think.

 

    “Togo, Togo? I think he’s waking up dad.” Togo bleakly opened his eyes to see Julie standing over him smiling. She laughed and hugged Togo tightly, he smiled and licked her face.

”Don’t smother him Julie, here boy eat something.” Togo’s owner put a bowl of food down in front of him, it seemed to be fish. Togo jumped away from Julie, and ate the food gratefully. “With a stomach like that, I don’t see how you could be so small.” The owner laughed as he patted Togo’s head and walked into another room, Julie followed him away. For a moment, everything was quiet.

“Togo! Are you okay!”

Togo sighed, ”Yes mom, I’m fine, really. It was just another accident.”

“You say that like it’s not a big deal.”

“It’s not mom, it happens all the time.”

“Only to you.” Togo continued eating. “You didn’t happen to see, anything outside, did you?”

“Like what?” Togo looked up curiously now.

“Everyone’s talking about wolves coming into town, you didn’t see any of them, did you?”

Togo looked ecstatic,  “Oh yes I did! He was so cool! He was like OOhhh!”

Togo’s mom covered his mouth, “Stop that, you sound like a wild animal, and don’t walk around with him anymore.”

“But mom, he’s my friend.”

“I don’t care.”

“He also saved me, he brought me back.” Togo said proudly.

“I’m only looking after you Togo, no exceptions.”

“But-”

“No! He could bring others like him, then there goes are food, and everyone would scramble around trying to get rid of them, it’s best if he stays away, for both of your sakes, and you should stay inside for awhile.”

Togo, didn’t talk back, he went under a chair near the window and laid there.

 

    Balto was still under his blanket when the sun started to go down, he looked at the remnants of the food his mom brought him, nothing but a bone left, he pushed it to the side, and thought to himself. What am I going to do now? What about Togo? If he’s going to start anywhere he might as well start with apologizing to mom. Balto traveled to the lower deck of the ship, his tail tucked away. Dust flew up with every step Balto took. He he walked sluggishly down the stairs. Aniu was laying on a makeshift bed of debri from the ship.

“Mom?”

“Yes Atka, what is it?”

He sat down in front of Aniu. ”Mom, I’m sorry, I won’t go into town anymore if you don’t want me too.”

Aniu flicked her tail, “That’s not the point I was trying to make Atka, I was watching out for your safety. Nothing in town likes wolves around, they would want to hurt you.”

Balto already had his fair share of that, he perked his ears up. “that’s not all true mom!”

“Really?” Aniu asked amused by his answer, sitting taller.

“Yeah, I met a dog today, his name’s Togo. And we howled together, until-”

Balto, tried to evade the subject of the owner. “Until he had to go home, then I met his owners daughter, Julie, she named me.”

“She named you? Well what did she call you?”

“She called me Balto.”

Aniu stood up and walked over to Atka, flicking her tail back and forth, considering the possibility. Atka waited for the answer, sitting firmly. “hmm, I don’t think so Atka.” Atka’s ear drooped and his face went long. Aniu lifted Atka’s head with her nose. “Cheer up, I was only joking, Balto”

“Really?” Balto stood up to now, his tail wagging.

Aniu licked his face, “Yes, Balto. it would maybe get confusing after a while having two names, so Balto it is then.”

Balto didn’t know how to reply, so he asked “Does that mean I can go to town then?”

¨why would I let you go to town?¨

Balto thought hard about it.

Aniu gave Balto a smirk “I’ll let you go if, and only if you promise to stay with Togo and his family while you are in town.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but I would have to take you to them from now on.”

“No!”

”What is it Balto?”

Balto couldn’t let Aniu go, he didn’t want her to get hurt by Togo’s owner if he saw her. He had to tell Aniu, he just didn’t know how.

”Mom, I uh... I have to tell you something”

“Shh! quiet Balto.”
“What is it?”

There was movement coming from on top of the boat. Aniu peered up through the hole in the deck, trying to see if she could see it, whatever it was, but no luck. It wasn’t big enough to be a human, or a dog, but it would still be safer to check.

“Stay down here.” Aniu picked Balto up and hid him under the bedding, then crept up the stairs. She peered around the corner, nothing seemed to be on the ship.

“CAW!”

Aniu jumped, she looked above on the very top of the ship, there was the raven, looking at her. “What is it you want from me bird?” The raven looked toward the north, at the trees where Aniu’s pack is, and flew off. Aniu was sure that this was a sign for her to go, but she couldn’t leave Balto. “This is one time were I won’t be following you.” Aniu went back downstairs an unsettling feeling now taking place in her stomach. Balto was still laying under the covers. “Come out Balto, it’s safe.”

“What was it?”

“Just a raven Balto.”

“A Raven?”

“A bird.” Balto gave her the look of when he first saw her mark the tree with her claws. 
“oh.” 
“Balto, do you remember what birds are? I thought I told you, then again, that was a while ago. Ok, I tell you again.” Anui laid behind Balto, her head above him, looking through the hole in deck… Add in the story.

 

now come on, how about a trip to town, seeing as how I can’t leave you anywhere... troublemaker.” The two set off to town.

 

    “Mom?”

“Yes, Balto”

“I’m hungry”

“Do you think about anything besides food Balto?” The two entered Nome, undetected.

“Maybe if I had food, Just what are we doing in town, anyways, mom?” Balto looked around, and found Aniu in the alleyways. Aniu motioned with her head for Balto to come over.

”It’s safer here for us in the day.”

“Wouldn’t it be safer up there?” Balto looked up at the roofs of the houses.

Aniu laughed, “If you want up there, go ahead, let me know how you do it though.”

Balto figured it would just be safer to stick with Aniu instead.

 

    Akino comes back out of breath and finds Anui quickly. He tells that he lead the humans to the rival packs territory, and they spotted him, and now they are headed to Anui and Nayak’s pack, the raven appears and heads to that direction. which is when Anui leaves Balto.

 

Balto and aniu @ universal studios 

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