Well, I couldn't keep it to myself anymore!
Thanks to my four beta readers for their help (Pirkka (Fin), Dusty Fanatic, OutcastHalfBreed, and Balto 123)! I'll keep you in touch and send you the next part when I complete it!
Just a slight warning to readers:
This story is rated
PG-13/R (it starts out PG-13, then in later parts, it'll grow into an R). If you are offended by mature situations, graphic stuff (blood, lots of details, that type of thing), and obscene language, please do not read any further.
You will be warned again later, but it's not my fault if you don't like what you read.
Now, I say . . . .
On With The Show!
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Forgive Me
(started 3/3/06 - )
- Part One completed: 3/7/06 -
Summary: While giving birth to a litter of pups, a pregnant husky remembers the biggest mistake that caused her to lose everything. But can she be forgiven for what she's done? (One-shot)
Rating: PG-13 for a birth scene, language, and some mature situations (dramatic love, possible sex, that type of stuff). There is a mating scene too . . . it's not too graphic but it's tad bit more graphic than "Longing", so it's probably gone up to a slight R. (And there is NO INCEST. This is different than the "Confession" series.)So, if these things are not to your liking, stay away. ^__^
You were warned. (again.)
Disclaimer: Balto, Balto: Wolf Quest, and Balto: Wings of Change and the Balto characters in these films that are used in this fanfiction are the property of Universal Studios Inc. This story is purely a work of fan fiction that started from an idea that I had.
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Part ONE
It was a couple of hours after midnight. All was silent in the early-October night except for a random howling of a wolf that came from the nearby mountain or a calming breeze that carried a soft drizzle to tickle the nose. The sky had turned into a dark dapple-gray and was starting to flood with a slushy rain-snow mix that lightly fell over the landscape. The town of Nome was right near the horizon; the monochrome shadows painted the canvas of the Alaskan community. All of a sudden, the somber outlook of the town caused the moon to hide in the gray fluff, almost as if to douse the moonlight and set the scene for the events that were to come in the near future.
A four-legged creature, about the size of a runty yet full-grown husky of about three or four years old, hobbled over a wet hill and closer to the town that she had known of previously. It was a female, obviously known by her bulging belly underneath her. Her usually dull-silver coat and lighter gray markings were now covered in scratches and dried blood, as if she had been through a bush of winding briars. She slowed to a halt, lifting her head up to see if anyone was still up at this time of night, but why she was in the outdoors in her condition, it was unknown. Her eyelids lowered, covering her lack-luster eyes of silver-blue that originally had a spark of glitter in them only a few months ago.
A sigh escaped her lips as she continued walking to the closest area of town that she knew would have other huskies like her, hoping to find some form of assistance, for her delivery was close at hand. A contraction suddenly stung her, paralyzing her to the ground in a feverish pant and sweat. Her fur was now almost blackish-gray, which made her almost unrecognizable. Her hind legs spread apart onto the damp ground, which was almost about to get even more wet if the female wasn't able to find a safe place to give birth. The pain ended at last, and she shruggled to rise to her feet, but to no avail. The weight of her brood kept her lying on the ground, which was now a mix of mud and snow. She shifted to her side, now sensing another push inside her.
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Winter. The time of resting emotions . . . . .
She was free, running with her team and delivering the mail from town to town. Her face glowed, showing off her warm smile to all that saw her. Especially to the males. As a young pup, she was easy to please but it was hard for her to find a decent dog to become her mate. She had longed to make puppies with someone, and last season, she had met one who was a kind yet large, dark-gray soul. To her, this one dog's size reflected the size of his caring heart. She knew then that she would to start a family with him and be together forever.
But times were about to change.
The mid-winter had arrived and it was one of those days when the mail team would . She was sitting near the sled, already hitched to the other dogs. The brown husky in front of her, Kirby, turned his head around to speak to the rest of the team.
"As lead dog, I am pleased to announce that we will soon have a new dog on our team." He spoke proudly. All the dogs let out a cheer until the lead dog raised his paw to continue. "He's fresh meat on running with a sled team, but I can tell you this . . . ." He motioned his head to get everyone close to hear his whispering secret. "I've heard from my special sources that this new kid's the son of the famous Balto!"
Everyone let out a gasp. "Balto?" one dog at the back of the sled asked. "Balto the half-breed? You've got to be kidding!"
"Yeah!" Another dog chimed in. "There's no way that one of his pups could get on our team if he was part-wild like his father!"
"True, but don't forget: his father's famous," a third husky spoke up. "and as the saying goes: 'Like Father, like Son!' Hell, for all we know this pup might be as wolf-like as his old man! Or maybe even more! Maybe he can speak fluent wolf! Like this, like this!" He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. "Ah-WOOOOOOO!" The three dogs in the back joined in the howling and laughed loudly.
"Hey!" A female's voice piped up. It was the gray husky near the front of the team where Kirby was placed. The trio behind them fell silent immediately. "We shouldn't judge others if we haven't met them before! Sure, he may be both husky and wolf, but I betcha he's a really nice pup." She smiled happily. "Let's give him a chance, shall we? We did it for Ralph when he was new last season, so why is this any different?"
"Hey, Dusty's got a point." The large, dark-gray husky agreed. "Maybe he'll have some of his father's speed in him! That could help us out." He winked back at the light-silver female in front of him. She turned her head and blushed.
"Yeah, it's possible, but he still has to learn the ways of being a part of a sled team. Maybe with the right teacher, he can learn the ropes . . . ." Kirby shifted his eyes throughout the team, seeking the perfect teacher for the new recruit. "You! Dusty!"
"Me?" Her eyes grew quite large. "But isn't there a rule about teaching new recruits twice in a row? I taught Ralph last season; it's your turn this time . . . . "
"So what? I decide things, and I choose you again. I'm the leader here, so I can make the rules!" Kirby yelled, flaughting his leadership power.
"But . . . but, Kirby-"
"No buts, Dusty." he ordered, stomping his front paw down onto the snow. "You're doing this for the team! Think about that."
A following of positive encouragement spread through the team, urging her to do it.
She let out a sigh, defeated. "All right. I'll do it." The team cheered as she then stared Kirby down. "But don't think this will end up the same way as with Ralph. That's our secret." She whispered and hushed him before he blurted out anything.
"Hmph." Kirby grunted. He knew Dusty since she was about a few weeks old. She was so thick to be weakened by a young pup that had wolf in him. Dusty already had someone in her life at the moment, and she was serious about this.
The musher, Mr. Simpson had finally arrived by then, clutching a leash with a rusty-red husky with white markings and a gray strip on his nose.
"Okay, guys. I'm here, I'm here!" The dark-haired Inuit greeted his team with a smile.The dogs barked and tried to jump up, wagging their curled tails happily. After calming them down with pats and good praise, he began to introduce the burgundy dog to the rest of the team. "Team, this is Kodiak, but I call him Kodi for short. He's going to be our new teammate! I hope you get to become good friends with him!" He patted Kodi on his head and stooped down to see him eye to eye. "I just hope you'll be as strong as your father was when he led that lost sled team home to save us from that epidemic a couple of years ago. I'm sure you'll do your old man proud." Kodi barked happily as the human slipped the leather harness on the dog and hooked him in between Dusty and Kirby.
"Hey there, mutt." One of the teasing dogs in the back of the team spoke up to Kodi. "Have you learned to howl to your motherland yet?" He and the other dogs near him laughed. Ralph, Kirby and Dusty fell silent, giving them the death glare.
"Don't listen to them, Kodi." Dusty said to him, who still had a grin on his face. "They just don't understand things like that." A short pause followed. "Oh, I'm Dusty. I'll be running right behind you. Kirby's the lead dog," The brown dog stuck his chest out and nodded a greeting to the young pup. "And this is Ralph," The large gray husky grinned a large grin and waved his paw to the red husky. "Welcome aboard!" She finished things off with a smile.
"Wow . . ." he said under his breath before clearing his throat to respond, still grinning widely. "Ahem. Thanks for letting me join your team! I've dreamed of being a sled dog by whole life, and now it's finally coming true! I promise I won't let you down!"
"Well, that's good news there - you're confident, kid. I gotta hand it to ya there." Kirby told him with a pat of the shoulder with his paw. "So, are you fast, kid?"
"Yeah. I've been practicing my running every day near my dad's house, so I guess I'm still working on it."
"Hmm." Kirby said as Mr. Simpson loaded the precious cargo of mail into the sled. "Well, this run will test your skills. You have to be reliable as a sled dog, so let's see what you're made of!"
"All right! I'm ready!" Kodi looked straight ahead and almost leapt forward until he felt a tugging bite on his tail. "OUCH!" He turned around and noticed his assigned trainer, Dusty, letting go of his tail.
"Whoa, whoa! Not yet, Kodi!" she told the eager husky, as the laughter of the rear dogs filled the air. "Kirby's the lead dog, so when he gets the signal, he starts the run. We only follow his lead, that's all."
"Oops, sorry about that."He said, blushing beet red. "I'm just so excited to start!"
"Hey, kid!" the lead dog spoke up. "You ready yet?"
"Now, I am!" the hybrid barked as the others joined in, signaling to the musher that they were ready to go.
"Just follow my lead, Kodi," Kirby advised him. "And I'm sure you'll get it eventually! I believe in ya!"
Kodi nodded as they heard the musher call: "All right, guys! Let's go! MUSH!"
They barked as Kirby took the lead and the others followed quickly behind. This was only the beginning of a friendship . . . . . and something more . . . .
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I have to find shelter . . . . for their sake, She told herself. She was a tough husky; she could handle pulling a sled, so moving herself to the boiler room to give birth would be a piece of cake. Or so she thought.
A howling cry echoed from her mouth as she couldn't hold on much longer. She could feel a slight motion within her continue to travel through the birth canal between the womb and the outside world. The contractions were getting closer and closer together, signaling that the birth of her first-born was near. She knew she had to hurry.
I'll die here if I don't have a safe and warm place for them . . . . but it hurts so much! Ooooh!
She panted and panted, now muddy and wet from the ground. The stout female gathered her courage and got back on all fours as soon as her latest contraction ended. She continued onward until she finally made it to the boiler room, even though it took at least fifteen minutes to do so.
No. No, I can't give birth out here. It's too cold and damp for them to survive. I've just gotta hold on . . . just a while more . . . . hang in there, my baby. You'll be born soon enough . . . .
She used all of her power to push open the door into the warmth of the large room. She had remembered it so well - it was the same place where she had made the worst mistake of her life. Her tears, his angry growl and voice, and a male's loving touch as together they had made new life inside her. A sigh was all she could do as she collapsed at the door, her strength depleted for the moment as she couldn't hold on anymore.
I'm sorry . . .
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to be continued . . . .
Ooh, the suspense. Tell me what you think!
Excellent work as usual. I'm think I'm going to die of suspension. 
Suspense is evil.
its one of my favorite things to read...emotion from you...action and the funniest things from B123 
