The sun had risen past where the tips of trees and the blue sky had met at an angle. He watched blissfully as he imagined her retreating form meet the edge of town.
It was worth it. He thought with a small grin. Just the thought of her shot glimmers of hope within him. "I wonder what'll happen if I stroll into town?" He whispered to himself.
"The humans will skin you alive." A husky voice called out from behind. He lowered his ears at the recognition of its originator.
He came face to face with massive grey wolf with black ears as dark as night. The pure bred looked down upon Balto tilting his head in curiosity. Instantly Balto looked away knowing words of wisdom and hurt were to come his way.
"On with it uncle Jax." Balto uttered with a sigh. He took his place near a tree overlooking the calmness of Nome. He had hoped she would return knowing he was not a foe to the domesticated nor humans.
The elder groaned at the task at hand. He didn't want to blow out whatever flicker of hope Balto held within. "Your mother had the same look and feel when she meet him." He informed smally with a laugh.
The young wolf narrowed his eyes at his. "Love knows no boundaries." He continued sharply as he overlooked the town. "It'll get you killed."
He laid there silently letting the words echo within. Seconds had blurred into hours in his mind. The train of thought had taken a turn into uncertainty.
"How do you that?" Balto questioned with his heart welled up in his throat. He wondered how he got the words to come out.
"You're half wolf and husky." The grey wolf replied with ease. "Humans feel with their eyes not their hearts. A heartless bunch is what they are."
Balto had felt the tears well up in his eyes. He held the will not to cry. "She may have accepted you but the question remains." He paused at howl of the wind. "Have they?" He questioned in bitter tone. "She may be a beautiful husky but there are others that may be intrigued.. Is it worth sacrificing life and limb?"
Balto stammered to get a sentence out. "I- I don't know." Came the reply.
"In this world there are two types of beings." He informed in a sincere tone. "One is a sheepdog or a hunter's dog. They protect the flock of prey humans have domesticated."
He struggled to speak due to these words of torment.
"They guard the food that we kill and hunt. Those protectors in turn hunt us." He spoke in a manner of hiding a fit of rage. "Then there are wolves. We hunted these lands before man and the traitors had set foot and paw onto here. We take what we need and yet we are the ones being hunted for sport or piece of mind."
Not too far off in the distance a grey and red blur could be seen a few minutes away. Balto wagged his tail at the sight of Jenna. His heart raced to see her again. His ears perked at his uncle's speech.
"You are not a wolf nor a dog." Jax informed with a playful nudge. A single tear escaped his hold as it streamed toward his snout. "You only know what you are not. Because the choice is yours to make."
He looked skyward to his towering uncle with a grin. He nuzzled the scruff of his neck and chest just as he began to pull away. He circled Balto a few times before he broken the silence.
"Always hold your head up high." The grey wolf informed as he nudged up the juvenile to his feet. "Nothing scares off a potential mate more than a depressed fool. She needs to feel security and enthusiasm."
"The path you have already chosen will be difficult." The grey wolf informed walking away. "But never forget your roots."
He smiled at the thought of the first day he meet Jenna. The only dog besides Doc to accept him for who he is.
He peered around the corner of the hospital. Days have past since his heroic deed. The great race of mercy. In minutes he was supposed to meet up with Jenna following Rosy's release. He peered up at the sky with caution.
Judging by the position of the sun it was noon. "What's taking her so long?" He muttered under his breath. He felt a growl rumble in his throat unbeknownst to human performing a gesture. The feeling of a pat on the head was unfamiliar.
For the life of him he couldn't shake the feeling of affection. A newfound feeling brewed a different emotion within him. Taming his behavior proved fruitful as he watched the human smile as he called him a hero.
"Relax wolf dog." A russian like voice called out from behind. Balto turned around only to come face to face with a russian snow goose. "A pat of the head is equivalent to a nuzzle you dogs and wolves do."
"Right." Balto concluded in unease. He huffed in annoyance obviously unsettled. "These humans hated me days ago Boris. It's a new feeling and it doesn't feel quite right." The wolf dog whispered as Star, Nikki, and Kaltag passed by on the opposite side of the snow covered street.
"Balto a word from the wise." Boris spoke as he eyed the three passing by. "They are not your friends." He remarked as Star looked back with guilt in his eyes some fifteen yards away.
"Acquaintances maybe Balto, but friends never." He said through gritted teeth. Boris stole a glance of Balto. My God he is giving me people bumps.
The look in his eyes chilled the russian snow goose to his core. He watched as his brown and yellow eyes turned black as glossy as ink. He snarled his snout revealing his teeth.
Boris cowered behind a metallic garbage bin. He shook uncontrollably while his teeth chattered. It had become clear what was happening. His primal instinct took over etched into him since the dawn of time.
In seconds he bolted from the scene. "Balto where are you going?" He called out in a mad dash behind him. The grey blur ran quickly through the maze of alleys throughout the town.
He stopped in observation. "Come on where'd you go?" He said in disappointment lowering his head to the ground for a sniff.
"Balto what gives?" Boris called out in exhaustion as he propped himself against a wall of a building. The wind blew hard sending a frightening chill to anything unprepared for the elements.
"Balto I am going home." Boris remarked as he trotted away. "Our home you know where it is. Never forget that." He sniffed the air smelling a sickening unforgiving smell. In seconds he ran past the goose in a hurry.
"This way Boris!" Balto shouted in anger as he circled back around to an unwilling Boris. He nudged the unwilling goose to an alley that brought back not so distant memories with Steele and the others.
He peered around sensing an off putting smell. "Something isn't right." Boris commented quietly as he covered his beak in an attempt to ward of the smell.
Balto nodded as the metallic scent grew stronger with every step they took. A scent that was very familiar but unknown. "Whatever it is we should be seeing it right about now." Balto commented in disgust.
Boris sighed heavily as Balto glanced around unnerved. A burning stare pierced his skull. "Come on out Steele." Balto whispered. The whimper of a child broke him out of his trance.
He followed the sound leading to an abandoned meat locker once used by the butcher. He peered inside only to see a mangled body beyond recognition in the darkness.
He gasped at the sight of the dead. The skin and flesh hung on his arms like a loose fitting shirt. He backed away in disgust and fear. "Who do I tell?" Balto questioned in panic. His nails tacking away on the floorboard made it worse.
A low cry pierced through the air and his soul. He closed his eyes and slowly turned his head toward its origin. This isn't happening. He thought to himself.
He opened his eyes coming face to face with the one he saved. By her form a mushers hat lay some inches away in a pool of blood. She whimpered in fear not knowing what's to come. Her eyes are crusted shut by the blood.
"Boris I don't know what to do." Balto said in a nerve wrecking tone. He let out a whimper signifying he wasn't a threat. He gently nipped the blood soaked mushers hat placing it onto her lap. "You came back." She muttered in a broken voice.
"She knew you left the day you brought the medicine. I believe she went looking for you earlier in the day today." Boris informed teary eyed as he saw her mauled form.
He laid his head onto her arm only to earn a a stifled scream of pain. "She feels cold Boris if we don't get help shes gonna die." Balto informed in shaky breaths. The bitter cold coming from a simple touch churned his stomach with fear.
"Balto if we do that you're going to take the fall!" Boris yelled in defiance. "This is foolishness! We'll die like dogs." Boris yelled not knowing what to do.
"I'm no dog." He countered with a half hearted smile. Without second thoughts he howled like a wolf would at the moon knowing a love it would never touch.
"You've killed both of us! You fool!" Boris screamed latching onto his face. Screams of the humans filled the air. In seconds the town's bell struck sending a deafening echo throughout Nome.
"You stay here you're dead." Boris shouted as he scurried away anticipating death itself.
Balto looked back with tears in his eyes. Upon his howl he knew he'd have to give up his new found life. A town hero? Ppfft not anymore. He thought as he trotted away.
Without warning a red and white blur pounced on him. "What did you do?" Jenna grumbled in an ill tempered tone. Upon seeing his fur and gifted bandana matted and drenched in blood a look in her eyes looked as if she wanted to kill something.
He closed his eyes not wanting to speak. He was at a loss of words for the mauling he were to take blame for.
She peered past his trail of paw prints. The sight of Rosy shaking uncontrollably sent her over the edge.
"She's going into shock." A human shouted in surprise. "Over there! He's responsible for this!" Shouted another as he pointed a lever action rifle accusingly at the two.
"This is all your fault!" Jenna seethed. She struck him quicker than a rattlesnake. In mere seconds she had him in her jaws.
He glanced at the man aiming his rifle clearly at the two. "Let me go!" He shouted in despair. He wheezed in pain with every word he uttered. The wolf dog's vision began to blur. In mere seconds darkness began to take its place. Seeing a muzzle flash he closed his eyes to the deafening shot overpowering one of his senses.
In an instance she dropped him from her death grip. He coughed vehemently with a look of betrayal in his eyes. His brown eyes widen in disbelief. A streak of scarlet ran down her face like a majestic stream.
"You're hurt." Balto commented as he turned quickly to the rifleman. He missed due to Rosy's father's intervention. He held the barrel of a winchester lever action rifle at a high angle. He shouted obscenities at him for taking aim at red and white husky.
"I can explain." He said quickly as he sprinted to the street. She scoffed in disgust at his attempt in innocence as she gave chase.
"I should have killed you." She commented following him throughout the street. The look of betrayal in his eyes sent her into a frenzy. It was worse than an insult but the destruction of trust. The very foundation built upon mutual love and respect had crumbled.
He weaved in and out of the streets and alleys. He turned back seeing a pack of sled dogs in pursuit. Crap. His mind screamed. He mentally scolded himself for breaking the town's silence with a howl.
Knowing well enough that a male should never step between a mother and her child he sought refuge. He'd rather die than to lift a paw against Jenna. A bullet seemed more favorable in his mind. Death before dishonor. He thought instantly.
He scanned the area for a fortress of solitude. Balto knew he'd have no chance on his own so he'd have to wait till nightfall. "Balto wait!" Boris called out in hopes of a quick nit reunion.
"Grab on quick Boris!" He panted in between breaths while barking followed suit. In a luck of a draw he caught his gifted bandana given to him days before.
He clutched his grip onto his neck hoping not to fall. For minutes Balto lead them on a chase zigzagging and weaving in and out the town. "Clever Balto very clever." Boris noted with a small chuckle at the plan of intertwining his scent and prints all around.
He rounded a corner coming face to face with Steele's musher. The human let out a gasp at the sight of his prized rescuer. He inched himself onto a wall. The two locked eyes for what seemed eternity.
The look of dread became evident in Balto's eyes. The look of guilt became etched in his face. One side wanted to save the half breed while the other wanted him dead. The musher gulped away the frog that was forming in his throat. "He's headed to snake river!" He shouted in a pretentious fit of rage.
He gave a reassuring look at the two before parting ways. What have I done? He questioned himself in silence as he saw the grey blur vanish.
The two looked back in disbelief. A glimmer of hope shines within him. A whistle ripped the air followed by a blast he deemed from a rifle. A stinging sensation emitted from his neck.
"You're okay Balto!" Boris remarked frightened as a second round kicked up snow and dirt in front of them. "You've been grazed!"
Balto caught a glimpse to his side seeing a towering figure just feet away. "Enough of this charade." James announced aiming down the sights of his revolver.
Instinct took over. Instantly the wolf dog weaved in and out of the people of Nome in an attempt to ward off his aggressor.
He carefully aimed inbetween and beyond the crowd firing deafening shots in hopes of striking the hero of Nome. The groups of people gasped and screamed at the sight of the wolf dog than the shots itself.
"Run faster Balto!" Boris screamed as he saw Rosy's father reloading like a madman. He looked around seeing the blur of building coming to an end.
Balto quickened his pace seeing the boiler room to the hospital. "The great escape outweighs the great race of mercy." Boris chuckled while slowly closing the door.
He watched Balto collapse to the ground. Exhaustion overtook the hybrid. He looked around in dread. The very townspeople he aided were out for revenge. Bloodlust ran marathons in his mind. The feelings of an odd addiction settled in.
"I don't like it." He commented in sorrow. "I don't want to hurt them." He said choking down a dying sob.
The goose watched with worry as he observed his friend's face. The look of betrayal mixed with a hint of vengeance etched upon his face.
"Rosy." He muttered while covering his eyes with his forepaws. His breathing became rampant as a flash of anxiety poured over him. A hot burning sensation struck him in the abdomen as if a heated knife pierced him instantly.
He clenched his teeth to the point of grinding them in attempt of keeping the peace. Boris clenched his eyes shut at the noise of bare teeth near the point of fracturing.
He reached down feeling the rim of a hole. He winced in pain just as his feathers ventured out to be gentle giants.
Boris looked back at his crumpled form laying near the radiant warmth of the boiler. "You're gonna be okay," He said with fear in his eyes. "whatever you do don't fall asleep." He nodded weakly, whimpering in fright.
Note: To further the plot to my liking Balto never met the white wolf in the first movie. I've been busy with school and work. Revised chapters will be posted within a week. Chapters from this point will continue the main storyline. Some will have brief flashbacks of his puphood to young adulthood. -RWP2
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