I, Balto, was staring up at the sky, at late night, and I could hear howls in the distance… I wasn’t so sure if I would howl back, or ignore them.

 

I was on my boat. I thought, “Balto, go to sleep, they’re just wolves.”

So I went inside the boat, and put my blanket on me, and went to sleep.

 

 

 

Pretty soon, I was awoken by a soft, playful growl, and something nipping on my ear.

 

“What?” I said and looked around. It was my daughter Kiara, who was almost two years old.

She wasn’t a pup anymore though, she was almost as big as me, and she was strong.

“Dad! Come on! Get up!” She said.

 

“Hang on,” I muttered and closed my eyes. “I didn’t get any sleep.”

Then she kicked me.

“Ow!” I said.

“You promised!” She said.

“Ok, ok, I’m up.” I said and got up and yawned, showing my large fangs.

I stretched, and then Kiara said,

“Yeah! Ok, are we going?” She said hopping all around me.

“Yes, we’re going.” I said and sighed.

So me and Kiara went over to the butchers store to get some fresh bacon. That was Kiara’s favorite food ever. Mine was beef jerky, (Despite the reason the pilot was always giving it to me.)

 

Then I cocked my ears back when I heard a howl in the distance. I stopped.

“Dad?” Kiara said.

I turned around, and really couldn’t control myself.

I looked up at the sky, and howled a huge howl back. I howled, and I woke up almost everyone.

“Dad, what are you doing?” She said and looked at me weird.

“Kiara, just go get the bacon without me. I’ll be there in a second.” I looked at her.

“Ok,” She walked off.

 

Then I looked back up in the sky.

 

“Aleu…” I said. “I miss you.” She lived with a pack of wolves up north, and she was far away, and I missed her.

Then I heard a big howl in the distance.

I thought about how free a wolf pack might be, I’m just a wolf-dog in a small town, but I’m also their hero. What do I choose?

I then jumped up on a barrel, and then looked back to Nome, and then the woods.

“Far from here is where I want to be, away from Nome, loose and running. Nobody’s leash to hold me, nobody’s hugs to crush me, nobody’s soap and scratchy combs to bathe and brush me…a world without fences! Where I can be free…and be with real wolves and dog-wolves, real wolf out in me. No walls, and no boundaries, is where I want to be, a world without walls, and fences, that’s exactly where I want to be!” I thought.

I smelled the air, and then the wolf took over me.

“Wahoo! You can’t tell me what to do, Nome, because I’m a wild wolf, now!” I yelled, and got off the barrel and started running toward Aleu’s wolf pack.

 

Meanwhile, Kiara got some Bacon, and started walking back to the boat.

She had the pack in her teeth.

“Dad! I brought you some bacon!” Kiara said, as she walked in the boat. I wasn’t there. So she checked in the lower deck. Still no sign.

So she jumped off the boat, saying,

“Dad! Hey, Dad!”

She thought he must be at Jenna’s. So she ran to the main street of Nome, and saw her mother’s house. She ran over there, and she looked in the window. Her mom was asleep.

“Hey, mom. Wake up.” She said. She went in the window inside the room.

“What…” Jenna said and looked at Kiara. “Oh, hi Kiara. What are you doing up so early?” She yawned.

“I came to find my dad.” She said. “He’s nowhere. I thought he might be with you.”

Jenna got up, and stretched.

“Maybe he’s with Kodi.” She said. “That little Kodi is always in a hurry.”

“Ok, but dad wouldn’t really leave me like that.” So Kiara jumped out the window, and started walking toward the mail office.

Kodi was there, as usual, and Kiara ran to him.

 

“Hello, big brother.” Kiara said.

“Hi, Kiara. What’s up?” He said.

“Well, I can’t find dad. Have you seen him?” Kiara said and looked around.

“Just a second ago, he was on a barrel talking about ‘a world without fences’.” Kodi said.

Kiara walked over to the barrel, and smelled her father’s scent.

She saw snow prints leading to the woods in the mountains. It was mine.

She gasped.

“Father.” She said in a worried tone.

 

 

Meanwhile, I, Balto, was walking and I was in a cool cave place with rocks, and was kind of cold. I decided to take a break, so I laid down, and rested.

“Being a wolf is great,” I said.

Then I smelled company. It didn’t smell friendly either. This must be another wolf territory. I heard a snarl from behind me. I gasped and turned around, and no one was there. So I began to get up, and walk off.

But then I heard the snarl again. I started walking a little big faster.

Then I heard a big snarl, and then something jumped on me, and pinning me down, growling.

It was a wolf!

“Who dares enter our pride lands?” The wolf said and snarled.

“Balto.” I said. “I’m Balto. And I’ll be going now.” I shivered and I was cold. The wolf let me go and I started to walk away.

“Wait, wait a second!” The wolf said in a nicer voice. “Do I know you?”

She came out of the darkness.

It…was…ALEU!

“Aleu! It’s you!” I said.

“Papa?” She said.

She sniffed me, and gasped. “Papa! It is you!”

We barked and played. Other wolves came out and looked over at me.

“What are you doing here?” Aleu said.

“I’m joining your pack.” I said. “I chose my fate, and I’m sticking with it.”

“But don’t you belong home, with Mother?” She said.

Then thoughts came to my head.

“Jenna,” I said and looked back. “Oh, what have I done?”

“So, you want to stay?” Aleu said.

I then stopped thinking about Jenna, and started to think about being a wolf.

“Let me think…Well yes!” I said.

“Welcome, brother Balto!” Aleu said.

I smiled, and then a red wolf came out of the den.

“Permission to hunt, Alpha Aleu?” He said.

“Yes, let’s hunt!” Aleu said and we all ran off to get some yummy caribou.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Kiara and Kodi were telling Jenna how I had run off.

 

“Ok,” Jenna said. “You sure he was talking about no fences?”

Kiara nodded.

“And you’re sure he left foot prints in the snow, and left to Aleu’s pack?” Jenna said and worried.

“Yes, mom! We have to find him!” Kiara said.

“If we don’t he could be in trouble!” Kodi said, and he sighed. “He once showed me how what the right thing to do and it lead me to save his and the pilot’s life.”

“Well you’re right about one thing, Kodi. Dad could be in trouble.” Kiara said.

“By the way, where’s your bacon?” Kodi said.

Kiara gasped.

“Did someone just say bacon?!” She barked and leaped around.

 “We’re doomed.” Kodi suddenly said.

“Ok,” Jenna said. “Are we all ready? Kodi, do you have your nose? You might need it.”

“Yes, mom, I have my nose.” Kodi said and looked at her.

“And Kiara, I want you to wear this.” Jenna slipped off her bandana.

“Mom, your bandana.” She said.

“I’m afraid it won’t keep you very warm…” Jenna said.

“Does that sound familiar?” Kiara said. “It will keep me warm, mother.”

Jenna put it on Kiara’s neck.

“Ok, let’s go.” She said.

They went out the window, and started toward the barrel, and toward the mountains, and Kodi said,

“Bacon!” He looked behind him.

“Where? Where’s bacon!?” Kiara said, and looked behind her, panting and barking.

Kodi then laughed.

“Brother!” Kiara said and kicked him. “Don’t do that if it’s only an emergency!”

“Well, we’re missing our dad, so is that an emergency?” Kodi said.

“Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can boss me around!” Kiara said and the two fought.

 

“Hey,” Jenna said. “Let’s play a game. Let’s see who can be quiet the most!”

“Great, my dad loves that game!” Kiara said.

 

 

Meanwhile back at the wolf pack…

 

“Oh, I’m full!” I said after I ate the caribou.

“So am I,” Aleu said.

“Me too,” a wolf said.

All the wolves agreed.

“So, now what?” I said. “Are we going to do anything?”

“We’ll rest. Then after that we can check for hunters in the woods.” Aleu said.

“Really?” I looked at them.

“Yeah,” Aleu said.

“Ok,” I said.

 

Then the pack went in their den, and I stayed outside.

“Gosh, being a wolf is hard.” I said. “You have to chase caribou, check for hunters, and its boring also.”

I yawned and went back in the den, to sleep with the others.

 

 Meanwhile back in the wilderness…

 

Kodi sighed.

“Are we there yet? My legs are getting tired.”

“No, not yet.” Jenna said and smelled around.

 

Kiara then got my scent.

“Guys, I’ve got his scent!” She said and followed it.

Jenna and Kodi followed her, and she led them to a very fast river.

“Uh oh,” Kiara said. She looked over at the beating river, and saw a log like a bridge to get across. But it was not sturdy.

“Guys, I think he passed this way,” Kiara said.

Kodi looked over at the log and saw how un-sturdy it was.

“Oh well, we tried,” Kodi said and walked away.

Kiara grabbed his tail, and he said,

“Ow! Watch those fangs!”

 

“We’ll have to go across,” She said.

“What?!” Kodi yelled. “I’m not going across! We would drown!”

“He’s got a point there,” Jenna pointed out.

“Oh, so you want my dad to freeze to death? Ok then, be that way!” Kiara got on the log and started running on it. Then it started to crack.

“Oh no!” She said and ran faster, but a small twig stuck in the log caught her bandana.

“No! Help me!” She said and started pulling, as the log was about to crash.

“Sis!” Kodi leaped to the rescue, he jumped, grabbed her, and leaped to the other side, but the bandana was still on her.

She panted.

“Kodi…you saved me. Thank you.” She gives her big brother a lick on his muzzle.

“Oh, no!” Jenna said. The log had broken, and Jenna couldn’t get across.

“Just go on without me!” Jenna said.

“But mom-“Kiara said.

“No, just go.”

“Look!” Kodi said.

I looked and I saw the log had made a dam!

So Jenna could get across. She jumped down, and walked across the water. Then she jumped up to the other side, and she said,

 

“Good job you two. Let’s go find your dad! He’s close by!”

 

 

Meanwhile at the wolf pack…

 

I was woken up by a gasp from Aleu.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“I saw a vision. A horrible one.” She said.

“What did you see?” I said.

“An avalanche… And everyone stuck in it.”

“Was it true?” I said.

“I’m not sure.” She said and whimpered.

 

I then heard a howl right outside.

I went outside, and saw a white wolf stand in front of the cave.

“Aniu?” I said.

She nodded.

“You’re daughters visions are true. You must leave this pride.” She said.

“I can’t go back. I don’t belong there.” I said.

“Their fate is as same as ours. You must leave, my son.”

“Well then why did you leave me?” I said. “When I was a pup, you left me.”

“I had no other choice, you must leave or everyone will not live.”

“What do you mean, no other choice?!”

Aniu sighed.

“It is time I told you the truth, my son. Your father was evil. He would kill you if he had the chance. But I did not allow that. When I had you and your sister, I saw that your father was evil. I did not make it through the delivery. But before I died, I gave you to Nome. And your sister is somewhere else safe. And now as I speak to you, you must leave.”

“But where is my father?” I said.

She didn’t reply, she howled, and then faded.

“Well, she’s right about one thing. We do have to leave. So I guess I’ll have to do.”

I stood up.

 

But then I heard a, “Balto!” In the distance.

I looked around to see what called my name. I saw 3 dogs, and I squinted to see who they were.

 

They ran closer, and I said,

“Jenna, Kodi? Kiara?”

“Dad!” Kodi yelled.

“Son!” I said.

“I missed you!” Kiara said and nuzzled my chest.

“So did I.” I said.

Aleu ran outside to see all the commotion.

“It’s my mother!” She said.

“ALEU!” Jenna said. “Aleu, it’s you!”

They nuzzled and everyone met each other.

“Who are they?” Aleu said and looked at Kiara and Kodi.

I laughed.

“Aleu, you don’t even remember your brother and sister!”

“Oh! Hi there! You must be Kodi and Kiara!”

“Yep, that’s my name, don’t wear it out.” Kodi said.

Aleu laughed.

I stopped smiling, and thought about the visions Aleu had.

“Guys,” I said. I didn’t know how to put it. I sighed. “Aniu came.”

Kodi, Kiara, Jenna, and Aleu gasped.

“You mean…your mother?” Jenna said.

“Yes, Jenna. She told us there was going to be an avalanche. We have to leave.”

Then I heard a snarl behind me.

I gasped, and there stood a huge husky.

He was baring his teeth and he had his fur bristled up.

“You’re not going anywhere.” He said and looked over at us.

Aleu started to growl a deep growl.

“Aleu, no.” I said through my teeth.

“Oh, no it’s not you guys I’m after; it’s… the red faced one.”

I gasped, and looked at Kiara.

“Dad!” She said. “I can’t die!”

I stood in front of her.

“You’re not taking my daughter.” I snarled.

“Did Aniu tell you about your father?” He said and looked at me.

“She told me enough. She told me, you killed her.”

“No,” The husky said. “I am your father.”

I looked up at him.

“No,” I said. “No, it’s not true! It’s impossible!” I said and started to get tears in my eyes.

“Search your feelings, son. You know it to be true.”

“NO!!!!!” I howled. “No!”

“Now it’s time to kill your daughter!” He said and jumped and snarled.

He jumped on Kiara, and bit her ear, and she shook him off.

“Stop! I’m the one you want!” I said and blocked her.

He pushed me out of the way, and I fell to the ground.

He grabbed Kiara’s bandana and started pulling on it, toward a cliff.

Kiara pulled away, and jumped on him. She bit his nuzzle, and it started to bleed.

Kodi then thought,

“In case of an emergency!”

 

“BACON!” Kodi yelled as loud as he could.

“Where?!” Kiara turned around and kicked dad’s jaw. He fell to the ground.

Kiara saw that there was no bacon.

“No…BACON! YOU WILL PAY, DOG!” She jumped on my dad, and clawed his back, leaving a big mark.

“The power of the bacon,” Kodi said to himself and smiled.

 

Then my dad went over to me, and started biting me, and he scraped through my head, and I fell to the ground with a thud.

I put my paw out for help, then he pushed it back in, pinning me down then he laughed.

“No!” Kiara said.

She jumped on my dad, and started to attack him. He fell, and he hurt his paw.

 

Then I got back up.

My dad was hurt.

“Kiara, you…saved my life.” I said.

She cleaned my wounds.

“Hey, haven’t you heard? It’s every dog for himself!” Dad said.

He got back up.

 

Jenna gasped.

 

“Hunter!” She yelled.

We gasped and turned around and in the woods there was a man, on a tree.

 

“The mighty Kiltok will destroy the man!” He said and snarled.

My dad’s name was Kiltok?

 

“Dad! Stop!” I yelled as he ran.

I ran after him.

He jumped on the hunter, attacking him, and snarling, biting him.

That was a hunter without a gun!

“Stop!” I yelled and jumped on Kiltok.

We fought, and then he pushed me, on the edge of the cliffs.

I was trying to grab on. He walked away to leave me there.

He blocked Kiara and the rest from saving me.

Then I was yelling, because I was slipping.

“Dad! Help me! Please!” I yelled and cried. “Please!”

He looked at me, about to fall. He knew I was going to die, and then he did something I’d never think he would do.

He ran over to me, and he picked up a branch, and he said,

“Grab this! Hurry!”

I gasped; he was trying to save me!

I clamped my jaws as hard as I could on it.

“Go!” I said.

He started pulling backwards.

Then I got up, and even before I could thank him, the ground underneath him started to crack, and then he fell.

 

“SON!” He yelled as his voice faded.

“NO! DAD!” I yelled.

I went down a hill of rocks, with Jenna, Kodi, and Kiara and Aleu following me.

I saw a body lying in the dirt.

“Dad!” I said and ran over to him.

He groaned. He opened his eyes, and he said,

“Son? Balto?”

“Yes, dad I’m here.”

“I’m so sorry. I…was good…after all.”

“Yes,” I said. “You were dad.”

“Tell Aniu…I love her…” he said.

“I will,” I said.

“And…I love…you…Bal…to…”

“I love you too, dad.” I said.

He closed his eyes, and fell.

“Dad, no!” I cried, and tears filled my eyes.

“Dad?” Kiara said and walked over. “Let’s go home.”

 

“Ok, Kiara. I’m so sorry all this happened.” I said.

“It’s ok,” She said and nuzzled me.

Then I felt a sudden rumble under my paws.

“The avalanche!” Kodi yelled. “Let’s get out of here!”

We ran up the rocky slope, and I saw the hunter, and I looked over at him and stopped.

“Balto!” Jenna yelled.

“He seems to be alright, he’s just unconscious.” I said and nudged him.

“Leave him or we’ll never make it!” Aleu said.

“His fate is the same as ours.” I said. I nudged him, and put him on my back.

“Let’s go!” Kiara said.

 

We ran and back there, a huge avalanche was booming toward us.

“Move! Move!” I said.

 Lucky for us, there was bacon and beef jerky, all of our favorite snacks, in the hunters pocket, we smelled, it and Kiara yelled,

 

“BBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAACCCOOOOOONNNNN!” She yelled and she went super fast, thinking it was in front of her.

I smelled beef jerky and so did we, and we ran as fast as we could, beating the avalanche!

“Run!” I said, and we were running so fast, it felt like we were flying.

The avalanche started to slow down, and we were heading to Nome!

 

 

When we got to the boat, the avalanche stopped.

We panted, and I ran over to Nome, and tried to find the hospital.

I found it, I scratched on the door, and barked.

Someone came out and saw the hunter.

“Oh! Balto, you did it again!” He said and petted me. He gave me a bag of beef jerky and bacon.

I wagged my tail for the food.

He took the hunter in, and I went back over to the boat.

I sighed, when I got in it.

Kiara came inside the boat.

“What’s wrong?” She said.

I sighed. I looked up at her and said,

“It was so hard losing my dad.” I said.

“Hey, it’s ok,” She said. She nuzzled me.

“Oh, yeah,” I said. “I have a surprise for you.” I smiled.

“What is it?” She said waging her tail.

 

I showed her the bag.

“BACON!” I said.

She widened her eyes.

“A whole…bag of bacon…for me…?” She said.

She then fell to the ground and fainted.

“Kiara, get up,” I said and laughed.

I saw Aleu walking away.

I jumped off the boat, and ran to her.

 

“Hey, papa.” Aleu said.

“Hey. So…I guess you’re going back to your pack, huh?” I looked down and folded my ears.

“Don’t worry,” She said and nuzzled me. “You can visit me anytime. I love you.”

 

She started to walk toward her pack.

“I love you too.”

 

Kodi then came to me.

“Hey, guess what? I just became lead dog in the mail run!” He said.

“That’s good, son.” I said. “Good job.”

Jenna went over to me.

 

“I have to go, Rosie is home. Bye, Balto.” She said.

“Bye.”

She walked off.

Then I heard a voice behind me.

“My son, that was the right thing to do.”  

I turned around and it was Aniu.

“I know, mother.” I smiled.

She howled and faded.

I went back to the boat, and Kiara was eating bacon.

 

 

“Good job, Kiara.” I said.

“You too.” She said and licked me.

 

 

 

 

 

So, all’s well that ends well. Kiltok is a spirit now with Aniu, my mother, Kodi finally got to be lead dog, and Aleu got to her pack, and Jenna was glad.

And all you people that are reading this, you probably are wondering who my dad was and if he died or not.

Well, he was the mighty Kiltok, and he died risking his life to save me, even though he was evil.

 

AND KIARA FINALLY GOT SOME BACON.

 

The end.