Balto: …Must Come

to an End

A sequel to: Balto: All Good Things…

Pages: 147 Words: 22,750

Started: 04/16/06

Finished: 05/07/06

Written By: Anthony E. Rotramel

Note: This story was inspired by Balto, (© 1995), Balto II: Wolf Quest (© 2000) and Balto III: Wings of Change (© 2005) by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The characters Shadow, Dash, Melody, Timbre, June, Drake, Gemeni, Everest, Trina, James, Stripe, Tycha, Tim, Astarre, Asta, Sheik, Lima, Thunder, Saeidifar, Sam, Asta, Saba, Everest, Rife, Sunny, Tram, Junior, Jill, Lighting and the events of this story are © 2005 by Anthony Rotramel. The other characters are © Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The name Saba is the intellectual property of Juuchan 17.

© 2006 All Rights Reserved.

Prologue:

(Previously in Balto: All Good Things…)

Saba had learned a lot in the last few days.

Aniu was indeed, very real, and though Saba hadn’t believed in her, had taken the young husky under her wing, teaching Saba how to fight, and how to defend herself; how to make decisions, and how to lead. For what purpose, Saba did not know.

Aniu walked into the chamber where Saba was practicing. “How are you doing my child?” Aniu asked.

Saba smiled. “Fine.” She said.

A great sadness seemed to come over Aniu’s face. “Come over here for a minute child, I need to talk to you.”

Saba nodded and walked over to the white wolf. “What is it Aniu? Is something wrong?”

Aniu sighed. “The time for which you came is approaching, and you need to know what you will do.”

“What do you mean?” Saba asked. ‘I mean… I can’t help can I? I’m dead… right?”

Aniu nodded. “…for now.”

“For now!” Saba cried. “What does that mean?!”

Aniu sighed. “My child, Shade has escaped once again and I am afraid that my son has done more harm now than ever before.”

“You want me to fight him?” Saba asked.

“Something like that, yes.” Aniu said. “However, this time he’s not a wolf.”

“What?” Saba asked. “What is he?”

Aniu sighed again. “My child, do you remember when I said I could assume any form I chose?”

Saba nodded.

“Shade is human… for now. How long he will be able to maintain that form is unknown to me, but he took the body of a very influential human, and is going to use it to bring great trouble upon the Talbourne Clan… this and…”

Aniu sighed.

“What?” Saba asked.

“Aleu will not be leader of the Talbourne for much longer. Her time is short.”

“Well then let’s stop him!” Saba said.

“Not yet.” Aniu said. “You are not yet ready for such a confrontation… but soon, yes, you will face him. It was destined for you to come home to me as you did, and it is destined for you to return and save the clan.”

Saba nodded. “Teach me.”

Aniu smiled. “My child you must master the things I have already taught you in order to move on to the others.” Aniu stood. “I see you are making great progress, keep practicing and soon I will teach you more.”

Saba nodded and Aniu walked out of the chamber.

Night had fallen on the forest, high in the mountains, near Nome, Alaska.

Aleu stood on the rock ledge outside her chambers, high above the ground.

She sighed as she thought of the many wolves who had been killed in this new attack by the humans.

They carried weapons of a type Aleu had never seen before… never even heard of.

…but that wasn’t the only thing that had drawn Aleu out tonight; she felt as if something were dreadfully wrong, but she couldn’t think of what.

She’d come out here to think.

A voice from behind startled her.

“Aleu?”

She turned. “Shadow.” She said, as he stepped up to her.

“Aleu, what are you doing?” Shadow asked.

“I just needed to think.” Aleu said.

“Well get down from there.” Shadow said. “A human could pick you off like a young deer up there.”

Aleu smiled. “…always worried about me.” She thought.

“Aleu, I’m serious.” Shadow said.

She nodded. “I’ll be in soon. I promise. Just… just give me a few more minutes… okay?”

Shadow nodded reluctantly. “Alright, but just a few minutes; then you’ve got to come inside, where it’s safe.”

Aleu nodded. “I will.”

Shadow turned and walked away from Aleu, back into the cave.

Aleu turned back to the ledge, and walked to the edge of it. She looked up at the twinkling stars and the many colored light that whipped through the air like a serpent.

“Oh Aniu,” Aleu thought. “How will we ever get out of this one? These humans are too well armed. You said that the key was to train Saba… but she died… I fear… I fear all is lost.”

A single man made his way through the woods, trying his best to be quiet.

“Things are so much easier as a wolf.” The man thought. He looked down at the Springfield Sniper Rifle he held in his arms and reconsidered. “Humans do have their advantages though…”

The soldiers he commanded were making short work of the wolves of the Talbourne Clan.

The man climbed up on a large rock and pulled the small bipod legs on his rifle out, creating a stable position.

He aimed high and centered his scope on a gray wolf standing on a rock ledge more than six hundred yards away and maybe fifty feet higher than his position.

The man skillfully adjusted his scope for the conditions and centered the crosshairs on the wolf’s chest.

“Good-bye Aleu.” The man thought. “Finally, I will win. I’ve fought you for so long Aleu, so long… but it ends tonight, tonight you die.”

Then the man pulled the trigger.

Chapter 1:

Aleu was still standing on the ledge outside the cave. She was thinking; thinking about friends lost, lives sacrificed… for what?

During her time as Alpha of the Talbourne many wolves had given their lives so that she could live on, continuing to lead and guide the Talbourne.

There were so many of them that Aleu had lost count.

Who was she that others should die that she might live? This question had plagued Aleu ever since Alai had given his life to save hers, and had continued to this day. With every wolf that died in this way the question grew stronger.

Was she some kind of royalty, that her life was worth more than those that gave it so willingly? She was the daughter of Balto and Jenna, two normal dogs, nothing special, nothing that warranted their actions… yet without their sacrifice, Aleu would most undoubtedly be long gone, killed long ago, probably before even making it back to Alaska.

Was this what she wanted?

Had her life taken that course, Aleu would’ve never known Shadow, would’ve never had children of her own, Sheik, Lima and Thunder… she would’ve never known what it was to be loved… to love.

Aleu supposed that she should be grateful for what they had given her, but… at the same time she felt guilty. Those many wolves had families of their own… what of them? What of their mates… their children? Could Aleu possibly ignore all of this?

Aleu sighed and looked toward the stars. “What does it all mean Aniu?” Aleu asked.

Aleu lowered her gaze and looked down the valley, at the river that curved through the land.

The air was suddenly filled with a harsh crack, and Aleu stumbled backward and fell.

She found it hard to breathe.

“What happened?” Aleu thought.

She tried to stand, but her paws slid out from under her and she fell to the ground.

Aleu became aware of an intense burning feeling in her chest, as if it were on fire.

She looked down and saw a puddle of blood beginning to form under her. It was pumping from a round hole in the right side of her chest in sudden pulses.

Aleu sighed and tried to stand again… but failed.

The pain had grown worse now, and was still steadily increasing.

Aleu drew herself into a ball on the shelf and lay there, the pool of blood spreading to envelop her head.

Aleu felt light-headed and realized with a frightening intensity what was happening.

“I’m dying.” Aleu thought. “So this is what it’s like… this is how it ends… how all those wolves felt…”

The pain had increased to a point that Aleu’s thoughts became jumbled with its intensity.

Aleu was grateful a few minutes later, when the world turned black and she felt herself drift away.

Shadow opened his eyes with a start as the crash filled the air.

He