Chapter 3
Though Balto hadn't told his mother, this information had hurt him. He sat outside the cave entrance. He felt someone approaching. It was his sister Cleo. "What do you want?" He snapped.
"Geeze what's you're problem? I was just gonna ask if you could tell Aston to shut up for me."
"He wouldn't listen to me. He's a jerk." Balto shot back.
"What is wrong with you?" Cleo demanded. "You're acting more idiotic than usual."
"I'm fine." Balto said.
He watched the lights from the houses of Nenana. "Are you ever planning to go into the town?"
Cleo rolled her eyes. "This is about you not being able to go into town, isn't it?"
Balto looked at her with a surprised expression. "How did you find out?"
Cleo smiled. "I talked it out of Mom."
Balto rolled his eyes. "Just leave me alone."
Cleo pouted, then stormed back into the cave. Balto sighed.
He sensed someone approaching. He sniffed the air. It was unfamiliar. He noticed a gray wolf padding towards the cave.
He was a handsome looking wolf with blue eyes. He smiled when he saw the little pup.
"Well hey there junior!" He called.
"Who are you?" Balto asked.
"My name's Claude. You can call me Uncle Claude."
"Are you really my uncle?" Balto asked, still eyeing the visitor suspiciously.
The wolf known as Claude chuckled. "Look junior, why don't you just go tell you're mother Claude is here."
Balto ran into the cave and told Aniu. Aniu felt a wave of fear hit. "C-come in!" She stuttered.
Claude padded into the cave. "Aniu! Good to see you again."
"What do you want?" Aniu asked nervously.
Claude frowned. "Why would I want anything?"
"Well, y-you came all the way here." Aniu stammered.
"I just wanted to…" Claude suddenly advanced on Aniu. "…Check on you."
Aniu pulled back. "What is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with you?" Claude shot back. "We could have been together. Instead you went with that dog!"
"Hey shut up about our dad!" Cleo snarled.
"Was I talking to you junior?!" Claude snarled back.
The pups went silent. Aniu slapped Claude across the face. "Don't talk to my children like that!"
"Children? These are all freaks!" Claude said gesturing to the pups. "They're all hybrid, wolf dog freaks! Created by you and that pathetic husky!"
"Get out of here Claude!" Aniu snarled.
Claude turned to leave. Suddenly he picked up Aston. "Is it because of this one? Is this little freak why we can't be together?"
"Claude put him down!"
Claude put his paws around Aston's throat. Aston began gagging. Then he went limp. Claude dropped his body to the ground.
Aniu let out a sob. "You freak! What's wrong with you?"
Claude shook his head. "No?" He picked up Cleo. "How about this one?"
"Please no!" Aniu pleaded.
Balto closed his eyes. There was a snap. Cleo's limp body was dropped to the ground.
"You really ought to make up your mind." Claude sneered. He picked up Dingo.
"Please, no more." Aniu begged weakly.
"Sorry." Claude smiled. There was another snap. Dingo's body joined the others.
"Now, one to go."
"Please, at least leave Balto!"
"Balto is it?" Claude smirked. "End of the line Balto."
Balto winced, preparing for the killing blow. Claude pounced. Aniu leapt in between. Claude's teeth dug into her stomach. Aniu let out a gagging sound. Then she fell to the ground. Her eyes stared off into nothingness.
Claude shook his head. "What a waste. She was a great one."
"You killed her." Balto said sharply.
Claude grinned. "That's right junior. You can take that information to your grave."
"Look behind you!" Balto cried.
Claude turned. "What are you talking about junior?" He turned back around. Balto was gone.
"C'mon out Bango!" He called. "You can run, but you can't hide."
"Actually I can do both." A voice called.
Claude turned in time to see the pup sprint out the cave entrance.
"Get back here you little prick!" He snarled. He too sprinted out the cave entrance.
Balto was fast, but he was only a pup. He turned to see Claude gaining on him.
He stopped. Claude went flying by.
"C'mon, that's no way to treat your Uncle Claude." He taunted.
Balto turned and ran in the direction of the town. He needed to get away, even if he had to meet the humans. Suddenly he felt Claude bite his tail. He yelped in pain.
"You know you're a bright little hybrid!" Claude snarled. "Problem is you're still just a hybrid."
Balto realized with horror that he was going in the wrong direction. He was going deeper into the forest. "St-stay back." He pleaded.
"Sorry Junior. This is where you get off."
Suddenly the woods were pierced by a loud growl. A bear rose out of the ground right behind Claude. Balto's mouth dropped open.
"Goodbye Bingo." Claude sneered, somehow unaware of the bear. Suddenly the bear picked him up.
Claude screamed in terror. Balto realized he had an opportunity and sprinted off deeper into the woods. He heard the screams as the bear tore into Claude. After running for a while the screams subsided.
Balto paused to catch his breath. Tears came streaming down his muzzle. His family was gone. And he didn't even know why.
He continued on deeper into the woods. He looked worriedly at the clouds. It would snow soon. He had to find shelter fast.
He found a small hole in the ground. He tried to lay down.
He was shaking uncontrollably. He suddenly let out a cry of sorrow. But there was something else in it too. Rage. He started pounding his paws into the snow.
Eventually he tired himself out. He dozed off.