Hero’s Heart

Press in Nome  

  It had been eight days since Balto brought the medicine and in doing so saved the children’s lives and the residents of Nome from heartbreak. The town was now at the centre of a media storm, with telegrams and letters coming in from every from every corner of America. The town newspaper, the Nome Nugget had printed the story the day after the team had arrived back. Since receiving the medicine the children were making a full recovery. Quarantine had been lifted a few days before to the relief of all. The disease had run its course with only a couple of lives lost. Steel’s musher Gunner Kaasen was on the mend, despite having sustained a broken leg, concussion and pneumonia. By all accounts he had been very lucky to survive thought it would be at least another month before he was released from hospital. His son Richard, a friend of Rosie’s, had congratulated Balto the day after his return. Richard was had been one of the fortunate enough not to fall ill though he had been sick with worry for his friends.  

     “So Balto how does it feel, being one of the gang?” asked Nikki as he Balto, Kaltag and Star walked down the main street in Nome.

  “Fantastic! It’s what I’ve wanted, to be anybody, one of the gang,” Balto replied smiling widely.

  “Well what we did to you wasn’t fair at all, sorry,” replied Kaltag sadly.

  “I understand why you treated me like in that way. I am half wolf, humans and other sled dogs tell stories about wolves. That is the past, let’s make a fresh start,” Balto replied, looking at his new friends.

“Still wasn’t right though we should have looked past that,” Star replied shaking his head.

   “Well like I said I think we can start fresh now, I mean I didn’t do this on my own.”

 “Well no but you saved us we were in trouble till you came along,” Nikki said gravely.

  “Well I will see guys tomorrow, I have to see Rosie.”

 “I’m coming as well, my boy Harvey is in hospital,” Kaltag said as they reached the hospital.

     Stepping inside no one looked twice at the pair was both walked through the wards, seeing a sandy haired twelve year old Kaltag grinned and ran up to him licking his face. Seeing Rosie reading a book Balto walked up to her jumping onto the bed next to her.

  “It’s nice to see you Balto. Doctor Welch says that I can leave soon I can’t wait to go sledding. I am so glad I can talk to you now,” Rosie said stroking his head.

  “Me too strange how that happen. I am just finding it strange being a normal dog in town.”

“You saved us all Balto you should be happy, Daddy likes you now.”

  “That I am glad off. I have some great places to take you one you get out into the forest.”

   “Rosie, oh this must be Balto,” looking round both saw a seven year old boy walk up to them smiling.

 “Balto this is my friend Nathaniel, we call him Nat for short, he and I are in the same class at school,” Rosie replied.

     Walking up the pair Nat jumped onto the bed, stroking Balto as he and Rosie made plans for a snowball fight once they had left hospital. Then a girl the same ages as them walked up, sitting down on the chair next to the bed.

  “Balto this is my friend Anna she is Sylvia’s owner,” Rosie said as Anna patted Balto, running her hand through his fur.

   “It is nice to meet you Balto thank you for saving me,” Anna said as he licked her cheek.

 “Yes thank you Balto you are a nice dog,” Nat chipped in as he took Balto’s outstretched paw.

    “Ah Balto I see you have come to see us again. I do hate to break this up but it is time for Rosanna, Nathaniel and Annabelle to get some sleep,” Doctor Welch said in a gentle voice using the children’s full names.

  “But Doctor Welch I am not sleepy,” replied Rosie, covering a yawn.

“Please can I stay up a bit longer?” asked Nat.

“Just a bit longer Doc Welch,” Anna replied giving Dr Welch her sweetest smile.

  “Now now you are leaving soon so you need to fully fit, unless you want to stay longer?”

    Hearing this, the children moaned but complied with the request, all climbing into their beds under Dr Welch’s watchful eye. As the children settled down for the night Balto left the hospital, a large smile on his face. Walking out of town he saw Aurora waiting for him on the frozen sea. 

  “Good evening Balto how are you?”

“Fine, it is good to see you again,” Balto replied wagging his tail.

        Walking over the sea the pair walked they chatted about life in the town and forest. Memories long suppressed surfaced as Balto laughed at the mischief of his younger days. Despite the years that had passed both chatted as easily as they once had. 

  “So then, will I get to see you a lot?”

“Yes you will I am not losing you after all this time.”

“Will you spend much time with Rosie?”

“Of course, I am her spirit guide and we became friends when she was ill. It will be good to spend time with her once she leaves hospital.”

“I still have trouble believe you are an immortal spirit what I’m worried about is what you are not telling me.”

“Oh you will learn more in time little brother when the time is right,” Aurora laughed smirking.

“Sure I will,” Balto replied rising an eyebrow. “You want to avoid Rosie’s parents at all costs they would have a heart attack if they saw you.”

“I imagine they would,” Aurora laughed, imagining the scene.

“I cannot stay to long, Boris is expecting me back and he’s been through the mill recently. He took the place of my father when he found me if it hadn’t been for him I would have died.”

“He did a great thing when he took you in. I will come with you I have wanted to meet him for some time.”

    With that the pair walked towards the boat where they saw Boris shouting at Muk and Luk. Grinning Balto and Aurora howled, causing all three to jump round in fright.

  “Balto don’t do that to me scared me stiff and who?” Boris said staring at Aurora.

“Balto a wolf she won’t eat us will she……?” stammered Luk in fright.

  “Boris this is my sister Aurora she helped me get home, Aurora this is Boris the two bears are Muk and Luk.”

   “It is nice to meet you my brother has told me a lot about you” Aurora replied smiling.

 “You aren’t going to eat us then…?” Luk stammered

“Of course not besides wolves do not eat bears, I would never eat my brother’s friends.”

 “Oh, then that mean we can be friends?”

“I am not sure about friends like you are with Balto. I have my own life and will not be around all the time. I am a wolf wild and free I do not want to get into town life.”

       Aurora told them about her life in the wild, in return she learned more about Balto’s life in Nome and what it was liking living among humans. Soon all five were chatting with ease, Boris taking a liking to Aurora while Muk and Luk had relaxed somewhat. As the night wore on the friends chatted their laughter ringing out over the frozen sea.

     Friends of the North      

       It was a week later, at last Rosie and all the other children had been released from hospital a couple of days before to the delight of the town. In Rosie’s kitchen Balto and Jenna sat watching as Arthur headed out to work, muttering about annoying clients and wondering just where he had left his briefcase.

“I could have sworn I left it....…….” he grumbled as Rosie finished her pancakes. 

        Seeing said briefcase sat on a chair under the morning’s paper Balto picked it up, walking over to Arthur and nudging his hand with his nose. Looking down a relieved smile appeared on Arthur’s face as he saw the briefcase in Balto’s mouth.

“Thank you Balto I thought I’d lost it for a moment,” Arthur said stroking Balto’s head. “Well I’d better be off. Rosie be careful today when you are out playing, you have only been out of hospital a couple of days.”

“Have a good day Daddy I will be careful I promise” Rosie replied jumping off her chair and hugging her father.

 “Have a good day handsome” Violet whispered kissing him.

“I will,” Arthur replied kneeling down in front of Jenna and Balto. “Take care of Rosie for me.”

         At this Balto and Jenna barked a yes both licking his cheek, laughing Arthur headed out the door with a lighter heart. A short time later Rosie stood on the porch in her coat, mushers hat, gloves and a scarf with the picture of a wolf on it. Harnessed to her sled were Balto and Jenna, on the sled tightly wrapped was a