A Husky’s Quest - a "what-if" tale

Summary: A retelling of “Balto II: Wolf Quest” in the style of a “What-if” story, focusing more on Jenna and her feelings within the film. [Part ONE of SIX]

Rating: PG for a birthing scene, some foul language [both in this part], some peril and a bit of canine violence later on as the story continues. It’s nothing you haven’t seen in a Balto movie or a fanfiction before, but if either of those squick or bother you, do not read - you were warned!

Disclaimer: All characters and plots from “Balto” and “Balto II: Wolf Quest” are the property of Universal Studios Inc. and Universal Cartoon Studios Inc.; however, the twists and additions to the storyline for this story and any non-official characters/names/etc. that are used are the property of Juuchan17 and should not be used without the author's permission.

===========================================================

===========================================================

PART ONE

PROLOGUE

The sun was beginning to set as the she-dog sat close to the outside of the small town of Nome, Alaska. She was rather young – probably no younger than 3 or 4 years of age – but by the thinness of her legs and well-defined details of her flawless form, one would think she was a show dog. Around her neck lay a beautifully-tied bandanna, colored not only a red like blood but also with a tint of orange as well. Truly this was a purebred Siberian Husky, born for perfection of her proud species.

She was not alone as the sunset reflected off of her eyes, for a male canine was by her side.. her complete opposite. His fur was scruffy and brown, as if he had never felt the combings of a grooming brush against his hair. His face and belly were marked with light tan, easily making him stand apart from other dogs. His eyes were red, wrapped in a sea of gold that shimmered in the light.

As the seabirds sang their lullabies to the setting sun, the male turned to the she-dog by his side as she softly moaned under her breath. “Jenna? Are you feeling alright?”

She just chuckled, showing a sensitive smile. “Oh, Balto... I’m feeling just fine.”

“Are you sure?” Balto asked with concern. Clearly, something was troubling him. “You sounded strange. Oh, is it the pups?”

Jenna just shook her head, still beaming. “Honestly, I’m fine. You shouldn’t worry about me so much, love.”

The male’s dark ears fell to his neck sadly. “Sorry. I’m just... It’s just that...” He let out a deep sigh, lowering his head to the ground. “I’ve never been a father before, Jenna... and this is your first time carrying a litter too... Oh, Jenna, I love you so much... What if something happens to you or to the pups?”

In the light of the evening, Jenna’s belly was revealed in all of its bulging glory. It had only been about three months since the two officially became mates, and despite the obvious differences of breeding and physical appearances, Balto and Jenna didn’t seem to care about what other local dogs thought. They did know this to be fact: they loved each other and now they were about to start a family of their own.

“Don’t worry so much,” the pregnant husky repeated, leaning her nose close to his and kissing Balto near the lips. “Rosy’s parents have already prepared the shed for me to stay in when it’s time. Plus the doctor’s close by, in case anything should go wrong.” The smile never left her face as she continued to reassure her mate. “Everything will go smoothly, Balto. Please don’t worry.”

“I can’t help but to worry, Jen,” Balto could see himself within Jenna’s amber eyes as he spoke. “If anything else should happen to you, I would only blame myself. It’s my fault you hurt your ankle over the winter, you know.”

The husky’s well-sculpted head of red and white shook from side to side. “No, I was willing to save your life, no matter what.” She blushed a little as the memory of her actions from over three months ago came back to her. Worried about Balto’s quest to find a missing sled team that carried a life-saving serum, Jenna tracked down his scent and followed the markers he had left on several trees... only to discover him caught in the midst of a grizzly bear’s massive claws. With nothing more than a leap of faith, the slender purebred lunged for the bear, only to be tossed aside like a rag-doll. However, Jenna had given Balto enough time to catch his breath and give chase to the bear, ultimately risking his life to save hers in return.

“But I’m not afraid now either,” Jenna shook off the memory, looking back at Balto sweetly. “Dogs since the beginning of time have been birthing pups, so I know I can handle this.”

“When will they come? Do you know that?” Balto asked.

Being a male that was raised just outside of Nome by a gander and two polar bears for as long as he could remember, Balto wasn’t too experienced when it came to girls. All he could remember was that his mother was a white wolf and his father was a husky, causing him to be a wolf-dog and cursing him with mixed emotions of where he was meant to be. Thankfully, Jenna didn’t seem to mind the many questions that her mate had; she knew he was street smart, but there was still many things that Balto had never been taught before.

Jenna shook her head. “I don’t know exactly, but it should be pretty soon now. It’s been nearly nine weeks... Ooh!” She lifted a foreleg after letting out a gasp, looking at her white stomach now lined with two rows of soft-pink teats.

Curious, Balto joined the staring contest. “What is it? Something wrong?”

“No... they must hear us talking about them,” Jenna’s voice was soft and calming, just like a mother’s should be. “I can feel them kicking me... Do you want to feel them, Balto?”

He let out a gulp of anxiety, but his heart raced with anticipation. “S-s-sure... Yeah!”

Gently, Jenna lowered herself to the ground, belly up. Her breathing remained steady as she felt her mate come close to her warm body that was now a vessel carrying the most precious of cargo. Balto’s ear made its way to her stomach, and it wasn’t too long before he let out a gasp.

“Oh! I feel them!” A chuckle of surprise slipped from his mouth, and he could help himself but to place it back on Jenna’s body for more. “Heheh, they must know that it’s their daddy here, huh?”

“Hmm,” Jenna only smiled. Clearly she was glowing with pride, already knowing that her pups were beginning to bond with their very proud papa.

“Do you... do you think I’ll be a good father to them?” Balto asked after lifting his head, allowing Jenna to sit up again. “I’ve only had Boris to raise me like a real dad since I was six months old, but... can I really raise actual puppies without knowing what to do?” Jenna noticed his nervous shudders as Balto’s back began to hunch into an arch. “What if I mess up? What if they don’t like me because of who I am? What if...”

“Oh, you’ll be perfect, Balto...” Jenna stunned him silent, kissing his forehead. “I may not know much about your childhood, but I’m sure you will be the best father for our pups that you can be.”

The half-breed felt more relieved thanks to Jenna’s inspirational thoughts, letting it show by sighing with relief. “Thanks a lot, Jen. Oh, I’m so glad you have so much faith in me.” He leaned close to her burgundy body, as if he would never get tired of snuggling the purebred female. “Ah, it’s getting dark. Shall I escort you home for the night or did you want to stay up here with me for the night? You know, once the pups arrive, we’ll probably never have a quiet moment together again.” He winked at her, chuckling as his large nose rubbed into her muzzle.

“It sounds wonderful to be with you, Balto, but I’d better stay close to home for now,” Jenna whined sadly, standing to her tiny paws. “Who knows when these little rascals will want to be born. I’m just being cautious, that’s all. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I understand, Jen,” Balto managed to smile, although he felt his heart sink. “I want the best for our pups... but I still want to spend every minute by your side. I made that promise all those weeks ago, and I’m not going to break that vow so soon.”

“Oh, Balto...” Jenna could just melt into the rough-furred embrace of her other half, but she knew it was time to head home. “However, I will take you up on that escort.”

“All right, it’s a deal!” Proudly smiling, Balto took another glance at the dazzling female. Even in the darkest night and now with a pregnant belly, Jenna was still brightly shining like a beacon of heavenly light by his side. “God, you’re so beautiful” was all he could murmur into the wind as he led the way, allowing Jenna to lean against him as they trekked towards the town limits.

It was about a ten minute walk from the cliffs to Rosy’s house, where Jenna had lived for almost all her life. It was a small two-story house just like many of the other homes in Nome – not many people were wealthy, but they had enough