Author's note: In this fan fiction, I have used a charecter (Kemo) who is copyrighted to Cyberwulfe. Kemo is not mine, but the events that do happen are mine. Balto, Aniu, Boris, ect. are copyrighted to Universal Studios. Tovah, Tag, Tara, Ringo, Shougon, and Yakkov are copyrighted to me, Kelev. Feel free to use my charecters and story ideas (with copyrights), but I would appreciate it if you ask me before hand before using them in fan art or fan fics of your own. Thank you!

Prologue

early June, 1928

Balto laid on the deck of the boathouse, watching the sunset. The evenings were usually his quiet times to think about the things that he normally didn't have time to think of during the day, but these nights were different. Tovah (his two month old puppy) was living with him until she got an owner like the rest of her siblings had. He smiled ruefully as he watched her scamper and bark excitedly. She was anything but quiet.

"Alright, time to settle down now. That's the last time I let you have sweet things before bed."

She raced by him, and he easily caught her and held her down as he tickled her. "Papa!" She giggled, "That's not fair! You can't do that!"

"Oh really? I'm doing it right now." He let her up and sighed as she jumped on his head to chew on him. Being a father wasn't easy, but he wouldn't trade places with anyone in the world.

Finally, Tovah tired of chewing on Balto's ears and slid down to his chest,  cuddling his shaggy fur. "Papa, can you tell me a story?"

"Oh not again!" Balto laghingly moaned. "You keep asking that, and one of these nights I'll run out of stories to tell. What'll you do then?"

Tovah though about it for a moment. "I'll ask you to tell real life stories." She brightened as her idea sank in more. "Yeah, tell me a story about when you were little - like me! Please?"

Balto's ears folded back as he looked away. Even though he told her about being part wolf, he purpously never told her about his past. He still had a hard time dealing with certain memories, and he wasn't sure it was a good story to tell to a small pup. "I don't know if you'd really like that story. Maybe when you're older."

Tovah's ears tilted back in disapointment. "Please? Just a little? I promise not to get scared if it's a scary story."

He finally gave in. "Ok, but I have to leave some parts out, and when I stop, it means you go to sleep."

Tovah smiled in satisfaction and snuggled closer as Balto's eyes took on a far away look. The visions of what had been filled his mind, things that Balto had forgotten and things he had chosen to ignore suddenly sprang up before his eyes. "You know, I wasn't always a hero." Balto said with a half smile. "In fact, I hadn't always been in Nome either. When I was your age, I lived deep in the wilderness..."

Chapter 1

"You're it!"

Balto laughed as he and his siblings chased eachother around outside the den. Life was good in the pack, and Balto couldn't think of anything better then being right here with his family and friends nearby.

Balto pounced on Kemo and the two toppled in a laughing, furry heap. "I got you good that time! I even caught you off gaurd even!"

The taller pup snorted as he pushed Balto off himself. "Only this time, my friend. I just tripped on a stone is all."

Balto rolled his eyes. Kemo was very proud, and didn't like to admit that Balto was faster then he was. "Uh huh, sure."

"You two aren't arguing again, are you?"

The two turned to see Balto's mother stride up. They shook their heads. "No Mother, we were just playing is all." Balto said. Kemo nodded in agreement.

Aniu smiled. "Alright then. Just remember to stay close to the den. Shougon is with your Dad on a hunt, so I want you to stay near by."

They nodded again, and Kemo ran to tell the others what she said while Balto stayed put. Shougon and Kemo weren't really Balto's brothers, but his cousins. Kemo's mother was Aniu's sister, but she died when Kemo came along. Aniu had come to help with Kemo, and during that time she had her own pups. Kemo's father let them stay, and though he adopted Aniu's pups as his own, he didn't consider her his mate. (That was just fine anyway, for Balto's father was still alive)

Balto shook his head to clear his thoughts, but now he began to think of his real dad. Where was he? How come he was a dog? Most importantly, why wasn't he here with them, like fathers should be? It didn't make sense, and the unfairness made Balto huff a sigh.

"Balto, what is the matter? You stare at nothing."

He looked up at his mother. "Nothing's wrong."

"I see." Aniu laid a heavy paw on her son's head. "You are upset about something. Your face speaks of it already."

Balto blushed. He hadn't meant to lie to her. "I was wondering about Dad. Where do you think he is right now?"

Aniu smiled sadly. "He's somewhere where there are humans. Perhaps he still thinks of us."

"But why isn't he here with us? Dosn't he love us?"

"Very much." She said softly. "Your grandfather didn't want me and your father to be mates, but I didn't listen, and when you and the others were yet unborn my father came and chased  your dad away.  I found out later that his human had found him, and now he works as a sled dog."

Balto's eyes were wide. He never heard that story before. So that's why  Mother spoke so little of Dad! He was still alive, and Mother missed him. "Well, I think you should go on a trip to look for him. Grandpa isn't here to stop you."

Aniu chuckled at the determined look on Balto's face. "And how do you expect to eat, with only me to hunt for you? Besides, Kemo and Shougon need a mother too." She pulled him in a hug. "I'm sure you'll find him someday."

Tara ran up. "Come on Balto, let's play!"

Aniu stood. "Run along now. It's best to play while the sun still shines."

As Balto scampered off with the others, Aniu sighed. She could never tell anyone jut how much she missed her mate. "Oh Tag," she murmered. "If only you could be here."


Chapter 2

"Oh come on, it'll be fun!"

Balto couched down in a 'let's play' position in front of Kemo. Tara and Yakkov had run off to play, and Balto wanted to race. Kemo finally sighed. "Ok, I'll race you. Where do you want to race to?"

Balto thought for a moment. "Let's race over to the marsh. Then we can dare each other to eat bugs!"

Kemo grinned. "Or we could bring back some and make Tara eat it!"

The two laughed, and lined up. "On your mark, get set, GO!"

The two raced through the forest, weaving through the trees and leaping over puddles until they burst into the clearing.

They skidded to a halt. This wasn't the marsh. This was the meadow that Mother had told them not to go near. "Nice going." Balto groaned. "You led us the wrong way."

"Me?" Kemo snorted, "I was following you!"

Balto smirked. "Oh yeah, I forgot. I was in first place."

Kemo shook his head. "Come on, let's go. It's too quiet."

Balto glaced at the silent sunny field, and all of a sudden it seemed forboding. "you're right, let's get out of -"

"What'cha doing?"  Tara asked loudly behind them. Balto and Kemo jumped in surprise, and turned to see Yakkov trot up too.  "Mother said it's time to eat."

Kemo held up a paw. "Shhh!" he motioned the others to be silent. "The birds are quiet. Mother said that we should never be in a place this silent. It could mean Danger."

Balto felt his fur stand on end as he suddenly heard ravens shrieking "Take flight! Man! Man!"

"Um, guys, let's go now." Tara wimpered nervously. "I wanna go home."

"Leaving, so soon?"  A new voice sneered behind them. They whirled around and saw three dogs advancing towards them. "You wouldn't want to miss out on all the fun we're going to have!"


Chapter 3

Aniu sighed again. What in the world was taking the pups so long? They should have been back at least five minutes ago. She stood and followed the path that Tara and Yakkov had taken, and stopped suddenly when she caught an alien sent. She peered through the bushes and saw three tall hunting dogs near her pups.  ..."You wouldn't want to miss all the fun we're going to have!"

"We're going home." Aniu heard Kemo say. "So if you'd just move, we'll be on our way."

"Oh no you don't!" The hound growled, "You're coming with us!"

The pups screamed and scattered as the dogs lunged forward, and at that moment Aniu crashed out of her hiding place and slamed into the dog that had grabbed Tara. With a stranged yelp, he dropped her and turned to face his attacker.

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Balto ran with all his might, but he stopped when he heard Aniu's feroucious howl of rage. "Mother?"

He turned to look, then he gasped and dashed away from the dog that had caught up to him. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him, and suddenly he accidently banged hard into something. CLANG! He shook the blinking lights from his eyes and saw he tummbled into an old rusty cage that had been hidden in the grass. The door slamed shut and locked on it's own accord just as the hound reached it. It shook the cage for a moment before turning and running after Kemo. Balto called out to him. "Kemo, RUN!"

Balto held his breath as Kemo turned to run. Tara ran along with him, and they reached the tree line in the nick of time. The hound gave up on chasing them and turned to jump on Aniu's back. Balto covered his eyes and huddled in a tight ball, and flinched when he heard a loud thunderous noise ring out. After the second time the noise came he peeked an eye open and uttered a