Cronos and Aniu

 

Act three: Cronos from bad to worse.        

 

Balto made his way up to his boat, and he could smell Boris. Here it comes.

“Balto!”

As he made his way up the plank, Boris stood over him with a webbed foot tapping.

 

“Hey Boris…” Balto calmly said as the goose strode up to him.

 

“Balto, first of all, Vhat have you been doing?” Boris sounded worried. “Jenna and you all just left, and came back. Vhere have you been?”

 

Balto shook his head, “What are you talking about?” He simply walked past him.

 

Boris scratched his head, “Balto, you know vhat I’m talking about! You ran avay, didn’t you?” 

 

Balto made a small laugh, “Well, I came back didn’t I? Besides Jenna and the pups went with me, so how bad could it have been?”

 

“It could be very bad, my dog.” Boris warned.

 

Balto smiled, “Is that some kind of welcome there, Boris?”

 

Boris waddled up to him and patted his head, “As alvays my dog, you’re alvays welcome.” 

 

Looking around the deck Balto asked, “So, the bears alright? I didn’t know what you would do with those two without me around.”

 

Boris took glance at Balto, “Never under estimate my survival skills...” Looking at Balto more carefully, “Your hurt.”

 

“Wha--?” Balto started, confused, “Oh, it’s just a scratch. I’ve been in much worse, you know that. I’m fine, really! This is nothing, Boris. When I was younger you told me to use the alleys, but I didn’t, that’s when I thought I was goner for sure. That time.” 

 

“I’m talking about the one on your throat.” Boris pointed his long feather at Balto.

 

Balto used his chin to somewhat hide it, “It’s nothing, Boris.”

 

Boris eyed angrily at him, “VHAT! A throat bite is ‘nothing’! That’s fatal, for me, anyone…it’s fatal! And you vant me to forget about it?” 

 

Balto smiled and twitched his ears, “Yep.” He lazily stretched his back.

 

Boris sighed, “There’s no fighting with you, dog. And that’s why I need to stay here ‘till you can get on your own feet.”

 

Balto half smiled and chuckled, “I don’t think you can take care of me.” Boris starred sadly at him as he continued, looking out to the horizon, “I’ve grown up, I’ve saved a town, I’ve gotten my every dream to come true, and I have the best thing in my life, so what else do I need?” He turned back to Boris, “And you think you know how to raise pups, then?”

 

Boris shook his head slowly, “You still know nothing. I believe I was there for you every step of the vay.” He patted Balto’s head softly. 

 

“Very true Boris.” Balto grinned, “But I think at pup raising all you know how to do is get eaten by them!” Boris squinted in disgust, but before he could come up with a retort, Balto cocked his head and said with mock soberness, “Only the truth there, Boris.”

 

“Only to an extent, lover boy.” Boris somewhat shouted. “I do believe that I was the one who raised you.” 

 

“And you also do great with bear cubs.”

 

Boris’ mouth dropped open. He was caught. Slowly regaining his composure, he smiled gamely, “Then I’m probably best expert on child-rearing. Oh, I could talk for hours on the subject, so it’s probably best if you don’t get me started on how to raise them.”

 

Balto laughed as walked to the end of the boat, “Whatever you say, Boris.” He looked out over the iced water towards the town, “So… ‘vhat’ did I miss.”

 

Boris furrowed his brows, “Well you missed a storm.”

 

I think I was in it... Balto thought. “ ‘Vas’ that it?” he smirked at Boris.

 

“Stop that!” Boris snapped, “Oh, yeah, you also missed the missing dog fliers.” Balto turned away like a puppy that knocked over a pot and was caught. “Oi! And one that will affect you most, they make new rumors ‘bout you.”

 

Balto smiled but didn’t turn around, “What did they come up with this time?” he asked cheerfully.

 

Boris scratched his head, debating to tell him or not, “Well, one vas that you killed Jenna and the pups and then ran off.”

 

He swirled around, “What? Where do they get that stuff?” He seemed disturbed by the rumor, but upon further thinking, “Wait a minute, I thought you didn’t like going into town?” Balto looked expectantly at Boris.

 

Boris brushed off his wings, “I’m vour eyes and ears, and I vas worried, so I checked the town.”

 

Balto smiled, “Uh-huh… sure you do.”

 

“Da… Vhat are you saying?”

 

“I think you know ‘vhat’ I’m saying.” Balto said with a smile.

 

“Are you saying that I start those?!” Boris was offended, “I raise you!”

 

Balto quickly shook his head, “ ‘Vhat’ I mean, is that I ‘vant’ you not to say ‘vhat.’”

 

Boris scratched his head, “Vhat? I say ‘vhat’ correctly.”

 

Balto shook his head “No. You say ‘vhat’ SAY ‘what’.”

 

“I did…” Boris said confused.

 

“Say ‘what’ not ‘vhat’.” Balto shook his head, it was all he could do to stop himself from laughing.

 

“Okay… ‘Vhat…’ Are you happy?” Boris said slightly annoyed.

 

“No…say ‘what’ not ‘vhat’, ‘What,’ ‘WH-at.’” Balto slowly sounded it out for him.

 

“I did say that! I’m not saying ‘vhat!’” Boris exclaimed.

 

“No…you’re not your saying vhat, not what.” Balto cocked his head with a smile.

 

“Balto! I’m saying vhat not vhat, vhat, vhat, and vhat! I’m saying it!” Boris exclaimed.

 

Balto smiled, with unconvinced smile, “Sure you are.”

Boris pointed a feathery finger at Balto. Balto looked at his finger and innocently spoke, “What?”

 

There was a pause, Balto twitched his ears, “Hey this will be the first winter for Cronos and Cinder won’t it…” he sounded somewhat depressed about the fact.

 

Boris hopped onto the ledge “Yep, there growing up.”

 

“I wish they weren’t.” Balto regretfully spoke he looked at Nome, with worry.

 

“Vhat? Isn’t that a parents dream seeing them grow up and live their lives?”

 

Balto sighed, “I’ve missed it Boris…I stay far away from them, most of the time, I love them so much, I remember when I first saw them now I’ve blinked and now there getting older and…” he couldn’t didn’t finish.

 

“And bigger?” Boris finished, in an understanding tone. Poor dog…

 

“A lot bigger, so much time in one blink.” he took a breath and let it out, to calm himself.

 

“It will get-” Boris started, but was cut off by Balto’s coughing, Boris jumped to his side, “Balto!”

 

He moved away, “I’m fine. Just fine just catching a cold.” Boris looked at his teeth there was some blood on them. “I’m fine!” he repeated more strictly, “I just need some sleep ok?” 

 

Boris looked at him sadly, “Fine I guess even you haft to sleep more on some days.”

 

Balto half smiled, “You got that right there Boris, as you always do.” He went to his blanket and used his noise to lift it up so he could go under the blanket; he turned around to poke his head out of the blanket, he closed his eyes.

 

“Very tired, in deed.” Boris stretched his wings; you don’t seem to tell your problems to anyone not even to me. Boris worriedly thought. 

 

 

 

 

Balto looked around, not sure were he was, “Where am I?” he could see he Nome. He sighed with relief, “Just home sweet home.”

 

He stretched his back, “But how’d did I get here?” he asked himself, he raised an ear as he cocked his head, “hey it’s the Morse code guy.” cheerfully spoke.

 

“Nome suffers. Stop. Great lose of life. Stop.” Balto widen his eyes. “Antitoxin too late, stop.”

 

Balto shot up from his sleep, Boris turned to see him awaken so fast, “Something wrong, Balto?”

 

“Nothing it was just a dream…” Balto quietly spoke, “What time is it?”

 

Boris looked at him, “How should I know? We got no clock, how bout you go steal one, then will know.” he teased.

 

Balto laughed at Boris, “How I’m going to do that?” Balto joked.

 

“Hmm. I do recall you have the keys to the city.” Balto and Boris both laughed.

 

“Boris…that make me a criminal.” Balto replied to Boris.

 

Boris smiled and looked at him more carefully, “Aren’t you already wanted for trash can dumping?” he mockly smiled.

 

He stopped himself from laughing, “That survival Boris, that’s something different.”

 

“Maybe that’s why you like Aladdin so much from Arabian knights.” Boris suggested, “Your pretty much the same.”

 

“Boris? When did you learn that story?” Balto asked.

 

“I have my vays.” Boris said rubbing his feathery fingers, with victory.

 

Balto looked up with his eyes looking for a counter, “Well, how do I know you’re not lying their Boris?”

 

“You will never now my dog. You will never know.” He teased him.

 

Balto frowned, “I need to learn how you do that. Boris how’d you do that, when your not angry, you just give the best advice.”

 

Boris shook his head, “Because you’re like a piñata from old country.”

 

“Boris what is a piñata?” He asked evilly.

 

“I’m not telling…oh dear!”  Boris called out. 

 

 

 

Hector ran as fast as you could but slowed, “What’s the point? The point of return.” He answered himself.

 

Hector just started to walk around not really going anywhere He quickened his speed. “Don’t.” Hector told himself. He stopped and started crying,  “I’m lost! Of all the things I’m lost.” Put his head up, “No! Wait…” Hector smelt some blood far off. “Blood?” He followed the sent. For while He could finely see the source of the blood sent “A dead wolf?” Hector said to himself. I don’t know theses wolves. He thought to himself as looked up seeing more wolves’ dead. Hector looked around he froze seeing dead pups, “Who would!?” He

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