The next morning, Balto was sleeping in a small room. A small wooden room with some furniture being placed under blankets and rugs and only one window on the side while the doors were only a tiny bit open. He had an old blanket covering him as he slept under the table in the corner of the room.
He could remember well how he and Jenna had a wonderful night out there and it ended with them returning to the town. Instead of the old boat, Jenna insisted that he should come with her and sleep at her place. He was surprised by that offer, but he didn't object to it as he followed her to the house. There was only one place he could sleep tonight and that was the shed.
Jenna also slept with him that night, knowing how much it'd mean to him if she were there to keep him company over night. She kept him safe when he was in the hospital and she extended it for one more night where he could peacefully be in her company. He stirred in his sleep, feeling the gentle breeze on his neck.
"What a night… Jenna?" Balto stretched his legs without opening his eyes, hoping that Jenna would be awake and respond. However, he received no answer from her so he asked again: "Jenna?" After opening his eyes, he now realized that Jenna wasn't with him anymore or anywhere else in the shed.
"Where could she go?" Balto asked himself, slowly waking up. Judging by the light coming from the small window and the doors, it was morning outside. He knew that he was under the table so he carefully raised his head so he would not bump it above. There was nothing in this shed that caught his eye actually.
It caught his ear when he heard someone's humming from outside and eventually the doors opened, revealed to be Jenna. She was carrying a piece of meat in her jaws and was smiling joyfully. Dropping it in front of him, she wished: "Good morning, Balto! How did you sleep?" He figured out that she went to get him breakfast!
"Morning, Jen! I slept pretty good, thanks. Did you bring this for me?" He complimented, noticing a piece of steak that looked so tempting to eat. She laughed amusingly: "Of course, for whom else is it? I already had my breakfast, but I couldn't leave you without any meal!" Doing all this for him showed that he made no mistake in having her as his best friend.
"Help yourself! Soon my masters are going to the hospital because Rosy is coming home today!" Jenna revealed the other reason why she was so thrilled about this day. Balto pulled the leftover steak close to him and wasting no seconds, he finished this juicy meat quite soon, much to Jenna's surprise upon seeing his appetite.
"It was… it was pretty good, thank you." Balto showed his gratitude, ready to get moving. He carefully left his sleeping spot and got to stretch himself properly. Jenna commented: "My, my, for a wolf-dog like you, you sure have a pretty big appetite!" He found it funny how she noticed that and told her: "You can thank my wolf side for so."
She moved closer to him and with the world out there in front of him, she asked: "So, shall we?" He didn't complain how she made this move and accepted the offer, beckoning with his paw: "After you." Therefore, both of them were going to start this day off with Rosy being released from the hospital home and eventually making something great as a result.
When they got in front of her house, Jenna caught the scent and after sniffing it carefully, she let him know: "My masters already headed to the hospital! Maybe if we hurry up a bit, we can still get to see Rosy coming out." It didn't seem like there was a need to rush, but then again, Balto didn't complain here: "Alright, it's going to be a good morning workout routine for me! You know, when I do become a sled dog, Jenna."
She knew that and she cemented him the path to become one with her wishing him all the best. At this moment, both of them headed right to the hospital in hopes of seeing Rosy come out soon. Once they had made it to the window from where they used to watch Rosy from outside, both of them were surprised to notice that her bed was empty.
"I think that she could be out by now!" Balto guessed as he couldn't see the little red haired girl inside anymore. Jenna headed to the front side of the hospital and the smile on her face signaled to him: "Balto, look! She's coming!" Indeed, Balto wasn't wasting any more seconds to head in front of the hospital and realize that Jenna was right!
They first saw Rosy's parents having a delightful talk with the doctor and the nurse all while they could see Rosy on the porch. She looked much more lively than she was before and she was in her black fur coat again and had that favorite musher hat on her head. Jenna barked to get Rosy's attention.
"Jenna? Jenna!" Rosy was excited to see her beloved pet waiting for her that she rushed to hug her and even Jenna rushed to her. Jenna gave her lots of licks in her face just so she could show how excited she was to see her outside and healthy. Rosy snuggled her face against her chest and said: "Jenna, can you believe this?! I'm finally released from the hospital!"
Jenna's tail didn't stop wagging because of sheer joy. Moreso, Balto moved closer to Jenna and Rosy and of course, Rosy noticed his presence, saying: "Balto! It's wonderful to see you too! How is your leg doing?" She came to give him some pats on his head, looking at his shoulder that was once injured.
"Wow, you recovered so fast, Balto! It must be that you're half and half that made you heal sooner!" Rosy pointed it out, which made both Balto and Jenna chuckle in an amusement. Then, Rosy's father spoke: "Thank you very much again, doctor. So long then. Dorothy, let's get home." He and his wife were now heading down the porch.
"Hey, hey, Jenna brought Balto to see how Rosy is doing. I think she likes him even more, William!" Rosy's mother noticed both her dog and the town's hero being cuddled by Rosy. Rosy's father smirked and told his wife: "She liked him before and we were wrong to treat him for what he is. Now that he saved her life and the lives of others, I don't think their friendship will end at all!"
Both of them held hands as they were ready to take their daughter home, her father saying: "Come on, Rosy! Are you ready to be back home after a long while?" Rosy headed to grab her father's arm and answered: "I'm ready, dad!" Jenna followed them from behind, knowing her instincts and even Balto did the same thing. There was something on Jenna's face that made him feel like something good was going to come.
"Balto, once we return home, I can tell you that things are going to be better for you! Can you imagine yourself actually having a human to look after you and a warm home?" Jenna gave him a hint what was going to await him once they were going to return home soon enough. Clearly this didn't cross his mind all this time.
"Wait, are you serious? Do you think that I will be living under your roof, as Rosy's pet?!" Balto was stunned by this revelation, but in a good way. For a moment, he could imagine himself laying down next to the bed where Rosy was sleeping while Jenna was on the other side, both of them guarding the precious little girl from any harm coming from the outer world.
"Isn't this something you always wanted? Instead of living on a damp and old boat, you can have a warm home for a change!" AsJenna was saying it, Balto could only guess what were the odds that was going to happen. If he was going to be Rosy's pet, then he knew that his hopes to have a better new life had come.
Then again, he couldn't really leave Boris, Muk and Luk out of this. Sure, he wasn't going to ask them to come live with him and Jenna in Rosy's house, but it would not feel right if he completely neglected them out of his existence. Should he live in Rosy's house, then he could come and see Boris, Muk and Luk from time to time.
Once they made it in front of Rosy's house, her father was unlocking the doors and once they were widely open, Rosy got to enter first before her parents. Rosy's father then said: "Come in, Jenna!" However, when they heard that Balto's name was not mentioned, Rosy even brought it up: "Dad, did you forget to call in Balto too?"
Initially, they were expecting that Rosy's father would actually say something like: "Oh, my mistake! Come in, Balto!" Only that he did not say that when he asked her: "Rosy, what are you saying?" When he asked her that, it immediately meant something was not right. Balto felt it and even Jenna was taken off guard by this.
"Dad, aren't we going to adopt him?" Rosy asked, walking back to Balto, hoping that her father would actually consider that idea. This had both of her parents look pretty concerned about that idea. Balto and Jenna were not sure where this was going to lead to. Rosy's father even told her: "Adopt him? Where did you get that idea?"
"Dad, Balto needs someone who will look after him, he's never had a human before and he saved the town! Please dad, this would be a great opportunity for Balto!" Rosy begged, hoping that her parents would listen to her. Balto and Jenna were only watching the drama unravel itself as they hoped that Balto would be adopted!
Rosy's mother told her: "Rosy, I know how much he means to you and we understand that you want to adopt him. We are thankful that he brought the medicine to the town, but we can't just adopt him." Out of all pain and harm Balto felt through, these words felt like they actually hurt him. Not physically, but mentally.
"Besides, you have to know that Balto is a half wolf." Rosy's mother talked to her daughter, who was entirely in a denial here. "Sure, he may be tame for a wolf, you never know when he will behave like a wolf! Even so, for a dog, his life isn't like Jenna. Training him to be one at this age would take too much time and effort. If he is a little pup, then training him to behave like a dog would be a much easier work!"
"But, but dad!" Rosy hoped that her father would at least try to see her needs to have Balto as their new pet. However, his speech wasn't indicating so: "Rosy, I'm sorry. As much as he means to you, it is too much of a burden for us to train him and adapt to a dog life. I am afraid we can't just adopt him like that."
It was at this point that Balto was shattered by this. This all felt like during the days when he was an outcast. Jenna was shocked to hear the news, looking at her boyfriend distraught and muttering: "Balto, I'm so sorry." Rosy was starting to break down into tears, seeing how a wolf-dog who saved her life didn't get another chance.
"It's not fair! You're treating him like he didn't do anything for this town!" Rosy snapped, showing how she couldn't take it that her parents dismissed Balto for his wolf side. "Rosy...!" Her mother spoke, but Rosy didn't look at her, rushing straight into the house and yelling: "Leave me alone!" Even Rosy's father spoke: "Rosy, come back here!"
Yet she didn't when she rushed upstairs, crying loudly about this. Both of her parents were stunned by what happened here, her father covering his face with the palms while his wife asked: "William, what are we going to do? She just returned home and now as if her whole world has come to the end!"
"Hold on, Dorothy, we're going to let this settle down and… where did he go?" Her husband assured her and when he looked back on the street where Balto and Jenna were, they noticed that only Jenna was present. Even Jenna was surprised how Balto was no longer here.
"Balto?" Jenna asked, looking quite shocked with the outcome of this conversation. He was right here and out of blue, he vanished! His scent leading to the outskirts of the town was proving that he only ran as far as he could. She bowed her head down, sighing in disappointment and muttering: "Oh, Balto… you deserved none of this!"
As for Balto, when he saw Rosy running into her house, he too felt deeply hurt by this rejection. After everything he had done for this town and risking his life on numerous occasions, this was his welcome gift? Did he deserve to live like a stray out on the streets of Nome?! Was his salvation merely a… mirage?
He couldn't believe it as he silently left when Jenna and Rosy's parents weren't looking. He didn't want to be with anyone for a while so he didn't even bother to consult with his canine friends. In fact, he rushed as fast as he could towards the outskirts of Nome, rushing all the way to the old boat. Grief and frustration culminated in his head.
Soon enough he came to face his old and damp boat near the coast. Clenching his fangs, he just couldn't believe that this was everything he'd get for his actions. He closed his eyes and slowly trotted into the boat. Clearly he wasn't the only one on the boat when he heard Boris saying: "No, no, you two! I have to get the dirt from the floor here! I don't have time to play now!"
"But uncle Boris, we have been waiting for… hey, Balto is back!" Muk begged for Boris to play with him and Luk, but midway his sentence he noticed his friend returning, with his head and tail being down. "What's with him?" Muk asked when he noticed that Balto wasn't looking at them. Even Boris seemed alarmed by what was happening.
"Balto? What's with you, mal'chik? What's with the long face?" Boris walked up to the wolf-dog, scratching his head when he saw him look so miserable over there. For a town hero like him, how come he had to look this miserable right here?! Balto answered him without opening his eyes: "Boris, I don't want to talk to anyone right now."
"I'm sorry, what?" Boris didn't seem like he wanted to accept his response as "yes". Luk mumbled something from behind and Muk translated it to Boris: "He wants to know if that mean black dog has returned to the town?" Balto did answer him that: "No, he's not back and it's nothing, you three!"
"Hey, hey, watch the tone, Fido! What's the matter with you then?" Boris didn't like how Balto was responding to them and to think about it, it seemed pretty incredible how Boris stood up for Muk when Balto raised his tone. Balto could either leave the boat and head somewhere else… or stop the drama here and explain everything.
He chose the latter: "I'm sorry I got like this, guys. It's got nothing to do with dogs, but with humans." Boris was surprised when he heard humans and even asked: "What did they do? Don't tell me they tried to kick you or something! You're a town hero and you don't deserve to be abused anymore!"
"It isn't any human. Well, it has to do with Rosy's parents. She was released from the hospital this morning. Jenna and I followed her and her parents home and I was hoping that they'd adopt me for what I've done to this town. Instead, Rosy's father told me they weren't going to do so and Rosy got pretty upset." Balto explained to them what had happened.
"You almost got adopted by the humans?" Muk was surprised to hear that and even Luk mumbled something more, which could be translated as: "Does that mean you'd no longer be here with us, Balto?" Balto was sitting down and facing the floor, answering them melancholically: "As it seems, I won't have a human and I was hoping someone would adopt me at least. At least I'll still have you here… but today I am in no mood…"
His voice drowned deeper when he walked to the captain's room and slid under the blanket, feeling miserable about the accident happening not long ago. Hearing the depressing sigh from the wolf-dog, Boris scratched his neck while looking at him from the distance and he told the bears: "Poor Balto. All that he wanted was some human love and care… and he got none."
Muk and Luk also seemed pretty bummed out by Balto's problem. Throughout the day he hardly moved from under the blanket and even Muk and Luk didn't feel like they wanted to play with one another or with Boris. As for Boris, he was thinking how he could try to cheer Balto up, but he just couldn't think of anything.
The sun was setting to the west and Balto still remained under his blanket. Muk and Luk left to hunt some food for themselves, leaving Boris all by himself with the somber canine on the boat. Boris wanted to bring something up to elevate Balto's hope, but he also feared that whatever he had to say, it'd upset him.
"Balto! Balto!" A voice came from the distance and Balto heard it quite well. Boris also recognized to whom the voice belonged: "Oi, boychick! That's Jenna! I wonder what's now?" Balto moved a little bit. In fact, he headed to see where Jenna would come from and he found her at the plank that led to the side entrance of the boat.
"Jenna? What's going on?" Balto asked her. The look on Jenna's face was showing a hopeful expression and her voice seemed thrilled when she told him: "Balto, I have some news for you! They are not good, they are amazing what you are about to find out!" He had no clue what was going on, but he moved closer.
"Balto? Where are you, boy?" That voice belonged to Rosy's father, to which he was surprised to hear and when he saw him, he was with Rosy over there, who was holding her father's hand. She also had a hopeful look on her face. What was going on? After being rejected for his wolf side, somehow everyone was giving him hopeful looks?
"Balto? Would you come down here?" Rosy's father beckoned the wolf-dog to come down. Balto looked at Jenna and even she gazed at her master as if that was a good idea. He descended down from the boat and trotted towards the two humans. Rosy remained still, yet her father ducked down and patted Balto by his head, which had him off the guard.
"Look, boy, I am sorry for what happened earlier. What I have said and done to you before was not the right thing from me to do. You have saved this town not long ago and if it weren't for you, Rosy wouldn't be here today." Rosy's father told him, placing his other arm around Rosy's shoulders. She seemed excited about something that he was about to reveal.
"Even if it looked like I took your actions for granted, know that I did not. While I have decided that we're not adopting you, I have made a compromise with Rosy. She can tell you what it is!" There Rosy's father's voice beamed delightfully and Rosy came to hug the wolf-dog. She told him: "Balto, you're always welcome to come to our place!"
Did he hear that right?! This wasn't a joke?! They had that in mind for real!? Balto had to look at Jenna and her smile was saying everything! Rosy also told him: "Since you saved the town, wouldn't it be great that you and Jenna get to see each other every day? Not to mention, you two must be feeling something for one another!"
This made both Balto and Jenna's faces go red even if they already had feelings for one another. It seemed that her father wasn't going to reconsider the idea of his dog being with the wolf-dog anyhow. Moreso, he shared some other news: "Also, Balto, I think I may have some good news for you. It may be possible that you're going to be a lead dog in a sled team!"
Balto was thinking to become a sled dog lately, but to make it happen that soon? He let him explain: "I have seen Kaasan in his bed in the hospital today and he will be released soon. He's been told that his lead dog is gone missing and I think that you can be a good replacement! I'll tell him about you being a candidate, boy!"
From terrible to an absolutely amazing day! Balto couldn't believe it, first he was being told that he could come to Jenna's place anytime he wanted and how he was going to be a sled dog soon?! Rosy's father looked at her daughter and asked her: "Rosy, what do you say now? Is it settled?"
The girl hugged her father to show it was and she told him: "Thank you so much, dad! Can we bring Balto home tonight?" Her father looked at the wolf dog nuzzling Jenna and chuckled it: "Oh, what the heck. Come, you two! Let's get you something nice to eat and have a warm place to sleep!"
"Did you hear that?! Balto, this is a really big move for you!" Jenna laughed in joy when she nuzzled Balto by his neck and he laughed back, answering: "Oh, Jenna! I can't believe that I have some fortune this time! But hold on, I need to talk to Boris first." As he was about to get back on the boat and talk to him…
"Nyet, Balto! Don't feel guilty that you've been spending a lot of time with Jenna lately! You two are meant for one another and I know that you will come here once in a while, don't worry!" Boris let him know, making Balto and Jenna wonder if he was eavesdropping this entire discussion. Balto replied to him: "Alright, thank you, Boris! I was about to ask you how you were going to feel about this!"
"Just go!" Boris urged him, chuckling how he was hesitating to move on. Even Rosy called: "Balto, Jenna! Come on! Dinner will be soon!" Balto and Jenna bid their farewells to Boris and looked at one another. Balto asked: "Together?" and Jenna replied: "Together!" So the wolf-dog and the husky headed back to Nome, following the two humans.
While Balto was hoping that he'd have a human who'd look after him, he let the emotions override him again. However, after the darkness came the light and so Balto's emotional turmoil turned into joy when he got to follow Rosy and her father home with Jenna. The two were going to have a delicious dinner served and share a nice and warm bed tonight.