Balto : Steeles Revenge

‘What’s that?’ Kodi was out on a mail run, a snowstorm was starting, making it hard to see, their musher had fell off and hurt his ankle so he was lying on the sled, he was also unconscious. There was a figure lying in the snow, its coat covered in blood.

‘I think its…Its Balto!’ Star said suddenly.

‘Dad!’ Kodi ran to him. Balto whinnied and coughed. ‘Dad…who?’

‘S..Steele..’ Balto was covered in blood, a wound on his side bleed continuously.

‘We’ll get you home, Dad.’

Balto shook his head. ‘Its too late, Kodi…’

‘No!’

‘Tell…tell your mother…I love her…’ Balto’s eyes closed.

‘No, Dad!’ Kodi gently shook him. Balto didn’t stir.

‘Oh no!’ Star whispered.

Kodi looked up, angry. ‘I’ll get you for this Steele!’ he yelled.

‘Kodi, whats wrong, your shaking!’ Jenna ran to his son when she heard his call at their return.

‘Dad.’ Kodi whispered. ‘Steele killed him.’

‘What?’ Jenna’s eyes widened.

‘Dad wanted me to say that he loves you..he died afterwards.’

A tear pricked at Jenna’s eye. ‘I don’t belive it.’ She whispered and ran.

‘Mum!’ Kodi looked up.

‘Sorry, Kodi.’ Star found Kodi sitting on his own.

‘Its not your fault, Star. I’m going to get Steele for this.’

‘Kodi, he’ll do to you what he did to Balto.’

‘I don’t care.

‘Jenna will. She’s lost her mate, she doesn’t want to lose her son.’

‘I know…’ Kodi looked down.

‘Wheres papa?’ Aleu asked. Kodi and Jenna had went to visit Aleu and tell her of her fathers death.

‘He’s dead.’ Kodi whispered.

‘What?’

‘Steele killed him.’ Jenna stared at her feet, remembering Balto.

‘Papa..’ Aleu bent her head forwards.

The word of Balto’s death spread quickly across Nome. The humans guessed something was wrong because every dog seemed quieter. Jenna rarely got out of her basket. Jenna and her and Baltos childrens were the most affected by his death.

It had been a month since Balto’s death. There was a race in two weeks, Nome didn’t have much hope of winning without Balto.

‘Steele!’ Kodi and Star had spotted Steele, roaming around the shipwreck which Balto had called home. ‘You dare come back here?’

‘Why if it isn’t Kodi. Wheres your father? Oh wait he’s dead.’ Steele tormented, ‘Want to join him?’

‘Why are you back here?’ Kodi snarled.

‘The towns so called Hero is dead, that means they’ll need a new one.’

‘They’ll never accept you. They know all about it.’

‘We are dogs, we cannot speak human, they don’t know.’

‘Every dog here will chase you off.’ Star said.

‘I’ll do to them what I did to Balto.’

‘Every dog here? You’d die in the attempt.’

‘You’re father was too easy, mind you, he tasted nice..I hope you taste just like him’-

Kodi had heard enough, he pounced onto Steele, biting him wherever he could. Star joined in. Steele bit star in his shoulder, causing Star to back away and fall unconscious.

Steele got the better of Kodi. Kodi was pinned down, unable to defend himself. He closed his eyes and waited for Steele to kill him.

Suddenly, Kodi was aware that Steele wasn’t pinning him down anymore, he opened his eyes. A dog was fighting him. The dog was grey, dry blood covered his coat.

Kodi tried to move but yelped the second he moved his right leg. He looked over to the fight. The dog was winning. He pinned Steele and bit his neck. He got up and came over to Kodi.

‘Dad!’ Kodi reckonised him.

‘Yep.’

‘We thought you..’

‘Died, yeah, I thought I was a goner, when I woke, the pain wasn’t as bad it took me ages, my leg hurt so I ended up crawling the way here…Don’t go up a steep mountain if you ever get in my shape, I fell down it ten times…’

‘But you fought Steele fine.’

‘Yeah, my revenge on him for almost killing me…and you.’

‘You need to see mum, she was upset when I told her you were dead.’

Balto nodded. ‘Yeah, but first I think you’d better get to the vet.’

‘Me? What about you.’ Kodi said, Balto looked down, Steele had reopened almost every scar that he had gave Balto. Only now was Balto aware of the pain.

‘Yeah, I think we both need to go.’ Balto said.

‘I can’t walk though.’ Kodi said, he looked over to Star who had awoke.

‘Balto! But you..’

‘Yeah, I’ll tell you later,’ Balto grinned. ‘Star, Kodi cant walk, and if I move too much I’ll bleed even worse, Ive already lost a lot of blood. Run and get the vet.’

‘Ok.’ Star was off in a flash. Balto lay down beside Kodi. Balto groaned.

‘Are you OK?’

‘I’ve been better.’ Balto sighed. He howled.

Jenna heard a howl. Balto’s howl. She ran out of the room, barking.

‘Balto!’ She yelled once she spotted him.

‘Jenna.’ Balto gave a weak smile that vanished almost as soon as it appeared.

‘What happened? Kodi said you…died..’ Jenna said, hugging Balto, Balto repeated what he’d told Kodi. The vet arrived, as did the whole village.

‘Balto!’ Rosies father rushed forward.

Balto had to stay at the vet for several days. He was relieved to be released. He stayed at Jenna’s place for ages. The vet had said he had to rest and it was best if he didn’t move around too much. Balto mainly sat with Jenna in front of the warm fire in her house.