Balto 1 1/2, Part 3:

Steele's Revenge

By C. Brucker "TameWolf03"

 

Chapter 6: The Return

 

"It's been two days," Doc began, "and there's been no sign of Balto since then." The town meeting was in session, and everyone still couldn't figure out just why Balto had taken off.

"'Fraid not," one of the other dogs in the room said. "We've been searching everywhere for him. Can't find a single trace of him."

Doc turned to the rest of the team. "You said that he just ran off?" he asked, yet again.

"Yeah," said Nikki.

"We don't know what was wrong with him," Kaltag added. "He went barreling into that tree like we told you, and before we could say anything, he just took off."

"Can anyone explain why this might have happened?"

By now, Jenna was making her way out the door. She couldn't bear to listen to this awful news any longer. Her lover had seemingly disappeared, without a trace. After two days, even the best tracking dogs in town couldn't find him. She began to have terrible thoughts of what might've happened to the one she loved. She knew Balto was apprehensive about all the changes that were happening to him, but she thought he would be able to toughen up once he got over the initial hump. Maybe she shouldn't have pushed him so hard. She began having terrible thoughts of Balto hurling himself over the nearest cliff. Her friends had encouraged her, assuring her that they were certain Balto would turn up eventually, but Jenna couldn't help but worry. She now made her way back towards her home, and pushed through the broken fence. It had been a rough couple of days for her. Now, she just wanted to collect her thoughts. She crept towards the dog door, when something caught her attention. She stopped for a minute, and put her nose to the ground, sniffing around for what she thought she smelled...sure enough, it was what she thought. Balto had been in the yard. She was sure of it. She looked around to see if there was any sign of him close by.

"Jenna! Over here," a familiar voice called.

She turned around, and burst out in joy and relief to see a plain gray face peeking out of a bush. "Balto!" she exclaimed and rushed over. She began to nuzzle him, and nearly burst into tears. "Where have you been? I was so worried!"

"I'm fine, Jenna," he replied, "Everything's all right."

Jenna pulled her head back, and slowly began to frown. "No, it's not all right, Balto!" she said, half in tears, half in anger. "Why did you do what you did? You just took off on the team?"

"Jenna..."

"The whole town's been wondering what happened to you! We thought you were dead." She was beginning to become hysterical.

"I know, Jenna," Balto said with a sigh. He began to look down at his feet. "I just...couldn't take it, I guess."

"What?" Jenna exclaimed.

"It's all just too much for me, Jenna. I'm not cut out to be a lead dog."

"Balto..."

"Do you know what they put me through on my first day? It was terrible. The whole team, and the musher...they were pushing me so hard, and yelling at me...and the musher I swear was going to beat me! He would have too if I hadn't have taken off."

"Balto," Jenna said, now beginning to calm down, "you overreacted. That's just how it goes sometimes on the sled teams. You can do it. You know you can. But, we better let the other dogs know you're here before you're removed from the team."

"I don't want to be on the team anymore, Jenna," Balto said firmly.

Jenna was in shock. "Why are you talking like this, Balto?"

"Because it's true, Jenna. I've decided, all this change, it's just too much. I don't want to have to deal with this anymore...I don't want to be away from you, Jenna. This just isn't what I want to do. Please understand."

"Balto, you didn't even give it a chance."

Balto didn't answer. He just looked down at his feet in despair. Jenna knew that there was no way to change his mind.

"How will you explain this to the other dogs in town? If they see you around..."

"That's why I'm moving back in with Boris."

"Balto?"

"I'm sorry, Jenna. I still love you, and I will always be here for you. I just need to be able to live my life." His voice became soft and sincere. "Please, Jenna," he said as he began to nuzzle her. "I love you. Tell me you'll stay with me. Don't make me lose you."

Jenna caught her breath, and looked into her lover's eyes. "Oh, Balto," she said after a few seconds, "Is this really what you want?"

"It is," Balto replied.

"This won't be easy to explain to the dog council."

"I know, Jenna. Just tell them what I told you. Everything's going to be all right..."

Jenna was relieved her lover was okay, and glad that he was back. But despite all that, Jenna couldn't help but feel that the daring, fearless side of Balto, the side of him that had made her fall in love with him in the first place, had been lost.

 

…

 

Balto was making his way back to the boat. He had been staying with Boris for the last few days, and he had shown his intention to make it his permanent home. It was just after he had left town, when Steele decided to pay him yet another visit.

“Great,” Balto thought to himself, seeing Steele approaching, knowing he was going to rag Balto for the recent events that had taken place. He thought about walking back into town to avoid him, but decided he was going to have to face him eventually. "What do you want?" Balto asked.

"When will you stop asking me that? I think you know the answer to that by now."

Balto just frowned upon him.

"So, decided to quit the first day, eh wolf-dog? I told ya' you didn't have what it takes."

"Back off me, Steele!" Balto shot back. "It's not like that at all. I just decided it's not for me."

"So you just decided to break out of the harness, and disappear without a trace. Wait to go, wolf-dog. Now you're an outcast again, just like me."

"Hey!" Balto was furious with that comment. "Don't even think about telling me that I'm anything like you!"

"Whether you like it or not, we're on the same level now, Balto. So, since we both have nothing to lose...why don't we finish this."

"That's not true Steele!" Balto responded. "I've still got Jenna to live for."

"Ha! Let's see just how long she stays with a stray!"

"For your information, Jenna and I are in love, and me living on my own isn't going to change that. You're the one who has nothing left to live for!"

"All right," Steele growled. "You can turn around and walk away from me, again, half-breed. But you're forgetting you don't have the whole town to back you up anymore." Now he was taunting. "If you leave me now, I will make your life more miserable than you ever thought possible."

"I am not going to fight you, Steele!" Balto said, moving swiftly back towards the boat.

"All right, wolf-dog," Steele said, as he turned around to leave. "Have it your way!" He ran off, laughing as he went...

Balto stood still in the silence as he watched Steele disappear. He began to think about what Steele had just told him. "What have I done?" he thought to himself...

 

***

 

"I can't understand this, Jenna," one of the town council dogs spoke. "You tell us that Balto has returned, but not only is he not intending to come to anymore town meetings; he no longer wants to be a part of the sled team?"

"I'm afraid so," said Jenna.

"Why is this?" another dog spoke up.

"Well, you need to understand," Jenna replied, "Balto's not used to this kind of attention. All of this change is a bit much for him."

"But, we're gonna end up leaving town if he doesn't come back!" exclaimed Star.

"Yeah," Kaltag chimed in. "Our musher's too impatient to stick around and look for Balto. The season's already half over, and he's been told about a potential new lead dog out in Galena."

"I'm afraid Balto's just decided he doesn't want a place on the team anymore," Jenna sighed.

"This isn't right," Doc protested.

"Yeah, Balto should be our lead dog!" Nikki burst out.

"He was doing so well his first day," Togo added. "Sure he had a big mess up, but that happens to everyone from time to time. He has no reason at all to quit."

"You're right," Jenna said. "He doesn't."

"And yet, you agree with this decision?" another dog spoke up.

"No, I don't agree with it," Jenna commented, "but I do support it. I love Balto, and that being said, I will support what he decides to do, whether I agree with it, or not. I know it sounds ridiculous, but presently, there's not really anything we can do to change Balto's mind." The room broke out in mixed chatter once again.

"He's making a big mistake," said Doc.

"I know," said Jenna softly, "but that's something Balto needs to realize for himself..."

 

…

 

The time had passed, and sadly, the musher decided to leave town for Galena. He had heard rumors that Balto had been seen around town, but it wasn't enough to convince him

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