Balto Origins

 

 

 

 

The year was 1919. It was a snowy night in the town of Nenana. Two dogs sat in an old barn near the outskirts.

"So I'm just sittin around, mindin my own business when, get this, a wolf starts talkin smack."

The other dog sighed. "What are you tryin to tell me?"

"I'm telling you about my riveting day. I can't do that no more?"

The dog shrugged. "No problem. Just...wondering why you're talkin about a wolf."

The other dog rolled his eyes. "So this wolf, he starts talkin smack to me. Sometin about...genetics, I don't know. He starts howling like a friggin bird. He go's outside..."

The dog paused for suspence. "And you know what happens? BAM! BAM! BAM! Three bullets, all to the head. It's amazing. And the wolf get's up! Can you believe it?"

"Well they are tough." The other dog said.

"So the wolf gets shot like fifty times! I'm tellin ya, those things are like bullet magnets. Every hunter wants a slice."

The other dog shook his head. "What are we talking about here?"

"You're mate. She's one of them wolves. Don't you think...I don't know, It's a bit dangerous? Raising pups that are half bullet magnets?"

"I knew the risks. I'm ready."

The dog snorted. "Well you'd better be ready to commit. Hunters, they just love killin wolves."

There was a silence between the two friends. "So shouldn't you be preparin anyway?"

“She’s not expecting for another couple days. I can have some good times with my pal can’t I?”

The other dog smiled. “Of course you can Champ. Just...them wolf dog pups are supposed to be little devils, from what I hear."

Champ nodded. "I'm up to it. I've been protecting gunners from wolves for a while. Protecting wolves from gunners just saves time."

They're conversation was interrupted by a piercing wolf howl.

“That’s the signal!” He said excitedly. “I’m gonna be a father tonight!”

Champ got up and sprinted out the door. He had a two mile run to his mate’s cave but he was suddenly full of energy. He sprinted through the forest.

Suddenly he tripped. He fell face first into the snow. His face had been cut and was bleeding. He struggled to his feet.

Suddenly his ears perked up. He sniffed the air. “Why did you follow me?”

A wolf came out of the shadows. He had a look of calm rage on his face.

“Going to see your mate?” He asked.

“Look Claude, any hard feelings between us, I just want to settle it right now.”
“Do you really?” Claude said in a careless tone.

“Look, is this all because you think I stole you’re girl? Aniu loves me more than you and it‘s driving you crazy! Get out more. Find another babe.”
 

“Wow. That's not why I'm here. Now let me explain something.”

He sighed. “You’re a dog. You had no right to mate with a wolf”

“What is there a law against it?” Champ demanded.

“This one.” Claude snarled back. Before Champ could react the wolf had leapt on him, clawing and biting viciously.

“What’s taking him so long?” A white wolf asked, as she stroked her four scrambling pups. “He should have been here ten minutes ago.”

There was a dog in the room. He looked concerned too.

“This isn’t like my brother. Something must have happened.”

The white wolf shook her head. “Don’t say that.”

The dog smiled. “Don’t worry Aniu. I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Could you just go find him?” Aniu asked.

The dog nodded. He hurried out the door. Aniu looked down at her pups.

They all seemed to look the same. They looked mostly like their father.

But there was one that was out of place. He was dark brown with a light brown underbelly. He seemed to look more wolf than dog.

About an hour later Aniu began to worry. Suddenly he heard paws padding into the cave. She gasped.

The dog was carrying Champ, who was bleeding profusely.

“Champ! Oh my god!” Aniu exclaimed. The dog lay Champ on the cave floor. He tried to talk but kept spitting up blood.

“Get a vet!” Aniu ordered.

Champ shook his head. “No. Don’t bring a human here. I’m not worth it.”

“Of course you are!” Aniu said tearfully.

“Too much pain.” Champ replied weakly.

He noticed the pups for the first time. “They’re…they’re beautiful.”

Champ noticed the one that looked different from his siblings.

“Can…can I name them?” Champ asked.

Aniu nodded tearfully. “Of course.”

“What about…this one?” Champ asked, picking up the brown one.

Aniu shook her head. “I don’t know.”

“What…what was the…the name of that…scientist. The one…who saved your…your life?”

Aniu could see the life draining out of her mate. She tried to remember the name.

“Samuel…Bingo?”

Champ chuckled weakly. “That’s…that’s not it.”

“Samuel Balto!” Aniu exclaimed, remembering.

Champ nodded. “Yeah. G-Good man.”

Aniu nodded. Suddenly Champ began coughing violently. Then he went limp.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

It was a bright winter day. Everything was covered in snow.

Two pups snuck around the forest outside their cave. They heard a padding noise and immediately hid themselves.

Another pup padded by the area where they just were. He was a dark brown pup. He sniffed the air, then grinned.

Suddenly he pounced on a random area in the snow. He pulled out one of the pups. “C’mon Aston, that’s too easy.”

He turned and pulled another pup out of the snow. “You too Dingo.”

“Aww Balto, you always spoil hide and seek!” Aston whined.

Balto grinned. “What can I say? I’m that good.”

Dingo grinned mischievously. “How about you hide and the two of us go find you?”

Balto rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you get five more wolves, a couple hunters, and a hunting dog? Then it'll be a fair game.”

Aston chuckled. “I’m sure it’ll be quite fair.”
“Okay. What’s that?” Balto pointed behind Dingo and Aston.

They both turned around. There was nothing there. They turned back around. Balto was gone.
“Geeze, how did he do that?” Dingo asked.

Aston pouted. “Probably cheated that’s how.”

“Why, I’m right here!”

The two pups turned in the direction of the voice. Nothing.
Dingo swallowed nervously. “Okay Balto you’re freaking me out.”

There was no response. “B-Balto? Where are you?”

“Here.”

The two screamed. They turned to find Balto grinning back at them.

“Looks like we found you.” Aston said defiantly.

“No. You screamed like a little girl.”

Aston frowned. “I’m going home.” He turned away. “You always ruin everything.”

“You always ruin everything.” Balto mimicked.

“Well you do.” Dingo insisted.

“Oh come on! I do not!”
A smile appeared on Dingo’s face. “Do too.”

“Do not!”

“Do too.” Dingo turned and began running towards the cave.

Balto ran after him. He caught up easily. He leapt on his prey, tackling him.

“Do not!” Balto said laughing.

“Do too.” Dingo replied coolly.

The two wrestled in the snow, laughing, until they both got tired.

“Let’s race to town!” Balto said.

“But mom said…”
But Balto was already sprinting towards the town.

“Oh brother.” Dingo groaned.

Balto ran as fast as he could across the snowy ground. Suddenly he felt himself become airborne. Someone had picked him up by the scruff of the neck.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Aniu demanded.

“Geeze mom, I’m just racing into town.”

Aniu gave him an angry glare. “Don’t you ever go near the town!”

“Why not mom?”

Aniu sighed. “Follow me.”
Aniu led Balto back to the cave. His three siblings were grinning.

“Balto’s in trouble! Balto’s in trouble!” They chanted.

“Shut up!” Balto snarled.

Aniu led him into a dark part of the cave. “Balto, we need to talk.”

“Am I in trouble?” Balto asked nervously.

Aniu smiled. “No Balto. You’re not in trouble. It’s just…” She sighed. “Your father would have been better at this than I am. You’re different.”

“I know I’m different. I beat everyone in hide and seek.”
Aniu chuckled. “That’s not…quite what I mean. You look different.”
“But you told us looks don’t matter.”

“I know I did. It’s just…that town has humans. Humans and wolves…don’t get along.”

Balto smiled, not getting the point. “But I’m a wolf dog.”

“I know. Your siblings are too. But they look like dogs. And you look like…”
“A wolf.” Balto finished. He looked hurt. “But I would never hurt the humans. What does it matter whether I look like a wolf?”

Aniu paused. How to explain this to a pup? “Humans aren’t perfect. They fear things that are…different.”
“And I’m different. So

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