Chapter 6
After a brief explanation to Boris, Balto padded back into the town. He still had a lot of the town to explore.
He noticed that there was a lot of commotion in the town. He padded in to see what it was. There were humans everywhere. They were cheering loudly. Suddenly Balto saw a sight that he would never forget. Dogs tied to sleds, racing each other down a narrow road. The two sled dog teams were neck and neck. Balto watched, entranced, as the teams crossed the finish line.
Balto failed to notice that the lead dog for the losing team was the same he had bitten.
"I tell ya it's that freakin wolf! He bit me! That's why we lost!"
The other dog rolled his eyes. "Sure, whatever you say."
The dog scanned the crowd. He grinned when he saw the wolf dog.
"There's the little prick. Come with me."
Balto was still watching as the medal was given to the winning team. Suddenly he was hit in the face. He felt someone grab him by the scruff of the neck. He was being dragged away.
"Let go!" He shouted.
"Say please." The dog taunted.
Balto sighed. "Please!"
The dog dropped him to the ground. "I lost a race today. You know why?"
"You're a bad runner?" Balto offered.
The dog smacked him across the face. "What are you a freakin comedian?"
Balto groaned. The dog held up his bandaged leg. "This is why I lost the race!"
"Really? A pup messed up your leg?" Balto chuckled. "I'm good."
The dog grinned. "You are a little prick aren't ya?"
Balto winced as he tried to get up. The dog pushed him back down. "You know I heard your mother died." The dog sneered. "Maybe she couldn't believe she'd created such a little prick so she killed herself."
Balto resisted the urge to punch him across the face. "Shut up."
"What was that?" The dog hissed.
"I said shut up!" Balto snarled.
The dog backed off, startled by his prey's outburst.
Balto took this opportunity to run off. He was out of sight before the dogs realized what had happened.
Balto padded deeper into the town. He didn't see anymore dogs. He breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe for now.
Suddenly he heard a clicking. He turned to see a man. He was holding a 44. Magnum in his hands.
"What do we have here?"The man lowered the gun. "Just a pup." He kneeled down next to Balto.
"You look hungry, little guy." He said softly. "I know where to get some good food for you."
The man picked him up. Balto was unsure whether or not to resist. The man seemed friendly enough. But Balto was still suspicious.
The man brought him to a large farm. It had animals everywhere. He placed Balto on the ground. "Wait here. I'll see if we have anything for you to eat."
The man walked into one of the buildings.
Balto's ears perked up. He had sensed someone. He looked around. "Who's there?"
"What are you supposed to be?" A voice called. A pup came out from behind a bunch of trash cans. He was black and white.
"I don't recall wolves being on the farm."
Balto rolled his eyes. "Wolf DOG. Not just wolf."
The dog grinned. "You're a hybrid."
"A what?"
"A hybrid. You know two things. A freak."
Balto nodded. "Thanks."
The man came back with a steak. He noticed the other pup. "Ah I see you've met Steele. I hope you two are getting along."
Steele grinned devilishly at Balto. Balto was too hungry to notice. He began devouring the meat at a fast rate. Steele glared at him as he ate.
"Don't get used to this wolf dog. If you come here again I'll make sure Nome is the last town you ever visit."
Balto nodded. "Sure. I'll be going then."Balto went to the gate. Three other pups were blocking it.
"I'd like you to meet my friends, Nikki, Kaltag, and Star."The smallest of the dogs frowned. "Why did you say my name last?"
The biggest of the dogs growled. "Would youse shut up?"
The middle dog smashed his paw down on the smaller dogs head.
Balto winced. "Well, great meeting you."
Steele grinned. "We aren't done with you. We need to make sure you never come here again."
Balto nodded slowly, eyeing the farm fence. "Look guy's, I don't want any trouble."
"That's a shame. Cause you found it."Balto suddenly darted for the fence. He leaped over it. He landed badly, hurting his leg.
"Let's get him!" Steele commanded.
The other dogs began chasing after him. Normally Balto would easily be able to outrun them, but his leg was hurting badly.
The dogs were catching up. Balto noticed a building. It had a ladder leading to the roof. Balto climbed up it. The dogs followed. Balto looked for an exit. Nothing. He padded over to the building edge. This building was at least twice as tall as the one he had jumped off of the night before.
The dogs padded up to him. "It's over wolf dog."
Balto trembled in fear. "W…What are you going to do? Kill me?"
Steele shook his head. "Just teach you a lesson."
Steele leapt at Balto. Balto ducked. Steele had jumped over Balto, and off the side of the building.
He let out a scream of terror. He managed to grab onto the building's edge with one paw. He hung off the edge of the building.
Balto saw him hanging there. He sighed. He extended his paw.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving your life. It's quite a long fall."
At that moment Steele lost his grip. Balto reached down and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Balto was nearly pulled down with him. He pulled Steele back up. Then he collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Thank you." Steele grumbled.
"N…no…problem." Balto panted.
"Let me ask you something. Could a wolf survive that fall?" Steele grinned.
Balto shook his head. "NO!"
Steele picked Balto up. "Goodbye half breed."
He held Balto over the edge. Balto closed his eyes, preparing for the end to come. Instead he heard laughter.
"You should have seen your face!" Steele laughed. "NO!" He laughed again. "Pathetic."
Balto got up. "Well if that's all…"
Steele shook his head. "No, that's not all."He bit Balto's tail and sent him flying into a roof ventilator. Balto crashed into it sending pain shooting through his body. Steele padded over, grinning.
"By the way, what's your name?"Balto groaned. "My name's Balto."
"Well Balto, welcome to Nome. This town doesn't embrace scum like you." Steele sneered. He leapt at the wolf dog.
Balto staggered to the boat. He could barely see. One of his eyes was almost swollen shut. He was bruised all over. He could taste blood in his mouth.
He limped up the ramp onto the deck of the boat. Boris gasped when he saw him.
"Vhat happened to you?"
Balto grimaced as he lay down. "Long story."
"You look like you vere hit by bus." Boris said as he examined his wounds.
Balto sighed. "How am I gonna survive a life of this?"