Written by: PFC Anthony E. Rotramel, USMC

Started: 05/08/05

Finished: 05/21/05

Pages: 118

Words: 16,110

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: This story was inspired by Balto, (copyright 1995), Balto II: Wolf Quest (copyright 2000) and Balto III: Wings of Change by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. The character’s Shadow, Dash, Melody, Shasta, Max, Flash, Timbre, Sheik, Lima, Thunder, Shade, Blaize,Luke, Lightning,, Dalchei, June, Talkeet, Angel, Kalia and the events of this story are copyright 2005 by Anthony Rotramel. The other characters are copyright by Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prologue

 

Dash stood outside the cave.

The events of the past few months had changed him irrevocably.

He looked beside him, where Shasta would usually be sitting.

Tears came to his eyes, even after the period of time that had passed, Dash was not alright.

He would probably not ever be alright again.

Everyone had noticed the change, and how could they not?

Dash was always the outgoing one of the pack, if the wolves needed something done they always came to him, because he’d see it through, get it done.

But since Shasta…. Dash had become very withdrawn, spending the majority of his time taking care of his children…. alone.

He reached up and wiped the tears from his face with his paw.

A troubling thought that had been surfacing in his mind came back to him again.

“It’s my fault.”

He thought back to the events preceding his mate’s murder.

He could still see her, could still hear her sweet voice.

“But… but you know that I’m supposed to leave with the kids tonight, their first hunt is tomorrow morning.”

He’d made her stay in the cave, thinking it was safer for her there… he’d been wrong.

“I… I killed her.” Dash thought.

The tears started again, and this time Dash didn’t try to stop them, just let them fall.

He looked up at the sky.

“God… I’m… I’m so sorry Shasta.”

Dash heard someone behind him then.

He turned around.

Timbre smiled at him.

“Hey,” he said, “it’s kinda late, what are you doing out here?”

Dash sighed.

“Thinking.”

“Of her?” Timbre asked.

Dash nodded.

“Dash,” Timbre said, “it’s been three months, don’t …. don’t you think it would be better to just let go, get on with life. You do have children…. and friends.”

“I know.” Dash said, hanging his head.

Timbre stepped up beside his friend…. brother.

“Friends who care about you a lot, and who you haven’t spoken to in weeks.”

Dash sighed again.

“I just….. I don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?” Timbre asked.

“Anything,” Dash answered. “I don’t know about anything anymore.”

Timbre sighed.

“Look, Dash… I know… I know what it’s like…”

“No you don’t,” Dash yelled. “You’ve still got yours… Melody… You have no idea what it’s like.”

Then Dash turned and ran back to the cave.

Tears threatened to spill out of Timbre’s eyes, as he thought of his own losses.

“Jadze…and Tiru.”

He looked back to the cave, to see that Dash had disappeared inside.

He sighed.

He knew that his friend hadn’t meant to hurt him, but he had.

“He’s just upset,” Timbre thought. “He didn’t mean it…. he’s upset.”

He sighed again, turned and walked back into the cave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1

 

Balto watched the sled disappear over the horizon.

He sighed.

Jenna was gone for a while.

She was going on a trip to Applegate with her family, and would be gone for about a week.

He was glad that she was getting to leave, everyone needed to sometime, but… but he missed her already.

He sighed again, and turned.

Then he walked away.

“Maybe I’ll go see Kodi,” Balto thought.

He turned, and started heading towards the old mill.

As he crossed the street, a sled team ran past him.

Balto didn’t recognize it.

“Huh,” Balto thought, “must be new.”

He switched directions, and walked towards the team.

Balto walked up to the leader.

“Hello.” He said.

He… She turned and looked at him.

“Oh,” Balto said, “you’re…. you’re a girl.”

She smiled and nodded.

Balto felt kind of stupid now.

“Well….” She said.

“Oh,” Balto said, “I’m sorry, I… I was just wondering if you were new, I’ve never seen your team before.”

She nodded again.

Then she gasped.

“You’re…. you’re Balto!”

Balto smiled and nodded.

“My gosh!” She said, “I… I never thought I’d get to meet you! That was a great thing you did!”

“Well,” Balto said, “I try not to make a big deal out of it.”

“But it was,” the female said, smiling. “you saved this entire town!”

“I guess… I guess so.” Balto said.

“You’re the reason I became a sled dog, when I heard of what you’d done, I could think of nothing else, just about drove my parents crazy.”

Balto laughed.

“I bet you did.”

The musher came up front then, and unhooked her and the rest of the team.

“So, what’s your cargo?” Balto asked.

“Food and basic supplies,” she answered.

The two unconsciously started walking down the street together.

“Where do you come from?” Balto asked.

“Isaloosa.” She said.

“Isaloosa?” Balto asked.

She nodded her head.

“I’ve been there,” Balto said, “we used to fly in supplies there.”

“Oh,” she said, “you were that dog that used to come in that plane.”

Balto nodded.

“We stopped, because it was just too far, but… but you covered all that ground on a sled? That must be some team.”

She smiled.

“They are.”

“Now wait a minute.” Balto said, “I heard Luke talking about another bush pilot taking over that route.”

She nodded.

“There was, but…. But he crashed in the mountains…. They never found him.”

“Ouch.” Balto said.

She nodded.

“So what’s it like here in Nome?” She asked.

“Well, it’s pretty quiet,” Balto said, “nothing much happens here.”

“Actually,” he thought, “that’s a lie, we’re visited by demon wolves, who possess our worst enemies, and try to kill us, and my daughter some how died and came back again. but other than that, nothing unusual.”

He laughed.

“What?” She asked.

“Nothing,” Balto said.

“What do you do here now? I heard you don’t run anymore.”

Balto nodded.

“I thought I’d leave that to the younger ones. I actually ride around with Luke now.”

“What’s it like up there?” She asked.

“It’s…..”

Every time Balto tried to tell someone this, he couldn’t think of anything quite accurate.

“I can’t even describe it”

“I bet it’s cool.” She said.

Balto nodded.

He thought for a moment.

“How long are you guys going to be here?”

“Probably a week or so,” she answered.

“Well, we’re flying day after tomorrow, just to get up there and fly, we’re not going anywhere, would you like to come?”

She smiled.

“Wow, really!”

Balto nodded.

“I’ve never had a friend with me before; everyone around here is too scared.

“I’d love to!” She said.

“Cool,” Balto answered. “You guys staying at the barn?”

She nodded.

“I’ll meet you there that morning then.”

“Okay!” she said.

The musher turned around, and seeing his lead dog so far down the street, and with a strange dog for that matter, called after her.

“Come here girl!”

She stopped and turned.

“I’ve gotta go,” she said, trotting away.

“Wait,” Balto said, “what’s your name?”

She stopped and smiled at him.

“Angel.”

Then she turned and ran away.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

Dash woke up the next morning, to see June standing over him.

He sighed.

“Dash?” She said.

He rolled over, and stood up.

“What is it June?” He asked.

June sighed.

“Dash, Timbre told me about your discussion last night.”

Dash sighed again.

“Dash, I don’t

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