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Hey guys!
I know I should be working on my other stories, but I just had this idea for an epic story and I couldn't help but start writing it! Here's the prologue for the first story of Aleu's quest (which takes place a year after the events of "Change of Heart" (my Niju/Nava-centric fic) and "Lupine Call" (The "Aleu has puppies" fic) but you don't need to read those stories to understand what's going on . . . although it's much appreciated that you do!) . . . Hope you enjoy!
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A Time to Live - Prologue
(started 11/04/06 -)
Prologue Summary: It’s a normal night for two different worlds, and yet memories of tragedy, childhood, and the next day loom with the slow rising of the moonlight. (This is a basic summary; I can’t think of a better way to describe it!)
Entire Summary: It's been a while since Aleu has become alpha of the Kawa Clan and things couldn't be better: she has dodged a brutal attack from the Yama Clan across the water, discovered powerful feelings that she never knew she had for an once-rebellious male named Niju, and just recently gave birth to her first litter of part husky-part wolf pups. But when a dangerous new enemy arrives and things start to go wrong, Aniu sends the young alpha a vision of things to come and tells her that only one thing can stop the enemy's plan: Aleu must become fight them, but not as a wolf - she must take the form of the enemy herself! Will Aniu's plan work? Can Aleu succeed in her ultimate test to prove her worthiness of being the "one who is wolf and does not know" or will other feelings cause her to go astray, dooming the clan forever?
Entire Story Rating: PG-13 for a bit of language, character death, violence (off-screen and not bloody), a slight bit of nudity (not too graphic – you’ll find out why in later chapters), and some disturbing situations (hinted animal cruelty (and hunters), images of destruction, death, hinted sexual situations and other stuff) that may not be appropriate for young, young children (younger than 10, I guess . . . to be safe).
Note: This section is rated PG – the only things to worry about are: language and some slightly disturbing situations (mainly the hunters and that sort of stuff – I know nothing about hunting, but yeah.). It’s a Prologue – there isn’t much in it.
Disclaimer: Balto, Balto: Wolf Quest, and any characters from them are the property of Universal Studios Inc.; any other fan characters that are named were created especially for this story and its upcoming sequel, "A Time to Die", and are the property of me, Juuchan17.
These fan characters (including the fan names for the WQ6 - Denali and Yukon) and anything based on the story plot (including the story plot itself) should not be used by anyone unless I give them permission myself!
Thank you!
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Author's Note:
I suppose this is what some of you readers would call a "major change" in Balto fanfictions, eh?
Well, for the past few months, the Balto fanfictions have taken a drastic turn for controversy and forbidden desires - turning fictional canines into homosexual, sibling-loving dogs that is making some fans wishing to ban these types of fics. (I still say "if you don't like the idea, don't read it," but to each his own, right?) Yes, I was the catayst of the incest fics with my one-shot story (now five-story series) "Confession", but now I've chosen to go a different direction for this fic.
(Yes, you heard me - there is no incest in this fic. Everyone rejoice. ^__^)
"A Time to Live" is a tale that has emotion, drama, and still maintains that "forbidden romance" factor that made the "Confession Saga" so different and intriguing, but with a twist. The story's focal point is Aleu, Balto's wolfish daughter and the obvious star of Balto 2: Wolf Quest. I really like developing her character from that childish, playful yet determined personality that we saw in WQ into a young, maturing quarter-wolf alpha with a huge destiny to uphold. In some of my previous stories, I have made Niju reenter her life, this time as a changed wolf who ends up becoming her alpha mate and fathering her first litter (instead of the ever-so-popular "Let's create a new male character for Aleu to fall in love with and have them make babies together" crap; I don't think I like those too much, but using a mentioned character (as if there are that many of them in WQ) makes the story more interesting IMO), much to the chagrin of many readers. After writing my Niju-centric fic, "Change of Heart", I thought up the idea for its sequel, "Two Become One" and then this hit me - Well, since the whole "quest" was a test for Aleu to discover her destiny of becoming the next leader (when IMO she really wasn't strong enough yet) and since Nava said she would be a great leader, what if it takes a while for the true leadership test to happen?
Thus, this story was born. I will admit it, I was inspired by some of my favorite movies when I started to write the rough draft version - The Last Unicorn being the most inspirational (if you've seen the movie or read the book, you probably will like this story). I tried to make it true to the time period with the settings and the people that live nearby (I never really mentioned an exact year, but it's obviously in the late 1920s at the earliest), and also remember to continue the beauty of the original film and its sequels (with exception of Niju, since he has changed since the end of WQ . . . who knows? I might make him mean and bitchy again . . . if you want me to, that is. He probably will, due to certain events that could happen later in the story) with the characters. Also, I've added a lot of new characters (mainly the "enemy", which causes a huge obstacle for Aleu to achieve her destiny)
And I promise there'll be some surprises in store for true Balto fans too (Gah, I wish I could give you more hints, but I'll leave it as a surprise), so look out for them in future chapters of this story!
To sum up this little thought, this is more of a realistic fantasy tale, a tale of survival, life and death, and the ever-mysterious emotion of love. I feel like this is probably my most violent, most romantic, and quite possibly my most interesting fic to date. I hope you enjoy it, no matter what your fic preference is.
- Juuchan17
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Prologue - Underneath the Rising Moon
(finished 11/21/06)
The moon was hidden by the tall trees from the forest that night. It was only an hour after the sunset and the sky's palette was still filled with color, mainly shades of cool blues and purples, with a speckle of reddish-orange at the hidden horizon. The sun finally had made its curtain call, its exit making way for the rising moon that was slowly beginning its ascent into the evening sky, shrouded in a few wispy clouds of cirrus with a solitary aurora as its spotlight. In only a short while, it would be above the Alaskan pines, towering over them, but a thin tower of dark smoke had recently begun to mix with the air above the canopy.
Underneath the smoke, a softly crackling fire had lit up a tiny campsite where a group of four men and their team of sled huskies had chosen to set up camp until daybreak. The smell of a bubbling stew of rabbit meat and watery broth filled the air as the team of six huskies rested after their meal and the men, mainly all in their mid-twenties or thirties, began to pass the time with food and conversation.
"I wonder when we'll see one yet, Slade," one man with red hair tied back in a short ponytail pondered to his fellow comrades as he leaned over the pot of stew, dipped a small ladle into it, and poured some of the concoction into a bowl, handing it to a man in front of him. "We've been travelin' for the past few days and still no sight of those ***** beasts."
"Patience, Clyde," The dark-haired one named "Slade" answered him. His straight bangs of ebony just barely covered his dark eyes that matched his hair as he returned the gesture, grabbing the bowl of steaming soup from his friend, and then returned to his wooden perch across from Clyde. "They're close . . . I can just smell 'em. Let's give it at least another day of searchin' before we turn back towards home."
A younger man, also with red hair, took a sip of stew and placed his dish down beside Clyde, who sat to his right. He was in his early 20s, and seemed to be the youngest person there; by his normal appearance compared to the more outdoorish attire that his companions wore, the whole experience was new to him. "And when we find them? What will happen to them then?"
"Wha?" Slade gave the young man a befuddled look. "You mean I never told ya before?"
A husky-sized man with grayish-white hair and whiskers let out a large belly laugh beside the ebony-haired leader. "Slade, you never telled any of us, man!" He gave his companion a friendly (but large) slap on the back. "Most of us sign on for this expedition for the money, but we all know what you really wanted!" He pointed one of his large, dirty fingers at the young red-haired man. "That one's just a kid; he don't know what we do since this be his first time."
"Well said, Miller! You tell 'em!" The other men agreed, all except the younger man.
"Well then, I oughta tell ya," Slade focused mainly on the kid. "Well, first o' all, we traders like t' get the best skins out ther'. Hell, ev'rybody's heard o' Slade's Pelts O' Plenty!"
"I haven't," the young male muttered under his breath as Slade continued to speak.
" . . . It's the same ol' thing each time, just like pieces o' clockwork: we track 'em, trap 'em, kill 'em, and . . . ." He took in a deep breath and let it out, ending with a smile. ". . . Skin 'em! That simple, my boy."
The young man was shocked to realize what he had gotten himself into after hearing those words from his boss's almost toothless mouth. Never in his life had he successfully taken away a life; the closest thing he had ever killed was a small snow hare that had messed up some of his father's tools and equipment in his workshed. He had barely grazed it, but it still escaped, much to the boy's happiness; he was glad that he had scared it away from harm's way, but his father was furiously ashamed of his son by the fact that he hadn't finished the creature off.
Ever since then, the young man's fondness for animals had never faltered; he had only joined the expedition as a dog handler, not knowing the journey's true objective, but he never expected to actually hunt or skin . . . those beautiful creatures that he had always seen in picture books since childhood . . .
To him, they were the wild guardians of the night – the earth-bound singers and keepers of the moon's eternally haunting melody.
The boss, Slade, noticed the red-haired boy's face and laughed, breaking the still silence.
"Well, ya don't have t' see 'em die, kid,"
"I don't?" His face began to brighten up a little.
"Nope. Besides, ya still have t' take care of th' dogs and protect 'em for us while we hunt, so it's all right. We don't mind."
The boy's short red bangs covered his solemn tears of thoughts of what was to happen. Although he was sad by the fact that animals were going to be killed innocently, he was grateful that he wouldn't have to witness it . . . and the fact that his own boss understood. "Thanks, Boss."
"Now, ya don't have t' keep callin' me Boss, kid." Slade walked over to him, lifting the boy's head up, not taking notice of the dried tear trails on his soft peach cheeks. "Call me Slade."
"And my name's Dean, not 'Kid,'" he corrected and began to give Slade a bit of a grin of understanding. "Thanks, Slade."
"None taken," Slade stretched his arms widely and let out a yawn. "Well, we better finish our stew and hit th' hay." He told the rest of his party. "An' then some tomorrow, we'll be catchin' us some skins!"
All but Dean let out a cheer; even the dogs, who had finished eating and were also prepared to rest, let out a couple of barks, not really knowing what the situation was.
Suddenly, as if called on by cue, a long howl filled the cold night air. It danced onto a chilly breeze, floating over the trees and into the campsite where the men could only hush each other and gasp in awe by the haunting song.
"Heh, even they knew we're talkin' about 'em!" Miller's belly shook as their leader's mouth curved into a smirk; Slade's long fingery touch onto Miller's stomach caused him to suddenly be silent as he began to speak in an almost whispered tone.
"I told ya I smelt 'em, didn't I?" Slade brushed away his raven-tinted hair from his face, glaring at his party and letting out a low chuckle. Dean could tell by the look in his boss's eyes that he was possessed to do something evil . . . something that seemed like he would be the only one to prevent this event from happening; however, he continued to play along, not really speaking much but always listening to his companions.
I wish . . ., he thought as he stood up and returned to the dogs, preparing them for the cold night. I wish I could do something to help them . . . to save them from this cruel fate . . . But . . ., Dean patted the head of the lead dog, who nuzzled him back gently. They’re wild, not tame like you guys are. There’s no way that they would understand that I’m only trying to help them live . . . He let out a soft sigh and went to his set of blankets and let out a warm breath that turned into a cloud of air that was visible in front of him.
But I don’t care! I will do whatever I can to save you beautiful creatures . . . I just have to not look so suspicious to Slade . . . which may be more difficult than I thought . . . He then closed his eyes and prayed as he went to sleep.
I know I’m only a young man . . . but I only wish there was something else that I was meant to do here . . . I know that these guys want to hunt and kill these innocent creatures, but please . . . give me a sign . . . or them a sign, so that these animals know that I am only here to help save them . . . Thank you . . . Amen . . . .
As the other two men talked excitedly amongst themselves about their prey and what was to come in only a few hours, Slade looked up at the now-rising moon as it seemed to slowly triumph over the forest pine that surrounded their little campsite and tiny cooking fire.
"Ah, yes, I've found ya . . . at last," he quietly murmured into the air as he began to put a spoonful of rabbit stew into his mouth. Then he made a promise to the wind as a shooting star quietly streaked overhead.
''I'll get ya this time . . . You'll all be mine to conquer and destroy, and nothing will stop me from getting my ultimate revenge on ya wolves."
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Only about a couple of miles from the camp in a cluster of caves by nearby mountains, the lone howler stood on a cliff, watching the moon with its piercing eyes of azure. It let out one last long cry before taking a couple of steps backwards, standing in awe at the night’s lustrous view. By the look of the creature's relaxed posture and pointed-up ears of velvet dark sepia, it noticed that something strange yet familiar was out there in the pine forest below.
A tower of black smoke could be seen from its perch.
Smoke? Must be a small fire to keep warm. The strange flurries of this summer is making it a bit chilly nowadays.
It heard a couple of excited barks from the forest below.
Hmm, other dogs? They don't sound like us . . . Huskies, perhaps?
It could smell the stench of burning timber and kindling and . . . it sniffed again, identifying the scent of a tasty rabbit stew.
It licked its lips, revealing its canine fangs that glistened pearly-white in the reflection of the moon's glow.
"Mmm, that smells good," it lightly spoke in a voice that made the mature-looking creature sound like a playful young girl.
"Aleu?"
A masculine voice quietly entered the creature's presence, causing her to instinctively get into a defensive stance. He slowly revealed himself as a rather large wolf, marked with light bluish-white to add contrast to his navy-tinted coat.
"Oh, it's only you, Niju," the other creature breathed a sigh of relief, identifying the wolf; she began to join him underneath the glowing moonlight.
She was much smaller than the other wolf, for she was only months away from becoming three years old and only 25% wolf. Her rough fur was a shade of light mousy-brown and her shaggy yet elegant markings on her face, body, tail and legs were painted with whitish-tan.
"Is there something wrong, Niju?" she asked him. "Are the pups okay?"
Niju gave her a soft look by lowering his eyelids and putting his lips into a calm grin. "They're fast asleep with the other females. I only came out here to check on you. You've been coming out here every night for the past few days. Are you okay?"
Aleu lowered her ears and sighed. "Do I look fine to you?"
"No."
Her eyes opened widely in disbelief and shock that he would even dare to say something like that to his own alpha mate.
"You look beautiful," He gave her a wink and his blush turned a dark shade of blush when he saw his lover smile. "Especially when you smile."
"Well, there is something that is worrying me recently, now that you mention it," She gave Niju a nuzzle against his warm neck.
After the nuzzle, the male led his mate to the edge of the cliff and motioned her to sit. "Don't be afraid to tell me, Aleu. If it has anything to do with you, it has just as much to do with me too. We are one unit now, remember?"
She gently nodded her elegant head. "How could I ever forget that moment that was only months ago?" She closed her eyes, reminscing of almost a year ago when Niju crossed the water and proved his eternal loyalty to the Kawa Clan, the pack he was born into, and received Aleu's trust and love to help defeat the attacking Yama Clan of the Mountains; afterwards, the two were given Aniu's blessing of becoming the next generation of alpha mates of the Kawa Clan of the River.
"So, what were you going to tell me, Aleu?" Niju asked, after letting out a soft cough to bring Aleu back from her memories. "What's troubling you?"
"Well, I've been thinking about things recently, like my home mainly," She let out a sigh. "My papa and mom . . . I really miss my family . . ." A tear trickled down her face and fused into the rocky surface as she remembered the family that raised and cared for her since birth: her purebred mother, Jenna; her half-wolf father, Balto, who gave Aleu her wolfish instincts and looks; her feathered "baby-sitter" and chew toy, Boris; her polar bear playmates, Muk and Luk; and her five husky-looking siblings - Dingo, Saba, Yukon, Denali, and Kodiak. She ran away from home over a year ago when she was a year old, never realizing how much she would really miss it due to her being destined to lead the Kawa clan. "I never knew . . . . No, I never felt like . . . I would really miss them so much until just recently."
"Aleu," Niju looked deep into her forlorn eyes of blue and licked away her sad tears. "You still have a family - our family. We have four beautiful children together, our strong pack members that is numerous and full of life, and our love for each other. Aleu, this is where you belong . . . with your new family."
She let out a quiet sniffle at the sound of her mate's touching words. "You're right, Niju. This is my family now. But them, at home, they are still my family too. Oh, I just wish my birth family could be here and see this world that live in . . . and see our growing family . . ."
"You know that is impossible, even for us alphas, Aleu," he answered rapidly, cutting her thought off. "There are many dangers that both them and us could face in the process, especially them . . ." He stopped and sniffed the air, noticing that there was a scent that he never had thought would find its way near the clan. "And they're here already."
"Who, Niju?" She asked. "What's here?"
"Humans. Humans in the forest."
She let out a gasp. She had lived around humans as a puppy, and had longed to live as one of their pets for over a year. There's no way that they could want to actually attack us here . . . . was there?
"Humans," Niju continued to speak. "From what I know of them, they don't tolerate our kind, us purebred wolves, very well. To them, we are nothing more than evil monsters that kill anything in their sights - their children, their own pets, even themselves if necessary. To them, we are the enemy that must be avoided by the weak and destroyed by the strong and skilled."
But aren't we just the same as them? She muttered the question in her mind as a memory of the day that she was a bit over a year old, the day she learned everything . . . .
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She had just gone off on her own to play in the forest outside of her home in Nome. She didn't know how much of this babying she could take. Boris, her father's appointed "babysitter," was complaining about why she wouldn't sit like a baby should, in his own words. Her father had just spoke to her about her 'always being his baby.' She had always hated it when her papa would talk like that. He had continued to tell her that one day a human would give her a home to call her own and she continued to eagerly await that very moment when a human would want her, but neither father nor daughter had expected what was to happen next.
The young yearling had rolled down a hill, giggling happily as a yellow and orange butterfly tickled her nose. A ominous caw suddenly filled the air, causing her to arise and look up at the circling raven that seemed to ring around the beaming sunshine. Its shadowy form swam back and forth inside the pools of her blue and yellow eyes, acting as a distraction for a nearby Inuit hunter, who reached into his raven-embroidered knapsack for a single bullet and quietly loaded it into his rifle's barrel.
She let out a gasp at the slight clicking sound of the rifle and did nothing but stare at the darkened figure, which began to raise the gun to a 90 degree angle until it was aligned with the yearling's slitted eyes. Suddenly, her fears diminished as she realized what the other creature was.
"No, he's a human. He wouldn't hurt me." She then began to smile, her spirits and hopes were lifted. "Maybe he'll want to adopt me!"
Without thinking of what the long stick-like object that the human held in his hand was capable of doing, she ran towards the hunter. her father had finally reached the top of the hill and gasped at the sight of his daughter heading straight into harm's way, or even worse - a one-way ticket to death.
By the time the hunter had pulled the trigger, the raven let out a long caw, alerting the father to attack the hunter . . . and protect his pride and joy.
She was confused. Papa?! What is he doing here? And why is he attacking that man? She wondered to herself as she cried out to him. "Papa! What's going on? Stop!" She had feared that her father was going too far by attacking the man . . . As long as he doesn't kill him, I'll be fine.
But he didn't stop, and neither did his other three animal companions, who had just arrived in time to stop the man from shooting the young female. Once the human was slightly knocked out, the two canines, the goose and the two polar bears fled the scene, much to the dismay of Aleu, who only wanted to see if the man really did want her.
Finally, the yearling received the hard truth: the man was a hunter, who killed wild animals for food, and he thought that she was a wild animal too.
"I'm not a wild animal," she replied back.
The father began to hestitate, knowing that he had to tell her everything. "Well, he thought you were."
"Why?" She asked curiously, hoping that it wouldn't cause her hopes and dreams to be for nothing.
Finally, destiny began to unfold as her father uttered those heart-breaking words to his eldest daughter.
"He thought you were a wolf."
= = =
We aren't evil . . . well, some of us may act evil, but I'm sure they have a good reason, like Niju once did . . . but some of 'them' can be evil at times too, like that hunter who almost shot me that day.
But some of 'them' aren't either . . . like Mom's human. She was really nice to all of us, even me. when we were all pups. Even though I looked like a wild animal . . . and I had no idea I was so different.
Oh, I don't even know what to think anymore.
Who is the true enemy?
Is it us or them?
Suddenly the light-colored alpha let out a shudder, clinching her teeth together. The shaking chill caused her scruffy neck hairs to stand up on end.
"Aleu?" Niju calmed her with his warm touch. "Aleu, what is it? Was it something I said?"
"No, it's a sign . . . The time . . ." She replied in a soft voice, her eyes emitted a soft golden-yellow glow as if she were in a trance-like state. "The destined time is near . . . Something is about to happen that will change our world forever."
The two alphas nuzzled closer together in fear of those words actually coming to pass, as the moon rose higher and higher above them in the sky, and the dark smoky tower within the forest thinned away and soon disappeared into the night.
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Ooh, this is only the beginning! Please tell me what you think about it and I might send it to BS soon!
- Juuchan17
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I don't think I have any real words to describe this story!
It's very well written.(despite the fact I'm not very keen about Niju)
