Characters-

Maska- (Maska is the white wolf in Balto 1. The name Maska means strong. Maska is Aniu’s brother. He is about an inch taller than his sister. I pronounce his name like Ma’ ska.)

Aniu- (Aniu is a spirit guide and helps animals in need. She often appears in a form of a raven).

Balto- (Aniu’s son: he is a wolf dog. He is on his way back to Nome to deliver the medicine.)

Aniu and Balto © Amblimation Studios

Maska © Keane Husky

Chapter 1- Aniu

The snow crushed underneath his weight. The white wolf made his way threw a forest. He made his way up a small hill. He looked down the hill and spied a weak caribou, eating in a snow-covered meadow. The caribou pawed at the snow trying to get to the grass. The white wolf crept down the hill. He kept his eyes focused on the caribou.

He slowly crept closer and closer, the caribou was still pawing at the ground now with his back turned towards the hungry wolf. Suddenly the wolf charged at the caribou; snarling. The white wolf ran towards the caribou, with his mouth agape. He closed the space between them.

“Why isn’t the caribou running?” asked Maska himself.

Suddenly the caribou turned towards, the charging wolf. Maska looked into the caribou’s eyes they were glowing. Maska skidded to a halt, and stared into the caribou’s glowing yellow eyes. Fog appeared to suddenly surround Maska and the caribou. Maska squinted threw the fog to try to see what had happened to the caribou but the fog was too thick. Something seemed to be making its way threw the fog towards Maska. Maska lowered his head and growled. He figure kept moving towards him, Maska struggled to see what the figure was threw the fog. Maska sniffed the air, but couldn’t catch the scent of the caribou or what ever was coming towards him. Suddenly the figure stepped out of the fog.

“Aniu.” Maska gasped.

“Hello, my dear brother” said Aniu.

Chapter 2- A Mission

Maska couldn’t believe his eyes his sister was ok more or less. Aniu walked over to her brother and rested her head on his shoulder. Maska lowered his head and rested it in Aniu’s head.

“I thought I lost you.” Maska said while trying to hold back tears.

“You know I’m always there for you.” answered Aniu pulling away.

Maska looked down at his younger sister and smiled. Aniu returned the smile.

“I have a job for you. I need you to help Balto.” Aniu said.

Maska smiled as he remembered the little dark brown and light brown, wolf dog. He remembered playing with Balto and his other siblings. He remembered running threw the forest with them. Maska’s smile faded as he remembered that fated day when they came, taking everyone Maska loved away from him.

“What do you need me to do?” asked Maska.

“I need you to go to Badger Ridge, tomorrow morning. Balto is going to be there, he needs to remember who he is, he has forgotten his wolf side. “ Aniu said.

“Why can’t you go? Why is Balto going to be there?” asked Maska

“He’s not ready, for me. He still needs time to move on. Balto is on a mission to bring…” Aniu pondered till she found the word she was looking for. “hope to people’s lives.” answered Aniu

“What do you want me to do?” asked Maska

“I need you to howl, just once to remind him of his heritage. Remind him that he is part wolf. That it is something not to be afraid of.” replied Aniu.

“That’s all?” Maska said a bit surprised.

“Yes, you must make no further contact, just remind him that he has wolf in him.” Aniu said.

“Ok.” answered Maska.

“Thank you for doing this for me, Maska.” Aniu said

“Tell mom and dad I said hi.” chuckled Maska.

Aniu gave him a little lick on the check. Aniu howled, and disappeared in fog and wind.

“I love you, too.” Maska said looking up at the cloudy sky.

Maska looked towards the west and headed for Badger Ridge.

Chapter 3-Remember Who You Are

Maska stopped at the tree line at Badger Ridge it was morning and a storm had appeared. Maska couldn’t see the ridge but he knew it was there he started to scan the ridge, for any signs of Balto. Something caught his eye, it flicked. It seemed to dance in and out of Maska view from the storm. Maska slowly made his way towards the flickering light.

Balto gasped for air as he made his way out of the snow pile. Balto stumbled before lying down.

“I’m a failure, Steele was right. I’m just a wolf dog a nobody.” Balto said to himself, he placed his paw over his muzzle. “I’ve failed, I failed Jenna, the children, the town and..”

“Rosie.” sobbed Balto at the thought of Rosie dying.

Balto smelled something it smelled slightly familiar. Balto blocked it out of his mind but the scent was strong, he looked up. A white wolf was standing in front of him. Balto squinted his eyes; the white wolf was hard to see threw his tears and the snow. Balto realized that be blended in with the snow around him making him hard to see. Maska looked into Balto’s brown eyes. Balto stared into the white wolf’s eyes they seemed determined.

Maska howled, hoping Balto would remember who he is. Balto looked up as the wolf howled. Maska lowered his head and looked at Balto, he had turned away from him. Maska wondered if he should howl again, but he remembered what his sister had said. He turned to leave and lowered his head hoping that Balto would turn around and howl back but he didn’t. Maska headed for the tree line.

Balto heard the wolf leave. Balto let his eyes wonder and something caught the eye, he lifted his head. It was the medicine. The medicine had survived the fall, the light flickered threw the snow and wind. Suddenly Boris’s words echoed in his mind.

“A dog cannot make this journey alone but, maybe a wolf can.”

Balto realized that he can’t deny who he is and be ashamed of it. Balto turned his head around to where the wolf had stood. Balto noticed at paw print, he wobbled as he stood up. He placed his paw on the paw print and lifted his paw up. Balto was a bit surprised; he felt the wolf within him. Balto howled; he had never felt so free.

Maska turned and walked up to Balto. Maksa joined Balto and howled. Balto stopped howling and looked up at his friend and smiled. Maska smiled back, he wanted to tell Balto who he was. Balto turned and headed for the box of medicine. Maska pondered whether or not he should say something. He than realized that Balto is on a mission to bring hope to whoever needed it.

Balto grabbed the ropes on the box and started the climb up the ridge. Maksa howled a goodbye to his nephew and turned to head for home.

“Hey guys look over here, its Balto.” said Star with glee.

Balto looked over his shoulder and the white wolf was gone.

“Thank you for reminding me who I really am.” Balto whispered in his head.