A Moment in the Light

(started 8/12/07 – ) 

Summary: Balto drifts into a comforting sleep, a sleep in which for a few minutes, he is considered dead. The three groups of others that he meets within those moments, the memories and lessons of life that they pass on to him, and the wishes they have for his future . . . all these things will affect how the famous wolf-dog decides to live out the remainder of his days after returning from . . . A Moment in the Light. (companion piece)

Rating: G for General Audiences. Nothing bad here, except loads of memories that may have give you nightmares. Other than that, it’s all good. 

Disclaimer: Balto, Balto: Wolf Quest, Balto: Wings of Change and all characters associated with the Balto series are the properties of Universal Studios, Inc.; however, certain personalities and situations are based more on my fan-fictions and not actual events. The fan characters of Aurora, Nightshade, Stardust, Anyu, Tulugaq, and Kaze are the property of Juuchan17 and should not be used without permission of the author first. Thank you and enjoy!

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Author’s Note:

Well, this is something different, eh? 

Now, this is an idea I thought would be a quick little write-up about Balto having an out-of-body experience while sleeping. I only hope that I wrote it well enough for Balto fans to become intrigued by this somewhat different tale.

To set this up in the timeline of the events of my other stories, this takes place a few months after the events of “Balto: Wings of Change.” His son, Kodiak, has been dealing with a punishment for being with another dog’s betrothed (Dusty, from his mail team) and while she has been exiled from town with his pups growing inside her, he is forbidden from leaving Nome (from my story “Forgive Me”). At the same time, Saba, one of Balto’s daughters, has recently revealed that she is in love with Dingo, her own brother. She is about weeks away from giving birth to her first litter of pups. (from the third part of “The Confession Saga,” “Truth Be Told”) Meanwhile, Aleu, Balto’s firstborn daughter, has separated from her father’s overprotective shadow to lead her own clan of wolves, the Kawa, to a new land where caribou flourish (from the ending of “Wolf Quest”), and as love begins to blossom with a once rebel clan wolf to returns to follow his destined path. Uniting with him, Aleu helps keep nearby clans in a treaty of peace and also bears him four pups. (All events from “Here I Am,” “Two Become One” (working title, not official yet), and “Lupine Call”) Denali and Yukon, the other two pups that were unnamed in their movie debut, are mainly focused on their sledding duties, but I promise, they too will get their moment in the spotlight. 

*cough*

Anyway, Balto is the focus of this story. He will meet five other canines that are connected to him somehow, and they only have a short amount of time to communicate with him; however, the things they reveal to him will change his life forever. 

I’ll let you read onward so that you can figure out what happens yourself! Enjoy!

- Juuchan17 

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Part I – The Other Side 

The mid-autumn night was chillier than most as the moon ascended above the horizon, beginning to shine its pure rays of lunar sunshine upon the little town of Nome where the famous wolf-dog was moments away from closing his eyes to rest up for the next day.

Usually the gray-brown hybrid would be found inside the drafty room that was on the deck of his grounded wooden boat with his snow goose guardian and twin polar bear friends nearby to offer him some type of friendly warmth, but alas, he was nowhere to be found on the outskirts of town. Instead, he was welcomed inside a comfortable home where his mate had lived all but eight weeks of her life. Her owners had felt sorry for the hero of the town from over three years ago – especially the husky’s actual owner, a young girl named Rosy who would have been a lost cause if not for the mutt’s bravery and courage – so the least they could have done was to offer him some comfortable accommodations for as long as the early chill was in the air. 

He was inside of the family’s side building, the storage barn that held a surplus of materials and bales of hay and straw for warmth and insulation. The gray-brown wolf-dog let out a yawn, stretching his legs forward and his grayish-brown and tan tail backward before shaking his fur as he returned to his erect position. The other dog inside with him was clearly different looking than him – she was a purebred husky, and a beautiful one at that! Her bright burgundy coat was lined with ivory markings on her perfectly-formed face, large chest, fragile paws and bushy two-toned tail. A red-orange bandanna was donned around her neck instead of the classic collar of a sled-dog, but her amber-hazel eyes gazed only at the yellow pools of red that looked back at her droopily.

“Balto, you look tired and worn out from today,” she spoke in a soft, motherly voice. “You should get some rest right away.” 

“No, I’m fine, Jenna,” he replied. “I’m not that sleepy . . . honest . . .” Another yawn completed his sentence and once he finished, he saw a stern look of concern on his mate’s face.

“I know that you’re worried about our son, Balto, but you won’t be able to last another day of guarding him if you don’t get your proper rest.” She scolded him like a mother does her own pup. “Please.” 

Balto sighed, letting out a loud, deep sound. “Jen, I know I should get some sleep, but I can’t do that with you worrying about my health all the time!” He collapsed his body onto a blanket that was spread out on a flattened layer of straw. “I’m not a pup anymore; I’ve long outgrown that stage.”

Jenna’s eyebrows lowered in slight anger, but her voice remained calm. “I know that, but I’m just worried about you. I love you so much, and I don’t want anything to happen to you, that’s all!” 

The wolf-dog took those words as a chance to apologize and get back on his mate’s good side. “Sorry. I understand that you’re thinking about me and I appreciate it – I really do. I’m just saying that you needn’t be worried about me. I still have many more years to go before my time comes.”

“Let’s hope so,” Jenna replied. “With a new litter on the way, they’re gonna need their father to remain strong and healthy to baby them!” She nuzzled him as she lay beside him. Although she wasn’t showing yet, the she-husky was only a couple of weeks within her second pregnancy and didn’t look like any different from her normal self. “And now with Saba expecting her first, they’re going to be waiting to play with their grandpa!” She giggled. “There’ll be more of us that’ll want you . . . and need you here; you know that.” 

Balto returned the nuzzle, agreeing with her comment. “I’ll be fine. Trust me.” He smiled at her, giving her a hopeful wink.

The husky sighed and lowered her head against Balto’s neck and over her own forelegs. “Good night, Balto. May you have . . .” She let out a yawn. “ . . . pleasant dreams.” Then she closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly. 

For the next five minutes, Balto watched his mate sleeping, observing the way her belly ascended and descended as she breathed. “God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured into the slight breeze that came from a crack in the doorway. “Even when you sleep, you’re an angel.” He sighed. “I don’t want all of this stress to take me away from you yet . . . I guess that’s why you’re all worked up about me getting my rest and all.” The hybrid let out another sigh as he lowered his head to his forelegs and began to close his eyes as well.

Please don’t take this away . . . 

His world suddenly grew dark . . . darker, darker, until all around his form was pitch black. The only sounds he could hear was his own panting as he began to panic . . . and the pounding of his own heart that echoed across the sudden darkness. The thumps quickened as he himself was in a state of panic, but suddenly began to run down as if he were . . .

A tiny glint of brightness began to form in the far-off corner of the shadows as the heartbeat steadily slowed to a less than normal pulse. His eyes widened in fear. 

Is this it? He thought in fear. Is that the light that leads people to death?

The brightness was indeed warm and inviting – who wouldn’t want to be there instead of that cold darkness? He hesitated, afraid that it wanted him to cross over, but he knew in his heart he wasn’t ready to leave his mate’s side . . . Not yet. 

However, a warm, familiar voice coaxed him forward, pulling him ever closer to the brightness of the next world.

“My son, it is time for you to come home . . . .” 

His ears pricked up in surprise. M-m-m-mother? He could remember that voice from anywhere, especially since he last saw her spirit about two years ago after letting his oldest daughter loose into the wilderness that she belonged. I don’t want to die yet . . . I can’t leave Jenna alone . . .

“It’ll only for a few moments, my son,” she replied in her normal, calm voice. “There are some that wish to speak with you, and I will grant you an audience with them . . . but in order to do that, you must cross over.” 

But . . . but . . . He stuttered in fear and confusion. I’ll die! What will Jenna think if she suddenly wakes up and finds me dead beside her! Oh, it would break her heart!

“Don’t worry,” the spirit reassured him. “She will have nothing to fear once you return to life. I will only give you five minutes with each of these groups of spirits that wish to speak with you, then I shall return your breath