A Husky’s Quest - a "what-if" tale

Summary: A retelling of “Balto II: Wolf Quest” in the style of a “What-if” story, focusing more on Jenna and her feelings within the film. [Part ONE of SIX]

Rating: PG for a birthing scene, some foul language [both in this part], some peril and a bit of canine violence later on as the story continues. It’s nothing you haven’t seen in a Balto movie or a fanfiction before, but if either of those squick or bother you, do not read - you were warned!

Disclaimer: All characters and plots from “Balto” and “Balto II: Wolf Quest” are the property of Universal Studios Inc. and Universal Cartoon Studios Inc.; however, the twists and additions to the storyline for this story and any non-official characters/names/etc. that are used are the property of Juuchan17 and should not be used without the author's permission.

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PART ONE

PROLOGUE

The sun was beginning to set as the she-dog sat close to the outside of the small town of Nome, Alaska. She was rather young – probably no younger than 3 or 4 years of age – but by the thinness of her legs and well-defined details of her flawless form, one would think she was a show dog. Around her neck lay a beautifully-tied bandanna, colored not only a red like blood but also with a tint of orange as well. Truly this was a purebred Siberian Husky, born for perfection of her proud species.

She was not alone as the sunset reflected off of her eyes, for a male canine was by her side.. her complete opposite. His fur was scruffy and brown, as if he had never felt the combings of a grooming brush against his hair. His face and belly were marked with light tan, easily making him stand apart from other dogs. His eyes were red, wrapped in a sea of gold that shimmered in the light.

As the seabirds sang their lullabies to the setting sun, the male turned to the she-dog by his side as she softly moaned under her breath. “Jenna? Are you feeling alright?”

She just chuckled, showing a sensitive smile. “Oh, Balto... I’m feeling just fine.”

“Are you sure?” Balto asked with concern. Clearly, something was troubling him. “You sounded strange. Oh, is it the pups?”

Jenna just shook her head, still beaming. “Honestly, I’m fine. You shouldn’t worry about me so much, love.”

The male’s dark ears fell to his neck sadly. “Sorry. I’m just... It’s just that...” He let out a deep sigh, lowering his head to the ground. “I’ve never been a father before, Jenna... and this is your first time carrying a litter too... Oh, Jenna, I love you so much... What if something happens to you or to the pups?”

In the light of the evening, Jenna’s belly was revealed in all of its bulging glory. It had only been about three months since the two officially became mates, and despite the obvious differences of breeding and physical appearances, Balto and Jenna didn’t seem to care about what other local dogs thought. They did know this to be fact: they loved each other and now they were about to start a family of their own.

“Don’t worry so much,” the pregnant husky repeated, leaning her nose close to his and kissing Balto near the lips. “Rosy’s parents have already prepared the shed for me to stay in when it’s time. Plus the doctor’s close by, in case anything should go wrong.” The smile never left her face as she continued to reassure her mate. “Everything will go smoothly, Balto. Please don’t worry.”

“I can’t help but to worry, Jen,” Balto could see himself within Jenna’s amber eyes as he spoke. “If anything else should happen to you, I would only blame myself. It’s my fault you hurt your ankle over the winter, you know.”

The husky’s well-sculpted head of red and white shook from side to side. “No, I was willing to save your life, no matter what.” She blushed a little as the memory of her actions from over three months ago came back to her. Worried about Balto’s quest to find a missing sled team that carried a life-saving serum, Jenna tracked down his scent and followed the markers he had left on several trees... only to discover him caught in the midst of a grizzly bear’s massive claws. With nothing more than a leap of faith, the slender purebred lunged for the bear, only to be tossed aside like a rag-doll. However, Jenna had given Balto enough time to catch his breath and give chase to the bear, ultimately risking his life to save hers in return.

“But I’m not afraid now either,” Jenna shook off the memory, looking back at Balto sweetly. “Dogs since the beginning of time have been birthing pups, so I know I can handle this.”

“When will they come? Do you know that?” Balto asked.

Being a male that was raised just outside of Nome by a gander and two polar bears for as long as he could remember, Balto wasn’t too experienced when it came to girls. All he could remember was that his mother was a white wolf and his father was a husky, causing him to be a wolf-dog and cursing him with mixed emotions of where he was meant to be. Thankfully, Jenna didn’t seem to mind the many questions that her mate had; she knew he was street smart, but there was still many things that Balto had never been taught before.

Jenna shook her head. “I don’t know exactly, but it should be pretty soon now. It’s been nearly nine weeks... Ooh!” She lifted a foreleg after letting out a gasp, looking at her white stomach now lined with two rows of soft-pink teats.

Curious, Balto joined the staring contest. “What is it? Something wrong?”

“No... they must hear us talking about them,” Jenna’s voice was soft and calming, just like a mother’s should be. “I can feel them kicking me... Do you want to feel them, Balto?”

He let out a gulp of anxiety, but his heart raced with anticipation. “S-s-sure... Yeah!”

Gently, Jenna lowered herself to the ground, belly up. Her breathing remained steady as she felt her mate come close to her warm body that was now a vessel carrying the most precious of cargo. Balto’s ear made its way to her stomach, and it wasn’t too long before he let out a gasp.

“Oh! I feel them!” A chuckle of surprise slipped from his mouth, and he could help himself but to place it back on Jenna’s body for more. “Heheh, they must know that it’s their daddy here, huh?”

“Hmm,” Jenna only smiled. Clearly she was glowing with pride, already knowing that her pups were beginning to bond with their very proud papa.

“Do you... do you think I’ll be a good father to them?” Balto asked after lifting his head, allowing Jenna to sit up again. “I’ve only had Boris to raise me like a real dad since I was six months old, but... can I really raise actual puppies without knowing what to do?” Jenna noticed his nervous shudders as Balto’s back began to hunch into an arch. “What if I mess up? What if they don’t like me because of who I am? What if...”

“Oh, you’ll be perfect, Balto...” Jenna stunned him silent, kissing his forehead. “I may not know much about your childhood, but I’m sure you will be the best father for our pups that you can be.”

The half-breed felt more relieved thanks to Jenna’s inspirational thoughts, letting it show by sighing with relief. “Thanks a lot, Jen. Oh, I’m so glad you have so much faith in me.” He leaned close to her burgundy body, as if he would never get tired of snuggling the purebred female. “Ah, it’s getting dark. Shall I escort you home for the night or did you want to stay up here with me for the night? You know, once the pups arrive, we’ll probably never have a quiet moment together again.” He winked at her, chuckling as his large nose rubbed into her muzzle.

“It sounds wonderful to be with you, Balto, but I’d better stay close to home for now,” Jenna whined sadly, standing to her tiny paws. “Who knows when these little rascals will want to be born. I’m just being cautious, that’s all. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I understand, Jen,” Balto managed to smile, although he felt his heart sink. “I want the best for our pups... but I still want to spend every minute by your side. I made that promise all those weeks ago, and I’m not going to break that vow so soon.”

“Oh, Balto...” Jenna could just melt into the rough-furred embrace of her other half, but she knew it was time to head home. “However, I will take you up on that escort.”

“All right, it’s a deal!” Proudly smiling, Balto took another glance at the dazzling female. Even in the darkest night and now with a pregnant belly, Jenna was still brightly shining like a beacon of heavenly light by his side. “God, you’re so beautiful” was all he could murmur into the wind as he led the way, allowing Jenna to lean against him as they trekked towards the town limits.

It was about a ten minute walk from the cliffs to Rosy’s house, where Jenna had lived for almost all her life. It was a small two-story house just like many of the other homes in Nome – not many people were wealthy, but they had enough money to get by and survive day after day. It was a major mining town outside to the east, near the Outskirts, and there was a shipping port to the south of town, where boats delivered their cargo of goods to local shops and builders. To the west and north was the mountains, sheltering the tiny town from larger towns, but it didn’t do much good because dog-sledding helped put Nome on the map... not to mention a certain wolf-dog’s heroic actions only made the mark larger.

Balto still wasn’t used the positive attention that the townspeople and other dogs were now giving him, but he managed to smile, remembering that Jenna, the most popular dog in town, had chosen him over all other suitors. She was the one that everyone wanted, the beauty that everyone looked up to. A kind soul with a friendly demeanor, Jenna had only befriended Balto by a chance accident in the snowy street... that happened to be their first kiss. Both were shy and new to the emotion of love, but as times got dire, their hearts grew closer and closer...

“Here we are, my lady,” Balto halted at Jenna’s front doggie door, lifting a generous paw towards the entranceway. “Are you sure you’re feeling all right?”

Jenna, unlike her mate, was panting quite hard from the same trek; she was carrying several pounds of extra weight, after all. “I’m... I’m fine!” She managed to pant out, her head low to balance her body as they approached the porch. After a moment to catch her breath, she sighed with relief. “Thank you. Thanks for sticking with me through all of this, Balto.”

The wolf-dog grew flushed in the cheeks. “I have to, Jen. I’m your mate after all. I... I have to be here to support you now, more than ever.” He nudged her in the neck. “Now, get some sleep. I’ll come up for my daily visit in the morning.”

“As usual,” Jenna smiled, chucking a little. Ever since Balto first learned of Jenna’s pregnancy, he had woken up early to check on her at her human’s house, anticipating the day when he would become a father. Who could blame the hero of Nome for feeling so excited in the first place? “Good night, Balto.” They shared a good-night kiss and a tender nuzzle on the porch before parting for the night.

“Sleep well. I love you, Jen,” Balto murmured into the air as she hobbled through the door carefully. He could hear the joyous squeals of her owner and her parents from the other side of the door; all Balto could do was smile warmly as he began to descend the stairs, but the smile quickly disappeared once his paws touched the solid ground.

She’s so lucky to have them, Balto thought as he began to hobble away, returning back to the shoreline home that he had always known. His dark ears had fallen to his neck the entire trip. I love my freedom, but I still wish that I could have a family too... I’m sure they’d even put me on a regular sled team like other dogs... I’ve proven my worth as a leader to everyone... Despite my looks, they know I can be trusted...

It was then that the thought of his soon-to-born children entered his mind. He knew that because of his mixed breeding, the pups that Jenna carried would be part-wolf - Just like me... Balto sighed worriedly. Even though I’m a hero now and trusted amongst the townspeople, there’s still a chance that...  No, I can’t think about that. Of course, someone would want them... I have to think positive! Balto encouraged himself as he stood atop a sandy hill overlooking his tilted boat home at the shoreline.

A smile finally filled his face as he heard the honking of the cranky guardian that had watched over him for as long as he could remember. With a sprinting run, Balto barked to Boris, signaling his arrival back home. He knew he had to eat and get some sleep as soon as possible; with the coming of the next morning, the wolf-dog was excited just to check on his beloved Jenna once again.

CHAPTER I

It was cold and dark everywhere – she didn’t know where she was or why she was there, but a strange force pulled her forward across solid ice and frozen snow, going against her very strong will.

Something out there was silently calling out to her... it was a large bird, flying close enough to cast its shadow over her form... she knew she had to follow it, no matter where it was leading her.

She panted hard, running faster than she ever dreamed she could. It was almost as if she was no longer running, but flying slightly over the frigid ground.

Why was she running anyway? Why was everything so unfamiliar to her eyes?

She didn’t know... but she had to keep running forward... further into the darkness where several pairs of shining golden eyes were waiting...

A loud gasp caused Jenna to jerk her head up, waking her instantly. She was panting hard – Must be from that dream I was having, she thought, figuring it out – but after a quick turn of the head, the husky realized there was something aching within, focusing underneath her bushy tail. There was no time to ponder about the dream right now – there were more serious things now. She knew what this meant... it was time for the pups to be born.

Letting out a soft whining bark, she tried to awaken her mistress, the young child Rosy that had welcomed her into her arms only three years ago. The girl only moaned, rolling over and turning the other cheek within her comforter.

“Daddy, I don’t want the green dollie...” Rosy’s whispered speech turned into a groan, but it all dissipated into a snore once again.

Jenna rolled her eyes, chuckling a little. “Oh, Rosy...” Ever since she had recovered from her sickness of diphtheria, Rosy had been so tired, even though she had slept for many hours in the hospital after being given that helpful serum that Balto and the other sled dogs had worked so hard to retrieve.

Well, if she won’t help me, I’ll have to head down to the shed myself...

With careful movement, the husky rose to her feet, groaning at the aching to her abdomen. It was a painful sort of ache, worse than a rumbling emptiness in the belly. After catching her breath, Jenna slowly began to step forward and all the girl's room, heading for the stairs. One step at a time, she reminded herself. It was dark in the house, but thank goodness Rosy's mother left a couple of lanterns on to help light the mother-to-be's path to her birthing place.

It was even better to know that a doggie doorway was made for her to get into the shed quickly, as if the humans were prepared for whenever the pups decided they were ready to be born. Fifteen minutes since her internal wake-up call, she found herself slipping through the square hole and looking about the shed, seeking that place where she'd give birth. There were some blankets and boxes about, but it was a large basket lined in a couple of sheets that caught her eye. Rosy and her mother must have made this for me – how thoughtful of them! Jenna commented. It was comfortable, quaint and big enough for her to lay in and stretch her legs as the process of birthing continued.

It was perfect timing when she finally laid in the basket as a contraction took her breath away, making her groan suddenly in pain. "D-dammit..." she grunted through her clinched teeth, keeping her head down between her forelegs as if to endure the pain as much as she could. It lasted only a few more seconds before her muscles relaxed, but that burning inside her... it didn't go away. Something was in there, yearning to break out, and only she could force it out with her pushing, with her own power...

I... I can't do this...! Jenna fought herself in her mind as soon another urge minutes later made her writhe and whimper against the sheets. It hurts... Oh God, it hurts so much...! Her breath was labored and heavy, but soon she forced her muscles to work, as painful as it was.

But... this is for Balto... for me... for us...She had to stay strong for him and keep pushing. Her muzzle went underneath her tail and noticed... a new smell, one of a new life coming out of her. Just a little bit more and that life would arrive. Only she could do this... with all of her body, her heart, her strength...

This... is for our family...!

One last push and she gasped at the release of fluid and blood from within her body. Panting heavily to catch her breath, that new scent was stronger now, a wild one... Her nose found the source, a sac filled with a newborn pup - her firstborn - and it didn't take long for her mouth and tongue to break the life-cord and free the child from its first home. Its fur was still wet and dark, but Jenna's tongue was a towel, cleaning it up and warming it as a "welcome to the world" gift from Mother.

I've... I've done it... The pup's fur was a lightening into a lighter shade of brown; just looking at the color made Jenna smile as she heard its first breath lead to a whimpering cry. You're a father now, my love. Your legacy is being born tonight... She felt so happy, leading her first-born to her teats to feed for the first time before relaxing a little bit and catching her breath. That moment was soon cut short as another contraction began inside her a few minutes later, signaling another pup ready to follow in its older sibling's paws.

Ngh... not another one...! She looked behind her, checking under her tail. Is it supposed to be so soon?

Apparently so. Jenna just couldn't stop her muscles from tensing up and contracting. The birth canal was tightly filled with pup; minutes after her first child began suckling the husky's teat, another pup was released from its slimy birth sac and cleaned up.

Ah, a son...! The new mother smiled at the second pup's burgundy-red fur while gently nudging him to nurse. He looks like my family, just like his sister looks like yours...

The minutes went by, slowly turning into two hours... and soon, Jenna was completely exhausted from the stop and go process of whelping pups. Six fruits of her labor rested underneath the warmth of her bushy tail and near her once-again slender belly, quietly whimpering as they blindly moved about the basket. Five of them easily retained the hues of Jenna's fiery red-brown coat while one kept Balto's heritage visually intact, save for the fact that it was a much lighter brown-gray... and rather feminine-looking too. She'll be a beautiful pup when she's older, Jenna spoke to herself as she gave her eldest a lick, keeping her clean.

Oh, I need.... I need to tell Balto! That was the first thing she wanted to do, but she couldn't leave six newborns alone. They needed her more than anything, and her body was already too weak from giving birth to really move about a lot. She could feel the sun beginning its rise from the horizon by what gentle beams of light could pass through. If only she could get someone's attention... maybe someone nearby that could send a message!

Jenna hoped that a bark or two would get some attention... and lucky for her, a small gray and white terrier had just woken up for an early-morning stroll that happened to pass close to the shed.

"Oh...?" He halted in his snow-lined tracks, pricking his ears up before trotting over with several yaps and speaking with some exotic Scottish or Irish accent. "Why, 'ello there, lassie!" The yaps continued as he peeked into the doorway, much to Jenna's dismay. "Callin' quite early this morn, aren't ye?"

"C-could you stop that barking, please?" She asked, shielding the pups with her warm tail. "You might scare the pups..." Yes, she knew they couldn't hear yet, but their little bodies were still so sensitive. Jenna didn’t want to take any chances.

"Pups?" The terrier's attention changed, and her wishes were respected as he peeked inside just a little bit more.

"Yes. They were just born this morning." She couldn't believe she was finally saying that. She was a mother now, and just admitting it aloud gave her such a tingling sense of pride all over.

"Ah, congratulations to ye!" Instead of barking with glee, hopping about was something less noisy that both mother, pups and terrier could handle. He even got to see them; all that jumping made it easier for him to see once Jenna moved her tail enough to show them for a moment. "The stork has landed... six times for ye, eh?"

"Yes, and thank you very much." Jenna blushed, showing a bit of exhaustion in her face. "I was wondering... could you get my mate? It would mean so much to me, sir."

"Of course!" The terrier only let out a single yap. "Who's the lucky laddie, eh?"

He must be new here or completely immune to the town gossip, Jenna thought to herself. Everyone in town knew who Jenna chose as her mate by now. "It's Balto."

"...Balto?" The toy dog gasped. "You mean, that wolf laddie that saved the kiddies a couple of months ago?"

She nodded, blushing a little even as she corrected him. "Mm-hmm. The same one, except he's... only half-wolf."

That finally made sense to the smaller dog. "Ah. Well, I'll get 'im for ye, lassie. It's the least I can do for ye."

"He's usually up by now, heading this way." She looked up at the window, noticing how much the morning dawn was brightening and rising higher. "It shouldn't be too hard to catch his scent... or Boris's."

"Boris?" He tilted his head in confusion. "I thought ye said Balto is your mate."

"I did and he is. Boris is a goose that lives with him." Jenna clarified. "Can you just bring them here as soon as you can?"

"Yes indeed, lassie! Ye can count on me to track them down!" And with that, he bounced out of the shed and into the streets to sniff out the two males.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

It had been an half-hour since Jenna sent out the terrier to bring Balto over, and she simply took that time to rest and recover some more. The sun was up a little higher by now, and it was must unlike the wolfdog to be this late to a morning meeting with his beloved.

I wonder what's taking him so long, the new mother wondered with a little whine. Maybe Balto got in a fight in town... or he got caught by someone...! Or maybe that terrier lost his scent and couldn't find him or Boris...  Sometimes she worried too much about him; he was a stray, yet he usually had Boris by his side - he'd be fine. Still, Jenna wanted to see him, smell that wild musky scent of him... just to make sure. I just hope he's all right.

Sure enough, she overheard the yapping terrier's barks growing louder, and as soon as they ceased, the wooden door creaked open a little and that scent was apparent. She didn't have to turn her gaze towards him at all to acknowledge his presence. "Hello, Balto."

He stood at the doorway, gulping nervously at the new scents his nose detected. One, two, three, four, five... no, six! Was this it... for real? He was now... a father? Nerves made him whine a little, showing that even the bravest of heroes could be afraid of something new.

"Balto, don't be scared," Jenna softly reassured him. "They won't bite... well, at least, not for another couple of weeks."

Good, that was enough to bring him closer, right up to the basket to see what he had helped create. Jenna lifted a foreleg and her tail a little bit, and his wild gaze softened at the realization of fatherhood just at the first sight of them. The five red pups squirming about whimpered near their looked almost like quintuplets, nearly identical in the placement of their white blotched markings. "Jenna... they're so beautiful." His nose went close to hers, nuzzling it gently. She'd been through a lot that morning, and he couldn't be prouder of her. "Just like you..."

Jenna grinned, sighing at the soft touch... before a gasp interrupted the sweet moment. Their attention went to a movement against her belly where the sixth pup, the light-brown girl, made soft whimpering sounds as she blindly sought after a teat to suckle. The husky chuckled softly back at Balto. "And you too. She's our firstborn, you know."

She...? His eyes widened. "A daughter?"

Jenna nodded. "Mm, and there's two more girls too. The rest are boys."

"Ah..." Balto moved close enough to kiss her, showing his love and appreciation for her in that one gesture. "You're wonderful, Jenna. That's why I love you so much."

From the doorway, the gander finally waddled inside, his face brightening up at the sound of soft whimpers. He commented aloud to himself with glee, “Look at me... I’m an uncle...!”

Of course, the title was for real now, given that Muk and Luk were merely a couple of bear cubs that called him “Uncle Boris” because he took them in out of kindness; Balto’s pups, however, Boris would gladly call them his nephews and nieces... if only because he considered the hybrid as his own son. Once the couple was done being affectionate, then he’d go in for a closer look at the newborns. For now, his webbed foot was busy back-kicking a certain annoying terrier, one that had returned to his yapping ways at the joyful sight, straight over a five-foot fence.

The husky moaned softly into the kiss, feeling like her breath was taken away. "Oh, I love you too, Balto. Now... we're a real family." She nuzzled under his head a little bit more before letting out a yawn.

"Oh, you're still tired, aren't you?" He worried with a whine.

“...Just a little,” Jenna replied, blushing a bit at getting caught. Still her nose brushed up against his neck fur, taking in that wonderful scent and sighing with a smile. “...but I couldn’t be happier.”

Jenna really could rest later, despite her yawns and how droopy her eyelids were getting. Right now, being with her mate, his feathered guardian and her pups made her life seem worthwhile and with some sort of meaning. It was a great feeling, even better than any sort of sleep she had ever had before.

After everything they had been through so far, things couldn't get any better than this, but for Balto, Jenna and their new family, the hard times unknowingly had just begun...

TO BE CONTINUED in Part TWO of "A Husky's Quest"!

Next time - Balto and Jenna are now the proud parents of six pups, and they are growing fast, showing their individual personalities to all that they see, but the biggest day of their young lives is on the horizon - Adoption Day... Is Jenna ready to let them go from her sight... and what is up with this dream that keeps awaking her up so suddenly?

Find out in the next part of "A Husky's Quest"! - coming in January 2012!