Boris was waiting with his wings on his hips.

“Vhat is zis I hear about you leaving?”

Balto sighed. “I’m thinking about leaving Nome.”

“And vhy is zat?” Boris asked.

“There’s nothing for me in this town. I can’t live in a place where everyone hates me.”

“I do not hate you.”

Balto nodded. “Thanks. But I have to leave.”

“But vhere vill you go?”

“I don’t know…” Balto frowned. “Why do you give a damn? I’m not your family. You’re the one who brought me here!”
“If I hadn’t you vould have freezed to death!”

“And maybe we’d both be better off!” Balto snapped back. “And it’s frozen. Not freezed.”

Boris nodded. “Maybe you are right. Maybe I should have let you die. But I vould never have been able to live vith self after zat.”

Balto shook his head. “You won’t have to worry about me any more.”

He licked Boris on the head. “Goodbye Boris. You’ve been my best friend during these years. I’ll never forget you.”
Balto padded down the ramp. Boris watched sadly as he left. Suddenly Balto stopped and turned. “You’d make a great father to someone Boris. I just wanted you to know that.”

Then Balto was gone. Boris sighed. “Good luck kiddo.”

Balto padded into the old mill. There weren’t many dogs there. But Togo was one of them.
Togo smiled when he saw him. “You’ve thought about it?”
Balto nodded. “I’m leaving. I just came to say goodbye.”
Togo nodded. “You know you endured a lot as a pup. I always thought after what you went through nothing would get to you.” He shrugged. “Guess I was wrong.”

Togo extended his paw. “Good luck out there kid.”

Balto took a look at the town. He was thinking of what Togo had said. He had endured worse in his life. Though he had tried to bury the memories, he could still see the slaughter of his siblings, the sacrifice of his mother, the insane look on the wolf’s face when he killed them. It all flooded back into his memory. Tears trickled down his muzzle. It was without a doubt the worst moment in his life. He suddenly realized. He had endured worse. If he could stand to see his family die he could endure a life in Nome.

Steele padded arrogantly through the town. He sniffed the air and frowned.

“I thought you were leaving town.” He hissed.

Balto padded out of the shadows. “I was thinking about that. I decided not to.”

“Really?”
“Yeah, so I’m gonna be here…forever.”

Steele gestured to the old mill. Suddenly three dogs padded out of it.

“Guy’s? Our friend here doesn’t want to leave. Let’s teach him to leave.”
Balto turned to run but found that he was surrounded.

The dogs pounced. Balto was pinned to the ground. The dogs held him up.

“You got a good hold on him?” Steele asked.

Kaltag nodded. “He’s all your’s.”
Steele punched him in the stomach. Balto gasped in pain. Steele hit him again. “You still want to stay in Nome?” He snarled. Balto nodded.

Steele hit him in the stomach again. Blood trickled out of Balto’s mouth.

“Please…stop.”

“Get the hell out of my town!” Steele snapped back.
“It’s…not…your…town.” Balto replied. “I’m… not scared of you… Steele.”’

Steele chuckled. “Then you’d better learn to be scared of me.”

He punched Balto in the face. Balto began laughing.

“Something amusing?” Steele snapped.

“Yeah. No matter what you…do…you can never make me leave this town. I can take everything you throw at me.”
Steele shook his head. “This isn’t all I can throw at you.”

He grabbed Balto’s neck. “Will you leave?”
Balto shook his head. Steele’s grip on his neck increased. Balto struggled to breathe.
Steele whispered into Balto’s ear. “All this can end. You can leave or you can die.”

“What is going on here?” A familiar voice demanded.

Steele looked up and put on the most innocent look he could manage. “Jenna! How great to see you again. Your family settled in yet?”
Jenna nodded. “What are you doing?”

Steele smiled and gestured to Balto. “We’re just…practicing for that race tomorrow.”
Balto snorted. “Sure Steele.”

Steele’s look turned to anger. “Hey hybrid, was I talking to you?”

“He looks hurt.” Jenna said worriedly.

“Oh well, lobo fido here uh…enjoys it!” Steele sneered.

“It doesn’t look that way.” Jenna replied. “Do you enjoy it?”

Balto was about to answer when Steele clamped his paws down on his muzzle. “He can’t talk.”

Balto shoved him off. “No I don’t enjoy it.”

Jenna frowned at Steele. “Let him go.”
Steele chuckled. “Why should I do that?”

“Because I told you to.” Jenna snapped back.

“But he is a wolf dog.” Steele whined.

“And?”
Steele sighed. “I’m just gonna hit him a little bit more.” He turned. Balto was gone.

Balto snapped awake. It was 2:00 in the morning. He breathed heavily. Tears streamed down his bruised muzzle. He got up. He angrily smashed his paws down on the deck. Boris snapped awake. “Vhy do you vake me up boychik?” He demanded.

Balto let out a cry of sorrow. He continued pounding his paws on the boat. Boris waddled over. “Please! Do not take it out on boat! It is fragile enough!”

Balto could feel tears coming. He was shaking. “I’m forgetting them Boris.”

“Vhat? Forgetting who?”

“My…my family. All these years I’ve been able to hold onto their memories. Now I’ve even forgotten what they look like!” He collapsed to the deck. He couldn’t stop shaking. “But I can still see…him. The one…who killed them.”

“Calm down!” Boris said. “You are okay.”
“No I’m not dammit! Every night…in my dreams…I see his face.” He calmed down. “I’m sorry for waking you up. But…how is it that I loved them…and I’m forgetting them, but I hate the one who killed them, and I can’t get him out of my mind?”

　

　

 

Chapter 5

 

Balto awoke with pain in his legs. He groaned as he got up.

“You feeling alright?” Boris called. He was already sweeping the deck.

“Yeah just…ran a bit last night.” Balto said. He winced. “Maybe a bit too much.”

Boris nodded. “Vell some dogs vere here zis morning. Zey asked for a volf pup.”

Balto padded over to him. “You didn’t tell them anything did you?”

Boris shook his head. “No.”
Balto smiled. “Thanks Boris. You’re a life saver.”

Balto padded off the ramp of the boat.

“And vere do you think you are going?”

“I’m going to find out why they’re after me.” Balto called back.

Balto padded discreetly into town. He noticed a lot of dogs were crowded around an old gold dredger. He silently slipped into the crowd.

“I’m telling you this town is filled with wolves!” A dog yelled.

Balto saw in horror that it was the same dog who had chased him the night before. He began to pad away. The dog noticed. His eyes widened when he saw who it was.

“You! That’s the wolf that bit me!”
Before Balto could react a dog had picked him up by the scruff of the neck and carried him into the gold dredger.

“Let go of me!” Balto demanded.

Balto was dropped to the ground. In the center of the room was a middle aged Saint Bernard.

“Young sir. You are charged with assault of a member of our community. How do you plead?”

Balto looked dumbfounded. “Excuse me mister but I didn’t understand a word you just said. English please?”

The Saint Bernard eyed him suspiciously. “What is your name son?”

Balto made a mock salute and barked like a soldier. “My name’s Balto sir. Don’t wear it out sir.”

At this there was a stir of laughter in the crowd. Balto grinned. The Saint Bernard looked irritated.

“Well ‘Balto’, last night at approximately 11:00 did you or didn’t you attack this dog?” He gestured to the dog.

“I bit him if that’s what you mean sir.” Balto replied innocently. There was more laughter. The dog who had been bitten glared at them.

The Saint Bernard stared at him. “You realize how serious a crime that is son?”

“No I don’t.” Balto replied.

The Saint Bernard chuckled. “Luckily you’re just a pup. I’ll let you off on a warning. If it happens again…well…just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Balto nodded. “Sir, can I go now sir?”

The Saint Bernard sighed, then nodded. “I guess. Good luck Balto.”

Balto padded hastily out of the building. He started to head back to the boat.

He paused and sniffed the air. He was being followed.

He looked back. The dogs that had attacked him the night before were coming to finish the job.

He increased his pace. They started running towards him.

Balto was running now. He eyed areas that he could hide as he ran. The dogs were keeping up with him. They were bigger than him so they could

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