed through the joints in his legs. He winced and continued to rise slowly, stretching his limbs out as he did so to try and loosen his achy joints. Once he was finished he sat down on his haunches, gazing out upon the beautiful summer weather through a window to his left. He could see the beauty of the rolling hills with their luscious green blanket of wild grasses dotted with the many colors of the native flowers that dotted the landscape, his wolf ears could hear the wind rustling in the poplars and the birds chirping their songs in the pines that grew proud and tall behind the house, and his still highly sensitive nose could smell the crisp, fresh air that the Alaskan summers had to offer. Balto smiled easily, standing slowly and walking stiffly over to his still sleeping mate. He arrived at her side and gently rubbed his muzzle along the side of her face, causing her to smile softly and moan as she opened her eyes to the world.
"Good morning beautiful," Balto said with a smile.
Dusk laughed at this and placed her feet beneath her, pushing slowly off of the ground.
"Beautiful?" she asked with a chuckle.
Balto slid his shoulder under hers and helped her up the rest of the way.
"Of course hun," Balto purred, "you don't look a day over two."
Once she was up on her feet she turned to Balto, licking him lovingly. Balto returned the gesture and the two stood for a while just gazing deeply into the other's eyes.
"Happy birthday, Dusk," Balto said smoothly, nuzzling his mate again.
Dusk thanked him and returned the gesture.
"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" a feminine voice mocked with a giggle.
Balto and Dusk separated and turned to the front door of the house, seeing a gray head poking through the dog door that had been added in a few years back.
"Callidak," Balto and Dusk greeted simultaneously with large, welcoming smiles.
"Won't you come in," Balto greeted warmly.
Callidak smiled and pushed the rest of her long body through the door, the flap swinging shut as the last of her tail cleared the opening. She padded over to her parents and nuzzled each lovingly, Balto and Dusk returning it.
"Happy birthday mom," Callidak said as she pulled away.
"Thank you darling," Dusk responded with a smile.
"Jake sends his best wishes by the way."
"Yeah, where is Jake?" Dusk asked, referring to Callidak's mate.
"His master's little girl isn't feeling well so he stayed with her today to help her feel better," Callidak replied with a smile.
"Oh, well I hope she gets to feeling better," Dusk said sincerely, "and tell him I said thank you."
"I will," Callidak replied.
"And what of the pups?" Balto asked with a wink.
"They're all grown up," Callidak replied with s sigh, "Tanner has a mate named Koko, and Juneau has herself a fine young man that she's been dating for at least two months now. Illivat says he's gonna pop the question on the next full moon."
She finished her sentence off with a wink directed at her father, giving the aged hybrid the hint that Illivat knew all about her wolf heritage. Balto smiled back at her then turned his attention to Dusk.
"Hey, I almost forgot something," he said mischievously, giving his daughter a sly grin.
"What's that hun?" Dusk asked, her left eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Umm," Balto began, with his eyelids pinched tightly together as he thought. "You know what? I can't remember," he finished with an "embarrassed" chuckle. "How bout you Calli?"
Callidak smiled evilly.
"If I'm not mistaken, there's something that my brother needs to talk you about."
"Oh is that so?" Dusk mused with an exasperated sigh.
Callidak simply nodded.
In his lifetime, Rouge had lived up to his name to a far greater extent than his parents had intended, his constant habit of getting into trouble causing the two of them quite a bit of stress over the years. It was to be expected that he would need to be bailed out of something or another, be it issues with a girl or some kind of ridiculous scheme.
"So what does he need this time?" Dusk asked with a giggle, "It wouldn't have anything to do with that sweet piece of tail that he's been seeing lately is it?"
"MOM!" Callidak exclaimed, going into a fit of laughter, her father joining in with her.
Dusk simply made a goofy face that betrayed innocence, this causing an even harder fit of laughter from her daughter and mate. After a few seconds, Balto began to run out of breath, his laughter ceasing and becoming long heaves.
"Oh man, hun. You're gonna give me a heart attack if you make me laugh any more."
Callidak also calmed and answered her mother's question.
"Actually, he wouldn't say. He just said that he needed to talk to you and dad," Callidak explained.
"That bad huh?" Dusk mused with a chuckle.
"Must be," Callidak replied with a small giggle.
"Alright, I guess that means that we'd better get a move on," Balto inquired, taking a step toward the door.
Callidak and Dusk took their places at each of his sides, accompanying him to the door where Balto stepped forward and lifted the flap up with his paw.
"After you, young ladies," Balto said with a chuckle.
"Ooh, such a gentlemen," the two females joked with a giggle.
Dusk bent her head down and made her way out of the opening, Callidak following close behind. Once the last of Callidak's tail was through, Balto followed, straightening himself out stiffly once he reached the other side of the door.
"So where is it that Rouge wants to meet me?" Dusk asked Callidak.
"Over at the Old Mill," Callidak replied with a grin, "why there, I have no idea; but you know my brother."
This caused a short chuckle of agreement to rise from Dusk and the approaching Balto. Once the hybrid caught up, the two turned and stepped off of the porch, turning right and headed out toward the Old Mill.
The walk to the Old mill was spent simply small talking about whatever little subjects crossed the family's minds, Balto and Callidak sending each other mischievous looks across from Dusk every now and again. They were baiting her on perfectly, the aged female having no clue about what truly awaited her inside the Old Mill. Upon arrival she could feel certain vibe coming from inside of the Mill. Something just wasn't quite right here. She knew that the Old Mill was usually quiet during the day, but the quiet that was radiating from inside today was unnatural.
"What's going on here?" She pressed, turning to her mate and daughter.
They both shrugged their shoulders, looking back at her with clueless faces.
"I'm serious guys," she pressed, this time more firmly.
"So are we mom," Callidak replied coolly.
Dusk rolled her eyes and decided to go along with it. She turned and padded up to the closed door, wrapping a paw around a crack and pulling it open. As soon as the door was opened up enough for her to see inside ad anyone inside to see her a light came on and she was suddenly blasted by "SURPRISE!"
Dusk jumped back in shock from the sudden shout. Everybody she knew was there, and to her even greater shock Rouge, accompanied by their mates and pups appeared from behind various things inside of the Mill, Jake stepping out into the open with his and Callidak's. There was a great cheer and laughter from the gathering, snapping her out of her initial shock. She turned back to Balto and Callidak, the both of them smiling broadly.
"You guys set this whole thing up didn't you?"
Balto and Callidak stared back guiltily.
Dusk stepped up to them and nuzzled them both, a large smile upon her face.
"Thank you."
They returned the gesture and separated from her.
"Now come on in," Balto offered happily.
"Yeah, you don't wanna miss out on your own party, do you?" Callidak teased.
Dusk's smile broadened and he stepped forward, Callidak at her side.
A clean guitar starts to play softly.
Balto stood where he was for a moment, his smile bright enough to light the entire world as he watched his mate and daughter walk through the door, the two of them immediately being greeted by the happy guests. Balto sat down, gazing admiringly out a them as they mingled with the guests and laughed along with them. He could not have wished for a better ending. There was soft whisper and a crunch behind hm. He turned around to find Jenna, Alue, Boris, and his deceased family sitting a few feet away from him with proud smiles spread across their features. Tears of joy welled up into Balto's eyes as he saw them, his breath rate speeding up. Jenna rose and walked over to him, nuzzling the side of his face. Though he couldn't feel her he was overjoyed to be able to do that again and separated from her, the tears now beginning to roll down his cheeks.
"We're all so proud of you," She whispered, her beautiful voice echoing slightly.
Balto's bright smile broadened until it stretched from one ear to the other.
Jenna turned and began to walk back toward the others, Balto rising to follow, but he stopped halfway up and seated himself again. He knew that it was time for her to go. Jenna made it back to the group of apparitions, turning back to Balto one final time. With a howl from his mother, they all started to slowly fade, his family disappearing in a brilliant yellow light. Once they were gone, Balto still remained, sitting on his haunches with joyful tears rolling down his cheeks, his smile becoming easy.
"Papa?" a voice asked from behind him.
Balto turned back to find his daughter Ali standing behind him.
"Papa, are you okay?" she asked, seeing the tears.
Balto sniffled and wiped his eyes.
"I'm just fine dear," Balto replied, his smile never leaving him.
Ali smiled back and took a place at his side.
"Well come on, let's get inside," she said gently.
Balto nodded and rose to his feet, following beside his daughter as they made their way back to the awaiting party.
Hello all, the furious and deadly Mojotheamoroq speaking to you for the last time from this story. It pains me to see it come to an end, but it also pleases me to finally be able to wrap this thing up and lay it to rest. I'd like to thank all of you who have taken the time out of their day to read my work and a special thank you goes out to those of you who went the extra mile and left me reviews for the three stories in this saga. They were very much appreciated and they would always bring a smile to my face.
Thank you to UnwarierTitan678, Sapphire Leo, Killer22, and a HUGE thank you goes out to my good friend Mike101 for being my most loyal reader and reviewer. This guy has been with me from the very beginning and has helped me out significantly with his reviews and I will forever have his gratitude. So again, thank you Mike, you rock bro.