Balto 1 1/2, Part 2:

Balto's Struggle

By C. Brucker "TameWolf03"

 

 

Balto couldn’t sleep. His mind was racing faster than a whirlwind in an Alaskan snowstorm. He was baffled by everything that had so suddenly fallen into his lap. Everything that he had ever wanted, everything that he had ever dreamed of having, was now his. Could he have ever expected this? Deep down, it all seemed too wonderful to ever come true, and it was certainly a shock to him when it all just suddenly hit him in the face. Who would've known that literally overnight, he would be taken in by a family, and be named a lead dog? The thought of it all always seemed great, but it would be easier said than done to actually make it happen. Would he be able to handle being a lead dog? Would he be content with always being watched by hoards of people, always expecting so much of him? Not to mention, what would the training be like that he would have to be constantly going through? He had heard that some of those mushers were pretty rough with their dogs, and that some even went as far as beating them at times. Could he fulfill all of his musher's wishes? What if he were to make a mistake? Never in his life had he ever been so mixed up. It was late. Everyone was in bed, and sound asleep. Balto found himself staring out the window, into the starlit sky, wondering just what the future was going to hold for him. Until, a voice interrupted his train of thought.

“You look lost in your thoughts,” Jenna said. She had heard Balto creeping around, and got up to see what was going on.

Balto didn’t answer.

“What's wrong?” she asked him.

Balto sighed. “What am I going to do, Jenna?” he said.

“What do you mean?” Jenna asked, "About what?"

"About everything that's been happening."

Jenna chuckled a bit. "What in the world are you talking about? I would think that everything that's been happening would make you happier than you've ever been before."

Jenna's laughter stopped when Balto looked down at his feet. “Jenna," he began, "when I went out to get that medicine, I was just trying to do the right thing. I wanted to help those kids. I never wanted any of this. I never wanted to get taken away from everything I've ever known.”

“How could you say that?” Jenna asked. “You used to always talk about being in the sled races. What’s there to be upset about?”

Balto sighed. “Jenna, I always liked the idea of running in a sled team. But, I never thought it would actually happen. It was just one of those wild dreams, and I never really thought about all the hard work that would be involved. Now...I've got a long road ahead. Training, traveling...How am I ever going to get through it all?”

“Balto,” Jenna assured, “you’re selling yourself way too short. You can handle it. Sure, it's a big change, but you’ll get used to it.”

Balto turned around quickly. “I never wanted change!” he shot back.

Jenna was surprised by his reaction.

"I just wanted to help out, and then get on with my life! This is just wrong."

Jenna was getting angry. “Then you’d rather live life as it was before!" she answered with a sharp tone. "You’d rather go back to that cold, lonely ship, where you didn't have anybody. You’d rather walk through the streets of town being yelled at, having things get thrown at you, and have other dogs gang up on you all the time. Things were terrible for you back then Balto, and you know it. You didn't deserve any of that, and now you've shown everyone who you really are, and they all love you for it. Why on earth would you want to go back to those old days?"

Balto began to back down. He knew he couldn't win this argument. “You’re right, Jenna” he said. "I'm sorry I snapped at you."

Jenna suddenly felt ashamed. "Oh Balto," she said, "It’s all right. I didn't mean to be so hard on you."

“I guess I’m just missing Boris," Balto explained, "and Muk and Luk...I just know that I'm not going to see them very often any more. I miss them...a lot.”

“So, pay them a visit,” Jenna suggested. “Everyone’s in bed. You can sneak out the dog door in the front, and there's a hole in the fence outside you can squeeze through. I’m sure Boris would be happy to see you. I doubt he'd be upset if he was bothered this late by you coming by. Just as long as you come back before everybody wakes up, they’ll never know you were gone...”

“You’re right,” Balto said. "That's just what I'm going to do."

"Great," Jenna said. "Come on, I'll show you the way out."

"Thanks Jenna," he said. "I owe you one..."

 

...

 

Boris was half asleep, lying with his friends, the bear cubs. It was getting cold out, and the threesomes were trying to stay close to keep warm. It had been two days since Balto had come home, yet they had not heard from him since. Boris couldn't help but wonder what had become of him. Should he start worrying that something might have had happened to Balto? But, he soon found himself laughing at the thought. If anything had happened to Balto at this point, it could have only been something good.

“I miss Balto,” Muk declared.

“I know,” Boris said. “So do I.”

“Do you think we’ll ever see him again, Uncle Boris? Now that he’s living with the humans?”

“Oh, of course,” Boris said. “Balto would never forget us. He's just busy with all de attention he's getting. I’m sure as soon as he finds opportunity, he’ll come visit us. For now, we just need to be proud of him, and support him, and just wait for him to come back.”

“Wait over my dead body!” a voice said from the other side of the deck.

“BALTO!” Boris yelled. He and the cubs came running over to hug their old friend.

“Hey guys,” Balto chuckled, in the midst of being crowded. “I’ve missed ya’.”

“We’ve missed you!” Muk said. "We knew you’d come back.”

“Of course I did,” Balto said. “I’m not going to forget who my friends are.”

 

...

 

"So," Boris said, "Dey want you to lead de dog team." Muk and Luk had fallen asleep near the edge of the deck, and Balto was doing some catching up with Boris. .

"Yup," Balto answered, "Me...Lead dog of a championship team..."

"Somehow, I sense you are not too excited by dhat," Boris replied. "I would tink you'd be happier den ever."

Balto sighed. "Boris," he began, "I'm not sure if this is what I really wanted."

"What do you mean?" Boris shot back. "You've always talked about being on a sled team."

"Yeah, well..." Balto hesitated, "it's just a big change Boris. My whole life, I've known nothing but life with you, here on this boat. You've been like a father to me. I've got so many memories here. I don't know if I could just let it all go, and suddenly pick up a completely different life."

"Balto, you're not letting anyting go," said Boris. "I'm not going anywhere, and neiter is Muk and Luk. Besides, noting has changed about you. You are still you! You're just moving up to bigger and better tings. Trust me, Jenna is right. It is for de best. Look at it as an adventure. Have fun wit it!" Balto felt comforted by Boris' sincerity, as he continued. "I couldn't be more proud of you kieddo. Everyting you've done in last few days is more den many dogs do in a lifetime. You should be proud."

"Aw, gee...thanks Boris," Balto said, feeling a little bit better.

"You'll make a great sled dog. I just know it," Boris added.

"Thanks Boris," Balto said. "But, still. I'm gonna miss you guys, and this place a lot."

"Will you stop talking like you're never going to see me again?" said Boris. "You can come back and visit any time you like, Balto. You know you're always welcome here."

"Thanks, Boris." Balto said. They hugged.

 

Chapter 4: The Struggle

"Yup, he seems healthy to me," the veterinarian said, pulling the stethoscope off Balto's chest. "His blood pressure seems normal, I've checked him over, and he seems to be in pretty good shape."

"That's great to hear," said the musher. "And you don't think he'll have any trouble handling winter conditions?"

"None at all," the vet said, as he ran his hand through Balto's fur. "He's got a good strong coat and...Whoa! Look at the size of these paws!" noticing for the first time. "Heh! Must come with having some wolf in him. I don't think he'll have any trouble getting through any rough terrain."

Balto just waited patiently as the vet finished looking him over.

 

The whole town by now knew that Balto was going to lead the team. It was only one more day until his training began.

Back outside, Balto met with the team's lead threesome. "So, how'd it go in dere?" Nikki asked.

"Everything went just fine." Balto replied. "They said I'm healthy enough to be on the team."

"All right!" they all said.

"Welcome to da' team dere, Balto," Nikki spoke up. "I'm glad

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