Back to the night when the team had set off for Nenana to retrieve the medicine…
Watching from the old boat, just outside Nome, Balto was sitting on the deck, watching the team set off on a long journey in the heart of Alaska. Hours ago, he was the winner of the test race and the most qualified candidate for this difficult journey. At this moment, he was a disqualified half-breed, having his dreams shattered into tiny fragments.
All that he ever wanted was to be a sled dog and help those ill people, namely children, in this town, just that he no longer had to be shunned or hated. Steele did this to him, the pain he'd inflicted to him was still present and it wasn't a physical one anymore, but it hurt his soul, just as it was seen in his eyes.
Trying hard to suppress his tears, he recalled the exact same moments that happened when he had been disqualified. Standing on the sun covered street, Jenna saw what kind of pain and misery had her friend gone through and she even walked up to him by saying: "Balto, I'm sorry…"
He didn't let her finish because he turned around to head to the other side of the town, telling her: "Better not talk to me, Jenna. I might turn on you." He said that in a calm tone, knowing that he couldn't raise it on Jenna. He had her fall on deaf ears when she tried to reason him as he was leaving the place: "Balto, wait! Balto!"
He dragged his tail down the street, his ears and head being down, without listening to the humans on the sides. Besides, they were leaving for their homes. However, he didn't say that Max and Molly had seen this. Max even called him: "Balto! I saw what he'd done to you! Balto, are you listening to me?!"
"Leave me alone, Max. There's nothing you can do for me now." Balto stopped to tell him, not looking him in the eyes. Molly even protested: "What are you saying, Balto?! We're trying to help you here and this is how you respond to us?!" Clearly she could face Balto angrily glaring at her, but he remained peaceful, answering: "As much as you two want to help, I don't think there is anything you can help me with now."
"Look, let us talk to you with… hold on, where are you going?! Balto!" Molly was persistent, but Balto quickened his pace and soon left the street. Max was going to follow him, but knowing that he was a part wolf and that he could easily outmaneuver him with that speed, he spoke: "Darn it! He can't be stubborn like that! He has to talk with us about this!"
Balto only remembered next that Boris was by his side to the old boat and this time, the old goose didn't try to talk to him, knowing that Balto was beyond upset at this point. In fact, Balto felt like he was at the absolute low at this point in his life. Friends who could not consult him and the only human who ever cared for him was lying sick in hospital bed.
Boris was in the cabin, sleeping under that blanket. Balto couldn't sleep, at least not for now. This pain kept him awake and seeing the team leave where he'd have been if it wasn't for Steele and his malicious intentions, he heard voices in his head, the same ones Steele spat in his face, mainly related to his wolf side… save for the one Nikki said, on Steele's behalf…
"It is simple, we don't welcome them in this town!"
"We better don't find you anywhere near our food again or better, anywhere in this town!"
"Get out of here, wolf-dog. Get back to your pack!"
"Do you honestly think any musher would put you on his team?"
"And when I come back I'm gonna fold you five ways... and leave you for a cat toy!"
The last few ones were still fresh. Balto couldn't get those voices out of his head and they pierced his heart and his soul with the malice and cruelty Steele had sweetened his words with. Balto was left with nothing, with no one and all this time he'd spent in his youth was gone for what? Being an absolute outcast in this town.
He let one tear stream down his face. Humans disliked him out of fear that he was a wild animal, dogs hated him for being a half-breed all under the influence Steele provided them with. There were few dogs who weren't like that, his friends. But still, they were a minority compared to what Steele had in his paws.
He could only feel like pain and misery growing bigger and worse when Steele was going to return. Steele was going to have everything - fame, fortune, glory and a female he desired. Jenna was going to be that one, no doubt, he feared that. His life was going to be even more miserable than it was at this point.
The sight of the wolves roaming outside Nome and the wildlands outside this town caught Balto's eye. He only went there if he had to hunt food if he had no desire to seek one in Nome's alleys or fish in the shallows. This wasn't going to be a hunt anymore… if Steele was to have everything he desired, then Balto made his decision.
By the time Steele and the medicine was going to be back in Nome, Balto wasn't going to be there. In fact, he was no longer going to seek food in the alleys, he was no longer going to seek out the assistance and help from his friends or kindness from Rosy. He was going to leave Nome, once and for all. He was going to embrace his wolf side, thinking how foolish he'd been all this time to embrace his dog side in his youth.
Another tear down his face, Balto glanced at the town, then at Boris, sleeping under that blanket. Thinking how he, Muk and Luk were the first ones he'd met after being separated from his mother, he was going to tell Boris his farewell and that he could return to his homeland, now that he was going to see Jenna, Max and Molly the first thing in the morning and bid them his farewell to them before to Boris, who'd tell Muk and Luk and he… was never going to return to Nome.
At the dawn of the next day, Balto was already awake. He had managed to time himself to be on all his fours this early and clearly he knew why. Boris was still sleeping over there. He was going to tell him the last about his plan. He had in his mind to go to the town and tell his friends first. It was going to hurt one way or another, but at least they'd know for his whereabouts.
With the burden in his heart, Balto hopped off the deck and without thinking twice, headed to the town. The first sun rays broke from behind the horizon. They were higher in the sky when Balto reached first houses. He hoped that his search wasn't going to be a long one, all because he just wanted to get this done and leave at once.
The fortune somehow smiled at him. Looking near the hospital, he saw all three of them near the window and even Audrey was nearby. From the distance, Max had a pretty frustrated look on his face while talking to his sister. Molly was doing her best to offer Jenna the words of comfort. Balto had to make his move.
He approached them silently, knowing that his presence was going to be known to them when he was closer. In fact, Jenna was the one who first noticed her wolf-dog friend and called him: "Balto? Balto!" Max, Molly and Audrey also noticed him coming, the latter one showing no sympathy as usual.
"Balto! Are you alright?" She rushed to her friend and nuzzled him, hoping that he got over his misery. Balto just sighed when she did that, knowing that this could have been the last time between them. Max asked him next: "Balto? What's wrong? Don't tell me that you're still devastated from yesterday!"
"I'm not, Max. I'm fine, don't worry, Jenna. I've come to tell you something important." Balto spoke without having any need to raise his voice. Molly nudged him: "Well, we're listening. What's the matter?" Balto was about to tell them. Even if Audrey didn't bother to talk to him, she seemed interested in hearing what he had to say.
"I've made my decision… I'm leaving Nome and I… I don't think I'll ever come back." Balto told them, feeling the burden on his heart was going to pass onto them. Jenna gasped in shock when she heard that, Molly yelled: "NO!" and Max even asked: "What?! Have you gone mad?! Why are you doing this?!"
"Isn't it obvious? I don't belong here, Max, okay?! This is not the place for me to live! Steele might have been right all along!" Balto spoke, raising his voice at his friend, showing how upset he was upon making this decision. However, Max didn't go without a fight: "Darn his words and what he thinks, Balto! You don't say something like that because I know, we know, that you do belong here, but you just don't see that!"
"Look, we don't care what Steele thinks! He's not our friend, he's a loathsome and egoistic glory hound and just because other dogs think the same way he does, it does not mean that we'll think the same, okay?! You are our friend and you do belong here! With us you're safe!" Molly reasoned with him, showing to what extent she thought about Steele, clearly not caring if Audrey was listening.
"Balto, please, think about it. You're saying this because that's what Steele wants you to do so, but where will you go?! If you're going to live in the wild, do you think you'll have a chance out there?" Max hoped that he'd change his friend's mind to make him think that the rush of emotions was making him say things like these.
"Do I have any other choice, Max? Do I?! The town sees me as a tramp, as a street hound and as a wolf! No humans but Rosy ever showed me any kindness and very few dogs like you had given me any compassion for the last two or three years I'd been living, okay?! This isn't the place I want to live if no one thinks I belong here!" Balto wanted to make sure that no one was going to change his mind.
Jenna's voice was the quietest one and filled with love and reason: "Balto, please, don't do this to us, to your friends! We've been your friends for a long time, so have been Muk and Luk and so Boris was looking after you all this time! Whatever you're up to, please stay with us! We're going to be there for you!"
"You have to listen to her at least, Balto! Jenna is right, no matter what kind of pain and misery you've been going through all this time, we'll stick by your side even if it means to the end!" Molly clearly showed her intentions, making sure that if she had put up a fight with Steele, she'd be a female with whom Steele'd have to consider twice dealing with.
All this… everything he'd heard from them, going to a certain extent in standing by his side… as much as he wanted to be protected and safe, he answered: "Jenna, Max, Molly, I get it that you want me to be safe. I appreciate it sincerely from all three of you, but I made my choice. I will no longer be your burden, you should not spend your lives on covering me, that is something I should have done myself."
Jenna was feeling the emotions rushing to her, clearly showing that she couldn't imagine how miserable her friend would be if he was going to leave. She walked up to him and tried to stay calm, telling him: "Balto, please, don't do this! You're my best friend! I don't want you to let Steele's poisonous words infect you and repel you from this town! I fear for what's going to become of you out there!"
Balto was touched by how she admitted how much her friendship meant to her. Even Jenna felt that without him, her life would be filled with a void. She didn't know if she was going to say it or not… would that make her desperate? Molly and Max tried to sympathize with her and even Audrey, who'd been ignored from behind, actually felt somehow uneasy.
"It is my decision… Steele will no longer have to look for me to make my life miserable anymore. In fact, all that he'll ever say is how he saved the town and that he'll have everything he pleases while I'll be gone from this town." Balto didn't see a future in this town if Steele was going to be hailed as the hero for delivering the medicine.
"But do you… do you really think that if you go live out there… without many hunting experiences, that you'll have a blessing life in a wolf pack?" Max expressed his doubts, while making sure Jenna wasn't going to cry here. As much as Max refused to show any prejudices towards wolves, seeing his best friend living among them would make no difference. Mocked for being too dog for a wolf, inverted.
"I want to tell you how much I appreciate your sacrifice you're willing to give for me, but I don't want to drag you any lower anymore. I don't want to be a burden to any of you and for one thing, I'd hope that there'd be a place for me in this world where no one will ever torment me or judge me for who I am…
...Jenna, know that when Steele and his team return, Rosy will be saved and you'll no longer have to worry for her safety." Balto finally mentioned Rosy. If she was going to survive her illness, then he'd be pained to think how he'd no longer receive kindness from her anymore. These three finally realized that they couldn't do anything about his decision.
Jenna stepped up first and knowing how things weren't going to be the same without him, nuzzled him one more time and spoke: "Balto… I wish I could change your mind, but… I hope this is not the last time we're going… to see you…" Her voice was being gurgled by the tears that were coming to her eyes.
"Jenna, you stay safe and look after Rosy when she's saved. I survived the blizzard when I was a puppy, I will survive whatever comes to me when I start living in the wild!" Balto assured her that no natural disaster would easily claim his sad life. Max shared his words next: "I'm so sorry, my friend, that we can't help you here anymore. I hope we haven't seen the last of you yet."
"Max, I'll make sure we see one another when you're delivering mail. This isn't the final time. Same for you, Molly." Balto expressed his opinions before he was going to part ways with them to join the wolf side of his life. Looking once more around the houses in Nome and hospital, he sighed melancholically and watched his friends going through emotional turmoil, telling them: "Goodbye, you three."
They each bid their farewells to their friend and watched him leave in the distance. A wolf-dog they'd been looking for and saw him as their best friend and as a brother… was no longer coming back to Nome and Rosy was never going to have that chance to see Balto ever again… Audrey, who'd not participated in this talk, actually felt genuinely touched by this parting.
Jenna just turned around and walked towards the window from where she could look after Rosy. Max looked at his sister and still thinking she'd felt no shame for fawning over Steele, told him: "Remember this, Audrey… should that precious crush of yours come back to Nome with that medicine and with Balto gone, then you'll no longer have a brother!"
"Max, this is insane, do you really think that…?!" Audrey tried to reason to him, but him having enough of her excuses prevented her from finishing. Molly didn't sound any warm to her either: "And don't think that I'll be talking to you either, missy! When you realize how wrong you'd been to fawn over Steele, it'll be too late for you!"
"Molly! Molly, wait! You don't understand! I just want to…!" Audrey once again tried but both her brother and Molly left the place. With Jenna she couldn't reason because she'd have been hurt the most. Besides, judging by the sound, she could swear that her scarlett red friend was weeping. In fact, Audrey felt the tears come to her eyes. Was she wrong all this time to judge her brother's best friend for the sake of the arrogant glory hound of Nome?!
Balto returned to the old boat. Whether Muk and Luk were there too at the moment, it didn't matter to him anyhow. He was going to bid his farewell to Boris on the old boat and then head to the wild. Where? He had no idea. How far? Again, it didn't matter to him either. What mattered was having Boris call him: "There you are, boychick! I was worried if you've left somewhere else?"
"You're right, Boris, I am leaving Nome… and I'll live in the wild now!" Balto let him know and at first, Boris thought that he was joking, but seeing him not crack down into laughter actually made him say: "No, you cannot be serious, Balto! You must be insane to do such a thing!" However, Balto persisted in his intentions.
"Boris, this is it. Steele will save this town and Rosy will be saved from her illness. He will have everything but I won't give in to his pleasure ohim tormenting me anymore. Boris, I might have been foolish to think that I belong here - maybe I was wrong the entire time!" Balto assured him that he could not be stopped in his intentions here.
"After everything…?" Boris stuttered in shock, trying to find his words how he disagreed with his choice. Balto let him know: "Boris, you can stay here with Muk and Luk or you just can go back to your motherland. You will no longer need me to look after. I thank you for everything you've done for me, but this is my choice. Goodbye."
Boris didn't know what else to say as he watched him head to the forest and the wild. He called him: "Balto! Balto, wait! If this is what you want, then I wish you sense and luck out there. I wish I could convince you otherwise, but you have made your choice. I will miss you, mal'chik." He finished his words in a somber tone and let Balto go, deep into the heart of wilderness.
The entire day for Balto went as quick as flash. He had headed deep into the heart of the forest and ran for hours and hours until it was past sunset. He didn't eat anything at all. His instinct to run away as far as he could was too strong for him to think about food. It didn't matter anymore. He was going to live his solitude life until he'd come across some wolf pack that'd show him some mercy and let them join.
After hours and hours of running, Balto finally stopped. He needed some break, he needed to think about what happened from the time he'd left Nome. He was now far away from the town, upset and his dreams smashed into fragments. He hadn't encountered any wolf in his way. The snow was lightly falling from the sky in this spruce forest.
He was thinking, since he was going to let out his tears down his face, did he make the right choice? Was he ridden by the emotions to run away this far, leaving the ones behind who cared for him the most? Was any of this worth it? Warm tears streamed down his face onto snowy ground, feeling upset about his decisions and life mistakes.
Was it a wise choice to abandon his dog life and live in the wild, having very little experience in hunting down any prey? How long would he live on his own to realize that his choice wasn't as wise as he had thought. Looking down on the ground where the tears were falling, it only had taken him a moment to realize that he wasn't alone.
At first he thought that he was seeing things. Then, something white moved in front of him and looking slowly up, he only could notice the white furred wolf in front of him. The instinct sparkled his hopes as he was going to see the wolf's face. Upon noticing the eyes of the other wolf, he saw that they were… green.
A female wolf with green eyes, with some wrinkles on her face, mainly below her eyes, stood in front of him. Her look seemed so… warm in this cold environment. A small smile on her face, it looked so motherly. Balto knew that she couldn't be his mother… he knew very well that her eyes were golden and black, not green and white!
"What is a young one like you doing in the wild like this?" A female asked him in a warm tone, hoping to offer him some help. Balto didn't know what to say at first, but the urge of him thinking that he'd seen his mother got the best of him: "I'm sorry… I've been running away for hours and hours and I almost had mistaken you for my mother… because of the eyes…"
She seemed rather intrigued when he mentioned that and seeing how far he must have been running, she came closer and whispered, very sweetly to him: "Why don't you come with me and my den? It is not very far from here and I can offer you a shelter. We're not the only ones who live there, young one."
Being offered to come with her seemed so unusual and strange in Balto's eyes, but her warm presence and motherly tone was something not even he could deny even if he had no idea who she was, yet she resembled his mother a whole lot. Then again, he was far from his home and he only answered her: "Yes… yes, please. Anywhere to be safe… please."
She turned around and beckoned with her paw, telling him: "Come with me then. You may have something to eat and somewhere to sleep tonight, with us." Balto followed her, being genuinely surprised that a wolf he'd come across treated him nicely. Was he actually right that he'd have embraced his wolf side instead?
"When you mean 'us'... does that mean there's a wolf pack?" Balto asked her, wondering how welcome he was going to feel when they were going to arrive at her den. She sighed, letting him know: "It is hardly a wolf pack to say. It is just me, my mate, my brother and my brother's mate. We've been together for years and years… wolves came and left."
"I… I see." Balto whispered, wondering what kind of misfortune came to this elderly female wolf and her pack if so many had come and so many left? That didn't matter because she led him to the clearing and it only took Balto a few seconds to notice the presence of three other wolves on the other side, near the entrance of the den.
"Tala, you're back! But who is that young one with you?" An elderly male brown wolf with golden eyes raised and walked up to the white wolf named Tala, whom he graciously nuzzled. He noticed the presence of Balto and the wolf dog was looking into those wolf eyes. They were golden… and he could remember that his mother's eyes were golden… but she had black eye-balls. This male had white, so it was likely that there was no relation between them.
"Saku, I've found him near our den. Tell me, young one, what is your name? I apologize if I haven't asked you that before." Tala allowed him to say it. He glanced at Saku, the brown wolf, and his wrinkled and aged face, then at Tala, answering her: "I… I am Balto." It was that very brief moment when the looks in both Saku and Tala's eyes flashed, but Balto failed to notice this.
Saku started sounding warm like Tala and even generously offered: "Balto, you must have been tired from running! You look like you've been running the entire day and you must be hungry!" Tala led him to where food was, and two other wolves, one that was a black one and male, who looked younger only a little bit. The other one was a white female with bright blue eyes. Tala asked him: "You can take anything you want to eat!"
"Tala, thank you, and you too, Saku… but I'm not hungry. I just want to rest, get some sleep. Anywhere, please." Balto begged them, hoping that he'd rest from running and running after hours. They both took it quite well, with Tala reminding him: "We have a place for you where you can sleep. You can have your meal the first thing in the morning."
"Thank you." Balto was relieved that they'd accepted it. Then, the black male wolf walked up to Balto, followed by the white female, and likewise, was surprisingly warm to him: "Welcome to our den, Balto. My name is Hunter. I am Tala's brother." The white female wolf didn't save any warmth in her words: "And I am Laska, Hunter's mate. Your arrival was… surprising."
"I don't know what to say about that, Laska. I just sought somewhere to sleep and I came across you…" Balto let them know, being too tired to reveal to them why he was here in the first place. She told him: "And you've come right in time. We'd have been sleeping by now, but Tala must have noticed someone's presence at the entrance of our den!"
"Besides, as different as you look… well, you don't look like a pure wolf to me, I will not look at you for that. I think you deserve some hospitality from us!" Hunter beckoned him to the cave where Laska was heading, but not before nuzzling him by his chin with her tail, Hunter smugly telling him: "She likes doing that, it's our kind of kiss, you know?"
"I guess?" Balto didn't know what to say, observing the den that consisted of spruce trees covered in snow, rocks, ice and even more snow. Saku let him know: "If you want to check out this den some more, we'll wait for you then." But Balto assured him: "No, no! I was just wondering about this place, that's all. I want to get some rest."
"Then don't fret, come with us!" Tala spoke to him as if he were… related to him. Balto actually accepted that kind of warmth offered by Tala and was the last one to enter the cave. It wasn't a pretty large one, but it was at least a place to rest. Hunter and Laska cuddled to one another at one side and so did Saku and Tala. Balto was about to find some place for him to rest, but Tala called him: "Come sleep over here with us."
"Are… are you sure?" Balto asked her, but even Saku insisted, knowing that Balto shouldn't question it. Balto moved near them and just noticed where Tala was darting at - her shoulder. He was wondering if what he was about to do was even a right thing to do. He just let his head rest on Tala's white shoulder and not only it felt warm, but he actually felt like it was the right thing to do. Saku, Hunter and Laska welcomed that.
"Now sleep, young Balto. In the morning, we will talk about everything that brought you to our den." Tala whispered and her voices sounded so soothing, so warm, so… motherly. He knew that Tala was not his mother but something about her felt so motherly. He couldn't think about anything because her voice actually made him fall to sleep faster than he expected.
The morning after, Balto was awake. He felt like he'd slept long enough to compensate for every time he didn't sleep enough. He still felt something warm and soft on his head and even a soft and sweet nuzzle on his head. He slowly opened his eyes and noticed that it was Tala, licking his forehead. She told him: "Good morning, young Balto! Are you ready to eat?"
"Tala? Good morning… I think the hunger is coming to me now!" Balto felt that his stomach finally activated and gurgled loudly, realizing how hungry he was. Thankfully, he didn't have to hunt for food when Saku moved closer and dropped a meat in front of him. He said: "Help yourself! You deserve to replenish your energy after all."
Balto took the food Saku had offered him and it tasted like the most delicious food he'd ever eaten! It tasted like rabbit flesh to him and once he'd finished gnawing bones, he said: "Thank you, Saku!" He got on all his four paws and noticed that those other two wolves, Hunter and Laska, were also present.
"Balto, good morning. I was wondering if you were going to share your story with us?" Laska walked up to him. "Story?" Balto asked her, yet Hunter made it clear to him: "Like what brought you here to our den? We're not attacking you, you can be sure of that." He felt assured that among these four wolves he felt… safe.
"My life was… it has never been a happy life to me." Balto shortly introduced it, to which Saku asked him: "Why do you say that?" Balto didn't wonder why he asked him that and then again, Saku had his own reasons. Balto continued: "When I was a little puppy, I was separated from my mother. Her eyes were similar to yours, Saku, only she had more black. I never knew if I had a father or any siblings."
"Oh my." Laska gasped, hearing how sad that sounded like. She let him continue: "I was raised by a snow goose. He was like a father to me. There were two polar bear cubs who were my friends and I was born near the human town of Nome. I never knew why I tried to be a dog just because I'm half and half...
...the humans never seemed to like me, except for one little human girl. Dogs didn't like me there, especially one by the name Steele. I only had a few friends, one of them is the dog of that little girl, her name is Jenna. She was my very first friend and even until I left, I always saw her as my light in the darkness, but now I don't think I can follow that light now that Steele was in my way…
...he made my life miserable, prevented me from doing what would make me happy and now that the town is in dire need, I wanted to bring the cure from a distant human town to save Jenna's girl, but Steele finally destroyed that final chance. I decided to bid my only friends farewell and this led me to run deep into the wild to you, which I was unaware of."
Those four wolves listened carefully to Balto's words and Hunter was the one who'd broken the silence: "I'm sorry what you've been through in your life, Balto. Perhaps your arrival here was destined?" He didn't know what to tell him. In fact, even Hunter didn't bother to seek the answer. It was Tala who broke the silence again: "Balto, hearing what you've been through in your life, have you looked into your heart about your future?"
"I… I was thinking of joining my wolf side and seeking to like a life in the wild, perhaps a solitude life…" Balto admitted to her, knowing that he had to choose his words wisely in order to have them offer their opinion. Indeed, Tala did such a thing: "If you're seeking a new life and to start over again, you can live here with us!"
"W… what?" Balto asked, not believing what he'd just heard. Saku didn't hesitate either: "You may not be a pure wolf, young Balto, but you seem like someone who deserves another chance. Instead of living a sad life, being harrassed, bullied and shunned, you can come here and live with us. I see that you deserve it."
Balto didn't know what he wanted to say right now. Start all over again? Live a wolf life, with the wolves that were friendly and accepting him? This sounded like a life offer he couldn't deny. If he was going to accept this, would this mean that he'd no longer be in contact with Jenna, Max and Molly? Then again, he couldn't just erase them from his memories.
"If only I could tell her about this… if only I knew!" Balto whispered, thinking how this new chance might not seem like a wise one. The wolves around him actually didn't look like they wanted to say: "So now you reject our offer, huh?" Saku asked him: "Balto, that friend of yours, do you like her? I mean, not just as a friend, but more than a friend?"
"I… I, uh… I do like her. Before I left them behind, I showed Jenna something and it was just me and her together and alone." Balto recalled that beautiful date under the clinic that had the Northern Lights in a small space. Hunter asked him: "Tell us, do you want to let her go to that other dog? Is that what you want to happen if you're being given a choice?"
He didn't think this through well. Did he really want that? He didn't like her at this point - he admired her. She stood up for him to Steele, was there for him when he was in dire need and she was his first best friend. Unlike Steele, he actually did very little necessary to have her on their first date! She didn't even show any embarrassment about them dating together. Was this how Balto would let her go for Steele?
"No!" Balto's voice suddenly got determined. While they were surprised by his change of heart, they found it admirable how he didn't want to let Jenna go. Even if Steele was going to return to Nome with the medicine, he was not going down without a fight! He told them: "This is not how I should have left her behind! I should not have made haste with my emotions and run away… I have to return!"
"Outstanding! You just remind me when I was your age! I won't lie to you, Balto, I actually fought for Tala's love back then!" Saku praised his choice, knowing that letting go of someone loved was a foolish choice and a fight would at least determine who'd have her heart. Balto looked at Saku and something flashed in his eyes… as if that flash gave Saku back some memories.
"But, Tala, you were hoping that I'd live with you, didn't you?" He looked at the white female wolf with the green eyes. Tala actually didn't show any disappointment for Balto's choice to return. In fact, she told him: "As much as we'd be honored to have you in our new pack to start your life anew, I think that if you really like her, you should not back down!"
"Yeah. Even if you'd be a young one among us, I think you should not just let her go." Hunter gave him the piece of his mind. This just made Balto think about it - four elderly wolves and none of the young ones. He asked them: "Aside from Tala telling me that the wolves came and left, have you had any pups yourselves?"
"Oh, we have. Hunter and I had triplets, but when they grew old enough, they answered the Call of Nature and now live somewhere else in these lands. We surely miss them." Laska revealed on the behalf of her and Hunter. Saku even let him know: "So did Tala and I and they moved on with their lives. We all stayed together after all those years!"
The thought of Tala and Saku having anything to do with his mother seemed less likely now. Sure, Tala's fur and Saku's eyes made him suppose if they were connected, but seeing that these two just didn't mention anyone who'd match Balto's description, he stopped going for it. He still liked how they were warm and kind to him.
"I… I see. But I have to ask you something else before I go back." Balto looked at all four of them, wanting to memorize their faces. He asked them: "If I return and I don't win Jenna's heart… will you wait for me to return?" Tala gave him the answer: "If everything goes wrong, young Balto, we'll welcome you back as the new wolf in our pack, even if you're half and half!"
"But if I win her heart, will we see each other again?" Balto wanted to make this sure. This meeting seemed like a one chance in a life, but Tala let him know: "Balto, I don't think this will be the last time we'll see each other. In fact, I see in the future that we'll meet again." Hunter vouched on that: "Lately my sister got into shamanism and it is pretty brilliant!"
Balto faced the same way he'd arrived with Tala and knowing that this was a goodbye, for time being, he spoke: "Tala, Saku, I thank you for your hospitality, kindness and offer, but I will return to that town and fight for Jenna's heart. I long to meet you again." Saku told him: "So do we, young Balto." Tala let him know: "Until we meet again!"
"If the spirits allow, I'll be there to see you once again!" Hunter didn't think of being absent should his sister see the young wolf-dog again. Laska offered him: "Stay safe and stay strong! May the spirits guide you back to the human settlement to win her heart!" Balto looked at both of them and single-pawedly told them: "And I thank you two, Hunter and Laska, for kindly accepting me here."
They accepted his gratitude with silence. Balto walked to the entrance of their den and before heading back into the forest and following his instinct to find the way to Nome, told them: "Goodbye, all four of you!" They all bid him farewell and not wasting a second anymore, he headed deep into the forest.
"Goodbye, Balto." Saku bid him farewell and Tala finished it: "Grandson."