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I have a question, guys! There's a tonnnnnn of fanfics regarding how Balto's mother and father met! I'm really curious to know how you guys think it happened. I just want to compare them all, see what they all have in common, and what's different about them ^^

Even if you didn't write the fiction, tell me about one that you've read before!

To keep things organized, tell me these things:



Balto's mother: Aniu
Balto's father: Miksa (meek-shah)
A brief summary of how the two of them met: Miksa lives on a farm with his team and sneaks out, chasing after a white wolf. Eventually they stop and make friends, but Miksa continues to sneak out to see her. They fall in love and Miksa is allowed into Aniu's pack, under her rule because her pack believes she's a god. He lives with them for some time and after his son is born, he goes to visit his old family. He's then taken away and sold and never saw Aniu and Balto again.

Well, like most fans of the movies, I have given it lots of thought over the years, and I won't deny that I had considered doing some fan fiction material about it. But when I took into consideration the fact that innumerable other members had already (or since) done the same, well, it just seemed rather superfluous really, the idea of me adding yet one MORE fiction about Balto's parents to the load. I haven't read hardly any of them (not for not wanting to...), but I've yet to hear from anyone any recommendations as to what might be a GOOD one or two to read.

I've always pondered more what became not only of Aniu...the incident which took her life that is, but of what became of Balto as a pup afterwards. I know those events, too, have been pondered and rendered by others (some with rather excessive violence and gore... ). But perhaps not as many I suppose. I dunno...maybe I'm wrong here (or maybe those other fan fictions about Balto's parents already incorporate those events). But if I were going to do a fan fiction, that's what it would be more about.




I've thought on how Balto's officially-unnamed and never-shown father ever came to meet Aniu and had pups with her. And when I considered that, I recalled the story of how the real Togo, during the casual return of Seppala's team to Nome after they had passed the serum packet on to the next musher in the relay, broke from the team and ran off chasing what was allegedly a caribou or reindeer (he and another dog). Seppala was worried that, because Togo looked so much like a wolf (if perhaps a smallish one), he might be mistaken for one by a hunter or anyone else wielding a gun, and be shot (or might run across a trap of the kind used by hunters back then...those metal jaw traps no doubt). It was a great relief to him that, when Togo and the other dog showed up at his Little Creek Kennel in Nome a couple of days (at most, if I recall the story) after he and the rest of the team arrived, they were none the worse for wear.

That is how I always imagined the fictional Balto's father ending up off on his own, and then stumbling across Aniu and maybe others of her pack.

Then, as to Balto as a pup, I always figured it was Balto being told sharply by his mother to run from the heretofore unknown danger while she dealt with it...and that Balto never found out what became of her. Days later, half-starved and exhausted, he collapsed just outside of Nome, near the old boat, and was found by Boris and taken in. I never gave much thought as to Balto's father in that scenario though. Perhaps I should.

Well, that's how I imagined it all anyway.

Is there a fan fiction in this? Possibly. But not soon. I have other matters to wrap up. Heh heh

I did write some fan fiction on this topic, called Balto: Son. You can read it here:

http://www.animationsource.org/balto/en ... 26715.html

My take on it was that Aniu saw Balto's father, a lead dog named Suka (Inuit for "fast") as she was out hunting for her pack.

In the larger scope of the story, Aniu the wolf spirit had taken physical form on Earth in order to create an offspring who would unite all the fractured wolf packs surviving in disarray. Her plan was to be born into a pack, and as an adult take a mate and create the new leader of the wolves herself.

But then she stumbled across Suka at a critical time in her development and fell in love, unable to stop it from happening, even though it would destroy the chances of accomplishing everything she had taken mortal form for in the first place. Balto was the result, and even though he was not going to unite the packs as she had hoped, he became the most important thing in her short life.

Balto's mother: Aniu
Balto's father: (pics, if you have them!) Akino (most are old pictures, and really suck)
A brief summary of how the two of them met: (From his bio) In 1923, at the age of 5, Akino and his team were on the mail run to Whte Mountain. When they were going through the forest, the team was attacked by wolves. Most of the team were wounded, some, such as Scott, lost their lives. Akino tried to chase them off, but they attacked him, biting and snapping, when a white wolf stopped them. Her name was Aniu. Akino was accepted into the pack.
Link to fanfic: http://www.animationsource.org/balto/en ... 70276.html

You should know I've had a backstory for Balto's parents for the longest time; I've just never really written it completely down.

Here's my basics:



Balto's mother: Anyu - basically the reincarnation of the White Wolf, Aniu. [Yes, the name's meant to be spelled like that. It has the same pronunciation as Aniu - it even has a meaningful Inuit meaning: "snow with a purpose"] She's the white-furred daughter of the pack Alphas and chosen to be the next-in-line Alpha of her pack, though she doesn't know she's Aniu reborn. Unlike many other wolves, she is curious about these dogs that look like wolves that work for humans... but she never realized that meeting and falling in love with one was destined to happen. [more info is in the link]

Balto's father: Tulugaq - He's a normal Siberian Husky that was the talk of the town back in his day [1919 Alaska] as the "Black Raven". Actually his name means "raven" in Inuit, and it's a big connection to a certain raven in WQ. He's not really a husky that wants to find a mate so soon, but it seems that everyone has a plan to own his future offspring. [more info is in the link]


How they met: [AKA Backstory in a nutshell] Sometime in 1920, Tulu is separated from his team and considered lost; however, the husky ended up in Aniu's pack's territory, and is taken prisoner by them. He and Anyu meet as she cautiously explained life in a pack, though neither of them even think about love until a near-death experience brings them closer... Of course, they both know the ultimate law - wolves and dogs are not meant to be together - and breaking it will only lead to unhappiness, but the young dogs don't seem to care...

After a year's time, they become mates, causing Anyu to become pregnant. Learning of her pregnancy, her [jealous] twin brother, Kamik, tells the Alphas of their pack; unfortunately, Anyu is banished from the pack and Tulu is sentenced to be killed after watching her pack and family turn their backs on her. Barely escaping, the black husky learns to survive on his own, only seeking to find his beloved before their pups are born. In midst of a heavy blizzard, Anyu labors, crying in hope and faith that her love will come to see their children... and luckily he does, baring witness to his son and two daughters being born.

Six months later, a vengeful band of black loner wolves seek to kill the couple and their pups... and Anyu, given a vision of danger for her children, plots with Tulugaq to protect them, knowing that more than likely, the two of them will die. As a storm builds, Anyu brings her daughters to her pack, placing them under Kamik's care and saying her farewells. Tulu, seeing promise in their only son, Balto, chooses to leave him in an abandoned box near his master's home in Nome. Together again, the husky and the wolf fight the dark wolves, only to die... and become reunited again as one entity. In other words, that is why one of Aniu's forms is the black raven, because his spirit is and will always be a part of her as they watch over their blessed yet cursed children that roam the world.

...Yeah, there's more I'm not telling about my version of the story yet, but that's the basics.

- Juuchan17

Juuchan, if you ever turn that into a fanfic, I promise I'll read it and probably cry my eyes out.

I'm finding myself in agreement with this...

In my version, currently under expansion, Aniu ends up rescuing Kodan (Balto's father), the last survivor of his sled team after they got lost in a blizzard. As he adjusts to pack life, much to the chagrin of Aniu's packmates, both of the run afoul of a wolf named Kava, who clearly wants Aniu for himself even though in her book he rates somewhere between in the same neighborhood as a worm or leech.

It turns out Kava was actually the son of a rival pack's leader (he got in under the pretense of being a loner close to starvation), seeking Aniu for a mate so as to pull a political takeover. After the ensuing battle's been waged, her pack's omega asks for Kodan's help to approach Aniu for courtship. Kodan agrees, only to realize later that he's in love with Aniu himself.

That's as far as I've released on fanfiction.net, but people who have read my material on here know that eventually Kodan does win Aniu over, and the two of them go back to his hometown, Nome, where they are unfortunately separated; he's taken away by his new master, she has to leave with their pups and try to return to her pack. She is last seen in a fight to the death with a Kava, who was thought to be dead, leaving open the question of how she got to be the way she was in the movies (and if by death, what became of Kava). I may follow up at some point to explore what happened to those involved.

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5800673/1/White_Legend Here's chapter one of the ff.net version, since so far it's the most in-depth and my gallery on here doesn't want to load just now.

Interesting DT. I may have to check yours out

Oh, don't worry - I'm already working on writing it... and it's surprisingly my second attempt at making this story come to light! I still have my original notes and plans for the characters from back in... 2007!

I'll admit that the reason it's taken me so long to write this baby is because of real life stuff and working on correct research for things that will be featured or mentioned in the story. It's a real drama that has some rather ironic foreshadowing and maybe some familiar faces too, but to say any more would be too much! My goal is to have it on Balto Source this year, so please look out for it!

DT: I really like your version too. I'll be honest - I like romantic stories that truly build up and develop their relationship over a long period of time. If it happens too quickly, it's not as believable in my eyes. Well done!

- Juuchan17

Please do.


Thank you. I wholeheartedly agree; whirlwind romances are like real whirlwinds; they leave a disaster area in their wake.

I must say I like your idea too, exxxceeept the competing male character. It's just seen alot, hahaha. He'd make an interesting brother figure, tho

True, the rival male thing is a bit overdone. But the alternative is a simple, fairly undramatic story, so I stick with the better of two cliches. Besides, I think I found a way to liven the old routine up some further on, but that's all I'm saying.

And thanks.

Oh no, I'm not saying drama is bad for a good story, I'm saying it's really nothing out of the ordinary for a brother to act too. Not everyone acts bitter in life about a love interest all the time, but more often in feeling betrayed, especially with a close family member.

I wonder... has anyone done a Balto backstory fic with a female rival or even a jealous sister [either of Aniu or the male husky]? I'm sure it would be a bit different than the usual stuff we see.

Just adding my two cents and inspiration to any writers out there.

- Juuchan17